Today is the 5th birthday of Gregory, our 3rd Treasure. Gregory is on the spectrum for Autism, and attends a special school with an extensive ABA (applied behavioral analysis) program. It has help him enormously. He is great with eye contact, affection, and being "there." We are still working on boundaries, executive functions, and meaningful speech. 

Gregory Blaise Faranda

Gregory looks almost exactly the same as I did at his age. It is really uncanny. That is a hell of a trick to pull off when your mother is Korean. It will be "that" month in our house until January 14, when Catherine turns 6. They'll both be 5 until then. 2004 was quite a year. 

Gregory's special needs have posed quite a challenge to use. Managing expectations is difficult, because sometimes he amazes us and other times we unintentionally do things for him he ought to do himself. Patience.. you don't know patience until you have a child with special needs. Sleepless nights (children like Gregory have unreliable sleeping habits) are growing less common, but his knack for timing is amazing. He seems to know what mornings I need to wake up early so he can wake up at 3am and play, loudly. 

Through it all, his mother has been his greatest advocate. I work out there in the field while she mans command central for the business at home, often with all 4 home from school. You don't know multi tasking until you've seen double jointed, ambidextrous Renaissance Mom at work. 

So happy birthday to you Gregory. We love you very much, and you are 25% of the reasons that Dad and Mom work so hard. I hope you understand that someday. 

______________________________________________________________________________

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Post is included in group: 40 Somethings
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12 Comments on Gregory Blaise- Five!

DEC
18
2009

happy birthday gregory

 

great job keep up the awesome job
10:11pm • #1
514,555 Points 29 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Phil, this is beautifully written.  You should talk with C Tann Starr, I think you two would have a lot to say to each other.  Happy Birthday to Gregory, a beautiful child!  xxoo
11:30pm • #2
254,704 Points 20 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Happy 5th birthday Gregory.  Philip, my hubby designed an iPhone app for my daughter to help her with sentence construction. He is working on a question app right now for her. 

I'll send you the link. If you want to try it with Gregory, my hubby says he has 50 promo codes he can hand out.  

 

 
11:39pm • #3
DEC
19
2009
106,409 Points 9 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor

Happy Birthday, Gregory.  

Phil, you and I are kindred spirits. I'm going to take the liberty and send you a short story about my inspiration, a lad who is a few years older than Gregory and diagnosed at 2 years, 9 months. They teach us more than we teach them I believe. 
12:41am • #4
813,636 Points 243 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Melina and Andrew, I got both of your emails. Ann and I thank you. 

Susan, Funny you should say that. I was invited to Club Chaos this morning!

David, Thank you. 
7:57am • #5
620,899 Points 8 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

LOVE IT. Give Gregory a big hug for me. You and Ann are amazing people to raise four adorable children and still keep your sanity... Or did you? :)
8:07am • #6
813,636 Points 243 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hsu-It's pretty much gone. 
9:39am • #7
254,704 Points 20 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Philip, Andrew writes beautifully about E.  I think you and Andrew will get along really well. 
10:39am • #8
1,120,205 Points 102 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Philip- while I don't know exactly what you are going through.  I certainly can understand.  Our youngest not only has the physical limitations of FAHS (a type of MD), but also has schizophrinia, just diagnosised at the age of 18 earlier this year.  But I can tell you that those days when they amaze you are the best.  God Bless.
2:41pm • #9
DEC
20
2009

I am going to take a page out of your book and compose a Haiku on an otherwise non-traditional Haiku subject. It's the question I pose to God about Gregory, and the answer revealed to me over time.

 

WHY GOD, Autism???

"...It is a form of Beauty..."

"Must change Heart to see."

 

Gregory has been changing my heart to grow, enough so that I could at last see beyond the challenges & difficulties of a kid on the autism spectrum, and to realize that he is a kid first & foremost, with a great laugh, smile, unbeatable hugs & snuggles, sense of humor, and not a nefarious bone in his body (can't say that about many people). Never mind that you'll find a lot of things lined up or grouped by color in our house -- I can't pass a crooked painting on the wall w/o getting it level -- we all have our quirks.  I have many deficits of my own that G-man has helped me realize and overcome. In order to help him, he has brought me out of myself and into a bigger purpose.

 

Love you, Gregory, happy 5-th journey 'round the big ball of gas in the sky.

-Mom 
5:17am • #10
254,704 Points 20 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

"Must change Heart to see."

 

That says it all.
8:27pm • #11
DEC
21
2009
341,153 Points 17 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

As a mother of four I must say happy birthday to Gregory.  Large families can be lots of fun but when you don't get your sleep.......
12:07am • #12


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J Philip Faranda, Broker-Owner

Briarcliff Manor, NY

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J. Philip Faranda (J. Philip R.E. LLC) Westchester County NY

Address: 522 North State Road , Suite 100, Briarcliff Manor, NY, 10510

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Phil Faranda is broker and owner of J. Philip Real Estate LLC in Briarcliff Manor, NY. Since founding the firm as a sole practitioner in late 2005, the team has grown to over 30 agents & closed 350+ transactions valued at $140 million. He is in his 4th term as Vice President of the HGMLS. This blog commentary is geared toward consumers and industry colleagues alike. You can reach him at (914) 723-8900.
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