Milestones.

For Easter my family and my cousins spent the weekend in Hershey, PA. Home of the Hershey chocolate world. (even though some of us don't like chocolate) Scott and the family came to watch Amanda's last game being in the new-stars game.

Amanda got two assist during the game and was nominated for D1 Sportswoman of the Year.

BUT!
That's not the main reason for this post. So the title of this post is Milestones and here's one we can put in the book (when we write one).

My mom told me a story about before my cousins and I got to the rink. My dad, mom and Scott were out to lunch and my dad asked the waitress her name and then my dad said "This is Scott." Right after my dad said that Scott says, "Emily (I think that was her name) this is my mom."

Scott has never introduced one of us to another person. I'm so proud of him for introducing his momma to someone else. This is a HUGE Milestone for my baby brother!

Also, Softball is starting and I think that's Scott's favorite sport that he plays (besides Hockey of course). He loves hitting the ball over the fence and catching the ball. Well if you know Scott you know that he has more shoes than a girl. (You think we're kidding but we're not) Have you ever tried to find size 15 shoes? (Yes you read that right 15!) It's not that easy especially when Scott is picky about his shoes. One of the requirements is they have to be the color Red. (probably why he roots for the capitals.) Today Scott got his new Softball cleats & yes they are Red!

Here they are!











So WE HAVE A SPECIAL SHOUTOUT TO OUR BABY SISTER, LAURA WHO IS TURNING ANOTHER YEAR OLDER TOMORROW! 

I wish I could be there to celebrate at IHOP but I'll be home in two weeks to celebrate.

If you see this weirdo tell her happy birthday & give her a birthday punch for me. (just kidding don't do that. we don't condone violence :)

Not everyone will understand.

Here's your warning. You will need some tissues. I know I did. 

Over the years I've come to realize that not everyone will understand. From the time my brother and I were little to now it's gotten easier. We've learned how to deal with it. As a sibling of a person with a disability you want to help them in every way you can but there are some instances that you can't. For me it's hard hearing these stories and not being able to be there for my brother because of the distance. When my mom told me this story my friend and I immediately broke into tears.

Not everyone will understand why your kid screams at the top of his lungs in the middle of the restaurant when he looks old enough to talk. Not everyone will understand why your kid hits himself, flaps his arms or has ticks. Not everyone will understand why it takes him a couple minutes to answer your question, repeats the same thing over a couple of times and not know how to word their sentences.

Not everyone will understand. They just won't. Even if we educate them. They just won't understand. It's a whole different world living with someone with a disability. That they will probably never have a chance to see. That's one important lesson I learned.

When I was younger I used to hate to go out with my brother because his way of communicating was to scream. I remember one time we went out to dinner and my brother started screaming. A lady who was near us said to the person she was with, "Why can't they control their child?" Not knowing my brother had Autism. Not knowing that it was his way of communicating. Scott didn't start speaking until he was 8 and now he talks up a storm.

Scott and I got to go to high school for a couple of years together. I'm so grateful for going to Park View because a lot of the students accepted Scott. One day while I was in lunch I saw him walk by and give someone a high five, say hi and had the biggest smile on his face. He loves to give high fives and make people smile. That's what he's good at. You could have had the worst day ever and Scott would give you a high five and say hi.

This weekend my mom, my sister and brother came to Pennsylvania for our two cousin's baptisms. My brother is not known for crying but when he does he is upset or sad. At this time I could understand why he's upset. In the past two years we have lost our Aunt Barb and our grandpa. It's been a hard time for Scott to comprehend. It's been another hurdle we had to jump over. Not being in this situation before it was a rough one. I think he is starting to realizing that they are no longer with us. My mom had to pull Scott out of church so he could cry and well.. Here's how my mom put it.

My family and I have never been really religious because my brother couldn't sit through a church service.

Sometimes we just need to cry and if I was there with my brother I would have probably cried with him. It's hard seeing all the pictures that they took and not seeing my aunt or my grandpa. I will admit. I can't imagine what is going through Scott's head. It breaks my heart seeing and hearing that he was crying and not really knowing how to put the words into terms that he can understand.

Sometimes people just don't understand & probably never will even if we do educate them.

Doing Big Things In Small Places.

This is your warning that you might need some tissues for this post.

One thing I love doing is telling people my experiences with my brother and how he's really grown from when he used to be a runner to now being so friendly to everyone. I was recently talking to a friend about my brother and how he has Autism. The one thing we said was "I'm sorry." I was really confused on why he would say that. Probably because he doesn't know the experiences we've been through and what life is like living with a person with a disability.

Looking back. A lot of things have happened with my brother. At the beginning I didn't want to go out with him because he would just scream but that would his way of communicating. I never understood why he did the things that he did. I told my friend that it was an experience that I'm really glad that I've had a chance to have. To be honest I don't know who I would be or what I would be doing with my life if I didn't have my little brother. We've been through every thing and every where. I've met so many people who I wouldn't have the chance to if I wasn't involved in Special Olympics and Special Hockey.

I do always wonder what my brother is thinking. How he can know every little detail that you and I can't see. It's amazing. He can even tell you what car is coming from them coming opposite way and in the pitch dark. I do miss those days where my brother was on the bench saying "do not let them score!" It still plays in my mind every time I put on my jersey.

I love hearing my brother over the phone. Whenever I'm having a day just hearing about his day even if he only talks to me for a couple seconds I love it. He always says, "Gotta go. Love you too. Bye." then hands the phone to whoever before I can even say it back.

My friend also asked me what my brother would be doing after high school. That will be a new experience that we will have to see. It's another curve in life that I truly don't have the answer to. Only time will tell what will happen.. Scott keeps telling everyone that he is going to marry a girl named Michelle and have three kids (he has names for them but they keep changing.) and when he's 65 he's going to move to Tampa, Florida near his best friend John. I really hope that one day it will happen.

One experience I think I would have never had without having my brother is being the Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference (DVCHC) Special Hockey Liaison. What that means is I'm the middle man for the teams and the special hockey teams. It's a great way to get the players out in the community and I'm really excited to get to do this my senior year of college. A lot of the girls are really excited to do it.

Our first Special Hockey/DVCHC partnership will be a meet-n-greet before the Slippery Rock at The Naval Academy. More details will come soon. :) I can't wait to see my Cool Cats if some of them come.

So watch out world, Scott and I are taking it by storm.

What i'm going to miss the most.

It's only 5 days until I move into my new home.
As Scott would say, "MOM! I not move to PA. I stay in Virginia with Laura."
Two things I'm going to miss about my home.
Scott burning popcorn (okay maybe not so much) and
hearing Scott in the other room scream TWO OUTS! when he's playing Mario SuperSlugers on the wii.

I really don't know how we both will react when I leave, but we will probably see each other for my birthday/ first hockey tournament of the season.

As I said on facebook I will be putting up your Autism stories.
The story that everyone has & the ones that we look back on and laugh.

My personal favorite from Scott was when he was mowing the lawn he asked my mom if she could move the tree so he could finish. 

From Mrs. Wolf:

• Chris: "Santa Closet" (Santa Claus),
• "My brain is frozen!" (brain freeze), 
• "I want a tea kettle, Mom, just (handing me the laptop) type in w-w-w-dot-teakettle-dot-com!", 
• "Just go to the bank and they can give you MORE money!" (during a budgetary shortfall), 
• (after telling me he was running away to Florida, left the house, then came back 5 minutes later and knocked on the door) "I'm back!" "Yes, I went to Florida" "The hotel told me I had to have a major credit card!".

From Mrs. Williar:
         My husband got a text from his ex, who he shares a brilliant and beautiful son who is non-verbal and is on the spectrum. The text was the weather forecast for the next day and it was from his son :) 1st time ever..he got a text from him. Priceless!! We love our favorite little weatherman :)

From Mrs. Callihan:  
          Robert staring at a box of cheerios on top of fridge- "Cheerios come down please!!!" To which his Grammy replied" Let me know how that works for you!!"
          While out to eat at a restaurant with my friend and Robert, he has this thing about checking the bill to see if his order was listed first. Robert "Sprite, chicken, french fries....where's the ketchup?" To which my friend replies "Robert that's a condiment you don't pay for condiments!" Robert -"Ohh! Asia, Africa, North America, South America....." Turns out he was studying the continents in social studies!! Boy did we ever crack up! The whole restaurant was staring!!!!

One of my favorite stories to tell about when the Cool Cats started was about Robert. This is basically the only memory about us starting. 
    I was sitting in the locker room getting ready for Cool Cats and Robert had come into the locker room. I had said hi to him but he didn't say anything back & he looked mad at something. Then Mrs. Callihan opened the door with a big huge smile on her face saying hi to everyone. She put the bag down & started to get Robert ready to hit the ice. Well that wasn't what Robert wanted to do. He started having crying saying he hated hockey & he didn't want to be there. I got on the ice & a couple minutes later Robert had come out onto the ice. He skated his hardest & we had to push him off the ice because he wouldn't get off. To this day I do not know how Mrs. Callihan got Robert on the ice but I'm glad she did.  

I'm going to miss these moments espally with the Cool Cats. Every practice we have a new thing happen. One day I will make a book about all these stories. 

peace & love,
Amanda & Scott. 

Wow is it really August?

Hey guys.
Wow I can't believe it's August. There are many activities planned in the Brawley household. From doctors appointments, Going to Slippery Rock for me & Scott going to Chicago for Softball.
I had written down on the calendar when we were going to my grandparents house before leaving for Slippery Rock. For a while Scott has been saying these two things:
"Mom, How's Amanda?"
&
"Mom. August 24 Amanda moves to PA. I'm not moving to PA. I stay in Virginia with Laura."
I think if my mom hears that one more time she might scream.
He really hasn't said about going to Chicago for softbal;.

On Monday Scott & Johnny did there yearly activity of going to the water park. He really didn't talk about it that much but it seemed like he had fun.
On Tuesday I had to go to the knee doctor & ended up getting a shot. When I got home my mom told Scott that I got a shot & he screamed. "MOM I ONLY GO TO THE DOCTORS FOR CHECK UPS. NO SHOTS!!"
he really doesn't like shots.

Peace & Love,
Amanda & Scott

Summer 2011

Softball Season:
 This season Scott is on the Rangers & the All-Star team which will be going to Chicago,IL at the end of August. Scott's favorite thing about softball is getting to hit the balls over the other players so they have no way to get it. He also catches the balls and runs to the bases. Scott loves to cheer on his teammates by saying You can do it. In the outfield he runs to catch the balls so the other team doesn't score.

Johnstown,PA:
  While we were in PA I thought it was nice, cool & sometimes cold. On the other hand Scott thought it was hot and it was just right for him. We really liked spending the week up there and seeing all of the family. Scott played lots of games with our cousins Evan and Luke. In that week it was Evan's birthday and for his birthday we always play a friendly game of Kickball. When we were playing this game Scott broke his car when he tried to slide to one of the bases, but when mom came they went to Wal-Mart and got Scott 3 new ones. One of Scott's favorite moments was when we went with our cousins to play Galaxy golf. (which was inside the mall & was like glow in the dark golf) Scott, Laura & I got to spend a night at Evan & Luke's house were we watched some movies, played wii and played with there dog Maggie (which surprisingly Scott wasn't afraid of.)
  On 4th of July we went with Evan & Luke to Amber's house to set off fireworks and play some hockey with Alan. Lorrie made this really awesome dip that was kind of too hot for Scott so he made his ewww face & it was pretty funny. Scott wore out Amber & Alan's dog Max when him & Alan were playing hockey.

Scott with his new buddy Max.

Hockey:
Hockey? In summer? I guess hockey is never really over in our house. The saying "Is it October Yet?" Doesn't really apply to my family. We are gearing up for hockey camp at the end of August. The B team is doing a lot of shooting drills, passing drills, skating around & more. My dad got new sticks & circle things for the kids to pass with & more stuff came today..... but I can't tell you what they are you will just have to find out at practice.(:
   The C team is doing a lot with the sticks & circles too and the tires. That I know everyone loves. Both teams are really surprising me on what they are learning.


This coming week we are going to Virginia Beach (one of Scott's favorite place: The Beach) & knowning him we will be in the Water no matter how cold it is, but for right now we are going to watch the end of the Pirates game. So LET'S GO BUCCOS!!(:


peace & love,
Amanda & Scott.


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