Our Journey and living with Autism

"It's a boy and he has a ton of hair"!  These were the first words I heard on Wednesday, November 28, 2001, at 10:37 a.m. after enduring 27 hours of hard labor.  My son, Cole, was a healthy 7 pound, 11 ounce, 21 inches long baby boy and was healthy, despite being in the birth canal for over 30 hours.  I did not choose not to have an epidural, but it just so happened that my epidural didn't work-- 27 long hours of labor with no pain medication can make a woman go crazy and a bit insane!  The only thing I remember is I went in on a Monday, November 26, 2001 and was induced!  I was on bed rest for four weeks, because Cole had decided he wanted to come early!  After being on bed rest for four weeks (and moving at 8 months pregnant-- not the best idea!), Cole decided to hold off the weekend before I was induced.  I was ready for this kid to come into the world, just because I was ready to be a mom.  Little did I know, I would have to endure a very painful labor, a not-so-supportive (now ex) husband, and the drama of dealing with incompetent doctors and staff.  I have always thought this journey into motherhood prepared me for the unknown-- surviving, living, and now thriving with a son who happens to have autism.

Autism is a word that has become common in my vocabulary today, but it was not something that was discussed in my household until Cole was 10.  I won't delve into my personal life, but I knew when Cole was 3 there was something special about him.  When Cole was just one years old, my brother Shawn said, "you do realize this kid is a genius?".  I thought Shawn was kidding, but looking back on these words, he was right.  Cole is a GENIUS who simply didn't use words to communicate, but used his brain and a computer to communicate with me.  Cole's world has always been a different world, which was always a happy place-- a place I took comfort in just knowing this kid was mine.  In a perfect world, everyone loves everybody, there is no hate, and there is no animosity towards any race, disability, or sexual preference.  This being said, we live in a very imperfect world, but I have tried my best to see the best in everything and do the best as a mom and now a wife.  My very loving husband of nearly two years loves our son-- he adopted Cole when we got married nearly two years ago.  I prayed every day that I would find my soul mate and best friend in my next husband.  I didn't think I would ever marry again, but I am forever grateful for opening my heart and giving it to this most amazing man-- he completes me and loves me and Cole beyond words could describe.  

Okay, so enough about my personal life, our journey is a long one, so this will be the first post of many more to come.  Feel free to ask me any questions (I am a pretty open book, if you don't already know), and I will do my best to answer them!  Did I mention Cole didn't speak many words until he was 8 years old?  You ask me why he decided to speak?  I can honestly say I don't know, but I do-- it was the music from "Jersey Boys" that opened Cole's world to an entirely different reality.  "Walk Like a Man" was our savior and I still can't believe to this day Cole now has friends over on a daily basis, wanting to learn music, hanging out with us, and enjoying this ride I call life.