it starts with the small things

As a parent of a child with autism, you learn to savor every small accomplishment your kid does. I found this article earlier this afternoon before picking Ryan up from school. At the time I read it I was feeling a little down and a little frustrated with this thing we know called - autism. The article helped pick me up a little and look back on the recent "WOW" moments I have had with Ryan. Those moments, the "I can't believe he just did that" moments, need to be the ones that stand out the most. Not the behavioral issues that scream at you with frustration, or all of the ways in which our kids are different, from typical kids, so to make you feel more hopeless. No, our minds and hearts need to be filled with just how much our kids are doing so we can, everyday, have a new block to add to ours, and their, Hope Mountain.

Celebrate the small things and never take them for granted....they build even greater things. So start building and watch both yours and their motivation grow! That motivation has the ability to trample over stereotypes and burst open the doors of potential.

Ghoul Night at the Zoo

We dressed up in our halloween costumes and took the boys to the zoo for ghouling trick or treat fun. This is one of my favorite Nashville event traditions that we do. I love watching the boys experience change each year as they grow and get more into what is going on. After a very stressful few days, this night was just the thing that we needed.


Harley Boy tired after having to walk so much. He really was in need of a motorcycle!


Getting stuck in the Gypsy Maze.

Check out his smile!

They had surprises in every nook n cranny!

Ryan clapping his hand to hear his fortune.

Playing games...

Ready to dig in for treats!

just some more pictures..

the batteries were dying on my camera, but this is a picture of Nathan with a white choc. covered marshmellow stuck to his face!! We had friends over so we pulled out our chocolate fountain which Nathan always loves to get his fingers in. He didn't just dip this marshmellow...he sank it!!


Nathan and Ryan showing their halloween spirit! Ryan's lovin the camera here!



Nathan - biker dude!

does the doorag make him more tough? Nah, I can still see that baby face!

Ryan smiles with his eyes when taking pictures. He used to not like posing for a shot, but now he intently stares into the lens, so focused. He's got the eye "contact" down and he's beginning to smile more when he hears "cheese"! For kids like Ryan it takes such concentration (which is sometimes difficult in itself) to be able to do the pose, eyes and smile. For me, it's fun to practice!!

Thoughts on Report Cards

Report cards came home this week. Inserted in the report card was this note from all of the first grade teachers. This is the first time I have seen this, and absolutely love what it says. I normally do not look forward to report card day due to the challenges Ryan has, but this note made all of the difference this time. I'm so grateful for Ryan's teacher and for the patience and potential she sees in him. I hope all of you with small children will digest this message and remember it every report card day.

Thoughts on Report Cards (from a child's perspective)

Dear Mom and Dad,
Today, I'm bringing home a "snapshot" of myself. This picture is a time exposure of me that's been developing during the past few weeks. Considering my many likes and dislikes, my mood changes from day to day. I think it's a pretty good likeness of me.

When you see my snapshot, remember this is a report of someone near and dear to you. So...please don't get too uptight if you see a blemish. I hope you will accept me as I am.

Please do not picture me as being better than all the other children. Remember that all children do not learn to talk or walk at the same time, nor do they learn math and phonics at the same rate. I ask you not to compare me with my brother, sister, or the kid next door. You can set realistic goals for me, but please be careful not to push me to succeed at something that is beyond my ability.

I want you to understand that my report card is a picture of my school progress. When you talk to my teacher, you will learn many things about my life at school, even some things that might surprise you!

My teacher knows me as I am at school. You know me as I am at home. The "real" me is somewhere in between. When these two pictures become blended with acceptance and understanding, I hope my "snapshot" will be a shining portrait.

Love, Your Child

Nathan's Birthday!

Nathan woke up this morning, on his 5th birthday, to mommy singing happy birthday to him. After I was done, he looked down at his body, then back at me and said, "but I'm not bigger yet!!" haha! I love the innocence that he still displays. Later, he was told to check his right big toe to see if it was bigger. He said that it was, and that now he is 5!!!!

Here he is posing after helping me with his birthday cake! His chocolate mouth and cheeks are proof his reward for working was licking the spatula!



Umm, this pose is either all attitude, or a model in the making!


He begged Ryan to join him for a picture....good brother!

His "snack party" at school!


His motorcycle present he chose out of the birthday grab bag at school! He's all into motorcycles now that he is going to be a biker guy for Halloween! Thanks, Ellen! :>/
He's already talking about when he grows up and has his own motorcycle.






video of Nathan trying to blow out his candles...so funny how he blows only with one side!

Is he up to something, or what?

I'm now happy to report that his little chocolate face is upstairs in the tub getting squeaky clean!!

Remembering Good Times

I found this in a box of old letters. It is an essay my best friend, from childhood, wrote while she was in school - dated 1993. It tells of so many good memories we had growing up. Don't kill me, Cin, for posting this. I LOVE it!!! Thanks for sending it to me after you wrote it - I love reflecting back on our times together.

A Place of Good Times Remembered

Even though my best friends moved to a different state, two years ago, I remember their house where I would spend most of the time during the summer.
My best friend, Tara, and her older sister Amy, whom I've known since I was about 4 years old, have moved to many places. They used to live across the street from me, then they moved to Feeding Hills, New York, Vermont, East Otis, Blandford and a few times in Tennessee. Of all places, I like Blandford the best.

I always thought Blandford was a peaceful place. There is forest all around you and the houses are far apart. Tara and Amy's parents owned a small restaurant, which was in front of the house. On weekends, and during the summer, I'd wash dishes.

During the summer, I'd go over there for about three days, come home for a bout a day, then go back there. We didn't do much, though. During the day we'd walk, or ride out bikes to Otis where we would go to a store and buy frozen yogurt, then we'd go back home and go in Amy's room and listen to our favorite band (we all loved the same rock band). Or we'd watch their videos. Sometimes, we would go outside and play soccer, Frisbee, or badminton, or we'd go swimming. They used to live right on the lake, but they moved. At night their parents would go to a bar in Otis. Sometimes they'd take us with them. Here, we would have lots of fun. We'd dance and talk with everyone, play our favorite songs from the jukebox. We would get free soda's because we knew the bartenders and on Saturday nights there would always be a different band, which we would always stay and listen to.

After about two hours, their father would bring us back home. He'd just drop us off and go back. We were always scared because there was wolves and bears around their house. When we got inside, we'd change into our PJ's then go into the restaurant and make chocolate milks and salads, then watch TV or sit around the restaurant and just talk.

They owned two horses which the three of us had to feed every morning. We didn't enjoy doing it. We also didn't enjoy bringing wood in from outside for the wood stove in the winters.

One night we all slept in Amy's room and stayed up all night talking about all things we remember from the time we met to the present. I went over their house so many times each time they moved that their parents called me their adopted child.

In about 1991 they moved to Tennessee. I cried so much because I knew I'd never be able to go to Blandford or see them again. I don't go to Blandford that much anymore, but when I do, we drive by the restaurant and I think about all the good times Tara, Amy,and I had and how much I miss them.

Cin, I miss our nights of staying up the whole night talking about memories. I can't wait for you to visit us again so we can do that. You've been my best friend for so many years - I love you.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy!

This cute, fun, sweet, loving boy turns 5 years old on Monday!! How can that be? Seems like it was just yesterday we were in the hospital anticipating his arrival. He was a fairly easy baby. Always sweet spirited from the day he was born. He took to nursing like a pro and slept fairly well. The only time he would ever nap, though, was when he was flat out on homebody's chest...such a cuddler!
I'm so proud of Nathan and of who he has become. He sure is a stubborn one with a very strong will, but I know that will take him places in life. He knows what he wants and is not afraid to get it! He is the best little brother I have ever seen. He cares so deeply for Ryan and looks out for him as a big brother might...yet at the same time looks up to him, like a little brother, as he ought.
He knows how to make others happy by his caring spirit and gorgeous smile. He certainly has made my life fulfilling and never dull!!!
Happy 5th Birthday, Tater!! Even though we tell you what a big boy you are now, you are still my baby!
I love you!

crazy obsessions

OK, so how much fun is facebook and myspace? I've been totally obsessed with facebook (thanks Mrs.P...eh, I think!) for the past few days. I really like myspace better, but just the different things you can do on facebook is really quite fun. Like having to wait 3 days for my surprise gift to open!! Grrr...
It's fun seeing who is on there and reconnecting with people you haven't seen or spoken to in years. Like, how about 20 years!!! I feel so old!!!
I'm hoping the newness wears off and I can get back to my life soon. I really have a lot to do these days!!
If you are on Facebook or Myspace, and I know you....drop on in.

Nathan's new scooter

Nathan won a Target gift card for selling the most Citipass books of all the preschool classes. With his gift card he bought a new scooter so that he and Ryan wouldn't have to share one anymore. Here he is breaking it in...

Uncle Tony and the boys...