Blog slacker...

We've been super busy around here with the Autism conference, Church, Symphony night out, play time with friends, and the dreaded Dentist (which he did SO GOOD at. Yeah for social stories) . Plus preschool and therapy every day.  I tend to fall into my bed every night exhausted.  

Bryant has been doing well in his therapy. I try and do 3 hrs a day with him and then we have a therapist that comes on Wednesdays.  He plays with several different kids every week and seems to be doing better with people coming to our house (although this is still his biggest struggle).  This seriously makes me extremely happy.  I had a moment with him at the park today where he started talking to a 5 yr old boy.  It may seem like such a little thing to all of you moms with typical kids out there, but I couldn't stop grinning when Bryant told the kid his name, how old he was and proceeded to ask the kid what he was eating.  Happiness.  Now I just wish I could find a better way for him to get used to groups of laughing people.  Sound sensitivity is horrible my friends. Horrible.

Anyway, that's all :)  Hope everyone is having a good week!

Grateful...

Today I am feeling so grateful for family and friends who are in Bryant's life. It is such a huge blessing to have friends that understand Bryant and create time in their busy schedules for us to come to their house for play dates.  It has been so helpful for Bryant, and he has started to WANT to play with other kids (although if he doesn't know who you are he will still bolt ha).  

My sister-in-law posted this blog article on my facebook wall.  I love how this mother describes Autism.  So many things hit home to me (especially Bryant's ear covering when he walks into a situation he doesn't know). I'm at this point where I still think, with therapy, that Bryant can overcome a lot of his anxieties, but it was interesting to see an older kid with autism and how his mom deals with it. Who knows if this is our future or not, but I really respect this mom for dealing with it in such a positive way. Thank goodness Bryant doesn't do any scripting, that would be difficult I think. 

 If you have the time to read it (it's pretty short), I definitely think you should.  Your (future) kids will most likely be going to school with kids just like Bryant and it is good to have an understanding of  how their minds work. :)

http://momnos.blogspot.com/2010/03/on-being-hair-dryer-kid-in-toaster.html

Happenings....

Here is our life lately in pictures (although if you follow me on instagram, then you might just want to ignore this post.)

Yahtzee night with our friends Jessica and Elliot. I love grown up time when our kids are asleep.  

I've been working out at the gym a lot.  It sucks and my butt is still huge. Go figure.

Visiting Nat once a week in Sugarhouse.  Oh how I love riding bikes and feeding ducks.  It is the highlight of my week.  Thank goodness for a twin sister :)

I bought a big plastic bin and filled it with painting and craft supplies.  I was so sick of cars and trains that I went a little crazy at the store.   Hooray for paints!

Travis' boss decided to buy us a nice dinner out on the town.  This was hands down the most expensive dinner I have ever had.  Really delicious though. I'm still dreaming about the ravioli. Mmmmm.

Eating dinner.  Cute Husband.

I couldn't wait for dinner to be over so we could go see the Hunger Games (which was really good).  I love date nights. sigh.

Hanging out with Bryant ALL DAY LONG. ha.  

He's so cute I just can't stand it.  Look at that face.  

In other news, we started Bryant's new therapy.  We had his evaluation with his new therapist last week and it was pretty intense.  The therapist recorded Travis and me playing with Bryant separately for a long time, and then we were evaluated on how we could change our communication with him.  Very nerve racking for a perfectionist guilt prone person like me, but it turned out to be pretty interesting.  For instance (interesting fact), a lot of kids on the autism spectrum ask questions over and over again that they already know the answer to. We learn as parents of these awesome special kids that the best way to get a response is to ask a lot of questions, instead of just describing things around us.  It is a little bit of a catch 22, because these kids learn how to speak well, but end up asking questions over and over and OVER. They find it comforting. Bryant does this a lot.  Good to know :)  

Overall, the things I'm working on this week with Bryant are: Describing exactly what I am thinking all the time, instead of asking questions.  Keeping calm when he freaks out and trying to slow down my speech.  Giving Bryant a "role" in our play so he is more interested in a give and take social play, and letting him calm down by himself more so he can learn how to self soothe in anxious situations.  The last one is really hard for me because he cries so loud when people come over that sometimes it is really difficult to take more of a back seat role.  Hopefully I can help him overcome some anxiety.  

Anyway, probably way too much information, but hey this is my life :)

Ps.  I know this song has been EVERYWHERE lately, but I can't stop listening to it.  It's awesome.

Family pictures...

Here are a few favorites from my family pictures :) 

 Uploading pictures to blogger makes me swear. Piece of crap.

            

Spring clothes wish list.....

 

Dear jcrew, Zara, Nordstrom, and Madewell: Oh how I love your clothes.  I wish I could buy ALL of these.