no teeth, ear infection, wraparound

So Zane wasn't getting teeth. Nope...he had another ear infection. He just finished antibiotics...and I am thinking he still has one...so I am calling the dr. tomorrow. Zane is still just rolling over...no crawling or any real sign that it will happen. He continues to droll like crazy. I really thought he was getting those teeth. He realized he has thumbs...and he loves to push his thumb down on my arm, daddy's arm, the floor, his toys, or what ever he can and wiggle it back and forth...he does that when he is really tired. It's cute!

Gabe started wraparound. He was pretty good for the BSC and the TSS. The TSS did go out with us in public and noticed his stimming. He also ran from me but not too far. I am so glad we are doing wraparound. I think Gabe is going to learn a lot from these two ladies!!! And they are both really nice.

We took the kids to the amusement park over the weekend. Gabe LOVED the water park. Zane screamed. He hated the cold water...even the slow running baby water park. Finally we just covered him with his blanket and towel and he went to sleep. As long as no water hit him he was okay. If even a sprinkle hit him he cried! We tried to watch the live musical show they had but both boys were minding the loudness. Gabe kept his hands by his ears...and then every now and then he moved them and covered his brothers ears. It made me smile that he was worried about Zane.
Gabe rode every ride he could. He even rode a small roller coaster...and loved it. I figured he would like the fast rides...he is such a sensory seeker. The fast ones are right up his alley! It was a great day.

bleeping bank....

ERRRR.....AHHHHH.....My flipping bank changed names. They say they bought out another bank...but I don't buy it...if they bought out the bank then why did they change names? Hmmm...why? And they have to change their whole online banking system...and now I can't check my account and when I went to use my ATM card the flipping thing wouldn't work. I got denied. Do you know how embarrassing that is? And I had deposited cash....hard cash..not a check. That money should be available right away. Oh I am so flipping mad. Then I tried to call them...and whole phone system is down. And this is from a bank that had a "no merger mania" saying. BULL SHIT! Maybe it is time to go with a credit union...or there is always the mattress. Seriously....this is insane. Oh someone is going to get an ear full.....They are lucky I had cash to pay for my groceries that's all I have to say....

Wraparound...can't start soon enough

WOW....Gabe is a wild child. He can't stay still for 2 seconds. His behavior is yucky. He tells me NO, is running from me all. the. time. and hitting at me. It's just rough in general. And the baby is getting his bottom teeth. Everyone at our house is miserable.

Tomorrow is our intake meeting for wraparound services. They can't come soon enough. Gabe is sensory seeking like mad. Maybe the change in weather? I don't know. But he can't stop climbing. He is climbing on me as I type this. He runs everywhere, has been screaming, jumping in places, spinning, and bouncing off everything. Oh, and he drew on my walls two times in two days.

Zane's teeth must really be hurting him because he is crying all the time. The good news is...he slept through the night two nights in a row. Last night he woke up twice, but I think his teeth were hurting. He is still rolling over and I am convinced he will be crawling by the end of next month. I guess it's time to get some gates. We'll all be living in a gated community for the next couple years.

I am so looking forward to our wraparound meeting tomorrow. Yay...I am sure Gabe isn't going to like the change. He is going to have to learn to walk with mommy and daddy now and we are going to learn better ways to help autistic kids understand and follow rules. I can't wait....

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!