Finding the other end of our Red Thread: April 2015

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Our 2nd Familyversary

Happy TWO years to my tiny girl!

Audra didn't have school, so we got the other kiddos onto their buses then she and I headed off to her speech and occupational therapy appointments.

Daddy work a half day and joined us for lunch!

Then our little beauty needed some rest

We went out to dinner and celebrated with Uncle Tim, Aunt Dawn, Charlotte and Daniel. We went to our favorite Chinese buffet. Audra was so excited when we walked in that she was literally jumping up and down!

Charlotte and Audra,

cousins forever!

It's hard to believe that these sweet girls have been home for two years!

Sometimes it feels like just yesterday that we were waiting and waiting and waiting to bring them home.

Other times it feels like forever ago that we traveled to the other side of the world to hold them tight for the first time.

And it's hard to remember what life was like two years ago before they walked into our arms and stole our hearts!

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Easter

Easter seemed to sneak up and pass us by rather quickly this year!

Here's our Easter celebrations, in pictures mostly.

On Easter Eve we dyed eggs

Maura eventually resorted to coloring them

but some bunny needed a nap

Later we made Easter cookies

(anything involving food is much more appealing this this little bunny!)

Easter morning

A few pictures before going to church

And finally...

the main event,

Grandma and Grandpa's Easter Egg Hunt!

Maura, Tatum and Audra,

grandma's little Easter pretties!

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Perfectly Imperfect: Autism Awareness Day

Today is Autism Awareness Day.

And while I love to celebrate and promote Autism awareness...
I love to celebrate and honor my amazing boy, Riley (autism and all) even more!

In the beginning, Autism consumed us. Riley's early years were filled with doctor appointments, therapy sessions and early intervention. We had therapists at our house multiple times a week (OT, PT, Speech). We were at various doctors appointments multiple times a month. And I drove ridiculous distances and spent equally ridiculous amounts of money to get him any type of therapy that might help:

Social skills groups
Aquatic therapy
Hippotherapy
Handwriting lessons

All in an attempt to "fix" him....under the guise of what we thought was helping him achieve developmental milestones and increase his life's potential. And while I am sure we did accomplish a bit of that for him, it was completely time consuming and utterly exhausting...for Riley AND us.

But today, all these years later, I am in a very different place. It took many years, and is something I could not have even imagined years ago when we were "in the trenches"....

but,

Riley never needed to be "fixed". He is not, and never was...broken. He is perfectly wonderful just the way he is.

Riley has been surrounded by love, patience and kindness from so many people.

Family,
Friends,
Neighbors,
Teachers
Therapists.
Coaches
...I could go on and on!

People who love him for HIM. And that is all he ever really needed.

So many of these people joined us year after year as we participated in Walk Now for Autism Speaks.

Not only to raise awareness about Autism,
and
Not only to raised funds for the vital research they improves the quality of life for those with Autism,
but
To also celebrate our amazing boy and so many other children like him!

2005