I can’t believe it has already been one year since we received Connor’s autism diagnosis. (You can read my original post here. It’s kinda sad and not the most positive post, just FYI.) Overall, one year later, things with our sweet boy are still hard. We have made some progress in a couple of areas. But in the areas that cause the most distress in our house, we are still very much struggling. Even just this week, after about a month of really good days, we have started to have angry, aggressive meltdowns again. It’s just always a rollercoaster of good days and hard days. And that can be very discouraging for me.
But, there have also big some really big blessings and answers to a couple of big prayers. Today I am sharing an update on where things are today one year later.
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One Year Later
After receiving the diagnosis, the next step for us was to get Connor approved for services through The Division of Developmental Disabilities and insurance through Arizona Long Term Care.
Anyone that is familiar with the process of applying for state insurance and services knows the hoops you must jump through to get approved. I spent many hours making phone calls, filling out mountains of paperwork, setting up and attending appointments, and writing lots of emails. Three months later, Connor was approved and we were able to get going with speech and occupational therapy. We are so grateful.
We have been extremely blessed with an amazing care team. Connor’s speech therapist, occupational therapist, DDD coordinator, school ESS coordinator, and psychiatrist are such a gift from God.
But to be honest, I was really dreading starting therapy services again. If you remember, Connor was in OT several days a week for a few years and it was hard. Each visit I felt so much guilt for having to bring Noah with us. A lot of times forcing him to skip his naptime and desperately trying to keep him happy and mostly quiet in the small waiting room. I felt so much guilt that I couldn’t be with Connor in his therapy sessions because I had Noah with us. It was a very hard season and I was not looking forward to starting that back up again. This time with Audrey, too.
On our first day back at the same therapy clinic we visited weekly for years, I cried. I couldn’t believe we were doing this again.
We met Mrs. R, Connor’s speech therapist, that first day back and I instantly felt a connection with her. With Connor, she is friendly and professional. She challenges him and pushes him to use the tools she is teaching him. With me, she is compassionate and almost motherly, in the most genuine, loving way. She’s had similar struggles with her own child. She is one of the only providers we have had that can truly understand what we are going through. She listens to me when I feel defeated and somehow knows exactly when to offer advice and when to just listen. She encourages me & gives me the confidence I need to advocate for Connor. I am so grateful for the ways she supports our family. I pray that every family in a situation like ours has their own version of Mrs. R.
Connor’s occupational therapist is really great, too. She comes to our home each week which is a huge answer to prayer. Not only do I not have to bring two other kids with me to this appointment, but also she gets to see some of the struggles that we have going on in our house and can help us troubleshoot in the moment. Connor quickly became one of her favorite patients, of course, and they have a lot of fun together.
About 5 months ago, Connor started middle school. I was so nervous. I couldn’t sleep and tears filled my eyes the second school was even brought up in conversation. How would he manage switching classes? 6 different teachers? A locker? It’s going to be too much responsibility.
Wrong. I was so wrong! In another incredible answer to prayer, God assigned us the most amazing ESS coordinator. Mrs. J has been such a blessing to our family. She has helped Connor come up with routines and organizational systems to help him be as successful as he can at school. She is the definition of going above and beyond. She has put in so much time to develop a sweet relationship with Connor. Knowing he has her at school each day gives me so much peace. Thank you, Jesus!
Connor is loving middle school and I know so much of his happiness is due to the time he has spent working with Mrs. J. He’s getting good grades and learning how to handle all of his new responsibilities. He’s completing all of his homework (mostly) independently. And he even joined the cross country team! He’s making friends and having so much fun. God is so good.
I know we have a long way to go. And I know it’s not always going to be easy. Right now, we are really struggling with some behavior issues at home. Reflecting on the last year though, and seeing all of the ways God has provided for our family, I can see that we have been so blessed.
Connor will continue to learn and grow. We will continue to work through our challenges. And I know this diagnosis will not stop Connor from growing into the amazing man God created him to be.
I love you, Son. I love you so much. And I will be here with you every step of the way. We’ve got this.
