Stories.

Several weeks ago I started asking Ryan to tell me a story at bedtime.  At first he just looked at me as if he didn't know what I was asking of him and that's when I'd just start a story by saying, "once upon a time."  My story would be a random one about the four of us and would usually just recount the events of the day.  "Once upon a time, Ryan, Lilly, Daddy and Mommy played baseball in the backyard.  It was sunny and warm.  Everyone had a wonderful time.  THE END.  I purposefully kept the stories short and to the point. 

Tonight Ryan told me a story.

"Once upon a time.  Ryan, Lilly, Daddy, Mommy, Granny, Opa, Max and Eric."  There was a "big, brown nest"  and a "dragon-dinosaur"  Ryan then made a rasping sound as he put his hands in the air like claws.  I asked him if the dinosaur was scary and he replied, "No, mommy not a dinosaur, a dragon-dinosaur!"  He went on to say, "dragon-dinosaur was flying in the sky" and then "a cowboy with a rope."  I asked him if the cowboy roped the dragon-dinosaur and Ryan said, "yeah and then flew away"  "THE END"

I think that's the best story I've heard in my entire life.

I wish for just a moment I could bring those of you that don't have children with speech and communication issues into our world.  Our world is one that when Ryan was born we just prayed that he would talk.  I clearly remember in the hospital saying to Rourk that I hoped Ryan would be a "talker."  Ryan was just hours old and I knew enough about Down syndrome to wish for that.  So to be sitting here seven years later listening to him tell me a story is awesome.

Any you know what?  It kinda dawned on me in the last few weeks that he is going to be a reader, too.  Sure, that's something I had hoped for, but not something I dwell on that much. But here he is working on blends and sight words and handwriting and all sorts of other things that I have had to get schooled in just so I can keep up.  Imagine my surprise when I pulled out a worksheet with B, L and N blends and he was saying them before I had a chance to even ask him.  That's when it hit me that he'll be reading soon. 

After Ryan shared his story with me he quickly drifted off to sleep.  I watched him sleeping for several minutes and saw for a brief moment the young man that he will become in a few years.  It's not the first time I've seen that young man.  I saw him the other day sitting at our dinner table and once when he told the lady at McDonald's that he was fine after she asked him how he was doing.  I've seen him when he consoles his sister when she's hurt.  I thought about these times tonight and then said a quick prayer of thank-you for my son and for the excitement I feel for his future.