Communication Explosion!–Never in a million years…

We enjoyed another successful communication weekend with Tristan. Only this time, he reached a new level in communication that we have never seen. It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

He wanted to talk about his favorite things over and over and over, etc. So I took his tablet communication device and build a page with his favorite things. I made a schedule, so he knew “what was next.” He loved it so much he kept going back to it. Then he started verbalizing all these items. These are the preferred “conversations” with Tristan. Motorcycle ride. Mc Donald’s – and his entire usual order of chicken nuggets, French fries, BBQ sauce, chocolate milk. Church. Guitar. Cooking. Making Pizzas. YouTube. Movie Theatre – and his snack items which consist of popcorn, pop, and chips and cheese. If Tristan’s device was not right next to him, he would sign his thoughts. If we were not correct, he would repeat his word with a more clear annunciation. If we still didn’t understand, then he would find the button. This repetition went on for the complete 48-hour visit during waking hours.

At one point, Brian and I were trying to talk about something important. We finally had to tell Tristan to wait a minute; it is our turn to speak. Never in a million years would I have thought this would happen!

The other behavior we noticed is even though he wanted to talk about all these things, he didn’t necessarily want them right at this moment. He just wanted us to know he was thinking about them. So this was definitely an area of growth!
I kind of forgot how much sign language he has absorbed over the years. I had to quickly jog my memory when he was signing. He remembered words we have not used in a while.

Enjoy the lighter side of autism and a reminder to never keep up on communication skills! You just may be surprised someday. (Here is a picture of him making pizza’s for lunch. He loves cooking activities.)

Gotcha Day Celebration!

I can not believe it was at the airport on June 4th that Tristan was handed to us. In the adoption world, this is known as a “Gotcha Day!” So… June 4th is special family day for us. Many years ago…We were about to embark on a parenting journey that we could have never imagined. Interesting. Lively. Heart-wrenching. Abounding in miracles. Empathy. Compassion.

This year we took Tristan on a day trip to Sandy Acres Clydesdales for a VIP Farm Tour. It was a lot of fun. Tristan got to feed the goats and the miniature donkeys slices of carrots. Tristan played on the goats’ toys! There was a toddler-sized slide that he kept eyeing. I told him he was too big. He still inched his body toward it and stood at the step. I told the owner, “Tristan thinks he is a toddler.” She gave him permission to slide down. However, his legs extended to the bottom. We all laughed. Down the slide, he went. (Don’t tell him he can’t do something! He will find a way.) Tristan seemed to enjoy petting the Clydesdale horses. In the end, we went into the barn and brushed a horse. Tristan was content with this activity. It was great to have a private VIP tour—lots of good family memories.

The Moment I Knew I Was In Trouble…

Thinking back to the days when Tristan was younger, our primary goal for the day was to keep him safe. Many times that was a challenge, to say the least. To begin with, we were always trying to stay one step ahead of him, and sometimes we became one step behind! Brian and I would have to come up with a new solution. Forget safety locks/devices for children on the market; he would outwit them. Locks on doors were a big topic of conversation. I remember the first time I knew I was in trouble raising Tristan. I had someone over-purchasing an item. We were chatting at the kitchen table.
We had the eye and hook locks on all the very tops of the doors. Tristan was about two years old. Tristan quietly grabbed the broom and walked over to my bedroom door. Suddenly, he erupted in laughter. Immediately, I looked over to where he was standing as I sat at the kitchen table. My mouth dropped open. He used the broom to unlatch the lock. I looked at this stranger and said, “Oh my goodness. I can not believe he just did that.” When it is a problem for Tristan to solve, his problem-solving skills are off the charts. Which means it becomes a problem for Mom & Dad to solve. This challenge played over and over as he continued to grow and develop. Looking back, I now conclude that many times this was a game to him. Tristan has sure made our life more full and fun! Enjoy another healthy dose of laughter from our home!

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15 Years Ago…Our Journey Began

Today is the day our journey with Tristan began.  Finally, all the preparation had been done. Paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork!  Waiting, waiting, and more waiting! Of course, we had no idea how the road would bend and curve.  We would climb uphill and enjoy the glide down! We did not have much knowledge about autism.  In little ways, God had prepared our hearts.  Given the choice I would do it all over again.  We are blessed to have been gifted with Tristan.  I hope one day to write this all down.

Enjoy a glimpse into the early days of our new adventure!

 

Counting the Days…

Quarantine.  Pandemic.  Shelter in place.  These words mean a lot to many of us.  In Tristan’s world not so much.  His routine has changed but many aspects of his life remain the same.   He is not worried about much.  His main concern is food.  Overall he is content.  But when he is bored…watch out!  He will create his own entertainment.  Here is one example.

This was one of the latest updates I received from his group home.

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Living In The Moment –No Expectations

We had a great family day with Tristan at Santa’s Village! What I love about raising Tristan is how he lives in the moment. I wish I had this gift naturally.

Bored with English!

Tristan loves to watch YouTube on his tablet.   It is always the same genre of videos.  Videos with songs on Abc’s, colors, shapes, and counting!  I am grateful for all the creative video content on these topics. He is developmentally a toddler/preschooler, and he thoroughly enjoys choosing his videos.   Lately…he has discovered you can watch the same topics of videos in other languages!

Eggs-actly What Are You Doing?

The other day a conversation in my house went like this…

My seventeen-year-old son looked at the counter and saw some bags from my shopping trip.

He asked, “What are these for an Easter egg hunt?”

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The Most Embarrassing Note From School – Part 1

I have met people over the years that have experienced this story.  If you are reading this at this applies to you, feel free to leave a comment below.  You may add a detail that I didn’t know about.

Autism Awareness

April is Autism Awareness Month.  I do have a story to share.

 

 

A few years ago my older son asked me for some money for school.  His school was collecting money for Autism Awareness Month. The conversation went something like this…

Jacob:  Mom can I have some money for Autism Awareness fundraiser.

Mom:  No you may not.  If you want Autism Awareness bring your brother to school with you!  People will be very aware of autism!!! They will see first hand it is a communication and social impairment.

I thought my answer seemed logical and funny.  However, my son did not think so!

Enjoy another healthy dose of laughter!