Friday

We got up early Friday morning to head to Sacramento for Mr N's endocrinologist appointment. Along the way Daddy reiterated to Mr N several times that we were going to the doctor but there would be no "ouchies" involved. We gave ourselves plenty of time for traveling to allow for any unexpected stops.

I checked Facebook to see what all of my friends were up to and was shocked to learn of the shooting in Connecticut. The rest of the trip I kept reading news articles and keeping Daddy up to date with what was happening. While we were in the waiting room they released the information that 20 children were dead along with 8 adults. Unbelievable.

We got called back into the exam room and waited for the doctor. Mr N was not very content to sit and wait, despite the super fun toys that I had in my purse for him. The nurse tried to bribe him with stickers but he just threw them on the floor. Once the doctor came in he introduced himself and said he'd do the physical exam then send one parent out with Mr N so the other could stay and discuss the results of the exam and the blood work that came in.

The exam only took a couple of minutes, Daddy then whisked Mr N out of the room while E and I awaited the news. While Mr N's TSH levels are low his thyroid is not swollen and his free T4 and his t3 levels are normal. At this point there will be no treatment and no diagnosis other than "abnormal" TSH. We were quite relieved and excited to find out that one health problem has been taken off of the table for now.

We also received the lab work back indicating his hemoglobin has raised from 6.5 to 8.1 so it is rising, thankfully this has all been done with changing his diet. I couldn't even bring myself to post the news of Mr N's blood tests on Facebook after the tragedy in Newtown, CT. How could I possibly share good news or be happy when so many children just lost their lives?

We departed Sacramento to being our journey home, we stopped for lunch and both kids ate quite well. Mr N must have been hungry because he couldn't wait for his food to cool off before digging in. He ate all of his and some of sissy's.

We arrived home and followed the coverage of the news regarding the tragedy in Connecticut. How could someone slaughter children? How am I supposed to send my baby to a public school? The very first thing that bothered me when I went to the school for the initial evaluation was that there was absolutely no security in place. I walked past the gym, several classrooms and right into the preschool room. How is that ok? How is that supposed to make me feel safe enrolling him into school?

I realize that the chance of being in a mass shooting is less likely than being struck by lightening, but don't we take precautions to avoid being struck by lightening? Don't we avoid playing in thunderstorms? Don't we take every precaution to avoid premature death?

The shooting at the Sandy Hook elementary school shook me to my very core, these are children quite close to my children's ages, my nephews and nieces ages, my friends' kid's ages, etc. How can we protect our kids?

As the news reports came out there were cries for tighter security, armed guards at the school, banning of firearms and ammunition. But none of those things caused Adam Lanza to kill those children. He didn't kill those babies because of lax security, he didn't kill those children because there wasn't a security guard, he didn't kill them because he had a gun. He was severely mentally ill.

The speculation that Adam Lanza had autism was like a punch to the stomach. Autism did not make Adam Lanza kill. I have yet to read any official diagnosis, but it doesn't stop family, friends, neighbors, newscasters from speculation. They did the same with James Holmes. Autism has enough stigma as it is, these children suffer enough as it is, they don't fit in well with their peers, they struggle all their lives, now they are also known as ticking time bombs just ready to go on a mass killing spree. Exactly what every parent with a child that has Autism does not need, what every person with autism does not need.

Wild speculation rarely benefits anyone. I really wish that people could focus on facts rather than assumption and fear.

While reading about Adam Lanza and the shooting I came across a mother whose son has severe mental issues. I can't imagine being in her shoes and hope that I'll never know the fear and pain she endures trying to raise her beloved son. Here is her blog, it is worth a read. http://anarchistsoccermom.blogspot.com/

Mass shootings always elicit blame, fear and panic. Everyone agrees something has to change to prevent these tragedies from occurring. Banning guns will not prevent massacres. Armed security guards will not prevent massacres. Locking up autistic children will not prevent massacres. Only God has the ability to stop the senseless killing, and he will. The Bible promises a time when death, pain and suffering will be no more. It is impossible for God to lie, he will follow through with his promises. He will rid the earth of evil.

Until evil is removed from the earth, we (humankind) have the moral obligation to assist those who are weak. These mentally ill individuals need help, they need treatment, and they need to be protected.

I would be remiss to not mention the precious children in China who were attacked by a knife wielding man. While there was no loss of life, those children will likely suffer for years from the brutal attack. Twenty-two children slashed and sliced by another mentally unstable individual. They will carry emotional and physical scars for the rest of their lives. My heart goes out to those precious littles and hope they have the support they need to begin the recovery process.

It absolutely terrifies me when autism is blamed for killing. There is such a misconception about autism, there have been countless parents who kill their autistic children out of fear for their future and that of the child. Stephanie Rochester killed her 6 month old because she was afraid he had autism. He was six months old.

This tragedy has prompted more hugs for my kids, possibly to the point of annoyance as E said Friday night "one hug at a time, mom". Parents everywhere were giving extra hugs and snuggles, ever aware of how precious our children's lives are and how quickly it all can change.

Saturday we took a break from the media and social networking, we got some stuff done around the house and Daddy didn't even complain when I wanted to rearrange the living room. Three times. He's such a good sport.