Life has been everything but slow the last few months! I am not even sure when the last time I have updated the blog was but now your going to get a nice, big, long, raw, real life, emotional update. Feel free to stop reading, I won't be offended.
Loss. Loss has so many different emotions. We lose our keys and get frustrated, we lose money and get depressed, we lose our mind and go crazy, we lose our car in the parking lot and get embarrassed, we lose a loved one and become sad, we lose our teeth and become old, we lose weight and we become happy, we lose our jobs and become poor, we lose our pet and become worried, we lose our child and become lost. So many emotions wrapped up in one four letter word.
This week I have lost my grandpa and my great grandma. We have several family members going through major health problems and
Michael our 7 year old with Cerebral Palsy was diagnosed with Autism yesterday, April 1st and this is the beginning of our journey.
We have been waiting and going through testing for about 3 months now and we finally have answers, yet the reality has not quite set in. As I sat in my grandpa's funeral yesterday I couldn't help but be thankful for Michael, Cerebral Palsy, and Autism. I get to celebrate life with our son while others may be burying their child. The future is going to be a struggle but the victories will be priceless. There is no cure for Autism, the doctor said "It's going to be an ongoing challenge." While we didn't lose our child yesterday, I feel like I am somewhat grieving the child I thought that I had but the reality Michael is still Michael, he doesn't even know he is Autistic or that he has CP for that matter.
For those of you that are around Michael on a regular basis you can certainly help him (and me) out by just being more patient with him. We have been trying to teach him appropriate boundaries. Everyone knows Michael loves to hug everyone but for a child with Autism it is very hard to understand dangerous situations and even though you think he is sweet and its ok to hug you, we are really working on relationship boundaries with him so next time you see him a high five would be perfect and help us and him out so much (unless you are a grandparent of course). Hugs are for family and high fives are for friends. We are constantly reminding him "High fives only, Michael!"
Also over the last few months has has began wandering away from us and has ended in some pretty dangerous situations, if you see him and he looks to be lost, a gentle reminder to find a parent will go a long way. Cleanliness is also a challenge for Michael, he eats things that aren't food all the time, even from the trash can and is also having some self care issues that we are working on. Again your patience and understanding is appreciated more than you know (unless you have a kiddo with Autism, then you probably know!)
We know that with God anything is possible and we have faith that God will give us all the tools and resources to parent Michael the best we can. Someone recently told me that I knew exactly what I was getting into when we adopted our children and the truth is we had no idea what we were getting into. We had no idea Michael would later be diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy or Autism but I wouldn't change it for the world. Sometimes we are overwhelmed, for instance this week, overwhelmed would be an understatement but we know God has put people in our life to help us get through our trying times. Michael may have been birthed by a different mother but I am his momma and I will do everything in my power to make sure he is successful in life! #bringonthechallenge #Autism
Today is World Autism Awareness Day and it takes on a whole new meaning! Here are some basic facts about Autism and a few links if your interested in becoming aware of Michael's new diagnosis.
This video is so cool!! It's short and an interesting! Worth the watch, but make sure your volume works.
http://www.upworthy.com/lets-take-a-look-inside-the-mind-of-an-autistic-person
What is Autism?
- Autism is a bio-neurological developmental disability that generally appears before the age of 3
- Autism impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction, communication skills, and cognitive function. Individuals with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities
- Individuals with autism often suffer from numerous co-morbid medical conditions which may include: allergies, asthma, epilepsy, digestive disorders, persistent viral infections, feeding disorders, sensory integration dysfunction, sleeping disorders, and more
- Autism is diagnosed four times more often in boys than girls. Its prevalence is not affected by race, region, or socio-economic status. Since autism was first diagnosed in the U.S. the incidence has climbed to an alarming one in 68 children in the U.S.
- Autism itself does not affect life expectancy, however research has shown that the mortality risk among individuals with autism is twice as high as the general population, in large part due to drowning and other accidents.
- Currently there is no cure for autism, though with early intervention and treatment, the diverse symptoms related to autism can be greatly improved and in some cases completely overcome.
http://nationalautismassociation.org/resources/autism-fact-sheet/
http://www.icareinfo.org/Autism/autism.html
