It is sort of surreal to be typing this post. Our focus for most of the past 3 years has been Ava. I never imagined in a million years that I would have to one day say that my little girl has CP and my son is Autistic. I've been mentally preparing for this diagnosis of Aohdan's for quite some time. Something in me just knew there was something a-miss.
My first memory of something being wrong was when Aohdan was about 18 months. He only had about 5-10 words, mama, dada, papa, bye-bye, etc,etc. Also I noticed that he didn'y play with his toys like other kids. His big cars he would flip over and spin the wheels. He would sit and watch the washing machine spin. And he would open and close doors constantly, open-close-open-close-open-close, and watch the hinges while he was doing it.
At the time this was going on I was about 6 1/2 months pregnant with Ava, but I remember picking up Jenny McCarthy's book about her son Evan. It was brand new on the shelves at the time. And I remember Kenny asking why I bought a book about an Autistic child. I couldn't explain why, except that I had read her other books on pregnancy and thought she was hilarious. So I read this book, and had my first "Ah hah" moment about the doors, and the spinning objects. I remember the next Sunday at church I literally BAWLED the entire service. Like snotty, sobbing, swollen eyes bawling. Kenny knew I was upset about thinking Aohdan might be Autistic, but honestly I think he figured the pregnancy hormones were getting the better of me as well.
Shortly after Aohdan turned 2 in November 2007, his language took off. He went from barely speaking to speaking in fuill sentances. So I was like, "Phew" guess he's not autistic! Then as you all know our world was rocked beyond belief in December 2007 with Ava's traumatic birth. 2008 really was a big blur. Ava spent all year in and out of children's hospital, we lost our house, life was pretty messy. And honestly as long as Aohdan was eating and not sick, we couldn't focus on more than his basic needs.
So shortly after we moved to Ashley in early 2009, and life settled down a bit, I finally was able to put more focus on Aohdan. I noticed more quirky behaviors. But there was always someone there to say, "Oh that's just a boy thing," or, "that's how all of the boys in our family behaved," or "he'll grow out of it let him be a kid." All in all it took me going to FOUR specialists to finally get him, and us, the help he needs by finally getting a diagnosis. The Dr who finally saw it explained that his autism is unique because he DOES have a lot of language, but doesn't always understand things... if that makes sense. He DOES pick up on emotion, something most autistic kiddos don't, but he does not know how to act around peers his own age. He stated that he felt his autism, called PDD-NOS by the medical world, was likely reversable with intervention.
So thank God for friends around me who have already experienced this that can help, and the knowledge I've required through my own research. But this was a hard, hard pill to swallow. I remember when Aohdan was 3 and I really started to suspect he was on the spectrum, I remember talking to God saying, "Please God, not Aohdan. Please just let me enjoy ONE healthy child that doesn't have a medical diagnosis, that doesn't need to see a bunch of Dr's. But that is not that hand we were dealt. And who am I to question the God who got us through SO MUCH in 2008, and still is. I know He has our situation under control, and I am prepared to battle this thing called autism. We have already made radical changes to Aohdan's diet, and have already witnessed some great improvements.
But I guess what I really need is just to say a little prayer for our family. It IS hard, I won't lie. I know there will be good and bad days, and there will be days Kenny and I will need some encouragement. I just pray for strength to keep pressing on.
My first memory of something being wrong was when Aohdan was about 18 months. He only had about 5-10 words, mama, dada, papa, bye-bye, etc,etc. Also I noticed that he didn'y play with his toys like other kids. His big cars he would flip over and spin the wheels. He would sit and watch the washing machine spin. And he would open and close doors constantly, open-close-open-close-open-close, and watch the hinges while he was doing it.
At the time this was going on I was about 6 1/2 months pregnant with Ava, but I remember picking up Jenny McCarthy's book about her son Evan. It was brand new on the shelves at the time. And I remember Kenny asking why I bought a book about an Autistic child. I couldn't explain why, except that I had read her other books on pregnancy and thought she was hilarious. So I read this book, and had my first "Ah hah" moment about the doors, and the spinning objects. I remember the next Sunday at church I literally BAWLED the entire service. Like snotty, sobbing, swollen eyes bawling. Kenny knew I was upset about thinking Aohdan might be Autistic, but honestly I think he figured the pregnancy hormones were getting the better of me as well.
Shortly after Aohdan turned 2 in November 2007, his language took off. He went from barely speaking to speaking in fuill sentances. So I was like, "Phew" guess he's not autistic! Then as you all know our world was rocked beyond belief in December 2007 with Ava's traumatic birth. 2008 really was a big blur. Ava spent all year in and out of children's hospital, we lost our house, life was pretty messy. And honestly as long as Aohdan was eating and not sick, we couldn't focus on more than his basic needs.
So shortly after we moved to Ashley in early 2009, and life settled down a bit, I finally was able to put more focus on Aohdan. I noticed more quirky behaviors. But there was always someone there to say, "Oh that's just a boy thing," or, "that's how all of the boys in our family behaved," or "he'll grow out of it let him be a kid." All in all it took me going to FOUR specialists to finally get him, and us, the help he needs by finally getting a diagnosis. The Dr who finally saw it explained that his autism is unique because he DOES have a lot of language, but doesn't always understand things... if that makes sense. He DOES pick up on emotion, something most autistic kiddos don't, but he does not know how to act around peers his own age. He stated that he felt his autism, called PDD-NOS by the medical world, was likely reversable with intervention.
So thank God for friends around me who have already experienced this that can help, and the knowledge I've required through my own research. But this was a hard, hard pill to swallow. I remember when Aohdan was 3 and I really started to suspect he was on the spectrum, I remember talking to God saying, "Please God, not Aohdan. Please just let me enjoy ONE healthy child that doesn't have a medical diagnosis, that doesn't need to see a bunch of Dr's. But that is not that hand we were dealt. And who am I to question the God who got us through SO MUCH in 2008, and still is. I know He has our situation under control, and I am prepared to battle this thing called autism. We have already made radical changes to Aohdan's diet, and have already witnessed some great improvements.
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