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LisaAKAmom - Autism Advocacy

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Member since: Apr 29, 2008
Last logged in: Dec 03, 2008

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Parent, ABA, Auditory Integration Therapy, Assistive Technology, Occupational Therapy

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LisaAKAmom's Page URL

http://www.foggyrock.com/MyPage/LisaAutismAdvocate

LisaAKAmom's Bio

Hello, My name is Lisa. I'm a part time Substitute Teacher Grades K - 12, special Ed, as well as a Full time mom, to three wonderful kids. Christian, Carolyn - both in 7th grade and going through the middle school Drama, and my youngest who is now 11 years old and has severe autism. Richie was diagnosed when he was 2 years old...and has been my inspiration. Just when I think I got it all figured out...my kids are there to let me know, I have been driving in the wrong lane, going the wrong direction.

We have been through some really good times and some really bad times. We have survived, moving to Japan, moving to Utah, Iraq...and Now we are Surviving Autism and Puberty..... I ran accross a quote this year...that pretty much sums up my whole attitude about everything these days. Any Day Above Ground is a Good Day....Explore All the possibilities, and Dont Sweat the Small Stuff. I'm too blessed to be stressed and way to annointed to be disappointed. And When life is really Hard....HANDLE WITH PRAYER.

Favorite Blogs (3)

"Don't go changing to try and please me--We never could have come this far!!!"

I'm afraid this is going to be along blog, so hang in there. Went to a pool we'r...Read more

By striving on 07.11.08
Comments(3)

My Night/Night Foggy Rock Prayer

“A THANKFUL PRAYER”

DEAR GOD,

YOU’VE BROUGHT ME TO A PLA...Read more

By striving on 07.12.08
Comments(3)

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LisaAKAmom's Blogs

Lessons Learned

by LisaAKAmom on 09/20/2008

Lessons Learned
by on 09.19.08 - public - 0 visits
You never stop Learning. Just when you get one thing or phase figured out...here come 3 more for...

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Lessons Learned
by on 09.19.08 - public - 0 visits 
You never stop Learning. Just when you get one thing or phase figured out...here come 3 more for you to figure out...and then when your trying to figure those out, regression comes back and you have to relearn, what you already learned.
So the one thing I have learned is it's a never ending process.

I've also learned that my son's autism isnt just teaching me about Autism. But it is teaching me to be a better me...then I might have been, had I never known autism.... a cause bigger than Me.
I have learned, Dont judge a book or a situation, based on appearance....because you may just be missing the main ingrediant or clue that reveals the whole puzzle.
I'm Learning, that just being Patient...requires more patients and some things are worth the wait. But I still struggle with wanting things on my own time table.

I'm learning that laughter is the best medicine...especially after sitting in the class of Humility. After your child jumps out of the public pool and decides they are done swimming and therefore the swimsuit is no longer required. Or Sitting through that one church service...when during the sermon, you son feels the need to run up to the baptistry, just to make sure there is still water in the pool....and your praying..Please dont jump in....Whatever you do....mom, isnt dressed for swimming this morning.

I'm learning, That no matter how bad things may seem....somebody out there always has it worse than I do...and I need to focus on the positive...because this too will pass.

Just last night, I was reminded that Sleep is an Option...not a Requirement.
I have been taught that I can be an advocate for my child, and I can make a difference in his educational setting....and I have been educated from the school of hard knocks. Experience is what you get when you dont get what you want...which makes you wiser for the next IEP meeting and in the words of Scarlett O'Hara....There is always Tomorrow!

I'm also learning....That everyday, should be like Christmas. Not about the gifts we recieve, but the gift of Love, we have to share with one another. All I need to do is look at the Christmas Tree in my Living room...and Here my son say...HO HO HO...Merry Christmas...In the Middle of September. He doesnt care there arent any presents under the tree, He just wants to decorate my house, and 2 years ago, he couldnt say that phrase. Miracles happen.

So,Dont sweat the small stuff...or the small stuff will eat you alive....and pick your battles wisely, because Rome wasnt built in a day.

I have learned, that is ok to Take a Vacation from Autism...Trust me it will still be there when you get back...the only thing that will change will be your disposition and your ability to cope.

Supermom Doesnt Exist - Therefore I am an imperfect mother of an autistic child, but to my child I am his perfect mom....You know, the keeper of the Cheerios. If God had problems with his children...what makes me think its going to be easier for me? 
And one doesnt have to have an autistic child, to know raising children under any circumstance is a challenge....I'm reminded of this when my so called normal children, give me more gray hair than my autistic child.

And the biggest thing I have learned and I'm still Learning. When I have to Let Go and Let God. I do believe, God is bigger than the boogie man....and Autism. Humans make Mistakes, God Doesnt. I was sent an email yesterday, and I think its pretty appropriate...Worry looks around....Faith looks Up.

Thanks for letting me ramble....keep in mind...written and posted on 2 hours of sleep....because Sleep is Optional. LOL
Lisa

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Five Emmy nominations for ‘Autism: The Musical’

by LisaAKAmom on 07/27/2008

HERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS!!!

Five Emmy nominations for ‘Autism: The Musical’
July 17th, 2008

From the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences:

‘A...

Do we need some sort of special-needs version of The Baby Borrowers?

by LisaAKAmom on 07/27/2008

Do we need some sort of special-needs version of The Baby Borrowers?
By Terri Mauro,

That NBC "reality" show (based on one from the BBC) apparen...

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Do we need some sort of special-needs version of The Baby Borrowers?
By Terri Mauro,

That NBC "reality" show (based on one from the BBC) apparently gives teens a taste of parenting to discourage them from getting pregnant before they're fit for the job. I'm more worried about the fitness of the parents who are loaning their kids out, but I guess you take free babysitting services where you can get them.

The concept, though, makes me think of all those folks who've recently criticized the way parents of children with special needs take care of their young-uns, kicking them out of restaurants, planes and churches and ripping them on the radio for exerting insufficient behavioral control.

Perhaps some of these skeptics would benefit from spending some actual time in charge a child with special needs. Maybe they'd see that it's not really as easy as applying boot to backside. Maybe they'd develop some compassion for our children, and for those of us who devote our lives to them.

Actually, you probably have better odds of getting teenagers to stop having sex than for that to happen. But one can hope.

You'd have to make sure that the daily schedule was set up for maximum disruptiveness. A church service, followed by lunch at a place with slow waitresses, some travel with lots of suitcases and no help, then a long wait at a doctor's office. It can be like an obstacle course. It would make Survivor look like a day at the beach.

No need to restrict it to developmental disabilities, either. There are people who don't believe that things like ADHD or food allergies or Bipolar disorder exist. Perhaps some direct experience with hyperactivity or anaphylactic shock or cycling would be informative, for them and for the television audience.

There are problems with the idea, though. We all know how perverse our kids can be, behaving perfectly just when we most wanted to show somebody how they misbehave. Disrupted routine, inexperienced handlers, and all the lights camera action! should be enough to precipitate problems, but just our luck they'd save up all the bad stuff 'til they were back home.

Then, too, if we're looking for compassion and acceptance, showing our children at their absolute parent-bewildering worst isn't going to help much, either -- just make folks afraid to include them and angry about supporting them and determined to find genetic tricks to make sure they're never born. You can't make much of a case for proper handling and accommodations when you have reality-TV-volunteer bozos doing the handling and accommodating.

And that's the thing that dooms the idea the most, of course -- who among us would dare entrust our children to the inexperienced and the prejudiced? As much as that's a questionable idea for a newborn, it could be a disaster for a child with special needs. If you rarely go out because you can't trust anyone to babysit, you know what I mean.

Maybe there are folks who are desperate enough for respite that they'd consider it, though. And surely there should be no shortage of know-it-alls who are sure they could do better. Why, the producers probably wouldn't have to go far beyond our own extended families to find willing volunteers.

If not, that Michael Savage seems like the kinda guy who'd do anything for publicity.

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Fire Savage: Two Demos Sunday in SF and NYC More Info

by LisaAKAmom on 07/27/2008

Fire Savage: Two Demos Sunday in SF and NYC More Info

There will be two demonstrations this Sunday calling for the firing of Michael Savage...

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Fire Savage: Two Demos Sunday in SF and NYC More Info
 
 
  
There will be two demonstrations this Sunday calling for the firing of Michael Savage and for his sponsors to stop supporting his program.

On his July 16th program Savage said,

"I'll tell you what autism is. In 99 percent of the cases, it's a brat who hasn't been told to cut the act out. That's what autism is. What do you mean they scream and they're silent? They don't have a father around to tell them, 'Don't act like a moron. You'll get nowhere in life. Stop acting like a putz. Straighten up. Act like a man. Don't sit there crying and screaming, idiot."

When asked to explain his comments Savage claimed that his comments were taken out of context, and asserted that his critics were "Stalinists," and has gone on to suggest there is no autism epidemic and that bad parenting is a cause of autism.

Enough is enough. It is time for Savage to find a new job, and for his advertisers to put their money somewhere else.

Two demonstrations will be held this Sunday:

In San Francisco demonstrate in front of the KNEW studio where Savage broadcasts:

12 noon
340 Townsend Street

In New York City:

City Hall, Broadway and the Brooklyn Bridge, 12:30 pm

Bring friends, neighbors, family, kids, signs. Send this message to everyone.  
 
  
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Revised letter

by LisaAKAmom on 07/25/2008

Well the first email addy to mr. savage didnt work...since then I have heard him go on about the early intervention and early diagnosis...so I added a...

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Well the first email addy to mr. savage didnt work...since then I have heard him go on about the early intervention and early diagnosis...so I added a few comments in the letter regarding that...and sent it to him. Hopefully this time it will reach it's destination.
Here is the New addy if anyone else wants it.
jerrycrowley@wor710.com 
Mr. Savage,

Talk Radio Network

P.O. Box 3755

Central Point, Oregon 97502

Dear Mr Savage and To Whom it May Concern:

I am writing in response to your recent broadcast, regarding autism and parenting skills,

As a parent of an autistic child, I would like to extend to you a written invitation to my home. I would like for you to be a guest in my house for a week. Keep in mind, it’s only 7 days….My husband and I, would love to see what it is exactly we are doing wrong with our son, and how we can magically cure him of autism. This is the perfect opportunity for you to put your comments in action and show your listeners, that you actually know something about the subject and aren’t like all the other so called talk show hosts that run their mouths with out actually knowing what they are talking about. Oh excuse my manners; I just insulted that talk show host that actually researches their material, before they make false accusations and comments. Please excuse, my ignorance and lack of respect.  I sincerely, hope that you will take us up on this offer, to get up close and personal with an autistic child….its the opportunity of a lifetime, and I know I would give anything in the world to be able to have an actual conversation with my son. You see he is 11 years old and nonverbal. But don’t let that discourage you, because if you can’t speak, you have to be able to do something that a lot of normal people can’t do…and that is Problem Solve. My son is very intelligent and just waiting for the day…when he can show the world what he knows and what he can do. You see, Not being able to Speak isn’t the same thing as not having something to Say. Who knows, maybe one day, he will be able to grow up and become a Talk Show Host, just like you.  As for the subject of Autism, If my son could Speak…This is what he would love to tell you and all of your listeners about autism.

Autism ~ from the Autistic Mind of a Child

Nobody can see my disability. I look just like every other kid-attractive, 
walking, making sounds. They can't see how my neurons are scrambled in my 
brain. They can't see the misconnections between the left and right brain. 
Nobody can see I have autism. 
Nobody can see that my body is sick. No one can see that my stomach is in 
knots from my digestive system not working. No one can that my body and mind 
are starving because my cells don't make the right enzymes to digest food. 
No one see that I suffer from low blood sugar because I can't properly 
metabolize nourishment. 
No one can see that my body is attacking its own nerve cells from 
auto-immune dysfunction. No one can see that mercury lead and arsenic cannot 
be excreted from my body, so it keeps building up in my brain. No one 
understands that my body cannot tolerate normal enjoyments for children, like 
bright, vivid colors and loud noises. I desperately want to be a kid and 
enjoy these things, but my body just won't let me. 
But everyone can see how inappropriate my behavior can be when I am out in 
public. Everyone can see how immature I can be compared to other kids my 
age. Everyone sees the 2-year old tantrums when things have been too 
overwhelming for me. Everyone sees my frustration from trying to cope. 
Everyone sees my screaming and fighting. Everyone just assumes I'm being 
bad, not that my body hurts, my eyes are in pain from colors, my ears ring 
with loud noises not heard by others. 
Everyone sees my tantrums when I don't get my way. No one sees that I can't 
explain my fear when I think I'm not being understood. Everyone may see my 
screams when my mom takes something away from me. No one can see that having 
something of comfort can keep my fears under control for me, and taking it 
away makes my nerves explodes in anxiety. 
No one understands how hard I have to work to keep my behaviors from 
reacting to the chemical imbalances in my body that makes me feel horrible. 
No one can see that, no matter how hard I try, sometimes I cannot control 
it. No one can see the shame I feel after I've had a meltdown from my body's 
problems. 
What they don't see I am a person. I have feelings and want to be loved and 
accepted like everyone else. What they don't see is that, when they look at 
me like I need a good spanking; I understand that I'm not capable of 
controlling my body. What they don't see is that I scream because I don't 
know how to say "HELP ME" 
What they don't see is that I hear every ugly word they say, but for the 
life of me, I can't make my mouth say what I'm feeling. But they don't see 
that as a disability. They say I am unmanageable. They say I am a problem. 
But I am not a problem. I HAVE AUTISM. My mom has taken me to more doctors 
and specialist than you can ever imagine. She's read more books and done 
more research on my disease than a parent would ever want. She has tried 
special diet, supplements, drugs and various metabolic therapies. She has 
PRAYED for GUIDANCE and asked for discernment on how to help my body. And 
behaviors, OH YES, has she tried everything to help my behavior. 
Stop telling her all I need is a spanking. If spanking would stop all this, 
my mom would gladly exchange my disability for a spanking. She knows better 
than all of you what I need to help me, and what we both need is your 
understanding, not ignorance. 
I just want to be accepted and understood. No blamed and ashamed, I want to 
be appreciated for my gifts. I do have some if you look more closely. I want 
to be cared for as a person. I want you to care, even when I act like I 
don't. 
I want to be respected, just like you do. I want you to respect my mom and 
dad for all the hard work they have done to help me try to lead a normal a 
life as possible. I want you to respect my family and all the struggles we 
have to endure because of our love for each other. 
I want to be LOVED like any other child. And need you to role model 
respectful behavior for me so I can be respectful too. I want you to love me 
just like JESUS would. 
Love, 
(Author unknown)

Mr. Savage, Again, anytime you want to see what it’s really like to raise a child with autism…you are always welcome to visit our home. Maybe you could also do a story about all the parents that have been sent overseas, to serve their country and protect the freedom of the press...while you exploit and insult their Families and Parenting Skills. Or the families that are surviving on one income....because they dont qualify for Welfare or Financial Assistance...I think you might be suprised at the number of Autistic Families that fall in these Categories!

As for Early Intervention...as the parent of a child with Severe Autism...Trust me when I tell you...YOU CANT FAKE IT!!! When you have a child that is 18 months and Not speaking...as well as not pointing or trying to interact in their environment...Something is Wrong!!!! Unfortunately, Autism wasnt even recognized as a medical conditon until a couple of years ago...it was considered a mental disorder...So the doctors that we have been taking our children too for Years....Had absolutely NO Education about the disorder What so ever....We had to go to a Psychologist to get a Diagnosis...and then when you get the diagnosis....its I'm sorry your child has Autism...Good Luck. There was NO HELP or SUPPORT. Our children get sick just like other children...and yet they are discriminated against...because they are too difficult too Treat and nobody wants to work with a difficult child. I took my son to a dentist, because he was in obvious pain and needed to have a tooth pulled. The dentist took one look and said, i'm not pulling that tooth...but if he was a normal child he would be treated differently. So I had to find another dentist to treat my son. And I could tell you many more Discriminating story...the one thing I have learned...there is still this...Dont ask, Dont Tell...and Not in My Backyard mentality. People are afraid of things they cant understand...and yes, I cant tell you how many times...I have had to take my child to the grocery store...Gotten the Looks like....that child needs a good Spanking...Even been told...If you train them up right..you wouldnt have that problem...So I guess along with the invitation to my home...I owe you a Thank You...Thank You for reinforcing the Ignorance...that my family has to indure on a regular basis. Once Again, if you want to find out what it's really like to raise a child with Autism...Your more than welcome to Walk a Mile in My Shoes for a Week. God Bless You!

The Morrell Family

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Dear Mr. Savage and to whom it may concern;

by LisaAKAmom on 07/22/2008

Mr. Savage,

Talk Radio Network

P.O. Box 3755

Central Point, Oregon 97502

Dear Mr Savage and To Whom it May Concern:

I am ...

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Mr. Savage,

Talk Radio Network

P.O. Box 3755

Central Point, Oregon 97502

Dear Mr Savage and To Whom it May Concern:

I am writing in response to your recent broadcast, regarding autism and parenting skills.

Autism ~ from the Autistic Mind of a Child

God Bless You!

The Morrell Family

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Unconditional Love ... Go the Extra Mile.

by LisaAKAmom on 07/10/2008

The Day I Finally Cried (Kleenex warning)

by LisaAKAmom on 06/07/2008

The Day I Finally Cried
By Meg Hill

I didn't cry when I learned I was the parent of a
mentally handicapped child. I just sat still and didn't
...

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The Day I Finally Cried
By Meg Hill

I didn't cry when I learned I was the parent of a 
mentally handicapped child.  I just sat still and didn't 
say anything while my husband and I were informed that 
two-year-old Kristi was - as we suspected - retarded.
    "Go ahead and cry," the doctor advised kindly.   
"Helps prevent serious emotional difficulties."
    Serious difficulties notwithstanding, I couldn't cry 
then nor during the months that followed.
    When Kristi was old enough to attend school, 
we enrolled her in our neighborhood school's kindergarten 
at age seven.

It would have been comforting to cry the day I left 
her in that room full of self-assured, eager, alert five-year-olds.   
Kristi had spent hour upon hour playing by herself, but this moment, 
when she was the "different" child among twenty, 
was probably the loneliest she had ever known.
    However, positive things began to happen to Kristi in 
her school, and to her schoolmates, too.  When boasting of 
their own accomplishments, Kristi's classmates always took 
pains to praise her as well: "Kristi got all her spelling 
words right today."  No one bothered to add that her 
spelling list was easier than anyone else's.

During Kristi's second year in school, she faced a 
very traumatic experience.  The big public event of the 
term was a competition based on a culmination of the year's 
music and physical education activities.  Kristi was way 
behind in both music and motor coordination.   
My husband and I dreaded the day as well.
    On the day of the program, Kristi pretended to be sick.   
Desperately I wanted to keep her home.  Why let 
Kristi fail in a gymnasium filled with parents, students 
and teachers?  What a simple solution it would be just to 
let my child stay home.  Surely missing one program 
couldn't matter.  But my conscience wouldn't let me off 
that easily.  So I practically shoved a pale, reluctant 
Kristi onto the school bus and proceeded to be sick myself.
    Just as I had forced my daughter to go to school, now 
I forced myself to go to the program.  It seemed that it 
would never be time for Kristi's group to perform.  When at 
last they did, I knew why Kristi had been worried.  Her 
class was divided into relay teams.  With her limp and 
slow, clumsy reactions, she would surely hold up her team.
    The performance went surprisingly well, though, until 
it was time for the gunnysack race.  Now each child had to 
climb into a sack from a standing position, 
hop to a goal line, return and climb out of the sack.
    I watched Kristi standing near the end of her line of players, looking frantic.

But as Kristi's turn to participate neared, 
a change took place in her team.   
The tallest boy in the line stepped behind Kristi 
and placed his hands on her waist.  
Two other boys stood a little ahead of her.   
The moment the player in front of Kristi stepped from the sack, 
those two boys grabbed the sack and held it open 
while the tall boy lifted Kristi and dropped her neatly into it.   
A girl in front of Kristi took her hand and supported her briefly 
until Kristi gained her balance. 
  
Then off she hopped, smiling and proud.
    Amid the cheers of teachers, schoolmates and parents, 
I crept off by myself to thank God for the warm, 
understanding people in life who make it possible for my 
disabled daughter to be like her fellow human beings.

Then I finally cried.

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TEACH ME: DON'T LABEL ME

by LisaAKAmom on 06/07/2008

TEACH ME: DON'T LABEL ME

By Barbara K. Given, Ph.D.

I am not "disabled."
I learn differently.
I am not "handicapped."
I take in and use inf...

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TEACH ME: DON'T LABEL ME
 
By Barbara K. Given, Ph.D.
 
I am not "disabled."
I learn differently.
I am not "handicapped."
I take in and use information that is somewhat unique to me.
Others may see me as handicapped when they 
insist on teaching me in ways through which
I cannot learn or when they insist that
I demonstrate my abilities in ways that are
comfortable for them but not for me.
It is not I who is out of step, inadequate, handicapped or disabled.
It is the system.
I don't want my teacher to be my pal, 
but I do want a model and a friend.
I don't want my teacher to make life easy for me,
but I do want a teacher filled with a
convicton that what he or she teaches is
important enough for me to learn and
I do want a teacher who has enthusiasm that
encourages me to keep working until I learn.
I don't want to be the teacher's pet, but
I do want to be treated as a person worthy of
respect in spite of my learning style or
because of it.
I don't want a teacher who demands praise, but
I do want a teacher who understands my
respect even if I show it in an awkward and
sometimes hostile way.
I don't want a brain transplant, but
I do want to learn as much as
I am able.
I don't want a label, but
I do want an appropriate education.
I don't want to be called "learning disabled",
but 
I do want to learn.
Teach me.
Don't label me.

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Yesterday, We took a Break

by LisaAKAmom on 05/26/2008

Well after the last couple of weeks of just going and going...like the energizer bunny. We decided it was time to get away. So we loaded up the car wi...

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Well after the last couple of weeks of just going and going...like the energizer bunny. We decided it was time to get away. So we loaded up the car with picnic supplies and headed off to the mountains. We ended up driving to Bear Lake. Where the kids got to stop along the way and see this cave that had an underground water geyser...which they thought was really cool. They also got to see a big herd of sheep and some deer.
This is something that my family has loved to do ever since the kids were little and something we can do with our autistic son...as long as we aviod those places he loves to shop at we are ok. lol
I have to say, this break was a bit long over due, because of the long winter and such. It really did help...and I have to say...that just getting away and leaving all the stress and troubles behind for even just 24 hours...really does make a difference. I find I am more refreshed and able to pick up those battles and start with a whole new perspective.
I just have one question....How does a house get so messy when Nobody is Home?

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If its not Autism...Then its Something Else. Reality Check setting in.

by LisaAKAmom on 05/25/2008

We have been trying to figure things out with Christian for a while now, my oldest son....and one thing we do know...he just doesn't fit in the box.....

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We have been trying to figure things out with Christian for a while now, my oldest son....and one thing we do know...he just doesn't fit in the box....and as always, just when you think you got it all figured out....Guess again! Well last year I had worried that he might have a tumor on his pituitary gland because he was dxed with hypopituitarism...and after speaking with the doctor I had asked him point blank what he thought was causing it....because after doing the research and their were only three things that could be the cause...I said it's not Cushings...he said, No, its not Cushings, I said its not Addison's...he said Right again...its not Addison's. Then I said, that only leaves the Tumor...and he said Right....and we may need to do an MRI later on...but right now he wanted to get his blood and thyroid levels corrected...So we started him on this medication....and he was making progress with this medication. And the doctor seemed to be happy with the results and said...we have fixed the problem and we didn't have anything to worry about. So I put the whole Idea that my son may have a tumor...to the side and we were going along just fine.
Until I took him back in last weekend to the Eye Doctor....and they Eye Doctor said, with his lazy eye...his Diagnosis was abnormal and he wanted to do some more testing....to make sure that he doesn't have anything pressing on his Optic Nerve...to cause his severe loss of vision in his left eye. Basically he is seeing only the Very Top E out of that eye on and eye chart and that is it.
Also the doctor could only correct his vision in that eye...to like 20/60....another reason he wants to do more test. 
So we went back to the endocrinologist Yesterday and told him the findings and what the eye doctor suspected....and he said, he didn't think that the mri would show anything...but he was going to order one, based on the eye doctors opinion.
As a mom, I'm not sure how to feel about this....Part of me wants them to find something so we can fix it...then the other part of me is like...I dont want them to find a tumor in my Sons Head!!! 
But honestly this just makes so much sense to all of his symptoms...from the unexplained Migraine Headaches he would get when he was three years old. I can remember on his Third Birthday, him laying in the middle of the floor just Screaming...My Head Hurts...and taking him into the doctor....the doctor sent him to the neurologist...who instead of doing an MRI....did an eeg and said...he was Fine.
And of course all this happened before, I knew anything about autism...or to ask for an MRI at the time.
The other strange thing is with his vision.....We had his vision checked at 5 years...was told he had the lazy eye....but not to worry about it, it would correct itself. Then when he was in 4th grade, again had his vision looked at...had a lazy eye...told again not to worry...but to use reading glasses when reading and doing anything up close...so no loss of Vision.....Then 2 years later...he has major loss of vision...seen another eye doctor...givin a prescription for glasses and sent on his way....now with this eye doctor...his vision is about the same as it was a year ago...but he wants to check to see if something is pressing on the optic nerve...because his amount of loss of vision with his dx isn't Normal. Why didnt the other eye doctor pick up on this or say something???
Anyway, I know this is alot of Rambling....but to be honest...I haven't really allowed myself to think about it till late last night and this morning.....or I have thought about it...but allowed myself to have any emotional reaction to this...and I know, its not going to change things one way or the other...and I cant worry about something I cant control....and I keep telling myself...dont go borrow trouble.
But that's easier said then done sometimes.
Anyway, Thanks for letting me .....Let is all Out.

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Buckle your Seat Belt

by LisaAKAmom on 05/22/2008

Its going to be a bumpy Summer.
This is the first year, in 4 years that richie will have an entire summer break. He usually only gets 5 weeks off...a...

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Its going to be a bumpy Summer.
This is the first year, in 4 years that richie will have an entire summer break. He usually only gets 5 weeks off...and trust me after that third week....He is so ready to go back to school...and so is mom.
Bonus for this summer....I finally got off the waiting list and we are now getting respite care...but what I'm finding out...is its hard to find a good respite worker...and sometimes they can be more work than you autistic child. I just hired a new girl last week.....so hopefully she will be better then the last one we had....not that the last one was completely bad..but just wasnt suited for richie and they didnt click.
The other new thing is Summer School....Which I'm not sure about it either. I have heard its alot like Organized Chaos....and I still have questions I need to get answered....On my big too do list.
I can also see, since its only 3/4 days a week...richie not wanting to go to school at all. Typical 11 year old behavior....It will also be interesting to see how he interacts with a different teacher.
Anyway....Only Time will Tell...and I figure this would be a good place to keep a summer Journal of How things go.
Ready....Set....Learn!

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