Denver Diary: Our journey is nearing an end...

We have now been in Denver for 33 days and our journey is nearing an end.  We fly out very early Sunday morning.  As we are wrapping things up here I cannot help but feel a bit overwhelmed...overwhelmed by all that we have experienced through this huge undertaking.  It is hard for me to believe that after so much work, planning, anticipation, and yes - worry - that we are getting ready to head home for good.

We have experienced so many miracles...it is hard to comprehend all that God has brought us to see through bringing Cade here.  His therapy, though so super hard, has been such an unbelievable blessing.  We all have been stretched further than we thought possible, and we have made it through to the other side being so much stronger.  We have learned so much about ourselves here, so much about being Cade's parents, that it is simply impossible to put into words.

We will miss the STAR Center and all it has to offer...it made Cade's work so much easier!

Most importantly, we are bringing back a very different little boy than we left with in early July.  Cade has made remarkable gains here...he has learned coping strategies, how to communicate, ways to more appropriately play...he has worked so hard here without him even knowing it.  We have watched him go from a little boy who was frustrated almost all of the time to one that can bring himself out of his frustration with coping skills.  We have watched him blossom here...my heart is full from all that Cade has gotten from our time at the STAR Center.

Here Cade is bringing himself out of a meltdown...he is "retreating" to a place where he can have his "own space" -- much better than yelling and screaming!!

And we have learned how to play with Cade.  That may sound simply ridiculous...but playing with Cade needs to be so intentional because we are striving to retrain his brain.  And this has not been an easy job!  But we now know what avenues are the most important to take with him.  We have learned what we need to work hard to strive for, and what is simply not as important in his development.  I have watched Eric bark like a dog and "fetch" more times than I can count - and all without embarrassment, disdain, or regret.  I have watched Cade create new ideas with much more complication than I ever thought he would be able to do...and I have watched him be so excited about doing it.

Cade discovered some pom-poms...and introduced "Pom-Pom Fighting!"

J taught Cade how to play the game "Guess Who?"  I'm thinking it's going to be one of his favorites!

The next American Idol??

We will miss Julianna so much...she has been such a calm ray of light in the middle of this crazy, and sometimes seemingly relentless, process.  I thank God that he placed her right in the middle of Cade's life when he needed her the most.  I have watched him grow to truly love her, and I know he is going to forever hold her someplace deep in his little heart.  And I know that whenever we are struggling I can always pull from her advice that she has so richly given us, and hopefully be able to dig deep enough to find what I need.

Cade and "J" as he so affectionately calls her.

Having fun in the "Rainbow Room"

Denver has been remarkable.  We have grown so much, seen so much, struggled so much, and celebrated so much.  You all know that I am truly a Southern girl at heart, but I will always have such a special feeling for this place.  In the midst of all of its beauty and grandeur it surely holds some secret power that God placed right in the middle of the Rocky Mountains...I'm pretty sure that it will always draw me back for another, perhaps more relaxing, visit.

The mountain view...

Red Rocks Amphitheatre

But for now we are headed back to reality.  A different reality. We are headed back to the world where we must make everything flow smoothly, make sense of it as much as we can, and just keep on plugging along.  For as far as we have come here, we still have so far to go on our journey with Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism, ADHD, OCD, and many other labels that have found their way into our lives over the past year.  We are headed head first into a brand new school year -- the first as a "special needs family."  I will be entrusting my little boy to the hands of the public school PreK this year.  And I will be hopeful that he will encounter the love and support he needs to get his school experience off to a good start. 

But we are headed back with such a remarkable support system in place.  For in this journey, too, we have learned to lean on friends and family when the going gets tough  We have learned to not only accept blessings, but to truly rejoice when they come our way.  God has put so many in our path...those that helped us when our journey was just beginning and those that continue to be prayer warriors for us all along the way.  And those who have become true lasting friends, forever friends, bonded simply by our experience of trying to help our babies.  And God gave us Heather, our OT at home, who already has become such an important person to our family...I hope she is ready to "take the wheel" when we return!  To all, I could never say thank you enough for being a part of such a remarkable time in our lives...we will never forget the sacrifices and prayers you have given up for our little boy.

So goodbye, Denver.  Thank you for the special, magical time you have given my family here.  Thank you for the laughter, the memories, and the healing.  And most of all, thank you for helping to change the life of my little boy for the better.  You will forever be in my heart...

Cade and Eric at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre...Cade's energy never waivers!

Cade insisted that I take his picture with every purple trash can in Red Rocks park!!

Cade gave me a heart attack...his "no fear policy" is stressful sometimes!

Farewell Rocky Mountains...hope to see you again someday!