I am proud of my boy, David Patrick.  He has been a huge help, and he's been trying his level-headed best not to make me, his mommy, mad.

I wish he could be like that every day.  LOL

Terri Hershey here.  I am grounded at home until it's time to have Danielle Grace, who is due to arrive in January 2010:  she'll be one of the first babies born next year -- that is, unless she has some other ideas.  After all, David was born early, and look how good he turned out, even with having autism!  :)

David is already counting the days to when his sister is born.  He is very excited; he cannot wait!  Frankly, we can't either, especially me:  I'll be glad when she's out of my stomach!  LOL  At times, I feel like a beached whale!  LOLOLOLOL

My son may have autism, but more often than not, he is a fairly normal little boy.  The only time he has any problem with it is during new situations or when things turn stressful; he'll then get wild in his behavior or "stim"  (wave his hands or rock back and forth) to calm himself down.  He can communicate, write, read, and does well in school; he's not like some autistic children, who constantly live in their own little world and/or need specialized help or therapies.

I consider myself blessed, very blessed, because I don't know what I would do if David had the severe form of autism. 

In addition to doing well in school, David also loves to sing.  This year he tried out for "America's Got Talent" back in February, and unfortunately, he got scared before his turn, and he didn't compete.  I guess the crowd got to him; he always gets uneasy in front of large groups of people.  Which explains why he sits in the lobby at church while the service is going on most of the time; I guess he feels claustrophobic being surrounded by so many people at church during the service.

Maybe next time we ought to sit in the very front row; maybe then it wouldn't be so confining to him.  We'll try; hopefully David'll do better.  I am sure he would love the worship music or the special music they  have during the offeratory.  He loves music in any shape or form:  big band, jazz, pop, rock, rap, country, Cajun, polka:  it doesn't matter.  As long as it's music, he's hooked.  LOL

He does have a pretty singing voice.  It's just too bad he usually has a bad case of stage fright before he performs. 

He could be another David Militello.  :)

Well,  I have to go.  Danielle Grace is bouncing on my bladder again, and if I don't get my hubby to get me to the restroom, there's going to be a flood to rival the one that God created back in Noah's time.  LOL  I will write in here again soon; until then, take care, and if I forget, let me wish y'all a very happy Thanksgiving and upcoming Christmas season; may it be your best one EVER!

~Love, your friend in Tennessee, Terri Hershey.  :)