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Category Archives: autism awareness

[ thirTEEN…] fort worth child photographer

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 Posted in autism awareness, big kids, personal

Well, its official-I am now the mother of two teenagers! (Help me…)  My sweet Colton actually turned 13 last September.  I took his birthday session photos and I did not get around to editing and blogging them during the crazy holidays.

If you aren’t familiar with Colton’s story you can click here and read my past posts.  We are so very proud of him and his accomplishments.  He is a very driven little boy and we know the future holds great things for him.  A friend recently described Colton as a “future Bill Gates”.  Maybe he won’t be the next Steve Jobs, but he is certainly an innovative thinker.

If any of you reading have a child who was recently diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, I know how hard and scary those early days are.  I hope that Colton’s success will encourage you.  These children are special, and I wouldn’t change Colton for the world.

 

Posted in autism awareness, big kids, personal

[beautifully stubborn...] ft worth child photographer

Thursday, September 9, 2010 Posted in autism awareness, Babies & Children, Dallas/Fort Worth child photographer, motherhood, personal

[Per-se-ver-ance ]- 1.-steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.  2.- continuance in a state of grace to the end

Most of the time you will find my boy tucked away in a corner, lost in his own world…reading.  Colton turned 12 this week and said to me “Mom, I feel like it’s been a lot longer than twelve years..I think I should be older”.  He is right….not because he has faced his share of adversity and challenge, but because he is an old soul.  He is a contradiction-so innocent for his age yet wise beyond his years.  As some of you may know Colton is diagnosed with PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental disorder-autism spectrum) and ADD.  I have mentioned before how difficult the early years were and for some time we weren’t sure he would ever read, so watching him devour books gives me great joy!  I am reluctant at times to keep writing about what is “wrong” with Colton…but honestly, there is nothing “wrong” with the way he is at all.  I have come to embrace the way his brain works and to see in a new way because of him.  I write updates about his condition because I know there are many other families facing the same challenges and reading a positive story offers hope.  Hope is a huge weapon in this fight my friends..this I know for sure.  So here is a little update.

Colton has been dismissed from all his therapy, speech and OT.  He has been completely mainstreamed with his peers.  Last year his teachers told me that what they saw in Colton was sheer determination, a hard-headed perseverance that would not give up.  They even mentioned how great it would be to bottle what he has! lol   His grades are excellent and he is quite the walking encyclopedia.  It would seem that the stubbornness that once made life so hard has been channeled in the right direction  We all love Colton very much and I am so excited to see what life has in store for my special boy.  I put together a short video for his birthday.  I hope to do more picture/video compilations in the future…I hope you enjoy it.   Happy Birthday Colton-man!


Posted in autism awareness, Babies & Children, Dallas/Fort Worth child photographer, motherhood, personal

[my guy, a birthday post..] dfw area child photographer

Tuesday, September 8, 2009 Posted in autism awareness, Babies & Children, motherhood, personal

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It’s hard for me to believe that my youngest boy is 11 years old today!  Time certainly does fly and I find myself wandering down memory lane today reminiscing over his years.  Of all of my children even though he isn’t the youngest, Colton has always been my baby.  I can’t explain it because he is an old soul, even a precocious child at times, but there is something undoubtedly innocent about him.  Perhaps it’s the manner in which he views the world, or in the way he tells things just how they are and expects nothing less from anyone else.  He is special in so many ways- as are all of my children each having their own unique charm- but if you let him, Colton will steal your heart in a glance… and never give it back.  Happy Birthday my sweet boy you are more loved than you will ever know!

{a few old snapshots}

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I think I have rubbed off on him a bit, because his latest interest involves vintage/retro comics.  He wanted to bring one for his bday photoshoot!  He is a superhero fanatic!

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Posted in autism awareness, Babies & Children, motherhood, personal

[never say never...] dallas/ft worth child photography

Thursday, June 4, 2009 Posted in autism awareness, Babies & Children, motherhood

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I am such a PROUD mommy today!  Colton was honored with the “citizenship medal” at school!  Only one boy and one girl from his class received this recognition!  Of course any mother would be beaming over this but I feel that I have extra reason to be proud.  If any of you have followed Colton’s story you will know that when he was five years old he was diagnosed with P.D.D. (pervasive developmental disorder) which is under the Autism Spectrum.  Children with this challenge are prone to outbursts and tantrums and often do not understand social cues.   Colton was no exception and for many years was prone to extreme tantrums.  It was not unusual for us to have to leave a restaurant or a full cart of groceries because of these unpredictable incidences.  It was hard to say exactly what might set him off, if it occurred his behavior was so out of control he would run into traffic or throw himself down among other things.  It was extremely scary and his teachers for the first two years of school were complete angels!

I share all this to let you know that there is hope for children like this.  Colton has come soooooo far and is doing so well, thanks to therapy, love, wonderful teachers and of course, prayer.  This year has been an exceptional year for him and I knew he was doing well but to receive this medal meant that he has gained an enormous degree of control over his emotions and is learning to thwart the outbursts on his own.  If you had told me when he was three that he would win this medal in 3rd grade, I wouldn’t have believed it.

Don’t be mislead, he is still quite the feisty little fellow to say the least, but honestly that is his charm.  He is my funny, unpredictable, gutsy and courageous Colton Man.  I love you Colton!

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Posted in autism awareness, Babies & Children, motherhood
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