World Autism Day

April 2 has been designated as World Autism Day.
I urge you to do a couple of Internet searches to find out more information regarding Autism, more specifically Asperger's.
Did you know that more children are diagnosed with an Autism spectrum disorder than childhood cancer or Aids combined?
Did you know that 1 in 110 children will be diagnosed with this and 1 in 70 are males?
Did you know that this is real, I am not lying?
Did you know that there are no cures?
Did you know that this is something that Owen will live with everyday of his life?
Did you know that "this" consumes his family every day and eats his mother alive?
Did you know that this affects every single thing that he does?

If you didn't, try walking in his shoes...

The South Carolina Project

Ansley recently had a project due for her South Carolina History. There were many things she could have chosen but she decided to do the project on Hunting Island near Beaufort, SC.

This place holds lots of memories for Greg and I. This is the place where his Grandmother used to RV at. Greg and I were able to RV with her one time while we were in college. Since that time we have been back. 2 Spring Breaks ago we took the kids there to camp. It was almost a disaster. :) It was freezing out, we had to buy another tent, etc, etc...
This past summer we talked our friends into camping with us (our anniversary weekend June 27)there to. It was so HOT and buggy! But, it is a beautiful place.

Ansley did a diorama. It looks great. Greg and I helped her, but she did a lot of the work herself.

IEP postponed again

Hmmm...What can I say? This one may be my fault. I asked for another evaluation (concerning speech and language) and this time they listened. Whoa! It made more sense to do the evaluation and have all the results then try to piece them together. Actually the test that I wanted to give him was not really the test I had in mind. I had some information wrong but that is cleared up and hopefully we will have a mtg next week before Greg goes to Florida. Our psychologist had a family emergency so I haven't even seen her report or plan of action. I truly am an understanding person---I just need to know what's going on. As for today, well, it is Thursday, so it is my most dreaded day of the week. Dance and allergy shots. ughh!

Lemonade anyone?

So, I have been avoiding the blog lately. Not sure what to write, how to write. I really didn't want to say this/write this stuff out loud. Then it wouldn't be true. I tend to avoid things b/c then I think they don't exist. I had my time so now I am going to make some lemonade with what I have.

For weeks now we have been anticipating what the psychologist is going to say. What the diagnosis will be. I have the news. Not great but not horrible. A mild case of Asperger's syndrome ---which is on the Autism spectrum.

Our IEP mtg is Thursday to determine what the appropriate education for him will be. It may just be pulling him out for some Applied behavior therapy and some resource--when he needs it. And, we will still continue with the OT for the sensory processing disorder--which is common in cases like Owen.

My good friend Kris has supplied us with information regarding a couple of seminars that deal with sensory issues, Autism, and Asperger's. I will probably attend one of these to get more information. I take the approach of knowledge is power.

OT seems to really help Owen. We stopped things at home for a week to see if it would make a difference. It did. He got in trouble at school and had lots of focusing issues. If it works don't change it, just reevaluate every so often.

So, I promise to post more often, lemons or lemonade. I know that there will always be lemons. But today I think I'll go with lemonade.

Isabelle and Dad

Ansley and Dad

Father/Daughter Valentine's Dance