It was 2 years ago this month that our lives changed when we were given an Autism diagnosis for Christian. Wow, it's been a long 2 years. Last year on the anniversary of receiving his diagnosis, i was still in a form for grieving and sorting this for Christian. Our lives still felt flipped upside down. We've (for the most part) have embraced this diagnosis, and have always fought as hard as we could to help Christian through this, but we still struggled with dealing with all of it last year. This year, I have a new outlook. This Autism diagnosis has been such a blessing in our lives and I am so thankful for every quirky little thing about my baby boy. He has come so far in 2 years, further than I could have imagined for him.
Recently, he has started having conversations with us. Meaningful conversations that a typically developing 4-5 year old would have. I can't help but light up, and sometimes even laugh when I am talking to Christian. We are finally getting a little sneak peak into that amazing little mind of his now that he is talking so much better. I don't think we'll ever cease to be amazed by how incredibly smart he is and how fast he learns. I'm actually a little intimidated sometimes when I think about how on earth we are going to keep up with him!!
Mid school year last year, we were told Christian was "anti-social". Ha. That's all I can say to that. We were at the park early this month, I packed us a picnic lunch and we sat at a picnic table near the entry of the park. As families were coming into the park, Christian would yell out to them saying 'Hi! What are you doing here? We're eating lunch!!' LOL. He said this to several families before he looked at me and said, 'Mom, I'm going to say hi to everyone here, Ok?'. And he is like that nearly everywhere we go. He wants to say Hi to everyone. It's really funny when an adult doesn't respond to him when he greets them. A few times he has gone up to them, tapped them on their legs and said, 'hey, I'm talking to you'. Or he'll look at me and say, 'Mom, they didn't answer me, that's not respectful.' LOL. This kid cracks me up. :)
It boggles my mind when I think about the first psychiatrist we saw after getting the Autism diagnosis from his pediatrician. We saw her to get a formal diagnosis, and her exact words about Christian were 'There is no hope for you son. Grieve at the loss of what you thought you were going to have.' Wow. It's still hard not to shed a tear when I think about that. No hope? Really? The kid now speaks almost at the same level as a typically developing 4-5 year old. Reading and learning at a 2nd grade level while just turning 5 years old. No hope? Thank God we never bought into that and NEVER gave up hope in Christian. Thank God for pushing us to push Christian and make sure he was reaching his full potential. And that is what I would say to any parent that is just getting an Autism Diagnosis for their child, NEVER, NEVER give up hope in their child and what their potential could be. Don't lose faith, and stay strong. There is always hope for your child! Just keep pushing for those answers and for help!!
We are still pushing really hard to fundraise for Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks is so close to our hearts. They fund so, so much research that is helping find answers for our children. They are helping so many families with advocacy. They fight for the rights of families and individuals living with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Please help our team raise funds for this year's Walk Now for Autism Speaks Event.
You can help in a couple ways:
1- Join our team and walk with us http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=463366&lis=1&kntae463366=19574BA119964B959E08DBE6A9DEFD6F&supId=0&team=4083629&cj=Ys. It's free, and we'll even give you a team shirt :)
2- we are doing another garage sale for Autism on September 17th. Please consider donating items that you no longer want/need for us to sell.
3- Donate to our team http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=463366&lis=1&kntae463366=A73CDFA4AD164977A9355BC38D0CC558&supId=0&team=4083629&cj=Y
We continue to thank all our friends and family for all the support, love and pray you provide for us now, and have provided to us over the last 2 years!! We love you all!!!
Ephesians 3:20-22- Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be the glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
