swiftfox's blog

This week is a emotional week for me.  I don't know what it is.  I worry about Ethan so much all the time and while most of the time I am very positive...This is not one of those weeks....

Happy Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month!  I hope everyone is doing well.  Our household has been pretty good these past few months.  

Ethan is doing really well...Still not talking but slowly using more and more words.  Words to a stranger that would mean nothing but to us, my family and his teachers...Well that's all that really matters...

We survived our 1st trip to Chuckie Cheese.  The last time we tried to do a trip like that my husband came home in tears...So that was a great accomplishment.  He still had some issues transitioning but hey...Who cares if he sat and sang Happy Birthday...Some battles are not worth picking.  

I know someone who lives in South Carolina and is having major behavorial issues with her autistic 10 year old.  He is violent and harmful to himself and sometimes the other members of the family.  She said she has tried every avenue yet can not get additional help for him.  I was wondering if anyone knew a little better about what could help the child, he is already medicated.  I was thinking more behavorial to help him work through some of this meltdowns.  I know Ethan gets that now but from what I gather she's been told there is not much for her to do with him.  I find that hard to believe and was looking to try and give her a place to turn for help.  She doesn't know what else to do.  

Thank you for any info you can give me, I will pass it along.  

Megan

Today was a good day!  Ethan did awesome.  He was very overwhelmed when he first woke up and came downstairs but my niece (3 yr old) and my nephew (6 yr old) walked him right through it.  They helped him open every single present that Santa gave him by starting the paper for him and letting him go to town!  Ethan is so lucky to have them.  They love him unconditionally and they don't care what obstacle gets in Ethan's way, they are always there to guide him through it.  I think that was the best part of our day!  Knowing that Ethan is loved for being exactly who Ethan is!!!  

I hope everyone had a great day with there families!  

Love,

The Swift Family!!

Does anybody live in the Philadelphia area and know of good schools for special education in our suburbs?  We currently live in Philadelphia and do not have faith in the Philadelphia school system.  Ethan still has 2 years until he moves into public school system, we are going to try and move but don't know how to find out other then Central Bucks (we can not afford) what areas areas are good.

Any help would be grateful...Thank you

Helo all!

So Sunday was a great day for Ethan.  Not only did he use his PECS book pretty well he also used 5 words that day.  He said more, P (for pretzel), mine, and truck!  We were so excited we cheered and yelled...and he look at us like we were crazy!  LOL

All in good time...he's doing so well! 

His jacket issue has worked itself out.  I think maybe he was having a bad weekend or something because Monday morning he resisted at first but once he walked out the door he was fine...

So we just got Ethan a new winter coat and he hates it!  He fights us to get it on him and he cries to get it off!  Any suggestions?  I haven't spoken to his OT yet since the jacket was just purchased this weekend but worried how I'm going to get him out of the house in the a.m. for school.

So I must say that it annoys that so many organizations focus primarily on a "cure" for autism and support for services/programs 2nd.  I'm tired of listening to people argue over vaccations or diet changes.  I don't feel my son is curable he is who he is.  What I do want to focus on is getting better programs for him as he gets older.  I have already taken notice and he's only 3 that the older he get the less the state wants to give.  I am so scared about him getting into the school system and them just giving him bare bones for what he needs!  I'm scared that as an adult if he still needs help it's going to be even harder.  Doesn't anybody else worry about this?  All this money gets dump into research and kids are still get the diagnosis...It just doesn't make sense to me at all.  I want help for my so now...Worrying about getting a cure is not going to help me now.  

Some people may read this and and get offended but this is how I feel.  It doesn't make sense to me at all.  

Just want to take a minute and say I hate transitions.  Ethan does not do it well and it makes going anywhere sometimes very very hard.  We still try and do whatever we can with him...But it's very very hard.  

I hate Transitions!  

I don't usually talk about my husband in my post and the reason being he has to tell his own story.  Today though I saw my husband fall apart and it has effected me so I need to share.

Tom is a amazing husband and even better father.  He is strong very strong, takes on the burden of a lot to protect us and it's to a fault.  Today though he had a breaking down moment, which I swear is only the 3rd time since Ethan has been diagnosis.  Anyway...