[A]lways [U]nique [T]otally [I]ntelligent [S]ometimes [M]ysterious

Two weeks from today our oldest

will begin Kindergarten.

EEK!

Less than 3 weeks and our Bitty will begin

another year of preschool.

I haven't even gotten around

to getting our DD enrolled

in preschool.

I need to do that,

if he is to go where we choose they

will have space for him.

Our Bitty goes to his Developmental Pediatrician

this week.

We just check in with him a couple times

a year to address in possible concerns

and to monitor his

progress

from all aspects.

You know, he see's an Occupational Therapist,

Speech Pathologist , Geneticist

and when school starts

he seen another OT and SLP.

We also had our amazing speech pathologist

recommend another specialist, an RDI

Therapist.

She thinks he would benefit greatly from

one.

We haven't even begun to look into it all.

I did a bit of research on what that professional's

goals/purpose of sessions are.

It sounds like a good option.

But with Bitty the change must be slow

and

expect regression

and

mass amounts of frustration.

Like hours, seriously, hours a day of it.

Our Bitty has made leaps and bounds.

This month marks 2 years since his

first diagnosis of Autism.

I had known for a while something

wasn't right.

That black cloud feeling following me everywhere

I went.

He also slipped away so slowly (regression)

we did not “notice”

or

perhaps it was denial.

Who knows.

It doesn't matter.

What matters was actually

acting on what needed to be done to

help him thrive

and

be a happier child.

And

that has been

and

will continue to be done.

As is for all Children,

he just needs some extra

help to do so.

Yes, I want to post all about him.

As we are impressed and happy with all our

Boys do.

I just like to mention Bitty.

Reasons, it's been two years of

extreme hard work, over 2 years of

“torture” (fits lasting 4-6 hours a day on bad days),

odd stares, extra “tips” from strangers,

and

there is so much more but my brain will not

bring the thoughts to where I can type them.

Oh yes, of COURSE because

coming in October is the Fundraiser for the Autism Society

of NC.

We missed it the first year, but did it last year

and

will continue to do it every year as long as we live.

This image they posted also reminded me to

write a post about our Bitty.

We do it because it means a lot to us.

It is something we “understand.”

We do it for our Bitty

who even more than our

“typical”(whatever that means) Children

he gives us other ways to

look at the world.

From the Autism Society of NC

Bookstore we bought some books

for the siblings.

Explaining sometimes

what the siblings go through

due to their brother/sister

being on the spectrum.

Both books

also state how

the “typical”
sibling will copy the Spectrum

child as a way of trying to understand

them.

Sometimes that makes a connection between the siblings.
Re-reading the books was nice for me
as I was frustrated at times
that they are copying Bitty's habits.
It was very nice to have the reminder of what that means.
It gave me more patience with the added chaos.

Our Precious Bitty who we would

beg and plead to interact with us

we would almost “chase” him

trying.

Meaning anytime when we would try

he would walk away

and

so we would follow him and try again.

This would be from us Parent's,

Grandparents, Cousins..

you name it,we all did it.

Even going out of our way to have a toy he liked.

Now, he will show us toys.

Or tell us something.

He will stay “close” to us.

He was 4 in April.

He is developmentally 2

with some “perks”

like letters and numbers.

I will find random words he has spelled all over

our home.

He will organize numbers appropriately

from single digits to numbers in the thousands.

He is still in diapers.

Yes, over 4 years of changing diapers for him.

He finally has gained some fine motor skills.

He has just over the summer

began to have a good chance of turning door knob

and actually

opening a door!
(this is good and bad at times..)

He also has gained the strength to unlock and lock the deadbolt

and also the

door knob lock!

Our Bitty is still capable at memorizing books

of all kinds, movie scripts

and

from Baby Einstein videos

learned more sign language from the DVD

than all of the therapists

combined have tried.

If you look into research it will tell you they learn better

from robots than people.

You also hear about people “losing' the

diagnosis.
The research showsthey
 “lose” it because

after the years of therapy

and

hard work

they can mask their difficulties and cope

well enough.

So, no true “losing” of it,
 they are still

who they have always been

just learned to
 “fit into society” better.

Summer for Bitty has been rough, minimal “structure”

as in no way to “know” what the day has in store

We began bringing him back to Church.

He has done well enough.

He will do some fits but I can quickly calm him with

joint compressions.

He also once he gets done he goes limp

and

will find some lights to stare at.

We have had multiple people after Mass

comment on our Children.

THANKFULLY, all nicely.

But these people go out of the way to tell us it.

One day one women assumed Logan was 2

 (as most people think Daniel and him are twins)

I smiled and said, “No, he's 4, he just has some 

special needs which is why he is throwing the fit.”

She says,

 “Well, he doesn't look like he has special needs.”

Wow! I was taken back.

This I have heard a bit.

He doesn't have a “Look” about him

well, if you watch him you will see some..

lets say “quirks”

but, yes

he has special needs

and

doesn't have an

“obvious look".

I can only assume that

she thinks his face should

look “different”

but alas,

you never know who has what.

Just because someone doesn't “look” one way

and

just because you may think

they “look” a certain way,

doesn't mean you are right. 

There will be some hopefully

helpful posts

or 

give some understanding

of 

what it is like to

have Autism in your daily life. 

This will all be leading up to 

the Autism 5K in October. 

It is just around the corner

with how fast time seems to go!

My goal is to get a few more Autism based posts in.
Let's hope I can meet it!