Weekend Bliss

We were able to have Nick visit the first and last weekend of spring break, and it was wonderful! He attached himself to Ian like a burr, and Ian was lit up from the inside out from the moment he saw him. Luckily I was able to arrange with the principal of the school to have Nick on the property when I picked him up (dogs aren't allowed), so he was surprised to say the least :-)

We were able to see Nick in action when Ian had a meltdown the first Sunday morning he was here, and I am excited to report that Ian's usual hours-long episode lasted... wait for it... seven minutes. That's MINUTES!!! I almost cried when in the midst of Ian's outburst I could see his eyes come back into focus the minute Nick leaned against him, and when he buried his face into Nick's neck and started putting words to his feelings, my very soul wept with relief. It's as if I had access to my son in a way I haven't been able to before, and I can only say it felt as if we were experiencing a true miracle.

We spent both weekends doing dog-friendly family things, and we had such a wonderful, relaxed time. There were no tantrums, no obsessive behaviors to handle, and no negative spirals at all. Ian was as close to a "typical" 10-year-old boy as I've ever seen him, and even his therapist mentioned again that when he has Nick, he appears more relaxed and confident. He interacts, makes eyes contact more, and even his voice is stronger. He isn't afraid, and he feels like he has a safe place in this world when his friend is there beside him. What parent could ask for more than that?!


Here we are after Reilly's soccer game:

As you can see, Nick is clearly bothered by the activity at the restaurant:

By the end of the weekend, Nick insisted on being ON the seat with Ian :-)

Once again, we would like to thank each and every one of you who has donated. You constantly amaze us with your support both monetarily and emotionally, and we know this journey could not be traveled without each of you. Thank you, from the deepest part of our souls, and know that you have made a big difference in a little boy's life.

Accepted!

We got our acceptance letter from Kids and Canines last weekend! Ian was beyond excited, though in his words, "I just knew it." Although I prayed and hoped and felt like we were going to be asked to participate in the training, getting the letter means we have jumped over another hurdle and I can breathe a fraction of an inch easier. While we haven't been "guaranteed" the placement of Nick, we are first in line.

What does all this mean? It means two weeks of intensive training in May, Monday through Saturday. I'll be the primary person in the training so I can become certified to have Nick in public places, and depending on Ian's schedule, he will be involved as much as possible. This also means that our family is coming forward to help with the kids, and for that I am beyond thankful. If it wasn't for them this wouldn't be possible, because training is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. While I would love to put the kids in an after-school program for those two weeks, it just isn't possible due to therapy and doctor appointments, so once again the whole, "It takes a village" comes into play.

We are one step closer!!