Aiden has been in therapy for a little over a month now...
Therapy is going slowly, and I appreciate that. So far, we've had the perfect balance of summer fun and therapy hours. Aiden gets about 10 hours of therapy a week at this time. The goal is to get him up to 30 hours within 5 months (the Waiver program's "rules"). However, Aiden will start Kindergarden in September, so that may never happen. At this point, I've stressed and cried so much over it, I've just let go. Gratefully, I don't worry about it anymore. When the time comes to make the decision--and it is a big one because we could lose funding altogether--I'll prayerfully do what is best for Aiden--even if that means I was wrong to keep him in school.
Therapy is hard. We have strangers in our home 4 out of 7 days for several hours at a time. Austin wants to participate, but he answers the questions for Aiden, and that just doesn't work. We are learning to let Austin play 1 game with Aiden, do one activity of his own, and then he needs to leave the room. Today, I took him in my room to watch some cartoons while Ashton napped. That worked out ok. Our "rest time" has now become therapy time. Aiden seems to be doing well with it. He doesn't last much longer than 2 hours at a time, and I don't blame him. As I've written before, Aiden knows his colors, shapes, letters, and how to write his name. That is wonderful, but he still can't answer day to day questions. "What did you do today?" "How old are you?" You can't have a conversation with Aiden. When these questions come up, he usually repeats the words from the question such as, "old are you." Eye contact is still fleeting, but improved.
I was upset with Aiden this morning because I thought he drank Ashton's milk (I make them the night before, so they are ready in the morning). Aiden apologized, but I didn't realize he didn't need to until later that morning. I found the cup in Ashton's crib. Aiden had given his baby brother his milk. I know it was Aiden because Austin can't reach that high or unzip the crib tent. What a sweet, wonderful spirit Aiden has. Those are the moments I appreciate Aiden for the spiritual gift he is. Autism will never take that gift away from him. In fact, maybe that is what strengthens his sweet empathetic heart.
