Thankfully sleep happened. Owen woke a little before “five oh oh” but I told him that it wasn’t quite five. He asked a few more times for his tablet and realized I wasn’t giving in and went back to bed until well after five. He was pretty calm all morning. I was of course up numerous times but on my own bladder schedule. He was ready for his day and all his days ahead.

He told me that he left his jacket at school. I told him that he had to look for it and remember to put it in his bag. We worked through how he needed to do it and how to ask for help if he couldn’t put it in his bag. I try to help him with sentence structure and have him repeat it back to me. I encourage him to say it in his own words so that it is easier for him to remember. He has come so far.

He was ready to get his Friday started. He talked all morning long about seeing his friends at school and what he was going to do when he got there. I am trying to get him to tell me more about the people he wants to see. He kept asking me when we could go wait for the bus. We got ready and went out to wait. “Plenty of time,” he said to me and I knew those were the words I said to him almost every day. I try not to go out too early because it makes him anxious while waiting for the bus. It wasn’t long and he was off.


When he got home he was very excited about everything. He told me he was looking forward to ordering a mushroom and olive pizza on Monday but he said not together. He told me about people on the bus and at school. He let me know his coat was in his bag. He also told me he had a “booboo” and there was blood. I could not see blood or the booboo. I am not sure why he now says everything has blood but I told him there was no blood. And there was more mushroom pizza talk.

“Turn single,” he said, “you have to use the turn single it blinks,” he continued. He sat watching a video of someone driving around our town. I love that he says “single” but we are working on that. It’s one of those words that as much as I want him to say it correctly I love his version. My favorite is when he sings, “single bells single bells single all the way.”

The night went quickly. “Mommy get the dog,” he said, “at the house.” He has been talking more and more about us moving. I wish I could find some property that would work for us. He is ready to move to the home with the purple cows and lots of animals.

The screaming was a bit much tonight but it was the fake screaming to get his way that I didn’t fall for which made him scream more. We said our prayers and he said, “Walk you to your room walk you.” He grabbed my hand and I walked him to his bedroom. He got into bed and as I walked away he said, “One more hug mommy” and one more hug it was. The love of my life is the best ray of sunshine ever. Remember the victories not the challenges to get there. Smiles to all and donut daze!

I can’t even begin to think about how many times I was awoken last night for one reason or another and I am not quite sure what noise woke up Owen or what time it even was when he did get up. It was a long night. But to say he was beyond happy when I finally got up around four was an understatement. He was ready to discuss everything about his day.

I walked into the kitchen and the information train was off. He started telling me about his day, where he was going, and who he wanted to see. He was repeating the same question about his therapy that I had answered at some point. I told him to tell me what he was doing today and reminded him that he had a big amazing brain. He asked me again if he was going to therapy and I stood there looking at him. It was like a lightbulb went off over his head and he walked up to me and gave me the most incredible one-sided arm hug around my waist and then the other arm came around with the “I love you” following. It was the most real and raw amazing moment. These hugs are becoming so natural to him and I am absolutely in love with them. It’s new and it’s authentic and it’s beautiful.

We were in the kitchen talking about going to school and he said, “According to plan we should get ready.” He was ready to get ready and he let me know it. He was so talkative this morning. It was mostly about all the things he wanted to do and only a little bit about pushing my buttons so it felt like great conversations. We got ready and went out to wait for the bus. Every car that came by he waved to and said, “Tell them good morning” or other similar things. The bus arrived and he ran to the bus after checking one last time if he was going to see his teacher today and then go to therapy. I hoped he would have a day filled with his expectations.

One happy dude when I picked him up from school that he was off to therapy. He was a little hyper in the car but was talking about relevant things as we drove to his therapy. He mentioned several times how he was very excited about getting his pizza on the way home and not just any pizza the “leprechaun fixed Gino’s sign mushroom pizza.” He seemed like he had a good day.

He was very excited to see his speech therapist. They have made great progress together. I talked to her about how he is now saying “pay attention” to everything that happens like when something falls to the ground or when cars pull in front of us and gets very upset. I told her I wasn’t sure how to redirect him with it. She explained how he may be associating with the phrase and told me she would add it to their word play so he could see how it should be used. He didn’t use it once after his therapy. He was tired but he did pretty good with all of his sessions today.

We went by the bridge flags, “blue church,” and got our mushroom pizza, and then headed home. He was excited to finally be eating mushroom pizza that he missed on Monday since we didn’t go to his vision therapy appointment because of his meltdown over my clothes. He ate it all and then asked me for black olives next time with the mushrooms. He usually has not liked the black olives too much but has tried them so maybe he is liking them now. I just love that he is trying new things.

Bedtime was calling my name before I even got out of bed this morning. I knew it was going to be a long day. I’m thankful we had a calm night and Owen was happy. He has made such incredible progress this week even through the rough patches I saw victories. I pray for sleep tonight for both of us. Celebrate all your victories no matter how big or small celebrate them all. Smiles to all and donut daze!

It was a little more of a party night for us. Well more for me. I woke up several times to go to the bathroom. The nights after my infusions are always interesting. Thankfully, I was feeling pretty good. The supplements helped a lot. Owen woke up about 4:30 but was mostly calm and I was already awake. Repeat mode for how all his vacations, holidays, and school years are going to go, mixed with who moved, when we are seeing everyone again, and if the bus was going to take him to school, and if his “grandmother” was picking him up. He was happy though.

I wish he could learn to be excited about the moment he is in and instead look forward to his future days but not worry about them. I don’t think that his knowing his schedule is helping. He talked all morning about his dentist appointment in November and seeing his pediatrician for his well check in February. He told me what they all would be wearing and that if he went at the right time his dentist's office would be wearing pajamas. He knew his pediatrician wore “dark dark dark blue it’s black” because that was the way he was able to handle that she was wearing black jeans one of the times he saw her. His brain holds onto every single detail. It is a wild ride hearing him recite every detail of the life we’ve led.

We got ready to go and wait for the bus. I got us outside early because the bus app got stuck once again and I knew the bus was still heading our way. He listed all his friends on the bus he was excited to see them. I love his enthusiasm for the people in his life. It makes me happy to see how much he enjoys his days that go exactly how he needs them to go. When the bus turned the corner he asked me his questions and off to his happy place he went.

Waiting for Owen to get off the bus is always a mixture of joy and anxiousness. I wonder if my outfit, hair, or the way I’m standing will be a problem for him. I hope instead he gets off the bus with enthusiasm and wants to tell me about his day. I pray for these moments. I want them to go smoothly. I want him to be happy. And I want to be happy.

When he got home he came off the bus with a mission and that mission was staying home. He told me I was not wearing the gold dress and I told him I was wearing exactly what I was wearing when he left this morning. I think he has tunnel vision in the mornings even though he talks about what I am wearing. Once he got that out of the way I got a big hug and he talked about the bus and his people.

We came inside and he was happy I had gotten him ranch veggie straws. I talked to him about his day but he was not very interested in sharing too many correct details. He told me they made s’mores and talked about when his “grandmother” was coming to pick him up. Then he told me you do not shake the dot markers. I love how he is saying grandmother now when he is talking about her doing things like picking him up.

The night went pretty quickly and thankfully he was calm about most things. He is very much looking forward to his therapy tomorrow. I have a feeling he might want a mushroom pizza since we didn’t have one on Monday. He is ready for the big yellow bus to come pick him up tomorrow. I pray we both sleep tonight. We said our prayers tonight and I kissed him good night. I walked out of his room and said, “Goodnight sweet boy I love you” and he said, “I love you, mommy.” I am so proud of his progress. Be thankful in the moments of chaos because they can be beautiful too. Smiles to all and donut daze!

We mostly slept. Owen woke up a tiny bit early but even after I had him read the clock he decided it was time for him to have his tablet. I didn’t want to have a rocking boat so a few minutes before five looked good to me. He made sure I knew he was taking it back to his room. At least the follow-through was there. I got up anyway and made my coffee and his first breakfast. The dude is definitely eating more like a teenager now.

It was a calmer morning than yesterday. I didn’t tell him that his grandma might be picking him up because of how long my infusion could run. As the morning went on I decided not to tell him in case he could come straight home which would work better for keeping his routine. Plus, I thought better to keep the calm morning going. I could tell he was upset about yesterday because he kept asking if he could go see his vision doctor today. I thought it was good that he was processing it all.

“The bus gets to wear what the bus wants to wear,” he said as we were waiting for the bus. Boy, oh boy, does that boy think of everything. He was off and happy to see his friends on the bus. As the morning went on I was hoping that my infusion would be over early enough so that he could ride the bus home. I knew he would be happy if his grandma picked him up but routine for the night was what we needed.

Thankfully my infusion went well and it was early enough even with the supplement they had to give me. He got home and he was happy. He was very calm even though I wasn’t wearing a dress he liked it was still the same one I wore in the morning. He told me that I was wearing a camo dress and I was going to put the mauve dress on when he got home. When he got to the porch he gave me a kiss and a hug, and told me he was home. I am loving these hugs and kisses that he does randomly.

We got inside and he told me again about my dress and I said we aren’t going to talk about it anymore. He mostly listened. He loves looking at his Santa picture and told me that he was going to get a present from Santa. He said, “Santa give me a candy cane and say thank you.” He told me he gets to see two Santas. He knocked his Santa picture off the refrigerator. He was about to get upset and I told him he needed to put the magnets back on it. He couldn’t figure out what I meant so he opened the door and was going to put it inside. I told him to let me help him and I showed him how to pull them off. He pulls them off all the time but I don’t think he understood they hold things up. He remained calm though through the whole process.

He wanted me to change immediately but I told him that first I was getting him a snack and we were going to talk about his day before I changed. He said, “dot marker go change.” I finished getting his snack and went to change after asking for a little more detail about the dot markers. He hugged me and put his forehead in front of me to kiss more times than I can count and he hardly ever does it without me hugging him first. When I was leaning down talking to him he kissed me on my cheek. That is the second time he has done that recently and he never used to do that.

I can tell he was processing it all and still kept telling me he could not go to vision therapy. I stayed calm and told him that we would go next week. I hope this is helping him process his emotions and maybe he will realize that we can breathe through some of these moments and that will help calm him. Each day I see progress even though I know it is hard for him to process it all.

The night went quickly and bedtime went smoothly. He was a little upset and wouldn't get in his bed because I had some laundry in my hand but I put it down and he was able to get in his bed. I have to remember it is all about the process for him. He fell asleep quickly and hopefully we will both sleep all night. I’m thankful for how I’m feeling after my infusion and even more thankful I only have two left. Let the challenges of today be your victories of tomorrow and watch how strong you become. Smiles to all and donut daze!

Owen woke a little early but I told him to go back to bed and he did. He got his tablet after five and I slept a little bit longer. He went through every step I was doing and wanted to make sure that I didn’t forget anything. He was still upset about Saturday and every other time that something was forgotten or changed.

He was a mix of calm and anxiousness that exploded as the morning went on. He wanted to know what was happening today over and over again because he was riding the bus home since he didn’t have music therapy. He thought that his therapist had to take Labor Day off again and wanted to make sure no one else did. He also thought his vision doctor was going to cancel on him because of this so he was very concerned about everything. It is interesting how his brain thinks and it takes twenty steps forward on each change in his routine.

“Pay attention,” he yelled at me one more time. He holds on to every word he has ever heard for every reason. I was taking the trash bag out of the trash can and some of it fell onto the floor. I tried to explain to him that things like this happen constantly. But these are all things that make him so anxious. From there every single thing that happened caused him to get upset and be more concerned about his day. I told him that if anything changed I would let his teacher know. He then asked me about this twenty more times. My heart races with the squeals and screams. I have to stay calm, I have to teach him to stay calm, I have to get him through the process. And I have to remind myself to breathe.

When Owen came home from school I did not meet all his expectations in my camo clothes. I had to cancel his vision therapy appointment because he saw me in camo when he got off the bus and started crying that I wasn’t in the cheetah dress he wanted me to wear. I was wearing camo this morning. We came inside and he started asking Alexa how to say he was mad at mommy in all the different languages. Owen told me that he was mad at me in four languages. I tried to distract him. I fixed his snack and kept talking to him. This only made him madder at me. He wanted to pour his milk on me and was screaming about it all. I told him that I would be wearing camo tomorrow too when I went for my infusion. I have a feeling there was more to all of it. Life is interesting. The screaming, crying, and all his emotions went on for some time.

I never imagined how many times I would have to fix the sheets on my bed in one night. He goes running into my room and plops his torso down on the end of my bed. Up and down he throws himself into it, getting the sensory input he needs. Generally, my sheets are off my bed on the first go round. He does the same thing with the couch, biting into it as he does it. His bed has a big tent over it so he can’t do it to his bed. This morning he told me that he needed to go to the sensory room and I only wished I had everything set up exactly as he needed. I can imagine how his body must feel with every single thing he has to process.

Every night he watches a video of someone cutting paper. He then asks me to “cut the paper with scissors blue thumb scissors please.” I never imagined how much joy he would get from cutting the paper with scissors. He loves doing arts and crafts now. I’m thankful for all he has accomplished and is learning.

As the night went on he told me he was sorry many times and hardly left my side. He hugged me all on his own once and I felt his emotions. My heart aches for how hard all this is. I could tell he was working through it and all I wanted to do was cry. I thought watching him have meltdowns when he was younger was hard but seeing him go through this now is heartbreaking to a whole new level. I keep thinking about how he told me yesterday he couldn’t wait to get a mushroom pizza after his appointment. I wish today were the day he expected instead of the day that it turned out to be. Each day I pray for more strength and for the knowledge to help us through moments like this. I was thankful by the end of the day he was calmer but my heart was still heavy. Be brave in the moment of challenges and let the sunshine enrich your days. Smiles to all and donut daze!

Kindness and grace are what I started thinking about immediately when I woke up. Yesterday was beautiful and yet one of the hardest days I’ve had in quite some time. Owen got to do things he wanted to do and was so happy about it but the moments he spent building up to them and then after the adventures of his day were very stressful for me and anxious for him. I reminded myself when I woke up this morning to remember that every day is a new day and to let yesterday go. We had to start fresh so let the good day begin.

Owen slept all night. I was in and out but he let me sleep until almost six. Last night was a rollercoaster before bed. The screaming is a lot some nights and last night was one of them but this morning he was very calm or maybe I was continuing to reflect the change I needed. He showed me the Disney parade and asked to see it out his window. He went through all the characters and told me about the light show. He said he wanted to see the castle.

He was very much ready for church. They were going to have a bounce house at the picnic after the service. I was hoping he would want to go. I think he is starting to handle events like these more and more but it is all still a process. I kept thinking it might be too overwhelming for him still but I thought he would like to go. Sometimes in the moment he will do fine but it is all the after effects that get us.

The screaming was still weighing heavily on my heart. As much as it is a way that he gets his emotions out and he can’t help he will also do it on purpose to get my attention but I try to explain to him it is not helpful or kind for either of us. This morning we started off differently and I worked on getting him to say sentences instead of one word. This is where a lot of his frustration comes from because he expects me to answer him every single time. Asking him to talk in sentences helps with his communication skills but it is a lot to keep my mind on track.

We got ready and headed off to church. When we got there I showed him the bounce houses. He was only focused on getting to his classroom. The service was wonderful and exactly what I needed. When our friend brought him to me I could tell it was no picnic for us. He couldn’t even listen to my words. She told me he had a good time but as soon as it was time to come to me he got mad about me not getting out to the porch early enough to see our friend pull up. This was how the afternoon went.

I wanted to go to the picnic. I knew there would be so many people there who would help me keep an eye on Owen. I thought he would enjoy it. I miss going to events. I remember how much fun I had when the church I went to when I was growing up would have events like these and all I wanted to do was go. Instead, we went home with me crying on the way there.

I talked to him about it as he told me once again how he was disappointed he didn’t get to see her drive up. This is when the real talk happened. I told him that as disappointed as he was in me that I was also disappointed in him that he would not listen yesterday and that is what caused us not to get out there. I asked him if he sat on the couch so that I could finish getting ready and stop moving my things. I wanted him to understand that it was as much his responsibility to help me as it was mine to get us ready. As the afternoon went on he was much kinder to me and stopped talking about me disappointing him. It felt like I had gotten through to him.

The night was filled with laughter and lots of conversation until bedtime. He told me that his aide was an “a dult” and did not act like a two-year-old. I told him I was glad to hear that. He wanted to make sure I got him Spider-Man shoes for his costume and I thought oh boy I have to figure that one out. I was thankful for the calm conversation though.

The screams started almost immediately as we were ready to start our prayers. I told him not to knock something over and from there it started. I immediately started breathing with him and he was able to calm down. I pray he sleeps tonight and we have a great day tomorrow. It is a very busy day for me and I have several appointments. Each day I remind Owen that we are in this together. I pray for his growth as much as mine. I was thankful for his smiles and his laughter. Let each day bring a better tomorrow. Smiles to all and donut daze!

The movie trip! The movie trip! We were all about the movie trip! “Walk in the road, no right here,” he said. “Wait on the porch,” he continued. Owen woke about twenty minutes before five. I sent him on his way two times but then he came back after five and proudly proclaimed that he did not sleep all night but went back to bed and was going on the movie trip today.

He will ask me over and over the same questions but I kept telling him he knows the answer and to tell me what is happening when he asks me. He tried to change the subject but I made him follow through and tell me hoping to help redirect him. I want him to realize he doesn’t need me to confirm anything and to use his confident voice in telling me things he already knows. He wasn’t repeating as much this morning after I had him tell me exactly what he was asking me so we were off to a great start.

Pushing buttons is what he loves to do especially on the days when he can see my emotions are worn and frazzled. He feeds off of it. The screams become louder when he doesn’t see me respond and he will keep it up. I talk to him about working together and not trying to upset each other but button pushing is so much more fun when you are a teenager.

The constant requests to go when something is still hours away can be completely exhausting. He can’t stop asking and distracting him is like trying to take a fish out of water. It is wonderful for him to be so excited about something even if it is exhausting to me. I am thrilled that he wants to go places I just hope we can find that middle ground.

He was ready for the movie trip and I was trying to get him to sit on the couch so that I could finish getting my stuff together for the errands I needed to run. He kept taking what I needed and putting it back while I was getting other things instead of leaving it alone. I know he was excited so I should have waited to do it until after he left but I figured I would leave right after they left. Our friend got here to pick him up before we got out to the porch. I tell myself it is good for his schedule and expectations to be changed occasionally but it honestly makes it harder on me in the long run since he never forgets a thing and is still reminding me about his French fries that were left out of his bag months ago.

Off they went to the movie trip and then our friend took him to see his grandma. My mom’s neighbor’s son invited Owen to his birthday party at this reptile place. He at first didn’t want to go but then decided that he wanted to go see the turtles my mom said. I totally forgot he now wants turtles to live with the goats and the purple cows on the farm in the woods until she said that he wanted to see the turtles. He told me he wants them to play with the goats. He had fun when they got there. We will take him back one day to hold a turtle.

My mom brought him home after the party and a trip by the “blue church.” He told me he wanted a video of them coming home and her leaving. I knew he was upset with me because I hadn’t gotten him out on the porch soon enough to see our friend pick him up so I made sure to get his videos with his grandma. He watched her drive off and immediately started asking me for the videos.

As the night went on he told me he was mad because I didn’t get outside quickly enough to see our friend get here. The screaming gets me. He has learned to scream at a whole new volume and then says “want to be bump loud” and then more screaming. I’m not sure where that phrase came from but he likes to use it a lot. And the screaming continued all night. He screamed because I got up to go to the bathroom. He screamed more because I told him that going to the bathroom was not something I should be screamed at for. And he screamed because he wanted to scream. And I cried because I don’t have answers.

Tomorrow after church they are having a picnic. I think we will try to stay and see how it goes. I pray he sleeps tonight so we can go to church. After screaming at me one more time before bed he told me “Sorry mommy I love you one more hug please.” My heart holds onto those moments. I pray every night for strength, patience, and understanding. I pray for a calmer tomorrow for my sweet baby O. Through challenges we grow stronger and learn what compassion truly means. Smiles to all and donut daze!

It was a night we both slept pretty good. Owen slept better than me but I only woke up once and that is a victory for me. He was pretty calm but was stuck on talking about his game. He yelled out “Ice cream fell bear happy bear sad where’s magical hats.” The app manufacturer cannot possibly understand how much they changed our daily lives when they removed one section from their game app. But they did bug time.

One of the first things he told me when he woke up was that it was our friend’s birthday and we needed to wish her a happy birthday. He also told me she gets cake and cupcakes. I love how far he has come. He started talking about his birthday and that he was going to have a party at school again.

He was very excited about getting to school. I am so thankful he loves going. He looks forward to seeing the bus aide every day. Then he talks about sitting with one of the other students. He was so happy about everything and couldn’t wait until the bus turned the corner. His “movie trip” was also a big topic as we waited. Since we went out early because the bus app wasn’t working again we had time to talk about his birthday plans for next year again. And then he was off.

In no time it seemed like he was home again and ready for his days ahead. He was all about what is happening and he immediately went into the spitting, kicking, licking, hitting dialogue but hopefully he will stop because I told him if he kept it up he would not get to go on his movie trip. He said, “Sorry Mommy want to go to the movie trip” and stopped talking about it. I know he likes to see my reactions to things but I don’t want him to continue to talk about things he knows are not nice.

He told me the leprechauns needed to help move us to the woods so we could have a farm with the purple cows. When all else fails bring out the leprechauns and let them do the work. I pray we find some property soon. I love that he is talking more about it and is embracing it as much as he can.

The night moved along quickly. The ebbs and tidea of emotions were like the ripples on the ocean. I’m thankful he is embracing his breathing exercises again and going through the motions. His laughter is what I held onto and I’m thankful for that amazing smile. Never give up on the hope for tomorrow. Smiles to all and donut daze!

Thankfully Owen slept all night and I mostly did. It was a much better start to the day. He was in a great mood, talking about the blue and red zones of his unplugged clock that was actually plugged in. His words and actions always amuse me when he tells me something he knows is wrong. It’s like he wants to see what I will fall for but I don’t know if he completely gets that concept. He sometimes seems to be one step ahead of me though.

The bus app once again wasn’t working. It makes Owen more anxious to go out early but I don’t want him to miss the bus just in case they are early one day. He was super excited because he was going to see the bus aide. I said, “You will see her in a few minutes” and he said, “I want to see her in a few seconds.” I think he is starting to get this time thing down. The bus turned the corner and he was off. I’m thankful for how much he loves the bus and how wonderful they are with him.

I was able to sleep for a couple of hours this morning after Owen went off to school. The last few days completely wore me out so it was good to catch up on some sleep. When I picked him up from school his teacher said he had a great day. She said he was smiling a lot and was happy. They work hard on so many different projects with his class. I can tell how much they do every day and it makes a huge difference.

We headed off to his therapy and he was telling me all kinds of things. I love it when he is in a calm talkative mood. He was very patient while I talked to his first therapist and then off they went. He did great today in each session. They both said he had more patience and did the exercises. I’m glad that he is doing better. On the way home he told me he wanted a goat added to the list of animals he wants. He said he wants to see the goat climb on the swing. His request on the way home was to go by the “bridge flags” and the “blue church.”

He is now starting to give me his tablet when it has a low battery so I will charge it. He used to get so mad when it would turn off so it is incredible progress to have these moments. He was pretty calm except he wanted to chew, lick, or bite everything to show me he could do it. Yesterday I threw away several of his game pieces because he chewed them right in front of me. One minute we are playing the game and the next minute it is in his mouth trying to chew it. Tonight I told him I was going to tell his teacher he was doing this and he said, “No no no” and stopped doing it. She has a calming effect on him and he knows she would not approve of him destroying things. He then came and sat with me so we could play his games on his tablet.

Bedtime went pretty quickly tonight. He said his prayers that he would get to ride the bus to school, see his friends, and get to go on the “movie trip” on Saturday. When he prays he says all these things after his prayer. “Dear God thank you for amen” and then goes into all the details. God knows and that’s what is important. Positive words and positive actions equal a positive life. Smiles to all and donut daze!

Owen mostly slept but listened when I said it was not five o’clock. It was so close but four o’clock in the morning still isn’t a time I’m ready for the wakeup call. It took two times but then he stayed in bed until 5:30. He was pretty calm when he came to me but was very ready for his day to get going and hoping everyone would be dressed to the blues. He doesn’t want people dressed to the nines he wants them dressed to the blues. He was also happy he was going to see his chiropractor.

We had a great morning with lots of questions about our day but he couldn’t wait to get ready. It was our breakfast morning with the “church ladies” as Owen calls them. This was his second planned breakfast with them and I was so thrilled that he was excited about going to breakfast with them. Having a child who never wanted to go anywhere to then making breakfast plans is my little miracle in life. I thank God for how far he has come and that these beautiful amazing people embrace my son in his growth.

He did well. It was a nice time. One of the ladies didn’t wear blue pants but he handled it. I am actually glad she didn’t because he needs to understand this and he was able to talk through it. My little planner has even planned his next breakfast with them and he has other plans for all of them through next year.

We came home for a few minutes and then we were off to his appointment. He was seeing a new therapist there and then the doctor. He was handling the change fine and was excited to meet her. I was very proud of how incredibly well he did. She was very patient and calm with him. He then saw the doctor and he was thrilled to see him. I love that he can tell me now how much this has helped him.

On the way home he wanted to go the long way home and stop at one of his favorite places. Unfortunately for me, it did not agree with me at all but luckily it Owen did not get sick from it. Thankfully I was feeling better and we had a better evening. He wanted to sit in the “white bed” with me and we played lots of games.

For having the day off in the middle of the week for a teacher in-service day he did amazing. We worked on a lot of his skills today. I play Eye Spy with him trying to get him spatially aware of his surroundings. He has a hard time when I say open the refrigerator and bring me something. If it is not in the exact same place it was before he can’t always find it. I’m trying to get more organized for him but when you put things in the refrigerator they don’t always end up in the same place. He is doing much better about it but gets frustrated very easily because it is a hard task for him. I know he will get it though.

Nighttime came and we said our prayers. He told me what to say and I told him he would have his chances with his own prayer. I love that he has connected with praying and understands that we pray about anything and everything we need to pray about. Walking him to his room has helped tremendously with his repetitive behaviors and has been calming for both of us. He is happy he only has one day off and is ready to get back to school. I pray he sleeps tonight and has a great day tomorrow. I’m thankful for his growth. In sunshine the rain will still fall but find the beauty in the puddles it makes and know the sun will shine again. Smiles to all and donut daze!