After a visit from a friend

[K. wrote] I had a great time catching up with you all and getting to meet Audrey. I'm sorry that you are feeling depressed. I'm sure this has been a hard struggle with getting Logan what he needs...but the encouraging thing is that God is completely in control and loves little Logan even more than you and Amanda do...and He will use Logan to bring glory to Himself....it just might be different than you had planned.  Your family is in my prayers [...] and I look forward to seeing you all again soon!

Thank you for the kind words, K. I couldn't love the little guy any more; he is the most adorable and precious gift to have come into our lives. I can't explain why it's still sad, even though I feel God's hand in all of this, and even though I even welcome all this as a blessing, and even feel that I know why God sent this situation to us. I guess I'm sad because I love him so much, and on the days when he is really unhappy or in his own world, I don't know how to help him. But then there are also awesome days like today when he's making good eye contact and interacting all over the place with me.

Message to a Psychologist Who Made Logan's Initial Assessments

Dear Dr. F.,

I know I probably babbled at the appointment on Friday; I felt at the time like my tone was complaining or something.  I have been feeling really troubled lately, and so I was very eager for us to meet with you.  I'm sorry if I came across too desperate or upset.  I just did not want to forget to tell you something.

Thanks so much for meeting with our family.  I am reading through *Engaging Autism* and it's very helpful and reassuring.  I had skimmed parts of it before, but now I'm reading straight through, carefully.  

Amanda and I seem to waffle back and forth between hope and despair, taking turns being the one who comforts and the one who worries.  And then I feel silly because other people have so much bigger problems than this in life.

I heard today about a book from the 70s (?) called *The Hidden Child*, recommended by a teacher of special needs children in China.  Have you heard of it, and is it too outdated as far as theory/method -- or do you think it also might be worth a look?

Thanks for all your help.  I will do whatever it takes to help my little boy.  We look forward to our next meeting with you, and appreciate anything you are able to tell us.

Sincerely,
Jonathan

A Note to Logan

The day before yesterday, Logan, you sang the tune of “Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun” with the words “Sun, sun.” It was so cute. And at lunch you would look at me and when I asked how old you were, you held up two fingers for the video camera and then said “two.” You also said “bye bye” when I said bye to put away the camera, and I believe we got that on film.

Yesterday was hard, though. You didn’t want to play outside in the snow. It was too bright for your eyes, but you seemed upset even before we got out there, so I wondered if you had teething issues or something else wrong. So I was frustrated when you wouldn’t ride in the box like a sled, but the more I think about it, the more I realize that you must have thought we were getting ready to leave somewhere which first made you upset, and then the brightness of the snow everywhere was hurting your eyes, plus it was freezing. So we’ll do it another time.

You are making lots of progress with coordination these days. You can jump, and you love to do that in your crib like on a trampoline. You also hop around on the regular floor, too, which is good to see. You like to stomp your new sneakers, which is good for your legs, and they are getting stronger; I can feel that your calves are good and thick. Some days you enjoy eating your yogurt or mashed potatoes with a spoon, and that is very good.

You started climbing up on the couch just a couple of weeks ago. I need to encourage more of that since it’s really good for your coordination and strength. At church, you’ve been going up all the front steps holding my hand, and that is wonderful.

At my mom’s house, you were going up and down her steps into her den all on your own without sitting first, which is also a big deal. And you were not fussing or getting impatient at her place while we ate, but enjoyed her toys and trying the sound of your shoes in different areas, instead of playing so much with her doors as you used to. That makes me very glad!

One thing you like to do is go into mommy’s or your own closet and pull the door shut, as if you’ve found a nice hideout just your size and made for you.

Audrey and Logan are both saying "apple." Logan waved and said bye-bye to his therapist this week. He said "be patient" and "2 years" after we did. Audrey pulled herself to stand at the tub last night. Baby steps, baby steps (literally)

Visit to the Valley, TX

During the last weekend in May, Logan and his mommy flew down to Harlingen to visit Amanda's good friend Mandie Dykstra. Logan enjoyed playing on the equipment at a playground near Mandie's house Friday evening. The three visited an outdoor butterfly center about one mile from the Mexican border and saw nearly as many border patrol vehicles rushing past as butterflies (no illegals, though). Later on Saturday, all three tried out the neighborhood pool's shallow end. The water felt great in the Valley's 90+ degree heat. Logan enjoyed his first dip in a swimming pool, especially playing with the fountains and the water toys Mandie had purchased. Advertising plug: Little Swimmers diapers really are impressive, not leaking or bloating with pool water!

Zoo Excursion

Yesterday Logan, his Mama Jean (aka Grandma Himes), Aunt Jerusha, and Mommy drove downtown to the Houston Zoo for Logan's first-ever zoo experience. It was hot and humid but an enjoyable outing nonetheless. Logan stayed awake until the very end of the 2&1/2 hour visit, watching the animals--and also lots of school children--from the vantage point of his stroller. He gulped lots of water from Mandy's water bottle and was quite drenched by the end of the day. The animals were hot, too; many of the big cats slept with their paws waving in the air. Logan seemed especially interested in the otter exhibit, probably because they were swimming in his line of vision. He also enjoyed riding a frog on the carousel in the children's park--Mandy stood next to him to make sure he stayed on! We look forward to a return trip next year, with daddy in tow.

Logan's Summer, Part I

While his daddy and Uncle Ross are touring France, Logan and his mommy are visiting his grandparents in Texas. Logan enjoys sitting on the back porch with Mama Jean and viewing her beautiful backyard. One evening his Eicholberger cousins and their grandparents, Hubert and Arlene Himes, came over for dinner. Julie and Katie enjoy making Logan laugh. (The picture of Logan in his stroller was taken during an earlier trip to Eureka Springs at the beginning of the month.)

On May 17, Logan, his mom, Aunt Jerusha, and Mama Jean drove to Georgetown to attend Sonya Sawyer's wedding. Sonya and Amanda were office mates and good friends at Texas A&M. It was wonderful to see Sonya marrying Aaron Fritz, also an Aggie, as witnessed by the many "whoops" from his groomsmen after they said their vows.