Pictures Through Zach's Eyes: 2014

Friday, July 11, 2014

Words from Zach

Zach is making progress in connecting written and spoken words plus writing and reading. One of his favorite things to do right now is dictate a word or sentence to you and have you write it down on paper or his magna doodle. Then he will trace over the top of it. Usually it is about food. He has also been learning to use the keyboard on the computer. So I experimented to see what he might want to type and this is what we got:

"Kecia, Derrick, Derel, Carter have fun at baseball. Carter plays at Taco Bell. Carter goes to the hotel. Wheel of Fortune has Captain Hook and Jake."

I helped with capitols and punctuation, but the rest he did by himself including spelling. I am impressed. He is doing a great job.

VBS 2014

June 23, 24, 25, and 26 Zach, my oldest niece Bella, and I had a blast at Vacation Bible School. Full of weird animals and teachings about being different and God loving you anyway. This was the one and only picture that Zach has even been remotely interested in taking. He loved getting to spend this special time with his younger cousin. We were blessed to have Bella make the choice to accept Christ. What a treasure!!

Monday, April 14, 2014

Good Morning Pastor Steve

I know you all will be disappointed, but there are no pictures for this post. It is celebrating a huge milestone and an amazing man who has helped along the way.

I love my church. I say it a lot, but I also mean it very much. Zach and I are blessed to have a place where they accept him just the way he is. They try to the best of their ability to understand and include Zach as well as know his limitations and provide him the supervision and inclusion/separation that he needs and can handle. Zach loves going to church, especially once we switched to the morning service, years ago at this point. He loves hanging out with his helper Sam (and Timmy, James, or Victoria when Sam isn't able to be there). He loves music, doing arts and crafts, learning Bible verses (yep Bible verses. He actually knows a hand full and that warms this momma's heart to no end) and most of all watching Veggie Tales.

One of our pastors awhile back stepped in front of Zach on our way into the church building. He put out his hand expectantly for a handshake and wanted Zach to do the same. Of course he knows Zach and that he has "issues", but not necessarily what they were or what limitations he has. Zach wasn't sure what to do. This was something new to him. Social interaction of that nature just doesn't usually come naturally to him. So I helped him put out his hand, grab Pastor's hand, and shake. Then Pastor wanted him to look him in the eye. Oh my, you are killing me here Pastor (is what I was thinking). Eye contact for a child with autism is difficult. With some prompting from me and encouragement from Pastor, Zach made his best attempt. Then on in we dent. It probably took you longer to read the encounter than the time it actually took to transpire. Even though this was difficult for Zach, this touched my heart very deeply, and Zach's as well.

This became the new routine. Get out of the car, walk up to the building, shake Pastor's hand, find seats, go check in and get Zach to class. It is great because Zach is really excited about going to church. It also pulled him a little bit more out of his shell. He actually started wanting to shake other people's hands. He wants to interact with them, and this gives him a way to do it. This is also wonderful because he has had to learn to wait his turn when Pastor is talking to someone else. Not an easy thing to do for him, but he is learning; and Pastor will cut his conversation short or interrupt it if he sees Zach waiting. Pastor is genuinely glad to see him and interact with him.

I have to say this morning was extra special. Zach walked right up to Pastor and shook his hand. Pastor said "Good Morning" just like he always does. There was a brief pause. Zach in his very best effort looked him in the eye and replied "Good Morning Pastor Steve." Completely unprompted, unpracticed, unrehearsed just completely independent; and then went on his merry way on into the building as if nothing had happened. We were all stunned. We being my parents, myself, and Pastor Steve. The look of pride and excitement on Zach's face was priceless. Just as priceless though was the grown man so touched by that simple yet profound act of a child trying so hard to learn these unnatural social skills that he was moved to tears. It once again touched my heart very deeply, because he understood just as much as I did what an accomplishment that was.

Thank You Pastor Steve for taking the time and energy to work with Zach in such a little way that is having such a big impact on him, for genuinely caring about Zach, but most of all for truly realizing what an accomplishment, a milestone, that was made today. All because you took the time out to show Zach that he is important and he belongs.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

What Autism Looks Like in Our House

Just wanted to give you a small glimpse into what Autism looks like in our house. What's that you say? It looks a lot like your house. Well you know what? You are right!!! In most ways your house and my house are very much the same. That is what makes "living with autism" so hard and why it is considered an "invisible" condition. In a lot of ways our life IS just like yours, but in some ways it is quite different. And that is why the statement "Different Not Less" means a lot to me.

He has interests like any other kid, even though some may not be considered age appropriate. He loves just like any other kid, though he has a hard time expressing it. He has quirky habits like any other kid, though his would usually be seen as a little bit more quirky than others. He eats just like any other kid, though he may not eat the things most kids do (and this is something we have worked on for YEARS) and some things he shouldn't. He gets dressed like any other kid, even though we have struggled for years to teach him the self help skills he needs to be able to do it independently, but hey look he can finally zip his own jacket (maybe next we can work on snaps and buttons). He has trouble waiting like any other kid, just like ANY other kid. So in a lot of ways he is just like your kid, but in a lot of ways he is different, just like any other kid. And just as important, in a lot of ways he is like other kids with autism and in a lot of ways he is different from them as well, just like any other kid. That is why the statement "If you have met one child with autism, you have met ONE child with autism" is soooo very true.

All this to say that he is special just like any other kid. He wants to be understood, accepted, and above all LOVED like any other kid. And you know what? HE IS!!! Thank you to all who have met him, and to those that haven't, and done just that Understood, Accepted, and Above all LOVED my guy, just like ANY other kid. This means the world to me, but more so it means the world to HIM!!

Zachary you are exactly who God designed you to be. And though this thing we call life can be tough, oh so tough; I couldn't ask for anything more. And to answer cousin Lestina's question yesterday: Yes!! Yes He IS a Blessing!!!

I Love You Zachary!!! Happy World Autism Awareness Day 2014!!!

Sleeping in mommy's bed with his friends Sully from Monsters University

And Daniel Tiger from Daniel Tigers Neighborhood

Stinker would not leave my room to get dressed until I helped him do this.

Still having Birthday Party decorations up 2 months later

Though they are slowly coming down

The gorgeous tulips he got me for my birthday

(with Grandma's help of course)

Thomas trains lined up on the sink

and on his bed

Duplos put together and set upside down

Helping mommy get the stuff out to make his lunch for school

(hot dog in case you were wondering)

Wearing Mickey Mouse Camo on World Autism Awareness Day

to Support the Month of the Military Child (also the month of April)

Zip that jacket dude. Yeah!!!

Waiting to help mommy make his lunch. Looking longingly at the pool.

Soon buddy, hopefully very soon.

All ready to go and trying to be patient waiting for the bus

Keeping my guy safe with a double lock storm door on the doors that lead to the outside.

He is an eloper, has no sense of danger, has language but doesn't know how to use it well,

loves water. One of my biggest fears at home and more so in public is him wandering/darting off, getting lost, and not knowing how to get help.

Say Cheeeeeeeese!!!

Say Autismmmmmm!!

World Autism Awareness Day 2014

I know I have other drafts waiting to be written, but with today being World Autism Awareness Day, I wanted to see if I could get Mr. Zach to take a picture. This is what he saw this morning before he left for school. His finger, the blanket on the back of the couch he is leaning on, the plants on the front porch and the yard, the gravel driveway, and Grandpa's Car. There may be other things that he was seeing that you and I can't, but he isn't spilling the beans on that one.

Hope everyone has an amazing April 2, 2014 World Autism Awareness Day and a great start to Autism Awareness Month.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Heads Up

I just thought these were cute. Not the best pictures, but loved the comparison. I always wonder what goes through his mind when he takes ones like this. Maybe someday, but until that day comes I will just enjoy looking at them.

Time with Special Friends

These are from January. I know, I know. But here they are.

What an awesome day we had with two of the most amazing women God has put in our lives. I have said it before and I will probably say it again. These two along with others along the way have been instrumental in helping Zach get as far as he is today. The best part is even though they are not directly working with Zach any more, I know that they are only a phone call, text, Facebook message away. The love and compassion they have for Zach, me, and other children and their families is special. I will be grateful for the rest of my life to have people like this in my life who Zach and I can call FRIEND. Thank you Erin and Mia. We LOVE you!!!

The smile on Zach's face says it all.

That was a big jump (from the top of the rock behind them). Lucky he has these ladies to help him.

Just happy being together

Again the smiles say it all. That is love. Thank You Ladies!!!

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Channeling his inner Gibbs

Ok, so let me explain. One of my favorite shows on TV right now is NCIS. Not so surprising, Zach likes it too. Actually this kid LOVES it. He will choose to watch reruns of NCIS over some of his other favorite TV shows. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Daniel Tiger, and Diego to name a few (not usually over Blues Clues or The Price is Right though). One of the main characters on the show, Leroy Jethro Gibbs-The Boss- is known for drinking whiskey in his workshop basement out of pretty much anything that he has at hand. A coffee cup, a glass, the bottle, but typically out of a mason jar. Imagine my surprise at my son's fascination with these new drinking containers that Wal-Mart was carrying. Well actually I wasn't too surprised. Yep you guessed it. Mini plastic mason jars. I decided to purchase one for him, and as you can see he loves to use it.

One of my friends just happens to be a big fan of the show too. So to put a smile on her face, I took these pictures and text them to her. I happen to know it made her night. So chug away Little Mister. I am sure Gibbs would approve.

Building with Legos

This picture is more for documentation sake than anything else. It is from January 2014. It proves that with the right setting, proper encouragement, and perseverance and patience on both our parts that: 1. Zach can stick to a given task for more than a minute or two and 2. That he can and will build with Legos.

Let's just say there are other people in his life that do not believe he can do this. Sadly they are mistaken and miss out on some amazing opportunities. They really don't know what they are missing. No, maybe not his "favorite" activity, but a picture is worth a thousand words, and for this momma, worth one gigantic smile; because I know my boy and HE CAN DO IT!!!