Varsity Championships

Last night was the first practice for the varsity team championship game.  All of the JV players were invited to suit up to practice with the varsity team and if they did that, they could suit up for the varsity championship game this weekend.

We thought most the JV team would do it.   We talked it up big for Timothy -- telling him what a great experience it would be.

After he didn't get put in the game on Sunday, he was relieved and eager to continue practicing and going on with the varsity team.

However, there was only two or three JV players who came out to practice last night.  None of Timothy's regular coaches were there either.  I thought he was going to be so upset that he had come when most of his teammates didn't.

I was totally blown away after practice when he was all smiles (just like all his other practices). He never said a word about being upset because all his teammates weren't there.  He never said anything about not wanting to continue on with practice this evening or go to the game on Sunday.

I told him how proud I was of him, and reminded him that he is showing everyone that he is a part of the team!   He is amazing me even more every day!

First Day of School

 Today was Timothy's official first day of school.  We worked hard all weekend making sure everything was prepared and in place for this morning.  He went to bed fine, but didn't sleep very well.  He woke up around 3:30 and couldn't go back to sleep.  I think he finally fell back asleep around 5:30 or so.  Amazingly, he woke up with a good attitude at 6:30.  I wanted to make sure he had enough time to get dressed, eat, and relax before it was time to leave.

He began to get nervous when it was time to leave.  As we were driving to school, Mr. Galan called to make sure everything was going smoothly and to remind Timothy to check in at his homeroom and then come see him.

By the time we were pulling into the drop off area, he began to get really nervous, but he held it together and got right out.  I was so proud of him.

Throughout the day, I got several encouraging texts and facebook messages, reminding me that he would do great. I also got a special sneak peak update early in the afternoon.  A friend's son is in several of Timothy's classes.  She checked him out of school early for an appointment, and he told his mom that Timothy was in his classes and seemed to be having a good day.  :)

When Timothy came out of school this afternoon, he had a huge smile on his face and said he had an "awesome" day.  Mr. Galan came out with him and said that Timothy did really well.  He only requested one break when a class got too loud for him and he was about to shut down.  I'm so glad he was able to request that break to go to Mr. Galan's room, regroup, and then go back to class 5 minutes later, able to cope with everything.

Mr. Galan said every time he was with Timothy, there were kids giving him "High-5s" and telling him "hi".  He had two football teammates in his gym class (the class he was most worried about), and he ate lunch with a lot of his teammates.  He also has teammates in homeroom, reading, and math.  He has a band (drummer) friend in science, social studies, and Family and Consumer Sciences.  He is so happy to have friends.  He has been all smiles!

I know that there are going to be many hurdles to overcome, and there will be good days and bad days in the future, but I am so very thankful that his first day was a success!  Wilson West did an incredible job of preparing Timothy for this great adventure that began today, and a lot of great 6th-grade young men did an incredible job of making sure Timothy felt welcome as he joined them as part of the Wilson West Family!

Supporting the Varsity Team!

Kids with autism have many character traits to be proud of.  However, there are also some character traits of kids with autism that are negative and need a lot of extra help for them to overcome.  One of the biggest struggles kids with autism have is an extreme self-focus.  Their "world" is usually very small, and they are the center of their world.

Timothy had a small victory in that area today.  The JV players were invited to suit up and come out to the Varsity play-off game.  I thought it was important for Timothy to do this to show his support and to continue to be a part of the team.

Timothy did NOT want to suit up.  He was so afraid that he would have to play, and he kept telling me over and over again that the 12-year-olds were huge.  He was scared he would have to go out there and would be put up against a huge 12-year-old.    I explained to him that he would probably not even play.  He couldn't understand why he needed to suit up if he wasn't going to play.  I continued to try to explain to him that it would show his support to his teammates by being there suited up and on the sidelines.

He sort of understood and agreed to do it, and then had a great time.  The Varsity team won and it was an *VERY* exciting game.   He was glad that he did it, and is look forward to suiting up for next week's championship game!  :)

Last JV Game of the Season

The last game of the season was at Twin Valley Middle School in Morgantown.  It is a gorgeous area - especially in the fall with all the color in the mountains.  Unfortunately, it was also *VERY* cold, rainy, and windy!  The rain eventually tapered off toward the end of the game, but the cold and wind was relentless.




Today was a very special day for Timothy.  The Reading Eagle is still working on the article about the difference football has made in his life.  They sent out a photographer to the game to get some game day pictures.  I can't wait until the article finally comes out.   :)



The most special part of the game was at the end. Timothy's coaches and team honored him during the post game huddle by presenting him with a game ball signed by every player and every coach.  Coach Heckman gave an incredible speech, thanking the boys for being such a great team, and telling them that it was because of them that Timothy was able to succeed on the football team.  It was a beautiful speech from the heart.


 After the post-game huddle, the team all posed for a team picture.  I love it!  Our purchased team photo was both the JV and V Midgets.  It was awesome to get a picture of just the JV team - especially one after a real game.  I can't wait to get it enlarged and get a frame for it.




When it was all over, the Reading Eagle photographer had a few things to talk to me about, so I asked Hannah and Timothy to go back to the stands to pick up our stuff that we had left there.  As they walked across the field, Hannah put her arm around Timothy, and it was a scene that just melted my heart.  Hannah has been one of Timothy's biggest fans.  She was right there with him all summer as he was walking/jogging/doing sit ups/etc.  She has gone to dozens of his practices, and has been to every game unless she has been working.  She's been such a great support and encouragement for him.