Today Caleb came home and said:

[babydolls]

"Can I tell you something, Mommy? I have good news. Today I saw 3 spiders spinning a giant web in the corner of my classroom."

It's days like today, when he comes home and is *so* articulate that I wonder if he truly has Autism. Asperger's maybe, but Autism? :dunno:

Then, I wonder if maybe I'm just stuck in the denial stage of grief. :thud:

Then, there are other times, that his vocabulary is *so* scripted it's obvious.

Then, I wonder if God is just really doing a work in Caleb, giving him a testimony of God's power and grace.

Ugh. See the type of internal dialogue that I have going on in my brain?! :hmm:

I really need to learn to just live for today, enjoy each moment, and not worry so much about the future.

[DevNAbbyMom]

:bighug:

I've had days like that where I wonder if DS is not ASD at all and then the days that proves it comes out. I so now the doubt and denial some days.

You never know! God may have some huge plans for Caleb that have yet to be discovered! I always try to keep my hope open for my DS that there is just something bigger in the works that I don't know about yet.

[thebeckery]

((Sheri))

what a sweet moment...

obviously, I don't know what God's plan is for Caleb, but what a great moment for you !

:bighug:

[Saralynn]

Sheri-That is so cute! I'd have said, "Ewwwww!" then given him a big hug and giggled. LOL :)

Sara

[Mom2JTSJ]

Awww Sheri ... :hug:

[Noahsmom]

It is hard to live in the moment when dealing with autism (in my opinion)!

Truly, I hear things you say about Caleb, and it sounds lots like Noah - and Noah was diagnosed with Aspergers. He totally has the scripted speech thing too!!

((Sheri))

[FabTXMomma]

Diagnoses are so hard to pin down in the first place.
Doctors use different criteria and a lot of it is just their personal opinion as to how severe the symptoms are.

Asperger's is a type of autism. I've seen some kids who were originally diagnosed with classical autism develop to the point where it looks more like Asperger's to the lay person. Also, outcomes for AS and classic autism are generally the same, when you control for IQ.

What's really important is that you know his challenges and celebrate his successes! He's doing great, Mom!

Connor is just starting to comment on things too and I'm hoping conversation is coming soon for us too.

[MaeinTX]

Sheri, I could have written your post word for word.. well not Caleb or spiders.

Hooray for him for sharing with you.

I believe God gives us these glimpses of our children as hope.