Category Archives: Autism

My Autism Story, Part 8 – The Ugly Nobody Talks About.

Posted on September 8, 2022 | Leave a comment
They understood each other.

Today I want to share a passage I wrote while I was in the trenches. Please know I would not change my children for the world. They are EXACTLY who God created them to be. This was a time in my life that I was struggling and lost and felt so very alone. While the rest of my friends and cousins my age were out building empires and getting degrees, I was trying to find my footing in a world that didn’t know how to help. I wasn’t able to get a babysitter, go out with friends, or leave the house. I don’t want you to feel sorry for me. I am just trying to bring awareness. Maybe you have been here. Maybe you have felt guilty for having feelings like these. It’s okay, friend. I’ve been there too.

~~~~~~~~~~ You may want tissues, I cried while typing.

Autism SUCKS! It is inconvenient, socially inappropriate, and INTENSE. As a parent, it was heartbreaking to me at first. It put a HUGE toll on & ended my already broken marriage.

Now, being a “parent” meant more than putting your kids first. It meant stopping your whole “YOU” to dedicate every single second, yes second… to a person who won’t look at you, can’t talk to you, and has no awareness of anything around them. A person YOU CREATED – with no acknowledgment of your hard work. No progress to “report”. Nobody around you understands. There is no way for anyone to even comprehend. Unless you are physically “in the trenches”, pouring your soul into that what you love most & seeing almost no results.

I am mad. I am bitter and angry and have resentment towards EVERY SINGLE PERSON who isn’t in my shoes.

  • I am mad that Dad gets to leave the house and go to work. Or skip out on most of his “visitation days” to start dating again, while I am locked in my damn apartment trying to stay sane.
  • I am bitter that my friends have vanished. They are busy with playgroups and swim lessons and all the things we can’t effin’ do because just leaving the house puts my kids into a frenzied whirl that will affect us for days.
  • I am furious that “family” cannot handle my children or who I’ve become while in the trenches. “It’s a culture shock” “It’s too much” “You are mentally unstable.”
  • I am jealous (REALLY REALLY JEALOUS) that relatives are all having kids too, and they are all healthy ~ Reaching milestones, and getting to enjoy all the “firsts” that I don’t even know will ever come for me.

I feel like I am being punished. Why me?! Why not her? Her family has money to get more support than I have. Why not him? He did all sorts of crazy shit growing up that may inflict bad genes.

What did I do so wrong to have my life’s freedom stripped away so intensely that I cannot even go get a cup of coffee? Why do I have to watch my son scream with anger and hold him down so he doesn’t hurt himself or us – just because he couldn’t get toys to stack the way he wanted? Why does this feel like a life sentence?? I love my children with my entire being and my love isn’t enough. I cannot make the anger stop. I cannot get the screaming to stop. I cannot get the … Autism… to stop.

So on top of all this loathing – let’s bring on the judgment of the “Experts”.

Every single Autistic person is different, and the world does not even know what causes autism or the best way to “handle it.” ( I say that rolling my eyes). Our house was Grand Central Station with therapists, case workers, etc… All wanting to try things that “might work”. Me saying: “Yes, we will try anything.” because I had fear within that the one thing I didn’t try would be the “cure” to it all. Pretty soon you’ve got an exhausted Momma on anti-depressants who cried alone regularly.

One day I was sitting at the dining room table looking at the list of people who were supposed to come that day for the kids and I just closed my eyes. I was at the end. I was way past overwhelmed and struggling to maintain. This wasn’t me being a good Mom. This was me doing what society says I should, at all costs for my children. But was it worth us being rundown and weak? Why would my kids want to interact with anyone who was trying to change them? Isn’t there a better way to help them grow and find themselves? I then started crossing people off my list.

  • Is this working for either of my kids?
  • Have I seen improvements, even small ones?
  • Are they happy while doing it?
  • What areas did they enjoy that brought them into our world?
  • What was I doing just because “someone” said it worked for “someone” somewhere out in the world and they wanted to use my kids as guinea pigs to see if they could get it to work too?
  • Whose best interest was a priority? My children or the “experience” this would give someone with this Autism thing.

Don’t get me wrong, I know it is trial and error for each child, but how long do you keep trying? How many months/years can they scream in protest with me just watching? I was shamed for this. I was told I was making a mistake of a lifetime. I was “that Mom” when talking to therapists. The one who didn’t know… didn’t love enough … and was being selfish. Hindsight, I think they were upset they lost a client more than the well-being of my children that they claimed.

It is normal to have a limit on what we are able to endure. No matter what anyone EVER tells you… You as the parent know what is best for YOUR child. I am not a bad parent or weak for stopping half of the therapies. I am not a bad parent for wanting them to learn through play, even if it is parallel play. I do believe early intervention is the most important time. I gave two years of my life slaving away at it because I love my children more than ANYTHING in this world. As much as my family calls me “Super Mom”, “Warrior Mom” or “Wonder Woman”, as many capes as I have in my closet, I am still human.

#ThursdayAutismAwareness
I will be sharing Autism testimony every Thursday.
I have 21 years of experience.

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Posted in 2022, Autism, depression, Love, My Autism Story

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My Autism Story, Part 7 – And Then There Were Two.

Posted on September 1, 2022 | Leave a comment
My whole world.

I remember taking Preston to the pediatrician and voicing concerns about Preston also showing signs of Autism. Maybe I had a heightened sense of awareness, maybe I was looking for it since I felt I had failed my first child when I didn’t know something was wrong.

At the appointment, the doctor walked in and said “Hello, I hear we have concerns that Preston has delays as well. I have NEVER heard of any family having more than one autistic child in their family, but let’s see what we’ve got here”

8 months later we had a second diagnosis.

I would also like to share that about a year later that same pediatrician said to me “It’s not surprising at all, I read about many families with multiple children on the spectrum” This is when I knew, I was paving the way in more ways than one.

The beautiful and terrible thing about Autism is that each person is different. What works for one, might not for another. Where one struggles, the next may excel. I know many parents hate when there are “Rain Man” references, but that is what was said a LOT to describe his personality. Especially in my eyes, he was BRILLIANT – compared to everything I had experienced with my daughter.

But with the good came the bad. My son wasn’t happy. At least with Trinity, there was laughter and smiles within “Trinity World”. She had joy. Preston seemed uncomfortable within his own skin. He had a constant state of anxiety or rage bubbling. He was quick to anger – not just to others, but to himself.

He also was frickin’ Houdini! He would run faster than Speedy Gonzales. After my first marriage ended, I was living in an apartment. I had a deadbolt lock, chain lock, AND a keyed lock from the inside (I wore the key around my neck). I remember one winter day I had just brought stuff home from the store and had to use the bathroom right away. I locked the deadbolt and chain, but couldn’t wait to do the key. I ran to the bathroom and less than a minute later I hear the door slam. I RAN! That little stinker pulled a dining room chair to the door, unlocked the locks, and ran away in less than 60 seconds – HE WAS 4 years old!! And he was gone! In a diaper, in the winter cold. I looked for 3 minutes and called the police right away! He was found 15 minutes after the police came and that was the scariest thing I’ve ever been through in my life.

I have a lot to share about my experiences with Preston, but I think it’s best to spread them out. Behavioral health is tricky and resources were nonexistent. He has had a hard journey and it wasn’t because he was bad. It was just how he was made. **Spoiler ** He turns out just fine. I just like to focus on the positives. We all have our ish right?!

These two were my only priority. I lived and breathed FOR them. If not me, then who?

#ThursdayAutismAwareness
I will be sharing Autism testimony every Thursday.
I have 21 years of experience.

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My Autism Story, Part Six.

Posted on August 25, 2022 | 1 comment
Talking, No Talking, Talking.

When Trin was young, she said “Mum Mum”, “baa baa” and “Up”. Around 15 months of age, she stopped. No more words. She didn’t speak again until she was 4 & a half. We started using sign language. Simple things like “more” “all done” “yes” and “no”.

One of the therapies she took was Oral Motor. Definition: Oral-motor exercises are specialized exercises that aim to improve the strength, control, and coordination of the oral muscles (tongue, lips, vocal folds, and the jaw).  She would chew & bite on devices and there were sensory things like tiny sponges on a stick that we would dip in juice and rub on the side of her mouth. Honestly, the staff was amazing and the lady developing this 20 years ago was groundbreaking and determined to help.

During these therapies, we realized that Trin was unable to “blow”. She wasn’t able to control the breath escaping her mouth which was probably why she wasn’t talking. (Or we prayed it was that “easy”)

She must have been able to before if she spoke before, right? So much is unknown as to WHY this skill was lost.

We did 20-minute sessions twice a day. Our house was filled with bubbles, horns, and party blowers. We had milk with straws at every meal and would encourage her to try blowing bubbles in her milk. We would play “Happy UnBirthday” weekly to see if she would blow out the candles. This went on for almost 2 years.

Then one day I was in the living room and I hear a squeaking noise. I get up and start looking around the house and I remember stopping in the hallway and thinking “Oh My Goodness… Could it be?!!?” Sure enough, Trinity was sitting in her closet blowing a toy horn!!!

A week later, she called me “Mum Mum”. I never knew if I’d ever hear those words again. 💙💛💚

#ThursdayAutismAwareness
I will be sharing Autism testimony every Thursday.
I have 21 years of experience.

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19 Years Young

Posted on August 22, 2022 | 2 comments
Preston James Sanders

This past weekend, my middle little turned 19 years old. Preston is my most polite child. All of my children have good manners but he is EXTREMELY polite. Every Single Time we are in a social setting since he was 5 years old, I have been told how polite he is.

Preston is also my child who struggled the most to be inside his own body. He has had a very difficult journey and has come so far! He is witty and creative and so so kind. He puts everyone else’s needs before his own. He has a gift for music. He has been asked to sing the National Anthem multiple times since he was 10 years old. Sporting Events, School Events, City Events ~ He is in demand. He is also my piano player and often gifts me music on my birthday and Christmas that he performs.

Preston was a twin and I lost his sibling early in the pregnancy. I remember praying for him to hold on, and stay strong. After he was born, I always had a lingering feeling that Preston’s twin was still meant to be. Maybe in my future. After he too was diagnosed as Autistic, I still held onto that feeling. My family thought I was nuts! “Tiffany! You have 2 Autistic kids, you do NOT need more on your plate!”

Growing up I always wanted 10 kids. I gave up that dream after Trinity was Diagnosed, but I was already pregnant again with Preston. I just knew with my entire being that there was one more. I was a foster parent for a few years and made a difference, but that wasn’t where I was supposed to be.

10 years later I was married to someone new & that’s when the baby came. The baby I KNEW I was supposed to have. Now I was done.

I share this story because I want you to know – Preston is BEST FRIENDS with this delayed sibling. You wouldn’t even know there are 10 years between them. His Autism makes him the same “age”. They enjoy the same things, play the same video games and watch the same movies. When Preston goes to a store while in transition academy (A daily skills school for disabled adults) he ALWAYS gets something for his little brother.

God makes no mistakes. It also confirms to me to trust my gut.

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My Autism Story, Part Five.

Posted on August 18, 2022 | Leave a comment
My Bathing Beauty

Me: “Hi Mom! The doctor just called and said the baby does not have down syndrome and she’s a GIRL!”

Mom: “Oh Tiffany I am so happy. Thank Goodness!”.

Me: “I am so excited! A baby Girl! YAY! Time to buy Pink tutus!! Will you let everyone up there know we have a healthy baby girl on the way please?”

Mom: “Yes, I will call Grandma first! This is such wonderful news!”

I think about this conversation often. I was one of the many women who had a false positive alpha-fetoprotein test. I had an amniocentesis to check the baby’s risk of birth defects and genetic disorders, such as neural tube defects or Down syndrome. I remember hanging magazine pictures of children and babies with down syndrome on my kitchen cabinets. I was ready to love my baby no matter how she was born & was processing it all in my head.

After the call, I thought the worst was over. I assumed I was in the clear.

How naive? Presumptuous? How wrong I was to think those were the only defects that were on the table. Maybe just inexperienced? Young? Maybe I just thought I was “Untouchable” because my entire family was healthy.

Looking back I see how insignificant I am. How limited my knowledge is. God trumps all of my plans. Life is never what we think it will be.

And yet, everything is perfect.

This was the first of many situations in that I began to realize we are all part of something bigger where anything is possible. Odds are bigger than they seem and I am not exempt from anything. But with each wave, I will flow with it all.

#ThursdayAutismAwareness
I will be sharing Autism testimony every Thursday.
I have 21 years of experience.

SOMETHING NEW! 👇

Question of the DAY!

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School, ugh. IEPs, merp.

Posted on August 15, 2022 | Leave a comment
It’s that time of year again…

One of the biggest challenges I’ve had in my adult life is the struggle it is to have open communication with schools. Throw in IEPs and teachers who get personally offended when I ask questions and you have an armageddon.

This isn’t an “Autism” post per se because my youngest was diagnosed with Pervasive Development Disorder – PDD. Diagnosis is different from 20 years ago – now there are a million labels under the umbrella of “Autism Spectrum Disorder”.

School stuff causes me extreme anxiety. I’ve been doing IEPs for 17 years (my daughter got her 1st one at 3 years old and she is now 20). I know the policies and procedures and rules and laws. You would be surprised how many people are placed in a position they know NOTHING about and expect the parents to just sign. “Just sign it, it’s fine.”

  • I was supposed to give you a 10-day notice invitation to discuss the IEP, but I gave you 24 hours. “Just sign it, it’s fine.”
  • Even though I am about to wave your rights and say you declined to show. “Just sign it, it’s fine”
  • And we are going to leave everything the same as it was last year since you aren’t here to talk about it and that is what is easiest for us. “Just sign it, it’s fine.”
  • I have 60 more of these to do – and even though it’s MY JOB – which I wouldn’t even have if it wasn’t for your children, let’s just move along to the next kid. “Just sign it, it’s fine”

Oye Oye Oye~ !!!

Xander is going into third grade and this is the first year he would be eligible to be “held back”. He also has more testing this year than he has ever had in his school career. He is not mainstream (grade level skills) ~ YET. I knew all of this coming into the year and it had a great influence on my decision to walk away from my job. Last year it was difficult to run my business while spending hours a day making sure he comprehended the daily lessons. I know firsthand that early intervention is EXTREMELY important and while he is young, it is the most crucial time to get him caught up. My kids will always be my #1 priority and I couldn’t do it all.

The whole reason I share this topic today is that I had a chaotic morning with school stuff. Xander was moved to a different school a few days ago by accident which spiraled into a whole mess of Speech/Occupational Therapy and regular classes tornado cluster. I reached out to the new teachers, praying I wasn’t the annoying “in their face” parent. Even I hate that parent. But I had no idea what to do and it is my responsibility to get Xander into his classes. The new teachers were so kind. (enneagram 2 or 9’s I think LOL) and figured it all out. And they gave me a small bit of news that the “Just sign it, it’s fine.” lady NO LONGER works at the school! PRAISE GOD!

I walk into each school year with kindness in my heart, wanting to get along and work as a team to get my kids the best education that works for them, and I was terrified this mess would ruin these brand new relationships for the rest of the year.

My point: Hey Autism parents, I see you. I know sometimes it’s easier to get along and to “Just sign it, it’s fine.” and let them read to you what they think is best. But I am giving you permission to ask questions if things don’t seem right. I am cheering you on if you think there is an error OR you have a better idea and you bring it up! It is NOT disrespectful to want to understand what the plan is for our children and honestly, WE ARE NOT THERE TO MAKE FRIENDS. No matter how much we want people to like us, our responsibility is to our children, and their education – that trumps all. The IEP laws are in place to PROTECT our kids. To give the parents an opportunity to have a voice! We all know our children better than anyone else claims to. It’s wicked uncomfortable and causes mass anxiety, but God gave us these kids to protect, defend and set them up for success. I believe in you!

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Pippi and the Trip to New York, Part 2.

Posted on August 5, 2022 | Leave a comment
The image was drawn by Preston Wakeman. Pippi talking with Lumière.

(Cut to everyone hanging on pieces of wood while being drifted to a beach.)

Pippi: Is everyone alright?

Bigwig: (coughing) Barely!

(Cut to Mickey on the beach wringing out his hat.)

Mickey: Since everyone is alright do You know where we are?

(Mort throws up sand from his mouth as soon as he got up)

Mort: New (gags) York?

Bigwig: Does this look like New York to you? (Cut to the area which turns out to be a vast city with skyscrapers and billboards.)

Mort: Yes?

Fiver: It is lucky that we made it to our destination.

Pippi: You’re right Fiver!

Bigwig: Well, what are we standing here for? Let’s go already!

(Cut to Everyone staring in awe at the sights and buildings in the city.)

Ord: Look at all that food!

Mickey: The streets are cleaner than I thought they would be.

Fiver: OH MY GOSH!!

Bigwig: What is it fiver?! A vision?

Fiver: No! I saw a billboard that said diapers and baby wipes are fifty percent off! (Bigwig tried his best not to strangle Fiver)

Pippi: The sights are so beautiful!

Mort: THERE SHE IS! (Cut to the Statue of Liberty while Romeo and Juliet by Tchaikovsky play in the background. Mort imagines the Statue of Liberty winking at him and preparing to kiss him, But before that happens Bigwig slapped Mort to his senses.)

Mort: Sorry.

Ord: Gee there sure are a lot of buildings but no giant apples.

Pippi: Don’t worry Ord! As the person who brought us on this vacation, I am determined that all of our wishes will come true!

Bigwig: Well before that can we stop at a hotel to rest? My feet are killing me!

(Everyone went to a room in a hotel after Pippi gave the clerk a gold coin for payment. Mickey, Mort,

and Fiver are jumping on one of the beds while bigwig takes a shower.)

Mickey: Whoopee!

Mort: Wheeee!

Fiver: All this jumping is making me feel (gags) a bit nauseous… (Fiver threw up on the bed causing Mickey and Mort to hop off the bed. Bigwig with a towel around himself, a shower cap on his head, and a rubber ducky came out of the shower only to find the mess.)

Bigwig: Would you guys stop making so much noise?! It isn’t bad enough that Fiver had to puke on the bed but the constant screaming isn’t going to fix things!

Pippi: Mr. Nelson, could you take these sheets to the laundry room? Here’s some change…(Mr. Nelson grabbed the dirty sheets and headed to the laundry room only to use the change for snacks for himself instead.)

Pippi: While the sheets are being cleaned let’s watch some TV!

Newsman: We interrupted this program for some shocking news. A bad apple in the music industry is making his grand return right here in New York City for a concert after bribing the owner of the Big Apple Theater twenty bucks to host the show there. Stay tuned for more info.

Bigwig: This is boring! I wanna watch some war movies!

Mort: Well I want to watch The little ponies!

Fiver: It feels like there’s nothing on the television.

Ord: Say did you guys hear about the concert?

Bigwig: We already know that Einstein.

Ord: Well why don’t we go to that concert?

Pippi: That’s a great idea, Ord!

Fiver: Hold on Pippi I don’t think that’s a good idea.

Bigwig: For once Fivers right! Who knows if the singer in the concert would be a terrible person or a criminal?

Pippi: So what? We could still have a fun time once we get there today-

Mickey: Uhh guys you might want to see this… (Mickey showed that the date when the concert starts is tomorrow. Everyone except Bigwig and Fiver had a shocked expression on their faces.)

Everyone: WHAAAAAA?

Mickey: I’m just as disappointed as you guys are.

???: “Pssst hey you guys. Yes, you guys come here. (Everyone didn’t know what to do but Pippi not knowing the concept of stranger danger decided to look out the window to see who was calling them.)

** [P.S If someone you don’t know tells you to come here, tell them NO and run away to tell an adult you trust like a parent or a police officer about it!]

Pippi: Who are you?

Lumière: Bonjour my friends, it is I Lumière and I overhear you talking about a concert no?

Pippi: Well what a good coincidence! My friends and I want to go to a concert but the date says it will be coming out tomorrow and let’s just say some of my friends can’t wait for that long- (Cut to Mort chewing on the side of the bed, Mickey Scratching his face with foam in his mouth, and Ord huddled in a corner rocking back and forth sucking his thumb and having bloodshot eyes.) (Cut back to Pippi outside the window talking to Lumière.)

Pippi: -so let’s just say that waiting is very hard for us.

Lumière: Well then madam then you are in luck as I am inviting you to a totally legit not a scam or a trap of some kind early showing of The Kid from New Orleans!

Pippi: Wow sounds great! We’ll be there right now! Do you think you can toss a rope up here?

Lumière: Sure thing madam! (Lumière tosses up a long rope for the gang to climb down with. Pippi grabbed the rope and tied it to the side of the window. The gang climbed down one by one from smallest to biggest and once Ord got on to the rope, the rope snapped and Ord fell out of the window when Lumière wasn’t paying attention, Ord accidentally sat on top of Lumière splattering wax in the process. Luckily the gang remolded Lumière back together soon enough.)

Lumière: follow me to the show! (Bigwig hopped over to Pippi’s shoulder.)

Bigwig: I am very skeptical about the guy, I don’t know why but he seems suspicious- (Mort sings the Among us theme song.)

Bigwig: WILL YOU BE QUIET!!!!! (Mort zipped his lips as bigwig continued to talk to Pippi.)

Bigwig: What I mean is that it could be a trap.

Pippi: Oh nonsense Bigwig the walking candle knows where He’s going. (Bigwig hops off Pippi’s shoulder and follows them on foot.)

Bigwig: (sigh) (Pan over to the sign on the building saying Big Apple Theater.)

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My Autism Story, Part Three.

Posted on August 4, 2022 | 1 comment
Practically Perfect in every way.

The next 6 months were filled with intense early intervention.  This included speech therapy (individual and group), music therapy, behavioral health, occupational therapy, sensory integration, oral motor therapy, gluten-free diet, joint compression, brushing skin, the 3 days a week at school, and case management. 40+ hours a week inside and outside our home. I jumped in head first willing to do whatever it took to help my daughter beat the odds. 

October 18th, 2004  The day our lives changed, and yet nothing was different.

The 6th-month wait for the pediatric neurologist was over.  Trinity was diagnosed as severely autistic.  The appointment itself was a blur.  What I do remember is after it was over I sat on the curb of the parking lot of the clinic and cried my eyes out.  I focused on the curb as my mind raced.

 Why is this happening?  What did I do wrong?  What kind of life will she have?  Will she ever have her first dance? Kiss?  Are children and marriage for her completely out of the picture?  Will society ever be able to see the light inside her that shines the way I do?  Will she live with me forever?  Will she be happy?  Who will care for her when I am gone?  How can the sun be shining so bright and the day be so perfect?

I called my mom and she and I cried together.  She reminded me how much more will be available to her now with the diagnosis and that nothing has changed.  She is the same as she always has been.  Everyone’s initial reaction was sad, but then we all rolled up our sleeves and faced this new journey head-on.

#ThursdayAutismAwareness
I will be sharing Autism testimony every Thursday.
I have 21 years of experience.

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Tuesday, Twosday, Toosday.

Posted on August 2, 2022 | Leave a comment

I didn’t write yesterday. Well, actually that is a lie. I DID write, but it’s for the future as I’m still processing how I want to share a story. So the truthful statement would be that “I didn’t share yesterday.”

Today is Tuesday. For the past couple of years, I’ve had a love-hate relationship with Tuesdays. I know this is a false truth that is in my head because of the obligations that seem to fall on that day & maybe I’ve been fueling that fire with my unconscious mind to “prove” that Tuesdays are hard. (reticular activating system at its finest) Tuesdays usually consist of multiple therapies & errands. Hard errands. The type of errands you dread.

Tuesdays remind me of when I had to plan “grocery shopping” as a single mom with 2 autistic kids under 5. I legit had an “oh shit!” backpack for any possible scenario. The anxiety within to do this took all the energy I had. That’s probably a lie. It took more energy than I had to give. All three of us would be out of commission when we got home. It was so traumatic we would just make a blanket fort and hide the rest of the day. But this is a story for another day.

Today “Tuesday” I find myself tired. I may have stayed up too late watching Roswell, New Mexico on Netflix. However; my coffee is strong, my new cotton shorts are comfy and I’ve already done my Bible study so I feel I am ready.

I’m ready to pour kindness into those I meet. I am ready to smile with my eyes so BIG that even while wearing a mask, it makes others smile back. I am ready to remind a friend how valuable she is to her job and why it is OKAY to protect her space and stick up for herself. I am ready to cheer on another friend who is signing for a new house today and leaving memories of parents lost behind. I am ready to take my kids to the store to pick out new ice cream and soda for a party this weekend.

I am ready. Today is Tuesday. I am alive and have been given a chance to be the person that people need. A chance to do God’s work. Worst case scenario, I end up in a blanket fort tonight and that’s okay too!

P.S. there is a good thing about Tuesday: The newest episode of “Only Murderers in the Building” drops.

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Pippi and the Trip to New York.

Posted on July 29, 2022 | Leave a comment
Preston Wakeman
A Short Script by Preston

My children are so creative. Trin is a published author and Pres is on his way! Autism won’t stop them from being incredibly talented. Here is a script Preston wrote including the characters they play with daily. He is funny and clever and so aware of the world around him. Enjoy! oxox

(We see a beautiful vibrant meadow filled with flowers of all colors only for a lot of big paw prints to rapidly trample over the meadow making it into a gloomy forest.) (We cut to another scene where we slowly get close to a nice vacation home in Russia.)

Pippi: ah~ this is a lovely vacation home.

Bigwig: Yeah, despite almost freezing my tail off this is a really nice and warm house. (Immediately cut to Ord slamming the door wide open with bags of food.)

Ord: Anybody in here want some Whoppers from Burger King?

Everyone: Yay!

(Suddenly the power went out of the house.) (Mickey lights a match to see in the dark.)

Mort: Uh..what just happened?

Fiver: AHHH! I’M SCARED OF THE DARK!!!

Bigwig: Fiver be quiet. I’m sure it’s just a power outage.

Mickey: Well Somebody has to fix the power outside. (Everyone looks at Mr. Nelson who’s busy picking his nose to not notice a thing)

(Cut to outside where they force Mr. Nelson to fix the power much to Mr. Nelson’s dismay.)

Mort: I hope mister monkey can fix the lights soon.

Fiver: Yeah, any longer we’re in the dark and I’ll pass out from panicking!

Bigwig: I TOLD YOU TO BE QUIET!

(Fiver zips his lips as everyone huddled towards Pippi.)

Pippi: I know this place isn’t the type of place you would expect from a normal vacation home but won’t it be nice after staying here for almost a week we’ll be taking a real vacation in the worldly acclaimed New York City!

Pippi: Just imagine all the fun things that we could do once we get there!

Mickey: Like go shopping!

Fiver: Going to see broadway productions!

Mickey: Don’t you mean musicals?

Fiver: Yes that’s what I meant!

Bigwig: I want to get in fights with everyone in the city!

Mort: Bigwig that’s terrible!

Bigwig: Well what was your wish? To marry the Statue of Liberty?

Mort: No!…………yes.

Ord: My wish is to see the big apple that everyone’s talking about in New York.

Bigwig: Should I tell him?

Fiver: No, just let him have his fun.

Mort: What about you’re dream Pippi?

Pippi: My dream is to make everyone happy on this vacation.

Everyone: AAAAWW (Just then the power went back on only for them to feel an earthquake just outside the house) (Pippi and the others looked outside the window only to find impossibly giant black cats trying to cook Mr. Nelson over a fire like a goose.)

Bigwig: Oh no the lazy monkey is being cooked alive!

Pippi: No one messes with my friends, even if some of my friends are more reliable than others. (Pippi crashed out of the window and lifted up the big black cats.)

Pippi: Looks like you two need a bath asap! (Pippi threw the cats into the cold water where they were soaking wet and were so scared of her they ran off without their dinner.) (Pippi noticed that the fire had already been put out due to Mr. Nelson being so scared that he wet himself.)

Pippi: Looks like it’s finally time to go to New York after I give you a new change of clothes. (Mr. Nelson felt guilty but at the same time happy that Pippi was disgusted.)

(Cut to a ship leaving for New York and a line of passengers lined up to be on it.)

Mort: Wow, are we going to ride in that big fat ship?

Mickey: Well we had limited options to travel since Fiver gets airsick-

Fiver: Hey! It was because of the peanuts they served on the plane!!

Bigwig: Yeah right.

Mickey: -and all of us can’t fit in a train at the same time, not to mention the incident that occurred there-

Bigwig: That one time Ord decided to eat Taco Bell for the first time, the whole train smelled like farts for days!

Ord: What?

Fiver: Nothing!

Mickey: -That’s why the boat is our only option.

Pippi: ahh~ sailing the seas, charting the world, and exploring to our hearts’ content, reminds me of sailing with my father out in the ocean. (after the gang got their tickets they decided to stay in a room down below for tonight.)

Bigwig: You know, it was the fifth time those cats showed up at our old place back in Russia.

Fiver: I’ve heard some rumors that the population of cats in New York is down to none!

Bigwig: Fiver the only people who believe in rumors like that are flea-infested rats!

Bigwig: No offense Mickey

Mickey: None taken hot head.

Bigwig: WHY YOU LITTLE!! (Fiver and Mort restrain Bigwig from trying to attack Mickey) (When everybody calmed down they all decided to take a well night’s sleep)

Fiver: Ahh~ these pillows are so comfy! I wonder what brand are these?

Ord: I think those pillows are created for this ship.

Fiver: Really? What’s the ship called?

Ord: Uhh the Titanic the second?

Fiver: Ahh~ Titanic the second….. (Fiver’s eyes are suddenly open wide.)

Fiver: TITANIC THE SECOND!?!!? (The ship suddenly started shaking causing everyone to wake up)

Fiver: The ship is going to sink!

Bigwig: Come on Fiver even though it is called the Titanic the second they must have learned from their mistakes and are safer than the last one.

Speaker: Attention passengers the captain was busy playing Angry birds on the toilet and crashed the ship into an iceberg. Please report to the top of the boat where you’ll depart on smaller boats. Have a nice trip! (Everyone started panicking except for Bigwig and Pippi.) (Pippi whistled for their attention)

Pippi: Don’t worry guys, when I was with my father we had sunk a lot of ships and luckily we made it to a small boat just in time. All we have to do is to listen to what the speaker said and go to a boat. (Pippi and the others went to the top of the boat where lots of people are getting on boats) (Mort was having a hard time catching up to them until he slipped in a puddle and started sliding into the storm.)

Mort: AAAAAAAHH! Help meeee!

Pippi: Oh no I shouldn’t leave a friend behind! Mr. Nelson, hold on to the backpack I’m going to save mort.

Ord: Pippi Nooo! (Pippi was trying to look for Mort in the storm until she saw mort tangled up in the ropes of the mast)

Mort: Heeeeelp!

Pippi: Don’t worry Mort I’ll save you! (Pippi climbed up the rope until she almost lost her grip until Ord and the others helped her up!) (Even Mr. Nelson was helping by dressing up like a cheerleader.) (Once they reached Mort at the top of the mast it was too late to go back down as a huge wave was about to wash them off the boat!)

Everyone: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH! SPLASH!!

to be continued…

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