August - Really?

Wow. I can't believe it is August already. In just four weeks Carson will start 1st grade and Fin will start preschool. June and July seem like a blur.

We have been having fun. Our fun is planned around all the summer activities and therapies but that is okay. I am used to it. We are all used to it.

Mia is almost 10 months and I can't believe it. I keep remembering what it was like last summer. I was pretty miserable with non-stop morning sickness and a crazy schedule. It is much easier this year, not being heavily pregnant.

That said, I am so sad that these first 10 months are already over. She is such a happy and easy baby. The first six months totally kicked my butt (with the colic) but now, she has become her own happy person and she fills my days with joy! It is always amazing to me that God chooses the perfect fit with each child. I feel like all three of my kids are perfectly chosen for our family.

Mia waves hello and good-bye. She says MaMa and more. She is funny and expressive too. She will be walking soon as she is into everything and pulls herself up whenever possible. Several times, she has stood on her own. Our life is about to get even busier!

Something happened to Griffin when he turned three. The easiest baby/toddler on the planet has turned into a bit of a monster. I have heard from many moms that three can be much harder than two and for us, that is very true.

I find that I am still very much a parent in training. Yes, Carson is six but again, I have never parented a neurotypical child so much of what Fin is doing, Carson never did and if he did it was combined with a thousand other things.

At three, Carson had little to no language at all so, I never had to deal with the sassy talk or constant negotiating. Believe me, I am grateful for it all. It is such a miracle (neurotypical development). By far, the years of three and four were the MOST challenging with Carson.

Fin has become very assertive, sassy and obstinate. All of these things can be difficult to deal with but when the temper tantrums are over, we can at least discuss what the problem is. It might sounds strange but to me that is a tremendous blessing.

Fin is beyond his age in language development and has the social skills of a much older child. I think this is what frustrates him. In his mind he is 7 or 8 and doesn't understand that he is only three years and three months.

Top it off with the fact that he is so stinking cute and well........ we have got some trouble on our hands;)

I know he is going to love preschool and needs the classroom stimulation and social interaction with other kids. He absolutely loves going to hockey class and if he does as well in preschool as he has these past five weeks, he will be very successful.

Fin is also really looking forward to continuing with his hockey lessons and is already signed up for Soccer as well. We will probably add some gymnastics in the winter since he has been asking all summer when he can go back.

In the mean time, I eat him up and enjoy what little bit is left of his babyhood. He still is very much my baby and I enjoy every second of it.

On another note, Carson went to Vacation Bible school for the first time last week. It could not have gone better. He LOVED it. Jay and I are so protective and it can be really hard for us to try new things and let him grow up but we bucked up on this one and let him go. It was an affirmation for me to let him go. Let him grow up. It was an awakening in me that he can do it.

There was nothing sweeter than hearing Carson announce to everyone that he had Bible school that day and aside from the very loud cheering and singing in the ending group session, he could not have done better.

While at VBS, Carson lead his group in the halls. He answered questions about what God created and got to put a special sticker on the wall. He participated in the games and activities and loved the songs in the small group sessions.

This success has helped Jay and I plan for his fall activities. Of course he will have his therapies twice a week but he will also continue to have his horseback riding. In addition he will be taking drama classes and starting a sport through OU Cares. We are not sure if he will be in soccer or T-Ball yet but it will be one of the other.

One neat thing. The drama classes he will be going to are the same ones I started with when I was a kid. As Lou Fazzini (program director) said, he is the second generation of the original group. To me that is very cool. I love Lou and have known him since I was a little girl. To know that Carson is going to get to experience all that I did, makes me very happy.

Again, I have to let go and let him try. I can't hover over him all of his life. I just keep thinking, baby steps, baby steps. They are for me, not him. He is ready and willing to go. And my heart breaks a bit while at the same time it swells with great pride of the awesome, amazing kid he is. Four years ago, I never would have dreamed all of this would be possible.

So, our schedule gets busier but it is all good things. I realize this post has been all over the place. That is what happens when I try to write something in about ten minutes that should be done in three or four different posts. Oh well.

Love you all ! Em

More Breakthroughs

Well...the day has FINALLY come....Carson is potty-trained!!!

For those of you who may not know much about Autism, you may be thinking well he is six years old and should be potty-trained. With Autism comes Sensory Integration Dysfunction. This means that Carson's sensory system does not work the same as yours or mine. This is why it is hard for him to be in small areas with large amounts of people....everything is much louder to him. This is also why he is much rougher than the average child because he needs that strong input to feel the way we feel a normal touch...he loves big strong hugs. These are just a couple of examples. The reason it took so long for Carson to learn how to use the toilet is because he couldn't feel the sensation of having to go the same way you or I do. By the time, he feels it, it's too late. But not ANYMORE! Our biggest hope this summer was to get him potty-trained and it happened! Now...for another goal! We are so proud of him. I have to attribute it to the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy along with the million supplements he is on for his digestive system. I'm so thankful that God has led us to this biomedical path and specifically to Dr. McKenzie.

So many changes are happening...I just sit back and listen to the conversations between he and Griffin and am amazed at how far his language has come. They play so well together (of course, they fight like crazy too but I think that is normal.) I think having Griffin around everyday all day really helps him with the socialization piece. It's not as easy with other children because they are not our own so we really have to watch certain actions/reactions because we know what might set him off.

He is such a trooper. His summer schedule is a little crazy but he just rolls with it.

Monday - HBOT, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Horseback Riding Therapy
Tuesday - HBOT
Wednesday - HBOT, Art Therapy, Music Therapy
Thursday - HBOT, Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy
Friday - A DAY OFF!!!

Along with having to take a vitamin or some time of supplement about every 20 minutes, he attends all of the therapies above. Thankfully, he's just become accustomed to this schedule for now and doesn't give too many complaints.

It's a bummer because it seems as though the summer has come and is almost gone and there hasn't been much time for fun...but there will be a lot of years of fun to come. The bottom line is that our little man is getting better and better and there is no feeling in the world that compares to the joy that we feel when we see these improvements.

I have to give credit where credit is due. The team of people involved in his recovery never cease to amaze me...Ms. Liz, his therapists at TLC, Dr. McKenzie, Ms. O and Ms. A during the school year, Stacy at LifeHorse, Ms. Tessa, Ms. Rebecca and Ms. Yuri at FAR, his grandparents, his siblings, his aunts, uncles, cousins, great aunts and uncles, his friends and neighbors, and most of all his mother, who works her a$$ off to make all these appointments, therapies, etc. happen. I am so grateful for for each and every one of you and I am so grateful that Carson is getting better.

There's even more to come...thanks for reading....

Photo Shoot

Hi Everyone!

Here are the new pics that my cousin Beth took of the kids. Check out her work at http://www.bethmarsack.com/.

Happy Birthday to you Griffin!

It's a crazy life...but it's our life....

Our Little Easter Bunnies.....

The kids had a blast on Easter. They are going to love these pics when they get older.....













Happy Easter!

Happy Birthday Carson! If I could turn back time....

Wow! I cannot believe that you are 6 years old! The last 6 years have been a whirlwind. Through it all, the one thing that always stays true is how much your mother and I love you! We have some good days, some bad days, some good weeks, some bad weeks...but you never cease to amaze us.

We are so proud of how far you have come. You are a constant source of joy in our lives. You are such a perfect little boy! You have taught us so much in your short 6 years of life thus far...you have taught us patience, understanding, open-mindedness and you've taught us to just go with the flow. You have taught us to appreciate every little thing that you do.

You have also taught us how to love deeper than I ever thought possible. You have changed my life so much for the better Carson. I barely recognize the person I once was. I go to bed and wake up thinking about you every day. You make me feel every emotion stronger than I once did. I thank God every night for giving you to your mother and I. You are a true blessing.

If I could do things over, of course I would do some things differently. I'm so sorry that you have to work so hard at some things that come naturally for others. I promise you that I am doing and will continue to do everything I can to give you the best life possible. You inspire me more than you'll ever know. Your courage and strength amazes me. Thank you for working so hard for us. You are going to be okay Carson...I promise you that. The most important thing to your mother and I is that you are happy and you ARE! When I hear your deep chuckle and see that sparkle in your eyes, I know how happy you are. I hope that you have the happiest birthday ever. You are such a special little boy!

Thank you for making us such proud parents! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!


Speaking of turning back time.........

You've been beautiful and perfect since the first minute we laid eyes on you.

God Bless You Carson!

Love,

Daddy

Come out, Come out, where ever you are!

So, it seems we have some actual real live people that read our blog. I was thinking it was just my mom, sister and a few other close family/friends. Now, don't get all crazy. I don't think we are of Dooce status but, to know we have more than three followers... that is nice.

It is not uncommon for Jay and I to be talking to someone to have them tell us, yeah, I read your blog. We don't mind at all. Really. A blog is a public forum. This is open to anyone to read.

But, it sure would be nice to know who you were!!!! So, if you have a second, leave us a comment. It would be nice to meet you and hear a bit about you. Also, if you blog, please include your blog address so we can check you out too.

Whoever you are out there, thanks for reading and I hope that at some point, on some post.... you were glad you came.