This was my baby boy at about 2 minutes after midnight last night. After I toasted the New Year with Sean with kisses and champagne, I rushed upstairs to give my little one a new years smooch (Cam had a sleepover at Nana's).
I repositioned him in his bed and I snuggled up with him for a few minutes. I allowed myself some time for reflection. To think about what we had been through. To think about what our family had gone through. How far we had come since that dreaded day in May when we heard the words we knew were coming, but yet still brought me to my knees and shook our world to it's core.
I thought about the people I have met. The disappointments I have faced. The joys we have celebrated. The things I have discovered about my children, my family, my friends and most importantly - myself.
It's been quite a journey. I expect just as many bumps on the road as last year, but I am hopeful that the ride is slowly smoothing out and I'm becoming a better navigator.
I was excited to see 2005 go. I was excited to see a new year come.

Yesterday I put Cuyler on the waiting list for RDI. It's what my gut is telling me to do. I truly believe that this will eventually be as mainstream as ABA/IBI therapy for kids with ASD. I believe that it will be much more effective.
I have been researching for a few months now, on the recommendation from a girlfriend who is doing it with her 7year old. I just really believe that this is what will help Cuy fulfill his potential. I am confident that he will be able to build relationships, maintain them and live a fulfilled life.
And RDI will be the tool to help us.
The good thing about this is the waiting list goes into the fall of this year...not good to wait...but the program is private (there are only 3 consultants in Canada) and so extremely expensive, it will allow us some time to save the money, apply for funds...whatever we need to do.
It will be a 6month program. We are willing to invest the money into that 6months because we aren't willing to sit and do nothing until a funded ABA program picks him up (a minimum 2 year wait). Plus the RDI focusses on the core deficits if autism - not just the "symptoms". I keep finding myself on the website and each time I go on and read more about it - I get excited at where this program could take our family. I get excited that it could give Cuyler a quality of life that last May I couldn't have imagined.

2006 will be good indeed.

CHEERS!