IS EVERYONE JUST STUPID??

So I was talking to a "mom" friend of mine today and we were discussing that fact that I was not going to have any more children. I assumed this was obvious. She was like, "What do you mean?? The odds of Autism are so slim- do you honestly think it would happen again?" Um- wha??? What the hell are you talking about?! Of course it could happen again and the odds are that it could!
"Families with one autistic child have a one in 20 chance of having a second child with the disorder. In some cases, relatives of autistic children show mild impairments in social and communication skills or engage in repetitive behaviors."
Why in the name of all that is good in this world would I EVER roll the dice? Is she on crack, or just stupid? It made me wonder. I also brought up the issues of TIME that I have and trying to juggle Nate's life and schedule in addition to paying attention to my 3 month old "purse" of a daughter. How selfish of me to just keep overpopulating the earth for fun, when I have a special needs child at home--and the only people there for him on a daily basis are his 2 parents. I thought this just made sense, but I guess I was the stupid one to assume that.

..but I suppose I should reflect upon the person making the comments to me---the fact that she is living beyond her means to raise 3 children and is in debt up to her eyeballs, by her choice. Her teenager isn't far off from college-age and I know she has ZERO money put aside for them---and I just mean for "normal" life. God forbid one of them has something medically wrong with them. My family knows that "school debt" route all too well. I guess you just move forward and try not to relive the mistakes of your own family. I can't imagine not paying for my child's education if I was finacially able...and that being said, I wouldn't have so many children that I couldn't afford their education and a foundation for them to be productive adults. ...that way, when they grow up to have "special circumstances" involving their own children, they aren't hit with the overwhelming burden of school loans that shouldn't be that "special needs" child's problem.

My other girlfriend is starting a journal---of things to remember for when we are grandparents. I think that is an awesome idea. I am mentally on chapter 32.

Support us on the MS WALK!

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Walk/OHAWalkEvents?pg=personal&fr_id=6710&fr_id=6710&px=2993778

Nate, Neve, Mommy, and Auntie Alisha are hittin the zoo on April 12th to raise money for MS. This is our second year doing the MS walk. My friend Ky, and Auntie Alisha are living with MS and we are happy to support the cause that would help to change the future for Nate's generation.

Check out the link above- and donate to support us!

Poor Puffy Face Nate

Well we spent most of the day at the downtown Children's Hospital ER. Nate had an allergic reaction after a playgroup at a friend's house. We don't think it is food related- which makes it that much worse ---since we have NO CLUE what caused it!!! He has the swollen eyes, hives, blisters, and allergy "shiners". It ain't pretty.
He is home now and ok. I guess we are headed back to the allergist to have more extensive testing done. Lovely. I am thinking I should just put the little guy in a hamster ball and let him roll around to play. At least that way he would be protected. ---although with my luck, he would be allergic to the plastic the darn thing was made of.

ABA ABA ABA ABA ABA ABA ABA ABA

Ok- this is ALL we talk about. My head is exploding. We are starting to piece together Nate's ABA( http://autism.about.com/od/alllaboutaba/a/abaoverview.htm ) program. When I say "piece", I mean it. We are running our program through Children's Hospital as our painfully lacking insurance will cover some of the outrageous expenses. There will be a team of aides that work with Nate directly though, and it is our job to find, hire, and train them. Um, say wha?? I have been agonizing over this for months and months--- how the hell am I supposed to put 40 HOURS of therapy and training into the hand sof some yahoo I have never met, that has NEVER done this before, and has never worked with Autistic children???!!?? That seemed unreal to me. Especially being the control freak that I am, there is no way in hell I cam leave someone alone with my child, in a room in my home that I am not in.

Well, today I am (thankfully) singing a different tune. My mom friend, Vicki, is a Psycholgy professor at Ohio Wesleyen. She actually teaches classes in, you guessed it, behavior modification. I am ecstatic. What a great resource to find students that are actually interested in this field and would care about the work they are doing!!! Plus I have the added bonus of someone I know and trust recommending sharp students.

I can't tell you what I huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Who knows what the next few weeks will bring- with the interviewing and our intake meeting with Nate's lead Psychologist- but it is starting to "sit" better with me anyways. Well, that and the fact that I am installing a closed circuit video monitoring system in the playroom.

**pic of Nate with his "cheesy poofs" aka rice cakes.

Great Week at Little Gym

Last Saturday was BY FAR our best week at Little Gym yet. I am sure it is a combination of familiarity and everything else, but Nate did so great. He participated in EVERY activity including circle time. He rode the parachute around while he was arm to arm with the other kids. It was amazing. I barely recognized him. It was definitely a proud Mommy Moment.

Nate has been playing in his new ball pit. He was a little uneasy at first but now he dives in head first. He loves it and we are always happy to see that big ol' smile on his adorable little face.

Tonight we toured a public special needs preschool as another option for Nate. It wasn't horrible. I guess if that is the first thing that came to my head to write, then I am probably not too shot with it. It is in a horrible location- about 20 minutes NORTH of my house and on back roads that would be horrible to navigate in the bad weather with two little kids on the car. Otherwise, the facilities were nice and Nate had a ball playing in the Motor Room. I suppose my biggest concern, and it may be completely unjustified, is the types of kids that would be in his class. It is public, so there are disabilities of all levels and types. The children with the physical disabilities are obviously needing a little more attention in regards to activities- which I admit is selfish to think- but it takes that attention away from MY son and his education. I am sorry but that one on one time is SO important and I can't have him taking the backseat to anybody simply because he is excelling physically. The school is free since it is public, but I am not sure if I am selling him out to a general disabled program. He deserves more specialized attention and time with kids that are on the spectrum and have the same shortcomings that he does. hmmm......what is that worth to me? 27 Grand?