Catching up...

Well this has been a busy week. Zane is finally really rolling over. Not that he is late to do this...he has just been trying like hell for the past 3 or 4 weeks. That darn arm was tricking him up every time. It still does a little, but he figures it out much quicker now. We had tried rice cereal with Zane. The first try went well the second try not so well...and the third even worse. We gave up for now and will try again in a few weeks. He gags terrible no matter how thin I make the cereal.

I had to work 4 12's in a row this past week. It almost killed me. I can do 3 12's but that fourth one really does me in...not to mention...I really missed my family.

Gabe had his wraparound appt. on Tuesday. It went really well. He was approved for 10hrs a week but we opted for 5 to start. That way we can get a feel of the program and they can get a feel as to where Gabe struggles.

I can't wait for everything to start. I think it is really going to help his social skills...

People are just amazing (insert sarcastic tone here)

I feel like I should advocate for autism awarness. Autism has touched my life, my family's life, Gabe's life. Autism does not define Gabe...it's just part of Gabe. There is more to him then language disorder, or stimming, or social issues. There is this loving, beautiful, funny little guy...who can just light up a room when he enters.

I have had people ask me about their kids and if I have an opinion. I always tell them...if you think something isn't right...have them evaluated. I never tell people their children are on the spectrum....I have seen kids in public, even adults for that matter and jokingly said..."that one's definitely on the spectrum" A lot of that is my way of dealing with everyday autism...a way to lighten things up for me...an outlet maybe...kind of like nervous laughter...BUT I would never tell someone their child was autistic...not in a million years...but amazingly enough...I have been accused of that...how sad...It kind of makes me not want to advocate for autism...or be outspoken about something that effects my every waking moment....

I have had people tell me autism is just a cop out, a way to make an excuse, not real, the new ADHD, etc. I blame the media 100% for this. Which, I think is crap! I used to be jealous of people who had "normal" children...not anymore...who wants to be normal...it's no fun anyway...my life is an adventure everyday...I never know what's around the bend. Not to mention I think I can appriciate the small things much more then a parent with a NT kid. I waited 32mo to hear Gabe say ma. I never, ever get tired of hearing that word. I hear parents complain about their 4 year old's endless talking...I cherish every second of Gabe talking.

So, to all you people who thinks autism is a FAKE disorder...you better wake up...if 1 out of 150 kids were missing...we would have an epidemic....we do now...it's autism.

Real talking....

Below is a short clip of Gabe free talking. Where I am not repeating most of what he says. He is talking about Lightening McQueen. Gabe does not sustain conversation very well. This is what he sounds like in a "normal" conversation where I am not prompting or leading him as to what he should say. Gabe does have a lot of very good clear speech as you can hear in the bubble blowing clip below. Most of his clear speech are things we have taught him to say. Or things that he uses everyday. Or what we call well rehearsed speech.

Just recently we purchased an AAC (talker computer) program called proloquo2go. It is run on Gabe's ipod touch. It runs the same as any other talker only it is smaller.
I am hoping this helps with some conversational speech. It did open up communication with daddy yesterday. Gabe told Matt he saw Obama on a plate at he store. It was great seeing him share something like that. Not to mention having your own ipod touch at 4 is pretty damn cool!