Blast from the Past

Before I start, let me just give a little shout-out to two great men autism research is devastated to have lost. The first is Michael's Pop-pop, John Moran Sr. He was one of the greatest men I have had the privilege to know. His concern and commitment to his family and doing whatever he could to help his grandson by advancing the field of autism research were unmatched. I know you're watching over him now, Pop-pop, just as much as you always have.

The other is Dr. Bernard Rimland, founder of the Autism Research Institute and a pioneer in the field, bringing to light the biological and medical roots of ASD. Read about him here.

While organizing my digital pics (using Google's Picasa program, which I ADORE), I came across these old cutie pics of our boy-- look how tiny he was!!
(summers of 2003-2004)






And look at him now. He 's so grown up!:
(top/left - 2003, bottom/right - 2006)


P.S. Welcome to all new members of Michael's blog family :) Feel free to leave your comments for everyone to see! They make Mike feel good :) Well, and also me. I'm an approval addict, what can I say?

P.P.S The surprise was the Christmas cards! Did you just love it? Could you just eat him up?

Dear Santa,

I have been very good this year! Please bring me the following:

~Ice cubes for my snow cone maker
~Rice and beans for my rice box
~ Hugs, kisses, tickles, back massages, foot massages, and head scratches

That's all I need :)

Love,
Michael

A Little Surprise...

Mary and I worked on a little surprise today... but you guys are going to have to wait to find out! Can you stand the suspense? **insert evil laughter**

P.S. Mike and I both extended our school days this week! He now starts at 10, an hour earlier, and I am working full day instead of half. We are both exhausted!!

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!