So totally sending you hugs and more vodka.

My son is more cut and dry on the spectrum (diagnosed squarely in the Asperger's camp at 5), OCD, ADHD and a host of other things. Through it all, we've had some fantastic doctors and finally, the perfect school setting for him.

Keep doing what you're doing-it clearly is what Noah needs. Don't beat yourself up for the past mistakes-we all make them in the interests of giving our kids as normal an experience as possible.

As a professional in the field, I am so happy to hear that he's seeing a psychologist. I think that is a great move. Most psychologists I know don't CARE about the diagnosis, but care more about how best to help the person. The diagnosis is really just something put on paper in order to get reimbursed by insurance. Noah might have a little of this and a little of that, but that's what makes him Noah, and getting to know Noah the kid, (not Noah the kid with PDD or OCD or ADHD) and figure out what makes him tick and how to best help him navigate through this world in the best manner that he can will be what the psychologist will (or at least should!) do.

Hugs for all. He's so amazing, as are all of you!

The pride of being able to see all the progress already made is always balanced out - in such awkward and painful terms - by the challenge of trying to strategize around all the strange and uncertain terrain that still lies ahead.

*sigh*

This stuff is never easy.

I feel like my oldest is so much like Noah, just a year younger! We are getting ready to enter kindergarten and my thoughts are so similar to yours. And yet, they are these fantastic little boys, aren't they? So proud of how far Noah has come.

Someone told me the other day that kids like Noah (and my daughter), are harder to work with because they walk like a duck, they talk like a duck, but they don't act like a duck. Of course to the untrained eye, they do all walk and talk the same, even though we know differently. But those words, out of so many I've read over the years stuck with me this week. Because its so true. We expect them to act like ducks, but they aren't. They can pass for 'normal' at bday parties even though we know they aren't. It's a tough road to forge as a mom. You'll do all sorts of stuff for Noah over the years. Some will work, some will be money down the drain. That just comes with the territory. Don't sweat it.

You're amazing. And so is that little man.

Sending you a hug of support, because as challenging as your journey has been, you keep climbing.

sniff. You're so inspiring to me as an about to be mother. I know I'll never know what the experience will be like, but seeing how you've navigated through everything helps calm me a bit when i get a little panicky about what to expect. Your boys are so so lucky.

My oldest is four, and struggles. Not as much as yours struggles, but he has some major speech and learning issues, some barriers to understanding that we are still struggling to figure out how to bridge. We also, like you, frequently get the "there's nothing wrong with that child!" comments, which drive me up a goddam wall, but I digress.

We also have a kid who turned two a couple of days ago who, this morning, read all the letters off of a graham cracker box.

So here's my dilemma, in blunt bold non-tactful words: how do we raise Struggling Four Year Old next to Genius Two Year Old without making my big boy feel dumb? Without making my little boy feel like we need to hide his talents so he doesn't make Big Boy feel lesser than? How do I reconcile these two vastly different children, and make them live in the world and grow up loving and accepting each other?

You always write about Noah so beautifully. Except for these posts, I never remember that he has a "diagnosis" (or un-diagnosis, as the case may be).

Isn't that what we all want for our kids? Safe passage through life? But we know we can only help, guide, show them how to make the right decisions.

Of course it's much harder with a special needs kids, especially harder when they have a mish mash of diagnoses. That goes without saying.

We all watch them with trepidation as they cross every boundary. It's our job as parents to make sure they know how to get over the hurdles life presents them, whether they are small, medium or enormous.

I think you're awesome, Amy.

Hang tough, Amy! Next year you will look back on this post and again realize what great accomplishments he has made!! Super Noah!!

my son recently had his eval, and despite some issues and indications that he might be "on the spectrum", he did not qualify for services. at first i was relieved, but then i was disappointed, but i got worried. are we doing everything we can? we're still on the wait list for speech therapy, for receptive language. our nearly-three year old is talkative, but doesn't understand as much as other kids. or follow novel directions well.

reading your blog entries about IEPs and stuff has prepared me for a possible life of advocating for my boy. if you can do it, so can i.

I know this sounds cliche but Noah sounds just like my Joe is some areas. Joe was dx Asperger's and ADHD last Nov. He was born just after Noah in Oct 2005. Although Joe talked very early he had a lot of the same issues as Noah. I remember reading and being like hey, my kid does that too! It took forever for me to get someone to see what I saw. He is not his diagnosis and he is such a blessing. It is only a piece of paper to help explain the unexplainable. Good luck!!!

Your journey with Noah is one of the biggest reasons I read your blog. My son is a little bit of this and that too (recently got a "provisional" diagnosis of PDD-NOS, but not nearly where Noah is or has been). Honestly, your sharing about Noah's story has helped me a ton with understanding my son, understanding what to do and how to help him, and just feeling less alone about some of it. I have loved watching the progress he's made. We all make mistakes, but it's not what defines us. There are a lot of kids out there like Noah who don't have nearly as great of parents as you are, and that makes all the difference. Thank you for letting us into this part of your family.

Thank you for posting about Noah's journey over the years - mistakes and all. Others really are listening. We took our daughter to be evaluated by EI when she was 15 months after a comment by her pediatrician in large part because of what I had read on your site over the years. I really doubt I would have known that EI services exist - or what to look for - without your blog. And she qualified - both for speech and for OT. Today, just before her second birthday, she's "graduating" from OT and has made huge strides in speech. I have no doubt that therapy has helped (mostly helped us help her). And that is such an amazing gift. Thank you.

Reading posts like this help me so much as I look at the struggles ahead with my son. He has very different issues and has had a very different path, but I am drowning in paperwork (I need one of those folders) from the years of EI and different therapies and not sure what is going to happen in kindergarten. You are such a good mother to your boys but you are also a valuable role model and resource for us moms who are trying to do what we can and need to know we are not alone. Through the mistakes and successes it can be a frustrating place to be alone, so thank you for being so candid about Noah's path, and your path beside it.

Although I of course would never wish for my son's disabilities to be more severe, there is something about the invisibility of it that breaks my heart. He can so easily look like just a brat who needs more discipline when instead he's just on total sensory overload.

If it helps at all, knowing about Noah getting dismissed from EI has made a difference in how I handled it with my son. Fortunately his teacher EFFING ROCKS and actively works with me to make sure he is not dismissed from services before he is totally ready (um, if he's EVER dismissed, which we're kind of hoping he's not, you know?) So it sucked for you guys, but thanks to you, other kids have been able to avoid that situation.

You are incredible. I am in awe of the dedication, work and commitment to your kiddo. I feel sure that, even with blue cups of vodka, I would not be able to do this as well as you are. Your son is lucky to have you!