Puzzled?

Wow, I can't believe it's been over a year since I posted anything on my blog. My intentions have been to keep this blog up to date so that I can look back over time and see how my family and I have changed and grown and developed together.  Unfortunately that hasn't been the case this last year.. Not to say I haven't had lots to write about, with amusing stories that will make you laugh out loud till your side hurts, to stories that would make your heart break. Raising a young family has it's moments, but especially when you have a disabled child. He adds a dynamic to this family that compares to none!

Last I wrote Benjamin had been receiving treatment for ADHD, ODD and OCD. With such came medication, but little overall improvement to many other behaviors that just didn't fit with what the pediatrician was telling me was happening with our child.  It was like there was a missing puzzle piece that didn't quite fit.  This led to much frustration here at home and at school.

So after finding a new pediatrician, who sent us to a physiatrist, we received an official diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome, this is on the spectrum of Autism. This was September of 2012! I am so relieved to finally have a accurate diagnosis. It has led to Ben being understood in a whole new light. Now when he acts out, or doesn't react the way that you would expect, or simply says something that seems unacceptable to others sense of social behavior....rather then being judged as a bad child there is patience and understanding and more acceptance.

That's not to say that we don't still have our challenges, and days that I cry myself through it, because I do. I have them a lot. I feel guilt still, and feel like I am not doing enough.  But at the end of the day I do feel a bit more hopeful, a bit more settled knowing that we have finally found that puzzle piece and we are seeing a better picture of what our family looks like with Autism.