My Family

My Family

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Blessed

Autism A Blessing?

I look at Cohen every day in complete an utter amazement. I am so overwhelmed everyday with him. When I say overwhelmed I don't mean with work I mean the love I feel when I look at him.  The first half of Cohen's life I felt overwhelmed, seriously overwhelmed like how am I going to do this??? Why me? Why did God give me a special needs child?  I am not the most patient person and I never thought I had the gift of taking care of a child like him.  We (Clay and I) struggled and we still do with knowing how to parent him properly, but we just do our best and take it day by day.

Cohen is teaching me probably more than I am teaching him. I am learning to have more patience for sure and to have more compassion for others.  Cohen loves with all of his heart..all of the time! Wow,  how can that not be a gift?

I watch my big 5 year old boy progress daily in his talking, (actually sometimes I can't make him stop), his art work,  riding a bike (which we didn't know he would ever do), and even starting to throw a ball a little. (I don't think he will be an athlete :))  Cohen knows all of his numbers and letters and is learning site words at school.

Just over a year ago I was wondering if we would ever know how how he felt, what he needed, if he would have any friends, have any passions (other than Thomas).  I know I am lucky, I know that I am blessed, some parents aren't ever able to know the thoughts of their children or how their child feels. I get that, I am getting more than that. I am Blessed.


Sunday, January 4, 2015

Celebrating Cooper

Cooper has been working so hard in school this year!  He has had some struggles with his spelling.  We have been trying to build his confidence and then I think better grades will come! So...his reward for an A was to go to Chuckee Cheese!  Just before the Christmas break he got 2 A's on his spelling test! We are so proud of him and took him out to celebrate!

We went to our favorite breakfast place, Black Bear Diner and then went to Chuckee Cheese to play! The kids had a ball and Cooper new this adventure was all to celebrate him!!






Saturday, January 3, 2015

Christmas

We just celebrated our 3rd California Christmas!  We have created quite a few new traditions here that we all enjoy. Being that we don't have family here, Clay and I have tried to find other things to do to make lots of family memories!

We go to the Christmas tree farm and cut down our tree, which is always fun!   We did a little bit of baking together, went to visit the white reindeer at Mount Madonna and this year we were able to go to the Christmas Eve service at Church.   The past few years we haven't gone because we always have to leave around 10 minutes in,  the kids just can't keep quiet.  This year we made it, almost the entire time. Clay had to walk out with Cohen because towards the end of service Cohen says Really loudly 3,2,1 and then says My Mom makes really good hot chocolate.  We tried and the kids new what Christmas was all about, which was the important part.

And of course..we made reindeer food and left out Cookies and milk for Santa!

Christmas morning, Cohen was sick but we were still able to enjoy opening presents together and had a wonderful day!  Hoping soon to be able to celebrate with our Alabama and Georgia family!