Sorry its been so long...

They say that life gets busy when you have a child - they haven't met the mother of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 8 appointments a week are insane for me, I can see why Madison gets so cranky sometimes.

I haven't updated in a while...

SPEECH

Madison has made MAJOR changes in her speech lessons. She is not only talking but she is actually starting to like her teacher. There is no longer a power struggle between them. Madison even sat on her lap one day to read a book!!! That is HUGE - anyone who sees Madison on a regular basis knows she doesn't do that. PRAISE GOD!

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

Madison has finally started OT. I was a paranoid freak going into this. I had visions of Madison being strapped to a chair all alone with her therapist and then getting hit - it was totally the enemy not wanting her to go...but the Lord prevailed YET AGAIN! Her therapist is great. She really was seemed worried that Madison would have a long road ahead of her because she can't calm down very well -but in our second session Madison had already made major improvements. The exercises we do at home are not fun for either of us - but the proof is in the pudding - these things work! Madison even ate off of a spoon - a spoon that she was holding :)

DEL - HER TEACHER

Del is such a wonderful man. Eric & I love him and Madison seems to have created a bond with him as well. He is the only person that can get her to sit in her high chair for an hour without freaking out. We have found out that again he was hand picked by God. Del and I were having a conversation about something that lead us into a conversation about recovery. As you know Eric & I are both in recovery (both 3 yrs now)...well Del has been in recovery for a mind blowing 20 years! PRAISE GOD!

The Lord is proving time & time again that he is in control of our lives. Its hard sometimes though. I find that sometime we fight him on things that are good for us but beg & plead for the wrong things.

Madison is making progress in every aspect of her life. She is even learning some sign language - on her own none the less. We were laying in the bed the other night watching a show that has a segment with sign language on it. I did the signs for cat & dog and she just stared at me...then smiled and mumbled something and put her hand in front of her face. I just kind of smiled and went back to watching TV...then she did it again - she was saying the word SLEEP and doing the sign for it. Now here is the kicker - we saw that on the same show back in early October! Then just this week - again the same show - they have a whole poem that has signs to it. She knew the whole thing (at least while watching the woman on the show). I am going to get some DVDs with sign language for sure!

Thank you all for your continued prayers and understanding hearts for Madison. Eric & I know it is only because of prayer that her life is changing so much.

We love you all & Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Its been a few days...lots to update on!

I am so sorry I haven't blogged in a few days. Things just get so busy around here it really is hard to get everything done some days.

Hmm...where to start????

The Lord is really working in Madison's life. He is making things fall right into place - for that we are thankful - PRAISE GOD!

Prayer Request: After reading Jenny McCarthy's book I started thinking maybe we should get a DAN (Defeat Autism Now) Doctor...so I went to a website that is listed in the book. There are only a few hundred in the country and only about 5 in Michigan. The closest is in Ann Arbor. I called and got Madison an appointment. This normally would be a HUGE Praise God thing - but I have this gut feeling that this may not be the doctor for Madison. At first I was SO excited but now I 'm not so sure.

Please pray for me to hear what the Lord is telling me with this one...I am having so much conflict over this decision. I thought it was where the Lord wanted me to go, but now something is telling me I am wrong. There is a lot at stake if we make the wrong decision here.

Another prayer answered: After many weeks of frustration with Madison's speech therapist I finally came right out and asked her..."Everything you are having Madison work on is designed for a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder correct"? She just stared at me and actually said - "She has that"???? I couldn't believe it! How could this woman not know! She went on to tell me she thought something was different about Madison but didn't want to upset me and come out and ask. She just assumed that someday someone else would notice and diagnose her. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. As a therapist I would assume (evidently stupid me for doing so) that if you "think" a child is autistic (or at least has characteristics) that you would say SOMETHING - HECK ANYTHING to the parents. I would also assume it is the therapist duty & obligation to test or evaluate the child if they suspect delays in their development.

ANYWAY...Eric & I decided, after ranting about this to EVERYONE I know, we decided to give Michelle (therapist) some time to make changes in her therapy. SHE DID - Praise God! On Wednesday she did things totally different and Madison was much, much, much more responsive to her. (Now if we can just get Michelle to stop talking OVER Madison so she can actually hear her talking). Regardless of that, Madison is seemed very happy and much more relaxed.

Thanks for the prayers -but please keep asking the Lord to show Michelle what she needs to be focusing on with Madison. It is so hard not to just butt in and tell her what she should be doing (at least in my expert opinion - HA HA )

I have one more prayer request if I may be so bold...it is on a personal level. Some things have been going on in my life that I need prayer for. I really don't want to get into specifics but there is a very dark cloud of "evil" living over my home right now - it needs to be lifted. The only image I can think of is from Ghostbusters the movie...when the cloud of demons / Gozer formed over the building where Dana Barrett / The Gate Keeper lived. (yes I know - I remember too much about this movie). I know who is in this cloud of evil and I am asking the Lord to send angels to surround us for protection...at times I can honestly feel, and sometimes see, actual spiritual warfare taking place for the people in our home. Its terrifying to see and be a part of this. Please pray for our protection. It is not just me that this is affecting. There has been personality "changes" in all of us - even Madison seems out of sorts.

I thank you all for your prayers. I thank you for your love and support of our family. We are SO blessed to have such wonderful friends and family. If there are things I can pray for you or your family - please let me know.

Before I close - it wouldn't be a blog without pics of Madison ;) Enjoy!!!!

NEW FEATURES ON MY BLOG PAGE

I have added some new features to my page...

You will see links in the upper right hand corner - CHECK THEM OUT!!! These links will take you to my cousin Nikki's blog page, My MySpace page, BEHM Direct's website & My MySpace page with music recorded by ME :)

I also added a countdown clock of how many shopping days left until Christmas !!! As well as a poll to see how everyone is doing getting ready for the Christmas season...

Love to everyone!!!

HALLOWEEN 2007

I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL Halloween. I know we did. This was Madison's first Halloween where she could actually participate. She went as Ming Ming Duckling from the Wonder Pets. She looked SO cute. Her cousin Trinity came over to trick or treat with us (she was Tinkerbell & Heather was Peter Pan).

Praise the Lord for giving us such warm weather...the kids were able to trick or treat without covering their costumes! (I'd like to thank Global Warming too - NOT!!!)