Its Just a Word..

Autism... Its a word that I have dreaded for two years. Literally it made my stomach clench and flip over. But I think that I have suspected it would impact us for a while. Last Friday, one of my worst fears as a Mom was confirmed. Noah, my sweet little independent, fiercely curious Noah has autism. Or so they tell me. ( "They" being the Center for Children's Developmental Disorders at Georgia State) There has been much discussion and denial....anger and peace...but ultimately, its just a word. It's just direction, on a path that we started when Noah was 6 months old. I won't and will never believe that a label, stigma, or diagnosis will keep this sweet beautiful boy from living the life that God has laid out for Him.  I wish I could wrap him in bubble wrap and protect him from any feelings of inadequecy or inferiority, but instead I will pray they sharpen and define His character, and His dependency on His Creator. That is all any of us  can ask.

Thanks for your sweet words of encouragement and your prayers this last week. I promise to keep you posted in our journey.

Psalm 54:4 Surely My God is my help, the Lord is the One who sustains Me!

Picture Time

We had a great, busy week last week....this is basically just ALOT of cute pictures!!!

Nate, Noah, Charlie, Elijah, Ian

Trouble x 3

I can't believe this baby girl is ONE, and that she (and her Mommy and Daddy) will be leaving us for Africa in a few weeks!

Nathan and Katey ( Keddy)

Noah and Haley (yay yay)

Ninjas

Yep, Ninjas..little climbing, earring losing, front door locking, bubble drinking, food throwing ninjas. That was just since Saturday, seriously. As a type this, they are in their beds. I think. I hear Noah ( most likely) up knocking on something...probably the wall, or the door. Who knows.

The twos are here, and they are taking me for a ride. ( please don't reply and say the threes are worse, yeah, I know, hear it all the time) I am so thankful for them, for our lives, for how God provides for us, but for real, this is hard (duh) and people I AM TIRED.

Someone asked me the other day.. what is your schedule like.. ok here you go

5:30 _wake up/shower. Usually Noah wakes up now, and is watching fireman sam in my bed, or running around my room screaming, or putting my brush in the toilet, or pulling open the shower curtain, you know, normal toddler 5:30 am stuff.

6:30- Super Kathi, babysitter sent from God, gets to my house, I leave for work

7:30, pull in parking deck , hoping to see best friend to mentally get ready for our day

7:45-3:30-Piedmont Wound Clinic Madness

3:45- leave, either to gym or to pick up boys

Home by 6:00 or 6:30.Dinner

6:30 -outside, walk playground

7:30- bath

8:15, books and bed

8:30-me on couch, laundry, phone, TV , studying for cert exams..dunzo

There it is... not much wiggle room :) Don't get me wrong, I love our lives, but I would love more energy, or maybe a clone.

So I guess the point of this post is not to whine or gain sympathy, but to be honest and say I could use prayer or encouragement ( not to be confused with "advice")

Now, so not to end on a down note, here are a few things I am particularly thankful for...

-Summer is coming and so is VACATION

-Had a really good weekend, and hung out with some pretty awesome women who aren't afraid to -be real and speak TRUTH to each other.

-God has put a really sweet man in my life who mows grass, fixes mailboxes, puts together tricycles and he cooks too, ya'll!!

And of course, THESE:

The kids..not the bikes :)

So there you go, real deal, not so perfect Mama..

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