If you've met one . . .

Nolan and his Daddy doing his favorite thing!

I really love quotes. You should know that up front! Pinterest and I are bff when it comes to finding good quotes that just say exactly what you couldn't find the right words for. "if you've met one person with autism, you've met one person with autism." This is one of my favorites because it couldn't be more true. When Nolan was first diagnosed with autism we knew little to nothing about it. I've been a nurse for 9 years so I'm used to the medical field, diagnoses, and treatment; its what I love to do! However with autism there is no cookie cutter. Every child is different and every child's treatment is different. This messes with my OCD type planning personality big time! Autism is a wide range of developmental disabilities and we still don't now exactly what causes it. There are one million different recommended treatments and even some that say they have the cure. It's a good thing I like to study because I have googled and read my little heart out over the past 2 years since his diagnosis and I still barely know "what's best." I've learned to trust my mama gut feelings a lot more but it's a tough road. I started this blog because I want people to know what autism is to us; what it is to Nolan. 

To Nolan autism is just his way of life; he doesn't know any different. He doesn't  use verbal language although he has heard it his entire life.  He loves tight hugs, cuddling when he tired, running, jumping, swimming, swinging, and anything else that makes him move. While some children with autism don't want to be touched or can't stand loud noises, Nolan craves it. This is called sensory seeking. I love this part about him. I love that he is so active and hardly ever sits down except to eat his food quickly or when he's falling asleep at night. I love his energy and his JOY. This kid has so much joy! He's happy about most things in life; except when things do go his way like when the battery dies on the iPad, a toy won't stand up just right, or of course if he is told no. When this happens he acts like a typical toddler who isn't happy. He has actually started saying "na na na" for no when he is mad about something. He uses a few words of sign language to tell us he wants a drink or eat or more. He waves bye and blows kisses.   

It's important for you to know that life hasn't always been this way though. He used to be the boy who sat alone in the room away from everyone playing with one toy for what seemed like forever, unaware of anything else going on around him. Nolan has learned everything he knows because of endless therapy, hard work, and the village of people that love him. It may look like he is playing like a typical kid but really you are seeing so much progress and all the hard work he has done to fit into our typical world. So anytime you see a child or an adult with autism remember you've only met one . . .just like we are all different people, so are they.  People with autism aren't all like the Rain Man or necessarily like a typical person. Most are somewhere in between. Get to know them and ask questions! Get to know the sweet soul that is underneath that diagnosis and see how great it impacts your life!