Best quote of the day: "I want to touch everything!"

Most little boys love trains.  But there are many kids on the spectrum that have a similar fondness for them.  For my son, he use to love to watch the wheels turn.  Thomas was always the favorite.  We even had his first birthday party at Travel Town; a train museum in Los Angeles.  Was the really 10 years ago!!??  <sniff, tear> We went to visit Travel Town today and it is just as popular with kids as ever.  My kids always loved this place and that was no different today.  They were so excited that I even let them ride the train around the park all by themselves for the first time.  And they got seats right in front.  
'Milo had always been so sensitive about his hands.  He didn't like them dirty or sticky, but more so than just typical kids.  He reacted like it was burning his skin.  But over the years, with OT and therapy that he has had since the wee age of 2, it has really helped to relieve the anxiety he had about it.  So today when he exclaimed, "I want to touch everything!" I had a moment where I stopped and thought, "oh that's right!  he never did that before".  Watching him opening flaps and moving levers and not worried about the dirt on his hand and not SMELLING his hands after touching something!!  I mean wow, really.  Even as I write this I realize, he didn't smell his hands once!  This is really only in the last month and a half of ABA and he's already stopped smelling things. 

One might say, what's the big deal about smelling things.  Well, let me ask you this; as an adult, if another adult shook your hand and smelled their hand after, what would you think?  It's just not a socially acceptable behavior.  This is a life skill that most people don't have to be taught.  It's little things like this that people don't realize.  There is constant teaching when you have a child with Autism.  Today made me realize all the blood, sweat, are tears you put into helping your child it so worth it when you see what's been accomplished.  I appreciate all he has become so much.

When it all changed..

Little E.  He was always such a happy baby.  Full of smiles all the time.  He seemed to hit his milestone right on mark, if not sooner.  Sitting up and crawling before 6 months, walking before his first birthday.  Except for talking.  At 2 he still was not talking, just using hand gesture and making sounds.  But it got to the point where we would start banging his head on the floor and having tantrums.  Inconsolable.  We didn't know what to do.  At his 2 year check up, his pediatrician referred us to Regional Center.  She said they have programs that could help.  At least we had some direction.  I am so thankful that she suggested this.  We did start teaching him Sign Language and this did help is tantrums and head banging.  I honestly think he was just frustrated that he could not communicate with us.  Couldn't say he thirsty or tell us what he wanted to drink, or that he was hungry or wanted something.  Sign Language was a turning point.  He was now at least able to communicate so that was a relief for all of us.  By this time we were able to get an evaluation going for Regional Center and that was such a blessing.  They determined that he would need Early Intervention, Speech Therapy and OT (Occupational Therapy).  This was no easy task and it was a lengthy process.  A series of tests and interviews, forms to fill out, question after question.  But you know, when it's your child, you do it.  All of it.  What could be more important than your child's future.  It is definitely a commitment that will shape the development of your child and is not to be taken lightly.  They people they have for these services are AMAZING!  I don't know how they do it.  They work for you and with you.  They come to your house morning, afternoon, night, weekends, whatever you need.  They realize that people have work and personal commitments.  They work around you and your schedule.  They are overloaded with work due to a shortage of specialist in their fields.  But they get it done without complaint.  I can't imagine what it is like now that Autism is one the rise.  It is incredible the work that are expected to do and get done.  And this has only just begun...