Clarity

Finally! I can read again at night! I can stare at the computer screen and actually see what I am typing. I'm not sure if they will provide any insight, but I won't be getting headaches anymore! :) Matthew informed me that I now look old, but I think I will take it if it means I can read again.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I am so totally that parent in the commercial for (Staples?) who is dancing through the aisles joyfully tossing school supplies in the cart while the kids are looking on with disgusted faces. Well, except that my kids actually have excited faces and love school so far! It was a great first week and I have my fingers crossed that it stays this way throughout the year.

Mason is doing great -- already talking so much more than he has this summer. It's amazing what being back in a regular program has done. Hope is a good thing.

Matthew has a girlfriend already and a best buddy in class. We have gotten good feedback from the teacher and I am hopeful this is going to be a great year for him.

Mead starts next week and has Matthew's teacher from when he was 2 years old. We love her and are confident he will do great with her. Mead also turned 2 this week. With all the chaos of school starting, we haven't celebrated yet. Mommy has to get out and go shopping! I can't believe it's been 2 years! Happy Birthday little monkey!

Me in a 1966 yearbook

Yes, that is right. This is me in a yearbook before I was even born! The great thing? You too can be in a yearbook before you were born (with an uploaded picture of yourself).... This is my new favorite site:

http://www.yearbookyourself.com/

Perpetual Sadness

So I am not sure I am even going to actually post this but I thought it might do me some good to write about it anyway. I cannot begin to describe the sadness that overwhelms me these days. My heart is breaking watching Mason lag way behind his peers. I'm frightened that he may also have Tourette's in addition to austim. He has begun stuttering as well. Watching his anxiety grow and him struggle to communicate is almost more than I can bear. On our family trip to the beach I don't think he spoke more than 10 words total -- his anxiety was that high.

It is a challenge to enroll him in activities such as Vacation Bible School and I feel the need to be close by in case I am needed. I am so worried for his future that I often wake up in the middle of the night and cannot go back to sleep. I'm longing for our meeting with the experts at TEACCH (which is going to happen in a week or so) and feeling the need for connection with others who are experiencing the same sorts of feelings.

So, despite the heartbreak I am feeling, we HAVE had a good summer. July was a whirlwind and it is hard to believe we are looking at school starting soon. August is full of doctor/dentist appointments, open houses, and preparations. I am excited for the programs that all of my kids will be attending this school year. I'll end with some pictures from the beach -- what a fun week!

Whew!

After almost a week of rollercoasters, water slides, barbeque's, fireworks, playing ball, catching up, laughing, and reminiscing the family is almost gone. The last of Mike's brothers (and family) leave later today. It's been a great visit with everyone. I am in awe of people who entertain like this constantly -- it's a lot of work! I seriously feel like I could sleep for a week -- my kids could too! They have not been in bed before 10:30 (and usually more like 11 or 11:30) every night! This is rough on little ones who are used to a 7 or 7:30 bedtime. It's so worth it, though, to have the time to visit with everyone and make memories. I am thankful everyone was willing to come and see us and that we had such a great time! Here are just a few of the pic's of Mike and his brothers growing up that I used in the slide show I did.... these are some of my favorites:

I don't think I can function without the chaos!

Daddy has the boys outside for a bit and I am enjoying some blessed silence, which is so rare in our house. However, I am so overwhelmed with the possibilities of what to do with it that I am immobilized! HOW CAN THAT BE???!!!!

And, in other news, some pics of the ones who cause the chaos......

And now it's not autism.....

In the spirit of updating.... we saw a "DAN" doctor today which stands for Defeat Autism Now. These are specially, certified doctors who take a biomedical approach to autism, very often working with supplements, etc. This particular doctor is an M.D. and has an autistic child herself. Her prognosis of Mason -- "he's not autistic, or IF he is it is unbelievably mild and he can recover." Honestly, I almost stood in her office and cried from relief.

So, she took an in depth history from me (in fact, I had to fill out about 50 pages before we even went to the office and send it back in) and observed Mason at play. We then went into the exmaining room and she did a complete physical. She is ordering a few tests including:
* Food Allergy tests
* Thyroid, Celiac's, and other basic medical testing
* Heavy Metal testing

We will have to pay upfront for these, but insurance will reimburse us the cost on the back end. Additionally, from her exam she could tell he has a build up of yeast that must get taken care of, and a zinc deficiency. In fact, it is probably the zinc deficiency causing the excessive chewing and oral fixation. She believes he has heavy metals in his system he cannot get rid of from vaccination and also possibly from lead from toys (that he mouths all the time). He will also start B vitamin shots monthly. He will be taking a ton of supplements to start and then we will see where we are, but she feels confident that by fall, he may no longer qualify for an autistic diagnosis.

I'm a bit in shock -- both emotionally and fiscally. The testing will be around $400 and the supplements were not cheap. I'm overwhelmed some by the cost, but also very encouraged. All that she said syncs up with what I already know (due to our journey with Matthew and ADHD) as well as the research I have been doing. I've been on the phone with insurance trying to figure all of this out, but so far we are going to have to front a bunch of money that we will hopefully get back. This means sacrificing our pool membership this summer, but it's kind of a no-brainer.

So, I will continue to update as we go along. I am hopeful we will see some great results. Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers!