I had a allergy attack.

I had a red face with a nose full of bogers that was all yeseerday.

An experience Max will never forget.

Max had a horrifying reaction to his allergy injection today. He got his shots around 11:30 and by one his face was exceedingly red with a severe rash. He was coughing and trying to clear his throat.  His nose seemed stuffed up and he acted a little edgy. I called the doctor and was told to give him two teaspoons of Benadryl and then come immediately to the doctors. 

We arrived there around 1:30 and they rushed him back to a room.  Quickly the doctor checked his blood pressure, listened to his lungs. When the doctor asked Max if he could breath he looked into her eyes without a response. I spoke without thinking.  “You know Max has autism.” I looked at Max and asked him if he could breathe out of his nose.  He spoke with his hoarse voice.  “No I can’t.”

She gazed into Max’s eyes, “Max I need to give you an injection of epinephrine right away to counter act the injection you got earlier.  I told Max I would hold his hand while they give him a shot.  He squeezed my hand tight as if he was holding on to dear life and they gently poked a needle in his thigh. Within five minutes the redness in his face began to fade and his breathing got better. 

The doctor told me Max had Anaphylaxis. It’s when the throat swells and becomes very hoarse or whispered voice, or coarse sounds when the person is breathing in air.  Max had a couple of those symptoms.  He went into anaphylactic shock.  I felt hopeless watching him try to take a breath.

Today I could have lost Max.  I’m appreciative for the wonderful doctor and nurse who helped him recover from this horrible experience.  I’m thankful to my daughter and daughter in law who noticed his red face and reaction to the shot.  Max had been down in the basement playing on the computer and came up for a few minutes to see his nephew.  I had been cooking in the kitchen and would have never noticed his face without them telling me. Tonight I will not sleep.  My thoughts will be on dear sweet Max.  I am sure I will travel up the stairs a billion times to check on him. I'm blessed that he is here so I can make that journey up the stairs to see him resting in his bed.  To have lost him would have been like someone swiftly ripping my heart out.  We love you Max.  We love your sweetness, love and compassion for everyone. 

Oh, Max prayed last week for dinner and blessed those that made the bagel bites, that they would be safe and happy. Last week I asked Max to take some presents I had wrapped upstairs.  As he picked up each gift and carried in out of my room he said, “Mom God will bless you for buying me presents.”

Twice in the past couple of weeks he has been asking me random questions some are harder for me to answer and some have been surprising.  He asked me who my first boyfriend was, what his name was and how old is he.  He asked me if he has any brothers or sisters and do I talk with him anymore.  I told him he doesn’t like me and that I haven’t spoken to him almost thirty years.  He looked into my eyes with a firm smile.  “I think you need to pray and ask God to make you friends again.” 

The sweet same question he asked often is “What does blessing mean?”   

Another of Max playing his viola.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnk9CcsY8II&feature=youtu.be

Max playing his viola in school concert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGwaKf2m_Bs&feature=share

A heart felt gift.

I was taken back when I saw Christmas wrapping paper rolled out on my bed.  A large piece had been unevenly cut out.  I ran down the stairs and asked those who were seated around the kitchen table. “Did anyone wrap a gift today?”  Those that had swallowed their food answer quickly.  “No.”  I dropped the question and search in the cabinet for a pot to make orange chicken (Max’s favorite). 

Within seconds after I entered Max’s bedroom after cleaning the kitchen, I discovered on his brown desk a wrapped gift.  I picked it up and observed the torn piece of Christmas wrapping paper with Max’s hand writing plastered down with scotch tape, to Alex from Max.   I glanced down at Max seated on his bedroom floor playing with Lego’s.  “Max what did you wrap for Alex?”  Max jump up and grabbed the gift.  “Mom, that’s one of my walkie— talkies for Alex.  I want him to have it, so we can talk to each other after we move away.”  My heart softened after I realize Max is beginning to make friends.  Alex is one of his classmates that lives down the street and has been in Max’s self—contained autistic class since kindergarten.   I tip—toed over to Max’s bed trying not to step on his Lego’s.  I sat on the edge of his bed and prayed for a way to explain that his walkie—talkies only work a mile away from each other.   His eyebrows drooped and his lips shriveled as he looked into my eyes.  I’m sure to ask, why not.  He placed the gift on the corner of the desk and acted as thought he understood.  I sensed he didn’t.

Watch and listen to Max's answers. .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEYJZE1SBKw

Max's Talk

Max gave a talk in primary yesterday.  Tears escaped my eyes as I listen to him read his talk. It was the first time he gave a talk without me helping him. It’s hard to believe a year and half ago he couldn’t read at all. Now he can read, write, and loves math. The way I wrote his talk was by asking how he tries to be reverent at church, home and school. When you read the talk it’s his own words of how he tries to be reverent.  

Max’s talk

My talk is on how reverence for God helps me respect and love others.

First I want to tell you what reverence means. It's when you have a feeling or attidude of deep respect with a regard for others. Reverence makes you feel calm, happy, and have peace.

When I'm reverent I feel excited, because of a happy feeling I have.

Here are some ideas on how I have tried to be reverent.

At church the way I try to be reverent is by being quiet, seated nicely, not running in the church building, I know if I ran in the church building it would make God sad.  I try to listen to the teachers and read scriptures. When I think of Heavenly Father it helps peace dwell my heart and I can behave easier.  

When I’m at home I try to be reverent by not hitting others, by doing what my mother and dad tells me.  When my parents ask me to clean my room or clean the table I do it right away.  When I pray and read scriptures it helps me to feel God near.  I only listen to music that God when want me to hear. I only watch movies that invite a good spirit and not a bad one. I try always to tell others thank you or you’re welcome because it helps me feel closer to Heavenly Father.

At school I try to be reverent by not hitting or saying bad words. I try not to say things that will hurt others feelings. I listen to my teacher, even though it’s hard sometimes.  When my teacher gives me a school work I try to do it.  I try to never yell or scream at others. Even at school I always try to say thank you to my teacher and friends. I know it helps me to be grateful.

When I get upset with my school teacher or friend I take a deep breath and breathe in and breathe out. I pray for help to be nice. I think of primary songs that have words that will help me chose the right.  Like the song,” I tried to be kind to everyone for that is right you see, so I say to myself remember this, kindness begins with me.”

It is not enough to behave reverently; we must feel it in our hearts.  Reverent behavior without a reverent attitude is empty of meaning if it is performed only for the praise from others.

When I am praying, going to church and living the commandments I’m showing reverence to God.  When I show reverence to God it helps me have a desire to respect and love others. 

Reverence is something we feel inside no matter what is going on around us. It is a personal responsibility. We cannot blame others for disturbing our reverent attitudes.

When I’m reverent I feel calm and relaxed.  I’m thankful for a loving Heavenly Father and for Jesus Christ who are an example of how I should be.  I hope each one of us can be an example to others by showing reverence to our Heavenly Father.