Happy New Year!!

Wishing You ALL the Best 2016!

It's been a long year, a long year filled with a lot of updates, memories, moments, shocks, love and plenty of things to grow from headed into 2016.

This last year the biggest challenge for me was figuring out this whole "Your kid is on the spectrum" thing. Autism. What the heck does that mean for me, my kid and our family.

I will be posting more about it all in 2016 as we get deeper into the fight back for OT, Feeding and the best for our soon to be 4yo smarty pants, who by the way reads at almost a 1st grade level. So proud!

As for my daughter, she is amazing. The light of my day and the calm to my storm, she works well beside me on our adventures and does an amazing job as an individual in soccer, friendship, school and more, she calls it Zoe Style, I call it Blessed to be her mama.

I am grateful for so many things and for so many wonderful people in our lives that support us, care for us, love us unconditionally and are always there for us.

My wish for 2016 is for everyone to have peace, peace with in, peace on a topic that has been heavy on the heart, peace over a struggle, peace in love, peace in ones self and peace for all. I know that sounds so silly but I do think that it starts with us, with one and then with more!

Hope everyone has a safe, fun and awesome New Years Eve and 2016!
OnTheGoOC


#Peace #NewYearsEve #NYE #BestOf2015 #SoCal #MyLife #Autism #Sensory #OT #Soccer #Family #Love #2016 #LetsDoThis #KickItOff

6 Things I've Learned As An Autism Mom About My Kiddo and Me!

Every Child on the spectrum is just as unique as every snowflake! Some may be similar in ways but never the same.

My son, 3yo, is on the spectrum with aba behavior and picky eater issues. He was born at 32 weeks and together we had the roughest pregnancy I could have ever imagined! From vomiting all 32 weeks, to pre term labor, throw in some left side neurological issues and a gall bladder with sludge to my heart rate dropping to 30 bpm for days and finally hemorrhaging and then some.. the list goes on but I am grateful to have him and be alive!

Wild as his hair - I love his for HIM!

So what have I learned so far in the time we have started the fight against Autism in our house with our boy....here goes...

* Leave with plenty of time to get or go anywhere because in the mix kicks in Murphy's autism law, where everything goes wrong and delays you from putting on shoes 5 times to a melt down cause he wants to jump off the side walk not walk next to me. 

* Have lots of patience  and by lots I mean the kind of patience that each individual child responds to... my boy likes to be talked to calmly and rationally so when he sees me angered or irritated it fuels his naughty little fire. He loves a challenge because he loves to not back down. Side note - Patience is important but not always there, were all human, do your best and take a breath when needed. Also asking for help is perfectly FINE!

* Know when he's had enough and that maybe at the end of the night, at an event or just at any time. Know when to just say let's go and be okay with it. 

* He loves to learn and he is brilliant so being at school absolutely is the best atmosphere for him. He has the biggest heart and always wants to play with others. He is very high functioning with very little verbal delay but his cognitive understanding and response is definitely still delayed so being at school and challenging him daily with goals to meet is where my little Einstein needs to be. Mikey reads at almost a first grade level at almost 4yo, knows all his shapes, colors and spells words for us too! Brilliant little man, so blessed to have him as my own!

* He is just perfect the way he is and the things he brings to our lives as any child does to their own families is just what we needed... I don't deal with him and his behavior, I help correct it.

Do we get frustrated? Yes, do all parents, yes...should we be in it together no matter what? Absolutely! This is why I am grateful for my friends and family that understand and want to help. Huge shout out to Sal, my friend Catheryn's husband... they too have a very High functioning 8yo and now that she is off running around with all the others and met so many amazing goals, he knows how it used to be and helps me out. Thank you Sal and all my family and friends that know when I need the help and just do it! Thank you! That's the best gift to me when I am having a rough time with my son, someone who understands and just comes to help any way they think will help. Sometimes the best help for a child on the spectrum is a distraction from what has them upset or stuck. 

* WE are grateful to help him be the best he can be as we do with our daughter and I want them both to know that we are proud of the individuals they are with their own specific strengths and weaknesses and here to help with each. I am NOT here to say that I will get rid of all of his spectrum behavior but the goal is definitely to do so and it is not to change him because he is perfect the way he is but it is so that he can progress to the education level best for him to succeed the best he can in life as I wish for both of my children.

Right now we are working on his eating and his behavior. Both are improving but need a lot of help. I am sure this list will grow as we grow as a family. 

I think the biggest thing I have learned is to take one day at a time, help as much as you can in each situation at hand and always always go with your GUT!

He challenges me daily, but then again so does my daughter with her 3rd grade common core math! We got this! !!

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas from our totally real and fairly crazy family to yours.

OnTheGoOC

#autism #sensory #Spectrum #RealLife #ThingsILearn #AutismMom #WeGotThis #MikeyMyHeart #MyLife #OCMom #AutismInOC #OC #SOCal #Eating #OT #PT #SmartyPants

10 Must Do's at Winterfest OC Before Jan 3rd!

Baby it's cold outside! It has been a bit on the crisp side this winter for Orange County.

Cold weather brings winter fun and winter fun brings us to Winterfest OC at the OC Fairgrounds.

We were invited to attend Winterfest last Friday to kick off all the winter fun you can have in OC. We really did not know what to expect but there was so much to do we ended up staying over 4 hours!

Both of my kids had a wonderful time and did so many activities they were exhausted by 9pm. Yes we are on winter break, we live on the wild side and let our kids stay up late to enjoy moments with them and make memories... I am totally okay with that!

My daughter wanted to point out her favorites too so in combination with my own, as a family, we decided, these are our 10 must do's at WinterfestOC this year.

* Ice Skating - everyone had a great time. There are assistance guides for the younger kids that need to push and hold onto something. Hey adults can use those too! Very handy and were $5 each. The cabanas are right on the ice and would be perfect for a large family friends group or even a work event for team building. Ice skates fit pretty true to size. Everyone loved being on the ice, I had a blast skating with my babies. My son did great, he is on the spectrum and last year did not care for it but this year was all about it for at least 30 minutes. He would have gone longer but he was getting tired.
            

* Ice Carving - the Chainsaw Chicks are amazing. We have seen them before at the Opening of Frozen movie but these girls I would watch over and over craft up that snow with those chainsaws! Super fierce!

* North Pole - Here the kids were able to craft ornaments, cards and more. Also, the best part for my son were the trains. You could control them and they were chugging through the villages and snow of the scenery around them. There were also some sweet treats beautifully done up for winter that were available for purchase.
          

* the World's Largest walk through ornament - this big and bright red ornament was so beautiful and large. We were able to walk through it, look up to the sky, and enjoy a moment of the Holiday spirit around us. Makes for a wonderful picture too!

* Tree Lighting - this was spectacular! There were fireworks (fireworks opening night only), Santa and a massive tree being lit to music and the Holiday cheer all around. My daughter loved all the lights and excitement that was set off for the lighting of the tree! It was beautiful. Did I mention there is SNOWFALL!

* Carnival Rides - the kids rode rides and had a great time running around checking all the different rides out. They were able to ride most together. My son is 42" and my daughter is 5' tall so they were good to go for most.

There were a few that my daughter rode that my son could not but to be honest, it was probably not the safest for my son at his height and age so I am glad the height restrictions are there. My girls favorite was the Kamakazi and the ride spun her up and over again and again.

* Reindeer - This was fun to see and get up close with. These reindeer are just beautiful and it becomes so surreal for all to be near Santa's helpers on the magical night! They are super cute and I am not going to lie, I wanted to take one home. Hehe..

* Snowflake Summit - Head up the hill and then race down the 130 snowy icy drop of a hill that has you laughing all the way! my kids could not get enough of the tubing. They must have each rode it at least 8 times and had so much fun doing so. It was hard to get them off the summit!

* Santa and Mars Claus - Meet the man himself and his sweet Mrs. Claus. Take pictures and share your wishes and hopes for this Holiday Season. They will be there through Christmas Eve!

* Photo Opportunity - I love to take photos. I love to make sure my kids have a still shot of memories we make so that they too can share them with their kids in the future too. I love that there are Photo Ops all over WinterfestOC. From large life size Candy Canes to Face cut outs for posing as elves, the fun is everywhere to capture those moments I love.

In it's first year WinterfestOC totally brought all the winter fun you can have to the OC. I hope that everyone gets a chance to enjoy the festivities.

To help out on the fun, WinterfestOC is also giving thanks, they are offering a great promotion for those that serve, protect and service our community. 

See HERE for more details on how Nurses, Teachers, Police, Military and Fire Fighters can receive free admission on specific dates and more..

Have a great Winter OC!! See you next year and thank you for the invite to the awesome winter fun WinterfestOC - we loved it!



#WinterfestOC #WinterInOC #Thingstodoinoc #WInterFun #OC #KidsFun #Tubing #IceSkating #TreeLighting #Santa #Trains #Cabanas #Christmas #Rides #Games #Food #Drinks #Fun #Family #Crafts #winterfestOC

DIY Oreo Truffles - Always a Favorite Treat & Easy to Make!

Oreo Truffles, Sounds so complex but is super easy to make and create!

Have you ever thought that something tasted so good it would be so hard to make? This is one of those decadent sweets!

Here is what you need to make enough to make everyone happy:

* 3 Packages of Oreo Cookies

* 2 to 2.5 packs of Cream Cheese (how creamy or solid you want them.. add the last half little by little)

* Dipping or decorating goodies

Here is what you do:

* Blend to a smooth consistency all 3 packs of Oreo Cookies. 

* Work in 2 (or the 2.5 see above) packs of Cream Cheese making sure you mix the blended cookies with the cream cheese well. 

            

* Roll out into little round balls to the size that you want to use. 

* Stick them in freezer to harden for easier chocolate dipping.

* Dip in chocolate or decorate how you would like. 

Ready to go!

These are super popular and are always gone with in moments of putting them down. 

Try it yourself and let me know what you think?! Easy? Hard? So yummy they did not last to take pictures of?

Have fun and Happy Sweet Holidays!

#SweetTreats #Sweets #Oreo #truffles #OreoTruffles #Candy #homemade #Madeathome #sweettreats #Yum #SoGood #HolidayFun #HolidayEats #holidaySweets #pops #HolidaySweets #MadeWithMichaels #Foodie #SweetTooth

30 Minute Greek Chicken - Simple Cheats but Great Eats!

30 Minute Greek Herb Chicken - done and on the table!

The Holidays are my most favorite time of year... but also my most crazy time of year!

I still want to cook fresh meals for my family. Sometimes I just don't have the time to get it done fresh from scratch all the way. That doesn't mean that I don't want full flavors and smiling faces at dinner time. 

One super easy and yummy cheat I have for a fast and easy Greek herb chicken... Greek Salad Dressing. I know right!?

When I use Greek Salad Dressing, I am using about half a bottle for about 7 to 8 boneless skinless chicken breast strips, and the chicken comes out so juicy. 

Take the chicken strips and put them stove top in a pan with some olive oil or coconut oil. Heat it up on medium and add the Greek Dressing. 

Let it all simmer down and lock in the flavor. Add a little bit of oregano flakes and fresh lemon. It is set. Leave it for 10 to 12 mins, flip your chicken and leave it for another 10 to 12 min or so, all on medium heat. (my chicken was almost thawed completely) 

Make sure chicken is cooked all the way through and in about 30 mins you have your ready to eat Greek Chicken strips. 

While that is cooking you have 30mins to either make some rice, pasta or get a salad together with a veggie side. 

Tonight I paired the Greek Chicken with a fresh lemon zest salad with sunflower seeds and per the request of my daughter, some stuffing stove top!

        

Ready to serve, have a great dinner.

#EasyDinners #MadeFresh #DinnerMadeFresh #FastandEasy #freshMeals #Dinner #Madeathome #homemade #Cooking #Fresh #Delish #SoGood