Patience

Every day is a new day...

There are days that still feel like nothing is wrong, and then there are days it is very clear that Aiden sees the world in a whole different way.  Lately, Aiden gets pre-occupied with having a certain number of objects; usually, it is the number 3.  He has to have all 3 elephants come to bed with him at night, and if he loses one behind the bed, he wakes up crying until I find it.  The other day he had a mini dog, duck, and pig that he had lined up.  The duck went missing, and it was like it was the end of the world for him.  He cried and cried and cried.  I searched everywhere for the little duck, but it was no where to be found.  I had to take Aiden to school over my shoulder, because he couldn't get over the missing duck.  He kicked and screamed for the "duck," and his teacher had to take him inside alone to calm him down.  While Aiden was in school, Austin and I went everywhere trying to find a new duck, but we were unsuccessful.  I was afraid Aiden would remember the event, and lose control again when he came home.  I hid the dog and the pig.  When I brought Aiden home, I quickly took the kids outside.  All was well.  The sad part was, if I had found the duck, Aiden would have been just fine leaving the 3 animals and going to school like normal.  I know this from experience with the elephants!  

These are the moments that are hard--the moments when Aiden's perspective gets disrupted with the unexpected, and he can't seem to function.  But, there are many moments of joy too.  Aiden is beginning to put words into sentences.  His first sentence was (clear as day), "more milk please".  It took 2 1/2 years for him to put those words together!  He also says, "here, have a ____" to his brother.  He shares very well :)  Aiden has many, many new words in his vocabulary.  He loves to sign, and he does it well.  He recently learned his colors, and signs them too!  The boys are playing so well together these days.  They both love to open books and point at pictures.  Aiden continues to sign and say almost all the animals.  I'm sincerely praying that Aiden finds his voice in the next year.  He is getting frustrated when he can't communicate what he wants, and I long to have a conversation with him...   

Aiden is a great blessing in our lives.  He is teaching me how to be patient, and I'm actually learning!  

                           Aiden signing "yellow" with Signing Time DVD's