Wow, it's been a few days since I wrote, but I guess I've sort of been suffering from writer's blog. Oops, I mean writer's block. Yeah, yeah, ok, that was really bad, but I guess I get my sense of humour from my Dad...

Well, Ilianna's tucked away for the night, so I have some quiet time. She's been really making progress lately, and that's really great to see. The last few days we have been working on getting her to look at us more when she asks us for help. That's been going pretty well sometimes, but other times it is really frustrating and we can really see her autism coming through. We've had some time now to get used to the idea that she is not like other kids, but we are really learning that even though she may not be the way she "should be", she is such a sweetheart! I mean, look at that cutie!!

Ilianna has been going to preschool since march, when we got back from Canada. Every time I pick her up I have been watching how the other kids greet their moms or dads after not seeing them for a couple of hours, and just wishing, and aching, for Ilianna to do that with me. Well it finally happened to me on thursday. Ilianna came out of the classroom, looked for me, and when she saw me yelled out: "HI!". She then ran up to me and reached out for me to pick her up and when I did she gave me a big hug! There were tears threatening to fall from my eyes, I was so happy!

In less than 48 hours my mom will be here! She'll be staying for a whole month and I'm so excited! She is coming at the perfect time, I don't think I've ever needed her support more than I do now. When something is going on with your child, you just want your own Mom around somehow.

One more picture of Ilianna, the other day when we did some painting. She didn't just paint the egg carton...

Ok, I want to start things on a lighter note today. So, I got this email from someone the other day and thought it was pretty funny! Enjoy:

Before the Wedding:

Her: Bye!!!
Him: Phew, finally, I’ve been waiting for you to say that!
Her: Do you want me to leave?
Him: NO! I wouldn’t dare!
Her: Do you love me?
Him: Of course! Alot!
Her: Have you ever cheated on me?
Him: NO! How can you ask me that?
Her: Do you want to kiss me?
Him: Every chance I get!
Her: Would you ever hit me?
Him: Are you crazy? I’m not that kind of person!
Her: Can I trust you?
Him: Yes.
Her: Sweetheart!!!

After the wedding:

Just read the dialog again, but this time from the bottom up…

A trip to Hawaai

Here is a little story I heard from my sister-in-law, Melissa, and I thought it was a really great way to help parents with a child with a handicap, physical or mental. It can be a real comfort to parents who want a "perfect" or "normal" child and who find out at birth or like in our case, when the child is older. We always thought that there was nothing wrong with Ilianna, she was, and I'm not exaggerating, a perfect baby, and until she was 1 and a half to 2 years old, we kept thinking that. So it was a big shock to us that there could be something wrong with her.
Anyways, here's the story, as well as I can remember it...

Imagine wishing your whole life to go to Hawaii. You save up, and plan, and once you're ready, you book your trip. On the day that the plane takes off, with you in it, of course, it's rerouted to... Switzerland. Well, that's not acceptable!! You don't want to go to Switzerland, you want to go to Hawaii, like you've always planned to!! You're shocked and disappointed; but then you start to have a look around... Wow! Switzerland is really beautiful! And it has so much to offer!!! Now you are really glad the plane was rerouted!!!

Ilianna's new bedroom

About 2 weeks ago Ilianna moved into her new princess bedroom, furnished with a new big bed, with three big drawers under it.

She had no problem getting adjusted to her new surroundings, in fact she's had a really great time! At first we had the drawers filled with toys, but that was proving to be a problem when she was staying up a long time, playing away. So we emptied them. However, she soon found a new use for the drawers...

And if she doesn't fall asleep in the drawers, then...

Needless to say, one of these days we will have to take a rare picture of her sleeping in her bed!!!

Pretty soon I'll post some more pictures of her new room.

Monday the 13th...

Well, it was quite a day for us yesterday. Ilianna has been diagnosed with autism. We knew that she had a form of autism, but it was pretty hard to hear it being officially said to us. We are always really positive about Ilianna and we are proud of every step she takes, big or small, so it's hard to hear somebody being "negative" about your child. We are taking it a day at a time, we always have been, being realistic, yet staying positive and optimistic at the same time.

We were told yesterday that once Ilianna's communication skills improve, it will make things alot easier for us and for her and we hope that that will be the key to her social skills improving. She seems to prove us wrong from time to time, a big example being how she played with the girls I babysat today. She really plays and communicates with them, but in her own way.

Well, one thing is sure, she is a real sweety and we love her to death!

Finally joining the rage...

Well, here goes, the first entry in my new blog! My brother set up a blog probably a couple of years ago, and I've decided to start one up to keep my family and friends in other parts of the world updated on my life here in Holland. It's also to keep the same people informed about Ilianna's progress, developmentally. So... I hope you enjoy reading up on us, please check this blog out as often as you can, and I will do my best to keep it updated as well!!

This is a picture taken a few weeks ago at the playpark near our house. Ilianna really loves it there!!