We had the sillies when we woke up. Owen was definitely on the old time and didn’t wake up until about 6:30. He may have slept later if I could have been quieter. He started laughing after our initial conversation. After we got through what we were doing today he then giggled about everything you could name. He couldn’t wait to get to church to fill the Easter eggs. And everything else that was on his list for the rest of his day.

Christmas music filled the air as soon as he touched his tablet. He changed it so he could hear it in all the different languages first and then we were into the Jingle Bells portion of our day. This was all intertwined with the “shorts degrees” talk. Who is in fashion and who is not is how I feel sometimes. All the cool kids wear shorts you see.

“Have a good one see you later,” he went through numerous times, popping in front of me every few minutes to go through this with me. He is enjoying his spring break so far because we are staying very busy and all of his appointments help. I am going to make sure I schedule all his appointments during his breaks from now on when I can.

We headed to church to stuff Easter eggs for our egg hunt. I want Owen to learn about doing service projects and also about jobs. We are going to do more over the summer. He helped put the candy in and then I closed the eggs. After that, he went to our friend’s house for a few hours and then I picked him up to go to his chiropractor appointment.

We came home after his appointment. We were going to have dinner with his grandma but he had a full day and he was full of so many questions. He had great excitement for all the things that happened today but he was tired. We have had a busy few days already this week and he still has a very busy week ahead. I also think the time change got him. He did great at his appointment. They can all see his progress.

He wanted pancakes I think that's why he wanted to come home. He wanted Dwight’s not Diehl’s because Dwight’s has pancakes but didn’t know how to express it until we were almost home. He knew we had pancakes so I made them when we got here. He started talking about how they had chocolate milk and pancakes. I told him next time to talk to mommy about other choices of places he wants to go as he does with the other restaurants and we can switch. I think because I kept telling him that was where we were going he didn’t think we would switch, maybe.

He told me that he wanted someone to pick him up on October 17th. I truly have no clue why that was a day he wanted to do something but he wanted to be busy that day. The dude plans way in advance now so he can get everything on his schedule early. I am thankful for how far he has come and I think it is cool that he wants his friends to be part of his life.

I told him to give me a minute and put my finger up. He did not stop and kept asking if it was “shorts degrees weather in September.” Being that it is March we have a few months to discuss this so he could wait a minute but he never wants the silence to fall over a room. I asked him if he knew what it meant when I held up my finger. He said, “Give me a minute” so I said, “You didn’t give mommy a minute.” The teenage years are upon us. He makes this big noise with his mouth and says, “muah” like the kissing noise.

Nighttime was still questionable for him since it didn’t look like nighttime but I don’t think he will have any trouble sleeping since he had such a busy day. Tomorrow he has two doctor appointments and he is looking forward to both of them. It is hard to believe that on Saturday he will be fourteen. I am so proud of him and he is doing great things in this world. Find your happiness and it will truly change your world. Smiles to all and donut daze!

The new time is cranky time. I think for both of us. Owen went through all the things he needed to happen today. I told him we would have to wait and see. We added another goat named Hay to the barn. I am loving all his names so far that he is coming up with. He quickly got fully dressed with clothes I knew he would change out of before he left to go to his grandma’s house.

He was refusing any food I suggested knowing that he was heading to grandma’s for the morning and would be eating all his requested foods with her. He ate a little bit of his cereal but I think he was protesting because he wanted hotcakes and potatoes from McDonald’s. He was anxiously awaiting for all his dreams to come true and wanted me to confirm them.

“Bump loud,” he said after screaming and laughing about something on his tablet. He screamed again and laughed more. He looked at me and the laughing continued. He thinks it’s hilarious when he’s laughing and screaming very loudly. I’m not quite sure where it came from or why he says bump loud but that is what he always says when he wants me to know that he thinks it’s funny.

My quick change artist wanted to wear shorts, even though he had put his jeans on when he woke up. We had to go through all the stages of “shorts degrees weather” but after all the debate he quickly changed into his next outfit. Every time he puts on his shoes he tells me the ones I gave away because he didn’t wear them and the ones he wants me to give away. It wasn’t long before his grandma was there to pick him up. He wanted to make sure I got a picture and a video of them leaving.

He stayed with his grandma for several hours and then I went to pick him up to go to his music therapy. When I got there, he was jumping on their neighbors’ trampoline. He had so much fun and then off we went to his session. He was focused on when the next snowstorm was coming through. They are predicting another snowstorm before winter is over, but who knows. He said December and then went to November. I said I would tell him when there was more coming and I said there might be some next week. He said, “It was confused” using his new expression.

He had lots of questions and emotions but his therapist said he did well. Christmas music was on repeat big time. All the way from his therapy and then kept singing until it’s time to go to his vision therapy. He listed five places he wanted to eat for dinner and I told him he could select one. He chose pizza.

I ordered his deluxe pizza before we went in. He was naming off different ingredients he wanted on the pizza so I showed him a picture of their deluxe and he said yes. He did great with his therapy, even though he was distracted with everything he still was able to do the exercises and did several of them better than he had done them before. We picked up our pizza on the way home and he was pretty calm when we got there.

The night went quickly and he was very ready for his busy Tuesday. I’m thankful he had a good day and being out of routine wasn’t that stressful for him. We said our prayers and he fell asleep quickly. I’m thankful he had a good day and I’m looking forward to our Tuesday. It will be another busy day but it should be a lot of fun and he is very excited about it. I love hearing him laugh not always as loud as he wants to do it, but his laugh is amazing and it made my day. Remember to always dream big and follow your heart. Smiles to all and donut daze!

As per usual the time changes always confuse me. Owen slept until about 6:30, the new time I suppose. It truly all blends together. Our greetings were said and from there the weather was of great concern and who was taking him on the elevator at church. He was ready to go go go and then get Arby’s when we leave unless of course he changed everything. And so our day began.

On today’s edition of what Owen is bringing to the home of the purple cows when we move is a goat named Grass. He wants a little one to accompany the pig named Mug and a big dog named Frisbee. It was a small dog but we shall see. I think once they meet each other he will know which dog he should get.

He is ready to wear “shorts degrees” every day and I told him that whatever makes him happy. I don’t think I was awake enough to debate when he should wear shorts. And truly he doesn’t spend enough time outside that shorts would truly be a problem most days. I need the full pot of coffee to keep up with all his decisions in the mornings.

“I would big tell you” he continued when he was ready for church and I still didn’t tell him who was taking him on the elevator. He intertwined this into talking about the bus this morning since he didn’t get to ride it on Friday because of the plumbing issues at his school. He wanted to make sure he would get on it next Monday. I told him yes because we had to get going and yes should be correct.

We were both happy we got to go to church. He talked a lot about wearing shorts and that is exactly what he wore to church. He was so happy about it. We stopped at Arby’s on the way home. I thought he ate his lunch quickly. And then he decided to save some of his chicken strips up his sleeve for later. It is wild how he makes all these decisions to keep food in different places. At least he doesn’t put food under my pillow anymore. I guess he always thought I needed a snack in the middle of the night.

Christmas music was how our day started, it was in the middle, and we jammed it in the evening. Music is a big part of our days. He told me that when it was my birthday in May he was going to sing me happy birthday and play his ukulele. I loved that he is thinking about that.

Clothes, his best friend, weather be weathering, bleeding, and our schedule were the topics of discussion for the day. We want to know what we want to know and we are not taking no for an answer. And I think that went for both of us.

Oh, how the time change is confusing for both of us. “Daytime bed” he kept yelling because it was so bright outside. “Figure it out very disappointed daytime nighttime outside,” he whimpered to me trying to figure it all out. “Nighttime is confused,” he continued as he pointed to the window. He was not having it and was very mad that it was not dark yet. It was time for his supplements and it was supposed to be dark. I do not blame him. He was ready for bed and he wanted the “outside lights” to go off. I am glad this change happened during spring break. The songs, the laughter, and his smile were the bright beautiful spots in my day. Your happiness starts with you. You can do it. Smiles to all and donut daze!

“Shorts degree weather” is happening and Owen was all about it. “Slept upper night” was his first declaration and then he immediately went into “good morning sunshine how are you today I’m fine how about you stay home.” Once the greetings were out of the way and I woke up a little more with coffee in hand he changed into his shorts and told me he wanted a pig named Mug.

He told me we were not going anywhere but requested more food options than I could even think of. I suggested we go somewhere and he said, “No.” I figured we would stay home today since we are pretty much doing something every day of his break. It will be a full week for both of us.

We are talking about moving to a new forest with the home of the purple cows. It is always interesting what he wants and what he requests. The weather was a big part of our dress code and what we talked about it all day after we talked about where we are living. Back to “design jeans” we go. He only wore his shorts for a few minutes and then went back to wearing his jeans. He is doing better with figuring out how to turn them inside out. He has been more interested in pockets and counted how many he had. He then had me help him put his phone in his backpack pocket.

We then moved on to the live wire portion of our day. He is trying everything to get me going. The teenage years are interesting. I was redirecting him but I was exhausted from it. I told him that if he kept picking on mommy we would not go to church tomorrow. He then calmed down. A little fun is one thing but he was about to climb the walls.

I realized that I hadn’t even thought of a cake or anything like that. I asked him if he wanted cupcakes or a cake. He said a cake. I know most likely he won’t eat any while he is there but I still wanted to get him what he wanted. He said he wanted a “chocolate cake with ‘navilla’ icing and a purple cow on it” so there you go. This is the first time he has asked for a birthday party. It is a big day. I had thought he would say cupcakes so I was surprised when he said a cake. It always amazes me when he goes through the choices.

I got some street corn dip. I gave him a bite and he didn’t want to admit it but he liked it. He said no but kept coming back for several more chips with it on them.

In true O fashion, he was asking me about different days and he asked about going to his grandma’s house. I told him probably Monday because we have other things to do on Tuesday. He said go to church with our friend on Tuesday. I hadn’t told him any of our plans yet because I’m not sure about everything yet and he was guessing them.

More of the teenage years happened throughout the day. He was mostly calm with a side of bringing up every single thing he knows I don’t like to talk about. He spent about an hour trying to convince me he was eating one of his toy pieces. I did not respond to it at all. I talked to him about other things and kept doing the things I was doing. He moved on to talking about bleeding things. The more I respond the more he wants to talk about everything but it is completely exhausting keeping ahead of him.

The calm mostly continued throughout the afternoon. He was not pleased that I had not secured his ride home on his birthday from our friends. I told him he has to either text them or ask them tomorrow at church. He was rehearsing what to say. I figure I can’t make all his plans with his friends especially if he is going to be 14. I said what if mommy wants to pick you up to take you to dinner? He said, “No.” He knows exactly what he wants for his birthday.

He kept telling me we had to use the wipers every time it started raining. I told him only in the car. He looked at me like I was the only one who didn’t know this. I was glad he wasn’t screaming at me to turn off the rain.

The night came with a few challenges of his wanting things that were no longer available or too expensive. It is hard to explain when a company deletes or changes one of its apps. When something is not available anymore that is extremely hard for him to comprehend. It’s especially hard when he can see videos on YouTube about it, but can’t actually play the games.

Nighttime came in his prayer was that he got to go to church tomorrow. He was excited about seeing all his people and he couldn’t wait to get lunch afterwards. He’s doing great with a thought of spring break ahead and we talked about all of the holidays in the upcoming years. I pray he sleeps tonight and I know we will have a great week ahead with everything we are going to be doing. His laughter is amazing and is the music in my heart. Let your happiness shine through and it will change the world. Smiles to all and donut daze!

Owen woke up telling me he “slept upper night” and then immediately went into talking about his non-field trip field trip. I told him that there was no school because of a plumbing problem so that meant he would not be going to the Clay Center. He said, “very disappointed.” He then told me it was spring break and once again said he was very disappointed. He asked me if we could go next week and followed it up with April, May, and June. I believe that is some incredible growth right there. It took a lot for him to process it and even though we had our moments throughout the morning that were hard he was able to keep pushing forward on it.

Since he wasn’t going to school and I had to go to my physical therapy I told him that he got to go to his grandma’s house. He was thrilled. He went through all the places he wanted her to pick him up. I told him that she was going to meet us at Kroger and his excitement bubbled over. It is wild how important these places are to him and all the memories they invoke. I made sure he knew that he may not be going to her house tomorrow since he was going today.

We got ready and we met his grandma at Kroger. They were off to their adventures and I was off to mine. He stayed with her for several hours and the food checklist was thoroughly exhausted. I’m thankful he is a good eater. She brought him home after a few rounds by the “blue church” and his beloved “burger boy” statue. They hadn't been there in a while but it was definitely on his list of places he wanted to go today.

When he got home he told me he was not going to his grandma’s house tomorrow. I told him we could do other things and he said, “Stay home.” When she dropped him off he wanted to make sure I took a video of her leaving and he was very excited about it. He very rarely watches them right away but he loves the videos he has of people coming and going. It is amazing how much his world has changed now that he wants to see pictures and videos.

We have a very busy week ahead. Every day we have something and he is excited about all the ones he knows about. I asked him what he wanted for dinner and after telling me everything he didn’t want today he finally decided on pancake sausage dogs. I have learned it goes much better if we compromise on food and I don’t blame him. He is a great eater when he gets what he wants to eat. He told me this week he wanted “chicken duckling soup” and I told him we could order some. I can’t correct him yet. I like his version so much better. It will come and since he is saying each word correctly we will put it on his list but I’m not rushing it.

He keeps asking to throw his “design jeans” away. He took them off and tried to throw them away. I told him that they were in too good condition to throw away so we would give them away but they still fit him and he loved to wear them. He put them back on. It is very interesting how this is becoming a thing. I was so in shock with his “little blue jeans” and how he wanted to throw them away that I let it all play out as he needed but I feel like if I let him throw these away this will become the new way to get rid of things so I am telling him we have to give away everything he doesn’t want. Hopefully, that will help.

He brought me his tablet and he had a barn pulled up. He told me he wanted a barn for Frisbee the name he has given the dog we are going to get and the purple cows he wants. I told him to bring me our notebook so we could write it down. I have been talking to him about goals and things he wants. When he thinks of things I write them down. He likes it. I want him to understand goal setting and that he can accomplish anything if he sets his mind to it. I want him to see how he can make it happen.

The rest of the day went quickly and we talked a lot about “shorts degrees” and what he wanted to do for his birthday. He has big plans. Get up, have one of our friends drive him to grandma’s house, have another friend drive him home, and then stay home. We will see how it goes next week. Fourteen on the fourteenth seems hard to believe. I’m loving his progress, excited for his dreams, and thankful for his smile. Believe in yourself and the rest will follow. Smiles to all and donut daze!

Focused, rinsed, repeated, and repeated again. Owen was very happy about food once again and made sure everyone who gave him food knew they were appreciated. He could not wait to see all his people and go to all his appointments for today and the year ahead. On Saturday he told me he wants McDonald’s for breakfast, Burger King for lunch, and Gino’s pizza for dinner. I think he forgot about snacks but I’m sure he wanted those too.

The morning didn’t go quickly enough for him but it gave us lots of time to talk about all the details of life. I think his trip is a go-go. He kept mentioning it and who was going to ride on the elevator with him. He loves elevators and we have spent many hours riding up and down them per his request. He was very focused on therapy and seeing everyone. It is wonderful knowing how many people are in his corner.

The day didn’t go according to plan but sometimes we need to change things up even though it can be extremely hard for him. And me. Change is not something I’m good at but it can be harder for him because he is expecting certain things to happen and when they don’t he can’t always process this change immediately. He literally will ask me about something that changed months or years ago even if it is something that he is happy about.

His day got turned a little upside down. One of his therapists couldn’t be there so the other two switched times so he wouldn’t have to wait in between the sessions. He wasn’t thrilled with this and had lots of questions but was handling it. I had let his teacher know so she could prepare if he was asking about his therapy. She said he got upset but I think it was good to let him know. I also think as hard as it is on him when changes happen it is still good to switch it up to help him through it and to learn how to cope with change.

As a mother, I am not only processing my emotions I am processing Owen’s and experiencing those moments with him. It’s the great ones, the middle of the road emotions, and the ones that are so hard to our core that we both have to learn about. My heart aches for how difficult change is for him and everything that he is going through but it is also something that I have to learn to deal with and teach him the coping skills to get through it. The calmer I am the calmer he will be. I always tell him we are a team and that we are learning life together. We live, we love, we learn. And not necessarily in that order.

Thankfully he handled both of his sessions well. He went through some adjustments but was able to work through it. Even in these circumstances I am glad to have other people work with him on these moments because they each offer a different perspective and this helps him grow. We got Chick-fil-A after great discussions of what we wanted. We both enjoyed it. He was telling me all the steps they are supposed to do tomorrow. First middle school, second trip, third middle school he told me, and went over this many times.

You never know where and when and why the meltdown is going to come from or occur. And today’s came because he wants to know when our family is coming back to visit us from Florida. He wanted it on his calendar and he wanted it on his calendar immediately. We did a lot of deep breathing exercises to get through that. Trying to explain to him that they don’t even know is extremely hard and emotional for him.

He changed out of his clothes and put on his “design jeans.” They are quickly becoming night clothes I suppose. He wanted his design jeans on and his purple shirt. He asked me for a purple sweatshirt and a grey one. He is doing much better about turning his clothes inside out. It takes him a few tries but he will get it.

My heart broke a few hours later when I got the message that there were plumbing problems at his school so they wouldn’t be able to go on their trip. We were notified right before his bedtime so I held it together but he still knew something was up. “Dear God thank you for Ms. Jeannie Amen” and then in true O fashion he said, “Mommy and Jeannie go to the clay center next week.” I did not say a thing to him about it being canceled in fact I acted like I knew nothing and he still started talking about going with his teacher next week instead of tomorrow.

I am so sad for him but I have to believe there is a reason or so I’m trying to convince myself of this. The good news is I have a physical therapy appointment so he will be going to see his grandma tomorrow when I go. I am thankful for his growth and for continuing to move forward. He told me he laughed for me today because he knows I love his laugh. Let the world hear your laughter. You probably don’t realize how much you are making someone else’s day. Smiles to all and donut daze!

A pretty good morning was being had by all. When you are happy about all of the holidays that are coming up over the next few years it makes for a great time. Singing Christmas carols and knowing that you get to see Santa in November and December is a dream come true. And that dream come true is for me because Owen wants all of these things and more.

We spent most of our morning talking about the Easter egg hunt at church. He wants everyone to be there and celebrate with him. The only catch is it is on a Wednesday and he is not exactly sure how he feels about that yet but when we went through every holiday and where we were going to be it might be fine to have the egg hunt on a Wednesday especially when we can sing Jingle Bells.

Today was my follow-up appointment. I wasn’t stressed about it. They would have called me by now if there was a problem since my results had been in for several days. We got ready and I was going to head to my appointment after I got him on the bus. The bus was finally off. He was very happy to get his day started. He told me that he was going to be very happy today. And with that, I was also off to my appointment.

I had no new cancer markers present. They will test me every three months for two years and then every six months after that. I was thankful before my results and I know God has been walking with me along this journey the whole time. Each day is a gift and I’m thankful.

When he got home he was wound up. I expressed this morning that I didn’t want to talk about licking, biting, or hitting which clearly means those were the things that he wanted to bring up more. He got off the bus referencing Friday as a “field trip” but I made sure he knew there was no field involved. I’m hoping he doesn’t change his mind.

I asked him what he wanted for dinner and he said, “Chicken duckling soup.” He was still very wound up. He was showing me on Google Earth every single food place he has ever been to in the area and telling me what they have there. He wanted his grandma to take him to the roadside park and then I would come to pick him up. He said, “Tell Grandma bye bye love you Grandma muah” and blew a kiss. Then he told me all the places she was going to drive him around. He had lots of plans.

And just like that he changed from what he was wearing today to his “design pants” and his dinosaur shirt. He kept saying they are “dir” and wants me to finish the dirty. I told him I can’t wash them if he was wearing them. He put his shoes back on but doesn’t want to go anywhere. It is interesting how he has decided that he needs to change into other outfits especially the “design jeans.”

He also kept asking if he could throw his design jeans away. I told him first that he was still wearing them, second, that he likes them and they are in good shape. Not quite sure why this has become a thing now but he wants to throw away more of his clothes. We will see how this goes.

Bedtime was met with screams not for the actual bedtime, but because of all of his emotions from the day. We talked about screaming and he was finally able to settle down. We had a great time right before he went to bed. His smile is the best and it’s what gets me through a lot of my days. Let your smile shine and share it with the world. Smiles to all and donut daze!

Is it truly only Tuesday?! This week feels like it should already be on next Friday. The morning started a lot like yesterday ended. Owen was very happy he got to see all his people and told me he hoped he got to see them all again next Monday. He immediately told me he “slept upper night” and then went through his week ahead. His trip is still on his radar and I couldn’t be happier. His happiness makes me believe he will go but to see him actually go will be pure joy.

He was very calm when he first woke up. The anxiousness and questions came as he got ready to go to school. I casually asked if he would like to go somewhere when he got home. I moved forward quickly but I wanted to throw it out there. Today was probably not the day to ask him but I like to offer and we need to find a way to change it up without it causing anxiety for him.

The bus came and took my sweet baby O to school. He was so happy to be going. I am so thankful he likes school. I can only imagine if he didn’t. He is all about his non-field trip field trip, summer camp, and Halloween. His prediction is that he will get to see his best friend and that will make him very happy.

You never know where inspiration will come from. Knowing that Google Earth changed our lives is something that is truly remarkable. It shows that anything is possible with the right tools and encouragement. I am thankful and I know that it will grow from here. He has been able to communicate so many things by showing me places on Google Earth.

His bus was a little late coming home and had a different driver. He immediately told me that there was a different driver and started telling me about his day. I know he had a few rollercoastery moments so I was glad he was able to express how he was feeling. He told me he had fun at lunch and liked his shirt. They had another fun day with their Dr. Seuss week and he got a new Thing 2 shirt.

He walked into the room and said, “Have a good one.” He started waving his hand and waited for my reply. I said, “Have a good one I love you” and I signed I love you. He walked out of the room and came back a short time later going through the exact same steps. He did this several more times adding in the I love you sign.

In other news, his “design pants” might be the next to go. He keeps asking when the trash truck can take them away. They had a rain dot on them and he was not happy. I told him it would be fine and we would wash them. He kept telling me to take them to the trash truck. I told him he wouldn’t have any clothes left if he threw them away. So far they have stayed out of the trash. It is interesting how this all goes now with his clothes.

I swallowed wrong and started coughing. He was very concerned about this. He told me I threw up and was looking all around for it. I tried to explain I swallowed wrong but he was not interested in what happened he wanted to know if I was going to the doctor. I told him I was fine and I would be OK. It is amazing everything he thinks about and what has to happen. He also wanted me to know he is happy about eating things he shouldn’t eat and asked me if I thought it was a joke.

He wanted to know if it would be shorts degrees tomorrow and I said not quite yet. He is ready for the snow not to be a concern. He sat with me for a while before bed and we laughed at his different videos. Growth is a beautiful thing to watch and I’m so thankful. I told him that he was amazing. Today’s raw moments were hard but seeing the sparkle in his eyes when he pushed through all those moments and laughed is exactly what this momma’s heart needed. Life is not always easy to explain but the love sure is. Be invested in tomorrow and know that your attitude can move that mountain. Smiles to all and donut daze!

Owen slept until almost six. He went through his usual greeting and then started talking about everyone he would see and hopes he would see today. Mondays are very exciting for him. He was very happy that the weather was changing or so we think. He couldn’t wait to get going and start his day which also meant it would be full of questions. He had big plans. And you probably guessed it lots of food is involved.

I could tell it was going to be an interesting day from the beginning. He wanted to know what he wanted to know and if I didn’t know, he still wanted to know. These days can be hard because when I don’t have the answers or I won’t tell him an answer that he thinks I know then he gets very upset and the screams happen. I can tell him all kinds of dates and they don't mean anything, but it’s hard when he never forgets if he wants something in stone.

And he was off. He helped me with the trash this morning, and it was a lot smoother for him than some of the other days. He was so happy to get on that bus. He was counting the days until the non-field trip field trip. So thankful it sounds like he is going. That consumed a lot of our talk this morning. He wanted to make sure he knew who was going, and if he was going to eat breakfast before he went to the event. He knew the answer but once again he wanted to hear it from me.

I picked him up from school for his music therapy and the whole way to see his therapist he had more questions. He wanted to know if his best friend was going to be at the summer camp and then he asked about Halloween not only for this year but for next year as well. I told him when I always tell him I sure hope so. He gets upset with me if I can’t give him all the details and we were working on trying to be in the moment and not stress out over all the days ahead. His therapist said he did really well and he was able to stay on point.

On the way home it was all about whether he was going to our friend’s house during spring break. She had already told him yes we would make a plan but no day has been set yet. He was very anxious and didn’t take any of the answers that I was giving him when we got home he was calmer, except that he wanted to know who was going to be at his vision therapy appointment. I told him that I wouldn’t know until we got there.

When we got to his vision therapy, he was so incredibly happy to be there. I’m so thankful for a staff that truly cares about my son. We met with Dr. Miller and he started doing his exercises after of course making sure that all of his requirements were in place. He then asked about Anita to see if she was there and she just happened to be there today. She came into the room and he was very excited even though he couldn’t look at her.

It’s always interesting to watch him want someone to talk to him but he’s so excited that he can’t process it and so he will not talk to them or talk to them with his back to them and his hands to his ears. He always tells me that he has to put his hands to his ears so he can get excited. He did so incredibly well with all the exercises and has been doing things that he couldn’t do before. They walked him out to our car. He wanted to make sure he got a picture with both Dr. Miller and Anita. Before we even left the parking lot he wanted to make sure I sent him the picture.

All night long, he pulled up the picture and was so happy. I think about all of the things he is now accomplishing, and it starts with something as simple as the picture. For years, he wanted no videos, no pictures, no schedule, written down, or anything else in these types of formats and now it’s amazing to see the request and everything that he wants. This victory is years in the making, and the challenges he faced, still got him to one of the most incredible times of his life where a picture truly is worth a thousand words. These victories mean the world to me because I know all the steps it took to get him to that victory lane. Cherish your victories, no matter how big or small because each one of those steps is what this miracle is all about. Smiles to all and donut daze!

My church cheerleader was leading the cheer the moment he woke up. It was a quick start to our conversation. “Slept upper night,” Owen said as soon as he heard me. Oh, how I wish I could be quieter in the mornings. It won’t always help but I know there are days he would sleep later. It doesn’t help that his bedroom is so close to the kitchen and the bathroom. He continued, “Good morning sunshine how are you today I’m fine mommy how are you today Bible Center Church get to go to Bible Center Church mommy.” For the love of God and routine, I was thankful he woke up in a good mood.

Knowing that your attitude helps determine your day may or may not have influenced how the morning went but thankfully there were no screams for the first part of our morning. “Church church church” was the big discussion followed by how many food places we can go to and where they live. I was thankful that he was happy this morning and excitement filled the air for him. Clay Center chatter was also on the radar. He has big plans and I’m here for it all. And I’m hoping he is there for all his big plans. He spelled out all the exact details so I think that is helping him with everything.

The attitude adjustments were needed about halfway through our morning. He expects me to have all the answers and when I don’t it triggers emotional responses quickly. I can’t convince my brain to tell him something for the sake of telling him something. I find that the snowball effect from these moments is lasting and the benefit of telling him something that isn’t necessarily true can cause meltdowns when what he thinks doesn’t come true. It is the same though if I don’t tell him what he wants to hear this either leads to the meltdown at that point or he will keep asking the question until he gets an answer. And sometimes I’m tired. To keep ahead of the fast-moving train you can’t be the caboose.

I want to find him a summer “job” he could do for an hour or two a couple of times a week. Like putting together papers or packages. I feel like it would be good for him to go through the motions and know that he would have something to do. I am going to see what I can figure out for him to do.

The rollercoaster ride got a little more complicated before we left for church but we got there. The dude wants what the dude wants and he wanted knowledge that I did not have. He also did not want me to forget something and have to go back inside before we even left. I know when this happens it’s not going to be pretty but I still have to do and he still has to learn about the process of doing it. He enjoyed church and told me about everyone. We got his requested Arby’s and he wanted a chocolate shake. He has had a few bites and talked about it.

When we left church I let a family cross in front of us in the crosswalk. He usually gets upset and says “Tell me to pay attention.” He said, “You told the woman to cross tell her bye-bye.” I thought no screaming a big score for us and different words. After we got our food we were driving home and he said, “Merry Christmas have a great spring break.” I told him that it wasn’t Christmas until December, like he didn’t know this, and he said, “It’s cold and then it’s spring break.” So there you go. Makes sense to me.

We managed to maintain our status quo of calmness after we got home from church. I think the warmer weather is making him think no snow and that he will get to wear shorts again soon because that is what he talked about all afternoon. I can’t believe it’s almost spring break and then it’s birthday time for my sweet baby O. Bedtime was a smooth as the rest of the day’s bumps but we got there as well and he prayed for his teacher to have a good day. If he knows you he has prayed for you and if he doesn’t know you he has prayed for you. And boy am I thankful for his prayers. Life isn’t about having no challenges, life is about letting those challenges get you to your next victory. Smiles to all and donut daze!