LOVE My Live

I've signed up for my first Autism-related activity, a 5k run/walk on Sat 10/22. I'd be honored if people walked with me. I'd be happy if people donated in support of my efforts.

JR says he knew it in his heart anyway, and obviously we were well aware of his developmental delay and that he needs special support, but I wasn't prepared for my own emotional reaction to the diagnosis. :( My little guy needs SUPER-parents, and we're just regular, figuring it out as we go, struggling ourselves parents - and I'm worried that might not be enough for him. I know that our love for Christopher will drive us to do the very best we can, but we're the first to admit that we are already struggling with the basics, where do we find the strength to do even better? And can we do more/better for Christopher without affecting our ability to also do our very best for Phoebe? I know what happens at work when my plate gets too full - things start falling off the edges - and that's just not an option when the plate is full of my children's well-being.

"And finally, three words: Patience. Patience. Patience. Work to view my autism as a different ability rather than a disability. Look past what you may see as limitations and see the gifts autism has given me. It may be true that I’m not good at eye contact or conversation, but have you noticed that I don’t lie, cheat at games, tattle on my classmates or pass judgment on other people? Also true that I probably won’t be the next Michael Jordan. But with my attention to fine detail and capacity for extraordinary focus, I might be the next Einstein. Or Mozart. Or Van Gogh. They had autism too. The answer to Alzheimer’s, the enigma of extraterrestrial life -- what future achievements from today’s children with autism, children like me, lie ahead? All that I might become won’t happen without you as my foundation. Be my advocate, be my friend, and we’ll see just how far I can go."

Last weeks' elegibility committee meeting was postponed due to the snow, we're re-scheduled for this Thursday at 10:20am. JR has been pouring over the screening report and the internet, and is convinced Christopher has autism. I will wait for an actual diagnosis, so will find and schedule a developmental pediatrician, but can easily see how/why JR thinks autism. Christopher exhibits some degree of many autism indicators. But he doesn't exhibit them all, and the ones he does exhibit - he doesn't seem to exhibit very strongly, so if he does wind up being diagnosed on the autism spectrum, we're hopeful it would be on the higher functioning end. Meanwhile, as we continue to educate ourselves, and grapple with the possibilities, we keep coming up with more and more questions, and we're just not far enough into the process to have answers.