The Between

Unlike when Brendon was first diagnosed, I now know there are a million hurdles and milestones between "non verbal" and "verbal."  I used to literally dream that he spoke a word and would wake up so excited! 

Eventually, he actually began to repeat a few words.  Now, I hear him practicing lines from movies and singing songs with his iPad.  He can speak words now, but can't answer yes or no, most of the time, to a simple question. 

I'm still dreaming of the day he can speak to me.  The day he can tell me what hurts or why he's crying.  Tell me what he likes and why he likes it.  I'm still dreaming!

Mommy

I was called, "Mommy" today.  It was unprompted, very clearly, and because he wanted something.  This is the first time, in five and a half years, I can ever remember him saying the word mommy.My heart feels like it has wings!
Oh, and he said it like six times while he took my hand and led me to where the plug had come out of the outlet.

Putting on a Brave Face

As parents of kids with special needs, we have to guide them down a path that is sometimes just as new and scary to us.  We have to put aside our own fears, take their hand, and lead them on a journey that we didn't foresee or plan for.  We spent so much time dreaming of how their "normal" life would be, and all of the activities we would teach them to enjoy or experience with them.  Our reality is that we have to deal with the loss of what we'd hoped for and at the very same time help them navigate a life filled with pain, frustration, tests, doctors, therapists, medical procedures, and surgeries.  We have to teach them that we care, and this can be a huge task with a very handicapped child or one with limited communication.  It's a long process, learning to face our own worst fears and helping them to be brave when we feel anything but.  Some days are black bottomless pits of despair.  Thankfully, and by the grace of God and the prayers of others, we are able to keep going for our angels. It only takes a good report from a doctor or therapist or seeing the slightest improvement to have us soaring in the clouds once again!

Autism and the Dentist

We made the four hour trip to Dr. Rose's Pediatric Dentistry.  We attempted the extractions and filling without sedation and guess what?  He did GREAT!!!  We've had to do sedation for dental work before, but this time
I didn't even have to hold him down!  I held his hands during the shots, but he was a trooper!  Our pediatrician had prescribed him Ativan for this visit and we think it REALLY helped him to not be as anxious.  Dr. Rose was SUPER fast and so kind.  We were glad to have it over with.  The pictures were taken on the way, right after the procedure, and him completely exhausted when we finally got home.