May is here....

Things have been moving along here towards Nate's ABA program. We have hired 3 students (one male, 2 female) from Ohio Wesleyen to work with Nate appx 20 hours a week to start. Their pay is entirely out of our pocket until some other State funding potentially comes through--so we will see how long we can continue through self funding. It isn't going to be pretty- draining every last cent we have, but I don't see another way. Our parents will help eventually I suppose, for which we are so thankful, but in the end I am sure it won't be enough to cover everything. I don't know if someone that hasn't gone through this realizes the actual money spent---between specialists that insurance doesn't pay, community classes to have him interacting with other children, ALL the supplements he is currently on (13 total, one of which is $60 a bottle....), his special diet, educational books for us, ABA training for ourselves and the aides, biomedical testing, therapy toys, and, well, I suppose I could list things for days. I didn't realize how LONG the list actually was until I started typing it out...hmmm...very depressing.

We DID make it back to the allergist and Nate tested positive for a severe DOG allergy. He was tested last Fall and it didn't show up then--so that shows you how quickly allergies develop in our little guy. Not that we have a dime to travel on, but trips to family will now be out of the question since we have quite a few BIG dogs in the family.. :(

Little Gym is still going good- he enjoys playing there. We are debating about enrolling for the Summer session because Swim Lessons will now take the Saturday am spot. We are unable to attend most activities during the week when Aaron is working because we don't have anyone to watch Neve on a regular basis.

We have officially stopped all vaccinations on Neve. She is growing so strong and her strides are amazing to watch. It is all the skills and mental growth that Nate had...before it all went away. If that happens to Neve we will never forgive ourselves if immunizations play ANY part in that. So, for now, we are stopping everything. We just want to give her EVERY chance possible to come out on the other end from all of this. Nate developed PERFECTLY normal for the first year of his life too...so the true test is yet to come...we hope for this every minute of every day.