Bunk beds

Last Wednesday Rick put together bunk beds for Michael.  He LOVES his new beds!  He couldn't wait to go to bed and he didn't want his pacifiers!  He still uses them, I just throw them in bed with him before we go to bed so if he wakes up he has them.  We went to Target to pick out some bedding and he picked out really cute bedding, cute but so "big boy".  He didn't want any Thomas the Train or Diego or Toy Story3, he went straight for the big boy stuff.  I am kind of glad he didn't want any of the character bedding because he'd outgrow it too fast, but I would still feel like he was my baby ya know?  He's growing up too fast!  I was gonna take more pictures but my camera batteries were too low.

Diagnosis: Autism

A couple of weeks ago we took Michael to Doernbecher's/OHSU to get evaluated for Autism and were told he does have it.  If you don't know autism is a complicated developmental disability resulting from a neurological disorder that affects normal brain development and subsequent functioning.  That's what my Autism Information Packet says anyway.  I've suspected that he's had this for a couple of years but when they told us he had it it was devastating.  All kinds of questions go through your mind, Will he have friends?  Will he date?  Will he go to college?  Will he get married and have a family?  Of course, those questions remain unanswered for the most part.  The doctors did say that there are people who live normal lives with autism and they were really impressed with him and said he has a lot of potential.  With various therapies we're hoping he'll be in mainstream school when the time comes.  He starts speech therapy soon and I've been making a lot of phone calls trying to get him the help he needs.  I guess they won't evaluate him at Willamette ESD until fall but then hopefully he'll be able to start preschool.  I'm sure it's going to be a long process but I know we can help him.

On a lighter note,  we took Michael to the County Fair and he loved it.  He wanted to see piglets so we went and looked at every animal there and of course, no piglets!  There were adult pigs but no babies.  He was ok with it though since he got to see pigs.  He got in one of the bounce houses and rode the carousel a few times.  I tried to get some good pictures but a photographer I'm not.  There are some pictures of him playing in the sprinkler too.  He seems to think that the idea is to not get wet.  He'll actually crawl under the water to avoid it.

                                           Trying to get the balls without getting wet

                                                          In the bounce house at the fair

                                                          Riding the carousel with Dad

Happy Birthday America!

Happy 4th of July!  I hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday.  We're going to BBQ when Rick gets home and set off some fireworks.  He's roofing a house this weekend which is good for the bank account but not good for poor Rick.  He's tired and sore but all he cares about is providing for his family and I am so blessed to have him.