♥ Day/Week Fun!

     One of the days that I look forward to after Christmas, is Valentine's Day.  I'm not sure what it is about it, but I love it.  I love the hearts, the red, the pink, but most of all I love being able to just enjoy the day showing even more love to my family.  It's not a day that I just throw together last minute or anything, I do put a lot of thought into it and I don't know, I just really love all the pink, red, hearts, and the valentine's. ♥♥

Happy Valentine's Day

     This year we had a lot of fun making the boy's boxes for school.  I was really excited for Colin's box, because I've wanted to make a box like his for probably 4 years now.  This year it was very fitting that he got a "monster" box, since he is our little monster you know. LOL!  Brenton and I started Sunday evening with the prep, because each box needed to be spray painted.  I then started piecing it together and by Tuesday afternoon, Colin had his monster and let me tell you, he LOVED it!  I mean that truly, it was like he had a new best friend.  It was so darn cute to see, too.  He had 3 days of parties and enjoyed taking his box each day.  With a tight grip on his monster, he'd walk in the building like he owned the place to enjoy the day with his friends.

all ready for his PreK fun

can't get to the fun quick enough☺

Hi Mommy, I'm ready

      

     Ethan, well he asked for a Batmobile for his box this year, so of course we had to figure out something for that.  I had no idea how to even pull it off, but I found a few ideas on Pinterest and then we took a little from each to create our own version.  I must say, it turned out great....so well, in fact, Ethan would not allow us to cut a slot on the top for his friends to put their valentine cards in, because "he didn't want to ruin it". LOL!  Needless to say, it worked out anyway and the kids just had to open the box and toss'em in.  Now, that thing is like a prized trophy in his room. =)

all ready for 2nd grade Vday fun

Valentine Fun 2nd grade style

     What a cold weekend it was here this past weekend...well, it still is!  However, cold or not, it was still Valentine's Day on Saturday and I had some things planned for my guys.  I had decided on a very "simple" day with sweet treats for each of them.  I shopped all week gathering their favorites and making sure I had the right little tags to attach to each. I'm a girl that is all about the details! LOL!!  A gift can be very simple, but once you put it in a cute bag, add ribbon, and a cute little printable tag you have just changed the whole dynamic of the gift.  Anyway, we had a great day together and thanks to Mother Nature for providing a white out, we just stayed in and hunkered down for the day.  My husband even surprised me, because we weren't supposed to do anything, but he did give me the most beautiful red roses (my favorite) and a few gift cards to go and pamper myself a bit.  I sure do love that man ♥☺

♥ my favorite people ♥

Accomplishment!

     Its been a little while since I posted about Colin and this journey we are on with him, so I thought I would today.  As I sit here typing this tears are filling my eyes!  I'm not at all sad or anything, quite the opposite actually, because our little guy is moving mountains.  It was a year ago that we were given the diagnosis and even then, they couldn't give us a definite of where we'd be or anything, so we left there knowing that this diagnosis was more ammunition to give him the best life we possibly could.  We've been doing many things including: speech therapy, equestrian therapy, occupational therapy, he's on an IEP, and he goes to a local PreK program 5 days week/all day all happening to help Colin become the "best" Colin he can be.  I realized very early on that we couldn't do it all & that we had to trust people/professionals to give Colin all the things that he needed.  I'm so glad I was able to let go of my fears early on and trust these people.  Now, it's not been easy and I've had to get angry along the way, but I feel at this point we have a good team working with Colin.  All of these people have helped shape him, thus far and for that I couldn't be more appreciative.  I'm so proud of this little guy and seeing where we are today, just proves that we can conquer this thing called Autism that has entered our life.  I know it'll never go away, but with the proper tools we sure can show that it certainly doesn't have a hold of our life.

     Anyway, a few weeks ago, we decided to start Bio-Cranial therapy with one of our family friends who just so happens to be a chiropractor and a licensed Bio-Cranial therapist.  I know Colin is doing a lot during the week, but this was different.  We were asked to research it and see if we'd be interested in Rusty doing this for Colin, so I did.  I got 1 article in and I was sold, so the following week we started.  It's been about 7 weeks or so now and let me tell you, WOW!  We've been seeing so many changes in Colin, especially his speech since starting this.  I was remincing on this the past week and I can't even begin to say how blessed we are and our Autism journey certainly is different than most, because we've been blessed with so many people wanting to help our son.  We are truly, truly grateful!

such a big boy!

    Another thing that happened here recently, is Colin conquered the high school....yep, the high school! I know you are probably thinking seriously...but, this was HUGE for us!  We've been trying to see our nieces & nephews in their sporting events there, but we never could go as a family b/c Colin couldn't get past the parking lot.  Anytime we tried, it would end up with him vomiting and one of us taking him home.  However, this time, Daddy was adamant he was going to go and see the basketball game and that he did!☺ Now, if Brenton didn't push me to let go and let him handle Colin, we would've been back home after being there 20 minutes probably, but b/c I knew this had to be done I swallowed my pride and walked into the gym while Brenton and Colin stayed in the lobby.  However, before I knew it, I looked in the doorway and there they were.....my handsome husband holding our son's hand entering the gym.  HE DID IT!  YAY Colin!!!  Turns out, it wasn't the whistle, the buzzer, or even all the noise that a basketball game can bring that I figured would bother him, but it was the clapping that Colin had to hold his ears for and once he got used to it he was just fine!  I realized, yet again that day that my husband is truly amazing and really does know how to make our son do the things that I, as his mother, don't have the heart to push him to do.  God, I love that guy!!!

he's warming up

and he did...

he's in the gym!!  ☺