According to the TACA e-newsletter I recieved today, the American Academy of Pediatrics medical journal, Pediatrics, released two separate studies regarding gastrointestinal disorders and autism.
The first, Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Disorders in Individuals With ASDs: A Consensus Report, states that gastrointestinal disorders are very common in individuals with ASD. It points out that though individuals with ASD may be nonverbal and unable to communicate how they feel and that they may have behaviors that make them hard to treat, necessary steps need to be taken to have their underlying issues treated just the same as a non-ASD individual. Also in the report it says that the affect of diet restrictions on symptoms of ASD have not been studied enough to be supported or refuted, but they are in no way saying that there is not a possibility that a group of individuals with ASD wouldn't respond to such treatment.
The second, Recommendations for Evaluation and Treatment of Common Gastrointestinal Problems in Children With ASDs, provides healthcare providers with the steps to treating gastrointestinal problems and it also concludes that some unusual behaviors could be results of different gastrointestinal disorders.
It's exciting to see information like this go "mainstream" when for so long when us parents have spouted similar information we get looked at as if we are conspiracy theorists. I think these reports are definitely a step in the right direction.
I don't know about you, but I'm excited to print out both to bring into my pediatrician's office!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Happy 2010!
My boys spent their New Years with their father but it didn't mean that we didn't take a chance to celebrate it!
So we rang in our own New Year on January 2nd around 6 pm as we ate our nachos. We had all the accessories- wine glasses, hats, tiaras, noisemakers, and necklaces. We did a count down, made resolutions, and celebrated. Even the cat got into it.
So we rang in our own New Year on January 2nd around 6 pm as we ate our nachos. We had all the accessories- wine glasses, hats, tiaras, noisemakers, and necklaces. We did a count down, made resolutions, and celebrated. Even the cat got into it.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Corbin's First Tooth!
Corbin was quite upset when his baby brother lost his first tooth before him. Now he has officially caught up by losing his first one!
Unfortunately, he has no clue when or where he lost it. So just like Brian's first tooth, I don't have it to save it.
He wrote a letter to the Tooth Fairy tonight to explain the situation.
Unfortunately, he has no clue when or where he lost it. So just like Brian's first tooth, I don't have it to save it.
He wrote a letter to the Tooth Fairy tonight to explain the situation.
Dear Tooth Fairy,
I lost my tooth and I can not find it but I still want money. So just put it on my hand or my belly or anywhere on my body. Or you can put it anywhere you want, just not in a hard spot. Okay, tooth fairy?
I think I lost it at my Dad's, so look there first, then look at my Mom's. You might need to look everywhere outside. Please.
Good night, Corbin
P.S. I said good night because you sleep during the day because you are awake at night.
Time for a Change...
Every once in a while I get an urge that things in my life need to be changed. And when I get that urge I always want to do something completely different with my hair. May seem insignificant to some, but it always seems to get me feeling like I can take on anything.
Don't worry, Mom, I'm not going to dye my hair black again (remember it came out purple?).
I have decided to get a body wave perm done to my hair.
I have a slight wave in my hair and the only way I'll wear my hair down is if I curl it or gel up the waves- so why not get it permanently that way so I won't have to mess with it.
Hoping I come out looking somewhat like this....
And not like this....
Don't worry, Mom, I'm not going to dye my hair black again (remember it came out purple?).
I have decided to get a body wave perm done to my hair.
I have a slight wave in my hair and the only way I'll wear my hair down is if I curl it or gel up the waves- so why not get it permanently that way so I won't have to mess with it.
Hoping I come out looking somewhat like this....
And not like this....
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Christmas 2009
Do you ever have those mornings, that within just a few minutes of the day, you look at your child and say, "This is going to be an autistic day?".
That's what happened to us on Christmas morning.
Don't get me wrong. We had a wonderful day, but I couldn't help to notice that Brian was off in so many ways and I believe he would've appreciated the day and had more fun if he wasn't having an "autistic day".
We awoke and decided to check NORAD to make sure Santa had come to Maine before we went downstairs. When we got to the site it said that Santa had finished his entire 2009 trip and Corbin hurriedly ran down the stairs while I followed behind carrying his cuddly little brother.
Corbin started to dance as he saw the piles of presents and the set-up toys. Not sure how Santa does it at your house, but he always sets up one big present for each of the boys so they can immediately start playing. For Corbin, Santa had built two Lego Indiana Jone airplanes, and for Brian, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Raceway.
Corbin started to fly his airplanes all around and after just a few examples Brian figured out every aspect of the raceway.
This was the first year that Brian really got the idea of ripping the presents open but just didn't seem to care about the contents,which is kind of normal for him. It's aggravating though, holiday after holiday, to really believe you found just the right gifts to really get no reaction.
Corbin's big gifts of the day were a few science themed presents (as he has decided he will be a scientist when he is older), including a microscope and a telescope from my mother. He also got a few movies he's been wanting, a robot, legos, spy gear (his other career choice), a woodworking set, and so much more.
Christmas is so magical for Corbin. I love this age. Every gift, right down to the new toothbrush, got a huge smile and a "Wow!". He truly loved the whole experience of Christmas and I truly cherished sharing it with him.
Brian's theme this year was definitely cars. On top of the Mickey Mouse Raceway he also got a Disney Cars spiral race track, an electronic race track, a parking garage, and a Hot Wheels race track. He got his own digital camera and toy laptop as he's obsessed with my adult version of them.
After opening presents, Brian took the one new train he got, that came with a Thomas video, and disappeared into his playroom to play trains. He didn't touch any other new toy for the rest of the day.
Later in the afternoon we went to my fathers to open more gifts with our family. He immediately remembered Grammie's ceramic Christmas train that sits on a high shelf and started pointing and saying "choo choo" obsessively. He would climb to whatever relative he thought didn't know he couldn't have it, and hug them, then pull them to the shelf and say, "choo choo". He did finally give up on it after a short tantrum.
He opened his presents from his family and just threw them aside. Though I know my family understands Brian better and better every year I still feel bad that he does not show appreciation for the presents that they spend time picking out for him.
Then, after not really showing a care in the world for any one present he had opened that day, he eyed his younger cousin's gift- a Fisher-Price Play N Go School House- and decided that was what he wanted. Who would've ever thought he would have any care at all about such a toy. But he did and he put his blinders on and went after that present. He wasn't having it that he had to share it, especially since it wasn't even his gift. It took several trips to my parents bedroom and rubbing his back, giving deep-compressions, practically sitting on him to give him the pressure he was seeking, and singing little lullabies to him to make him finally give it up. I said to him, "We can go back out and play but no more yelling, it's time to be happy. Happy boy. Are you ready to be happy?" and he said, "Happy, yes I do". And we walked out hand-in-hand and he did a wonderful job.
He makes me so proud.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!
That's what happened to us on Christmas morning.
Don't get me wrong. We had a wonderful day, but I couldn't help to notice that Brian was off in so many ways and I believe he would've appreciated the day and had more fun if he wasn't having an "autistic day".
We awoke and decided to check NORAD to make sure Santa had come to Maine before we went downstairs. When we got to the site it said that Santa had finished his entire 2009 trip and Corbin hurriedly ran down the stairs while I followed behind carrying his cuddly little brother.
Corbin started to dance as he saw the piles of presents and the set-up toys. Not sure how Santa does it at your house, but he always sets up one big present for each of the boys so they can immediately start playing. For Corbin, Santa had built two Lego Indiana Jone airplanes, and for Brian, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Raceway.
Corbin started to fly his airplanes all around and after just a few examples Brian figured out every aspect of the raceway.
This was the first year that Brian really got the idea of ripping the presents open but just didn't seem to care about the contents,which is kind of normal for him. It's aggravating though, holiday after holiday, to really believe you found just the right gifts to really get no reaction.
Corbin's big gifts of the day were a few science themed presents (as he has decided he will be a scientist when he is older), including a microscope and a telescope from my mother. He also got a few movies he's been wanting, a robot, legos, spy gear (his other career choice), a woodworking set, and so much more.
Christmas is so magical for Corbin. I love this age. Every gift, right down to the new toothbrush, got a huge smile and a "Wow!". He truly loved the whole experience of Christmas and I truly cherished sharing it with him.
Brian's theme this year was definitely cars. On top of the Mickey Mouse Raceway he also got a Disney Cars spiral race track, an electronic race track, a parking garage, and a Hot Wheels race track. He got his own digital camera and toy laptop as he's obsessed with my adult version of them.
After opening presents, Brian took the one new train he got, that came with a Thomas video, and disappeared into his playroom to play trains. He didn't touch any other new toy for the rest of the day.
Later in the afternoon we went to my fathers to open more gifts with our family. He immediately remembered Grammie's ceramic Christmas train that sits on a high shelf and started pointing and saying "choo choo" obsessively. He would climb to whatever relative he thought didn't know he couldn't have it, and hug them, then pull them to the shelf and say, "choo choo". He did finally give up on it after a short tantrum.
He opened his presents from his family and just threw them aside. Though I know my family understands Brian better and better every year I still feel bad that he does not show appreciation for the presents that they spend time picking out for him.
Then, after not really showing a care in the world for any one present he had opened that day, he eyed his younger cousin's gift- a Fisher-Price Play N Go School House- and decided that was what he wanted. Who would've ever thought he would have any care at all about such a toy. But he did and he put his blinders on and went after that present. He wasn't having it that he had to share it, especially since it wasn't even his gift. It took several trips to my parents bedroom and rubbing his back, giving deep-compressions, practically sitting on him to give him the pressure he was seeking, and singing little lullabies to him to make him finally give it up. I said to him, "We can go back out and play but no more yelling, it's time to be happy. Happy boy. Are you ready to be happy?" and he said, "Happy, yes I do". And we walked out hand-in-hand and he did a wonderful job.
He makes me so proud.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Eddie.
Anyone who has known our family personally probably remembers Eddie.
Eddie was the only doll/stuffed animal that Brian has ever had an attachment to. Eddie use to go EVERYWHERE with Brian- it was a nightmare if we ever misplaced him. I even made a scrapbook page dedicated to Eddie. Eddie was a welcome addition to our family at the time because he seemed to help him get over the stage of pulling his own hair out, he'd just twist his fingers up in Eddie's instead.
Then we lost Eddie. I still have no idea where he went. We went without an Eddie for about five months. The first three weeks were awful then he slowly forgot about his Eddie and I decided to not replace it.
Then a donation came into the school where I work and in the pile of toys was an Eddie doll. I remembered the love Brian had for Eddie, and though his attachment to it at times was annoying, I loved that he was attached to anything besides trains at that moment. So I took the new Eddie home with me.
This time Eddie TRIGGERED a new hair-pulling stage. Excited to see Eddie, running his fingers through his hair, somehow made him decide it would be great fun to start pulling his own hair out once again. After I started to see that familiar patch of baldness at the back of Brian's head I took Eddie and stored him away.
We've been cleaning the house, a deep-cleaning, because I have the boys believing Santa doesn't like coming to messy/unorganized homes. We found Eddie tucked way back in the closet. Brian saw him. He hugged him. He's carried him around everywhere today.
I'm sure I'm just asking for trouble but once again my heart just grew watching him love an object and I think I'll allow him to stick around one more time. Hopefully Eddie learned his lesson the last time I took him away and he won't remind Brian of their time spent together pulling hair.
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