No, He is Andrew. He just so happens to have Autism thank you very much!!! - Sorry, that really irks us.
In other new, the last couple of days Andrew has been saying his ABC's backwards. Yes from Z to A, with ease. It's awesome.
I still can't believe he is 3!!!
Today I asked him what is in my belly and he SAID BABY!!! Now, he probably has no clue what that means, but he still said it!
School for him is going very well! Today when I picked him up the Autism specialist was there and she said that she is very impressed by him, but is still concerned with him language. He KNOWS how to talk and knows that he has to to get what he wants or get his needs met, but lacks severe motivation beyond that. She said that they are going to get in contact with Ms. (Soon to be MRS!) Stephanie and see what they can come up with
My kid is lucky to have such an amazing team of people who love him and want for him to have the easiest life possible
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
Big BIG news :)
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| Our little family |
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| How we told our families |
Since this is a blog about Autism, I will say this It is currently in the back of our minds with this one. If it happens it happens, nothing we can do to stop it. I am not going to waist, what will probably be my last pregnancy, worrying about it. I am going to cherish every flutter, and kick and rib punch. We know the steps to take if something pops up, so I think we are good :) :) :)
I will be 9 weeks on Sunday (11/25) We have seen a strong heart beat, I've hired a doula and my OB is FANTASTIC. Baring complications I will NOT be induced again and so far I am not really sick. I've had a couple of days where I've puked and I do get puky if I don't eat, but so far so good.
I will throw in some updates about the pregnancy as things go along, but this will still mostly be a blog about Autism
Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I know we did!!!
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Day by day
I can't believe it's been almost 3 months since we've gotten Andrew's official diagnosis. Things are looking SO good for him. He has recently started at the local Early Childhood school, and his teacher Ms. Sharron is great! Thought this entire process, I have yet to meet someone who has not been just fantastic with my son! He's only gone 2 days so far, but he is already doing fantastic!
Erik and I are doing well, Some times things get stressful, but I honestly believe at this point in our relationship, there is very little we couldn't get though together. He is my rock, and I love him so very much!
We finally picked a therapy company for Andrew. He will be going with the company I work for called Beyond Boundaries of Autism. At fist we were hesitant, because I was told I was going to have to quit my job, but after talking to Kim, she informed me that because I have been with them for 4 years and because I am a valued employe who is good at their job, I will get to keep it. Obviously there are some other semantics to it, but I won't bore you with them! This is just FANTASTIC news!
It should be very interesting what the next few months will be holding for my little family. I can't wait to see where my 3 year old will be in his life as he grows, I am just SO SO SO proud of him. I hope he knows it!
Oh yea, last Monday (11/5) was Andrew's 3rd birthday! Here are a couple of pictures!
Erik and I are doing well, Some times things get stressful, but I honestly believe at this point in our relationship, there is very little we couldn't get though together. He is my rock, and I love him so very much!
We finally picked a therapy company for Andrew. He will be going with the company I work for called Beyond Boundaries of Autism. At fist we were hesitant, because I was told I was going to have to quit my job, but after talking to Kim, she informed me that because I have been with them for 4 years and because I am a valued employe who is good at their job, I will get to keep it. Obviously there are some other semantics to it, but I won't bore you with them! This is just FANTASTIC news!
It should be very interesting what the next few months will be holding for my little family. I can't wait to see where my 3 year old will be in his life as he grows, I am just SO SO SO proud of him. I hope he knows it!
Oh yea, last Monday (11/5) was Andrew's 3rd birthday! Here are a couple of pictures!
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| He looks so much like his Daddy! :) |
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Time for an Andrew update!
Again, It's been a while since I've updated. Sorry about that, but here we are in our life now.
On October 1st. We had Andrew's first IEP ( IEP stands for Individualized Education Plan) and he will offically start school on either October 31st or on his Birthday, November 5th ( I CAN NOT BELIEVE MY BABY IS GOING TO BE 3!) Any ways, They have a VERY bright out look for Andrew. They found though their eval that he is very driven by praise, He can count and identify numbers up to 20, Identify upper and lower case letters, spell his name and is just a cutie :) We had teachers fighting over having him in their class.
While overall it was an overall good experience, still it is hard to have to sit and hear the reasons you child qualifies for a special education class. I did break down and cry. I cried because I just HATE focusing on what he can't do. At home and at pre-school with Ms. Stephanie, we use his strengths to help him in areas that he is lacking. I understand that we have to reiterate what he can and can't do so we can get him the help he needs, but still it gets WAY old. We are going to have to continue to do it when we interview Autism company, which is going to be a task in and of it's self.
While we would really love to go though my company for Andrew's services, that would mean I would have to quit my job. With Erik in full time school and not working right now, I don't know if that would be quite feasible, but then again we will see where we are in 15 months. We are lucky that there are a lot of great options in our area for services.
Erik and I have been talking about how recently Andrew has just broken though this wall. His language is becoming more articulate and clear, He's trying to string words together and it's like he is FINALLY understanding that words get him what he wants! That in and of it's self can be a little trying. When he first started talking any time he used verbals for anything we gave it to him, now he is learning that is not always the case. Sometimes, I know for my self personally, I have to take a step back and realize that he is going to be 3 and that not every fit his has is because he is on the spectrum.
Right now we, as a family, are in a great place. Andrew is fantastic and we can not wait for our future! :) :) :)
Anyways, as I almost always leave you, here are a few pictures and a video if I can get it to upload!
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^ I really hope that works.
On October 1st. We had Andrew's first IEP ( IEP stands for Individualized Education Plan) and he will offically start school on either October 31st or on his Birthday, November 5th ( I CAN NOT BELIEVE MY BABY IS GOING TO BE 3!) Any ways, They have a VERY bright out look for Andrew. They found though their eval that he is very driven by praise, He can count and identify numbers up to 20, Identify upper and lower case letters, spell his name and is just a cutie :) We had teachers fighting over having him in their class.
While overall it was an overall good experience, still it is hard to have to sit and hear the reasons you child qualifies for a special education class. I did break down and cry. I cried because I just HATE focusing on what he can't do. At home and at pre-school with Ms. Stephanie, we use his strengths to help him in areas that he is lacking. I understand that we have to reiterate what he can and can't do so we can get him the help he needs, but still it gets WAY old. We are going to have to continue to do it when we interview Autism company, which is going to be a task in and of it's self.
While we would really love to go though my company for Andrew's services, that would mean I would have to quit my job. With Erik in full time school and not working right now, I don't know if that would be quite feasible, but then again we will see where we are in 15 months. We are lucky that there are a lot of great options in our area for services.
Erik and I have been talking about how recently Andrew has just broken though this wall. His language is becoming more articulate and clear, He's trying to string words together and it's like he is FINALLY understanding that words get him what he wants! That in and of it's self can be a little trying. When he first started talking any time he used verbals for anything we gave it to him, now he is learning that is not always the case. Sometimes, I know for my self personally, I have to take a step back and realize that he is going to be 3 and that not every fit his has is because he is on the spectrum.
Right now we, as a family, are in a great place. Andrew is fantastic and we can not wait for our future! :) :) :)
Anyways, as I almost always leave you, here are a few pictures and a video if I can get it to upload!
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| Andrew looks a LOT like his Uncle Robby |
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| Enjoying Little Farmer with School |
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| First time really eating a popsicle, He ate the whole thing too |
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| He's wearing Mommy's sun galsses :) |
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^ I really hope that works.
Monday, September 10, 2012
I wish I was witty
So I could come up with clever titles for my posts. I suck at that.
Anyways. Today was an interesting one.While I was home today with my sick boy who spent the night puking, running a fever and whining/crying. I get a knock at my door. I almost didn't open it because I looked like a total scrub. I am talking yoga pants, a tank top (with NO bra) hair in a pony, that I later found out was a frizzy mess, and smelling that sweet smell of stale vomit. I peek through my peep hole and see that it is my neighbor. So I open the door.
I peek my head out and she just gets right to the point. She said " HI, how old is your son"? I replied "almost 3" "Does he talk yet?" "No, he has a severe speech delay" " Oh, are you getting him help?" "Yes, We have birth to 3, he goes to an amazing preschool and will be starting school in the school system just after his birthday" " So, He is 3 and doesn't talk? That explains it!" "No, he has very few unprompted words, Why do you hear him screeching?" "Yes, I used to be a teacher, so I knew something was up, do they know what's wrong with him?" "He has Autism"
You get the point. She asked more questions about when he was diagnosed, how we knew, and if he "was always like that". I answered politely, just wanting to crawl in to a hole. Finally when that was over, I walk back in to my house and tear up.
Don't these people know there is more to my son than Autism? Can't they see how AMAZINGLY smart he is? Why can't they know that he can count and identify numbers up to 20 and knows and identifies all of his ABC's upper and lower case? Why can't they know that once he learns something it is with him FOR LIFE. He is like a freaking elephant and never forgets ( that can make for tricky parenting, by the way) Why can't they know that he figured out our fridge lock in 4 days when we were making a point to hid it from him?
It sucks that they can't know my child, It sucks that they judge him and us because they hear him screaming. I know, I know... I am just having a really hard time right now because, unless we are talking to family about Andrew, they (b-3, SSI, School) are only concerned with his deficits. It is really heart breaking to have to go over and over what your child is lacking all.the.freaking.time. I know that her heart was probably in the right place and HEY! At least she didn't call CPS on us thinking that we were beating him or something, But it is just harder as he gets older and everything is becoming more and more obvious to more people on the 'out side'. Life will go on and Andrew is lucky to have parents who are taking the steps to make sure he has a bright future. It is just overwhelming.
Anyways. I am going to leave you all with something positive! A picture of my beautiful boy :)
Anyways. Today was an interesting one.While I was home today with my sick boy who spent the night puking, running a fever and whining/crying. I get a knock at my door. I almost didn't open it because I looked like a total scrub. I am talking yoga pants, a tank top (with NO bra) hair in a pony, that I later found out was a frizzy mess, and smelling that sweet smell of stale vomit. I peek through my peep hole and see that it is my neighbor. So I open the door.
I peek my head out and she just gets right to the point. She said " HI, how old is your son"? I replied "almost 3" "Does he talk yet?" "No, he has a severe speech delay" " Oh, are you getting him help?" "Yes, We have birth to 3, he goes to an amazing preschool and will be starting school in the school system just after his birthday" " So, He is 3 and doesn't talk? That explains it!" "No, he has very few unprompted words, Why do you hear him screeching?" "Yes, I used to be a teacher, so I knew something was up, do they know what's wrong with him?" "He has Autism"
You get the point. She asked more questions about when he was diagnosed, how we knew, and if he "was always like that". I answered politely, just wanting to crawl in to a hole. Finally when that was over, I walk back in to my house and tear up.
Don't these people know there is more to my son than Autism? Can't they see how AMAZINGLY smart he is? Why can't they know that he can count and identify numbers up to 20 and knows and identifies all of his ABC's upper and lower case? Why can't they know that once he learns something it is with him FOR LIFE. He is like a freaking elephant and never forgets ( that can make for tricky parenting, by the way) Why can't they know that he figured out our fridge lock in 4 days when we were making a point to hid it from him?
It sucks that they can't know my child, It sucks that they judge him and us because they hear him screaming. I know, I know... I am just having a really hard time right now because, unless we are talking to family about Andrew, they (b-3, SSI, School) are only concerned with his deficits. It is really heart breaking to have to go over and over what your child is lacking all.the.freaking.time. I know that her heart was probably in the right place and HEY! At least she didn't call CPS on us thinking that we were beating him or something, But it is just harder as he gets older and everything is becoming more and more obvious to more people on the 'out side'. Life will go on and Andrew is lucky to have parents who are taking the steps to make sure he has a bright future. It is just overwhelming.
Anyways. I am going to leave you all with something positive! A picture of my beautiful boy :)
Monday, September 3, 2012
I suppose I should update
Haha Sorry I suck at this blogging thing! I feel like a lot has gone on since I last updated :)
A couple of days ago we met with Claudia, she will be our case worker. She came to our house and walked us through all of the processes of applying for everything. It was nice that Erik got to go in to work later so he could actually be there! We started all of the paper work for SSI and will have a face to face interview on 9/18. I have to say, while SSI is a FANTASTIC program it is a pain in the ASS to apply for. I called Dr's office after Dr's office because we needed dates for all of this appointments in the last YEAR. In the last year Andrew has been to his Pediatrician 3 times, once for some sort of sickness and the other 2 for developmental checks. He has had an EEG, we've been to Brookfield twice (the Lilly center) and we have seen Dr Steffen twice. He has also been to an audiologist twice, because the fist time we went he failed his hearing test. YIKES. SO after I call and get all of this information, I get to this last page and they ask for his Medical ID number on our insurance card, so they can, get this, Get all of his medical records!!! What a waist of time! lol
Well anyways that is all done with for now. We will hear back from Claudia in a couple of days after she has gotten the chance to do what ever it is that she was needing to do.
Andrew's life is going to be getting a little hectic because now Daddy is off of work and in school full time so he will be home with Andrew A LOT more that Mommy. :( :( :( He has a great daddy, but I am positive they will get in to a ton of trouble. :)
Other than that life is good :) Time to go put the little man to sleep!
Have a good night folks,
Shauna
A couple of days ago we met with Claudia, she will be our case worker. She came to our house and walked us through all of the processes of applying for everything. It was nice that Erik got to go in to work later so he could actually be there! We started all of the paper work for SSI and will have a face to face interview on 9/18. I have to say, while SSI is a FANTASTIC program it is a pain in the ASS to apply for. I called Dr's office after Dr's office because we needed dates for all of this appointments in the last YEAR. In the last year Andrew has been to his Pediatrician 3 times, once for some sort of sickness and the other 2 for developmental checks. He has had an EEG, we've been to Brookfield twice (the Lilly center) and we have seen Dr Steffen twice. He has also been to an audiologist twice, because the fist time we went he failed his hearing test. YIKES. SO after I call and get all of this information, I get to this last page and they ask for his Medical ID number on our insurance card, so they can, get this, Get all of his medical records!!! What a waist of time! lol
Well anyways that is all done with for now. We will hear back from Claudia in a couple of days after she has gotten the chance to do what ever it is that she was needing to do.
Andrew's life is going to be getting a little hectic because now Daddy is off of work and in school full time so he will be home with Andrew A LOT more that Mommy. :( :( :( He has a great daddy, but I am positive they will get in to a ton of trouble. :)
Other than that life is good :) Time to go put the little man to sleep!
Have a good night folks,
Shauna
Saturday, August 18, 2012
It's been a while
Sorry for the delay in post, life has been crazy!
Since my last entry, it's been a crazy week! We got out apt set up (the 31st) to meet with our country case worker to get on the autism waver, apply for SSI and answer any other questions we might have. We originally thought that our follow up apt with Dr. Steffen was on the 16th at 3:00, when we arrived at 2:45 we were informed that our apt was actually at 2:00. Boy did I feel stupid. I really can't stress enough how AMAZING Dr. Steffen is. She is, the kindest, most professional, most hands on Dr. I have ever encountered.
On the 16th, she came out and talked to Erik and I for a little bit and then went to play with Andrew. She gave us some (more) packets to fill out and then escorted us up to the appointment desk and asked us what time, THE NEXT DAY, would work for us. We got an apt for 12:15 on the 17th! Unfortunately Erik couldn't get off of work early again, so I had to go alone.
Have I mentioned how FANTASTIC she is with Andrew? Anyways, We got back to her office and Andrew ran to the toys and I sat down to talk with the Dr. We had *MORE* paperwork to fill out, so she asked questions, I answered. After about a 1/2 an hour of that she asked if Andrew's made progress since we first started this journey, at 22 months. I answered honestly and heart brakingly, No, he really hasn't. She said that, while he might not have met the criteria for Autism at 22 months, he meets the criteria for Autism now. She originally thought that she was going to lable him PDD-NOS, but now she is thinking just Autism disorder. She said that she sees a lot of potential in Andrew because he is not totally in his own world. He is cuddly, loving and he is attempting to talk and wants to please us.
We will get the final report in the mail in a couple of weeks.
Life is just going to get busier. Just in the nest 3 months we will be wrapping up Birth to 3, starting school, meeting with county workers, interviewing Autism companies and eventually getting started with Autism therapy.
Since my last entry, it's been a crazy week! We got out apt set up (the 31st) to meet with our country case worker to get on the autism waver, apply for SSI and answer any other questions we might have. We originally thought that our follow up apt with Dr. Steffen was on the 16th at 3:00, when we arrived at 2:45 we were informed that our apt was actually at 2:00. Boy did I feel stupid. I really can't stress enough how AMAZING Dr. Steffen is. She is, the kindest, most professional, most hands on Dr. I have ever encountered.
On the 16th, she came out and talked to Erik and I for a little bit and then went to play with Andrew. She gave us some (more) packets to fill out and then escorted us up to the appointment desk and asked us what time, THE NEXT DAY, would work for us. We got an apt for 12:15 on the 17th! Unfortunately Erik couldn't get off of work early again, so I had to go alone.
Have I mentioned how FANTASTIC she is with Andrew? Anyways, We got back to her office and Andrew ran to the toys and I sat down to talk with the Dr. We had *MORE* paperwork to fill out, so she asked questions, I answered. After about a 1/2 an hour of that she asked if Andrew's made progress since we first started this journey, at 22 months. I answered honestly and heart brakingly, No, he really hasn't. She said that, while he might not have met the criteria for Autism at 22 months, he meets the criteria for Autism now. She originally thought that she was going to lable him PDD-NOS, but now she is thinking just Autism disorder. She said that she sees a lot of potential in Andrew because he is not totally in his own world. He is cuddly, loving and he is attempting to talk and wants to please us.
We will get the final report in the mail in a couple of weeks.
Life is just going to get busier. Just in the nest 3 months we will be wrapping up Birth to 3, starting school, meeting with county workers, interviewing Autism companies and eventually getting started with Autism therapy.
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