Mother Son Luau

I took Shane to the Mother Son Luau here - Shane seemed like he really enjoyed it! He wore his Kukui nut lei the whole time! He seemed to love it when I did the electric slide with him! I was gonna go with my neighbor and her son, but ended up going by myself because she had to work, so I couldn't get good pictures unfortunately!

More about Shane's Diagnosis

Shane is already in the Georgia Early Intervention Services, and already does Speech Therapy twice a week and Occupational Therapy once a week. The doc said it was really good that we had already started him on that early. In addition, he will be getting Sensory Integration Therapy. He is also gonna get some lab work done to test his DNA to see if it is genetic.

We are enrolling him in the military Exceptional Family Member Program, which is for dependents with Special needs and also something called ECHO, the extended health care option, which is supposed to supplement the tricare benefits. Hopefully we can get him started on ABA therapy as well, which is applied behavior analysis therapy, which is supposed to be really good for Autism. I have done a little research on it and unfortunately I can't find anywhere here in Valdosta that does it. They have a place in Tallahasse, FL or Albany GA though but they are both about an hour and a half away. I will try to find out from his current speech therapists if there is anyone available near here. There is also an Autism support group that meets once a month that we are gonna go to. I hope I am doing enough! If anyone has any advice lemme know!

Shane's Baptism/ Easter last day on Kauai pics!

Aww, wonder what he is thinking??








with our Godson Daelin!!


Mike and his God kids! Daelin and Isla



Mike with niece and Goddaughter Isla


Justin holding Shane down!




He actually seemed to enjoy it!








Shane and Auntie Jamie, his Godmother!


Shane and Uncle Justin, his Godfather!


All the kids getting their Easter baskets from Auntie Bulee and Uncle Bill!!!


Baptism Party at Poipu Beach!!!








Easter Egg Hunt!

Shane's Diagnosis

Shane has been diagnosed as moderately autistic.
I thought I was prepared to hear the news, I sorta knew that it would be true but deep down I guess I was holding out some hope that the docs would just say he is just a little behind, a little shy, that he would come out of it... but when they actually said yes Shane is autistic, it really hit me hard. I couldn't stop crying...I was also pretty shocked when they said he was moderately autistic. I thought for sure he would only have a mild case- he does sometimes make eye contact and is so affectionate and loving. I feel guilty and sad and mad all at the same time. Its so unfair! I thought I did everything right, tried to be the best parent I could...

Then to top it off:
His appointment ended about 3:30ish so we went to eat after. Then we were on the road back home to Valdosta finally. Shane had fallen asleep in his carseat after a while. About 3 hours into the road trip, we stopped at a gas station for a bathroom break. I took Makenna in and then came back to the car then Mike went to the bathroom. I was sitting in the front passenger seat while the kids were in the back when suddenly I heard Shane wake with a startle, like he was having a nightmare or something and I looked back and he started having a Seisure! OMG I was so scared. i screamed his name and pulled him out of his car seat. I ran into the gas station screaming and crying and looking for Mike, and yelling "call 911!" His seisure lasted about 30 seconds, but a lifetime to me. It was the scariest thing I have ever seen. I couldn't stop crying and couldn't calm down. Shane was so limp and looked like he was dying. Mike ran out of the bathroom and thought that Makenna was kidnapped or something (she was still in the car), and i told him what happened. He was in shock. The ambulance came and I rode with Shane to the hospital. (we were about an hour away from Valdosta, in a town called Tifton). He had developed a high fever really quickly. I felt so guilty and torn up because I had no idea. We stayed at the hospital for a couple hours so they could bring his fever down. Luckily they said febrile seisures have no permanent damage. It was all so scary. We were finally back home in valdosta about 3 ish in the morning. I just can't believe all that had happened with Shane... it was a lot for me to take in one day.

I will post Easter pics and Shane's Baptismal pics tomorrow!

Kauai Part 4

Yesterday was Shane's Baptism! I will post the pics of the baptism after I get back from Hawaii!

He looked so cute in his Barong Tagalog (Filipino Dress Shirt). My brother (his Godfather) had a matching shirt too! He did so great when they poured the Holy water on his head! I thought he would scream (since he hates baths so much) , but he actually smiled and seemed to enjoy it! It was a little chaotic since Mike was the Godfather to both Isla and Deilin, AND had to also go up for Shane. I could barely get any good pics since we were both running back and forth. After the baptism, we had a party / Easter Egg Hunt at Poipu Beach. It was so fun! A lot of people showed up!

We leave for Atlanta on the Red Eye tonight and so not looking forward to it! We arrive tomorrow afternoon in Atlanta and will be staying overnight then Shane has his Autism Evaluation. I'm so nervous! I'll keep you posted.

Here are a few more pics of a couple nights ago:

Kauai Part 3

More pics! Haven't downloaded the ones since Janells been here, but I will soon! Still out of order though, still can't figure out Windows Vista!

Joe and Sara came for the weekend!

Makenna and Ruby's daughter Sophia

Girls

Talking Story

Some of the guys (they hate taking pics!)

Me, Ruby, and our girls

Tishanna flew down from the Big Island too!

I love this pic of me and Mike at Shenanigans

Dinner at Shenanigans

3 generations

Shane-O!

At Baby Beach in Poipu

Brennekes

Father daughter time!

Just Cruising

Shaka!

Father Son time