A Plant Among The Weeds

This year has been insane for us. Hard, hard, hard. And yet good. If you've followed the saga at all, you probably know a little. Blah, blah, blah...lots of stuff...and then June rolled around. I was finally making peace with the fact that I was no longer in Young Women's. The weather was weird. Cold and wet, wet, wet. I got called as YW Camp Director and had to plan for camp fast. Between the weather and my new calling, my beloved gardening plans were put on hold. By the time camp was over, the endless testing for Preston had begun. I felt like I lived at doctor offices, seeing specialist after specialist and wondering what insurance would cover and whether or not we would get anywhere with a diagnosis still. By this point, it seemed too late and rather pointless to plant a garden. I was sad, but I decided to get over it. There was just too much going on this year. A garden was not at the top of my list. But as friends and family members with gardens began harvesting vegetables, I felt a loss. I love gardening. And to make matters worse, I lost all three of my fruit trees this year. Grrr... A couple weeks ago, I went out to clean up some toys and glanced over at the weed pit that once was a garden. I did a double-take and quickly ran over to see if my eyes were playing tricks on me. Sure enough, there was a squash plant growing in the middle of this poor, neglected piece of earth. I can't describe the feeling that came over me. I was overwhelmed! It was like a dim light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. The slightly more mature and pensive side of me reflected over and over at the significance of this little plant. Symbolic. Seeds planted ages ago, long forgotten and recently neglected, were growing. The fruits of my labor (though not recent labor) could be seen amidst the chaos. I was overflowing emotionally.

Preston's multitude of tests this summer qualified him for the school district's special ed preschool class. It took awhile to feel good about it, but I knew he needed extra help. With a diagnosis (or a few) and much research and follow-through on my part, we decided to start therapy with Preston. Expensive. Overwhelming. But we felt it was necessary to do what we could and prayed it would help. He began occupational therapy for his sensory processing issues. I read about nutrition, added supplements, and have tried removing as many processed foods from our diet as possible. And he began a program called, "The Listening Program," essentially classical music that has been researched to help develop the brain in stages. Anyway, it's incredible. I almost don't dare talk about it for fear I'm wrong or it will change or go away or I will wake up from this dream...but...something is working. Preston's sensory issues are much more minimal than they were a couple months ago. Things like being thrown in the air and spinning around don't scare him the way they used to. He used to have a death grip on Marcos at even the idea at being thrown in the air. Now I watch as he giggles being thrown high in the air. He now tolerates slight spinning on the tire swing as well, something I never would have dreamt happening for my little man. And his vocabulary has increased tremendously. Today I took the kids to the Aquarium. A couple months ago we went with Marcos and he would barely put his hand in the water. Today he touched all the sea creatures on display, as well as the sting ray. The moving, swimming, live, slimy sting ray. I couldn't believe my eyes. But it happened. He is more alive. He is excited. He asks questions. He answers questions. He plays with Dylan and friends all the time now. He even fights with him differently. Does it mean our trials with Preston are over? I doubt it. But I have to say that my garden reminded me a great deal of the struggles we have had for over four years with our little man. A lot of weeds. A big mess. Sadness. Fear. But it was all followed by this miraculous, unexpected little growth. Growth that came from a seed we planted. It came later and at a very unexpected time, but there it was. For once in my life I am speechless. Gratitude. Humility. Love. Awe.