As I reflect on your birthday today I remember them saying your gonna have a boy. We were filled with excitement and joy. Your delivery was a breeze! My first born and you were here in 5 hours. Thank you! From the day your feet hit the floor you were an explorer and that hasn't changed. You have open my eyes to so many things in my life.
We've had our struggles and obstacles but through it all you still shine bright. From the diagnosis of epilepsy at 13 months old which was devastating. I still was unsure what epilepsy was and how it would effect you until I've watched them first hand. Epilepsy (seizures) are dark demons in which no child or person should ever have to endure. Then along came another struggle...at 18 months old you stopped eating, stopped smiling, stopped looking at us, stopped playing. I knew something else was wrong. I talked with your pediatrician and was sent for a food aversion test. I met with the OT therapist and did the test and found out you had sensory processing disorder (SPD) but even with that I still felt there was something else there.
After a year wait you were evaluated for Autism at the age of 3. You were seen by a Dr. Geiger in Danville, KY which was a PH.D Psychologist where she evaluated you on several occasions. The final evaluation was a 6 hour evaluation with just you and her. Two weeks after your evaluation I got the call that you indeed had Autism. I stayed composed while discussing what needed to happen now but once I got off the phone I broke down. Is this something I caused? What could I have done differently? Will he be able to function in society?
Four years later now that you are SEVEN you have shown me that you can do things and you do thrive. You just do them in a unique way which I love. Some days are harder than others but you are Tyler and you are the most precious gift a mom could ask for. I LOVE YOU TATERBUG!!
