It All Comes Together!

Dave and I were lucky enough to have a quick little 2 day get away last weekend with some friends. The kids stayed with grandma, auntie, and cousins while we were gone. As much as people constantly tell us we need a break, and I know in my heart this is true, it is still hard to leave. Especially with everything Kaden has going on.

What a pleasant surprise we came back to....Kaden was making so many new sounds after a weekend with his cousins. He was saying things we had never heard before. There are no words to describe the feeling of walking through the door and hearing him say "WOOOOWWWW, Ma-Ma!" As he says it, you hear pure excitement in his voice...it is the best!

Well, it has been 6 months since we started this journey with Kaden and Autism. I can honestly say that it feels like it is all starting to come together! All of Kaden's hard work,  all of the hours and hours of therapy. It is all shining through so bright!

To think that 6 months ago a stranger sat in my living room and told me that Kaden showed all of the "red flags" of Autism. I asked her if she had ever seen these behaviors or "red flags" disappear after she had seen them in a child at first, and she told me "no." She also told me not to expect to see changes over night and that  while we would set 6 month goals for him, not to expect him to reach all of those goals.

Well, here we are 6 months later and I can proudly say that Kaden has reached every single goal outlined for him on his IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan), and then some! 

HA...TAKE THAT AUTSIM!!!!

Kaden at speech taking a break

In 6 months he has learned to communicate his needs, mimic behaviors, follow  two- three- four & more word commands, he babbles constantly, mimics sounds, is able to interact & self regulate in a social setting with his peers, say some words, concentrate on a project for not only seconds but minutes, uses sign language on a regular basis, and SO MUCH MORE!

Every single person who has worked with him cannot believe his progress and the developmental gains he has made in such a short amount of time. Last week his case worker saw him for the first time in a few months and she was absolutely blown away.

The Developmental Pediatrician who initially diagnosed him in May told us his therapists would love working with him because he had so much potential. She could not have been more right on!

So what do we do now that his 6 month review is here? We keep going. We keep doing what we have been doing and then some. This is why we have a week long intensive family program at the end of this month scheduled in SF, we have an appointment at UC Davis MIND Institute & at UCSF Autism & Neurology Clinic in October, and we have just started the Generation Rescue Grant Program. We keep him on the strict diet, supplements, and continue to give him the tools he needs to be present.

It may take a little more work than most, but this is why we do it. We have always seen the potential and continue to see the potential in Kaden underneath all of the "Autism" stuff. He is such an amazing little person, and already exceeding everyone's expectations for him. I can only imagine the places he will go. Yes, he may need a little extra direction getting there. But once he is there, we will all look back and remember this as a few bumps in the road as we started our journey.

I know in my heart that because of everything we are doing now he is going to come out so far ahead! For now, we keep fighting and celebrate Kaden's milestones as everything starts to come together!

Kaden is definitely able to mimic!