Okay, so I don't know where really to begin. First of all, I have two children, Kai and Johnnie. Kai has pdd-nos and my daughter, well she seems okay, hyper, but fine. I guess, normally I would start this off as, how I struggled to ge doctors to diagnose him. I'd known since he was 9 1/2 mos old that something wasn't right, and I had suspected autism. Anyway, I think most people have that same story...so I'll skip it...and fast forward to today, right now....and where we're at.

So, my son just turned 3. He just finished up at a school for children with autism. From the ages 2-6 any child can attend, they do however recommend, as the children get older, if they do not progress well enough, to go to a school that will accommadate them more adequately. However, their main goal is to have all the children mainstreamed, if they can handle it. Otherwise, they do go up to 8th grade. He first begun developmental therapy/floortime at 18 mos (it was a mix). He's also completed 9 mos of ABA, man how time flies. He did speech for about 9 mos when he turned two, but it just wasn't working, so we pulled him out. He will be returning soon though, now that he is verbal. He has never done OT but will be getting evaluated in a couple of months for it. YAY! Floortime will start for him in August of this year and I will be pulling him out of ABA for awhile, just to see how it goes. He's also in PPCD program at school. I will be taking him out by then end of July, it's just not for us, I'm sure I will go into more detail about it, as this blog develops.

He and my daughter are also on a GF/CF/SF diet. They are also on a no sugar, no artificial dyes/coloring/flavoring, etc. It's been incredibly easy so far. My son is slowly expanding his diet. I am however really going to look into this whole food chaining thing. I heard it's supposed to work. I have a list of items that he eats and doesn't eat, so I'm going to start tomorrow in doing so. Of course, he is on diffrent types of vitamins, supplements, and oils. I have to say, I have seen incredible things with my 20mos old daughter, I didn't expect to see. Her hyperactivity level has decreased monumentaly. I've been with her and had people tell me, "wow, she's really a handful, huh?" I even have family members who refuse to watch her, they all comment that they've never seen a child as crazed and hyper.

I work at the aforementioned private school for children on the autism spectrum. I teach the 2 yr olds. It has to be the most satisfying thing I've ever done. I truely think I have found my calling. I'm also an avid reader. I try to read any book I can under the sun. I find that it really helps me understand what is going on with my son. I think my favorites are the books actually written by people with autism. Currently I'm reading about biomedical treatments, incredibly

I do attend many conference. I have the DAN! conference coming up. I normally attend the TX State Autism conference. I used to go to alot of the resource fairs. I find that the people that attend aren't as open as I thought that they would be...unfortunately.

Ugh, I think I'm starting to sound stuffy. Anyway, so this is the beginning of this blog. I hope it develops into a worthwhile relationship!! Oh, and I have a husband too. He's doing exceedingly well adjusting to everything. He does have bipolar disorder, so it does make our househould a little difficult sometimes, but we're committed.

-adriane.