It has been a few months now since we've gotten Cole's autism diagnosis, and I think it is safe to say that I've went through the entire emotional process of coming to accept it. I had another one of many turning points yesterday afternoon.
I was pushing Cole in a shopping cart at Target and just walking around browsing when he started what I like to call his "frenzy". This is what happens when I give him a new toy or something to hold while we are walking around, and he gets super excited. His eyes squeeze shut tight, a big smile appears on his face, he starts yelling a bunch of loud gibberish, and his arms and head start flailing around. It is quite a sight! People stare and laugh, and I used to get so, so embarrassed while trying to settle him down. But yesterday was different. All I did was hand him a bottle of shampoo...yes, shampoo. Something about the shampoo bottle must have made him a very happy boy because he started his frenzy. But this time, instead of getting embarrassed, I looked at my son and saw his pure and unfiltered joy. And I started to laugh with him. Which got him going even more! I'm sure people thought we were both nuts, but it felt so good to just not care anymore. To accept my baby boy exactly how he is at this moment.
Cole doesn't know that he is different, and I'm certainly not going to treat him like he is. I've been giving lots of thanks and praise to God lately for blessing us with a special needs child. Not only for entrusing us with the job of guiding him in this world and raising him, but also for all that it has changed us for the better. Everything has always come so easy for my beautiful girl, Eve, that I think I took so much for granted. She hit every milestone so early and so easily that I just assumed thats how it always worked. Boy was I wrong! But the beauty in Cole hitting milestones at his own pace is that each new word is a cause for celebration and another reason to be so thankful for what we have. Today his occupational therapist told me that she thought there was a great chance that Cole could possibly lose his autism diagnosis by the time he started school. While that would be the most amazing thing ever, I also realize that it truly doesn't matter if he doesn't. He is so perfect the way he is.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Chris
Want to take a moment to brag on Chris, since he is so modest about this kind of stuff. He found out yesterday that he was awarded the best account representative (his position)in the midwest division of his company! He gets a $2000 award! I am so happy for him and proud of him as he is truly the hardest worker I've ever known.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Happy New Year!
We are just a few hours away from 2012...wow this year has flown by!! Christmas was wonderful and the kids have more toys than they know what to do with. But as much as I loved the holidays, I'm so looking forward to what this fresh new year is going to bring. We are so blessed to be getting a new niece this spring from my sister and another sweet baby (gender to be determined!) this summer from my sister-in-law. I have a feeling this will be a big year of changes within our little family too. We will be putting our house up for sale this July. Eve will be starting kindergarten in August. And I know Cole will continue to thrive in his preschool and with his therapies. We have so much to look forward to, and for that, I am so thankful and in awe of what God has blessed us with and continues to bless us with. Happy New Year!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Happy Birthday!!
Today is Chris' 28th birthday!! I've said it once and I'll say it over and over again...I am sooooooo extremely blessed to have such an amazing person to walk through this life with. I love you baby!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
School
Last week was Cole's first week of school, and he is doing great!! The first day, I think he was more stunned than anything and his teachers said he cried for a few minutes when he first got to the classroom. The second day was a little better. And when I dropped him off yesterday, he screamed with excitement when he saw a classmate and basically ran into the school without looking back!! I cried like a baby the first day I dropped him off until Eve kindly told me to suck it up and get over it...LOL. He is actually in class during the hours that he used to be napping here at home so not much is different other than where he is at. Eve and I have been coming home, eating lunch, and then playing on the kinect (Dance Central is a blast BTW!) until its time to go pick my baby boy up.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Cole's 3 Year Checkup
For the first time ever, we were actually early this year with one of the kid's checkups instead of weeks late as usual. The reason being that we needed Cole to have a physical on file with the school he will soon be attending. Anyways, he was not a happy camper AT ALL for his appointment even though he didn't need any shots. I ended up leaving the office sweaty and embarrassed after having to literally pin down my boy on the table so his pediatrician could check him out. Fun times!! Here are his current stats:
Height: 38.5 inches (75th percentile)
Weight: 39 lbs (95th percentile)
I'm not really sure those numbers are accurate given all the thrashing around Cole was doing!! I just thank God that he doesn't have to go back until his 4 year checkup in a year! :) It was all good though because my baby boy is healthy as can be and thats what matters.
Height: 38.5 inches (75th percentile)
Weight: 39 lbs (95th percentile)
I'm not really sure those numbers are accurate given all the thrashing around Cole was doing!! I just thank God that he doesn't have to go back until his 4 year checkup in a year! :) It was all good though because my baby boy is healthy as can be and thats what matters.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Fall Already!?
Actually we are over a month into fall and Thanksgiving is in 3 1/2 weeks. How is this possible!? Time for an update on my babies! Life has been bustling along and both Eve and Cole are doing great.
I will start with my girl, Eve. She is seriously one of the happiest, smartest, easy going, adaptable little girls ever! I am not just saying that because I'm her mom! Yes she does have a drama queen side that pops out at least once a day, but what girl doesn't? I swear she is going to win an Oscar one day...she loves singing, dancing, and acting...triple threat! Eve is still majorly into her barbie dolls, baby dolls, and all things sparkly and girly. She also has a very motherly side that really comes out with Cole. She is so extremely patient with him and protective of him. It makes me feel so good to watch them play together, and I hope and pray that they will always look out for one another. In just a few short months, it will already be time to register Eve for kindergarten...something I have been dreading since the moment she was born. I am NOT one of those moms who is excited to send my kid off to school. No, I would keep them home with me forever if I could! But Eve is a social butterfly who loves learning so I know she will just do great next fall when she starts school. They grow up too fast!
Now onto my little dude, Cole. I cannot believe that in a couple more weeks, my baby boy is going to be 3 years old...ahhhhh! He is such a happy boy, but unlike Eve, he makes you work for it a little harder! He is still loving and obsessed with cars, anything musical, and he loves anything to do with letters and numbers. Cole has made so much progress this year! We recently had his 6 month evaluation with all of his therapists. It was simply amazing to look back at his initial testing and compare it with where he is now. He is a different child! We are still having some difficulty with speech, but we are going to continue with speech therapy and I have no doubt that he is going to continue to progress and catch up with his peers in no time. We did finally (after a 6 month wait) have his evaluation done with one of the top developmental pediatricians around. And Cole was diagnosed as having autism. It was something that I knew in my gut for awhile and had tried to prepare myself for, but I don't anything really prepares a parent to hear it spoken out loud. I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. Not so much because I was upset myself, but more because I don't want him to ever feel different or to be made to feel different from anyone else. He is soooo smart! And yet I was also somewhat relieved to get the diagnosis because it opens up a whole new bag of therapies and options for getting my little guy the help he needs. We will be continuing with private speech and occupational therapy, as well as starting Cole in a preschool for kids just like him. He starts the week after he turns 3 and I think once we get into our new routine, he will love it! One more positive is that Cole was placed on the mild side of the autistic spectrum. Something a lot of people don't understand is that autism is a spectrum disorder ranging from mild to moderate to severe. Because Cole has only made constant progress and not regressed, there is a great chance that with continued therapy, he will be "typical" come kindergarten and be able to attend regular school and be just fine. Even if he doesn't, we will continue to love him and support him no matter what. He has been nothing but a blessing in our lives and will continue to be so. I thank God every day for my amazing kids and husband, and the life we have. I am so grateful.
I will start with my girl, Eve. She is seriously one of the happiest, smartest, easy going, adaptable little girls ever! I am not just saying that because I'm her mom! Yes she does have a drama queen side that pops out at least once a day, but what girl doesn't? I swear she is going to win an Oscar one day...she loves singing, dancing, and acting...triple threat! Eve is still majorly into her barbie dolls, baby dolls, and all things sparkly and girly. She also has a very motherly side that really comes out with Cole. She is so extremely patient with him and protective of him. It makes me feel so good to watch them play together, and I hope and pray that they will always look out for one another. In just a few short months, it will already be time to register Eve for kindergarten...something I have been dreading since the moment she was born. I am NOT one of those moms who is excited to send my kid off to school. No, I would keep them home with me forever if I could! But Eve is a social butterfly who loves learning so I know she will just do great next fall when she starts school. They grow up too fast!
Now onto my little dude, Cole. I cannot believe that in a couple more weeks, my baby boy is going to be 3 years old...ahhhhh! He is such a happy boy, but unlike Eve, he makes you work for it a little harder! He is still loving and obsessed with cars, anything musical, and he loves anything to do with letters and numbers. Cole has made so much progress this year! We recently had his 6 month evaluation with all of his therapists. It was simply amazing to look back at his initial testing and compare it with where he is now. He is a different child! We are still having some difficulty with speech, but we are going to continue with speech therapy and I have no doubt that he is going to continue to progress and catch up with his peers in no time. We did finally (after a 6 month wait) have his evaluation done with one of the top developmental pediatricians around. And Cole was diagnosed as having autism. It was something that I knew in my gut for awhile and had tried to prepare myself for, but I don't anything really prepares a parent to hear it spoken out loud. I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. Not so much because I was upset myself, but more because I don't want him to ever feel different or to be made to feel different from anyone else. He is soooo smart! And yet I was also somewhat relieved to get the diagnosis because it opens up a whole new bag of therapies and options for getting my little guy the help he needs. We will be continuing with private speech and occupational therapy, as well as starting Cole in a preschool for kids just like him. He starts the week after he turns 3 and I think once we get into our new routine, he will love it! One more positive is that Cole was placed on the mild side of the autistic spectrum. Something a lot of people don't understand is that autism is a spectrum disorder ranging from mild to moderate to severe. Because Cole has only made constant progress and not regressed, there is a great chance that with continued therapy, he will be "typical" come kindergarten and be able to attend regular school and be just fine. Even if he doesn't, we will continue to love him and support him no matter what. He has been nothing but a blessing in our lives and will continue to be so. I thank God every day for my amazing kids and husband, and the life we have. I am so grateful.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Interview With Eve
Okay so in the past I've had Eve answer questions about me, but these are questions she answered about herself. I plan to update this every once in a while, and once Cole is talking more, I'll do the same for him.
My favorite food is: Fish
My favorite sport to play is: Running
The best show on television is: The Wild Kratts
The coolest person on Earth is: Dad
My favorite thing to learn about: Using scissors
The thing I do most awesomely: Jump
If I could go anywhere in the world, I'd go to: Target because they have lots of barbie aisles that I could buy barbies from
My favorite color is: Light pink and dark blue
When I grow up, I want to be an: Artist
My current favorite song is: "This Little Light of Mine"
The book I am loving right now: "The Lion King"
Three words that describe me are: Nice, beautiful, and smart
When I was little, I used to: Drink a baby bottle
My favorite season is: Fall and Christmas
The best thing about camping is: So we get to roast marshmallows!
The snack I like the best is: Cheeze-its
One food that I really dislike is: Tomato soup
My best friend is: Mom and Dad
If I had one wish, it would be: That I could climb on the ceiling
My best memory is: That I got the barbie dreamhouse
My favorite food is: Fish
My favorite sport to play is: Running
The best show on television is: The Wild Kratts
The coolest person on Earth is: Dad
My favorite thing to learn about: Using scissors
The thing I do most awesomely: Jump
If I could go anywhere in the world, I'd go to: Target because they have lots of barbie aisles that I could buy barbies from
My favorite color is: Light pink and dark blue
When I grow up, I want to be an: Artist
My current favorite song is: "This Little Light of Mine"
The book I am loving right now: "The Lion King"
Three words that describe me are: Nice, beautiful, and smart
When I was little, I used to: Drink a baby bottle
My favorite season is: Fall and Christmas
The best thing about camping is: So we get to roast marshmallows!
The snack I like the best is: Cheeze-its
One food that I really dislike is: Tomato soup
My best friend is: Mom and Dad
If I had one wish, it would be: That I could climb on the ceiling
My best memory is: That I got the barbie dreamhouse
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