An Update on Us

We have had an insane year so far! My computer crashed out around the time Matthew started school and it took about a month to get my new hard drive from HP and I got behind on everything, especially blogging. With Matty being in school, he managed to bring home every germ known to the classroom and I spent 9 out of 12 weeks sick before he was out for the summer. Sure I've been on Facebook but that is mindless for the most part and doesn't require alot of sentence structure or structure of any kind. I'm also on the Walk Committee for the San Diego Walk Now for Autism Speaks 5K happening on September 10th at Liberty Station. If you'd like to join my team or start your own, please let me know! PS- we are also taking donations....

I have to say that 2010 was a crappy year overall. My parents retired and moved to Oregon, my bout with depression, a baby with reflux who didn't sleep through the night, Matthew's behavioral issues we later realized are synonomous with Autism, family drama, etc. It was an exhausting year that I would like to forget ever happened. This year has been amazing though. Matthew's diagnosis of autism meant that we were going to get help for him. He loves going to school and has blossomed. He didn't qualify for summer school but luckily his at home ABA kicked in right after the school year ended. His vocabulary has increased so much! He's still behind in language for his age level but he has made so much progression. He is counting, identifying his alphabet and matching shapes and colors. In the last month, he has even started engaging in pretend play. Parents of normally developing children take that aspect for granted. He knew that toys were for playing with but his playing was primarily stimming. He loved to get down to eye level to watch the wheels spin on his trains and cars rather than just be imaginitive. He liked his Buzz and Woody figures but didn't know what to do with them. Now he makes Buzz fly and he makes Woody walk. Its incredible! I can't believe he goes back to school in less than 2 weeks.

Jack is the man! He is quite verbose and still speaks primarily in jibber jabber, but he is something else. He loves to sing "Bob the Builder" and give fives and knuckles. He loves to laugh and run and make his Mommy tickle him. He just started climbing out of his crib this week...sigh. I guess the big boy bed will be the next big step. Jack is also a big flirt. Whenever Matty's BST comes to the house, Jack jumps in her lap and talks her head off. He also has this flirty look he gives her so she will make eye contact with him. I guess I should be worried, but he's so darn cute!

We just came home from a 10 day trek to Oregon. I have been there several times throughout my lifetime, and a handful of times in the last 10 years, but this is the first time I have made the drive in about 20 years. Tony had never driven north of Beale AFB or been to Oregon (he has been to Washington state a few times). He was absolutely in love with the beauty of Oregon. All of its green, lush wooded areas and rivers flowing peacefully through the city and outlying areas. My parents live on a 400 acre ranch in Banks, OR (about 30 mins west of Portland) and the kids were in heaven.

InSan(Nicolas)ity!

The last few months have been crazy for us. For the last year, we have noticed Matthew's eye contact and language regress and diminish, while the tantrums exceeded all expectations. For awhile, we were chalking it up to the Terrible Twos but by October, we were too concerned to let it go any farther. His pediatrician noticed right away and referred us for an evaluation through the Inland Regional Center. It took about a month to get an appointment, and he was having an off day. By "off day" I mean, he took a nap before we left, ate everything we offered him and was in a good mood. Although slow to warm to the evaluators, he would gaze at them, mostly due to the incessant bubble blowing. After about 3 minutes, the token psychologist said he's fine, just speech delayed and left the room. We got our IFSP to get 9 hours a month of in home early start intervention...which took another month to get started thanks to the holidays. Right away, Matthew's teacher noticed something off besides his language. He wasn't responding to his name when called, no eye contact and would line up or stack his toys for what seemed like forever. He was more interested in how the wheels turned on his trains and cars than he was in engaging in imaginary play. I pressed the IRC for another exam.

Anita, Matthew's counselor, came through for us. She was able to get Matthew 26 hours of in home intervention for the month of February and a formal psychological evaluation. The psych eval gave me the diagnosis I was expecting- Autism. Most parents would be taken aback or fearful of this diagnosis, but I was relieved. It meant I wasn't a bad mother, it meant I would get some help. IRC cuts most kids with Developmental Delay off at 3 years old but he will be able to continue IRC and get services like Occupational and Behavioral Therapies. Matthew was also evaluated by the school district and they said by and large, he would qualify for special ed preschool once he surpasses his 3rd birthday. We have our IEP next week and I'm dilligently working on getting my notes and requests together. I know this blog hasn't been used as much over the last year. I had another blog going about breastfeeding and now that Jack is starting to wean himself, it has not been as much of a focus. This blog is our family blog and I intend to use it to record our journeys through everything from milestones, coming of age and our endeavours with Matthew's Autism.

2010 Walk Now for Autism Speaks: San Diego - General Donation

Tony, the kids and I will be walking with the San Nicolas and Castro Families to walk in support of our nephew Ricky, his mom Katrina and all the other families struggling with the challenges of Autism. Autism originally touched my heart when my cousin Elijah was diagnosed years ago. Please consider joining us if you are in Southern California or you can make a small donation to this great cause. Even $5 makes a difference. Thanks!



2010 Walk Now for Autism Speaks: San Diego - General Donation