Some old posts from my myspace.

Well, here's all the old posts from my myspace blog. I look back on these and in some ways it still feels like yesterday, but on the other hand when I look at him and think of how far he's come, it's amazing. I feel like God is giving us our little boy back.

Also, I just wanted to clarify we started digestive enzymes from Houston within two weeks ago and we have seen HUGE gains with it. More eye contact, more speech, more questions, more social (him going down the slide with the kid at the park). I just can't believe I hesitated so long about them.

Another thing lately that we have had gains with is Mason had an ear infection and the typical antibiotic didn't work so they gave him another one. He started dressing himself and also started running to the door when you walk and and giving hugs and kisses :) I really think the antibiotic had something to do with it!


Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Mason and Threelac 3-26-08 Current mood: bouncy
I started Mason on a yeast probiotic called Threelac. We started on 3-14. In a little over a week and a half we have seen some dramatic improvements with his speech. He is repeating two and three word phrases/sentences much more. The other day he repeated blue’s clues, oh man, Go Diego Go (just to name a few). It’s pretty amazing. On Easter he took out the new bubble wand he got and said "This is yellow" and he was right! It was in fact yellow! He also heard a car that sounded like daddy’s car, he ran to the basement door, opened the cat door and said "where’s dad". He has been saying "I love you" altogether. These are HUGE improvements.

A side effect of the Threelac is that we have more stimming (watching ceiling fans, turning lights off and on, watching wheels turn), but things have been getting better with that too. The stimming was the worst the second day of the treatment. It has been slowing dying off.

Jon and I are really liking what we see. It’s just amazing. Mason has started turning the tv off and on upon request. His therapists are amazed.

Currently he is teaching himself to count to 20. No joke. He misses 15 most of the time, but he’s 2. I’m sure he’ll get it and a lot farther by 3. :) Jon said he’ll be impressed if I get him to 100 by nursery school. I think it’s a possibility. I’m just encouraging what he is basically teaching himself.

I also have an order for a speech therapist to start working with him. That just happened yesterday, so I don’t know a whole lot about that yet. We have a BSC coming today to start with him. Basically she will run an ABA program to help with eye contact and following simple directions. Right now the only direction he follows is to turn on or off the tv. Mason is also approved for a TSS for 12 hours a week, but currently we are waiting for one. I guess there is a demand for them so we have to wait. I’m not sure how long we will wait...

So that’s where we are right now. We started Mason on a vitamin supplement called Super Nu Thera which has extra B-6. He hates it so I am slowly adding it little by little to his juice.

:)


Thursday, February 14, 2008
It’s official. autism.
Well Mason had his evaluation on Tuesday. He has autism. On a great note, the doctor said he was doing REALLY well with his therapy (early intervention) and that he is a great candidate for the ABA therapy. (Which the lovely state of Pennsylvania will pick up the tab for his ABA therapy, thank God.) I've read that ABA therapy can cost $75 - $100 an hour and most kids with autism need 30 - 40 hours a week. There is no way we could afford that. So we were told to get him a medical card and start from there.

The doctor said we should receive her report by mail in three weeks. She also told us Mason has a LOT of great strengths. I was happy she realized this and didn't make it seem like 'your kid has autism, nothing you can do about it'. She seemed like there was light at the end of the tunnel. Which is the greatest feeling in the world.

The evalutation was simple. She tried to make Mason look at her and he wouldn't. She watched him play and tried to play with him. He kinda tolerated her, but wasn't interested in her at all. She did tell him to give mommy a hug and he did that! I was excitied. He doesn't wrap his arms around you but he leans in towards you. At least it's some form of affection.

Our next step is to get Mason to a DAN! doctor. A DAN! doctor is specially trained at Defeating Autism. Recovery does happen. I truly believe with tons of work and medicial intervention we can recover him. DAN doctors look at things such as vitamins, yeast growth, immune systems, mercury in the blood.... I really think Mason may have too much yeast in his body.

We are still continuing the diet which is helping along with Early Intervention. The head shaking and arm flapping have gone away for the most part. Yesterday out in Pittsburgh we took Mason to the mall that had a place for the kids to play. He wasn't sure about the other kids and really didn't try to interact, but he did watch them and he was so excitied that he starting flapping. My little birdie standing there in the middle of ten kids flapping. It's cute but it's sad because we know there is a reason he does it. He's so excitied he just can't express himself yet.

He is able to name some things now. Car, truck, train, juice, up, down, eat, dad, mom, mason, clo clo (dog), cat, cow, goat, horse... It's a HUGE difference from two months ago. I'm so proud of him. He's working so hard to communicate. He enjoys the flash cards and he's proud of himself when he knows things. It's such a great improvement and to add that he's excitied about using his words is the best feeling!

Well, i've gone on long enough. Google autism if you don't know what it is.


Wednesday, January 16, 2008
ELMO IS AWESOME! 1-16-08 Current mood: accomplished
Mason said ELMO IS AWESOME! I couldn't believe it. Last night we were eating and Mason was sitting in his high chair and said it! I had been working on that sentence because he knew all three words. Well, last night he said it all by himself! This is his first real sentence! I'm so proud of my little man!

His speech is getting better. He says aligator, up, down, Mason, Elmo, delicious, juice, please, more (is slowly coming), cookie, kitty kitty, Chlo Chlo for Chloe (the dog), wow.. there's more but I can't really remember right now. His speech is coming along nicely! His therapists have even said the see a huge improvement!

Mason is also starting to know his letters! He knows most of them and really enjoys when we ask him! I knew he was smart, but this one surprised me! I was writing on his aquadoodle (the best toy ever) and I wrote an "I" for I love you. Mason said "I". I praised him but didn't really think to much of it for a second.. Then it clicked that he might know more, so I started asking him. I was surprised that he knew most of them!

Things are coming along! I can't wait for February 12th. I just want him officially diagnosed so he can get all the help he needs!


Sunday, December 23, 2007
Quick Update :)
Well, Mason's speech has been really improving. It's amazing. I really believe it's the gluten leaving his system. It can take up to 6 months for all gluten to be out of his system! Mason is saying his own name when prompted. He also says up, down and juice. I know believe he knows what these words actually mean! He has also said delicious when asked by his Grandma how his meal was! Now if he'd just say fergilicious! LOL

Therapy has started but mostly it has just been playing and more information for me and Jon than anything. The specialists have been impressed with how well he puts puzzels together and colors!


Tuesday, December 11, 2007
OT specialist came today 12-11-07
Well the OT specialist came today. Mostly we did paperwork. That's been the story of our lives right now. She gave us a few suggestions. She didn't work with Mason at all today though. She is coming next thursday to start working with him. As for brushing his teeth, she wants us to take a cloth over his gums and teeth before we let him brush them. She said this should make it easier. We'll see. Sounds like a good reason to bite mommy if you ask me.. but she's the professional and i'll try anything at this point.

We also got the paperwork from the Early Intervention Evaluation today in the mail. That really has hit me hard. It says that in some areas he is like a 7 month old and 9 month old. I guess seeing it put in black and white is what hit me the hardest. I already knew it was coming.


Thursday, December 06, 2007
Early Intervention came today 12-6-07 Current mood: blessed
Well Mason qualified for Early Intervention to come help him in our home! Some things he scored ok on like for instance the gross motor skills he scored a 22. On some other things like communication he scored pretty low. His scores were a 9, 16, 22 and 7. His communication score was bad. The lady said that he was making pretty good eye contact though and he even sat on her lap! We will have a speech therapist and a OT specialist.

Some things we need to help him on are telling him red ball or yellow car. The lady said that she thinks he is absorbing the information he just isn't sure how to get it out. So Jon and I are going to start explaining more things to him.

Early Intervention has to contact us within 14 days from today to start working with him! I am so excitied that he qualified. I was just afraid he wouldn't get the help that he needs because he looks normal. I guess these specialist know what they're doing! I was so afraid to get a response of just give him time, he come out of it!


Thursday, November 29, 2007
Mason 11-29-07 Current mood: cheerful
Mason keeps making progress. It's AMAZING what changing a diet can do! We get more eye contact everyday.

Last night, I was washing dishes and Mason made his giraffe walk across the floor all by himself! We hadn't even played with the giraffe all day! I also found his big thomas train that has wheels on the bottom and he was PUSHING it around! This is HUGE! He normally turns it over and spins the wheels but he actually played correctly with it!

Early Intervention is coming for his evaluation on the 6th! We only did paperwork with the last visit. Stacey basically asked what he was doing or wasn't doing that we were worrying and what changes we'd like to see from the therapy. That's easy, more eye contact, actually responds to his name most of the time, less hand flapping, less watching ceiling fans, more "playing" with toys and us, more speech, to know that saying juice = juice, more interaction with humans in general, less sliding his face across the carpet, less eating his clothes...

It's taking alot of work, but its worth it! I see so much improvement already! I'm so greatful! It's such a great start just changing what he's eating I can't wait until therapy starts!



Saturday, November 24, 2007
Mason 11-24-07 Current mood: excited
Wow is all I have to say! Mason is doing sooo much better just because of switching his diet! I can't believe it!

Last night he made his giraffe walk across the floor! It was so exciting! We also played together with golf clubs! He was trying to hit the ball and laughing when he did! He has never played with toys like this! Most of the time he would just toss them and relocate them to another area! This is a HUGE improvement!

His aggression seems to be fading away. Mostly I only get kicked when changing his diaper. It's much better than it was!

He also was playing with the cat door and laughing at me through it! He was looking at me the whole time! I love it! When he was looking through the cat door he saw his juice sitting on the basement steps (that's just where we store it). He left for a minute and came back and threw his cup through the door because he wanted juice!

Early Intervention is coming Monday! I can't wait! I am so excitied to get him started on this!
Also Mason had his pooh bear on our bed. I told him to get Pooh and he paid no attention. I pointed to Pooh and said Mason get pooh and HE DID IT! I am so proud of that little guy!


Friday, November 23, 2007
A little set back..11-23-07 Current mood: tired
Well, things are going well but we did have a little setback. Mason got ahold of Cheetos. We think he only had one or two but we're not even sure. He was a little different for awhile but he did calm down again.

Overall, things are going well. Mason is making more eye contact. He also put together his beads with his Aunt Brianna. He aslo stepped on CJ's tail and was careful not to do it again. He realized he hurt the dog.

Mason has been licking everything. He licks his fingers constantly since being on the diet. He also licks everything else. He has been chewing his clothes more. I'm not sure exactly why. He is also rubbing his eyes more and more it seems.

Today when I feed Mason his cereal he sat on my lap and actually relaxed. It's been a long time since he's felt like that in my arms. I gave him kisses and he actually let me touch him. I ususally don't even try to touch him if he is on my lap because i'm just happy to have him on my lap at all. Ususally once I touch him, he's gone.


Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Mason 11-21-07
Mason is improving. He is starting to actually see me during the day. He makes eye contact. Not as much as a "normal" child but I see more from him. Mason has also noticed the animals in the house. He has actually tried to pet Chloe after seeing a commercial on Nick Jr about dogs. He had seen the commercial many MANY times but he finally realized they were talking about something he had. He aslo climbed on the couch and looked Felix (our cat) in the eyes!

Mason is more interested in books since starting the GFCF diet. There is a book with puzzle pieces in it and he puts that together now. Before he didnt' realize the pieces were supposed to go in the puzzle. Now he does! Last night he brought Jon a book and climbed on the love seat, layed beside him and let Jon read the book. That was a first! Mason has also been more patient when we read to him. He used to try to flip the pages constantly, now he is letting us actually read the book to him. He is also liking to color more. He is actually starting to do something productive during the day which is GREAT!

He is chewing and licking everything. He was licking purple thing this morning and he chews on his clothes a lot more than he used to.


Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Mason 11-20-07 Current mood: drained
Mason is improving more and more everyday. He is making more eye contact and sometimes he is responding on the first say of his name. He isn't looking everytime we say his name but it has gotten better. He does seem to be chewing on his clothes more.

He is realizing the world around him more. He holds blue when blues clues is on and he also was holding Pablo while backyardigans is on. He also has danced to the move episode of Yo Gabba Gabba. He does the hold still and stands on one leg and then wiggles wiggles wiggles. HUGE improvement! He has NEVER done anything like that before!

I gave Mason a bath this morning and he screamed the WHOLE time I washed him. Very unusual for him. He usually pulls his hands and feet away from me but he has never acted like this. I think it may be more withdrawal.... Which withdrawal symptoms are a good thing on this diet from what I read. It means Mason is actually withdrawing from something!
Also, Early Intervention is coming on Monday! It's amazing. Hopefully, we can pull Mason through the window of autism!


Monday, November 19, 2007
Mason 11/19/07 Current mood: okay
I don't know if i'm extremely hopeful or if I'm really seeing this. Mason's eye contact is getting better. He has looked at my eyes for 2 seconds or so which is a huge improvement. I think I see less head shaking and arm flapping.

Yesterday he saw blue on tv, ran up to his room brought blue down and held her to the tv. That was a first! Mason also sat on my lap himself. I told him to sit and he did! He was very proud of himself. He also brought me three different books, sat on my lap the whole time and didn't try to flip pages before I was done with that page.
He did wake up at 5 am today. That's waaaaay early for him. I gave him some soy yogurt and he went back to bed until 10:45.

Mason was pretty violent with Jon and I yesterday when we changed his diaper. He was kicking and wiggling around more that usual. Could be withdrawal. I'm not sure.
I'll keep everyone updated.


Sunday, November 18, 2007
Started Mason on GFCF diet for possible Autism. Current mood: hopeful
So we've had Mr. Mason to two different peditricians and a neurologist so far. All three have said probable Autism or PDD. Our next appointment for diagnosis is not until February 12th. I think Jon and I might both go crazy until that appointment. The neurologist said there is nothing neurologlically wrong with him. He told me to get him into Early Intervention (which I called about on Thursday, the lady said I should hear back within 10 days).

The neurologist kinda made me feel like I was a bad mother for not realizing this earlier. I always thought he was bored with us. He was busy. I don't know. When it's your first child it's harder to see things I guess. I knew his speech was behind, but I always got he was a bigger baby and a boy. He will be behind...

I see changes in him already since we realized he probably has autism. Three weeks ago he finally started clapping. Usually he just moves his arms up and down like he is going to fly away. He still does this, but at least most of the time he claps. I read a book on ABA therapy which said about imitating him and the taking that action and try to get him to switch from flapping when he's happy to clapping. It worked! Yesterday, He also said hi to a complete stranger down at the Healthy Grocer in Camp Hill. I still can't believe that. I had switched him to soy milk three days ago. I wonder if that was why the improvement? That was just with cereal. I didn't start changing his whole diet until today.

Well, today I started Mason on The GFCF (gluten free casein free) diet. He had rice milk and some peanut butter cereal. Actually it wasn't bad. It kinda scared me. He ate it without hesitation so that was great!

Maybe it's just me, but I've said his name twice already this morning and he's looked both times. Usually it's four or five (at least) times I have to say his name. He has also brought me two different books to read to him already this morning. He's only been up since 9:15. Maybe he's just having a good day.
I'll try to keep everyone informed if your interested.
Pray for Mason!