My Baby Jack

As many of you may already know, I have been concerned about Jack and his development for a while now. He is 21 months old and he doesn't really talk. The only word he says is "dada" but he kinda just says it and not really in context. When he was 12 months old, Matt had mentioned, "do you ever notice that Jack doesn't really seem to know his name?" At first it freaked me out cause I knew what that might mean. As time went on, I just stopped worrying about it. He seemed to be developing normally. Well, the last few months I have been keeping a closer eye on him and the more I see him with kids his own age. in nursery and around his cousin Karson, I have definitely noticed quite a difference in him compared to those other kids.

Everyone kept telling me, "he's a boy, they develop slower" or "he's fine, it's just his personality" etc... Well, as you know, Tyla was finally diagnosed with autism a couple weeks ago. It was a bittersweet diagnosis. Of course you never want to hear that your child is autistic but at the same time we finally know how to help her. And OH MY GOODNESS!!! It is AMAZING how far Tyla has come since we started her treatment. It's like something just woke up inside of her. We couldn't be more thrilled!!!

But because of this finally coming to light, and after I read Jenny McCarthy's book, I have REALLY noticed more and more signs in Jack. So I decided I wasn't going to wait until his 2 year check up like I was originally planning. I took Jack to his pediatrician today, and he was diagnosed with "PROBABLE AUTISM". On the developmental survey in dr's office, they refer out to a specialist if they score at least 3. Well, Jack scored 12! So, off to the specialists we go for Jack! He will need to be evaluated by the state so they can pay for everything. Luckily, they will pay for it until he is 3. He'll most likely go to the same Early Learner school program that Tyla has been in for the last 2 years. Plus speech therapy and they are referring him to a child psychologist.

I have had a really rough day handling all of this. It's probably mostly due to the fact that I couldn't fall asleep until 2 am last night because I was having really bad contractions. I continued having them ALL day. Jack wouldn't take a nap when Tyla was sleeping, so therefore, I couldn't take a nap!! With that tiredness setting in and my prego emotions and I just kept thinking I didn't know how we can help our kids the way they need, the way they deserve! I don't know how we are gonna afford the dr's and the therapies and the food and the supplements!?!? Am I gonna have to get a job after the baby is born? Who can I get to watch 2 autistic kids and a newborn? Is it gonna be worth me leaving the kids and not being there to help them with their treatment? Is this baby going to be the same? Are we going to have 3 children with autism?!?! What is Heavenly Father trying to teach us?

Then I just stopped! I looked at Jack. I looked at Tyla. They both were just laughing and playing just being the happiest little kids! That's when I decided that Heavenly Father is entrusting us with these special spirits. How LUCKY are we!?!? When we said prayers with Tyla tonight, I just started crying because I am so blessed to have these kids in my life. I learn so much everyday from them. We are going to do everything in our power to give them the best life we can!! We love them more than ANYTHING!! Things will work out! I know it! Only time can tell what life is going to bring us. But with the Lord on our side, we can handle ANYTHING!!




***Just a quick little story about our little Tyla***
On Sunday Tyla had the opportunity to say the prayer in Sharing Time. When she walked in, she was so excited that she got to sit up front and she just sat there with her arms folded being a good example to all the kids. Showing them how to be reverent. She kept saying "Tyla's turn" over and over. When it was time to say the prayer, she walked all the way up to the pulpit with her hand over her mouth just giggling. She climbed up the steps to get to the microphone and pulled it down right in front of her mouth. As we started saying the prayer she just kept giggling. She would copy a few words, but after she said "amen" she raised her hand in the air straight above her head and said "YES!!" She was so proud of herself! It was soooo cute!! All the teachers just laughed and they just adore her so much. Who wouldn't?? She is ALWAYS smiling. She is such a sweet sweet girl!! We love her!!