Autism Awareness - #LightItUpBlue and Let them Shine!!

Why Babushka's Going to #LightItUpBlue for Understanding and Acceptance - a social good post without monetary pay, pero mucho,mucho sentimental satisfaction.

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!

Today hablamos on a tema very close to BB's heart. Actually, you can say it's a part of my heart, because my granddaughter La Princesa is autistic and bigger than that love and bond we have, hay que fabricarlo!!

Since April is World Autism Month, Babushka's decided to #LightItUpBlue with Autism Speaks to increase understanding and awareness of autism. The issue is deeply personal to me as an abuela of a child with autism. It’s highly likely that you know someone with autism too since the CDC estimates autism’s prevalence as 1 in every 68 children in the United States.

Autism refers to a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences. We now know that there is not one autism but many types, caused by different combinations of genetic and environmental influences.

Autism’s most obvious signs tend to appear between 2 and 3 years of age. In some cases, it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months. Autism Speaks encourages parents with concerns to seek evaluation without delay, as early intervention can improve outcomes. La Princesa was diagnosed at 3. Before that we just thought she was jumpy.

The “Light It Up Blue” campaign is about more than awareness -- it is about increasing understanding and acceptance of autism.  This includes advocacy and support for people across the entire spectrum throughout their lives. It also includes advancing research into personalized treatments for autism and related conditions. BB encourages you to test your understanding of autism by taking this quiz!

Certain medical and mental health issues frequently accompany autism. They include GI disorders, seizures, sleep disturbances, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety and phobias. For my granddaughter, these are a part of her.

You can help make a difference too by taking the Light It Up Blue Quiz to see how much you know about autism. If you’re moved to do so after visiting AutismSpeaks.org, please show your support for and understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with autism by sharing a photo to #LightItUpBlue for Autism Awareness Month too. Also, check out Autism Speaks’ nationwide calendar of autism-friendly friendly events and activities in April.

Sooo... how much do you know sobre Autism Beautifuls? One can never know too much-

or love too much.

BB2U

A Fiesta fit for a Princess- @SeaWorld Splash Party #hosted

A storytime outing hosted by Seaworld, pero the opinions and the joy belong to BB y La Princesa.

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!

This was the summer of La Princesa.  For those of you that don’t know, La Princesa is my granddaughter,our Hawaiian Princess, the only female in The Grands, party of 6.  Ya tu sabes how she receives the royal treatment, especially since they live with her other grandma, and a diagnosis of Autism just clinched the spoiling.  Pero look at her, how could you not want to spoil her?

She had informed her parents that this was her summer to stay with Babushka.  She’s all big and grownup at 7 and decided this was the year to visit  and have adventures like her big brother had. So we all did what we could to make it happen.

Unfortunately she and BB got sick during the first few days of her visit.  But we managed to bond and have fun anyway at home.

Honestly, as long as she had a cell phone or tablet to watch her programs she’s no problem. Mealtimes though are challenging.  La Princesa likes what she likes, and since this was vacaciones, Babushka was not about to force the issue.  

Lots of juices,cereals,cheeseburgers, Pretzels y PB&J, spaghetti and pizza.  Bueno, not all pizza.
BB tried to make homemade english muffin pizzas for her, like the ones her mama used to enjoy.
NanaNina.  She wanted the REAL pizza.

Babushka meanwhile, wanted a REAL vacation, to take her someplace, so we were very grateful when the good people of Seaworld invited us to their Splash Party. The invite was for 1245 so we left the casa at 730 am, not an enjoyable mission for our late sleeping princess.  She neither wanted to wake, nor did she want to leave our home. Kind of  a compliment verdad?  Anyway, once it was explained we were going on a trip to Seaworld like her brother El Dr. and that she could sleep all the way there, peace reigned in the kingdom.

"I think I'm in ♡!" La Princesa 1stx trying @Smuckersbrand #Goober #grapejelly #peanutbutter

A photo posted by Bohemian Babushka (@bbabushka) on Jul 29, 2016 at 8:22am PDT

La Princesa and her Royal party arrived a decently Cubanlate 15 mins and guess who parked right alongside us?  Our segundo familia, Bloggin’ Mamas Pres. and her crew.  NOW we knew we were gonna have fun! Equipping us with icecream and water, we were escorted to the Splash Party!!!

Unfortunately Sweetie was beginning to get the cold BB and La Princesa had couldn’t join us under the water works, so he was our photographer.  Ended up he got soaked anyway. A Florida thunderstorm cut short our visit and we didn’t get to visit the rest of the park, so we will go back again with La Princesa. BB owes her that “trip like Big Brother”.  Also owed her a “Real Pizza”.

Of course one never “owes” things like trips and pizza, but a Grandma, especially this abuela not try to get everything for The Grands they want?

JU SO FONII!!!

Next post, Royalty gets to  #VisitWestVolusia  

And her proclamations are priceless.

BB2U