Chapter Three

Today it is one month since we moved back to St. Pete. I cannot believe it has already been that long! And except for a few boxes of holiday items, everything that is necessary for daily life has been unpacked. Things have been going fairly well and for the most part, I think the move has been great for all of us, including Cams. I know I am happier, which is pretty important as you know the old saying if Mama ain't happy nobody's happy. And while that definitely rings true in our household, I am still one rung below Miss Cams when it comes to the ladder of happiness. Because it doesn't matter how beautiful the day is, how great your hair looks, or where you're going for dinner that night if Camryn is screaming and pinching everyone in the background. So at our house the saying goes " If Cams aint happy aint nobody happy!" And I have to say that Camryn is a pretty happy little girl, despite all the aggression issues we have. One of the things I love most about Cam is that her bed has two right sides, meaning she never wakes up on the wrong one. I don't care how late she went to bed, or how stuffy her nose is, that girl wakes up with a snap and a laugh and I absolutely love it!! I look forward to going into her room while she's still asleep so that I can put my face in her hair which smells like sweaty maple syrup and hear her giggle. She snaps her fingers and when I ask her "Did you sleep good last night?" she simply repeats the question, which as those of you with Autistic kids know is called echolalia, but I treat it as though she is really asking me and so I answer.  Those moments are precious and shortlived, often over before you can say "Ri-Ri" which is the next thing out of her mouth, as she lives for that dog. And after that, forget about it! Riley is at the forefront of her thoughts as she scrambles out of bed to find the dog, pull her whiskers out and let the day begin! And after that, there is no stopping, there is no  resting, there is no "Go read a book" or "Go draw a picture", it's just go, go, go until night, with several "No pinching", "No biting" and "No pulling the dogs jowels off!" thrown in. And remember, Cams is not my only child. I also have two other lovely little ladies who want my time and attention and also require adult supervision. During the school year, while the 5 hours left in the day after school lets out can be hard to fill for Cams, it's a cake walk compared to the dreaded seventy-something days of summer hell! A little less than three months of fourteen hour days that need to be filled from morning to night with activities for a child who doesn't "play" with toys, doesn't "play well" with others and doesn't stay seated for more than five minutes at a time? Is it any wonder I can be found waltzing down the school supply aisle at Target in early August, high from the smell of pink rubber erasers and freshly sharpened pencils? You laugh, but spend a  summer with Cams and you'll be right alongside me, inhaling the Elmers and grinning ear to ear. So, with that being said, you may ask "Eve, if it is so hard to amuse Camryn during the day, how on earth are you writing this blog right now?" An excellent question! I am writing this blog right now because Camryn it at Camp!!!!! Yes, a camp for kids with Autism. They do exist, though nowhere in Charlotte County, which is why we no longer live there. The main reason for moving back to Pinellas was because of all the resources here. Last week I registered her at Sawgrass Elementary, where she will be in an Autistic Unit for the very first time ever! Another thing Charlotte County does not have. In her last school she was in the Communications Disorder unit, which had wonderful teachers, but was not tailored for her needs. And two days after moving here I signed her up for Camp COAST (Children On the Autism Spectrum Together).  I found out about this camp at the Autism Speaks Walk in May. I ended up meeting a woman with a daughter Camryn's age who was on the spectrum (Thanks Tina!!! ) Meeting the mom of an autistic girl doesn't happen often, as the ratio of autism in boys is 3 times higher than in girls. But, alas we met and come to find out my mom and her aunt used to be close friends and I spent much of my childhood with her cousin, teeny tiny world! She told me about the camp and how her daughter was attending. I wiped the drool from the sides of my mouth as she explained all the camp offered. Horseback riding every week, swimming, sailing.... I so wanted to put Camryn in, but we hadn't yet moved and I was sure that is was probably full by then anyhow. At the end of May, when we found where we would be moving to, I decided to torture myself and call Camp Coast to see if by chance there was a spot left. And lo and behold....there was!!!! I was jumping and shouting and flailing my arms in the air. YES!! What did I need to do, when did it start and how much did it cost (not that it mattered, we would take out a loan if need be lol) Lots of paperwork, shot records and doctors approval, June 21st and expensive, but do-able. The only hitch was that each child needed to be accepted, as in the director needs to see their IEP and then calls their teacher and privately discusses that child, their habits and behaviors and whether or not Camp Coast would be a good fit for them. As soon as I heard that I made yet another desperate call to our beloved Ms. Mills. It went something like this..."Ms Mills? Hi it's Eve again. Listen, I have an opportunity to put Camryn in an awesome camp that runs for 7 weeks from 8-3 daily. 8 to 3! Monday through Friday! Seven Weeks!!!! Now, you will be getting a phone call from a "Vicki" wanting to know about Camryn's behavior and if she would be good for this camp so.....Oh, I love you Ms. Mills!!!!" I ddin't have to explain. She knows Cams and loves her as much as the rest of us do, but also knows what a challenge she can be and how good this camp would be for her as well as the rest of the family. She spoke to Vicki and then I had to wait. They spoke Saturday and by Monday night I had heard nothing.  Ms. Mills, what did you say? Was your end of year gift not up to par? Was this gonna cost me? Tuesday afternoon I was out  couch shopping with my mom. I was mid-sentence with a sales person when my cell rang. It was Vicki! Camryn had been accepted!!!!! Ms Mills came through! Now, the next step was registering. And it was on a first come basis. Acceptance does not guarantee a spot. Money does. I was in St. Pete and needed to be in Clearwater to register her. I hung up, told saleslady Sue love the couch but gotta go and sped up to register Cams. She got in and so far it has been wonderful!!! When Vicki was explaining to me all that the kids would be doing, I started to cry. Horseback riding EVERY Monday! Swimming twice a week, lessons included! Sailing. SAILING!!! CAMRYN sailing! When would that EVER happen?? Each student has a personal assistant with them all day. They are teenagers who volunteer and go through a very intense training session to learn how to work with kids on the spectrum. Already moving home had paid off. This NEVER would have been possible in Port Charlotte.    Her first day was last Monday which you know I was counting down to. For those of you who know me, I don't even have to say this. But for those of you who don't, let me reaasure you that I adore Camryn. She is my sunshine, like my other two daughters. But the sun doesn't always shine. There is rain and thunder and lightning and hail and hurricanes and tornados and oh, anyhow my point is, like the weather, Cams can be unpredictable with little or no warning of change. And I don't always carry an umbrella.  Also, summer is not just about Camryn. This is also Mason's time off and Natalie's time with her sisters. I remember my summers as a kid, lounging in bed till I felt like getting up. Watching T.V., running around outside, going on daytrips. I want those things for my kids as well. But it's hard to loungse in bed with Camryn climbing on top of you and pinching your face. And watching T.V. can be a challenge with Cams standing directly in front of it, then trying to scratch you on the couch when you ask her to move. And field trips with Cam? Interesting to say the least. It breaks my heart to see Mace and Nat just trying to be little girls having fun and Camryn hurting them for no reason. It sucks! So, with Camryn in camp, Mason and Natalie have time to do their thing without the possibility of injury. And I get the chance to be a "normal" mom, doing "mom things" with them without the limits of Autism. And Camryn gets to have her own time and attention and do things she would never get to do otherwise. It works for all of us. And  until 3:00 p.m. all is well. Now after camp, when Cam is worked up, tired and hungry, that is another story. But four hours to fill as opposed to fourteen? I'll take it anyday of the week and since Monday through Friday are already accounted for, anybody know of a weekend camp? ;)


Note: Camp Coast is housed at the Clearwater YMCA. It is strictly a donation based program which requires about $7500 to run seven weeks with 15 campers in each session. Last month, the director reported, with tears in her eyes, that so far they have $695 dollars raised for summer 2011. If you would like to make a donation, I know it would be so appreciated, whether it be two dollars or $200.00. I can get you the information if you know of somebody who may wish to give to this AMAZING camp. Thank you :)