Let The Journey Begin....

And so it goes...

On May 5th, Cinco de Mayo, of 2011, I decided to start blogging.

The concept of blogging is very new to me. Three years ago, a dear friend asked me why I did not blog. I told her that I just didn't think I had anything important to say, and that it wasn't my personality to blog about daily events. If I was going to blog, it was going to be for a purpose! It would have to be about something going on, or some spiritual concept I was studying, or a spiritual battle I was struggling with that could help others who faced similar struggles. Blogging with intent. But I have never felt the Lord calling me to share anything with total strangers on the web.

Until now.

Last Monday, April 25th, 2011, our oldest child, our precious son, Clay, was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. This diagnosis was not a surprise to myself or my wonderful husband, Keith. We have known for years that Clay has autism, we just had a difficult time scheduling the evaluation to prove it. But, now, here we are, 10 years and 10 months into his life on this earth, and we finally have a team of specialists surrounding us, helping us, and guiding us through this process. Someday I will have to blog about how providential our God is, and share Clay's story more, so that you can see God working in his young life, and maybe it will give you hope, too.

I was not moved to blog until May 5th. On May 2nd, we met with the genetics team at Arkansas Children's Hospital, and, after 5 and 1/2 hours of evaluations and waiting, we left the office on a gluten and casein free diet. I am a certified pediatric nurse practitioner, and I know of the "Autism Diet" and all of the controversy that surrounds biomedical approaches to autism treatment. I have read papers and studies from both sides, and I get it. But, here I am, with my family of 5, on a GFCF diet, beginning a long journey to see if, for our genetically specific problems, this diet actually does have some improvements for all of us, not just Clay.

I am not advocating the GFCF diet for anyone. I just want to make that clear. I am not saying that it will help with any autism problems or other medical ailments that you may have. But, for our family, this approach was recommended and will be followed up with labs and developmental evaluations, because it could be that for Clay, and maybe our youngest daughter, Kylie, that the GFCF diet works for them. Also, our middle daughter, McKenzie, has gluten intolerance manifested by GI issues, which was an interesting piece of the puzzle for the genetics team.

But why blog about it?

The rates of autism are increasing, and along with them, so is the anxiety and fear level of parents. If our journey will help anyone see the hope in raising a child with autism, or any other special need, and see how God has a plan for them as well as for you, then it is worth it to blog about it. I want our story to point to Christ, and to honor Him for what He has done and what He is doing in our lives. He is the main character of our story. I stand comforted to know that He was with them as they were fearfully and wonderfully made within me, and that their developmental concerns were not an accident or surprise for Him. I know He has plans for them, and I claim Jeremiah 29:11-14 for all children, regardless of their social, mental, emotional or physical development.

I am also blogging about it because I think it will help me with my sanity. Even if no one reads my blog, at least I am getting all of my thoughts out of my head and onto some sort of documentation, so that I can look back and remember what was occurring on what date, and what type of therapy we were involved in, etc. Hey, I'm human! I need an outlet. And blogging is going to be my outlet to help me through this, quite frankly, difficult part of our journey.

All of this typed on a pretty black and white floral design with a green title. Hey, I am a green girl at heart!

I look forward to learning from you, too, as many of you have already been where I am and have made discoveries of your own. I would love to know what you have learned, and share it with others. We are all in this journey together. God did not intend for His people to be alone. We need each other!

So, as I end my first post, I am really excited and nervous as to see what God does through this little blog. I pray that He will use it to help me know Him more fully!

Grace and peace to you all!

Michele