Flying Away!

Dylan had a dream day at an event called Challenge Air. Pilots donate their time and planes to fly children with special needs. Dylan and Eric got to go in a plane with a pilot for about 45 minutes. As they leave the hangar, the kids all walk the red carpet with cheerleaders cheering them on. Every single time a child walked the red carpet and got the huge ovation, it was an emotional feeling. How amazing the cheering section we all need in life! Dylan got to steer the plane for about 10 minutes! It was the ride of a lifetime to him. As you can see in the photos, he was in heaven!

The Wii!

Grandpa and Nana got Dylan a Wii video game. He really enjoys playing bowling the best. But, he is learning golf and other sports too. It's been great cause it keeps him involved with other kids when they come over to our house.

Well, the funny thing is listening to Ella be his "coach." She truly has the training of most autism behaviorists. She tells Dylan "do not spin the golfer in circles, play the game!" and "take your turn, don't spin!" She has sat through hundreds of hours of behaviorists, speech therapists and occupational therapists redirect her brother. She knows how to tell him to not spin out into his own world, but stay with the game. I sit back and watch in awe as she directs him like a trained autism specialist! She knows her stuff, at the age of 3, and could already have a career in it!

Autism Kids Are Brats?

By now, most of you have heard radio show host Michael Savage called kids with autism "brats" who just need more discipline and father figures. Eric's response: come over and babysit and then tell us what you think!

Another mom wrote an editorial that I agree with wholeheartedly, basically saying parents of autism kids WISH it were that simple that they just need more discipline!

Read her full response.

Sandals in July!

People often ask me about Dylan's occupational therapy. They tend to associate occupational therapy with work-related issues. I'm SUCH a big fan of occupational therapy and what it can do for high-sensory kids. Here's a small example: Dylan has very sensitive feet. I've bought several sandals for summer, including Crocs, in all sizes and colors trying to tempt him into trying them on. Each time, I've failed. He insisted on wearing hot sneakers with thick socks in 100-degree weather! So, I got these sandals last week and thought, surely THIS kid would fall for them if they have a CAR on the side. No such luck. I decided that these were the FINAL shoes I was going to buy this summer. So, I brought the sandals into Dylan's occupational therapist. She had him sit in a big bucket of rice and run his legs and feet through the feel of different things. As he sat there, he read a "social story" which is a picture book explaining things in detail. This social story was about when we wear certain shoes, such as boots in the snow, sandals in the summer, etc. When he got out of the bucket of rice, he put on his sandals and left the sneakers there (or so he thinks)! The next morning, he yelled "I forgot my shoes at OT!" I thought he was going to get upset, but he just put the CARS sandals on and went on with life. WHEW! These are the reasons I am and always will be a big fan of what occupational therapists can achieve!

Yay Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy!

People often ask what I think about autism and vaccines. Well, put simply: I'm not opposed to vaccines, but changes need to happen. I was pleased to see Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy hold a rally on June 4 in Washington, D.C. called "Green Our Vaccines." Everything they said, I agree with: http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/showbiz/2008/06/04/bts.carrey.mccarthy.vaccines.cnn

We need change, 36 vaccines is too many too fast too dangerous.

Dylan's Doctor on CBS

The doctor who has been treating Dylan with intensive vitamins, medicine and diet was featured in this story on CBS local news: http://cbs11tv.com/services/popoff.aspx?categoryId=11&videoId=28172@ktvt.dayport.com&videoPlayStatus=true&videoStoryIds=28172@ktvt.dayport.com&videoTime=1.671&

A Grateful Mom!

Dylan's schedule is packed in this month of May with finishing up Kindergarten. He's had a graduation ceremony, where he sang to the 5th graders. Here, he sits with Noelle and CJ before the ceremony. Then, we had a picnic at the school for Mother's Day. I got to talk to several of the moms who said such nice things about Dylan. Emma and Noelle's moms both said their children love Dylan and have had such a great experience getting to know him. Emma's mom said, she didn't know what it is about him, but the kids can't stop talking about him.(Maybe cause he's quiet and mysterious!?!) She said he had prepared Emma to understand her cousin better who has special needs. Here, Dylan twists Emma's hair, he loves to do that right now. They were very kind comments and made me happy for Dylan. This could have been a tough year, but he has been lucky to have very loving and supportive friends.