Best Summer EVER!

Ok.

I wanted to teach the boys to tie their shoes this summer. It didn't happen. Well it kind of happened. Adam can tie a knot.

Ok.

We were supposed to do some Math work. It didn't happen. The math books are unopened in the den gathering dust. We did do a bit of flash card work, but it didn't last long.

Ok.

I wanted to revamp the schedules and reward charts. We're still using the same ones.

BUT!!

The boys became more comfortable with the water. Swimming is now a possibility.


We were out more often and the boys are socializing more. Actual socializing - not just parallel playing.


Aaron's using words when he's upset more often and the outbursts have decreased.


Adam's whining less and conversing more. That's a huge "thank goodness".


This is the first summer where the boys are more relaxed, more go-with-the-flow.


So I'm going to call this summer a success!

Happiness is Finishing a Project

After working on this for about a year now, I finally finished my Autism lap blanket. Well, I still have to block it and tuck in loose ends .... but it's DONE!!!

It was my first time using the afghan stitch.

Now to finish off the boys' sweaters!

Would You .... If You Knew

Ok. There is a new study out in medialand about Autism. It states that there is a higher recurrence rate of Autism in siblings then originally thought. If you Google "recurence rate for Autism", it'll return around 667,000 hits. For those of us with more than child with Autism, it's was a "duh, no kidding" moment.

Since the study came out, I've been asked no less than a dozen times if I would have had more children if I had known this earlier. My answer is a resounding "YES".

Are you kidding me? Asking me a hindsight question concerning my children? Not once did I ever have a "I wish I never ..." moment! I love my children! I don't just love the part without Autism - I love ALL of them.

With every preganacy, there are risks. It's a crapshoot every time. You could do all the right things and still have a child with something. We are not test tubes. We are not cloning machines. We are not replicators.

When we lost Alex to Spina Bifida, people made comments when we decided that we would have more children. When Aaron and Adam were diagnosed with Autism, people automatically assumed that we stopped having more children for that reason.

I had children because I love children. I love my children. All my children. My life would not be complete without them. They are my world. I am thankful and grateful every day that I get to share my life with them and their's with me. I feel blessed.

I wouldn't change a thing.