Baby Brother

After careful consideration, we have decided to have Aaron's younger brother, Matthew tested for an ASD. He has demonstrated concerning behaviors for quite some time now, but we just chalked it up to learned behavior, but now, well, maybe not so much. What a merry-go-round we daily ride upon...all I can say is thank God for Jesus & baseball! They are our stabalizers! Now if we can get in charge of these neuro-disorders, instead of them being in charge of us...ah, that would be the life! Will update about Matthew's on-going diagnostic process as it proceeds... We appreciate any prayers you can send up on our behalf...and so would all the other families who live with ASDs.

Respidol Run Around

Well, we're now utilizing the drug Respidol twice a day, along with Concerta and Lamictal. With the progression of these meds we are also noticing somewhat of a step backwards. I'm not positive, but Chris & I are watching like a hawk for anything other than the meds to be causing Aaron's new behaviors. Aaron seems to be having some "sensory issues" now, with not only his bladder control, but with painful stimuli as well. Also, when Aaron's meds have worn off, he seems to act even more Autistic and sometimes, mentally retarted. The doctor seems to think that this is "normal", however, we don't. We do remember before any meds were introduced & he never carried himself as he does now. It seems to us that all these medications create a "focused Aaron" for a short while, but then delivers back to us a child we don't really know. I'm truly looking forward to meeting with the other physician who is more in tune with kids with AS, unfortunately we are still on his waiting list...until this summer. BLAH! Until then, we will continue on the track we are already on. Oh how I wish there was a cure for Autism Spectrum Disprders...maybe not a cure so much, instead, a reason why...why Aaron? why our family? where did it come from? is it something we did? did something happen to him that we were unaware of? This type of ASD is so un-explainable! It is so frustrating for everyone involved! It's so difficult to explain to others, because Aaron looks so "normal" on the outside & he's so loving & gentle...we like to think of him as our little Incredible Hulk...we don't dare make him mad...Aaron isn't so sweet when he turns green & grows 10 ft tall & can take on the world! (at least in his mind) The most frustrating part is the fact that, just as the Incredible Hulk, Aaron can remember nothing that just occured during his tyraid! It's exasperating, but it has become our life, which we have adapted to. Aaron says he wants to be a "brain electrician" when he grows up so he can help other little boys and girls who have problems thinking straight....at least that's this week! Who knows what next week will bring...an infomercial host???

Autism Awareness Day

April 2 was World Autism Day & I was able to catch a couple of specials on CNN, a station I normally wouldn't watch. I was most impressed by Larry King's interview with Jenny McCarthy, about her son, Evan. It baffles me to no end to realize that simple, standard immunizations Aaron received when he was a baby could've prompted his Autism Spectrum Disorder...along with the overwhelming number of other children who seem to have had the same experience. No one really knows & will probably never be able to prove anything one way or the other, so America is left to just absorb the unknowing & deal with the cards in which it was dealt. One concern expressed by the panel was what the future held for so many who are now dealing with ASDs. Will they be able to become productive members of society, or will they unfortunately become partakers of our Welfare/Social Services systems? Who knows?! I know we are doing everything we can to help Aaron, so he can function as a happy, independent man, but then there are all these new meds that the Dr.s perscribe...all by which are trial & error...what will their long-term effects be? Another, "who knows?". I believe that the burden is harder on those of us who are "middle-class-law-abiding-tax-paying-citizens"...there is no gov't assistance for us...no coupons for meds (at least not after the 1st one!)...no support groups or therapists or evaluations which are free or even discounted...and DEFINATELY NO HELP THROUGH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM! In fact, kids like Aaron are the ones who DO fall through the cracks, just labeled as kids with innapropriate behavior & send to "special ed" classrooms, when in fact, they are Einsteins just waiting for the right person to notice. I hope & pray that over the next few years there can be some answers found somewhere about anything dealing with ASDs...I'm so sick of "well, it's just such a new diagnosis, we really don't know a whole lot about it". I'm tired of knowing more that the Dr.s about my son's diagnosis...because I have a valued interest in him...not just how much an hour, excuse me, 15-20 minutes, I can scrape from the pockets of insurance co.s & concerned parents! Ok, I have put my soap box back now. I would like to challange you, in honor of World Autism Awareness Day, to learn a few new facts about Autism Spectrum Disorders that you didn't know before. I promise youthat it will not be any less than very intresting.