First Day, First Week

We completed the first week with great success, and there are volumes of things that went so right, and not much that went wrong. Zachary's teacher seems so impressed with his academic abilities, that I think it has put her at ease. He wants very much to do stuff independently. So only time will tell how the rest of the year will go, but I'm hopeful and staying positive.

The traditional first day photo...


And then a few extras. He was totally posing, so I had to snap a few and share. This is so like him. but lately he has become the little ham!

Closing the Therapy Chapter of our lives

After a diagnosis in the summer of 2003, I jumped into therapy with two feet and started a program in September. In the meantime, I tried alternate ideas that parents mentioned might "fix" Zachary. I was grasping at anything that might help my son and getting advice in all directions. In retrospect, I can see the silliness, but I understand any parent that does the same, and how do you deny a parent that sees a change in their child. In the end, we stuck with what was proven, and have worked tirelessly with Zachary for eight years.

And what I could have done with what it cost us and the insurance. But I am thankful that John works for a good company, and for a few people that worked diligently behind the scenes to help get the majority of expense paid for.

Zachary will always be autistic. He has a few quirks, but what child doesn't. He has come from being non-verbal, to a pretty good talker most of the time. He has a few friends he likes to hang out with, and plays pretty well with the rest of the children. And while we won't have anyone come to our house, go to school, or stay after school, we still have work to do. We will continue to work mainly on socialization. Praise the Lord we are to that point. Short of comprehension and listening skills, he is pretty much on target academically. To say the least, he has turned out to be a delight.

Tomorrow, he is headed off to 5th grade...alone. (I feel like a parent dropping off their kindergartner.) So will you join me in giving glory to God for the work He has chosen to do in Zachary, as well as offering thanksgiving for the underpaid, but loving therapists and supervisors I have had over the many years. And last, would you applaud Zachary for all his hard work. We start a new chapter tomorrow. Life without a Therapist.

What is it about Dads?

It's all about Dad these days. Dad watching a movie with him. Dad taking him to pool, and me being told I don't have to go. And then he says, when are you going on another trip? Because Dad is going to take me to Boudreaux's. And Dad let me sleep in the bed last time you were out of town.

He was even found on the computer, looking like his dad...

I thought my dad was pretty cool too. Mom was always the enforcer, but he was Mr. Fun. I think I see what's going on here, but I'm glad he loves his dad and his dad loves him.