Well blog followers, I thought today's topic should be about tonsils, adenoids, and ear tubes, because it seems as though everyone I know is having to deal with these issues at the moment. I have been asked so many questions lately about our experience -- apparently I'm the local ENT expert or something. Seriously, just within the past few days I have spoken to at least 10 parents (if not more, I've lost count) about this stuff.
I can't remember if I shared our experience with the whole ENT thing before, and quite frankly I am too tired & lazy to go back and re-read all of my previous blog posts. So I apologize ahead of time if this info is a repeat.
We've been down the tonsil/adenoid/ear tube road twice.....son #3 had to have this procedure as did Taz. In some ways, son #3's experience was much easier probably because he was much younger at the time of his surgery. If memory serves me correctly, he was around 3 or 4 years old at the time. He had numerous ear infections and sore throats prior to this surgery....and it seems like he was constantly getting sick with some type of crud, especially during the winter. During one of our many trips to the doctor's office, the doctor determined that son #3 had what they called "kissing tonsils".....his tonsils were so large that they were basically "kissing" (touching each other) to the point that it was causing problems with his breathing. The stupid tonsils were almost blocking his airway.....which helped to explain why he snored so loudly at night when he slept.
The doctor gave us a referral to the local ENT specialist. After a very lengthy exam and some hearing tests, the ENT doctor confirmed what the pediatrician suggested....son #3's tonsils needed to come out immediately....partly due to the fact that they were so large and "kissing", and partly because they were the cause of his numerous ear infections. Before I could wrap my head around all of the information the ENT doctor had given us, they had surgery scheduled for later that week! Boy that ENT doctor didn't mess around at all! I honestly believe the whole thing was harder for me than it was for son #3, partly because he was so young he didn't have all of the questions & fear like I had. His recovery time went by fairly quickly and thankfully there were no serious issues or complications (like bleeding when the scabs fall off -- sorry for the details, but yes that can happen.). His throat did bleed a little bit when the scabs fell off, but not too much. I pushed the fluids with him and followed all of the instructions that the ENT doctor had given us.
The only real "issue" with son #3's experience, was the fact that since he was so young he was still in that phase of wanting to shove stuff up his nose, in his ears, etc. thus as a result he put something (God only knows what, if I remember correctly it was a half eaten gummy bear) in his left ear a few months after his surgery which caused that ear tube to fall out. Thus he still has some issues with that ear as far as whenever he gets sick, he will usually develop an ear infection in that ear. The other issue we had was during bath time.....he used to love to lay down in the water during baths, and because of the ear tubes he couldn't have his ears submerged in the water. Oh and of course I can't forget what it was like once summer rolled around....he wanted to swim & splash around in the kiddie pool with his brothers, but we had to watch him really close because he wouldn't keep the special ear plugs in his ears....thus we had to make sure he didn't get his head under water until the other ear tube fell out like it was supposed to. I don't remember when the other tube fell out, because I honestly don't remember seeing it, but his doctor confirmed that it was gone at our last visit.
Taz's experience was completely different. When Taz had this procedure, he was much older (in 5th grade). Like his younger brother, it seems as though all winter long he was catching one form of the crud after another and each time he would also develop ear infections, swollen tonsils, etc. Back to the ENT doctor we went. The thought of surgery scared the hell out of me, partly because of Taz's fear of needles, doctors, etc. I had no idea how they would ever be able to put an IV in his arm or how he would respond after the surgery. I spent a LOT of time talking to the ENT doctor and sharing my concerns.....amazingly they had nothing that would help to explain this whole procedure in a way that a child could understand -- especially a child on the AI spectrum. Of course they had brochures for the parents to read which contained all sorts of medical jargon, but nothing that was "simple" for a child to comprehend what was about to take place. I contacted our ISD team and searched for some type of book or social story.....and of course they had nothing that we could use. So, I put on my thinking cap and decided to create my own social story book.
I met with the ENT doctor once again, this time by myself (kids stayed at home with hubby). I shared my social story book idea with the doctor and explained what I wanted to do. Our ENT was so awesome, he had one of the staff members take me on a tour of the surgery center and they allowed me to take my camera in with me.....so I was able to take photos of the ENT doctor, the charge nurse, the cubicle where Taz would be for his surgery prep, etc. I took photos of everything.....the IV stand & bag, the anesthesia doctor, the anesthesia mask, the recovery room, the reception desk & waiting area, the changing room, a hospital gown, the outside of the building....and one of the nurses was kind enough to go into an empty operating room and take photos of everything in there for me (I wasn't allowed to do it just because they have to keep the room "sterile" and there was someone scheduled for surgery in that room within a few minutes). I went home and got busy uploading the photos and creating the surgery social story book. I kept things simple -- brief descriptions on each page with a photo of whatever it was, and at the end described what recovery would be like. I had photos of the posters that were on the wall at the ENT's office, showing what the throat and tonsils looked like as well as what the inside of an ear looks like along with an ear tube. This social story book was definitely a lot longer than most of the ones I've made in the past, however I wanted to make sure that I had all of the bases covered and Taz would feel comfortable knowing what would occur before, during, and after his surgery.
As luck would have it, just when I had finished putting the book together and had it laminated and put in a spiral binding, the ENT's office called and said that due to Taz's age and Autism issues (fear of needles, etc) they thought it would be best if he had his surgery done at the main hospital instead of the surgery center. Part of that decision was also due to the fact that the last Autism medication he had been on had caused problems with his heart, so the ENT doctor felt that doing things at the main hospital would be better just in case there was an issue during surgery. OK, that freaked me out a bit but I understood his logic....better safe than sorry right? Since the surgery location was changing, that meant some of the procedure would change...thus I had to make some changes to the social story book. No big deal....I went to visit the hospital one day while the kids were at school, and with camera in hand I spoke to the head of the surgery department and explained why I was there and what my plan was. I had the social story book with me....
I will admit, the guy was pretty impressed with the book and was very accommodating. He had a staff member take me on a tour of the surgery area, and we made notes along the way of what type of things would be different compared to the info I already had in the book. The staff member assisted me in taking whatever photos we had to re-take for making changes to the book, and explained how on the day of surgery we'd have to check-in at the main lobby, then ride the elevator to the surgical floor, etc. Taz would be placed in basically his own hospital room before the procedure, then after spending time in Recovery 1, he'd be taken back to that room. Hmmm, maybe this would be that bad after all? His hospital room had a TV which would help to keep him focused, and once he was moved back to the room he'd spend some time there doing what they called "recovery phase 2".....part of which required he have something simple to eat before being discharged.
I went home, made the needed changes to the book, and began to prepare Taz for what to expect. I must say, he did so much better than I expected! The only issue we had -- the anesthesia doctor that was suppose to be there for his procedure (who also had experience with Autistic kids) was called out for an emergency issue, thus we had a different anesthesia doctor who was a complete asshole (sorry but there is no other way to describe this guy!). He did not want to go the route that had been planned, and instead insisted on trying to put the IV in before the surgery. He quickly realized that following the plan the previous guy and our ENT doctor made would be a much better route to go! They did the prep work and gave Taz some stuff to make him sleepy....then put the IV in once they got into the operating room. I sat in the waiting room, hoping & praying that all would go well....trying not to climb the walls while I waited. The ENT doctor came out and said all went well and explained what took place during surgery. He said they were just finishing things up in the operating room, and Taz would be going into recovery where I'd be able to join him in a few minutes that way I'd be there when he woke up. Then the ENT doctor went off to do his next surgery.
Well I sat there and waited, and no one came out to get me! While I was waiting, my former OBGYN doctor came strolling through the waiting room. I saw him and asked if he'd check on Taz for me (and explained what was going on), and of course he said yes. Apparently the ENT doctor had forgotten to tell the asshole anesthesia guy & recovery room staff that I had the OK to join Taz in the Recovery 1 area, thus that is why no one came out to get me. My former OBGYN doctor walked me back to the area, and needless to say the anesthesia guy wasn't happy about it....but oh well! The recovery room nurses all thought it was funny, because apparently this anesthesia guy is a real jerk and no one on staff liked him. Anyhow, everything went well in recovery and they moved Taz to his room for phase 2.....everything went well and before long we were on our way home. I have to admit, he did really well during the time it took for his throat to heal.....aside from the fact that on day #3 he was refusing to drink anything because his throat was so sore, and I had to practically hold him down and force fluids into him. Due to his issues, the school & ISD had granted him "surgery leave" so he was home for 2 weeks after his surgery to help insure that he'd be fully recovered before returning to school. Of course he tried to milk it and wanted to stay home for a few extra days!
He did well after returning to school and the only issue we had was trying to keep him from getting water in his ears. The one thing I remember, is that he seemed to cycle back to previous behavior.....he insisted on wearing his sound proof headphones. Apparently the tubes in his ears made his hearing a lot more sensitive. And it wasn't so much the sounds, as it was the pitch of certain sounds. For example, he could sit trackside at a Nascar race without any problems....but if he was in the music room, gym, or lunchroom he insisted on wearing his headphones. And he could hear every little sound -- like in the classroom, his seat was near the fish tank thus he could hear the little air bubbles going through the filter in the tank, he could hear the hum of the computer that was across the room, and "hear" each tick of the clock that was above the teacher's desk. In many ways it was a sensory overload for his hearing. Ok, back to the ear tubes....
One ear tube fell out later that summer, but the other one was still in his ear. The ENT said not to worry, it would fall out on it's own. Unfortunately that didn't happen, and once Taz entered middle school he began to complain about his ear and had behavior issues. His regular doctor insisted that the tube wasn't in his ear, and there was nothing wrong with his ear or his hearing even though Taz complained about it constantly. The strange thing was, he didn't complain about the pain but instead was constantly saying things like "it feels like something is in my ear" and asking me to clean his ears. Now this is a child who has NEVER in his life thus far wanted anything to do with getting his ears cleaned with a q-tip.....and yet here he was constantly asking me (numerous times) on a daily basis to clean his ears and saying that it felt like something was in his ear. Thus that in itself was not "normal" for Taz, so back to the ENT doctor we went. A hearing test was done and they determined that he basically had almost zero hearing in that ear! It took a lengthy exam and the use of a special scope to determine that yes the tube was still in his ear....and it had fused itself into his ear drum. As if that wasn't bad enough, the ENT then informed me that the tube had a HUGE polyp formed around/over it! The ENT was surprised that the regular doctor wasn't able to see the polyp. From his description, it was pretty huge!
The ENT prescribed some ear drops, but that didn't work to reduce the polyp and make the tube come out on it's own. Thus within a week, another surgery was scheduled....yep, they'd have to go in and remove the tube and hope that it didn't cause any permanent damage to Taz's hearing in that ear. The ENT had told me, that based on what he saw inside of Taz's ear and what his score was on the hearing test, there was a good chance that this tube had caused some serious damage and Taz may end up deaf in that ear. I remember that I just sat there and sobbed....thankfully Taz was in the other room with the exam nurse at the time, and didn't have to witness my breakdown. I just kept thinking to myself on the drive home "what the hell does this poor kid have to go through next?" -- I was angry, not at the ENT of course because I understand this was a fluke thing and not his fault. But I was angry and I wanted to blame someone, thus I began to curse God. I just kept thinking about all of the things that Taz had struggled with thus far, then to throw partial deafness into the mix....sigh, it was almost too much for me to handle. But I knew I had to suck it up, pull up my "big girl panties" and push myself to put aside my feelings so I could be strong for Taz and help him to get through this.
According to the ENT doctor, all things considered this would still be a fairly simple procedure, thus it could be done at the surgery center....no need to go to the main hospital like before. Taz did amazingly well this time around, all things considered. Of course due to his age & size, they had to put the IV in before the surgery since it wouldn't take as long as what the first surgery did. Yep, that had me concerned a lot! Of course Taz surprised me....and the nurse we had was absolutely amazing! I explained to her about Taz's issues, and we decided we'd try doing the IV with just her and I in the room. Of course Taz wanted no part of that needle, and started to have some major anxiety. She stopped and told him he could have 5 minutes to relax, then she'd try again. Taz heard a little kid in the next room screaming and the nurse explained that it would be that child's turn next. She told Taz that he had to cooperate cause that little kid was really sick, and they needed to do his surgery as soon as possible, but since Taz was first on the list that other child would have to wait. Taz has always had a soft spot for little kids, and I could tell that it bothered him to hear that other child cry. He took a deep breath, looked at the nurse and said "ok, I'm ready." The nurse smiled and then she proceeded to explain exactly what would be done, step by step, to insert the IV needle and line into Taz's hand. Taz asked her if he could help to put the needle in....that made me laugh! She told him no he couldn't, but he could help her out by holding the roll of surgical tape.
The nurse left the room and gave Taz his 5 minutes, then came back and asked if he was ready. He laughed and told her "I told you 5 minutes ago that I was." Of course that made both of us laugh! True to her word, she walked him through each step and explained in simple terms what would happen, what she was doing, what each thing was for, etc. It blew me away at how well Taz did.....he did not jerk or fight once, he held very still while she put the needle in and taped it into place. Then she hung the IV bag and we waited for the medicine to kick in. Taz became very goofy and loopy.....it was pretty comical, and I even used my cell phone to record part of it to show to hubby later. They took him back to the operating room and the procedure was over in no time! It seems like we weren't in recovery for that long, and on our way home shortly afterwards. He did amazingly well with this recovery......and was back to his old self rather quickly. Later while discussing things with the ENT doctor, he said that due to how the tube was fused to Taz's ear and the size of the polyp that had formed, it had to have been causing Taz extreme pain for quite a while....yet that kid hardly ever said anything about his ear hurting, although his behavior issues did tell us that something wasn't right. Oh, by the way....Taz's hearing is 100% back to normal/perfect in that ear now!
Thus for the most part, our experiences with the whole ear tubes, tonsils, and adenoids stuff was a positive experience for both Taz and his younger brother. Yes there were a few issues, but we survived. Our ENT doctor is amazing, the staff at the surgery center and hospital were amazing, and the recovery time needed for both of them went by rather quickly. My only real issue is with how the one tube fell out rather quickly for both boys, and of course the way the one tube fused itself to Taz's ear drum. But thankfully even though their regular doctor was an idiot (which is part of the reason why we switched doctors), the ENT doctor was right on top of things and able to figure out the problem & get surgery scheduled to fix it rather quickly. And thanks to my creativity and stubbornness (since I couldn't find anything that would work for what I wanted, I created my own social story book), the ENT's office now has a copy of the social story book featuring Taz that they can use to help explain the procedure to other kids.....especially those who are on the Autism spectrum. I'm guessing that is part of the reason why I had 3 different parents come up to me during the school's Open House the other night and say "hey, aren't you Taz's mom? The lady who made that book for Doctor K's office?" -- apparently their kids knew who Taz was, thus it has helped them to feel more comfortable about their upcoming surgeries knowing that someone they knew had the same procedure.
Pretty cool huh? Of course I know that EVERYONE within our school district knows who Taz is.....he's pretty much been the poster boy/ISD guinea pig since entering our public school district, however I didn't realize until the other night just how much of a "celebrity" we are among the AI parents & kids within our district. I never realized just how much our experiences and story have helped others thus far. But I guess that is part of why I do all that I do right? As I've said from day one....first and foremost, I do these things to help Taz, and if it can help some other child or parent in the process, then our journey has been worth every tear, every stressful moment, etc.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Full Moon/Blue Moon
Well, apparently we'll have another full moon this week on Friday, August 31st. This moon is referred to as the "Blue Moon".....apparently due to it being the second full moon of the month and I guess also because it's suppose to look "blue" in color. I'm not really certain...but I'll be watching on Friday and plan to check it out. One thing I do know for certain.....I am beginning to hate full moons!
It seems as though every time there is a change in the weather (barometric pressure), time change, growth spurt, full moon, season change, etc -- total chaos occurs. This week has been no exception.....and it's not just Taz this time around. I swear all of the kids and even our pets (2 cats & a dog) have acted like spider monkeys on crack this week! I am honestly looking forward to the first day of school! Did I just say that out loud? Yes, yes I did. If only the pets could attend school as well....or go to some type of pet daycare place.
Seriously....the kids have been fighting non-stop, purposely trying to antagonize each other, not listening, mouthing off, refusing to do their chores, not cooperating, refusing to go to bed on time, not sleeping worth a crap once they do go to bed, and everything else under the sun! This is the worst they have been all summer.....and I have no clue if it's due to the upcoming full moon, or the "back to school" anxiety, or if they are purposely trying to drive me insane.
As I said, even our pets have been this way.....the cats have been trying to fight with each other, to the point that I've had to put them in separate areas of the house, and even then they still try to antagonize each other by sitting on opposite sides of the door hissing at one another and pushing their paws under the door trying to poke each other. The dog has been a royal pain in the butt....barking constantly when nothing is there, whining to go outside and then two seconds later barking to come back in.
I have tried everything to maintain some level of sanity in this house.....putting a ban on products that contain sugar, giving the kids activities that will help them to burn off excess energy, changing bed time, etc and thus far nothing has worked. Thus I am eagerly counting the days and minutes until school begins.....perhaps then things will calm down a bit. Hey a girl can dream can't she?
All I can say is thank God for coffee and chocolate.....those are the things helping me to maintain my sanity and survive the lack of sleep. I honestly believe this is all due to the freakin' full blue moon though.....combined with the fact that all of the kids have gone through growth spurts (again). I guess I can take some comfort in the fact that I'm not alone in this.....after speaking to several of my friends, I can confirm that their kids have been the same way. So yep, let's blame it on the upcoming full moon.
It seems as though every time there is a change in the weather (barometric pressure), time change, growth spurt, full moon, season change, etc -- total chaos occurs. This week has been no exception.....and it's not just Taz this time around. I swear all of the kids and even our pets (2 cats & a dog) have acted like spider monkeys on crack this week! I am honestly looking forward to the first day of school! Did I just say that out loud? Yes, yes I did. If only the pets could attend school as well....or go to some type of pet daycare place.
Seriously....the kids have been fighting non-stop, purposely trying to antagonize each other, not listening, mouthing off, refusing to do their chores, not cooperating, refusing to go to bed on time, not sleeping worth a crap once they do go to bed, and everything else under the sun! This is the worst they have been all summer.....and I have no clue if it's due to the upcoming full moon, or the "back to school" anxiety, or if they are purposely trying to drive me insane.
As I said, even our pets have been this way.....the cats have been trying to fight with each other, to the point that I've had to put them in separate areas of the house, and even then they still try to antagonize each other by sitting on opposite sides of the door hissing at one another and pushing their paws under the door trying to poke each other. The dog has been a royal pain in the butt....barking constantly when nothing is there, whining to go outside and then two seconds later barking to come back in.
I have tried everything to maintain some level of sanity in this house.....putting a ban on products that contain sugar, giving the kids activities that will help them to burn off excess energy, changing bed time, etc and thus far nothing has worked. Thus I am eagerly counting the days and minutes until school begins.....perhaps then things will calm down a bit. Hey a girl can dream can't she?
All I can say is thank God for coffee and chocolate.....those are the things helping me to maintain my sanity and survive the lack of sleep. I honestly believe this is all due to the freakin' full blue moon though.....combined with the fact that all of the kids have gone through growth spurts (again). I guess I can take some comfort in the fact that I'm not alone in this.....after speaking to several of my friends, I can confirm that their kids have been the same way. So yep, let's blame it on the upcoming full moon.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Medical Science
Wow, there have been a LOT of different stories in the media as of late! One article discussed the connection between older dads & children developing Autism, and another that has really caught my attention discussed a clinical trial that is being done to test the possibility of treating (curing) Autism through the use of cord blood. Did anyone else read about that?
From what I understand after reading the article....apparently scientists have found what they believe is a form of treatment/cure using cord blood. You know, the stuff they try to convince you to "bank" when your child is born? This clinical trial has been given approval by the FDA from what I understand, and at the moment is focused on kids who developed Autism due to some other source....like something "environmental" or an infection, and not due to an obvious genetic link. The child would be given an infusion to redirect the nervous system cells, which in theory would basically cause their nervous system to "reprogram" itself. Then the child would be observed for a certain amount of time (say 6 weeks or so) to see if there are any improvements and if so, whether or not an additional infusion of cord blood cells would be needed.
Since this article came out, the Autism groups I visit have been burning up on this topic....people have gone back and forth over it. Some folks say they would never try to "cure" their child, others are excited about the possibility. What do I think? Well to be honest, at this point I'm not sure. From what I understand after reading the article, the focus is only on a small select group....and since they aren't looking at this for kids who may have a genetic link or marker, the possibility that this could work for someone like my son is slim at the moment....although I know in my heart that the duplicate immunizations were the trigger that started this whole journey, I can't ignore the fact that there could be some type of genetic link since he has a cousin on hubby's side who is also on the spectrum.
Thus the reason for this post.....my question for all parents who have a child on the spectrum: IF medical science could find a way to not only treat, but possibly cure your child's Autism....would you give it a try? Of course there are a lot of things to consider....would your child qualify for whatever the treatment may be due to how their Autism developed (is there a possible genetic link?)? Or would you be told "sorry, this won't work for your kid because of....blah blah blah"? Also, would this treatment be something that health insurance would help cover the cost of, or would you be paying thousands if not more out of pocket? I mean, if you think about it....IF this is something that could work, just imagine what the cost would be!
The other question that came to mind while reading the article...."What about the kids who's parents didn't have their cord blood banked/saved when they were born? Are those kids just out of luck?" From what the article said, for this study/trial they are using the child's own cord blood, but will also look at using cord blood from a sibling -- one with the same blood type, and the possibility of "donor" cord blood -- just like how people can donate regular blood for people who have surgery, transfusions, etc. So the parents who didn't have their child's cord blood banked/saved wouldn't be told "sorry, you get nothing".....they'd still have a chance to go for this procedure.
Of course that leads me back to the original question.....if all of the "what if" things weren't a factor, if the cost and insurance weren't an issue, etc. would you opt for this cure/treatment for your child? Someone asked me that after I mentioned the article....and to be honest, I don't know what my response would be. On one hand, I've always said that God allowed Taz to develop Autism for a reason, and I love him just the way he is. By opting for this cure/treatment, would I be telling my son -- "nope sorry, I changed my mind, you aren't perfect but you will be after this." -- would that be the message I'd be sending him? And just how much would he change? Would he still be the sweet, sensitive, funny young man that he is now? What if he became a completely different person -- of course he'd still be my son, but he wouldn't be Taz -- know what I mean?
Yet on the other hand, I've always said that if there is something out there (aside from meds) that can help him to function the best way possible and to have the best life possible....I will move heaven and earth to make it happen and give him the very best chance at a happy "normal" life. So if that's the case, then don't I owe it to him to check into this "study" more, and follow up on whatever information the medical field puts out regarding the results? And if the treatment became available, then wouldn't I owe it to him to give it a try?
This is the debate that has gone on inside of my head since I've read the article.....thinking about all of the "what if?" stuff. To be honest, it's torn me up inside....and I haven't slept well. I wish I could be like other parents who are so full of hope and who have responded to the question with a "hell yes, we'd do it in a heartbeat!" type of response....but I just don't know. I think back to all of the different meds he's been on over the years, how we tried the GCF diet and a few other things.....none of which made a difference or helped him in any way. I think about other parents who grasp at straws, trying every possible treatment no matter how bizarre they may seem.....like the one that puts them into a machine to change their oxygen level (like that thing MJ used to sleep in).....and I know I don't want to be one of those types of parent.....I don't want to spend life grasping at straws and waiting for the "rainmaker" to come along with some miracle. Yet at the same time, don't I owe it to him to check into something like this and follow the case study & reports? And if by some chance this really does develop into some type of treatment/cure for Autism.....don't I owe it to Taz to check into it more? I honestly don't know how I feel at this point....
One parent remarked with "if your child had cancer, you'd fight tooth and nail for a treatment and do everything possible for them." -- which is true -- if Taz or any of our kids had cancer, I'd move heaven and earth to do what ever I could to make sure it was cured. If he needed a bone marrow transplant, I'd move heaven and earth for that to happen....I'd give him my own marrow, hell I'd give him a kidney, lung, etc too if needed. But Autism isn't Cancer....he won't die from Autism. So I guess when it comes to the question: "If there was a cure for Autism, would you have your child tested and treated so they could be cured?" -- honestly, at this point in time I don't know how I'd respond to that question. I guess that is a bridge we will cross when and if we ever come to it.
From what I understand after reading the article....apparently scientists have found what they believe is a form of treatment/cure using cord blood. You know, the stuff they try to convince you to "bank" when your child is born? This clinical trial has been given approval by the FDA from what I understand, and at the moment is focused on kids who developed Autism due to some other source....like something "environmental" or an infection, and not due to an obvious genetic link. The child would be given an infusion to redirect the nervous system cells, which in theory would basically cause their nervous system to "reprogram" itself. Then the child would be observed for a certain amount of time (say 6 weeks or so) to see if there are any improvements and if so, whether or not an additional infusion of cord blood cells would be needed.
Since this article came out, the Autism groups I visit have been burning up on this topic....people have gone back and forth over it. Some folks say they would never try to "cure" their child, others are excited about the possibility. What do I think? Well to be honest, at this point I'm not sure. From what I understand after reading the article, the focus is only on a small select group....and since they aren't looking at this for kids who may have a genetic link or marker, the possibility that this could work for someone like my son is slim at the moment....although I know in my heart that the duplicate immunizations were the trigger that started this whole journey, I can't ignore the fact that there could be some type of genetic link since he has a cousin on hubby's side who is also on the spectrum.
Thus the reason for this post.....my question for all parents who have a child on the spectrum: IF medical science could find a way to not only treat, but possibly cure your child's Autism....would you give it a try? Of course there are a lot of things to consider....would your child qualify for whatever the treatment may be due to how their Autism developed (is there a possible genetic link?)? Or would you be told "sorry, this won't work for your kid because of....blah blah blah"? Also, would this treatment be something that health insurance would help cover the cost of, or would you be paying thousands if not more out of pocket? I mean, if you think about it....IF this is something that could work, just imagine what the cost would be!
The other question that came to mind while reading the article...."What about the kids who's parents didn't have their cord blood banked/saved when they were born? Are those kids just out of luck?" From what the article said, for this study/trial they are using the child's own cord blood, but will also look at using cord blood from a sibling -- one with the same blood type, and the possibility of "donor" cord blood -- just like how people can donate regular blood for people who have surgery, transfusions, etc. So the parents who didn't have their child's cord blood banked/saved wouldn't be told "sorry, you get nothing".....they'd still have a chance to go for this procedure.
Of course that leads me back to the original question.....if all of the "what if" things weren't a factor, if the cost and insurance weren't an issue, etc. would you opt for this cure/treatment for your child? Someone asked me that after I mentioned the article....and to be honest, I don't know what my response would be. On one hand, I've always said that God allowed Taz to develop Autism for a reason, and I love him just the way he is. By opting for this cure/treatment, would I be telling my son -- "nope sorry, I changed my mind, you aren't perfect but you will be after this." -- would that be the message I'd be sending him? And just how much would he change? Would he still be the sweet, sensitive, funny young man that he is now? What if he became a completely different person -- of course he'd still be my son, but he wouldn't be Taz -- know what I mean?
Yet on the other hand, I've always said that if there is something out there (aside from meds) that can help him to function the best way possible and to have the best life possible....I will move heaven and earth to make it happen and give him the very best chance at a happy "normal" life. So if that's the case, then don't I owe it to him to check into this "study" more, and follow up on whatever information the medical field puts out regarding the results? And if the treatment became available, then wouldn't I owe it to him to give it a try?
This is the debate that has gone on inside of my head since I've read the article.....thinking about all of the "what if?" stuff. To be honest, it's torn me up inside....and I haven't slept well. I wish I could be like other parents who are so full of hope and who have responded to the question with a "hell yes, we'd do it in a heartbeat!" type of response....but I just don't know. I think back to all of the different meds he's been on over the years, how we tried the GCF diet and a few other things.....none of which made a difference or helped him in any way. I think about other parents who grasp at straws, trying every possible treatment no matter how bizarre they may seem.....like the one that puts them into a machine to change their oxygen level (like that thing MJ used to sleep in).....and I know I don't want to be one of those types of parent.....I don't want to spend life grasping at straws and waiting for the "rainmaker" to come along with some miracle. Yet at the same time, don't I owe it to him to check into something like this and follow the case study & reports? And if by some chance this really does develop into some type of treatment/cure for Autism.....don't I owe it to Taz to check into it more? I honestly don't know how I feel at this point....
One parent remarked with "if your child had cancer, you'd fight tooth and nail for a treatment and do everything possible for them." -- which is true -- if Taz or any of our kids had cancer, I'd move heaven and earth to do what ever I could to make sure it was cured. If he needed a bone marrow transplant, I'd move heaven and earth for that to happen....I'd give him my own marrow, hell I'd give him a kidney, lung, etc too if needed. But Autism isn't Cancer....he won't die from Autism. So I guess when it comes to the question: "If there was a cure for Autism, would you have your child tested and treated so they could be cured?" -- honestly, at this point in time I don't know how I'd respond to that question. I guess that is a bridge we will cross when and if we ever come to it.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Q&A Time (question & answer session)
I've had a few folks contact me with questions through a group that I belong to, so I thought it was time for a little Q&A session. Thus far my plan for "Ask the Author" blog day hasn't received any response yet....not sure if anyone has sent a comment/question yet, but according to the recent notices there isn't anything in the "waiting response" folder or the spam folder. So, if you sent a question and haven't received a response....please re-send it. If you haven't asked a question yet, what are you waiting for???
Ok, on to the questions that I have been asked by other folks:
Q1. "Is your child on any medication?"
Answer: No, he is not. If you've read any of the previous blog entries, you'll know why. Just a brief explanation -- we've tried a variety of meds, and weren't satisfied with any of them. Either they made him act like a zombie, caused sleep & diet issues, made him too hyper, or like the last med he was on....caused other health issues that made us decide to put a stop to all medication. The last medication that he was on caused problems with his heart, thus we decided that we'd rather deal with whatever behavior issues occur vs. risk continuing medication and have him suffer permanent health issues (like some type of damage to his heart). The difference between him being on medication and being med free is like a night and day difference!
Q2. "Where have you found materials that you use?"
Answer: Not really sure what the person meant by that. I've read a lot of books, checked out a ton of information that is online, and spoken to many professionals over the years. If there is something specific that I'm looking for but can't find, then I make it myself....for example, the social story book that I made to help explain puberty to him. There is so much out there these days -- a lot more than what there was available when we first started this journey. The first thing I'd suggest is speaking to someone at your child's school and/or someone that works with your local ISD (Intermediate School District department/special needs department within your school district or county).
Q3. "Do you worry about the future?"
Answer: Oh hell yes....all of the time! I think any parent, regardless of if their child is special needs or a "typical" kid will worry about the future. No matter how old your child becomes, you always worry about them....that's your job as a parent. The more you prepare yourself and your child for the future, the better things will be and the less you'll have to worry about later on down the road.
Q4. "What type of preparations have you made for the future, especially for the time "once you are gone" (when you die)?"
Answer: Well as much as none of us want to think about our own mortality and death, as a parent we have to --- we need to make certain preparations. Not only to ease the burden for those left behind, but to also give yourself some peace of mind knowing that your child will be cared for once you're gone....cause let's face it, no one lives for ever. Some things you can do to prepare: make sure you have more than enough life insurance, have a will made out, & make arrangements with friends/family members....speak to those whom you wish to be "in charge" of your child, as a caretaker or guardian if you will, and make sure that they are 100% aware of your plans and in complete agreement. Put everything in writing and make it legal! If you don't have someone in mind or willing to take on the task, then start looking into adult group homes or some other location similar to that....you do not want your child to end up a ward of the state or in some mental institution!
Q5. "I'm so inspired by you....you really seem to have it all together and are like a 'super mom', how do you do it?"
Answer: Well thanks for the compliment, and I'm glad I can inspire someone. But to be honest, I don't have it "all together" -- far from it, trust me. I do my best....but like everyone else, I'm human and I make mistakes. There are so many other things I wish I could do, but there just aren't enough hours in the day. I have my moments when I'm strong, and other moments when I feel like I'm at my wits end and ready to just fall apart....I allow myself to have a good cry, be in a "funk" type of mood, and then I give myself a mental kick in the pants and say "ok, enough -- time to focus and keep going". As a parent we have to realize our own strengths and weaknesses, it's ok to be human....it's ok to make mistakes.....it's ok to feel frustrated and/or upset. It's how you deal with those things and emotions that really matters.
Q6. "If there was a cure for Autism, would you want your child to be cured and normal?"
Answer: To be honest.....no. As difficult as Autism is, I'm not sure if there really will ever be a cure....and even if there is one day, I honestly wouldn't want my child to be cured. Why you ask? Well, in my opinion that would mean that he isn't perfect just the way he is now.....and a "cure" would mean that he would change.....and perhaps not for the better. At the moment, he is a sweet & loving child, cares about others and is sensitive to their feelings, and he is 100% honest...sometimes brutally honest. If he were to change, what type of child would he be? Would he still be sweet and sensitive, or would he become an obnoxious person who lies, etc. like some teens I know? At the moment, I don't have to worry about a lot of the things that other parents of teens worry about.....I know my son will never do drugs, will never smoke or drink alcohol, will never deal with a teen pregnancy, and won't get into an auto accident because he was too busy texting his friends while driving. And although I support our military 100% and am very patriotic, the other thing I will never have to worry about.....my son will never get drafted or hounded by some military recruiter to "sign up and be all you can be". I won't have to worry about him being sent to some foreign land or fighting in a war that I don't support (even though I support our troops 100%). Now for my military friends -- don't get your panties in a wad, as I said, I support our military 100%....and if my other sons ever decide to "sign up", then I will support their choice to do so. But I'm being honest here when I say, that I'm glad Taz will never have to experience that. Because honestly, I doubt that he could handle it and/or fully comprehend what it would mean to have to pick up a weapon and defend himself & his country against the enemy.
Due to his Autism, he doesn't worry about some of the crap that other teens do....he doesn't feel the need to "fit in" and "go with the crowd", he doesn't care if he has the most expensive name brand tennis shoes or clothes from the high fashion stores. He doesn't have to deal with peer pressure nor all of the other bullshit that most teens deal with these days. Also, many parents will argue that if you say no, you wouldn't want your child to be cured of their Autism, then you're a liar.....or they try to compare it to some disease like cancer....well I say that isn't true. Autism isn't like Cancer....it's not something that they can die from. Yes, I want my son to have the most productive life possible -- to be happy, etc. -- and if that means having Autism all of his life, then so be it. Changing that....a "cure" if possible...would change WHO he is, and to be honest I love him just the way he is....and I'm not really sure if I'd want him to be anything but the wonderful young man that I've spent the last 10 years taking care of, teaching, protecting, and loving with all of my heart.
Q7. "If you could go back in time and do things differently, what would you do?"
Answer: Well, one thing that I can say for certain....I wouldn't shrug off some of the little things like I did back then....I wouldn't consider certain things to be less important. For example, learning to tie his shoes wasn't that big of a deal -- I figured, if he doesn't get it then oh well. There were some things that I decided weren't worth the battle -- looking back now, I realize that was a mistake. Another thing, I would have started preparing him for the future a whole lot sooner. I think at the time, I focused more on the "here and now" stuff, rather than looking ahead more at other things like the teen years, puberty, high school, etc. Thus if I could go back in time, that is one thing I'd change....perhaps if I would have focused on those things and looked ahead more, we wouldn't be dealing with some of the issues we are now. Of course when you're dealing with a 6 year old (or whatever the age at the time), you really don't think about puberty or the "what after high school?" type of things....you focus on getting them potty trained, etc.
Ok folks....that's all I've got for now. As I said before, feel free to ask questions if there is something you'd like to know about. The whole point of this blog was to: (1) share our Autism journey, (2) to give myself the chance to write everything down since the odds are slim that I'll ever get around to writing a book about our experience, and (3) to help others who are also on this journey.
Ok, on to the questions that I have been asked by other folks:
Q1. "Is your child on any medication?"
Answer: No, he is not. If you've read any of the previous blog entries, you'll know why. Just a brief explanation -- we've tried a variety of meds, and weren't satisfied with any of them. Either they made him act like a zombie, caused sleep & diet issues, made him too hyper, or like the last med he was on....caused other health issues that made us decide to put a stop to all medication. The last medication that he was on caused problems with his heart, thus we decided that we'd rather deal with whatever behavior issues occur vs. risk continuing medication and have him suffer permanent health issues (like some type of damage to his heart). The difference between him being on medication and being med free is like a night and day difference!
Q2. "Where have you found materials that you use?"
Answer: Not really sure what the person meant by that. I've read a lot of books, checked out a ton of information that is online, and spoken to many professionals over the years. If there is something specific that I'm looking for but can't find, then I make it myself....for example, the social story book that I made to help explain puberty to him. There is so much out there these days -- a lot more than what there was available when we first started this journey. The first thing I'd suggest is speaking to someone at your child's school and/or someone that works with your local ISD (Intermediate School District department/special needs department within your school district or county).
Q3. "Do you worry about the future?"
Answer: Oh hell yes....all of the time! I think any parent, regardless of if their child is special needs or a "typical" kid will worry about the future. No matter how old your child becomes, you always worry about them....that's your job as a parent. The more you prepare yourself and your child for the future, the better things will be and the less you'll have to worry about later on down the road.
Q4. "What type of preparations have you made for the future, especially for the time "once you are gone" (when you die)?"
Answer: Well as much as none of us want to think about our own mortality and death, as a parent we have to --- we need to make certain preparations. Not only to ease the burden for those left behind, but to also give yourself some peace of mind knowing that your child will be cared for once you're gone....cause let's face it, no one lives for ever. Some things you can do to prepare: make sure you have more than enough life insurance, have a will made out, & make arrangements with friends/family members....speak to those whom you wish to be "in charge" of your child, as a caretaker or guardian if you will, and make sure that they are 100% aware of your plans and in complete agreement. Put everything in writing and make it legal! If you don't have someone in mind or willing to take on the task, then start looking into adult group homes or some other location similar to that....you do not want your child to end up a ward of the state or in some mental institution!
Q5. "I'm so inspired by you....you really seem to have it all together and are like a 'super mom', how do you do it?"
Answer: Well thanks for the compliment, and I'm glad I can inspire someone. But to be honest, I don't have it "all together" -- far from it, trust me. I do my best....but like everyone else, I'm human and I make mistakes. There are so many other things I wish I could do, but there just aren't enough hours in the day. I have my moments when I'm strong, and other moments when I feel like I'm at my wits end and ready to just fall apart....I allow myself to have a good cry, be in a "funk" type of mood, and then I give myself a mental kick in the pants and say "ok, enough -- time to focus and keep going". As a parent we have to realize our own strengths and weaknesses, it's ok to be human....it's ok to make mistakes.....it's ok to feel frustrated and/or upset. It's how you deal with those things and emotions that really matters.
Q6. "If there was a cure for Autism, would you want your child to be cured and normal?"
Answer: To be honest.....no. As difficult as Autism is, I'm not sure if there really will ever be a cure....and even if there is one day, I honestly wouldn't want my child to be cured. Why you ask? Well, in my opinion that would mean that he isn't perfect just the way he is now.....and a "cure" would mean that he would change.....and perhaps not for the better. At the moment, he is a sweet & loving child, cares about others and is sensitive to their feelings, and he is 100% honest...sometimes brutally honest. If he were to change, what type of child would he be? Would he still be sweet and sensitive, or would he become an obnoxious person who lies, etc. like some teens I know? At the moment, I don't have to worry about a lot of the things that other parents of teens worry about.....I know my son will never do drugs, will never smoke or drink alcohol, will never deal with a teen pregnancy, and won't get into an auto accident because he was too busy texting his friends while driving. And although I support our military 100% and am very patriotic, the other thing I will never have to worry about.....my son will never get drafted or hounded by some military recruiter to "sign up and be all you can be". I won't have to worry about him being sent to some foreign land or fighting in a war that I don't support (even though I support our troops 100%). Now for my military friends -- don't get your panties in a wad, as I said, I support our military 100%....and if my other sons ever decide to "sign up", then I will support their choice to do so. But I'm being honest here when I say, that I'm glad Taz will never have to experience that. Because honestly, I doubt that he could handle it and/or fully comprehend what it would mean to have to pick up a weapon and defend himself & his country against the enemy.
Due to his Autism, he doesn't worry about some of the crap that other teens do....he doesn't feel the need to "fit in" and "go with the crowd", he doesn't care if he has the most expensive name brand tennis shoes or clothes from the high fashion stores. He doesn't have to deal with peer pressure nor all of the other bullshit that most teens deal with these days. Also, many parents will argue that if you say no, you wouldn't want your child to be cured of their Autism, then you're a liar.....or they try to compare it to some disease like cancer....well I say that isn't true. Autism isn't like Cancer....it's not something that they can die from. Yes, I want my son to have the most productive life possible -- to be happy, etc. -- and if that means having Autism all of his life, then so be it. Changing that....a "cure" if possible...would change WHO he is, and to be honest I love him just the way he is....and I'm not really sure if I'd want him to be anything but the wonderful young man that I've spent the last 10 years taking care of, teaching, protecting, and loving with all of my heart.
Q7. "If you could go back in time and do things differently, what would you do?"
Answer: Well, one thing that I can say for certain....I wouldn't shrug off some of the little things like I did back then....I wouldn't consider certain things to be less important. For example, learning to tie his shoes wasn't that big of a deal -- I figured, if he doesn't get it then oh well. There were some things that I decided weren't worth the battle -- looking back now, I realize that was a mistake. Another thing, I would have started preparing him for the future a whole lot sooner. I think at the time, I focused more on the "here and now" stuff, rather than looking ahead more at other things like the teen years, puberty, high school, etc. Thus if I could go back in time, that is one thing I'd change....perhaps if I would have focused on those things and looked ahead more, we wouldn't be dealing with some of the issues we are now. Of course when you're dealing with a 6 year old (or whatever the age at the time), you really don't think about puberty or the "what after high school?" type of things....you focus on getting them potty trained, etc.
Ok folks....that's all I've got for now. As I said before, feel free to ask questions if there is something you'd like to know about. The whole point of this blog was to: (1) share our Autism journey, (2) to give myself the chance to write everything down since the odds are slim that I'll ever get around to writing a book about our experience, and (3) to help others who are also on this journey.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Random Thoughts
Just a few random thoughts today.....I'm in the process of fighting a sinus infection and have a pounding headache.
I think I've mentioned before about our garden, and how the kids love to help with planting & picking things. Well although we've had very little rain this season and some insanely hot temperatures, our little garden has been thriving. The kids helped with picking things last night....it was somewhat comical. Taz & our youngest son worked on picking green peppers and jalapeno peppers, while the rest of us picked squash and zucchini. Then they all helped with picking green beans. We ended up with 2 very HUGE baskets full of beans. To keep the kids focused and working, we had a contest to see who could find the largest bean (we had some HUGE beans and the plants were loaded even though we just picked stuff a few days ago). The winning bean ended up being almost 8 inches long and as big around as my pinkie finger! The kids thought it was so cool....and I had to laugh as I watched them work. Hard to believe just a few years ago, Taz had such a horrible gag reflex -- yet here he was, picking stuff like someone that had lived on a farm his entire life!
It's hard to believe how much all of the kids have grown this past year....not just the physical growth spurts & changes, but also how much they have matured and changed emotionally. Although they have their moments, for the most part they are great kids....helpful, polite, etc. We've tried to raise them the same way we were raised....and teach them to have the same type of morals, beliefs, etc that we were raised with. I must say, one day there will be some very lucky girls -- if they are fortunate enough to date & marry our boys! Of course I will be a very picky mom, and any girl that shows interest in one of our boys will have to meet my standards and approval first!
Another random thought.....for years I've had back & neck issues. Partly due to numerous injuries over the years but also partly due to having that spine condition (I forget the name of it) where your spine curves. One thing I've learned over the years is that chiropractic stuff does help.....another thing I've learned in regards to Autism, is that sometimes chiropractic stuff does help with that as well along with the whole "pressure point" thing. I used to visit the chiropractor a lot but it got to the point where it became too expensive because I would have to go 2-3 times a week.....thus my old chiro doctor showed me how to "crack" my own back & neck. I've shown hubby how to do it the way the chiropractor doctor did, so now he's able to crack my back for me. Seems like I have to ask hubby to crack my back at least several times a week.
Anyhow, today Taz mentioned that his back hurt and asked me to crack it. Now in the past I've done this a few times because I had heard that it can help some Autistic kids, especially if they have ADHD (like Taz does). But usually he wasn't as willing to have me do it....and he has NEVER flat out asked me to do it. So his request today came as a bit of a surprise. But I just figured that if he was actually requesting a back crack (as we call it), then perhaps he did have a few vertebra out of line. I had him lay on the floor and he kept very still (another first for him)....after a few tries, there were one or two little "pops".....I said "there, all done" and he got up and stretched and said "thanks mom, that feels better". Needless to say, the whole thing surprised me a bit....like I said, partly because he actually requested that I crack his back, and secondly due to the fact that he held still for the process. Perhaps this is another mini milestone?
My last random thought.....I read an article recently, I forget where...but they mentioned in the article that some parents of AI kids give them one cup of coffee a day to help with their focus and ADHD issues. Apparently the caffeine in coffee works similar to what some of the drugs like Ritalin do, and have a calming effect on the kids rather than jack them up into hyper mode like some of the sodas and other energy drinks that have lots of sugar and caffeine in them. Well this morning, as I poured myself a cup of coffee -- Taz came wandering through the kitchen and said "I'm dragging today, I didn't sleep a wink!" Of course I laughed a little because I knew that wasn't true....he went to bed before his brothers did, and he slept better (and longer) than either hubby or I did. So jokingly, I said "well have a cup of coffee -- I'm drinking some to help me wake up."
Heck, he's 13....a little coffee won't hurt, right? Now he's never had coffee.....and of course said "I don't like coffee" to which I responded "you've never tried it, so how do you know if you like it or not?" I poured what would equal about 2 tablespoons into a small coffee cup and told him if he wanted to try it, he could. I even added some cold water to the cup so it wouldn't be too hot. Well he tried a few sips and said "I don't like it hot, maybe if it were colder." I told him that it was ok, he didn't have to drink any more....at least he had given it a try. Well I'm not sure if it's some weird fluke or what, but he has been fairly calm and more focused all day.....hmmm, perhaps there is something to this whole "give them a cup of coffee" thing after all? I'll have to try to locate that article again and do a little more research.
Ok that's all I've got for today.....youngest son is down for a nap, and the other boys said if I wanted to try to nap then they'd promise to be good....so I think I'll try stretching out on the couch and relaxing for a little while. Of course son #2 is mature & responsible enough, I know he'll keep an eye on the other younger brother and Taz.....so I trust them more now to behave. Have a great day blog peeps!
UPDATE: Well, the nap was a wash.....as much as I tried, and as good & quiet as the other boys were, I just couldn't fall asleep....must be that "mom radar" thing again....(my mom radar is if the kids are awake, then I'm awake no matter what). Oh well, I tried.....instead of sleeping, I just "rested" (translation: stretched out on the couch with my eyes closed and tried to relax). My head is still pounding and I am beyond stuffed up....stupid sinus infection!
I think I've mentioned before about our garden, and how the kids love to help with planting & picking things. Well although we've had very little rain this season and some insanely hot temperatures, our little garden has been thriving. The kids helped with picking things last night....it was somewhat comical. Taz & our youngest son worked on picking green peppers and jalapeno peppers, while the rest of us picked squash and zucchini. Then they all helped with picking green beans. We ended up with 2 very HUGE baskets full of beans. To keep the kids focused and working, we had a contest to see who could find the largest bean (we had some HUGE beans and the plants were loaded even though we just picked stuff a few days ago). The winning bean ended up being almost 8 inches long and as big around as my pinkie finger! The kids thought it was so cool....and I had to laugh as I watched them work. Hard to believe just a few years ago, Taz had such a horrible gag reflex -- yet here he was, picking stuff like someone that had lived on a farm his entire life!
It's hard to believe how much all of the kids have grown this past year....not just the physical growth spurts & changes, but also how much they have matured and changed emotionally. Although they have their moments, for the most part they are great kids....helpful, polite, etc. We've tried to raise them the same way we were raised....and teach them to have the same type of morals, beliefs, etc that we were raised with. I must say, one day there will be some very lucky girls -- if they are fortunate enough to date & marry our boys! Of course I will be a very picky mom, and any girl that shows interest in one of our boys will have to meet my standards and approval first!
Another random thought.....for years I've had back & neck issues. Partly due to numerous injuries over the years but also partly due to having that spine condition (I forget the name of it) where your spine curves. One thing I've learned over the years is that chiropractic stuff does help.....another thing I've learned in regards to Autism, is that sometimes chiropractic stuff does help with that as well along with the whole "pressure point" thing. I used to visit the chiropractor a lot but it got to the point where it became too expensive because I would have to go 2-3 times a week.....thus my old chiro doctor showed me how to "crack" my own back & neck. I've shown hubby how to do it the way the chiropractor doctor did, so now he's able to crack my back for me. Seems like I have to ask hubby to crack my back at least several times a week.
Anyhow, today Taz mentioned that his back hurt and asked me to crack it. Now in the past I've done this a few times because I had heard that it can help some Autistic kids, especially if they have ADHD (like Taz does). But usually he wasn't as willing to have me do it....and he has NEVER flat out asked me to do it. So his request today came as a bit of a surprise. But I just figured that if he was actually requesting a back crack (as we call it), then perhaps he did have a few vertebra out of line. I had him lay on the floor and he kept very still (another first for him)....after a few tries, there were one or two little "pops".....I said "there, all done" and he got up and stretched and said "thanks mom, that feels better". Needless to say, the whole thing surprised me a bit....like I said, partly because he actually requested that I crack his back, and secondly due to the fact that he held still for the process. Perhaps this is another mini milestone?
My last random thought.....I read an article recently, I forget where...but they mentioned in the article that some parents of AI kids give them one cup of coffee a day to help with their focus and ADHD issues. Apparently the caffeine in coffee works similar to what some of the drugs like Ritalin do, and have a calming effect on the kids rather than jack them up into hyper mode like some of the sodas and other energy drinks that have lots of sugar and caffeine in them. Well this morning, as I poured myself a cup of coffee -- Taz came wandering through the kitchen and said "I'm dragging today, I didn't sleep a wink!" Of course I laughed a little because I knew that wasn't true....he went to bed before his brothers did, and he slept better (and longer) than either hubby or I did. So jokingly, I said "well have a cup of coffee -- I'm drinking some to help me wake up."
Heck, he's 13....a little coffee won't hurt, right? Now he's never had coffee.....and of course said "I don't like coffee" to which I responded "you've never tried it, so how do you know if you like it or not?" I poured what would equal about 2 tablespoons into a small coffee cup and told him if he wanted to try it, he could. I even added some cold water to the cup so it wouldn't be too hot. Well he tried a few sips and said "I don't like it hot, maybe if it were colder." I told him that it was ok, he didn't have to drink any more....at least he had given it a try. Well I'm not sure if it's some weird fluke or what, but he has been fairly calm and more focused all day.....hmmm, perhaps there is something to this whole "give them a cup of coffee" thing after all? I'll have to try to locate that article again and do a little more research.
Ok that's all I've got for today.....youngest son is down for a nap, and the other boys said if I wanted to try to nap then they'd promise to be good....so I think I'll try stretching out on the couch and relaxing for a little while. Of course son #2 is mature & responsible enough, I know he'll keep an eye on the other younger brother and Taz.....so I trust them more now to behave. Have a great day blog peeps!
UPDATE: Well, the nap was a wash.....as much as I tried, and as good & quiet as the other boys were, I just couldn't fall asleep....must be that "mom radar" thing again....(my mom radar is if the kids are awake, then I'm awake no matter what). Oh well, I tried.....instead of sleeping, I just "rested" (translation: stretched out on the couch with my eyes closed and tried to relax). My head is still pounding and I am beyond stuffed up....stupid sinus infection!
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Looking Back
Last night I spent some time looking back....thinking about how far we've come over the last 10 years. Yes I said "we", because let's face it....this journey hasn't just been about the way Taz has grown and changed, it's also about how hubby & I have grown and changed as well.
While reading through some of the other blogs & Facebook pages that I follow, I couldn't help but think how sad it is that some parents just can't handle this journey....thus they decide to bail at the first chance they get, leaving the other parent to deal with things alone. I thought about how far we've come, and how far we still have to go. I thought about how many times the relationship has been tested between hubby & I.....and yet no matter what life threw at us, we somehow managed to survive and get through it. In the end, we were stronger.....or at least that's what we thought.
I've noticed that the same question seems to pop up over and over -- whether it's on Facebook or a blog -- parents who are just starting out on this journey seem to ask it quite a bit:
"How did you accept the fact that your kid has autism?"
And like other AI parents, I feel a bit confused by the question and want to ask those parents:
"How can you not accept the fact that your kid has autism?"
It's not magic -- there isn't some secret code -- you have the choice, just like with any other situation life hands you -- you either accept it and move forward, all the while trying to determine how you will deal with each situation.....or you give up and walk away. The thing that I have difficulty wrapping my head around is the fact that so many choose to just give up and walk away -- or they waste precious time trying to deny it. They say things like "oh no, he doesn't have that" or "he'll grow out of it, we can cure this, we can fix this."
Ok listen up.....YOU CAN NOT CURE THIS.....YOU CAN NOT FIX THIS! So suck it up, pull on your big kid panties and just deal with it. That is your child, and just like when you take a marriage vow -- it's for better or worse. It's not like buying a new pair of shoes, getting home only to realize that they don't fit so you return them --- you can't return your child, you can't change what life has given you. So you have 2 choices -- #1 you can walk away and take the cowardly easy way out, or #2 you can suck it up and say "I love my kid no matter what" and do everything within your power to help your child to live the most productive life possible. Yeah, life tends to throw a few curve balls when we aren't looking....some of us have to struggle and deal with things that others could never imagine. It doesn't mean we are superman or have some amazing level of power -- it just means we've decided to make the best of a crappy situation, and that we love our kids no matter what.
Last night I sat and read through some of the old notes, cards, & love letters that hubby had given to me when we began dating. I thought about all of the dreams and plans we had back then. I thought about all of the things we've been through since Taz's diagnosis.....and I somehow reminded myself of just how strong we are -- like hubby had said in one of his love letters -- "It's you & me against the world baby, and as long as we are together we can make it through anything." I wonder if he realized back then when he wrote those words, just how much "the world" would throw at us? Later as we sat on the couch relaxing and watching the Olympics, I just looked at him and kept thinking about the many reasons why I love him.
I wasn't able to sleep much last night.....partly due to the rain storms, but partly due to the fact that my mind just couldn't "turn off" and relax. I kept thinking about what I had read during the day on other sites, and all of the parents who are new to this journey. I asked myself "what would you have done differently?" and in all honesty, there were very few things I would have changed -- basically the only things would have been how I prepared myself and Taz for the teen years and the future. I didn't look far enough ahead back then -- thus now it's more of a struggle than what I would like. Other than that, there really isn't anything I would change. I realized just how far we have come, and just how strong we are. I reminded myself that we have to continue to look forward from here on out......
While reading through some of the other blogs & Facebook pages that I follow, I couldn't help but think how sad it is that some parents just can't handle this journey....thus they decide to bail at the first chance they get, leaving the other parent to deal with things alone. I thought about how far we've come, and how far we still have to go. I thought about how many times the relationship has been tested between hubby & I.....and yet no matter what life threw at us, we somehow managed to survive and get through it. In the end, we were stronger.....or at least that's what we thought.
I've noticed that the same question seems to pop up over and over -- whether it's on Facebook or a blog -- parents who are just starting out on this journey seem to ask it quite a bit:
"How did you accept the fact that your kid has autism?"
And like other AI parents, I feel a bit confused by the question and want to ask those parents:
"How can you not accept the fact that your kid has autism?"
It's not magic -- there isn't some secret code -- you have the choice, just like with any other situation life hands you -- you either accept it and move forward, all the while trying to determine how you will deal with each situation.....or you give up and walk away. The thing that I have difficulty wrapping my head around is the fact that so many choose to just give up and walk away -- or they waste precious time trying to deny it. They say things like "oh no, he doesn't have that" or "he'll grow out of it, we can cure this, we can fix this."
Ok listen up.....YOU CAN NOT CURE THIS.....YOU CAN NOT FIX THIS! So suck it up, pull on your big kid panties and just deal with it. That is your child, and just like when you take a marriage vow -- it's for better or worse. It's not like buying a new pair of shoes, getting home only to realize that they don't fit so you return them --- you can't return your child, you can't change what life has given you. So you have 2 choices -- #1 you can walk away and take the cowardly easy way out, or #2 you can suck it up and say "I love my kid no matter what" and do everything within your power to help your child to live the most productive life possible. Yeah, life tends to throw a few curve balls when we aren't looking....some of us have to struggle and deal with things that others could never imagine. It doesn't mean we are superman or have some amazing level of power -- it just means we've decided to make the best of a crappy situation, and that we love our kids no matter what.
Last night I sat and read through some of the old notes, cards, & love letters that hubby had given to me when we began dating. I thought about all of the dreams and plans we had back then. I thought about all of the things we've been through since Taz's diagnosis.....and I somehow reminded myself of just how strong we are -- like hubby had said in one of his love letters -- "It's you & me against the world baby, and as long as we are together we can make it through anything." I wonder if he realized back then when he wrote those words, just how much "the world" would throw at us? Later as we sat on the couch relaxing and watching the Olympics, I just looked at him and kept thinking about the many reasons why I love him.
I wasn't able to sleep much last night.....partly due to the rain storms, but partly due to the fact that my mind just couldn't "turn off" and relax. I kept thinking about what I had read during the day on other sites, and all of the parents who are new to this journey. I asked myself "what would you have done differently?" and in all honesty, there were very few things I would have changed -- basically the only things would have been how I prepared myself and Taz for the teen years and the future. I didn't look far enough ahead back then -- thus now it's more of a struggle than what I would like. Other than that, there really isn't anything I would change. I realized just how far we have come, and just how strong we are. I reminded myself that we have to continue to look forward from here on out......
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Olympics
I have to confess, part of the reason why I've been lazy when it comes to blogging something new is partly due to the Olympics.....yes it's true, although it's been a busy hectic summer, I've spent the past week or so watching the Olympics and being slightly lazy.
I love the Olympics.....my favorites from the summer games are probably the gymnastics, swimming, and volleyball. In regards to the winter games, it's probably a tie between anything to do with skiing & the bobsled stuff....also speed skating and figure skating. When I was a kid I wanted to be a gymnast or a figure skater.
Anyhow, back to my love of watching the Olympics....the one "complaint" I have aside from some of the stuff that the TV station has chosen not to show & the fact that it seems like there are spoilers EVERYWHERE....my other complaint is the fact that it seems like the camera people have managed to catch some athletes in somewhat embarrassing moments. Like a few nights ago, the camera person was showing one of the synchronized diver guys and while they had the camera on the athlete, he was "adjusting" himself. No he wasn't digging inside of his suit and being obvious about it, but you could tell that he was definitely trying to adjust the crown jewels. I just sat there thinking: "seriously, move the camera to just get a face & upper body shot, give the dude some privacy". I was surprised that the camera person just kept right on filming.
Then tonight, while watching the track & field stuff, they had the camera on one athlete and you could tell the woman was trying to adjust a wedgie....it made me laugh. The same thing happened during the men's team volleyball game a few nights ago.....one guy was trying to fix a wedgie, and the camera seemed to stay focused on him rather than filming someone else. I kind of felt bad for the athletes. Obviously they can't have one moment of privacy. OK, enough about that....just had to vent a little.
How awesome was it that the girl from the U.S. gymnastics team won a medal after her coach filed that inquiry?! When I saw Bella in the stands motioning and yelling stuff to her coach I thought "yeah you tell them Bella" -- IMHO he was the BEST coach ever for women's gymnastics. I just love that man!! While I'm discussing gymnastics, what is up with the girls on the Russian team? Why do they always look like they are going to burst into tears at any moment and/or look like they are totally ticked off? OK no offense meant towards anyone from Russia.....I've actually noticed that a lot of the international athletes (for gymnastics) are like this.....it's either one extreme or the other -- either looking totally ticked off or like they will burst into tears at any moment. They have some amazing talent....but come on girls, try to smile a little bit OK? And some of the girls on other teams do not look like they are old enough to be able to compete.....the one gal, I forget what team she was on but according to the announcer, the gal was suppose to be 18 or 19 yet she looked like she wasn't any older than 10 or 11!
Kudos to all of the athletes.....I can imagine the hard work and dedication it takes to be at the level they are at. Not to mention the discipline and sacrifices they must make -- I couldn't do it, especially when it came to watching my diet....nope no way. And a huge "BRAVO" to all who won medals -- regardless of what country they are from -- be proud of yourselves for a job well done. You worked hard & you have earned those medals, so enjoy the moment. OK, time for me to get back to watching the track & field event.....dang, I could never run that fast....never! Not even if some psycho killer clown was chasing me and there was a vat of wine at the finish line.....nope, I just couldn't do it. I'd probably collapse from exhaustion a few feet from the starting line and just pray that the psycho clown killer either tripped over me and got hurt, or was also exhausted and decided that I wasn't worth the effort. Oh that reminds me, did you all see the joke/photo floating around the web of the ladies from the show "Absolutely Fabulous" running down the track.....I love that show, and that picture cracked me up. The caption read "hurry darling, there's booze at the finish line." OK, I thought it was funny....
Can you tell that I'm a bit sleep deprived? Yep, due to the full moon and obviously another growth spurt Taz hasn't been sleeping worth crap the last few nights....which means I haven't been sleeping worth crap either. When the kids are sick or wake up during the night for whatever reason (or won't go to sleep for whatever reason)....then I'm awake. When I'm this sleep deprived I begin to get a little goofy and tend to ramble without making a lot of sense....of course tonight the kids all went to sleep at a reasonable time, yet instead of going to sleep myself I'm sitting here updating the blog and watching the Olympics. What's up with that?!?
OK, I had to add just a few more comments to this post.....this morning I decided to watch more of the Olympics while sipping my morning coffee. Yes I'm still sleep deprived, however I feel a little more human now that I've had some coffee in my system. I was a bit shocked however by what I saw on TV....apparently there is now a 'sport' for synchronized dance? Seriously?!?! I watched the girls from Russia, then the team from Italy....both dance teams were doing various gymnastics while dancing and tossing around what looked like little red dodge balls....seriously, in this country those balls would be considered a mini beach ball or dodge ball. As I sat watching in total disbelief, I couldn't help but think: "Seriously, synchronized dodge ball dancing is now considered to be an Olympic sport?!?! Are you freakin' kidding me?!?!" I'm sorry but that seems just so bizarre to me. It's odd enough to watch athletes dance around twirling ribbons attached to sticks and try to grasp the concept that it's considered to be a "sport"....but this....this is now a sport?!?! Seriously?!?! What next, synchronized pole dancing or actual team dodge ball? Sigh....I think I need more coffee.
I love the Olympics.....my favorites from the summer games are probably the gymnastics, swimming, and volleyball. In regards to the winter games, it's probably a tie between anything to do with skiing & the bobsled stuff....also speed skating and figure skating. When I was a kid I wanted to be a gymnast or a figure skater.
Anyhow, back to my love of watching the Olympics....the one "complaint" I have aside from some of the stuff that the TV station has chosen not to show & the fact that it seems like there are spoilers EVERYWHERE....my other complaint is the fact that it seems like the camera people have managed to catch some athletes in somewhat embarrassing moments. Like a few nights ago, the camera person was showing one of the synchronized diver guys and while they had the camera on the athlete, he was "adjusting" himself. No he wasn't digging inside of his suit and being obvious about it, but you could tell that he was definitely trying to adjust the crown jewels. I just sat there thinking: "seriously, move the camera to just get a face & upper body shot, give the dude some privacy". I was surprised that the camera person just kept right on filming.
Then tonight, while watching the track & field stuff, they had the camera on one athlete and you could tell the woman was trying to adjust a wedgie....it made me laugh. The same thing happened during the men's team volleyball game a few nights ago.....one guy was trying to fix a wedgie, and the camera seemed to stay focused on him rather than filming someone else. I kind of felt bad for the athletes. Obviously they can't have one moment of privacy. OK, enough about that....just had to vent a little.
How awesome was it that the girl from the U.S. gymnastics team won a medal after her coach filed that inquiry?! When I saw Bella in the stands motioning and yelling stuff to her coach I thought "yeah you tell them Bella" -- IMHO he was the BEST coach ever for women's gymnastics. I just love that man!! While I'm discussing gymnastics, what is up with the girls on the Russian team? Why do they always look like they are going to burst into tears at any moment and/or look like they are totally ticked off? OK no offense meant towards anyone from Russia.....I've actually noticed that a lot of the international athletes (for gymnastics) are like this.....it's either one extreme or the other -- either looking totally ticked off or like they will burst into tears at any moment. They have some amazing talent....but come on girls, try to smile a little bit OK? And some of the girls on other teams do not look like they are old enough to be able to compete.....the one gal, I forget what team she was on but according to the announcer, the gal was suppose to be 18 or 19 yet she looked like she wasn't any older than 10 or 11!
Kudos to all of the athletes.....I can imagine the hard work and dedication it takes to be at the level they are at. Not to mention the discipline and sacrifices they must make -- I couldn't do it, especially when it came to watching my diet....nope no way. And a huge "BRAVO" to all who won medals -- regardless of what country they are from -- be proud of yourselves for a job well done. You worked hard & you have earned those medals, so enjoy the moment. OK, time for me to get back to watching the track & field event.....dang, I could never run that fast....never! Not even if some psycho killer clown was chasing me and there was a vat of wine at the finish line.....nope, I just couldn't do it. I'd probably collapse from exhaustion a few feet from the starting line and just pray that the psycho clown killer either tripped over me and got hurt, or was also exhausted and decided that I wasn't worth the effort. Oh that reminds me, did you all see the joke/photo floating around the web of the ladies from the show "Absolutely Fabulous" running down the track.....I love that show, and that picture cracked me up. The caption read "hurry darling, there's booze at the finish line." OK, I thought it was funny....
Can you tell that I'm a bit sleep deprived? Yep, due to the full moon and obviously another growth spurt Taz hasn't been sleeping worth crap the last few nights....which means I haven't been sleeping worth crap either. When the kids are sick or wake up during the night for whatever reason (or won't go to sleep for whatever reason)....then I'm awake. When I'm this sleep deprived I begin to get a little goofy and tend to ramble without making a lot of sense....of course tonight the kids all went to sleep at a reasonable time, yet instead of going to sleep myself I'm sitting here updating the blog and watching the Olympics. What's up with that?!?
OK, I had to add just a few more comments to this post.....this morning I decided to watch more of the Olympics while sipping my morning coffee. Yes I'm still sleep deprived, however I feel a little more human now that I've had some coffee in my system. I was a bit shocked however by what I saw on TV....apparently there is now a 'sport' for synchronized dance? Seriously?!?! I watched the girls from Russia, then the team from Italy....both dance teams were doing various gymnastics while dancing and tossing around what looked like little red dodge balls....seriously, in this country those balls would be considered a mini beach ball or dodge ball. As I sat watching in total disbelief, I couldn't help but think: "Seriously, synchronized dodge ball dancing is now considered to be an Olympic sport?!?! Are you freakin' kidding me?!?!" I'm sorry but that seems just so bizarre to me. It's odd enough to watch athletes dance around twirling ribbons attached to sticks and try to grasp the concept that it's considered to be a "sport"....but this....this is now a sport?!?! Seriously?!?! What next, synchronized pole dancing or actual team dodge ball? Sigh....I think I need more coffee.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Ask the Author
Well, it's been a busy summer and I'm drawing a huge blank at the moment regarding what to write about.....there are so many issues we've dealt with over the years.....I'm not sure where to go from here. I know that I've touched on a variety of topics thus far: medication, meltdowns, puberty, dealing with the death of a loved one, IEP meetings, siblings, dealing with the school system, etc.
So, since I'm drawing a blank at the moment, I decided to create this topic/post....it appears as though there are folks who have visited this blog from all over the world. I'm not sure if you are looking for information regarding Autism, or if you stumbled upon this site by searching for freaky things? As I've mentioned before -- if you're a freak, please leave and do not return to this site/blog....I don't want to deal with freaks or perverts. If you are truly interested in finding out more information regarding Autism, then that is great.....feel free to visit often and/or become a follower of my blog.
OK, back to the topic.....I remember when we first began this journey called Autism, I felt a ton of different things.....overwhelmed, lost, confused, angry, scared, etc. -- but most of all, I felt alone. Yes it's true, I felt completely and utterly alone. I felt as though we were the only people on the planet dealing with Autism. The information, support groups, services, etc. just weren't available back then like they are today. But today....wow, talk about a sensory overload! It seems as though everywhere you look, you can find something -- a support group, a website, books, videos, information from a "professional".....not to mention the million different websites that promote "Autism Awareness", blogs, parent-created websites, facebook groups, etc. -- it's a bit overwhelming to say the least. Thus it's almost as bad, if not worse than what it was like when we began this journey.....why? Well, because it's almost too much information -- and it can be extremely overwhelming to someone who is just beginning this journey called Autism.
Yes I know, I'm rambling just a bit....back to the topic....I decided to give this topic (idea) a "test run" so to speak.....just like a child learning to walk, we all have to start with baby steps. Sometimes it's easier to ask another person who's been there --- so this is your chance -- if you have a question pertaining to Autism, please feel free to ask. I'll warn you right now, there are a few things I will NOT answer:
1. No, I will not post or share photos of Taz or any of my children. My real friends & family members who read this blog know who my kids are and have either met them in person or have seen photos, thus I will NOT share photos of my kids via the Internet with total strangers.....sorry, not gonna happen. Not now, not ever....too many weirdos out there. Perhaps that makes me a bit over-protective, but in this day and age one can never be too careful. And I'll tell you right now -- God help anyone who EVER tries to harm one of my kids in any way....because I'm a momma bear, and I WILL do whatever it takes to protect my kids. If some scumbag tries to hurt one of them, then said scumbag will deal with me....and trust me, it will not be pretty....and said scumbag won't have to worry about sitting in a jail cell when things are all said & done....nope, said scumbag will be in a body bag....'nuf said.
2. No, I will not provide details about anything that could be considered personal information. I use fake names of people/places for a reason (there's that protective momma bear thing again).....some of my followers know the "real" me, but they've all been sworn to secrecy. Seriously, you don't think my son's real name is "Taz" do you? Duh....ok then, no personal information or details will be given so don't ask. And to those who know the "real" us....keep your mouth shut or I'll put a foot in your ass, got it?! Good...next question
3. As the owner/author of this blog site, I reserve the right to decline and/or not answer any questions and/or comments.....if I'm not comfortable answering your question or you are a weirdo, then your question won't be answered and you will be reported for being a weirdo. If you have a legitimate question then I will do my best to answer it, and might even post it here so others can help with providing an answer as well.
So that's basically it....I'll give this a test run to see how it goes. If you have a question pertaining to Autism, feel free to ask. Please keep in mind, what works for one child might not work for another....each child on the Autism spectrum is unique. Some do well with medication, others do not. Things like ABA therapy or gluten free diets might work for some, but not others. Just as our AI kids work and learn each day, so do we as parents.....this journey is all about learning.
Well folks, that's all I've got for today....sorry if this has become dull and boring. As I said, it's been a busy summer.....and when I do have some relax time, I'd rather spend it watching the Olympics or some of my favorite TV shows like "Falling Skies" (dang isn't the actor who plays Tom Mayfield smokin' hot or what?! I loved him when he was on "ER" as Doctor Carter)....ok anyhow, time for me to go veg out for a while, it's been a very long day.
So, since I'm drawing a blank at the moment, I decided to create this topic/post....it appears as though there are folks who have visited this blog from all over the world. I'm not sure if you are looking for information regarding Autism, or if you stumbled upon this site by searching for freaky things? As I've mentioned before -- if you're a freak, please leave and do not return to this site/blog....I don't want to deal with freaks or perverts. If you are truly interested in finding out more information regarding Autism, then that is great.....feel free to visit often and/or become a follower of my blog.
OK, back to the topic.....I remember when we first began this journey called Autism, I felt a ton of different things.....overwhelmed, lost, confused, angry, scared, etc. -- but most of all, I felt alone. Yes it's true, I felt completely and utterly alone. I felt as though we were the only people on the planet dealing with Autism. The information, support groups, services, etc. just weren't available back then like they are today. But today....wow, talk about a sensory overload! It seems as though everywhere you look, you can find something -- a support group, a website, books, videos, information from a "professional".....not to mention the million different websites that promote "Autism Awareness", blogs, parent-created websites, facebook groups, etc. -- it's a bit overwhelming to say the least. Thus it's almost as bad, if not worse than what it was like when we began this journey.....why? Well, because it's almost too much information -- and it can be extremely overwhelming to someone who is just beginning this journey called Autism.
Yes I know, I'm rambling just a bit....back to the topic....I decided to give this topic (idea) a "test run" so to speak.....just like a child learning to walk, we all have to start with baby steps. Sometimes it's easier to ask another person who's been there --- so this is your chance -- if you have a question pertaining to Autism, please feel free to ask. I'll warn you right now, there are a few things I will NOT answer:
1. No, I will not post or share photos of Taz or any of my children. My real friends & family members who read this blog know who my kids are and have either met them in person or have seen photos, thus I will NOT share photos of my kids via the Internet with total strangers.....sorry, not gonna happen. Not now, not ever....too many weirdos out there. Perhaps that makes me a bit over-protective, but in this day and age one can never be too careful. And I'll tell you right now -- God help anyone who EVER tries to harm one of my kids in any way....because I'm a momma bear, and I WILL do whatever it takes to protect my kids. If some scumbag tries to hurt one of them, then said scumbag will deal with me....and trust me, it will not be pretty....and said scumbag won't have to worry about sitting in a jail cell when things are all said & done....nope, said scumbag will be in a body bag....'nuf said.
2. No, I will not provide details about anything that could be considered personal information. I use fake names of people/places for a reason (there's that protective momma bear thing again).....some of my followers know the "real" me, but they've all been sworn to secrecy. Seriously, you don't think my son's real name is "Taz" do you? Duh....ok then, no personal information or details will be given so don't ask. And to those who know the "real" us....keep your mouth shut or I'll put a foot in your ass, got it?! Good...next question
3. As the owner/author of this blog site, I reserve the right to decline and/or not answer any questions and/or comments.....if I'm not comfortable answering your question or you are a weirdo, then your question won't be answered and you will be reported for being a weirdo. If you have a legitimate question then I will do my best to answer it, and might even post it here so others can help with providing an answer as well.
So that's basically it....I'll give this a test run to see how it goes. If you have a question pertaining to Autism, feel free to ask. Please keep in mind, what works for one child might not work for another....each child on the Autism spectrum is unique. Some do well with medication, others do not. Things like ABA therapy or gluten free diets might work for some, but not others. Just as our AI kids work and learn each day, so do we as parents.....this journey is all about learning.
Well folks, that's all I've got for today....sorry if this has become dull and boring. As I said, it's been a busy summer.....and when I do have some relax time, I'd rather spend it watching the Olympics or some of my favorite TV shows like "Falling Skies" (dang isn't the actor who plays Tom Mayfield smokin' hot or what?! I loved him when he was on "ER" as Doctor Carter)....ok anyhow, time for me to go veg out for a while, it's been a very long day.
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