Wish Upon a Hero is a website for ordinary people to post their wishes and to grant other people's wishes.  It's a great way to "pay it forward" or to trade small favors when times are tough.  

Several families on that site had wished for weighted blankets, which are very expensive to purchase, for their special needs children.  A few very nice quilters/seamstresses granted their wishes.  Taking things one step further, still other wish-granters donated fleece and other materials to some of the quilters.

One such quilter saw my post on our blog site about weighted blankets and contacted me!  What a nice person!  The world is a wonderful place!  2009 rocks!  She offered to make Wyatt a weighted blanket for the cost of shipping.  I wanted to also pay for materials and she said that was not necessary but that I could "pay it forward" and contribute to the materials for someone else's blanket if I liked.

I'm just curious if there are certain things that cause tantrums with your child? What is it that sets your kid off? For my wife, it's leaving the toilet seat up. : )

Do you have routine or ways to avoid these triggers?

Gees Todd I've got some noisy neighbors out back I'd like you to erase lol =)

Oh this kid lol. I have warned my husband NO MORE OREOS. Marcel like alot of these kids has a lil  bit of OCD. WELL

he kept going to the "oreo" cupboard this morning, and there were no more oreos because mommy warned daddy

that he better not bring anymore into this house unless he wanted an oreo shoved where the sun doesnt shine!!

FIT FIT FIT (describing Marcel having a hissy awhile ago) FINALLY got him settled down with popcorn and listenin' to

a Doobie Brothers CD. Im curious who else has a big of the OCD mmm? (By the way he hasnt been diagnosed with

it but it's obvious).

I wonder if any of you other parents have had the same problem and can help me. My 8 year old son Nicholas used to adore taking rides in the car. He would sit nicely on the seat wearing his seatbelt with no problems. He would hardly utter a sound while staring out the window happily watching the other vehicles. However, recently I tried to put him in the car to go out somewhere and he became a different kid. He started to scream and cry and fight getting onto the seat. Once I finally got the seatbelt on, he would slide down in the seat so that the seatbelt would be around his neck choking him. Ever since that day, it has been a never-ending battle to get him to sit in the car. never mind wearing the seatbelt, he wont even sit on the seat. He will only sit hunched over on the floor of the backseat while screaming and crying away. Obviously, this is very dangerous, and can not continue. My husband did some research online and found a vest that could be used in situations like this. You put the vest on the child. Then, you attach another piece to the seat in the car. Once the child is sitting down, you can attach the piece to the vest and it acts like a seatbelt. Have any of you tried this vest? We have not bought it yet because it is very expensive and we want to make sure it works first. Also, does anyone have any other suggestions about how to solve this problem? i would appreciate any help anyone can give me. Thanks for reading. KC

hello all,

I work at a pediatrician's office and I have a 20 year old that has infantile autism. She needs to have some cavities filled which is technically general dentistry but she needs to be sedated-put to sleep completely. I have called every dental school in Massachusetts and cannot find someone that will put her to sleep for this kind of work. One issue is that it's general dentist work, the other issue is that she's over 18 so the pediatric dentists won't do it. It was suggested that I try to ask here. I would appreciate any feedback that you have.

Thank You.

Jen

A new report asserts that Jett Travolta suffered from autism NOT Kawasaki disease, which the Travolta's have long asserted.

Autism is a condition that is apparently not 'recognized' by John Travolta's beloved Scientology religion. Followers believe that autism falls under the category of mental illnesses. They view people who suffer from mental disorders as defective human beings and teach that such 'illness' be treated through spiritual healing. They reject the use of drugs to treat mental conditions.

Seizures are a common 'side effect' of autism when its left untreated.

Jett was reportedly knocked off his feet by a seizure before he hit his head on bathroom fixtures and then subsequently died.

Makes you say, hmmmm, right?

Update: Travolta's camp is now claiming that "Jett had suffered from grand mal seizures in the past and had taken anti-seizure medicine which the Travolta's say did not work, so the medication was stopped."

I'm just curious what kind of vacations you and your family have taken? What has been your favorite vacation? Did you fly? What did you do on the vacation? As usual, answers will be graded...

Anyway, there are actually some things that can help with hyperactivity. Alot of kids with autism have a bunch of excess energy to burn off. One thing I try to do is make sure that my son has a chance during the day to get his energy out. He has a mini trampoline inside and a swing set outside. My son LOVES to swing. I think the swing set is the best investment we have made so far! Actually its not even that expensive. You can get one starting at about $100 at Toys r Us. Just make sure that you cement it in or it could go flying!

Anyway, I believe one of the main things that can cause hyperactivity is yeast overgrowth. From having my son tested, I know his yeast was off the chart. I do think that I have gotten it somewhat under control now with the use of probiotics. You can also read more about controlling yeast in one of my previous articles. http://livingwithautism-jen78fl.blogspot.com/2008/12/yeast-overgrowth-and-bacteria.html  read more »

Normally I don't read blogs but came across this web site and realized what a good idea it is.

My grandson is 8 1/2 years old, with low functioning autism and epilepsy. He does not speak much but understands what he is told for the most part.

Between the two conditions, his capabilities are that of a 2-3 year old. My daughter has her hands full dealing with his tantrums and throwing anything in sight. Can anyone recommend a doctor or group that handles behavorial problems in the New Jersey area?

I apologize in advance if this has been posted already as I have not read all the blogs yet.

 Thanks for your advice,

Katherine

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2988647.stm

I read somewhere awhile back that there was a possible chromosome linkable to Autism, and they were hoping to someday be able to test parents to see if they have a genetic form of Autism Genes or something as opposed to that random chance. I am beginning to wonder if I carry such a chromosomal defect.

I have recently reconnected with an aunt and cousins whom I have not seen in 12 years thanks to a fight between my mother and uncle. I never even got to say goodbye just one day she upped and moved me 3 hours north. But besides that...

I found out that one uncle whom practically raised me then one day walked away has a daughter with Autism. My aunt described it as the type that is grown out of. I suppose she really is not that informed about it like us ASD parents here, but I am assuming it is high functioning, perhaps Aspergers or PDD. My cousin was looking through my Myspace and I have a few ASD related graphics I made in my pictures. She began asking questions. From what she has explained about her son, I am willing to bet he lands on the spectrum. Now I am no doctor or specialist but his sypmtoms and behaviors match many of Michaels, and some of the other kids we talk about on this site... 

I just found it amazing how there could be 3 kids on the spectrum (if my 2nd cousin gets diagnosed and they ever figure out Michael) all in one family. How can you deny an Autism Genetic Connection there?

Now I am not saying I believe ASD is all a genetic flaw. Some may be caused by something eaten or vaccinated with. But what if the sudden rise of all these kids now is actually due to something our grandparents were exposed to and it caused just a slight in the odds.  read more »

On Christmas Day, I thought it would be cool for Daddy and Wyatt to take a four-hour train ride on Amtrak since Wyatt loves trains.  I would drive in the car, through the torrential rains and pick them up on the way to our destination.  Everything seemed to be going great.  I was able to stop off at a beach near Santa Barbara and walk the dog just as the rains let up.  It was beautiful.

Well, the train broke down about 30 minutes south of the station.  Wyatt had a screaming meltdown for about three hours while Amtrak sorted it all out.  At least everyone on the train was really nice about it.  He had a very hoarse throat later that night.

To make matters worse, after I got to the station my car wouldn't start up again.  Not used to driving in the rain, I had left the headlights on, I think.  So there it was, Christmas Day, with hardly a soul in sight and most places closed for business.  I tried to get a cab driver to give me a jump start but he only succeeded in sucking the remaining electricity from the car's battery.  He did, however, give me the toll free number to the Auto Club.  Even though I don't have AAA these days, they were wonderful about connecting me, free of charge, to a local tow company.  $45 and 30 minutes later, I was back behind the wheel!  

   read more »

Good Afternoon my world wide web friends!

I recently came across this song... Beatiful U R by Deborah Cox! You have to go to Youtube and hear this song and it's lyrics. I have offically designated this my song of 2009! Check it out!

Jett Travolta dying so young hit me hard because of Marcels seizures. As far as Im concerned the church of Scientology and the Travoltas have blood on their hands. There's no reason that child should be dead. Scientologists

dont recognize autism. From what I've read and heard he wasnt on any medication for seizures....... what a f*****

shame. Everybody knows I was raised Mormon and that Mormons dont drink or smoke but if I was told by my sons

doctor that a glass of wine a day would help him and if my church didnt approve I would leave the religion PERIOD.

Scuse me but Im pissed and I want to strangle somebody ugh!!