for the love of Max

It's a brand new day. By the time most of you read this it will be World Autism Awareness Day. What does that mean? At first I was elated to read that this day will be celebrated on 6 continents. That is major, but it is also maddening and heart-wrenching. Autism is THAT BIG! It is too big. I hate it and not just for Max. I hate it for all of the truly inspiring families that I have met who are also on this adventure (to put it kindly) and I hate that I have to pray for girls when my friends are pregnant because this disease prefers to ravage our boys. I could go on and on about hate because I harbor a lot of it, but I choose not to let it occupy any more space on Max's blog so....

Max has done a few new things in the past weeks---things that might seem inconsequential to most, but speak volumes to me. We have been spending hours in our backyard and last week Max decided that after 5 years and 3 months he would try out and enjoy the sand box. Today he took it a step further. He came in the house without his pants on which usually means he has gone #2 and produced some lovely brown leg warmers (When he takes off his pants his legs get smeared with-well, you can figure out the rest.) My mom got a taste of that this afternoon. :) Anyway, his partial nudity surprised me because he was clean and when I wiped him, he was gritty. So, I thought maybe he removed his clothes because his pull up was full of pee. When I went outside to gather his belongings, I noticed that they were near the sand box and there was a nice imprint of his feet and his cute little cheeks in the sand. I guess he really wanted to get the full sensory experience! He usually plays in it fully clothed, but I thought I'd pass along this funny story.

The photo above is what I found in the den after Max went on a walk with his Papa. He has become a pro at taking off his shoes, but it is the first time that I have seen him remove his jacket by himself. The sight of his jacket and shoes on the floor was such a typical little boy thing that I had to take a picture of it for you. Share in my joy for a moment and hug the ones you love on this day of Awareness of the disorder that has robbed my little boy of the life that he deserves.

Love to you all,
Max's mom

Please turn in your coins today and donate them. Let's find a cure.