Autism Blogger

We have come a long way from Tristan hiding under the table at holiday parties (or any gathering more than just his immediate family) and grabbing guest’s legs as they entered his space.  To an onlooker Tristan’s behavior might have seemed childish and fun, but not to me I saw years of parties with Tristan hiding.  So like anything else in Tristan’s world we began teaching him how to behave appropriately at a party, not that we expected a chatty preschooler who stood-up and sang his favorite tune, but we needed him not to run under the table and pull down the tablecloth to hide behind. 

Any party can be stressful for children with ASD, but I think the holidays offer a whole new bag of surprises.  Expectations are high, change is present, and the anxiety (good or bad) can bring Tristan tumbling down.  During the holidays our worlds are whipped up on high-speed — think of all the change that just happens at home. 

http://www.missingmoney.com/Main/Index.cfm

It's legit, I heard about it on Clark Howard last night =)

This is from my "Tip of the Day" section of my website:

An SLP gave me this idea. Try making a sensory oranament with your child or students.  Use an orange and cloves (pushed into the orange) along with a strudy ribbon tied around the orange. It will be a scented holiday decoration, that the kids will enjoy making.  (Bring an extra orange to eat!!!)

Last night Wyatt ripped up a library book.  Grrr!  I had put it in the car to return it that afternoon but I didn't get over there.  Wyatt went down to the garage and found the book and shredded about five pages.  I don't think it can be taped back together.  I thought he was playing with some tinker toys in the living room. 

I called the library and asked them what the procedure is for a ripped up book.  They said that happens ALL THE TIME and to just renew the book and try to find time to bring it to the desk in person to have it evaluated for possible repairs.  Ha!  I'm hoping they'll be lenient and just charge me for a portion of the cost of a new book, or maybe just the cost of the paperback edition ($7) instead of the hardcover it was.

I forgot a set of quotations and did not notice until after we ordered it to be printed :(

We got done putting up the tree (yes it is a miniature one) and I had to play around with a picture. Something about it is not perfect, but Ma decided to make it into Christmas cards this year.

If you use Realone player there's a visualization called Annabelle the sheep. Marcel loves

it. Annabelle changes her look according to the music. Earlier I was playing Madonna, the

sheep turned pink, had an earring and a disco ball came out of the sky lol. It really holds

his attention. If you dont have Realone player you can download the free version off

the internet. 

I hope everybody had a nice Thanksgiving. My husband had four days off, it was WONDERFUL

but the time went too fast. Marcel started Abilify Thursday morning, so far so good. He'll

probably need some adjustments though, in any case it VERY EXPENSIVE, I mean like oh

$900 a month (holy crap batman ugh). Thank God for medicaid. Time for bed, we've gotta

get up early with daddy, no more sleepin' in. 

Every family is a unit...made up of individuals who function independently within the family, and they all work in a coordinated (or, in my case, UNcoordinated ) fashion as part of the family...like organs and limbs and parasites all are part of the overall human body.  Yeesh, so far this is the worst thing I've ever written!  Well, bear with me.

When all my 4 kids were young, and I was an at-home mom, things ran pretty well.  Autism entered our lives, and it was chaotic for a while, I admit, it was chaos for a long time. 

What changed?  What swung the balance in our quiet lives from calm family with extremely difficult kid, to calm kid living in extremely difficult home?

One word:              TEENAGERS

I now have a 20 yr old daughter with OCD, depression, endometriosis, chronic headaches, and painkiller dependance.  I also have a 17 yr old who has just been dx with an eating disorder, who won't talk to me or let any of us touch her (hug her, kiss her, be affecetionate with her).  I'm 3 years past breast cancer with no re-currence, the medication has tossed me into menopause and oh boy is that fun.  (being sarcastic here)

So my perception of autism has completely done a 360.  It ain't so hard to deal with, after all.  I guess it's all relative.  When JohnPaul was diagnosed, I felt like I was drowning at times.  The concept of having to care for a child who would always be a child and always therefore need my care was overwelming.  Now my son is a pleasure, compared to those 2 vixens upstairs.  Bring on the economy crash!  Bring on global warming!  If I'm still alive and standing by the end of next week, I can handle anything.    IF.

            This has been a new and interesting adventure for me in learning about autism in children.  I work at a local elementary school where we have a couple of autistic children.  John is in kindergarten and is limited to such things as:  no eye contact, no communication, lack of social skills, temper, has trouble cutting with scissors and isn’t potty trained.  We have learned through many situations, what works for John and what doesn’t.  By gently rubbing the top of his hand, calms him down.  Also by “rewarding” John with extra computer time or a snack seems to work.  I can go on and on with my personal experiences but I believe that all children should be treated the same.  Autism maybe a disorder but as long as parents/teachers and society stay objective, believe in the child, they have life in the palm of their hands.

Today Michael got to meet Santa at Wal-Mart. He was more interested in the idea of getting a piece of candy though. I was a little disappointed when I realized Santa was actually a woman, but Michael did not see through the beard.

By the time i found out my son had autism he was 10 yr old. Right now my son is almost 17 yr old. He hardly talk or commucate with me. He don't make contact or don't socially with other children. and He don't feel pain..All I know when my son was involded with horse backing riding therpy It sooth him And calm him down..with the horse back riding He started talk a lot more and sing..he never sang before..All I know therpy with horse backing riding stimalate him he started talk more & than sing..He love animal.I know my autism son can sense curtain thing. Right now he in 10 grade..He can't read or spell or do math..He can write part of name and he can match ojected.He know some of his color..& shape..If you use flash card picture of item He  can tell you what it is but he don't reconise item He just say any thing in the picture..His school has taught him  how to sweep the floor and fold clothes and wash some dishes..a href="http://autism-blog.com" title="Autism Blogger" alt="Autism Blogger - The Online Autism Community"><img src="http://toddfugere.com/widget.gif" alt="Autism Blogger - The Online Autism Community" /></a>

My neighbor always gives us an advent calendar.  My husband must have brought in this year's calendar from the doorstep.  Wyatt found it and opened up all of the little windows.  I guess that is good for hand-eye coordination!  He fed me several pieces of chocolate before I got a bowl for him.  He doesn't like chocolate.

http://clarkhoward.com/topics/workathome_help.html

I listen to Clark Howard on the radio most every night. He mentioned the other night that he

has legitimate work at home jobs listed on his site..., I wanted to share. There's also plenty

of other helpful info on his site, enjoy =)

Anybody home mmmm? Awfully quiet in here today.