Halloween and Birthday pictures!

Photos of Mike from his birthday at Uncle John's house (he helped me make his cake, what a chef he is!), visit with Grandma and Grandpa Romeo (They brought him a snow globe and he went and got his Barney Christmas video with the snow globe on the cover!), trip to Great Wolf Lodge (he had a BLAST and slept in a bunk bed!), and Halloween (Howdy, pardner).

Quick Pics

Check out his cool new glasses! Doesn't he look so smart?
















He loved making popcorn using the new Popper he got for his birthday! Thanks Uncle John and Aunt Heidi!!

Happy almost Birthday, sweet boy!

I wrote this for his birthday last year but every word of it is still true...

Dear Michael,
When most people hear the word "autism", they imagine a child in his own world, closed off from others with no interest in human contact and no way to communicate without speech. I wish every single one of them could meet you. To sit on the couch with you curled up next to them, holding out your foot to be rubbed or just cuddling, to have you lead them into the kitchen to get you a drink or a snack -- they'd be amazed at how well you communicate when you want something! And at how affectionate you can be. And how you can make me laugh so hard and how hard you laugh! Of course, there's also the dark side... when you're having a GI episode and crying and crying in pain and there's nothing we can do for you, or when you want to try something we're eating but can't because of your diet, it's so hard.
But I can't believe how far you've come in the 4 1/2 years I've known you!! Beginning to say sounds and having so many signs, riding a bike and a scooter, pumping on the swings, swimming! and of course, feeding yourself which I take most of the credit for . I pray every day that the doctors will find a way to heal your belly and your immune system and you can have a normal life enjoying all of the things other little boys do... I would give anything to make you better. But in the meantime, know that I love you just as you are.


Summer 2003 - 6 1/2 years old


Summer 2005 - 8 1/2

Homework

We have been working very hard on all his exercises... he gets homework from Speech, OT, and now Dr. Kaplan for his eyes! Did Mary and Russ tell you about Dr. K? I am very excited about this... it is one more step in improving Mike's sensory integration. We have done the exercises several time wearing his special funny glasses and he's already improving! I wish he lived a little closer to me so I could do his homework with him every day. It is such a joy to see him doing well and really enjoying what he's doing. He was cracking up when we were bouncing the ball back and forth. If you guys see him soon, play ball with him. It's a great time!

Here's his homework list:

• Whistle blowing for Speech
• Ball bouncing back and forth
• Zoom ball (football on strings)
• Bean bag toss (with glasses)
• Sitting on opposite chairs (with glasses)
• Sensory activities - beans, rice, fabrics, floam, putty, shaving cream, etc.

Then there's his chores!

• Putting away silverware
• Carrying in groceries
• Carrying backpack and tape player

So he's a busy boy! More pics coming soon, I promise!