MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Well I have many things to update you about.

1) AJ had a great Christmas. He wasn't too interested in the presents, but he loved all of the decorations...lol.

2) AJ now says "Chrissy" for Christmas.

3) AJ is going to be a big brother!!

4) AJ has been talking so much lately. Still not clearly, but I do know there are words in there. I just feel so bad when I can't understand him. We are going to try giving extra speech therapy another try sometime in 2009 again.


I'll try to post some pictures from Christmas a bit later.

Gift Giving

Every year for birthday's and holidays loved ones give AJ gifts that he won't play with. For some reason people think by not telling me what they are getting they are keeping the surprise. NEWSFLASH, AJ doesn't understand the whole gift giving phenomenon, so telling me what you are getting him will probably end up saving you some money. Now I try not to be too overbearing, but I have a pretty good idea of what the kid will like and not like. I thought I would make things easier for everyone this year by creating an amazon wish list. (look over to the left). Happy shopping.

MILK!

AJ is potty trained but he still has accidents when he sleeps so we put him in a pull-up. If he drinks anything after 8pm he will soak through his pullup wetting his blankets. He goes to bed around 9: or 9:30 so 8pm is the magic time.

So earlier this week AJ asked me for some milk around 8pm and I said no. We argued about it and he gave up because I wasn't breaking. Well an hour and a half later I noticed he was very quiet. I check his computer and he isn't there. I thought maybe he went to the bathroom so I went to check; the bathroom was dark and empty. Well I turn and look in the kitchen and guess what I found?

AJ was watching me like a dear in headlights with a full cup of milk in one hand and the half gallon of soy milk in the other. My boy figured that if I wasn't going to get him a cup of milk he'd do it himself...lol.

As much as I wanted to I couldn't get angry with his independence and cuteness...lol. I cleaned up the milk he spilled on the floor and let him have his cup of milk.

The Art of the Arguement

Well AJ has learned to argue. He doesn't argue with me about things like what he'll wear or what he wants to do. He's been argueing with me over candy and milk...lol. Here is a typical candy conversation.

AJ: Candy?
ME: No
AJ: Candy!
Me: No
AJ: Candy, candy, candy candy candy
ME: No, no, no, no, no
(Here is where he tries to pull a bugs bunny on me)
AJ: No
ME: No candy
AJ: No no nononononono
ME: (shaking my head) No candy
AJ: (shaking his head) CANDY!

and repeat...lol.

Boys will be boys.

So AJ has discovered that the light bulb gets really hot when it's on for a while. He also realized that if he puts something next to the hot bulb it burns. SO ... he decided to put one of his most favorite blankets in the world over the hot light bulb and left the room. Yup, you guessed it. There is now a burned hole in the middle of the friggin clock blanket.

If you don't already know, AJ has two identical blankets. They have a clock and some fish on it. He's had these blankets since he was an infant. It is an understatement to say he simply loves these blanketes. If me and the blankets were in a burning building AJ would risk his life to save the blankets.

So for him to damage one blanket is a tough thing. He keeps giving it to me asking me to "fix" it and I can't explain to him that it's burnt and can't be fixed. Since he's had these blankets for over 6yrs I dont even think we can replace the stupid thing.

Taria

President Barack Obama

I am so proud today. I am proud that I can tell my children that they can truly be anything they want to be if they put in hard work and dedication. I am proud because I can tell my children that they can be the president of the united states if they want to be. I am most proud to be a part of this historic event in our history. I am greatful that this event has happened in my lifetime.

Election Day

AJ can't vote yet, but you can...

Happy Halloween!!

AJ had a great time today. At school they had a Halloween party. AJ played bowling, ring toss, and another game I wasn't quite sure what it was...lol. We attempted to go ToTing this evening, but AJ really wasn't into it and we decided to go home where he would be happier. He did enjoy the bag of lollipops I gave him because I knew he wouldn't really want to go out.

He did learn how to say Trick or Treat however he only says it when prompted.


and a quick video....

Halloween.

Ok ok ok, I know I haven't been the greatest blogger last month and this month, but I'll be much better next month.

Quick recap.

My husband's birthday was on the 10th (Happy Birthday Sweetie) and his mom came to visit from South Carolina as a surprise. I think AJ enjoyed that more than my husband because he was all about the grandma that weekend...lol. For a the next day or two after she left AJ would go to the bedroom door and knock waiting for her to open it. It was too cute, but I had to explain that grandma went home and she would be back next summer.

October 19th was my birthday (Happy Birthday to me) and it was very low key. DH (darling husband) had to work so AJ and I just lounged around the house all day. It was really nice because the rule was: As long as AJ didn't do anything dangerous he could do whatever he wanted if he left me alone...lol. He did a great job and made a HUGE mess in the process...lol.

Tomorrow is Halloween and YES I already got AJ's costume. Last year I was one of those unprepared moms who was out hunting down a costume the night before Halloween only 1hr before all the stores closed. It was such a sad sight. His school is going to have a Halloween party so I'll attend that and get some pictures so you can see the little guy in his costume. It should be a fun day. I've decided that we are not going to go out trick or treating. We may go up and down our street and that's it but I haven't made a decision yet.


Taria

September was a blur

Wow, September went by so fast. Here is an AJ update.

He is doing very well in school. He is really starting to verbalize more. We just have to work on his diction and pronunciation. I think getting him the computer last year was the best thing we could have done for his vocabulary. He has taken to singing the songs he hears as he plays in his room. It is really quite sweet.

AJ has also become more defiant. I hope it's just him testing some of the extra freedom I've given him, but it's really starting to wear on my nerves.

Last week we discovered (the hard way) that AJ is allergic to peanuts. The frustrating part is he's had peanut butter before, and he actually likes it. So aparently his body just decided to develop a very serious allergy to it so now....no more peanut products EVER (or at least until we have him tested again in about 5yrs). The doctor gave him a prescription for an eppi pen and now i have stack full of forms I have to fill out for his school to allow them to use it if necessary.

Here are a few pictures from the last month.

AJ's Birthday...





At the park with Bryanna...





Taria

Today my baby is.....

6 years old!! Can you believe it? I can't!! Where did the time go and how can I get it back?

We had a very lowkey day today. We ran a few errands, got a ton of balloons, and had a family dinner. My mother-in-law is also visiting for his birthday. Overall he had a fantastic day surrounded by the people who love him most.

I did take pictures of my now 6yr old boy, but those will have to be uploaded another day. Saturday we are headed to Great Adventure for a day of fun, sun, and way too much junk food.

A Simple Act of Kindness

I want to share with you guys the act of kindness I experienced this afternoon. Today AJ was in rare form. He had so much energy that we needed to go the park to burn it off. While at the park there was a mom there with her three children playing. She proceeded to give her littlest baby a balloon. AJ saw this and took off in her direction. By the time I made it over to her she said he could have one too. So as she was blowing up the balloons we chatted. The time we were at the park this lovely woman gave AJ two balloons.

Even with the demands of her own children (one who is also special needs) she was so sweet and giving. I've gone to that same park a million times and had to deal with the weird looks and the awkward questions about my son's behavior. This woman was a breath of fresh air and a sign that there ARE still kind people in this cruel world.

I didn't get her name (silly me I know) but I did give her my business card. I hope she calls me so I can show her how her generosity has effected us. I know it was only two balloons (that have since popped) but she really made my afternoon a bit brighter.

today's lesson - a simple act of kindness can make a world of difference in someone's life.

Lawrence Harbor

Today AJ and I went to Lawrence Harbor for a bit of fun. AJ has never been to a beach before so I figured I would test the waters with Lawrence Harbor. Lawrence Harbor has the look and feel of a beach, but obviously it's not a beach that's attached to an ocean. Anyway...

AJ had a really good time. I had to keep him from going too far into the water because there were shell crabs (dead and alive) being washed up to the shore. Overall this is something I would definately do again. Naturally he had a FIT when it was time to leave, but he quickly calmed himself down when we got on the road to head back home.

The Waterboy...

I've said in past posts how much AJ LOVES water. Today we went to my parent's house to visit. AJ was allowed to go on the deck with the water hose and play. That is one of his most favorite things to do over there. Well as he was having some fun I decided to break in my new camera and get some shots.

ENJOY!!

Let the emotions begin...

In less than two weeks my "baby" will be 6yrs old. It's always hard to keep in perspective how big he's getting especially when he still needs me so much. While other mom's are preparing their 6yr olds for 1st grade I have to stand on the sidelines and just watch. We are working long and hard to prepare him for a normal high school. But for the time being, we'll just watch on the sidelines cheering everyone else on.

On a good note, He really enjoyed watching the Olympic swimming events. I don't know if it was the action or the pool, but he was mezmorized...lol. I think I will look into having him join a swim class or something. I think he'll enjoy that.

Here's one of the last pictures of my 5yr old...

First Day of Summer Break

Well AJ's last day of school was yesterday, so he's home with me until September 3rd. The good news is he had a good day. The bad news is that I have strep throat so he's gotten a bit more freedom than he's used to. So far today he has managed to destroy the 3rd bedroom and empty an entire (brand new) container of powder all over his room. Although he's having fun, I can't wait to be better so I can keep up with him. Having strep sucks extra hard when there is a super active child in the house. I'm on antibiotics, so once I am feeling better we can get out and do some fun stuff.

Here are images of my powdered down boy and his dog.

My heart has melted

AJ has been doing fantastic with his verbal imitation. A few weeks ago we were at my parent's house and I ran to the ice cream store for my dad. As I was leaving AJ was at the front door yelling "bobby" and pointing at me. He was visibly upset that I was going and not taking him with me.

fast forward to two weeks ago...

We were at my sister's house playing rock band and it was getting late. My husband came to pick him up and take him home so I could stay and hang out. Well on the way out the door AJ was clinging to me and saying "bobby". He didn't want to leave without me.

can you hear my tears hitting the floor...lol.

This thursday AJ was feeling a bit warm and was very sleepy. He put himself to bed around 6pm and slept all night. I thought he would have to stay home on Friday but it seems he was feeling great after a long sleep. I dropped him of at school and as I was handing him off to his teacher I said "Good-bye A.J." and he looked at me and said "Good-bye Mommy". I just about passed out in the school...lol.

I love my little goober so much.

This is the cutest thing EVER

NO, it's not my baby, but I can only pray that my baby will do this for me one day.

Such Hand Eye Coordination...

Last weekend we all went to my cousin's annual July 4th cookout. This year it was held a week after the 4th as to avoid holiday traffic (smart move!). We've never gone in the past because we were always afraid of the "damage" AJ could and would cause. Well this year with AJ being older and a bit more in control of himself we decided to brave the day. AJ did fantastic. He blew bubbles and a few other kids "played along" by popping the bubbles. AJ even participated in a potato sac race (with alot of help from the Mama and Daddy). I think the most memorable part of the day was seeing my baby play ball with his daddy. I could tell that it meant just as much to each of them as it did for me. And wouldn't you know it, I GOT VIDEO...lol.





Taria

The Mama's Rant

OK, I've been thinking about going back to school for a degree in Graphic Design. I've been doing my research as a good consumer should. I understand that the job of the "recruiter" is to get you to spend your money at their school, HOWEVER; I just want to get the proper information so I can make an informed decision.

STOP PATRONIZING ME AND TRYING TO GET ME TO COME SEE YOU ESPECIALLY WITH GAS COSTING $4/GALLON. DAMMIT JUST TELL ME HOW MUCH THE DAMN COURSE IS GOING TO COST ME!


end rant!!

HIP HIP HURRAY!!

SUMMER SCHOOL IS IN SESSION!!!

Well AJ's regular school year ended last monday and his first day of school was today. I can't even begin to tell you how much this kid kicked my but for a week and a half...lol. Every garbage day he would hear the trucks backing up and jump up to the window and say "bus?"...lol. Each time I had to say "no, it's the garbage truck the bus will come next week." So today he was very happy to get back to his routine, and I'm happy to have some time in the day where I can get stuff done.

Taria

Adventures in Chocolate Jello Pudding

Well apparently AJ likes pudding cups. He brought one to me and asked me to open it. Now I figured the worst that could happen is I would have to clean up a chocolate mess. Well after a few moments I hear him singing and jumping around, so I go and check on him. Look at what I found....






Taria

Summer is here!

Well yesterday was AJ's last day of school. He gets a week break then he goes back for summer school. He loves summer school because they go swimming every week...lol. Well in one week AJ has done so well. Today I listened to him have a psudo conversation with my mother-in-law (it was so cute...lol). He started eating popcorn this weekend. Today we went for a walk and he held Obi's collar the entire time. Most people take for granted the simple act of taking a walk with their child, but AJ did a great job. he didn't run, he didn't pull, he didn't tantrum, it was very nice and enjoyable for both of us. I think we'll try it again later today or tomorrow morning.

I am really just so proud of my baby. He's improving by leaps and bounds. Before we know it he'll be doing everything kids his age are doing and eventually go to normal school.

TTFN!!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!

Test

I got a new slide show program and I wanted to test it. In the mean time enjoy some pictures from the session I had with AJ in March.



Taria

AJ's IEP meeting

Today we had AJ's IEP meeting at his school. I am happy to report that DH did come to this meeting with me. AJ is doing so well with all of his programs, and therapies. I've mentioned before how amazed I am at his receint word boom. He's been verbalizing so much at home. He points to pictures and tells me what they are or asks what it is if he doesn't know it. He's also 98% potty trained (WOO FRIGGIN HOO!!). He still sleeps with a pullup but that's about it. He still as accidents but not too many.

I can't tell you how much I love his school and am happy with its staff. I can't tell you the name of the school for obvious reasons, but just know that there are great special need schools out there that care about children and want to help them succeed.


Taria

ZacBrowser.com Review

OK, we've had a few days to play with this and I must say it is really nice. AJ loves the video section. I like the variety of videos they have. The only thing that bothers me has NOTHING to do with the browser. Because it's so visual you need a fast video card so there aren't any pauses or dragging. AJ's computer is older, so either he needs a newer computer or I need to update his video card and memory chips. I haven't decided what I'll do yet, but either way he likes the browser.

We give the browser two thumbs up!


Taria

This is Very Cool!!

http://www.zacbrowser.com/

AJ and I will download this to his computer this afternoon and give our opinion next week.

Taria

Lovin my boy

AJ has been really great this week. He didn't do too well at his food therapy this week, but he has been playing with spaghetti at home. He's been touching it, smelling it, and picking it up on a fork. He hasn't tasted it yet, but we are taking baby steps.

On Memorial Day we all went to my parents house for a family BBQ and some fun. AJ did so well there. He even sat through an entire movie (although not entirely quiet...lol). When we were packing up to go over there I was putting stuff in the car. I told AJ to come outside with me and he stopped in the door way and said "dog". Obi was sitting next to him, so i thought he was just telling me the dog was there. So I said "yes, Obi is a dog". I again asked him to come outside and he stood in the doorway and again said "dog" and this time he grabbed Obi's collar. So after a second I understood that he wasn't telling me that Obi was a dog, he was telling me that he wanted Obi to come with us.

I love it when I see that he understands a relationship or a new concept. Obi is his friend and I love the bond they are building.


Taria

quiet weekend

AJ had a really nice and quiet weekend. He did so well at his feeding therapy on Wednesday. Tonight we had mashed potatoes and he actually helped me mash them. I was so proud of him. He has also been wearing underwear all weekend with the exception of when he sleeps and he's only had 1 accident. But I don't know if you can call it an accident since he did make it to the toilet to pee but he forgot to pull down his underwear...lol.


AJ discovered my webcam tonight, so here are a few of AJ being silly.




and of course we had to take a video...lol.




Taria

Rare Form

Well as the title says, AJ has been in rare form for the past few days. I don't know if it's just a boy thing but I can't take my eye off of him for a moment without hearing a crash, a boom, or some other troublesome sound...lol.

Last week while I was out running some errands AJ "snuck" out of the house and his dad had no clue. He was playing across the street on the side of the road wearing nothing but a t-shirt and a pull up when my neighbor said she almost hit him with her car because he darted out in the road.

As you can imagine I was LIVID when I heard that from her because all my husband chose to focus on was the fact that my dog got out with AJ and jumped on the neighbors daughter. (grrrrrr)

This week AJ has managed to take his lamp apart, and get bananas all over his ceiling. Thank GOD I hid the watermelon because that could have been a disaster.

Taria

HAPPY MAY!

Can you believe that the year is already 1/3 over? Where is the time going? Well just a quick update. AJ is doing ok in his feeding therapy. It takes him about 15mins to calm down in his sessions but once he does he is doing well. He will touch the mashed potatoes and then lick his finger...WOO HOO!!

This week he started eating gummy bears, and last week he ate an entire hamburger bun with ketchup. Ick I know but hey it wasn't french fries...lol. Hopefully we can get to a point where we can cut down on all the carbs he takes in.

Taria

Autism treatments and so called cures...

I was going to save this post for later this week, but I was inspired by "GARY" who commented on my Jenny McCarthy post below. (Thanks Gary :o) )

I honestly believe that there are many factors that contribute to Autism. I also believe that we give too many vaccines too soon to our babies. I vividly remember AJ's first Halloween. He was in the cutest cow costume his grandma got him. We went to the doctor and he was given 4 shots. My son was only 2 months old. I think back on each shot he ever got and I feel extremely guilty that I let my baby be poisoned.

Don't get me wrong, I think vaccines are a necessary evil, but children don't HAVE to be up to date on shots until they start school. What's the rush to get it all done in the first year?

Most of the non traditional treatments are way too expensive for most families to afford. Especially now with gas prices in NJ creeping up on $3.50/gallon and companies laying off employees left and right. I remember I saw a website for a DAN doctor and I was inspired and excited. I called to get information and I received a 50pg packet that I had to fill out. Then I was informed that for the doctor to see my son and create an action plan it would cost me $500. Then on top of that I had to pay for whatever treatments he recommended and then pay another $250 per follow up visit every week or two weeks. Insurance doesn't cover these costs because it's considered alternative medicine. Gotta love that.

I was also given information regarding a diet change. Well honestly as great as the results can be I can't try it to give you my opinion. AJ has severe sensory integration disorder so he is painfully picky with what textures and tastes he'll put in his mouth. His diet consists of about 6 things. My boy is on carb overload because he won't eat anything else. We are in food therapy for 30mins every Wednesday and we spend 20 of those minutes trying to calm him down so he'll just look at the food.

Now if someone wants to tell me where to get "alternative" treatments at an affordable price then please send me an email or tell me your story. I love that celebrities are coming out about their children's diagnoses and "recoveries" but I don't have celebrity money or resources. All I have is a child that I don't know how to save and a support team that is doing their best.

Taria

How Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy's Son Recovered From Autism

In this CNN op-ed piece, actors Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy reflect on their son’s recovery from autism in light of the recent federal court decision which conceded that vaccines could have contributed to another child’s autistic condition.

Carrey and McCarthy’s son, Evan, has been healed thanks to breakthroughs that may not be scientifically proven, but have definitely helped, such as a gluten-free, casein-free diet, vitamin supplementation, detox of metals, and anti-fungals for the yeast overgrowths that plagued his intestines. Once his neurological function was recovered through these medical treatments, speech therapy and applied behavior analysis helped him learn the skills he could not learn while he was frozen in autism.

When Evan was re-evaluated after these treatments, state workers were amazed by his improvement. But although Evan is now 5, not a single member of the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics, or any other health authority has asked to evaluate and understand how Evan recovered from autism. Instead, they simply posit that he was misdiagnosed and never had autism to begin with.

Carrey and McCarthy believe that autism is an environmental illness, and that while vaccines are not the only environmental trigger, they do play a major role. Even if the CDC is not convinced of a link between vaccines and autism, changing the vaccine schedule should be seriously considered as a precautionary measure.



Dr. Mercola's Comments:
Rates of autism have increased nearly 60-fold since the late 1970s, with the most significant increases occurring in the past decade. The latest numbers for the U.S. shows it affects about one in 150 American children.

However, according to an article in the Daily Mail (July 9, 2007) the rate of autism in Great Britain may now be as high as 1 in 58!

This shocking number was the outcome of a study performed by Cambridge Professor Baron-Cohen and his team. They looked at the incidence of autism among 12,000 children at Cambridgeshire primary schools between 2001 and 2004.

Professor Baron-Cohen believes a combination of genetics and environmental factors such as pesticides and exposure to excessive hormones in the womb are potential culprits for the rise.

Genetics (the so-called “Fragile X syndrome” being the most common) was recently hailed as “the cause,” especially in U.S. media, where most failed to underscore the fact that genetics account for no more than 1 percent of the cases of autism.

Meanwhile the other 99 percent are still unaccounted for.

Dr. Blaylock has written extensively on the subject of vaccine-induced autism, but despite sound scientific evidence of how toxins like mercury and aluminum damage your brain, especially when introduced at such an early age, Big Pharma-backed proponents of vaccines are still unwilling to even look at the issue.

Environmental triggers that cannot be ignored include:

Mercury –It is already an established fact that exposure to mercury can cause immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunctions -- all similar to traits defining, or associated with autism. Thimerosal, which is added to many vaccines, has become a major source of mercury in children who, within their first two years, may have received a quantity of mercury that clearly exceeds safety guidelines.


Vaccine Virus’ – Vaccines contain numerous active agents, including live viruses, killed bacteria and toxic chemicals including aluminum, mercury and formaldehyde. Whereas many focus solely on mercury in the vaccines as the culprit in causing autism, the virus link is equally compelling.
In this case, an abnormal immune reaction primes your immune system to react against your body’s organs, as it creates “organ-specific” autoantibodies against itself. In the case of autistic autoimmune reactions, the organ in question is mainly your brain. However, gastrointestinal problems, such as “leaky gut” are also a common organ-specific ailment.

The strongest link exists between the measles virus antibodies (from the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine) and anti-myelin basic protein (MBP), suggesting that exposure to the measles virus may trigger an autoimmune response that interferes with the development of myelin. If myelin in your brain doesn't develop properly, nerve fibers won't work as they should, giving rise to the brain abnormalities associated with autism.

Pasteurized Milk – Other studies indicate that both autism and schizophrenia may be linked to your inability to properly break down a protein found in milk. Personally I believe this is related to pasteurized milk and have seen many autistic children thrive on raw milk products, especially fermented ones like kefir or yogurt.
When not broken down, the milk protein caseinate produces exorphins -- morphine-like compounds -- that become absorbed by areas of your brain where they cause cells to dysfunction. The findings suggest that an intestinal flaw, such as a malfunctioning enzyme, is to blame for your inability to break down this milk protein.

Researchers have discovered that the protein is absorbed by 32 different areas of your brain, including sections responsible for vision, hearing and communication, which could account for many behavioral symptoms of both diseases.

Wireless Technology – A much more recent, groundbreaking theory has been suggested by a study published in the Journal of the Australasian College of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine: Electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from cell phones, cell towers, Wi-Fi devices and other similar wireless technologies may work in conjunction with genetic and environmental factors, becoming an accelerating factor in autism.
After more than five years of research on children with autism they found that EMR negatively affects cell membranes, allowing heavy metal toxins, which are associated with autism, to build up in your body.

EMR can trap heavy metals inside of nerve cells, which could accelerate the onset of symptoms of heavy metal toxicity, and hinder your body’s natural clearance of the toxins.

How Can You Tell if Your Child has Autism?

On October 29, 2007, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) sent out a news release with new evaluation guidelines and treatment recommendations, including their 34-page clinical report, “Identification and Evaluation of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders.”

It provides detailed information on signs and symptoms, geared toward helping pediatricians recognize and assess autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in their patients.

Early warning signs, prior to the age of 18 months, include:

not turning when you say your baby’s name
not turning to look when you point to something and say, “Look at…” and not pointing themselves to show you an interesting object or event
lack of back and forth babbling
smiling late
not making eye contact with people
forming attachments to hard items, such as pens, flashlights, keys or action figures, etc. rather than stuffed animals, special pillows or blankets
According to their report:

“Red Flags” that are absolute indications for immediate evaluation include: no babbling or pointing or other gesture by 12 months; no single words by 16 months; no two-word spontaneous phrases by 24 months; and loss of language or social skills at any age.

Despite the fact that the AAP goes on to say that autism “never goes away,” I am encouraged that they urge pediatricians to be open-minded to alternative treatments, to become more knowledgeable of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and to avoid becoming defensive or dismissive when parents want to try nonstandard therapies.

That is a good start.

How Can You Help Your Child Prevent or Recover From Autism?

As Jenny McCarthy’s case has shown, there is definitely hope. Here are my best recommendations:

1. Carefully review the vaccination issue, including the conventional vaccination schedule. Know that in most U.S. states you have the right to opt out of vaccines. You may also want to review some of the recommendations for a more sensible vaccination schedule.

2. Avoid exposure to as many environmental toxins as you can, such as pesticides, herbicides, and sources of mercury, aluminum and fluoride.

3. Avoid exposure to cell phones and other wireless technology, such as Wi-Fi in your home.

4. Have your child eat a diet tailored to their nutritional type for optimal health. In my experience, nearly ALL children seem to respond favorably to the dietary changes when properly implemented

5. Pasteurized milk restriction is an ABSOLUTE imperative to the treatment of autism. Anyone managing this illness without restricting milk is deceiving themselves. This includes all milk products, such as ice cream, yogurt and whey. Even natural flavorings in food must be avoided unless the processor can guarantee, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that caseinate is not included

6. Complete elimination of sugar, juice, soda, French fries and wheat (pasta, bagels, cereal, pretzels, etc) is also highly recommended

7. Get proper sun exposure, as an additional theory that makes a whole lot of sense is the link between rampant vitamin D deficiency and the proportionate jump in autism. The vitamin D receptor appears in a wide variety of brain tissue early in the fetal development, and activated vitamin D receptors increase nerve growth in your brain

8. Use an effective intervention to address any emotional stresses as soon as possible – avoid having destructive thoughts and emotions fester. Potent energy psychology tools such as the Emotional Freedom Technique are excellent for this purpose

9. Secretin has proven effective in relieving certain symptoms of autism. It is a powerful hormone, which has the ability to reduce intestinal permeability (leaky gut). I have even observed one three-year-old who had no speech prior to secretin speak in full paragraphs just days after the infusion

10. Homeopathy may also help ameliorate symptoms

AJ is a Rock Band star...lol.

Over the weekend we went to my sister's house to have dinner and to play rock band. Well before we left AJ hopped in the drummers seat and started to rock out...lol

**sent via AT&T wireless**

Autism Awareness Month

AJ was diagnosed with autism when he was 2yrs old. He has improved so much over the years but we still have alot of work to do to get him where he should be to have a productive and fulfilling life. April is National Autism Awareness Month so I'd like to share with you some facts regarding Autism.

Autism is a complex neurological disorder. It effects an individuals behavior, language skills, social skills, and sensory processing system. It's causes are still a mystery to doctors and researchers.

Recent stats show...

* 1 in 94 children in New Jersey has been diagnosed with Autism.
* Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability.
* Autism is four times more prevalent in boys than girls in the US
* More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes, and cancer combined
* There has been a 172% increase in Autism in the U.S. in the last decade
* It costs America $90 Million a year to take care of Autistic Individuals needs
* The divorce rate for families with an Autistic child is 80%
* Autism has been on the map since 1943



TTFN!!

Alice Cooper

AJ really likes the episode of the muppet show with Alice Cooper. I don't know what it is about that episode but he loves it. He started trying to verbally request the episode lately. It's the cutest thing for a mama to hear.

Taria

quick March update

AJ has been sick this past week with the flu. The poor baby just slept and drank juice. I couldn't even get him to eat french fries. He's all better now though and making up for lost time...lol. He's back to torturing everyone in the house and making a huge mess while at it.

He starts his feeding therapy this Wednesday for 30mins, as well as has his OT evaluation. It would be great to get him to eat more variety of foods.

This spring/summer I'm going to try and plan more outdoor activities for him. He loved Great Adventure, Hurricane Harbor, and Sesame Place last year.

We did make it to a birthday party for one of his classmates yesterday. Can I just say that anyone who has a child's party in a Chucky Cheese type place located in the middle of a busy mall on a Saturday afternoon is just plain EVIL. ESPECIALLY if the party guests are all special needs children and many of whom have SID (sensory integration disorder). AJ was so over stimulated just walking through the mall to get to the place that he really didn't get a chance to enjoy himself much.

Once we got home and he had some quiet time he was much more pleasant to deal with.

Taria

My little GQ Model

I was suppose to shoot a little girl today, but her mommy called to cancel. She wasn't feeling well so we rescheduled. So, since my shoot was cancelled I had a mini shoot with my AJ. Take a look and let me know what you think...




and of course Obi had to get in on all the action...



TTFN!!

My kid is a genius!!

Before I show you the piece of evidence I collected let me give you a bit of a back story. We keep a few doors in our home locked so AJ can't get in alone and wreck the room. AJ is not allowed in my bedroom without someone with him. He is not allowed in any of the closets upstairs (linen and cleaning stuff. He is not allowed to play in the bathroom for obvious reasons.

On the night in question, we spent 3hrs watching Blue's Clues. After the 3hrs I was all Blued out. So my darling son thought to himself that he would take the DVD to the only other room with a DVD player. My bedroom. It so happens that I didn't lock the door this night. So when I found him in there I took him out and turned the TV off. He had a pretty big fit. I distracted him by putting a game on his computer. Well about 20mins later this is what I find....

(this is the video I sent to my husband since I knew he wouldn't believe me)

Video in a post below

My little evil genius...

**Sent via AT&T wireless

THAT'S IT!!!

I've had it and I'm not going to take this laying down. Who do I have to speak to about this crime against motherhood? It's happening to me every day and probably to you too if you have babies. No matter how hard I try I can't stop my baby from growing up and its frustrating. He does it everyday and there seems to be nothing I can do. Sniff sniff sob sob...




Taria

we had a carbon monoxide leak early this morning

Early this morning we were awakened by our CO alarm.

AJ woke up at 4am to use the bathroom. DH heard him and got up to check on him and assist him in the bathroom. When DH got AJ back in bed he returned to our bed. Five minutes later our co alarm started going off. He woke me up and told me to get out of the house. He then called headquarters and they sent a platoon of rescue workers including the fire department and the fire chief himself.

As you can imagine being woken up at 4am and being told to get out of the house now is a confusing and scary experience. I jumped up threw on a pair of jeans and an old navy fleece and ran to AJ's room to get him dressed. This is one of the very few times he didn't fuss with me and I'm very thankful for it. We darted downstairs, threw on coats and were two steps out the door when I remembered Obi. I told AJ to sit on the front steps and bless his soul he did it and didn't move. I ran back in to get Obi, his leash, and his muzzle. I put Obi in my car and AJ went in DH's car.

We were outside for over an hour!! They said when they went in the house they smelled the co immediately and put their masks on. We all thought co didn't have a smell. Apparently at certain levels you can smell something different, even if you can't identify it as co.

They opened windows and doors to air out the house. They said our laundry room (where our furnace is) had the highest levels. They shut down the furnace and said we had to call the gas company. Once the co2 levels were back to non dangerous level they let us go back inside.

The gas guy arrived very quickly, about 30-40 mins after we called. The funny thing is he said he couldn't find where the co2 leak was and it really bothered him. He asked us questions and went around the house checking other areas. He left feeling uneasy because he couldn't give us an answer about what happened. He gave us a recommendations to a few good digital co detectors so we can keep an eye on the level numbers.

Needless to say since DH had to work today I was terrified to go back to sleep when AJ drifted off. I did however get over that fear and went back to my sweet dreams. DH called later in the morning and was scared because I didn't answer the house phone. He was going to send a squad car to our house if I didn't answer my cell phone.

We are happy as heck that we don't have to replace the furnace yet, but still worried because we don't know what caused the increase in co levels.

We are all save and feeling well though, and I that's what's important.

Taria

More Evaluations

Well this past Thursday we took AJ to JFK hospital for a feeding evaluation. The therapist was very nice and actually listened as she observed him. AJ was a bit annoyed since he was hungry and there were no fries on the menue...lol. He did eat a banana nut muffin which was a HUGE surprise. He didn't touch the other items at all.

We go back this coming Thursday for a speech evaluation. He's actually picked up a couple of new words this week. He actually told me to "rewind" a movie he was watching. As you can guess my mouth hit the ground when he said it...lol.

In April he will have an evaluation for occupational therapy. It sucks because it seems there is a 1 year waiting period to get into any of the programs. Hopefully after the evaluation reports are done we can go to a private office and get him in asap.

Evaluation time is always stressful. We KNOW his diagnosis but they still insist on waisting my time. Oh well, what can I do but go with the flow.

Taria

Personal post....nothing to do with AJ

How do I get myself out of a serious funk? Circumstances are what they are and to change them would alter life for more than just me. Do I choose happiness or do I choose responsibility? My choices have been made and I have to deal with the path life has laid before me because of those choices. But if I could go back to that one day.... (sigh)

"last night, I saw you in my dreams;
and now I can't wait to go to sleep..."
~Kanye West~

Please help me save my sanity!!

I have patience of steel most days when it comes to AJ. But for some reason this weekend I've been on edge with him. He has been tossing tantrums left and right. Over what you ask? My lack of lollypop stock in the house.

Last night he emptied an ENTIRE can of Ajax all over my livingroom. I promptly sent him upstairs to get a bath with DH so I could clean up the powdery mess. This afternoon, what does he do? He gets the Ajax (that was on top of the refridgerator) again and proceeds to powder my chocolate room. AGAIN, I clean up, but this time I throw the practically empty can away.

My darling angelic boy fishes out the can (yes out of the trash) and proceeds to try to empty what's left all over my CHOCOLATE sofa. I had had enough, I snapped. I spanked him and sent him to his room. After 15 mins in his room I let him come back downstairs.

As I type this I was interrupted about 2 times because he was first dumping my dish washing fluid down the toilet. Then he took the bar of soap in our washroom and yup, you guessed it....he tossed it in the toilet.

Give me strength....5hrs until bedtime.


ps - 30 mins after I posted this HE WENT BACK INTO THE TRASH FOR THE EMPTY AJAX AND TRIED TO EMPTY WHATS IN THERE ON MY KITCHEN TABLE. It's now in the trash outside.

4.5 hrs until bedtime....

Valentine's Day

Today is my 5th V-Day with the love of my life. He had a good day with his classmates and had a party too. He came home and gave me a card they made in school. He then gave me another gift...lol.





Why can't I stop him from growing up?

Very beautiful...

“Find a person who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on them, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep… wait for the one who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you’ re just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much they care and how lucky they are to have YOU… The one who turns to their friends and says, “That’s the one…” - Unknown Author

More Therapy

A day or two ago I spoke with our insurance company. They told me they would cover 100% of 90 sessions for additional therapy at JFK hospital. Well today I called the hospital rehab center to see if I can get him in a program. Shayna was such a sweet person and very helpful. She asked a few questins and said the intake nurse, Tatianna, will call me back to schedule the evaluations.

We are going to try to get him into Speech, Ocupational, and Feeding therapy. I couldn't be happier. I swear I will get this child all the help I can find in order to get him better and become self-sufficient.

Taria

Moving in the right direction...

I'm proud to say that AJ is 100% poo poo trained while in the house!! You can't see me, but I'm doing the happy dance right now. He's still lazy when it comes to going pee pee but we are working on that. I'm just beyond thrilled.

I think since getting his own computer in November his vocabulary has jumped way up. He loves to go to the sesame street website and watch the videos they have online. It is the greatest thing to hear him repeat words, or imitate the rythem of a song. I swear it brings me to tears sometimes as I just sit back and watch him.

We were also informed by our insurance company that we can open a case file with them for AJ and he can get additional therapy. WOO FRIGGIN HOO!!!!! Tomorrow I'll call the hosiptal and see if they have any speech programs for autistic children that he can join.

Today for the first time I can picture a self sufficient future for my son. Wow, it feels so good to imagine him going to a typical high school, playing sports, having friends, having a girlfriend (oh my!!), going to college, getting married, and having children of his own. I can see it, and because I can see it that will be more motivation for me to help him get better.

I know he will never be cured, but I have hope that he will be better.

Taria

Emotional Movies

What is it that happens to a women when she gives birth? Before I had my son I cried at a total of 4 movies.

Steel Magnolias
Beaches
Man on the Moon
Armagedon

Since having AJ I can't take movies that tug at your heart anymore. I'm sitting here watching Deep Impact. It's a movie that has two commets hurling themselves at the earth basically destroying all life. The first commet hits and sends a mega tsunami size tidal wave that wipes out the east. One of the characters and her father go to the beach and wait to die. Another character forces her daughter and infant son to flee for higher ground and they stay behind. The crew of astronauts that are trying to stop the commet have to say their teary good-byes to their families.

I'm sitting here an absolute mess because I love my son to death, but I don't know if I would have the courage to force him to flee or give him to someone else and wait for death to take me. It's kinda how I feel now. If he can't snap out of his autism and get to a point where he can support himself then one day I'm going to have to hand him over to for someone to take care of when it's my time to go.

I can't bare the thought.