tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69265252270660083532024-03-18T20:01:34.797-07:00Shine AutismUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-11429261381491412602013-02-13T07:36:00.002-08:002013-02-13T07:36:54.868-08:00It's Not the End of the World!" I just found out my child has autism. What are we going to do?! How are we going to cope with this?! What will their future look like?"<br />
<br />
Does this sound familiar? These are all common reactions when parents first hear the news that their child has autism. Some parents have a more difficult time coping than others. I was a person that didn't take it too hard. In fact, I don't even think I cried. Why? Well, here are some reasons.<br />
<br />
1. Bear was the same child when I got the diagnosis that he had been the past two years. He is the child I carried for a little over 7 months. The same little boy that smiled every time he saw me. An autism diagnosis was not going to change that, ever. I felt so blessed that I had this child in my life.<br />
<br />
2. He is healthy! Autism is a social and communication disorder. It's not a disease. I was not sitting at my child's hospital bed hoping they get better soon. How can I complain about autism when there are parents going through that? I just didn't see how I could do it. <br />
<br />
3. I looked forward to the challenge of overcoming the stereotypes of autism. I looked forward to seeing how much he will grow with the help of me, my husband, his brother and sister, and the many great people that work with him. I wanted to help Bear surpass anyone's expectations.<br />
<br />
4. Some of the qualities Bear had that I loved were because he had autism. He is very independent and can find ways to entertain himself. Even if it is just spinning the wheels on a car, he knows what he wants to do and he does it. He eats more healthy food because he is so picky in an odd way. He loves mashed potatoes and bakes beans, but won't touch McDonald' chicken nuggets. He always slept well at night as a baby because he just rocked himself to sleep. How can you not love that? :)<br />
<br />
These are the things that kept me from feeling like Bear's diagnosis wasn't the end of the world. It is not the end of the world. There are many out there dealing with much worse than autism. We all need to count our blessings and move forward. We definitely do not need to feel sorry for ourselves or have others feeling sorry for us. There's no need for that. Focus on the positives and build on that!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-33593882314739335082013-02-10T12:35:00.002-08:002013-02-10T12:43:37.359-08:00The "R" WordOne of the most misused words in the English language is retard. This word has become a name to insult others and hurt their feelings. You expect this from children and you teach them the right way to speak to others. What do you do when an adult decides to call your child a retard?<br />
<br />
The best answer for that is to ignore it. I mean, parents of autistic kids know better. We know that our children are not mentally retarded. In fact, many have above average IQ's. Even if they were "retarded" we would still love them to pieces and be completely offended if an adult called our child by that term. Even still, it is so hard to ignore it! You want so badly to defend your child that can't defend themselves. <br />
<br />
This happened to me not too long ago. It wasn't a child that used this term, it wasn't a stranger, it was a so called family member. I know it was said to hurt me. She knows how important autism awareness is to me so she had to go down that path (among others) to get to me. I have to say it worked. I have not been that angry in a long time. It is easy for others to say to let it go, or you know better so who cares what they think. I care because so many people think this way and they are wrong. So many people think they can throw that word around and it's funny. It's not funny. It's also not an educated statement about autism.<br />
<br />
All I ask is that people be careful about what terms they use to describe children. It doesn't only hurt the parent, but more importantly, it can hurt the child. The children we are raising to believe they can do anything and to know they are awesome.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-36818999540476199012013-02-08T09:02:00.002-08:002013-02-08T09:02:25.191-08:00Parent/teacher conferences<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When it's time for school conferences, there's one thing I always tell myself. It does not matter what his test scores are (because they only give him three seconds to answer the test questions), it matters whether he's shown improvement or not. The school is required to test these students on their knowledge of numbers, sounds, letters, etc in a specific way. One of my son's teachers always says that she has to show me the test results, but to not take them too seriously. Bear, along with many children on the autism spectrum, show what they know in many different ways. Most times a very fast paced test is not one of those ways.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our little guy is not where he is supposed to be according to such tests. It is hard to see that even when you know he knows more than what's on that paper. Especially when your other children are testing advanced. I wish there was another way to test special needs students. That way parents could really see what they know. Someone should come up with a test that makes these children shine! Not one that is almost impossible for them to conquer. Until then, I will just be happy that I have teachers that tell me they'd throw that test away if they could. I have teachers that love my little boy and thanked me for bringing him to the class. I have teachers that tell me he is doing great in school and improving every day. I am so thankful for this!</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is so much more to children than standardized test scores.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-70638721193649398882013-02-05T12:42:00.000-08:002013-02-05T12:56:08.083-08:00Pizza warrior!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlwKFtNs3PLv3yKAMVYY4NEr7vSf-Xaz2abDKny76Sv9pCpYJyVG9n1WHrVgLPJZVZdnx9ZU1QDx6Y0H-mwxS72Ck6Z7DBF-03SHDHMs9UmEkeb2-zwXndqPIwSzqlPFq_AkS2OXtqwk/s1600/59f77e708b4197ffdbaf8d06c2d578f7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlwKFtNs3PLv3yKAMVYY4NEr7vSf-Xaz2abDKny76Sv9pCpYJyVG9n1WHrVgLPJZVZdnx9ZU1QDx6Y0H-mwxS72Ck6Z7DBF-03SHDHMs9UmEkeb2-zwXndqPIwSzqlPFq_AkS2OXtqwk/s1600/59f77e708b4197ffdbaf8d06c2d578f7.jpg" /></a></div>
Many know of my struggle getting Little Bear ( that now MUST be called Big Bear because he says he's not little anymore) to eat. To get him to eat anything other than bread and cheese was tricky tricky. I have thought about starting him on the gluten/casein free diet, but I'm afraid he'd wither away! He is so picky that I sometimes wonder why I even make him a plate. An amazing thing happened a few days ago. HE ATE PIZZA! I had to do a little convincing. No, the red stuff is not blood, it's sauce! He believed me and tried it! He did not just eat one piece.. he ate 3! I don't know if it's a growth spurt or this new " I'm not little, I'm big" thing. It doesn't matter though. He ate and that's what matters. We are pizza warriors!!<br />
<br />
Yes, I realize pizza is mainly cheese and bread. The pizza, bread, and sauce mix has never been successfully attempted by him. That's why we are happy ;)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-52137556423986837702013-01-15T08:42:00.001-08:002013-01-15T08:42:11.049-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0oAaYMUCdP9HbhgWA-kojHx4bV0iwumXpsjWTTXPu4yJSycT6m3NzL_yrD5Q3cwfbCvXTotxrAb1Pw86wjBQoLLvXLrmYXpSrNYUsQVTLbTLbdQX75pwks9DJ4WXWCEeAOErvvuw3BY/s1600/183451384793246215_hqMnN7Xj_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0oAaYMUCdP9HbhgWA-kojHx4bV0iwumXpsjWTTXPu4yJSycT6m3NzL_yrD5Q3cwfbCvXTotxrAb1Pw86wjBQoLLvXLrmYXpSrNYUsQVTLbTLbdQX75pwks9DJ4WXWCEeAOErvvuw3BY/s320/183451384793246215_hqMnN7Xj_c.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;">It seems that Little Bear's behavior comes and goes. I have noticed that he will go months with great improvements. Months where he loves to spend time with the family and play. Then it goes to a month or so of him always wanting to be on his own. I've noticed this week he has changed a bit. He comes home from school and goes to his room to lay in his bed. He stays upstairs when everyone else is downstairs and he's just not as energetic. When this happens the first thing that comes to mind is "is he sick?". Nope he's not sick. So, my mission is to try to find out what causes these ups and downs in his mood and behavior. I want to get to the bottom of it so he enjoys family time. It could be something in his diet, or not getting enough sleep, or maybe even something going on with his buddies at school. We all have our down days and days when we'd rather be left alone. I just wish it didn't last so long in Little Bear.</span> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-80624080152386665742013-01-15T07:01:00.002-08:002013-01-15T07:01:40.989-08:00My name is David<span style="color: #0b5394;">My Name is David is a great short video about autism. I love this! The voice is of an autistic 14 year old boy. I think this video is great for classrooms to teach children about their peers that may have autism. The more we know about it, the less it will seem different. There are so many people diagnosed with autism that our kids WILL know someone with autism! It is so important that they know what it is. I sent this video into my kid's school to see if they would show it in the classrooms. It is cartoonish so I thought it might keep the children's attention. The principal contacted me and said it was a great video and he loved it! So, I challenge you to send this video to your school principal also! Small things can make a big difference!</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/2012/12/18/my-name-david">http://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/2012/12/18/my-name-david</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-76119935593945923342012-12-27T09:57:00.000-08:002012-12-27T09:57:52.814-08:00Autism is Not a TragedySo many people respond to an autism diagnosis in a negative way. When someone you love is diagnosed, it is not easy to take in. You worry about their future and what you can do to help. Many mothers wonder if they did something wrong (you didn't by the way) and many fathers start doing research to find out exactly what autism is. I am here to tell you that autism is not a tragedy and nothing to become depressed about. We all want what's best for our kids and loved ones. So, it's natural to be concerned that autism will make it impossible for them to have the life we've dreamed of them having. My advice to you is to look outside the box. <br />
<br />
Here are some wonderful and unique qualities I can find about my autistic child that are definitely not tragedies. I'm sure you all could add a few to the list also :)<br />
<br />
1. He is more laid back. He doesn't let life stress him out and enjoys the simple things.<br />
<br />
2. He can draw better than his mom at the age of 6.<br />
<br />
3. He has the best memory.<br />
<br />
4. He loves to sing and is always cheerful and dancing.<br />
<br />
5. He may get stressed about a light bulb that went out, but he is braver than I am when it comes to heights.<br />
<br />
6. He finds fun in all he does.<br />
<br />
7. He won't eat pizza, but he LOVES baked beans. Those are better for you right?!<br />
<br />
There is so much more to my son than autism. He is healthy and loves life. How can he go wrong?<br />
<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-15314064130144775702012-09-03T07:59:00.000-07:002012-09-03T07:59:00.175-07:00Myth # 5 Therapy is Covered<strong>Myth:Most therapies for people with autism are covered by insurance.</strong><br />
<br />
Only half of the 50 states require coverage for treatments for autism. Most insurance companies exclude autism treatments. On average the annual cost for medical and non medical expenses for someone on the spectrum can range from 67,000 to 72,000.<strong> </strong>Here is an interesting article on the financial aspect of autism.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/23/health/23patient.html?pagewanted=all. I am fortunate enough to where I have coverage. I hope treatments will soon be covered for everyone.<strong></strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>Source: Autism Speaks</strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-5472540524115540572012-09-01T08:18:00.000-07:002012-09-01T09:22:36.233-07:00Myth #4 Just a Brain Disorder?Myth: Autism is only a brain disorder.<br />
<br />
Many studies have shown that, in many cases, autism can be more than a brain disorder. Autism is also linked with allergies, food sensitivities, and gastro-intestinal disorders. Changing food intake has led to many success stories with autism. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-27971454257522477682012-08-31T07:43:00.000-07:002012-08-31T07:45:20.165-07:00Myth # 3Myth: People with autism are just like<i> Rainman</i>.<br />
<br />
Autism varies greatly from person to person. If you know one person with autism, you only know one person with autism. That person will have completely different characteristics than the next autistic person you meet. For example, my son could not count toothpicks off the floor in a matter of seconds, but he can remember the smallest imperfection in a building from years ago.<br />
<br />
Source: Autism Speaks Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-42515494855877440752012-08-30T07:07:00.002-07:002012-08-30T07:07:49.075-07:00Autism Myth #2Myth: Autistic People will have autism forever.<br />
<br />
Research shows that early intervention have helped people "test out" of autism. Some parents also think that certain diets have helped their child overcome autism. This is why an early diagnosis is so important.<br />
<br />
Reference: Autism Speaks<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EcBqKzYVg46N9-n1TLJtpZjGBDXsg2lqRNEAjWWll_S1_rDTYOcK2DnMAp86KHFU0yBgnps6FDbg4f-M1A2qBwNIYBpe5X6urpt847DStCdpWKlC0-Ic2sh-sW24RDRqh2ihBrhsKPs/s1600/21040323229238277_cTgTlPgC_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EcBqKzYVg46N9-n1TLJtpZjGBDXsg2lqRNEAjWWll_S1_rDTYOcK2DnMAp86KHFU0yBgnps6FDbg4f-M1A2qBwNIYBpe5X6urpt847DStCdpWKlC0-Ic2sh-sW24RDRqh2ihBrhsKPs/s1600/21040323229238277_cTgTlPgC_f.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-28858470273908514692012-08-28T07:30:00.000-07:002012-08-28T07:32:44.723-07:00Autism Myth #1 (A week of myths)Myth- Autistic people are intellectually disabled.<br />
<br />
Most autistic people have normal or even above average IQ's. They simply learn in different ways, and sometimes at a different pace. Often they are brilliant with numbers or artistic abilities.<br />
<br />
<br />
My son is great with artistic skills. He could draw better than me at age 3 :) He loves music and could build the best skyscraper you've ever seen out of blocks.<br />
<br />
What is your child great at?<br />
<br />
<i>Reference: Autism Speaks </i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-5923286191267013342012-08-27T07:33:00.001-07:002012-08-30T21:08:47.696-07:00What Are the Signs Of Autism (our story)Cases of autism are on the rise. Now, 1 in 88 children are diagnosed with autism. When little bear was diagnosed in 2009 the number was 1 in 110. Research has yet to figure out why the numbers are increasing so quickly. The good news is that many doctors and parents are more aware of the signs, and are taking advantage of the great services out there for children and adults on the autism spectrum.<br />
<br />
What are the signs? This can be tricky because the red flags of autism vary from person to person. Many of them are developmental delays. According to Autism Speaks here are a few red flags to look out for.<br />
<br />
- no smiles by age 6 months and thereafter<br />
-no babbling by 12 months<br />
-no pointing or waving by 12 months<br />
-no words by 16 months<br />
-no meaningful 2 word phrases by 24 months<br />
-any loss of verbal and/or social skills at any age<br />
<br />
http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/learn-signs <br />
<br />
If your child has any of these red flags, it does not necessarily mean they are autistic. It simply means you may want to bring it up to your doctor for evaluation. I can't stress enough (as a mother of an autistic child) that finding out early is very important! The earlier you can access services for your child, the brighter their future will be.<br />
<br />
Our son was diagnosed when he was 2 years old. He had always been behind developmentally. He was able to sit up at 11 months and started walking at 21 months. When I would mention this to doctors, they would just say that he'll get there when he's ready. Honestly, that is what I wanted to hear, even though my gut was telling me something wasn't quite right.<br />
<br />
When he went in for his 2 year check up he was, for the most part, non-verbal. This is when our doctor ( a new one due to a recent move) decided to send him to a psychologist for an evaluation. The evaluation confirmed our suspicion that our son was autistic.<br />
<br />
There are varying degrees of autism. All are considered to be an autism spectrum disorder, but they vary from mild to severe. The autism spectrum disorders currently consists of autism disorder (classic autism), asperger syndrome, and Pervasive Development not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).<br />
<br />
Our son was diagnosed with autism disorder. He has come such a long way since that diagnosis. We immediately enrolled him in early intervention. They worked with him 2 to 3 times a week in our home (helping us reach goals) until he was 3 years old. When he was three he entered preschool. We also had him involved in ABA therapy when he was 3. He went from being non verbal to speaking more and more each day! It was so exciting. There are no words that can describe how exciting it is for parents of autistic children when they reach new milestones. Our little guy just started kindergarten and is learning at the same level as his peers! We are so thrilled!<br />
<br />
Hopefully someday research will solve the mystery of autism. I hope we can find a way to prevent it. Until then, we need to just embrace it. I love the unique ways of our son. He is such an incredible person. Anyone who meets him loves him. I personally think he makes the world a brighter place :) Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-16844409239063777712012-08-26T13:41:00.000-07:002012-08-26T13:41:11.295-07:00I love this!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTfCkAQFuxmsGaPAbkiORwcbPmvhNBvtCSmUI7bfUp4MEO9Rcww8kvKQZqUQ6nKbY3HN8awUmERP1Ohq8WSN5hQjYH0Kxu7Ksk3Rk6bJLxeNwN0UWNb_9TMxR04Ehb3sCkYyjTm_TP-M/s1600/famous+autistics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTfCkAQFuxmsGaPAbkiORwcbPmvhNBvtCSmUI7bfUp4MEO9Rcww8kvKQZqUQ6nKbY3HN8awUmERP1Ohq8WSN5hQjYH0Kxu7Ksk3Rk6bJLxeNwN0UWNb_9TMxR04Ehb3sCkYyjTm_TP-M/s1600/famous+autistics.jpg" /></a></div>
I am so tired of hearing people say that autistic people are not smart. It is quite the opposite actually!<br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-80048348359985448222012-08-25T13:54:00.002-07:002012-08-25T13:54:39.552-07:00Fans, Lights, Action!We let our son take a pictures with the camera and this is what we got...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8IXKgP05Rm_fKkH_wgMoNHWV_omQEW-Y0F31vbr-xu4353Ndb-13tPVj0JD7LfviuZ-pyzXwYUQgR7iVs1HHS6fQebOgenubCR8ee4D6e48K4jHnbSaSzcQePscflPMI8B2HYiv9sDg/s1600/summer+2012+023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC8IXKgP05Rm_fKkH_wgMoNHWV_omQEW-Y0F31vbr-xu4353Ndb-13tPVj0JD7LfviuZ-pyzXwYUQgR7iVs1HHS6fQebOgenubCR8ee4D6e48K4jHnbSaSzcQePscflPMI8B2HYiv9sDg/s320/summer+2012+023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
He LOVES fans and lights. I think this is pretty common with children on the autism spectrum. Fans calm him. He goes to sleep with the fan on. I do too, but that's not the point.. :) A few days ago all three of our children were drawing pictures. Little bear ( what I will now call our autistic son) drew a bunch of fans and electrical outlets. He is fascinated by both.<br />
What do you think your child would draw a picture of? <br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-50829360909091886672012-08-25T07:33:00.000-07:002012-08-25T07:34:12.531-07:00Older fathers = more autism risk?I just read an article that stated a risk factor for autism was an older father. My husband was only 24 when our son was born, so this does not apply to us. What do you think?<br />
<br />
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/children-of-older-fathers-may-be-more-at-risk-of-autism-other-diseases/2012/08/22/c03e4e52-ec81-11e1-866f-60a00f604425_story.html<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-62055279620890823262012-08-24T22:03:00.001-07:002012-08-24T22:03:51.371-07:00Great infoI advise many of these techniques with my child.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqSTuEPGvXBckA1kJLpdyX74bcmGjmFqYZif9pBKBVzwmljhkUdLqispJhbrv0G7dQ0k5-ktLNjVFQABGpqxykn34a1AZuF5o-jIqhkApb_PZpoFGiN-JH6ZgbrqYgEtt69vyCGku7pA/s1600/autism+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBqSTuEPGvXBckA1kJLpdyX74bcmGjmFqYZif9pBKBVzwmljhkUdLqispJhbrv0G7dQ0k5-ktLNjVFQABGpqxykn34a1AZuF5o-jIqhkApb_PZpoFGiN-JH6ZgbrqYgEtt69vyCGku7pA/s320/autism+3.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-34375378795621653932012-08-24T21:38:00.001-07:002012-08-24T21:38:16.565-07:00Kindergarten has begun!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyp08z4IG1NaJ5-aZ7OtlimA9J2gitl6w8_uIs7h-OCtp9fsoQ5d2z8AMzzzeUfWQbIWTDCf6zDgKl679Aw8395OjgTbQiTJkXbimeL-JswgdyKTg0uu1mefOXgmd0SYmedIjK4sDXeqs/s1600/autism+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyp08z4IG1NaJ5-aZ7OtlimA9J2gitl6w8_uIs7h-OCtp9fsoQ5d2z8AMzzzeUfWQbIWTDCf6zDgKl679Aw8395OjgTbQiTJkXbimeL-JswgdyKTg0uu1mefOXgmd0SYmedIjK4sDXeqs/s1600/autism+2.jpg" /></a></div>
Our little man has started kindergarten. It's bitter sweet because he is our youngest, but I am really excited for him. We had his first IEP meeting this week and it went great. I was nervous because we recently moved and he was in a new school. His teachers all seem like they will enjoy their year with our son. I found out that he has only had to leave the classroom once over a meltdown due to lights. Lights are a big thing with him. Usually, he is upset if they are off. This time, he told his teacher they were too bright. So, they dim the lights when he says they are too bright. I love that the school cares enough to understand his demands. They know little things can make him feel very anxious, and they want him to be comfortable at school. That is every mom of a special needs child's dream. I was also super excited to hear that they will not be changing any curriculum for him. He is learning on the same level as his peers. This was such good news to me because I know he can do it! I'm just so happy the year is off to a good start!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-45264144580484595592012-05-09T08:59:00.000-07:002012-05-09T09:09:01.394-07:00ABA TherapyAba therapy (Applied Behavioral Analysis) is a term many have heard but do not understand. When our son was diagnosed with autism we had friends who said that aba was the best thing they did for their autistic children. I had my doubts, but decided to give it a try. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately, many people do not have the luxury of utilizing this service for their children. Many insurance companies will cover speech and occupational therapy, but not aba. Here is a great website that gives information on opportunities for scholarships and other ways to fund programs for people on the autism spectrum. <a href="http://autism.lifetips.com/cat/66418/funding-for-autism-treatments-and-therapies/index.html">http://autism.lifetips.com/cat/66418/funding-for-autism-treatments-and-therapies/index.html</a>.<br />
<br />
We went through a few therapists before we found the right one. Please do not give up on aba therapy if you do not think the therapist is a good fit for your child. Also, don't be afraid to speak up and find the therapist that works! We went through two before we found the right one. The first one seemed to play more than anything else and we didn't feel our son was getting anything from it. The second one seemed to enjoy pushing our son's buttons just to try to "solve" his tantrums. I did not like that at all. Finally, we found someone who was a mix of both of the previous therapists. She pushed Rhys just far enough so he would learn. He didn't always like it, but it was good for him. <br />
<br />
He started when he was three years old (1 and a half years ago). The improvement was AMAZING. He was saying, at most, five words when we started. Within six months his vocabulary was flourishing! Our friends had mentioned the same type of improvement, but I thought it was too good to be true. To my amazement, that was just the beginning. He is now in preschool and knows more than some of his peers. He talks non stop and is just so smart. He was always smart... we just had to get it out of him. <br />
<br />
ABA therapy may not be for everyone, but I am definitely glad we gave it a try. I encourage everyone to learn more about it and see if it may be right for your family. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/treatment/applied-behavior-analysis-aba">http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/treatment/applied-behavior-analysis-aba</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-78601891298320051842012-05-08T11:00:00.001-07:002012-05-08T19:38:27.704-07:00What's your Problem?I saw this picture and all I could think was "problem?"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUgllgGWpgcaNloaolcVNYVsOXdgxkyyo8BE3BkWTeMN6ksO8ocETOD9DzNn8II48rwYBdjedKbP-epjfwYI_EmPcPwWOGmbx3nQEIO0Z2Xgs88p59gOpBQjMZ5HtjUjZdeXWnG5EhtI/s1600/problem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAUgllgGWpgcaNloaolcVNYVsOXdgxkyyo8BE3BkWTeMN6ksO8ocETOD9DzNn8II48rwYBdjedKbP-epjfwYI_EmPcPwWOGmbx3nQEIO0Z2Xgs88p59gOpBQjMZ5HtjUjZdeXWnG5EhtI/s320/problem.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I can't speak for anyone else, but I do not see autism as a problem. Sure, it creates obstacles and challenges that most others won't face in the same way, but it is not a problem. When I found out my son was diagnosed with autism I did not think to myself, " oh no, not another problem." In fact, it didn't change much in our home. My husband and I were determined to educate ourselves about autism, but that was about the only change that occurred. In a lot of ways I love that my baby is autistic. Please don't take that the wrong way. I would never wish the challenges he will go through in life on anyone. That being said, I love all of the unique qualities that autism brings out in him that make him the wonderful child he is. He listens better than our other children and stays out of trouble more often. He can entertain himself and says the cutest things. He is my youngest child and has "grown up" at a slower pace allowing me to enjoy every step a little longer. In so many ways autism has been a blessing. I hope that we as a whole can work together to prevent, or find a cure, for autism in the future for all children and adults. For now, when there's nothing we can do but embrace it, that's exactly what I am going to do as a mother.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-79705562865147915732012-04-28T06:20:00.000-07:002012-04-28T06:23:55.133-07:00Get out of my room!Recently my husband and I decided to take a few minutes a week and spend some extra time (one-on-one) with our children. We have three kids, so I thought this would be good for us. So, we picked a day for each child and they get to spend some time with us. They also get to pick what we do during that time. <br />
<br />
Last night was Rhys' turn. I knew he wouldn't really understand what we were doing, but I thought he'd enjoy the time with us. I was wrong! You don't mess with an autistic child's schedule! When the other children were getting ready for bed, we tried to explain to him that he can stay up and spend some time with mom and dad. He looked terribly confused and said "No". <br />
<br />
We saw this happening, in a way, but we always try to push Rhys outside of his box a bit. I think that's good for him. So, I go upstairs and start getting him ready for bed. The husband and I decide to try to read him a book while he's in bed or something. We sat on his bed with him and he doesn't like this. He keeps telling us to get out of his room and to move. He just didn't understand why we were there. We just kind of laughed and decided to let him be. <br />
<br />
I'm sure there is some way that Rhys will enjoy time with us. We are just going to have to be creative. He loves to be outdoors, so maybe we could go outside. He can't say no to that! There is something that breaks a mom's heart when her baby tells her to leave him alone. This is something a lot of parents of an autistic child go through. I get sad for a minute, but I realize there are moments when he wants to sit and cuddle with me throughout the day. Those are our moments and I will never take them for granted.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-20977053698902578982012-04-26T05:33:00.000-07:002012-04-26T05:33:19.538-07:00Potty Training<span style="color: #990000;">It has been a struggle to potty train Rhys. He is now five and we are still struggling with this. It took maybe a week to potty train my other children so this is new for me. We have come a long way though.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;">In the beginning Rhys was afraid to go in the bathroom to use the potty. It probably took him from age 3 to 4 to get used to sitting on the toilet. At school they really started pushing him to use the potty this year. From what I've heard, he goes when they take him. He only does number 1, no number 2 yet. At home, he will reluctantly go when we take him.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;">I know he knows what he is supposed to do. He is very smart. He is also very stubborn and seems to be giving us a hard time because he just doesn't want to go to the potty. I have tried putting him in "big boy undies", giving him rewards like a skittle, and letting him sit and read his favorite books. Nothing seems to help for more than a few days.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;">I would like to get to the point where he can tell me he needs to go instead of me taking him every hour or so. There have been exciting moments where he will just get up and go by himself out of nowhere just to have it all go back to the beginning the next day. He starts kindergarten next year and I really hope to make some huge improvements over the summer. Please let me know your tips! Thanks.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-23824482832362659092012-04-22T06:43:00.002-07:002012-04-22T06:44:38.788-07:00Walk for Autism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXfGcaH7zAKvKNQrglfO_ce9NVVmOS8ydsTRiXCJINNsZ522tm7cr_5-iD8yNgJens6PBJsRlOlwihsmCsVqiHhmWbKNwyo-ul3dnqL2orGFOtrsNHskz_tJlmUHTxqHF15AYlDqV89I/s1600/Autism-Awareness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXfGcaH7zAKvKNQrglfO_ce9NVVmOS8ydsTRiXCJINNsZ522tm7cr_5-iD8yNgJens6PBJsRlOlwihsmCsVqiHhmWbKNwyo-ul3dnqL2orGFOtrsNHskz_tJlmUHTxqHF15AYlDqV89I/s320/Autism-Awareness.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My family went to the autism walk that was in our area yesterday! Each year the turn out gets better and better. It was really cold here yesterday, but we still had friends that woke up early and walked with us. They played upbeat music to help wake..er I mean pump us up! We probably walked around the track up to ten times when the kids were burnt out and wanted to see the jump houses they had set up for them. There were booths with all sorts of autism related information. My son's aba therapist was there sharing information on how therapy helps children on the spectrum. They had popcorn and snowcones (which should have been hot chocolate!) there for all to enjoy. In the words of one of my friends, it felt like the paparazzi was there. We had so many photos of us taken it was crazy! It was great to see our community come out and raise awareness for autism. This disorder is so puzzling and hopefully one day we'll figure it out!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-27212453154930718182012-04-18T06:13:00.001-07:002012-04-18T06:13:32.301-07:00Sandy J Family Fun: Walk for a Cause<a href="http://sandyjfamilyfun.blogspot.com/2012/04/walk-for-cause.html?spref=bl">Sandy J Family Fun: Walk for a Cause</a>: This weekend my family and I will be participating in a Walk for Autism. This cause is close to our hearts because our youngest son ha...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6926525227066008353.post-69628172856298438652012-04-17T13:50:00.001-07:002012-04-17T13:50:00.083-07:00Shhh… We Can Get Your Kids to Eat Their Veggies : BaseguideGreat article for those picky eaters!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://baseguide.com/blogs/Shhh-We-Can-Get-Your-Kids-to-Eat-Their-Veggies#.T43XJ1nvXBo.blogger">Shhh… We Can Get Your Kids to Eat Their Veggies : Baseguide</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSZTw4Pun81y2AUDkrlDjmB13xAnD5Dbp2vYBM028Gxek_gM_rDgaziP4V-Bhnu4cwjmf-DlznhZEkOYhAMI35VCHPLTyHjT5MhxqqtOsIoO5FmsMsD4TWNUPGDvw5NihfLZJPTDrHCU/s1600/siggy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSZTw4Pun81y2AUDkrlDjmB13xAnD5Dbp2vYBM028Gxek_gM_rDgaziP4V-Bhnu4cwjmf-DlznhZEkOYhAMI35VCHPLTyHjT5MhxqqtOsIoO5FmsMsD4TWNUPGDvw5NihfLZJPTDrHCU/s1600/siggy.png" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0