JPFamilyMom
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2008
- Messages
- 1,600
I had promised my travel mates to have this up by Sunday, sorry I'm a couple days late 
here is our story...
Our family has not yet taken a trip to Disney World, though my husband and I did honeymoon there, and I have taken Jack to Disneyland twice. We grow more excited every day for our trip in March 2011.
Five and a half years ago I gave birth to a beautiful 10 lb baby boy, and we named him Jack (after my husbands grandfather). The birth did not go exactly as planned, everything became kind of like a blur he was born, they let me see him for what felt like a second and then he got rushed off to the NICU. After a thorough examination, they brought him to me in my room, and after that I didnt let him out of my sight. (They had rushed him off due to some minor complications during delivery).
The first year was challenging, he was a colicky baby and cried all day and night. Aside from him being colicky, he seemed to develop normally. He met all his milestones at the suggested age or slightly after. He started babbling, making sounds, and even forming words.
Then somewhere between 18 months and 2 years old, he didnt have any words anymore. He cried when I tried to take him on play dates and preferred to just drive cars around the table or line them up across the floor. Our pediatrician referred us to early intervention services, where we quickly learned the paperwork and waiting game. 4-6 months later Jack was evaluated and only qualified for speech therapy.
I gave birth to a second child and we moved to North Carolina and more issues arose and he seemed to be falling farther behind, outings became impossible, and I couldnt handle my child and knew I needed more help than just speech. Jack was 3 now, he got several evaluations, and then they sat us down and told us that our son was on the autism spectrum. I think I knew all along, but was in denial
Fast forward two years .over the course of the past two years Jack received Occupational therapy, speech therapy, was in a self contained special education class, gone on the gluten free & casein free diet, is receiving ABA, and has had tremendous growth.
Just in the last 6 months he has had the most growth, this school year he became part of a special program for children on the autism spectrum. (He actually started going early summer, off and on for testing and social game days) Its in a private school setting; he spends part of his day in a typical kindergarten class and then goes back to the classroom for the program he is part of to work on things he is behind in or behaviors he needs to work on.
Like some of the other moms have stated, I also watch my 2 yo like a hawk, and over analyze everything he does.
When I look at Jack, I see a happy, fun loving, intelligent five year old boy, and I wish everyone could see that too. I would do anything for him; he changed my life in so many ways. He made me a better person and has opened up many experiences that I wouldnt have had otherwise. I feel so blessed to be his Mom.
here is our story...Our family has not yet taken a trip to Disney World, though my husband and I did honeymoon there, and I have taken Jack to Disneyland twice. We grow more excited every day for our trip in March 2011.
Five and a half years ago I gave birth to a beautiful 10 lb baby boy, and we named him Jack (after my husbands grandfather). The birth did not go exactly as planned, everything became kind of like a blur he was born, they let me see him for what felt like a second and then he got rushed off to the NICU. After a thorough examination, they brought him to me in my room, and after that I didnt let him out of my sight. (They had rushed him off due to some minor complications during delivery).
The first year was challenging, he was a colicky baby and cried all day and night. Aside from him being colicky, he seemed to develop normally. He met all his milestones at the suggested age or slightly after. He started babbling, making sounds, and even forming words.
Then somewhere between 18 months and 2 years old, he didnt have any words anymore. He cried when I tried to take him on play dates and preferred to just drive cars around the table or line them up across the floor. Our pediatrician referred us to early intervention services, where we quickly learned the paperwork and waiting game. 4-6 months later Jack was evaluated and only qualified for speech therapy.
I gave birth to a second child and we moved to North Carolina and more issues arose and he seemed to be falling farther behind, outings became impossible, and I couldnt handle my child and knew I needed more help than just speech. Jack was 3 now, he got several evaluations, and then they sat us down and told us that our son was on the autism spectrum. I think I knew all along, but was in denial
Fast forward two years .over the course of the past two years Jack received Occupational therapy, speech therapy, was in a self contained special education class, gone on the gluten free & casein free diet, is receiving ABA, and has had tremendous growth.
Just in the last 6 months he has had the most growth, this school year he became part of a special program for children on the autism spectrum. (He actually started going early summer, off and on for testing and social game days) Its in a private school setting; he spends part of his day in a typical kindergarten class and then goes back to the classroom for the program he is part of to work on things he is behind in or behaviors he needs to work on.
Like some of the other moms have stated, I also watch my 2 yo like a hawk, and over analyze everything he does.
When I look at Jack, I see a happy, fun loving, intelligent five year old boy, and I wish everyone could see that too. I would do anything for him; he changed my life in so many ways. He made me a better person and has opened up many experiences that I wouldnt have had otherwise. I feel so blessed to be his Mom.
That's a great picture of Jack! 
We'll take suggestions for one week. 
, couldn't find it again once I decided I was going to get it 
....wound up getting a lizard instead 
But I would still like a frog 
