ALEXANDER ELIJAH

Alexander Elijah Gabbard

The boy that changed my life.

On this day, 8yrs ago, God blessed me with my first(living) great nephew. At that time, we didn't know what kind of road, we had ahead of us. 

I'll give you a little insight. 

Sis had gotten pregnant and had a stillborn

ALVIN GABBARD

November 19, 2002

She was about 20 weeks pregnant. 

She had to deliver him and he was a perfect little baby--just miniature. 

The next year, she had a miscarriage. 

After the miscarriage, we found out that she had an incompetent cervix---meaning:

Her cervix basically dilated REALLY early.

So, she gets pregnant with Alex. Since they know what's wrong with her--they can "fix" it.

They literally sew her cervix together

(if your squeamish--get over it, LOL)   

She was on bedrest for approximately 6 months. 

She was let off of bedrest on March 31st.

April 1st she falls & breaks her ankle.

APRIL FOOLS--only it's not a joke  

She then goes into labor & delivers Alex on April 12th--with a cast on her foot.

When she was in labor, the nurses kept trying to get the dr. to come in...HE WOULDN'T

SOOOO, when he does decide to show up--

(we're standing out in the hall and see him literally loafing, before going to her)  

By this time, Alex is stuck in the birth canal. They have to dislocate his shoulder to get him out. 

We suddenly hear crying-only it wasn't of a baby. It was Sis & Cheryl---screaming, crying, praying. 

He's born--unresponsive.

I'll never forget seeing the nurse run into the room with the "bagging unit". 

 It broke my heart. 

God stepped in and allowed him to begin breathing. 

What a wonderful sound--to hear his little cry. 

So, THEN, he gets jaundice and has to stay in the hospital 8 days--8 long days. As soon as Sis stopped breastfeeding him--jaundice gone.

(Useful information--nurses won't tell you)    

I think I already posted about finding out about his Autism 

(you can refer to my previous post) 

http://churchmouseinthehouse.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-u-t-i-s-m-w-r-e-n-e-s-s-april-is.html

Alex--before autism... 

 

He is the most intelligent person I've ever known---SERIOUSLY!!!

He brightens my day. I could be having the worst day ever and just his smile--his way of saying "Aunteen".  

AHHHHH,I can't describe how it makes me feel. 

  About 3yrs old.    

 

So, Happy Birthday to one of the most amazing little boys that has ever been born. 

   Aunteen LOVES YOU!!!

   

    

CHURCH

REVIVAL

I don't know why I hadn't thought of this earlier in the week.

I'd like to invite each and every one of my blog readers 

to come to revival at church.

EGYPT PENTECOSTAL CHURCH

TYNER, KY

7:00 NIGHTLY

6:00--SUNDAY.

I hope you'll come. I'm sure you'll be blessed.

We've had several get saved this week. 
AMAZING.

THAT'S what it's ALL about!!!

Our church motto:

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A CHURCH

WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU

  

       

Autism!!

AUTISM AWARENESS!!!

YES, THIS IS MY SECOND POST ON AUTISM--IN 2 DAYS.  

IT'S A TOPIC THAT IS NEAR & DEAR TO MY HEART.

I SAW THIS PICTURE & HAD TO SHARE.

I WISH PEOPLE WERE MORE INFORMED.

ESPECIALLY, THE ONES WHO DEAL WITH CHILDREN, ON A DAILY BASIS. 

TEACHERS FOR EXAMPLE :)  

((IF YOU HAVEN'T NOTICED---I AM VERY TOUCHY ON THE SUBJECT OF TEACHERS))

***OR LACK THERE OF***

AUTISM AWARENESS

April is Autism Awareness Month, but April 2nd is Autism's "Light it up Blue" 

in support of Autism Awareness. 

If you look up the definition of AUTISM,

you'll find something like this--

AUTISM: Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life, and affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills. 

It should also say something like, 

AUTISM: A disorder that develops very loving, wonder, super-smart individuals.

I've personally been affected by autism.  I've been blessed with a great nephew that is autistic.  He is the smartest person I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.  

 Meet:

ALEXANDER ELIJAH GABBARD

Alex was born April 12th, 2005. When he was born, (due to a noncaring doctor), he was stuck in the birth canal and upon delivery, wasn't breathing.  They had to resuscitate him.  He then developed jaundice, he had it for 8 days.  After getting over the jaundice, he came home and was perfect.

Alex developed like any other normal child. He actually was advanced.  At 6 months, he said Auntie (I remember this, because "I" was the Auntie he was referring to. He said lots of words. He was very happy and followed directions very well.  He was PERFECT!!!

 At around 1 1/2yrs. I noticed that his speech had slowed. I noticed that he didn't respond when he was called by name.  I mentioned it to Sis and she got upset with me. I was definitely not one of her favorites at this time. She took him to the doctor (an OLD doctor) and he said Alex was just being a normal child. (FALSE DIAGNOSIS)

About 1 1/2yrs later, Sis started Alex in preschool and someone from school asked me "Does she know he's autistic?" I said nope. They told me that I needed to tell her.  I told them "NO, YOU need to tell her". 

That was the beginning. 
I'm leaving out the horrible experience he had at preschool, because, I've heard--"IF you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all".

Sis, found a wonderful school for Alex,

 AT LONDON. It was a God send--literally.

They not only understood autism, but they actually cared. They knew that Alex wasn't being mean, but was autistic. Ms. Joyce was and still is, one of the greatest people to come into our lives.   

MY PERSONAL OPINION, IF YOU WORK WITH CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY, IF YOU'RE A TEACHER--YOU SHOULD HAVE TO HAVE EXTENSIVE TRAINING TO DEAL WITH AUTISTIC CHILDREN. ALEX'S FIRST TEACHER WAS ANYTHING BUT SYMPATHETIC OR KNOWLEDGEABLE OF WHAT AUTISM IS!!!!

Alex went to Ms. Joyce for 2-3yrs, but then it was time for "BIG SCHOOL".

 After having a HORRIBLE experience with his first school. It was decided that we wanted much better for him, which equaled 

LONDON ELEMENTARY!!!

And the fight was on.

You know how kids can live in one county and go to school in another county???  

  Well, it's not that simple, when the child is AUTISTIC.

Laurel County didn't want him. Long story short, they fought & fought. They said that he couldn't go to Laurel County. Sis fought--they then decided that he could go to Laurel, but it had to be Hazel Green (that's the closest school to his house) 

Sis told them, "He will go to this school".

She knew it was the best & she is all about THE BEST for ALEX.

So, Sis packed up and moved to London. The school was so convinced that Sis was "faking residency", they spied on them (not kidding)

After a couple of months, they left them alone. Sis knew what was best for Alex and fought for HIM. That's one of the things wrong with autistic kids--they don't have enough people 

FIGHTING FOR THEM!!!

Alex is now in his 2nd year at London Elementary and he's doing marvelously. The teachers are so good to him and he has improved so much. He's so smart!!  

I just wanna thank God for blessing us with Alex. 

Is autism pleasant--

anything but.

Is autism easy-- 

not at all.

Is autism liveable--

absolutely.

Can autistic kids live a wonderful life--ABSOLUTELY.

Can autistic kids bless you--

MORE THAN WORDS CAN EXPLAIN!!! 
If you ever have the chance to support an autistic child or the parent of an autistic child---don't let that chance pass you up!!! 
ALEX---AUNTEEN LOVES YOU!!!!

Thank you for being such a great blessing in my life. 

Thank you for making my life so much better.

 Thank you for teaching me "Don't sweat the small stuff".