tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86229296062831647752024-03-12T21:26:42.691-04:00Marley's Magical MindTalking about Autism, ADHD and SPD This is my outlet for sharing all my experiences with my daughter, Marley Rose. VanessaK527http://www.blogger.com/profile/07325037507302688933noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622929606283164775.post-48388242909220494762017-03-06T15:00:00.000-05:002017-03-06T15:00:24.373-05:00Update !Hi friends!<br />
Its been a few months since my last post. Marley is thriving in her new class. She's doing very well in her classes and is even doing pretty good with math. Her class has a separate teacher just for special education students. Unfortunately her original special education teacher fell sick and had to take a medical leave. Luckily her new teacher is very sweet, but we all know how she does with changes. It took a few days but she was able to adjust. <br />
She has been blossoming as a writer. She discovered the 'notes' in her Mac computer. She has been typing away with new stories and situations she imagines. I haven't read any of it yet. I don't want to break her trust and have her stop writing. She is very "all or nothing". If she finds out I read her 'diary' she will never forgive me. <br />
Her lyme disease hasn't reactivated. I'm really hoping it hasn't taken over her like it's taken over me. She asked me a few weeks ago when I wasn't going to be sick anymore. I didn't have an answer for her. It's obviously affecting her, and I don't know how to fix it. I do know she is strong and resilient. Thanks for stopping by and sharing with me. I like when my friends come over !<br />
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Love and kisses,<br />
VanessaVanessaK527http://www.blogger.com/profile/07325037507302688933noreply@blogger.com0Howell, NJ 07731, USA40.1407113 -74.20619310000000739.9465453 -74.5289166 40.3348773 -73.883469600000012tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622929606283164775.post-61363139762407294112016-09-09T08:23:00.001-04:002016-09-09T20:59:47.702-04:00Marley was mainstreamed !!!At her IEP meeting back in March the child study team let me know that they wanted to mainstream Marley in the fourth grade. At first I wasn't too sure about her being mainstreamed, but after I thought about it I realize that she needed to move on. While the program is phenomenal in our school district, I feel that at times it hinders her maturity. I understand that a child with special needs has to have certain opportunities be made a little more easily available, but at the same time it also makes her think that she's entitled to other things. She thinks everyone is going to cater to her. <div>Marley is on the spectrum so while she may have developmental delays she has no cognitive delays. She is, for all intents and purposes, a nine-year-old girl. I think mainstreaming her in a regular classroom, with a lot of support, is a very good idea for her. <div>We tried to give her a heads up as much as possible. But how much can you explain to a nine-year-old that things are going to change. Her teacher called me on the first day to let me know that she did well with the transitioning. But she also mentioned that during recess Marley was alone. A little girl came up to ask her if she wanted to play but Marley let her know that she needed some time alone to regroup. I was very glad that she was able to verbalize how she was feeling internally.</div><div>I don't want it to be where it's so overwhelming for her that she needs a break and loses out on recess. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It's only the third day today so we will have to see how she does during the day today. Next week will be the true determination of how she's doing because that's when they start with homework. And she loves her homework! LOL</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhOJmHKt5KRP-qFpxN-NBjThNxvkupdGSYT9-ixyzTEjmWMmeysJjx8cy2hRDaRMbRfcGPsXAzX_ER0eexEmKYWZqFdDLMutKvd_IO_gGTDFYtpVB7GE-dEwo3-1A9UEXF_QP8BUK9eM/s640/blogger-image--737967778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhOJmHKt5KRP-qFpxN-NBjThNxvkupdGSYT9-ixyzTEjmWMmeysJjx8cy2hRDaRMbRfcGPsXAzX_ER0eexEmKYWZqFdDLMutKvd_IO_gGTDFYtpVB7GE-dEwo3-1A9UEXF_QP8BUK9eM/s640/blogger-image--737967778.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Pizza night !!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqgOBYRn9foVugC_Mg4vvA0wndjLcj6kXRZ2qjsLW-if7paKUtpeJ2PpR1Uh6LUurMT0P9rFW5nJfqlvmNPDu4CuZXKt2P0rFQzZETYntpVPtStScvVl7r97sh7EkQK5lCkS3yc5kygM/s640/blogger-image--2064490383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqgOBYRn9foVugC_Mg4vvA0wndjLcj6kXRZ2qjsLW-if7paKUtpeJ2PpR1Uh6LUurMT0P9rFW5nJfqlvmNPDu4CuZXKt2P0rFQzZETYntpVPtStScvVl7r97sh7EkQK5lCkS3yc5kygM/s640/blogger-image--2064490383.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">First day of school.</div><br></div><br></span></div>VanessaK527http://www.blogger.com/profile/07325037507302688933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622929606283164775.post-22850691074610185642016-09-03T22:47:00.001-04:002016-09-03T22:47:27.768-04:00Marley was hit with Lyme again!Yup. It's true. <div>She was reinfected with Lyme. Since the middle of May she had been sleeping a lot. She was taking naps during the day and would spend most of the weekend inside the house. I was suspicious that something was wrong and asked my husband to take her to the doctor. This was the middle of June, after school finished for the summer. He is a teacher so he had the same vacation as her. </div><div>The blood was drawn without a problem. Sure enough, she tested positive again. The doctor explained the results to me but it wasn't too clear for me. The way she was describing the results sounded like this was 'acute' all over again. Which means it just started and is new. </div><div>Great!!! </div><div><br></div><div>Use your bug spray!!! These little suckers are dangerous!!!</div><div><br></div><div>I'll be back soon!!! </div><div>❤️</div><div><br></div><div>Vanessa</div>VanessaK527http://www.blogger.com/profile/07325037507302688933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622929606283164775.post-18027163097492202662015-10-28T14:22:00.000-04:002015-10-28T14:22:29.470-04:00Quick update !<span style="font-size: large;">I wanted to jump on real quick to give an update. Marley and I have both been undergoing treatment for Lyme disease. I am happy to say that Marley kicked it's butt !!!! It took two rounds of antibiotics, but she is now feeling much better. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I also was able to defeat Lyme, but the parasite, Babesia, decided to stick around a little longer. I have been on antibiotics, antimalarial and antiprotozoal medications. I have been exhausted, to say the least. The past few weeks have been a little better with the exhaustion but I still have the stomach issues associated with this disease and also the medicines. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I am grateful that my family and I have the means to be able to treat this and live the rest of our lives happy and healthy! I appreciate all the support my family and friends have extended out to us. Sometimes just being able to vent about how awful I felt was enough to alleviate any discomfort I had. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Love to all,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Vanessa</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>VanessaK527http://www.blogger.com/profile/07325037507302688933noreply@blogger.com0Howell, NJ 07731, USA40.1407113 -74.20619310000000739.9465453 -74.5289166 40.3348773 -73.883469600000012tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622929606283164775.post-70952748781975771872015-07-21T20:59:00.001-04:002015-07-21T21:44:42.361-04:00Lyme disease hit us !!!I haven't posted in 3 months. <div><br></div><div>I was too tired.</div><div><br></div><div>I had brain fog.</div><div><br></div><div>Body aches and pains. </div><div><br></div><div>Thought I was lazy and unmotivated. </div><div><br></div><div>On June 22, 2015, Marley had a fever. Nothing tangible, no sore throat or any skin eruptions. Lasted 3 days. Doctor couldn't figure it out either. Figured it was just her body fighting something off. Fever broke on June 25th. No biggie. </div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">But on June 28 we were at a friends birthday BBQ and it suddenly came back for two days!!! And went away again! Weird......but, ok, her body is fighting off a stomach thing. So I thought. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">On July 3 Marley woke up covered in a strange looking rash. They looked like bullseye's!!! She was covered in them. She looked like a giraffe!!!!!!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qnwLf4qX4Sl9e67b2A0Hrb2dxh_TySsTJf74eC51Y3bB4Q5LY08lccaliju-vKcZMd-xhHSOIQ1hhCAfDTACRWRzpqpo26Zv11vhGINMTzjr56qrf74yK9A7H8qzwIk22ypxj4PVR9Y/s640/blogger-image--1420848193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4qnwLf4qX4Sl9e67b2A0Hrb2dxh_TySsTJf74eC51Y3bB4Q5LY08lccaliju-vKcZMd-xhHSOIQ1hhCAfDTACRWRzpqpo26Zv11vhGINMTzjr56qrf74yK9A7H8qzwIk22ypxj4PVR9Y/s640/blogger-image--1420848193.jpg"></a></div>Just one side of her arm</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDC8O7zcKCk_VbLGRianZ0BWNB6SfBmBCSNQuLqdmUWgwbIuN3FKhox1oZA-A_2dp0gCPJm5ZjnP7HtkMo1I1EIi3ke4IkNIs-7SsUDDhNU6Di66W73X9ScGuZg8SkRigDiEsyA3UMd8/s640/blogger-image-433713738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEDC8O7zcKCk_VbLGRianZ0BWNB6SfBmBCSNQuLqdmUWgwbIuN3FKhox1oZA-A_2dp0gCPJm5ZjnP7HtkMo1I1EIi3ke4IkNIs-7SsUDDhNU6Di66W73X9ScGuZg8SkRigDiEsyA3UMd8/s640/blogger-image-433713738.jpg"></a></div>On one side of her back</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div>I <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">told hubby to take her to the doctor, but everyone thought I was over reacting. </span></div><div><br></div><div>NEVER TELL AN AUTISM MOM SHE IS OVER REACTING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div><div><br></div><div>But I was also brutally tired and thought maybe I was being over sensitive. After all, who gets bit by so many ticks!!! Figured it was an allergic reaction to mosquito bites. Gave her allergy medicine. Didn't work. Ugh!!!!</div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">So on July 6, off to the doctor she went with Bob, I was at work. </span></div><div><br></div><div>Sure enough..............it was Lyme disease. I felt like someone kicked me in the gut. Treatment started that day. </div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, I was feeling very off the last few months. I went to a new doctor on July 2, 2015 and she was actually interested in what I had to say. She didn't dismiss my extreme fatigue. Or my muscle pain. Or my joint pain. Or my quick onset severe headaches. She even asked me questions about other symptoms I've had and have been diagnosed with other ailments. Hmmmmmm.......I felt like she was onto something. </div><div>She decided to give me a slew of blood tests and some where for immunologic disorders, and others for Lyme and its co-infections. Ummmmmm...ok, whatever that means.</div><div>On July 9, the other shoe drops (on my 12th wedding anniversary, no less) ... I also have Lyme disease. And one of its buddies, the co-infection Babesia. Because when I do something, I do it right!!!!! Ugh! Turns out Babesia is a parasite that lives in red blood cells. Wonderful. Treatment started that day!!!</div><div><br></div><div>I also discovered that my neighbors 19 year old daughter has Lyme disease. She was diagnosed 2 weeks before Marley. Obviously something is going on in my neighborhood. </div><div>Bob decided he needed to get tested also. Because Bob is the one that mows the lawn, he continuously finds ticks on himself. On July 20th Bob was also tested for Lyme and its co-infections. </div><div><br></div><div>I am happy to know that I am not lazy or unmotivated. I am ill. I plan on being very aggressive with my Lyme and Babesiosis. Marley's Lyme was caught quick enough that I think 2 rounds of antibiotics will get everything. Me, on the other hand, have been feeling crappy for a long while. The doctor did tell me that my treatment will probably take from 3 -6 months. I don't care how long it takes, I just want those buggers out of my red blood cells!!!!! </div><div><br></div><div>I will update on here about how this is affecting Marley's autism also. I'm hoping it doesn't, but we shall see. </div><div>I hope my ramblings didn't bore you all, but I did promise I was back and I go on and flake out. If any one has questions please ask me. Or even any information on the co-infection. </div><div><br></div><div>Don't forget that I also have the sensory toys and book links on the side if you need for your child(ren) or yourself. I would greatly appreciate it. ❤️😘😍</div><div><br></div><div>Love and good health to everyone !</div><div><br></div><div>Vanessa</div>VanessaK527http://www.blogger.com/profile/07325037507302688933noreply@blogger.com0Howell Howell40.160713 -74.238128tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622929606283164775.post-72460868639126988852015-04-22T21:17:00.000-04:002015-04-22T21:22:12.967-04:00Eating and feeding time with children with autism.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVi4JU_vDE6jB40MyEPsQGriPBSKMrJzL5rshx6SubaUUqnRnn4fTkelwaNGolB4CZab1fhT0Pu3kK0CuX1gKQS6_Zf_WUElglAX1q-b1qP77Pcz6A3B3osdi4aRk0AEmTzeTNL5v628Y/s1600/7-13-07,+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVi4JU_vDE6jB40MyEPsQGriPBSKMrJzL5rshx6SubaUUqnRnn4fTkelwaNGolB4CZab1fhT0Pu3kK0CuX1gKQS6_Zf_WUElglAX1q-b1qP77Pcz6A3B3osdi4aRk0AEmTzeTNL5v628Y/s1600/7-13-07,+1.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5 months old</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMg2dHvuEpXphy0OKuEcQEgXIhRQF8g7vqGUG-oQl6mebbtwxtMyHemqLNAsC6kWRB02SOg9qtxIkwplq4d41KytvgiuvpFCy2u-4jOQxPgmuM4RQ0L5pBQdtKXU5msuzEnYooejeMsA/s1600/7-13-07,+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhMg2dHvuEpXphy0OKuEcQEgXIhRQF8g7vqGUG-oQl6mebbtwxtMyHemqLNAsC6kWRB02SOg9qtxIkwplq4d41KytvgiuvpFCy2u-4jOQxPgmuM4RQ0L5pBQdtKXU5msuzEnYooejeMsA/s1600/7-13-07,+2.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't handle the cuteness !!!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Kids with autism usually are very particular about what they eat. Most of the time I feel it's because of sensory issues in their mouth, and because of this some of them do limit what they eat, sometimes so severely, that it could result in nutritional deficiencies.</span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">When my daughter was born she was never a hungry child. I remember when Marley was few weeks old she fell asleep for five hours and did not wake up to eat. I actually had to wake her up to eat. Being that she is my first child I thought it was normal, but I soon discovered that it was not. </span><span style="background-color: white;">At this age children usually wake up every 2 to 3 hours to feed, and they are very hungry. </span><span style="background-color: white;">She never finished the appropriate amount of formula for her particular age. I tried breast-feeding but she would not latch on. I later found out, through Marley's neurodevelopmental pediatrician, that children with autism have difficulty latching onto breast-feeding. What I was able to do was pump what I had, and supplement with formula. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">When I tried feeding her solid foods she only took to it because I practically shoved it in her mouth. Each mouthful sent shivers up her little spine and she would always wince and shudder. Usually children by five months are reaching for the spoon with their mouths when they see the food. Marley just sat and looked at it. As</span><span style="background-color: white;"> the months went on she started refusing certain foods. I did not know what to think at that point.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> By the time she was a-year-old she was eating scrambled eggs, mac & cheese and applesauce. Not very balanced! </span><span style="background-color: white;">It got so bad that I had to put her on Pediasure twice a day. I was so afraid of her being malnourished. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Even though as a baby I introduced all sorts of foods to her, she refuses to eat anything now. I made sure that I gave her plenty of vegetables so that her taste buds can acquire a taste for them. But to no avail. The only vegetable she likes is cauliflower and broccoli with cheese on it. And even with that she gives me a hard time. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Of course I received all sorts of advice from the pediatrician. </span><span style="background-color: white;">I've tried the whole 'let her starve and she will eat' but that process does not work with a child with autism. I've been advised to hide the healthy food in what she likes to eat. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sure, I can try to hide some brussel sprouts in her 'spaghetti with butter' dinner! She'll NEVER realize it...lolol!!!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faking it for the camera!!! Doesn't even like the smell of apples.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">And I can also say that my daughter does not eat any fruit. A person would think at least fruit she would eat because it was sweet. Each time I approach her with a banana, she gags!!! A true visceral reaction to fruit!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">With the foods that she does eat, she is particular. She does like chicken, red meat and pork. But they have to be cooked a certain way, and cannot have any char on them. She will make her father cut it off. The rice and the mashed potatoes have to be a particular texture. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do get very frustrated with her eating. My mother always told me that as a young chid I would eat whatever she put in front of me. I have to stop myself and think 'how would I feel if someone was trying to make me eat something that grossed me out?' Her sensory issues dominate her every day. She is still learning coping skills on how to handle being over whelmed. That's not easy when EVERYTHING overwhelms her. Something as simple as too much salt on her food would be the sensory equivalent of me drinking straight up sea water !!! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Unfortunately there isn't too much research on this. A lot of times the families get blamed for the child's behavior. I do know that once I accepted the fact that this could be sensory it has been a little easier on us. I'm not as demanding on her. I do sometimes try and figure out a way to make the food more appealing to her senses. Every time I do bring it up to any professionals, whether it be her pediatrician or our personal therapist that we go to, they all seem to not have any real answers for us. Most of them seem to say "when she's hungry she'll eat". I really can't speak for most other people who have autistic children with eating situations, I can only speak for myself and my daughter. But I wholeheartedly feel that the reason they are so picky is because of </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">1). the texture and the feeling of the food in their mouth because of the sensory issues</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">2). gastrointestinal distress </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Sometime she does complain about her belly hurting after she eats her food.I am gluten-free so it is easy to put her on a gluten-free diet and she doesn't really like milk or milk-based foods so casein free is relatively easy for her. I am certainly not one to say that a GFCF diet will 'cure' my child. But I do believe that when I make her as comfortable as possible, her behavior improves. I feel its because when she isn't as physically uncomfortable she is less frustrated. It's difficult for her to express what her body feels into words. Although her communication has improved, she still has a difficult time explaining and describing her internal feelings. She still has some difficulty with self regulation so at times she knows she is uncomfortable, but doesn't realize where it's coming from. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">I am certainly no expert on this subject matter. I only have my personal experience with eating 'situations'. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">There are feeding professionals and feeding therapies available, but I don't feel it's necessary for me to bring Marley to one just yet. I think for her, with a lot of patience, she will be able to let me know what foods are acceptable for her and hopefully help me prepare foods and meals that she can tolerate. Until then, she will continue with the Pediasure. She enjoys the flavor and is one of the 'foods' she actually requests. I will probably worry about her nutrition for quite a while, but It will get better.....I hope. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Now that I am back I plan on posting every other Wednesday. If you have any suggestions on what you want me to write about, let me know!! I would love to hear from you!</span><br />
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VanessaK527http://www.blogger.com/profile/07325037507302688933noreply@blogger.com0Howell, NJ 07731, USA40.1407113 -74.20619310000000739.9465453 -74.5289166 40.3348773 -73.883469600000012tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622929606283164775.post-18857648666535566602015-04-08T19:00:00.000-04:002015-04-08T19:00:05.273-04:00I'm back !!!Well, I'm back. Thanks to a friend of mine that I've known since third grade. He's the one that gave me the kick in the pants. Thanks Jay!!!!<br />
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I haven't blogged in a few months. Sometimes life gets in the way!!! As you may have already noticed, I've done some updating and I changed the name of my blog. I feel the new name gives my blog more definition. My daughters mind is the most magical place I've ever witnessed. </div>
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Not much has really happened since my last post. Routine in my house is so strict that I get into autopilot. In some ways it's good because I always know what's going to happen next. But in other ways it gets a bit stifling. And when things get monotonous the brain shuts down! </div>
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I did get laid off in the beginning of the year and we got a dog. A lab mix named Luna Belle. Those are pretty major changes for a family that has an autistic member. The lay off really didn't affect her very much because I was always home by the time she got off the school bus. And I was the one that put her on the bus in the morning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9yHUnjzDBaDGH5WIpIFQFRYGu813Od4o3b6265Cr7AkITGo4h3QynoiLph3k3FRWoWhN8_GwnRUr9F_siNQkc13F3vQpSmdjdGljImOybtWNP4yNO0DwV0ohCbAW0FiCyH5sc8txMd8/s1600/2015-01-19+17.48.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS9yHUnjzDBaDGH5WIpIFQFRYGu813Od4o3b6265Cr7AkITGo4h3QynoiLph3k3FRWoWhN8_GwnRUr9F_siNQkc13F3vQpSmdjdGljImOybtWNP4yNO0DwV0ohCbAW0FiCyH5sc8txMd8/s1600/2015-01-19+17.48.19.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The new dog, on the other hand, was a pretty big change. Marley didn't take to Luna as we had hoped. Luna was from the Monmouth County SPCA. Her name was originally Sallie. She was almost 3 months old and had a cone on. The volunteers told us that she had a slight infection on her belly. She was originally from South Carolina and had arrived a few days before we met her. She had the sweetest face and the best disposition. We fell in love right away. What we didn't realize was that Marley had a preset notion of what she wanted and expected from having a dog. She expected the dog to be calm and automatically understand all commands. Her only experience with dogs was with our neighbors Shi-tzu, Spike. Spike is 7 years old, calm and already fully trained with commands. Luna was 3 months old, sweet but hyper. Luna would get over excited and try to jump on Marley because she wanted to play. Poor Marley had to endure about a week of Bob and I training Luna to not jump on anyone, especially Marley, when she became excited. The training worked, but now Marley had a bad taste in her mouth! Luna is very sweet, eager to please and very intelligent. I think once Luna learns to calm down and Marley learns how to handle Luna, it'll all work out. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkH1BKL1Ls2lAXsD0at_TAaos2kO_65atM08y83cwot7qeSwRYT6T1pmx9bKcts5kJdK-4Ie5LEnmPrzHzj54zvJfa2FazNjsmu7tXK0RTRc-ESPHamCS9aS2CVbBwToNm6ChEBEaeJo/s640/blogger-image-1880504045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgkH1BKL1Ls2lAXsD0at_TAaos2kO_65atM08y83cwot7qeSwRYT6T1pmx9bKcts5kJdK-4Ie5LEnmPrzHzj54zvJfa2FazNjsmu7tXK0RTRc-ESPHamCS9aS2CVbBwToNm6ChEBEaeJo/s640/blogger-image-1880504045.jpg" /></a></div>
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Luna Belle</div>
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VanessaK527http://www.blogger.com/profile/07325037507302688933noreply@blogger.com0Howell, NJ 07731, USA40.1407113 -74.20619310000000739.9465453 -74.5289166 40.3348773 -73.883469600000012tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622929606283164775.post-19467792928095574062015-01-25T11:53:00.001-05:002015-01-25T11:53:32.759-05:00Article from March of Dimes.<h2 style="border: 0px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrL0CbqNOecbSHBMr5Sy4IGhLxK4Of76o4mXIt_LpHLee_R66APfcTqXZ1mNCiOAnKjJCMuQencMJzKMiVnX1QmJIwYpKv9oF71JQnltwc4T_NjehQJVwFYNa1N8KGTeLUK6UayqGn4Jg/s640/blogger-image--757033127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrL0CbqNOecbSHBMr5Sy4IGhLxK4Of76o4mXIt_LpHLee_R66APfcTqXZ1mNCiOAnKjJCMuQencMJzKMiVnX1QmJIwYpKv9oF71JQnltwc4T_NjehQJVwFYNa1N8KGTeLUK6UayqGn4Jg/s640/blogger-image--757033127.jpg" /></span></a></h2>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">Following is an article from March of Dimes that I found interesting and wanted to share.</span></h2>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">It's from 2012 but it does have some basic information</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: 17px;">Autism</span></h2>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is a group of conditions that affect how a child functions in several areas, including speech, social skills and behavior. Symptoms of these disorders vary greatly and range from mild to severe.<br /><br />There are three main types of ASDs (1): </span></div>
<ul style="border: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Autistic disorder (also called classic autism): Affected individuals often have severe speech, social and behavioral problems. Sometimes individuals also have intellectual disability. </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Asperger syndrome: Affected individuals have milder social and behavioral problems than individuals with autistic disorder. They usually have normal speech and intellectual abilities. </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (also called atypical autism): Affected individuals have some symptoms, often including speech and social problems, but not enough to be diagnosed with classic autism. </span></li>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all children be screened for ASDs at their regular medical checkups at 18 months and 24 months (2). Early diagnosis and treatment can greatly improve the outlook for children with ASDs.</span></div>
<h3 style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="babyheaderart" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-size: 17px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How common are ASDs?</span></h3>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="babyheaderart" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>ASDs may affect about 1 in 110 to 1 in 150 children in the United States (3, 4). This means there may be more than 650,000 children in this country who have some symptoms of autism (4).<br /><br />More children than ever are being diagnosed with ASDs. The rates of children diagnosed with ASDs have risen dramatically since the 1980s; between 2002 and 2006 they increased 57 percent, from 6.0 to 9.4 cases per 1,000 (3). Much of this increase may be due to improved awareness and changes in how ASDs are diagnosed. </span></div>
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<span class="babyheaderart" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-size: 17px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What are the symptoms of ASDs?</span></h3>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="babyheaderart" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>Each child with an ASD is unique. Common characteristics and behaviors include a child who (1, 5): </span></div>
<ul style="border: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Does not speak (about 40 percent of children with autistic disorder do not speak at all) </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Repeats words </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Performs repetitive movements, such as hand-flapping </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Doesn’t play “pretend” games </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Is overly active </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Has frequent temper tantrums </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Avoids eye contact </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Has difficulty starting and maintaining conversation and making friends </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Does not respond to being called by name </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Insists on keeping the same routine </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Repeats actions again and again </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Focuses on a single subject or activity </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Wants to be alone </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Is overly sensitive to the way things feel, sound, taste or smell </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Dislikes being held or cuddled </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Has sleep disturbances </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Lacks fear in risky situations </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Has some degree of intellectual disability or learning problems </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Is aggressive </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Hurts himself </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Loses skills (for example, stops saying words he used to say) </span></li>
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<h3 style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="babyheaderart" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-size: 17px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">When is an ASD diagnosed?</span></h3>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="babyheaderart" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>A child with an ASD usually does not look different from other children. He may appear to develop normally for the first year or so of life. But during the second year, some children with an ASD begin to fall behind in social skills, fail to develop speech, or even lose skills that they had previously acquired. An ASD is often diagnosed around age 3; however, subtle signs of the disorder may appear before 18 months (2). These signs may include (2): </span></div>
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<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Not turning when the parent says the baby’s name </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A lack of back-and-forth babbling with parents starting around 6 months of age </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Late smiling </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Not looking when a parent points and says, “Look at…” </span></li>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Toddlers with these signs do not necessarily have an ASD, as each child develops at a different rate. However, parents should discuss these possible signs and other developmental concerns with their baby’s health care provider.<br /><br />Speech delays can be early signs of ASDs. AAP recommends an immediate evaluation for ASDs if the child (2): </span></div>
<ul style="border: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Does not babble, point or use other gestures by 12 months </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Does not say any single words by 16 months </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Does not say any 2-word phrases by 24 months </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Loses language or social skills at any age </span></li>
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<span class="babyheaderart" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-size: 17px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How are ASDs diagnosed?</span></h3>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="babyheaderart" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>There is no specific medical test to diagnose ASDs. Health care providers generally diagnose ASDs by observing a child’s behavior. They also use screening tests that measure a number of characteristics and behaviors associated with ASDs. If a screening test suggests a possible problem, the provider may do additional tests or recommend evaluation by a specialist. </span></div>
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<span class="babyheaderart" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-size: 17px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Who is at risk of an ASD?</span></h3>
<div style="margin-top: 2px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="babyheaderart" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>ASDs occur in all racial, social and educational groups. Boys are about 4 times more likely than girls to be affected (1). Siblings of an affected child may be at increased risk of ASDs, though the risk appears fairly low at 2 to 8 percent (1, 2).<br /><br />Recent studies suggest that premature babies may be at increased risk of symptoms associated with ASDs (6, 7). A premature baby is a baby born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy. Some of the increased risk is because of the higher rates of problems associated with premature birth (7, 8, 9). These problems include: </span></div>
<ul style="border: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Pregnancy complications, such as <a href="http://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/print/preeclampsia.html" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">preeclampsia</a>, a pregnancy-related form of high blood pressure </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Newborn health problems, such as brain bleeds </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Lasting disabilities, such as <a href="http://www.marchofdimes.org/baby/print/cerebral-palsy.html" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">cerebral palsy</a>, intellectual disabilities, and vision and <a href="http://www.marchofdimes.org/baby/print/hearing-impairment.html" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">hearing impairments</a></span></li>
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<h3 style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="babyheaderart" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-size: 17px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What causes ASDs?</span></h3>
<div style="margin-top: 2px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="babyheaderart" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>We don’t really understand the causes of ASDs. But scientists do know that autism is not caused by poor parenting or other social factors. It is a biological disorder that appears to be associated with subtle abnormalities in specific structures or functions in the brain.<br /><br />Genetic and environmental factors appear to play a role in the disorder. Scientists believe that many genes on different chromosomes may be a cause. A research team recently identified a small gene region on chromosome 5 that may be associated with 15 percent of ASD cases (10). Another study found that abnormalities in a small region of chromosome 16 were about 100 times more common in children with ASDs than in unaffected children (11). Certain infections that occur before birth (such as rubella and cytomegalovirus) and older maternal age also have been associated with ASDs (2, 12).<br /><br />About 10 percent of children with ASDs have other genetic diseases, including (1, 2): </span></div>
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<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://www.marchofdimes.org/baby/print/fragile-x-syndrome.html" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Fragile X syndrome</a> (intellectual disabilities and behavioral problems) </span></span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tuberous sclerosis (non-cancerous tumors that affect the brain and other organs) </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://www.marchofdimes.org/baby/print/down-syndrome.html" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Down syndrome</a> and other chromosomal birth defects </span></span></li>
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<h3 style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="babyheaderart" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-size: 17px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Do childhood vaccines contribute to ASDs?</span></h3>
<div style="margin-top: 2px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="babyheaderart" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>Childhood vaccines, including the measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, do not cause ASDs. Many studies have shown no link between the MMR vaccine and ASDs. In fact, the controversial 1998 study that set off concerns about a possible link between the MMR vaccine and ASDs was recently retracted by the medical journal Lancet that originally published it (13).<br /><br />Some parents of children with autism suspected that the MMR vaccine, given around 12 to 15 months of age, contributed to ASDs because their children began to display symptoms of ASDs around the time they were vaccinated. Most likely, this is the age when symptoms of the disorder commonly begin, even if a child is not vaccinated.<br /><br />Another reason that childhood vaccines were suspected of playing a role in ASDs is that, until recently, they contained a small amount of a preservative called thimerosal. Thimerosal contains mercury. While higher doses of certain forms of mercury may affect brain development, studies suggest that thimerosal does not. Since 2002, most routine childhood vaccines have not contained thimerosal. Some flu shots contain thimerosal, but parents can request flu shots that are thimerosal-free.<br /><br />In 2004, an Institute of Medicine panel concluded, after reviewing many studies, that neither the MMR vaccine nor vaccines that contain thimerosal are associated with autism (14). A 2008 study found that the rate of ASDs in California continued to increase after thimerosal was removed from childhood vaccines, also suggesting a lack of association between thimerosal and ASDs (15). </span></div>
<h3 style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="babyheaderart" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-size: 17px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How is autism treated?</span></h3>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="babyheaderart" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>Children often show great improvement with intensive behavioral treatment beginning during the preschool years. A recent study of children diagnosed with ASDs between the ages of 18 and 30 months found significant improvements in IQ (nearly 18 points), language skills and behavior after 2 years of participation in a behavioral intervention program designed for toddlers (16). The AAP recommends that infants and toddlers suspected of having an ASD be referred immediately to an early intervention program (2).<br /><br />There is no cure for ASDs. However, some children benefit from medications that help improve their behavioral symptoms so that they are better able to learn. Some commonly used medications include: </span></div>
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<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs.</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Anti-psychotics:</span> A new anti-psychotic drug called risperidone (Risperdal) is the only drug that is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically for autistic behaviors, such as aggression, self-injury and temper tantrums (5). </span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stimulants:</span> One such medication is Ritalin, which is commonly prescribed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). </span></li>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Some children with ASDs are treated with alternative therapies, such as a strict eating plan, vitamins and detoxification therapies (such as the drug treatment called chelation which reduces the amount of mercury and other metals in the body). To date, there is no evidence to show these treatments are helpful (17). Parents who are interested in alternative treatments should discuss the possible risks and benefits with their child’s health care provider. </span></div>
<h3 style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="babyheaderart" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-size: 17px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Does the March of Dimes support research on ASDs?</span></h3>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span class="babyheaderart" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>The March of Dimes supports a number of grantees who are studying the role of specific genes in brain development for insight into how abnormalities may cause ASDs. Study results could provide the basis for developing new treatments for ASDs. Another grantee is studying differences in how autistic children process information and pay attention, in order to develop improved educational interventions. </span></div>
<h3 style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span class="babyheaderart" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-size: 17px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Where can I find more information on autism spectrum disorders?</span></h3>
<ul style="border: 0px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px 30px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.html" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Autism Spectrum Disorders</a> (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities) </span></span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Autism Fact Sheet</a> (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) </span></span></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/developmental-disabilities/Pages/Autism-Spectrum-Disorders.aspx" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Autism</a> (American Academy of Pediatrics) </span></span></li>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">References </span></div>
<ol style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2009). Autism spectrum disorders. </em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Johnson, C.P., Myers, S.M. and the Council on Children with Disabilities. (2007). Identification and evaluation of children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics, 120 (5), 1183-1215.</em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2009). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders – autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, United States, 2006. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 58 (SS-10). </em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kogan, M.A., Blumberg, S.J., Schieve, L.A., Boyle, C.A., Perrin, J.M., et al. (2009). Prevalence of parent-reported diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder among children in the U.S., 2007. Pediatrics, 124 (5), 1395-1403. </em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (2005). Autism Research at the NICHD. </em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Limperopoulos, C., Bassan, H., Sullivan, N.R., Soul, J.S., Robertson, R.L., et al. (2008). Positive screening for autism in ex-preterm infants: prevalence and risk factors. Pediatrics, 121 (4), 758-765. </em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Johnson, S., Hollis, C., Kochhar, P., Hennessy, E., Wolke, D., & Marlow, N. (2010). Autism spectrum disorders in extremely premature children. Journal of Pediatrics online. </em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Kuban, K.C., O’Shea, T.M., Allred, E.N., Tager-Flusberg, H., Goldstein, D.J. & Leviton, A. (2009). Positive screening on the modified checklist for autism in toddlers (M-CHAT) in extremely low gestational age newborns. Journal of Pediatrics, 154 (4), 535-540. </em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Buchmayer, S., Johansson, S., Johansson, A., Hultman, C.M., Sparen, P. & Cnattinguis, S. (2009). Can association between preterm birth and autism be explained by maternal or neonatal morbidity? Pediatrics, 124 (5), e817-825. </em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wang, K., Zhang, H., Ma, D., Bucan, M., Glessner, J.T., et al. (2009). Common genetic variants on 5p14.1 associate with autism spectrum disorders. Nature. </em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Weiss, L.A., Shen, Y., Korn, J.M., Arking, D.E., Miller, D.T., et al. (2008). Association between microdeletion and microduplication at 16p11.2 and autism. New England Journal of Medicine, 358 (7), 667-675. </em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Shelton, J.F., Tancredi, D.J. & Hertz-Picciotto. (2010). Independent and dependent contributions of advanced maternal and paternal ages to autism risk. Autism Research. </em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Editors of The Lancet. (2010). Retraction—Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. The Lancet. </em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Institute of Medicine. (2004). Immunization safety review: vaccines and autism. New York: National Academies Press. </em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Schechter, R. & Grether, J. (2008). Continuing increases in autism reported to California’s developmental services system. Archives of General Psychiatry, 65 (1), 19-24. </em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dawson, G., Rogers, S., Munson, J., Smith, M., Winter, J., et al. (2010). Randomized, controlled trial of an intervention for toddlers with autism: the Early Start Denver model. Pediatrics, 125 (1), e7-e23. </em></li>
<li style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Myers, S.M., Johnson, C.P., and the Council on Children with Disabilities. (2007). Management of children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics, 120 (5), 1162-1182. </em></li>
</ol>
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<em style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Last reviewed May 2012</em></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">©2013 March of Dimes Foundation. The March of Dimes is a non-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code sec</span></div>
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VanessaK527http://www.blogger.com/profile/07325037507302688933noreply@blogger.com0Howell Howell40.160532 -74.238252tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622929606283164775.post-35131495059639257322014-09-07T13:48:00.003-04:002014-09-07T14:57:18.155-04:00Genetics and autism<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHr76fCpO9IWsGEDWBSDNAraepUPA_3lfe8KWxfF5fRgk4EW8xkmEqNOBy5v_kgHLW5WGabB8XHXqPXryjqnsO9vpQO1-i02YIuBbB3ipLh4f6ZeCoQqeisaUZy3Y30hz33aBVdnoa9k/s1600/2014-08-15+15.48.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWHr76fCpO9IWsGEDWBSDNAraepUPA_3lfe8KWxfF5fRgk4EW8xkmEqNOBy5v_kgHLW5WGabB8XHXqPXryjqnsO9vpQO1-i02YIuBbB3ipLh4f6ZeCoQqeisaUZy3Y30hz33aBVdnoa9k/s1600/2014-08-15+15.48.48.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My daughter Marley with my nephew Shawn.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What are the realities of autism being genetic. I am not an expert on genetics or anything like that, but I do know that autism has affected my family. My 2nd cousin is 16 years old and diagnosed at a very early age with autism. Just recently, I discovered a few photos of my grandfather. In each photo he was not looking at the camera. It wasn't a situation that he was looking away by accident, it was an intentional 'can't look in your eyes' type of situation. When I asked my mother about him and his tendencies, she admitted that, now in hindsight, my grandfather had stimming tendencies. He would pace back and forth, just like Marley, and rub his fingertips insistently. He would do this for a long while, and people around him would notice and comment. My uncles would occasionally tease him endearingly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I also know that my husbands aunt, although never diagnosed, had severe tendencies leaning towards autism. She was more towards the mid to low functioning. She was never able to care for herself. She never lived alone, or got married. After her caretaker, who was her sister, passed away she had to be put in a home for mentally disabled individuals. Needless to say, she did not take this very well. She passed away in her mid eighties at the home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Breaks my heart to think that if Marley was born just a few decades earlier, she would of been diagnosed with juvenile or infantile schizophrenia because of her self talk!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Following this post is an article on genetics and autism. I certainly do think it runs in families. It does in mine! During the week I'll be posting articles on this subject matter through twitter. You can follow me at VanessaK245. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are several books on the subject of Autism. Check out the side ad offering books that Amazon has. If you are interested in reading more about this, click on the link and it will take you to a whole list of books to chose from. Please know that this is an affiliate link, and it will help me keep this blog going. I truly appreciate the support. </span><br />
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<b><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, san-serif; line-height: 16.25px;">Genetic means pertaining to the genes. Hereditary means inherited. A genetic disorder is usually, but not always inherited</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, san-serif; line-height: 16.25px;">Hereditary is when something is passed through your Genes. Genetic IS Hereditary. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, san-serif; line-height: 16.25px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, san-serif; line-height: 16.25px;">However, Congenital is is a genetic abnormality that occurred in the fetus, not in the actual passed down genes</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2014/07/22/genetics-play-a-bigger-role-than-environmental-causes-for-autism/" target="_blank">Genetics</a> play a bigger role than environmental causes for autism</b></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">Genetics plays more of a role in the development of autism than environmental causes, according to new research published Sunday in Nature Genetics.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">The study found that 52% of autism risk comes from common genes, while only 2.6% are attributed to spontaneous mutations caused by, among other things, environmental factors.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">“These genetic variations are common enough that most people are likely to have some,” said Joseph Buxbaum, a researcher at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and one of the lead authors on the study. “Each one has a tiny effect on autism risk, and many hundreds or thousands together make a significant risk.”<br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span id="more-49862" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">Using Sweden’s health registry, the researchers compared 3,000 people with autism to 3,000 people without autism to determine the degrees that common and rare genes, as well as spontaneous mutations, contribute to autism risk. The study authors also compared the study’s results with a parallel study of 1.6 million Swedish families that identified specific genetic risk factors.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">Buxbaum says the presence of these common genes can only determine the risk of autism, not whether or not the condition will develop. And even though spontaneous mutations only account for a small percentage of autism risk, their effect is significant.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">“[Individuals] might have all the common variants there as part of their background risk, but it took this initial hit to push them over the edge,” Buxbaum said.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">Chris Gunter, an autism researcher at the Marcus Autism Center and professor at the Emory University School of Medicine, says the findings of this study are similar to those reported in other studies.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">“There is no one gene for autism,” Gunter said. “Instead there are many different genetic variations which each contribute a little bit to the risk of developing the group of symptoms we diagnose as autism.”</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">She added that we still don’t know exactly how much these different factors contribute to the development of autism.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">Once scientists accumulate more data on the autism population, Buxbaum says this new research could help develop a “risk score” - such as the one that exists <a href="http://cvdrisk.nhlbi.nih.gov/" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">for heart attacks</a> - that would help patients determine the likelihood of family members developing autism.</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large;">“The autism field has changed dramatically,” Buxbaum said. “We now have immense power to find both common and rare and spontaneous mutations in autism. That’s really the exciting part.”</span></div>
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</td><td class="cnn_padb20 cnn_author_info" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 20px; vertical-align: top;" valign="top"><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: large; line-height: normal;"><span class="cnnBlogFiledBy" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Post by:</span> <span class="cnn_author" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/tag/harmeet-kaur-special-to-cnn/" rel="tag" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Harmeet Kaur -- Special to CNN</a></span> <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span class="cnnBlogFiledBy cnn_categories" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Filed under: <a href="http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/category/autism/" rel="category tag" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Autism</a> • <a href="http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/category/000-sections/living-well/" rel="category tag" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Living Well</a></span></span></span></td></tr>
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VanessaK527http://www.blogger.com/profile/07325037507302688933noreply@blogger.com0Howell, NJ 07731, USA40.1407113 -74.20619310000000739.9465453 -74.5289166 40.3348773 -73.883469600000012tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622929606283164775.post-6833605515898472132014-08-16T12:03:00.000-04:002014-09-07T15:17:26.745-04:00Autism and SPD (Sensory Processing DIsorder)<span style="font-size: large;">First let me start by saying that not all kids that have SPD are autistic but most autistic kids have SPD. I want to make that clear because one of the ways parents sometimes determine whether something is not right is because their kids are hyper sensitive to sound, light or clothing. In some cases even hypo sensitive to pain. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Marley can cut her finger and it seems like it doesn't even phase her. But if you sing 'Happy Birthday' too loudly, she'll cover her ears and scream 'too loud'. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie08oqwdjeQc_UaCzcpiT7jUaKemR5q2ZrTH67uw16Z0yuT7VmG5b8Av8DeT0EH3S0g5NGEH4AoRHLCSjCIUj_1ajq9zrLdhGNcYW3zRMa_NHAgFIi6ufI1erTZ2jPJy1eNoatjVKea9Q/s1600/IMG_3016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie08oqwdjeQc_UaCzcpiT7jUaKemR5q2ZrTH67uw16Z0yuT7VmG5b8Av8DeT0EH3S0g5NGEH4AoRHLCSjCIUj_1ajq9zrLdhGNcYW3zRMa_NHAgFIi6ufI1erTZ2jPJy1eNoatjVKea9Q/s1600/IMG_3016.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4nhZsWhlXst6a1Q1wTCTnQcs5rsbcA52iL9MClnxJkBvDdaRh5Nls-BmVJMZBsHroFv_E1TOMXNUYVdUHtPDgs2SEFXwRTYYTZ-NMaodiUWysH-vMY11Iz0VrfPGBLq6YjvHjcBwscs/s1600/IMG_3027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4nhZsWhlXst6a1Q1wTCTnQcs5rsbcA52iL9MClnxJkBvDdaRh5Nls-BmVJMZBsHroFv_E1TOMXNUYVdUHtPDgs2SEFXwRTYYTZ-NMaodiUWysH-vMY11Iz0VrfPGBLq6YjvHjcBwscs/s1600/IMG_3027.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is Marley being 'over-processed' by the bright sunlight. <br />She tried to tolerate it because she wanted to go on her swing. <br />Swinging is another form of stimming for her.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As in my personal case, I am not Autistic. I was diagnosed with ADHD at 6 years old. At that time it wasn't even called ADHD (I am now 42 years old). It was called short attention span with mild hyperactivity and mild depression. I was reevaluated when I was in my twenties and while the diagnosis stayed the same, the words changed. It was now called ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. I have always had the sensory issues, mostly with sounds. If my mom ever dropped something on the floor when I was an infant, lets say a pot, I would be set off like a siren. She said the screams were unbearable and it took a few minutes to calm me down. I also have some issues with bright lights. I've been wearing sunglasses ever since I could remember. People would tease me saying I wanted to look cool......but it was because the sunlight was giving me piercing headaches!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here is an article written by <a href="http://sfari.org/news-and-opinion/blog/2013/sensory-subtypes" target="_blank">Laura Geggel</a> that gets straight to the point about kids with Autism and sensory issues. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">When Marley started walking at 22 months I put her in daycare part time. I felt she needed to be with other children since she never showed any interest in playing with others. I figured if she was exposed to other kids she would then want to be with them. Three months into her being in school the teachers would comment on how she was always covering her ears whenever the kids would get loud. Or she wouldn't want to go outside with the other kids. She would only sit around the 'quieter' kids. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I figured since I was sensitive to sound and light, then she must take after her mother. Marley started saying words at a young age but that doesn't mean she knew how to communicate. I would try and ask my 2 year old what was bothering her, but to no avail.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As she got older the noise was even more overwhelming for her and she would avoid any situation that she felt would be noisy. We have had to leave many birthday parties because of it. Some parties we didn't even get through the door and we had to drop off the gift and leave. Thats when I knew something wasn't right. While I had my issues with sound and light, it never affected me to the point of taking over my whole life. Especially at such a young age. If it was too noisy for me, I would go to the bathroom for a few minutes, regroup, take a few breaths and I would be good to go. But my poor daughter wasn't able to regroup herself. She would go into full blown meltdown mode. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1obMcWYZs9HjR00kDvRAwMTvX1_G1rMvXiQNa_CkDwC_ofuWASa4uPcoWGSk0CcOqp9kht9uB7wk2CCDXJR5eUssfehTSQV1QDJfNZFXbsCx924RztxBDxo7eJNqnlBwt4_suRsT8u4Q/s1600/IMG_2990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1obMcWYZs9HjR00kDvRAwMTvX1_G1rMvXiQNa_CkDwC_ofuWASa4uPcoWGSk0CcOqp9kht9uB7wk2CCDXJR5eUssfehTSQV1QDJfNZFXbsCx924RztxBDxo7eJNqnlBwt4_suRsT8u4Q/s1600/IMG_2990.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">As you can see the look on her face, she was overwhelmed here. <br />We were on the safari ride in Six Flags Great Adventure.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWV7wYusqgfNfZAlushVhijXmHCsZiDg7oEc-qUqqDEgZSmwH9xJZiiJA3kQmqEozADW1FM3saP6tklRtZRz28BQIP_V3CqL2cCQJ82gU05NQzmNF2gllvpCPeUwLYkVSifXTCsT2Kds/s1600/IMG_3349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWV7wYusqgfNfZAlushVhijXmHCsZiDg7oEc-qUqqDEgZSmwH9xJZiiJA3kQmqEozADW1FM3saP6tklRtZRz28BQIP_V3CqL2cCQJ82gU05NQzmNF2gllvpCPeUwLYkVSifXTCsT2Kds/s1600/IMG_3349.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here is my husband, daughter and nephew. <br />It may look like she just trying to chase him, but she is actually seeking stimulation from him.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OZXl2wZzY-NMIl4Gpoasxrv-fmovlXxdH6qXmJB1F7MHNMyJ_5N9zLAArS2zkRl5GlwsTwT2CSl8SQDjbV0ID19sc0wsuSmrQ9UdhmWA-VAz1UmTuDDhSIxBolzShfWfPBJ4xuWUeBE/s1600/IMG_3347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OZXl2wZzY-NMIl4Gpoasxrv-fmovlXxdH6qXmJB1F7MHNMyJ_5N9zLAArS2zkRl5GlwsTwT2CSl8SQDjbV0ID19sc0wsuSmrQ9UdhmWA-VAz1UmTuDDhSIxBolzShfWfPBJ4xuWUeBE/s1600/IMG_3347.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">He is spinning them both at the same time. My husband is 6'6" and could handle them both... lol </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since hubby and I learned what her 'triggers' are, she's been much better. I now see her using the coping skills she learned at school and through our private therapist that specializes in children and adolescents with Autism. Intervention at an early age is so important. I feel it made all the difference in the world for our family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I also post articles I find interesting and educational about Autism. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You can follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/VanessaK245" target="_blank">Twitter</a> @VanessaK245. </span>VanessaK527http://www.blogger.com/profile/07325037507302688933noreply@blogger.com0Howell, NJ 07731, USA40.1407113 -74.20619310000000739.9465453 -74.5289166 40.3348773 -73.883469600000012tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622929606283164775.post-54259145669530106532014-08-02T14:29:00.001-04:002014-09-07T15:02:20.288-04:00The importance of play with your ASD child. <div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Like most parents, I like to observe my child at play. I like to watch her with her imagination going and how she behaves with her dolls and toys. </span>Sometimes my child seems to not play with toys appropriately. There is a difference
between using imagination and not using a toy appropriately. One thing is to use a toy race car as a moon buggy, another thing is to use it as a roller skate. She also loves to hide everything in drawers and cabinets. It drove my mother, her Abuela, crazy !!! She would find her salt shaker in her vitamin drawer...lol!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Marley likes to take her plush toys, she has a Bowser and
Enderman specifically, and wrap them with tape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She covers them in rolls of regular tape, the kind you would use when
wrapping a gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I'm still trying to figure out where she came up with this idea. </span>It would take me about
10 – 15 minutes a to try and unwrap all of her plush toys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would explain to her that doing this will
‘break’ her plush toys and they will become sticky and dirty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So what does my child do? Starts taping up her dolls instead
!!! Poor Barbie still has tape in her that I do not have the patience to take out. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I still don’t understand what drives kids with ASD to play in that manner,
but I do understand that I can redirect her behavior to be more
appropriate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Let her understand that taping her toys is not beneficial, or fun, to do with her toys.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">That’s where the importance
of playing with your ASD child comes in.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I would have never thought that I would have to learn how to
play!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I needed to learn that my response, as well as my own body language and position, was important in initiating an appropriate response from her. Yelling at her not to waste tape is not exactly what she needs in order to learn that using tape is inappropriate. Explaining that using the tape will stick to the plush and when I remove the tape some of the 'softness' of the toy will be pulled off will be more logical to her and she will then understand why its not appropriate to tape up her plush dolls. </span>Phew, that was a mouthful !!! By playing with her I am able to engage in the activity with her and help her realize what appropriate behavior is with using toys. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">There is an art form in playing
appropriately and with meaning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve heard of some books that help with this subject and even specific
therapies (PICT, parent child interaction therapy).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes skill to learn what motivates a
child in the moment and turning it into social engagement, and quite
frankly….it's exhausting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is a six and a half minute video about play therapy </span></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/V-c50HNnPg0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's also just as important to have friends to play with. Its been just recently that Marley has had the desire to initiate any type of play with others. Her friend from horseback riding was the first friend that SHE made. This wasn't initiated by us or by any teachers or therapists. Her name is Branna and she is 8 years old. It was an instant connection !!! Luckily, hubby and I got along really well with her parents, Laura and Chris. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our first play date EVER with a friend that SHE MADE!!! It wasn't with our friends' kids and it wasn't from kids she knew from school. It was on Memorial Day weekend A.K.A. my birthday weekend. Branna, her brothers and her parents came over. It was very exciting for everyone!!! I was emotional because I thought this day would never come. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">My daughter is hosting a playdate!!! A good time was had by ALL !!! </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsi2HFRugDL1tPnvsE2rs3N5JTQl_maIgDqsr5A1taJFIoIEJ7AL1cvhD0EjEhnv1eLrGLh7QZARrsz_pnso_yNjEndw7BDOdqzBKuSQYehZ9FL9aqoBCNmolt6-C0kmA6ROyUuunS5A/s1600/2014-05-24+14.40.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsi2HFRugDL1tPnvsE2rs3N5JTQl_maIgDqsr5A1taJFIoIEJ7AL1cvhD0EjEhnv1eLrGLh7QZARrsz_pnso_yNjEndw7BDOdqzBKuSQYehZ9FL9aqoBCNmolt6-C0kmA6ROyUuunS5A/s1600/2014-05-24+14.40.08.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The water was freezing !!! But the kids didn't care !!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The kids were so receptive to her. They accepted everything about her, didn't even notice any of her stimming or quirkiness.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I also realized that it is just as important for us parents to have friends that understand what you are going through. But thats the next blog post ... </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfJi-SuWzXfTldz00BYsFnZjLpFU9QBnXuiujyzc4-TTwk9te8ulSjzpJ6bcxbi-T4xN1chq_HdRl9UPSFPA0Pyz41mOGTZbOKMkTfKIm7Q9trSpSXm31YbKr_lizc0OXN3FONYS2TSM/s1600/2014-05-24+15.03.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfJi-SuWzXfTldz00BYsFnZjLpFU9QBnXuiujyzc4-TTwk9te8ulSjzpJ6bcxbi-T4xN1chq_HdRl9UPSFPA0Pyz41mOGTZbOKMkTfKIm7Q9trSpSXm31YbKr_lizc0OXN3FONYS2TSM/s1600/2014-05-24+15.03.41.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our teeth were chattering just watching them swim in this cold water !</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our second playdate was with kids from her class. What a blast !!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">These kids are together all day in a self contained class. Which means there are 6 kids in one classroom with the same classification and/or diagnosis, and very similar level of academics. They spend about 5 hours, of the 6 hour school day, together dealing with social situations. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">This kids have a bond that I don't think anyone else will ever understand. They have their own language and understand each other perfectly. They feed off of each other and know how to push each others buttons as well as comfort each other. They get it !!!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJtBrNCRYwRvcv8XmY-KUedSuj0K5KW-FjO5064DcPRaBdf_8z4E9ZOUM2vSsMF8jux0tX5SBn_TKSkgTYT1dwG2WodY7mWQSYpQRff-E7-dhKzujoOhqllykH6OC61mgQRm6DY_OGxI/s1600/IMG_4714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZJtBrNCRYwRvcv8XmY-KUedSuj0K5KW-FjO5064DcPRaBdf_8z4E9ZOUM2vSsMF8jux0tX5SBn_TKSkgTYT1dwG2WodY7mWQSYpQRff-E7-dhKzujoOhqllykH6OC61mgQRm6DY_OGxI/s1600/IMG_4714.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They love the swing set. Lots of sensory input here !</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LkkCC4QQhQYz-1SoVN-sC3_Zrg-m9dhKa4La_tcoUkggoKaqPOkQXeKKE4pKnrdwIzKKi4JWPrraWfctjwOy7Mhyk-f0NfYhDDv5j8JWr7foGOeBC7nc88UHwkAj5tA0tomEnFCdFRg/s1600/IMG_4738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2LkkCC4QQhQYz-1SoVN-sC3_Zrg-m9dhKa4La_tcoUkggoKaqPOkQXeKKE4pKnrdwIzKKi4JWPrraWfctjwOy7Mhyk-f0NfYhDDv5j8JWr7foGOeBC7nc88UHwkAj5tA0tomEnFCdFRg/s1600/IMG_4738.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is from the next playdate !!! <br />
Look at that terrified face lolol!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgntgMx6qLUAMZA6-7Ja_OgLRMLFEHAizFCtseXu7EGdID8azx33uYPjrnXsjTcjbLVqTGXNtHwvTxd8QYW-iCZiSxJ8xeECVoZhIqokMyFeRzDobBeNSfp35SkFn5WogTAkgwxPq579Tw/s1600/IMG_2724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgntgMx6qLUAMZA6-7Ja_OgLRMLFEHAizFCtseXu7EGdID8azx33uYPjrnXsjTcjbLVqTGXNtHwvTxd8QYW-iCZiSxJ8xeECVoZhIqokMyFeRzDobBeNSfp35SkFn5WogTAkgwxPq579Tw/s1600/IMG_2724.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some pics from a "dance party" Marley had.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">All these recent playdates made me realize that we all need a connection with others. A support system is very important and very much needed. We may not all understand each others every need or have the same exact situation, but we can support each other because we have 'been there'. Even if it's just to vent! Who else will know what an IEP is or what ABA therapy is !!!! It's a whole different life having a child with special needs and we all need someone that can understand that lifestyle.</span><br />
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<br />VanessaK527http://www.blogger.com/profile/07325037507302688933noreply@blogger.com2Howell, NJ 07731, USA40.1407113 -74.20619310000000739.9465453 -74.5289166 40.3348773 -73.883469600000012tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622929606283164775.post-38866148248508082582014-07-12T09:01:00.000-04:002014-07-12T09:01:22.767-04:00My little equestrian, Marley !!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNu9syt_6Hg-8ax4Wkl0243Q6sGFxEiTL8TTHXDpQLj4nYJneHLpWib2BMhuOYY3NiGRFkUFGzK3Dm29AS-taTgGck6qU9HX5Nx1x5XbbQWSPvIuMS_d-Qi22QGvMqnp7hdK4Inp2QjSo/s1600/IMG_4570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNu9syt_6Hg-8ax4Wkl0243Q6sGFxEiTL8TTHXDpQLj4nYJneHLpWib2BMhuOYY3NiGRFkUFGzK3Dm29AS-taTgGck6qU9HX5Nx1x5XbbQWSPvIuMS_d-Qi22QGvMqnp7hdK4Inp2QjSo/s1600/IMG_4570.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">My little girl had her first horse show !!! How proud am I ?! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Marley takes horseback riding lessons at Celtic Charms Therapeutic Horsemanship <a href="http://celticcharms.org/" target="_blank">celticcharms.org</a> . She has been taking lessons since October 2013. Marley has thrived in this environment and loves being with the horses and the other animals at the barn. She has also made a friend, which considering she has ASD, is a wonderful accomplishment. Hubby and I made some good friends also.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Celtic Charms Therapeutic Horsemanship is an organization that only allows individuals with special needs to join. They accept individuals from age 4 and up. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYRwcW9SLr3SjITcv9ReNnciooVUWHLfVsRSiY8OyeZDsqjqhB5FbVXGFnQXMchJ6uwSa2x1J8__ORt63UZ6brzbegKTsVPvxxbjOvSMKVhQY62qy2BgccmLkUpNzpCZonZxmw4lESn0/s1600/IMG_4485-ERASER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcYRwcW9SLr3SjITcv9ReNnciooVUWHLfVsRSiY8OyeZDsqjqhB5FbVXGFnQXMchJ6uwSa2x1J8__ORt63UZ6brzbegKTsVPvxxbjOvSMKVhQY62qy2BgccmLkUpNzpCZonZxmw4lESn0/s1600/IMG_4485-ERASER.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBc5rl3UfvGqz1e9TPsocVHJrUz8eczBE_XoBrU5jEf5a76HOvIGA2Sj3HVMyzfiwNMtak989ULrlTz364tflHeLv6ZTb-UvV74w7rjj0Kim1jRvsdCqNM2T1C0e3I8GxxUYa-b0p8NQ/s1600/IMG_4502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBc5rl3UfvGqz1e9TPsocVHJrUz8eczBE_XoBrU5jEf5a76HOvIGA2Sj3HVMyzfiwNMtak989ULrlTz364tflHeLv6ZTb-UvV74w7rjj0Kim1jRvsdCqNM2T1C0e3I8GxxUYa-b0p8NQ/s1600/IMG_4502.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Spiffy !!! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Although the equestrian outfit is not a requirement, I felt it was appropriate for the occasion. I think this makes her feel like she is part of a group with no judgement</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Before the show started we had to sign in and get her number to wear. She did exhibit quite a bit of anxiety. She doesn't do well in crowds and loud noise and did mention that there were a lot of people. </span><span style="font-size: large;">So we used our breathing techniques the best we could. She still dug her face into daddy's chest and wanted it all to go away. Once we stepped outside she felt much better!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrftkGOcE9jRb9afK-jtT1O55Fqu25YWQYlyuot9ovL4i1PFHCZRUb7Z1flQ8g-i68oQ8q9PWk6tPod6YJ4X3arQ7SOXVQ-qOEX4yaWpb2JOjeyTxxHyE1w0AdOKk7q31Tice6KbkLK_Y/s1600/IMG_4534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrftkGOcE9jRb9afK-jtT1O55Fqu25YWQYlyuot9ovL4i1PFHCZRUb7Z1flQ8g-i68oQ8q9PWk6tPod6YJ4X3arQ7SOXVQ-qOEX4yaWpb2JOjeyTxxHyE1w0AdOKk7q31Tice6KbkLK_Y/s1600/IMG_4534.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mounting the horse.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The horses name is Seamus. They always choose horses with the students needs in mind. They are all very patient and sweet animals. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The level of confidence that my daughter has with these animals is extraordinary. She is able to control this beast without any doubt. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Showing off her skills. A little blurry cause the horse was moving. This was the indoor event in the arena. Here she is showing her ability to stop, trot and make the horse 'walk on'. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here she is heading to the outdoor event. Look at that posture !!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is her very first show. She did not know what to expect, and quite frankly, neither did we. Luckily our good friends were a little more seasoned than us and tried to explain as much as they could. Sometimes, though, you just need to experience it in order to get the full effect. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is one of the obstacle courses that they needed to do. In this picture she had the horse go around the blue barrel.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The final showing with Seamus. It was very warm out and the helmut didn't help the matter. She had 'had it' by the time I took this picture.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">She accepted her ribbons and unmounted Seamus. She was very proud of herself.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBdVAMpYFuBEzMHhU6BcXTpE-MJh5PB2YHliVJZL2jbXVp47V5HLSznUevx6EXZc1sFHuwRlGgt0mKdkxhlMV41zZ-mDG8elC3EMSXDEbvZtBc0psrxIBpDI1C8hd1PvpFbsQvNNp8GU/s1600/IMG_4690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBdVAMpYFuBEzMHhU6BcXTpE-MJh5PB2YHliVJZL2jbXVp47V5HLSznUevx6EXZc1sFHuwRlGgt0mKdkxhlMV41zZ-mDG8elC3EMSXDEbvZtBc0psrxIBpDI1C8hd1PvpFbsQvNNp8GU/s1600/IMG_4690.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now this is a kid that is sure of herself. She has come a long way. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My daughter the equestrian !!! She has come a long way in the last few years. She has more work to do, but then again, we all have to work on ourselves. We have to be patient, loving and proud of ourselves. Otherwise we will not accomplish our goals.</span><br />
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VanessaK527http://www.blogger.com/profile/07325037507302688933noreply@blogger.com0Howell, NJ 07731, USA40.1407113 -74.20619310000000739.9465453 -74.5289166 40.3348773 -73.883469600000012tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622929606283164775.post-50265207640371523032014-06-28T20:51:00.000-04:002014-06-28T20:51:01.596-04:00Crayola experience...........with my daughter!!!<span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday, June 25, 2014 we decided to go to Crayola Experience in Easton, PA. It was about an hour and a half...unless you follow Google Maps......then it turns to 3 hours !!! But anyway, we got there in one piece, and Marley took it all in stride.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you don't already know, my daughter was diagnosed with Asperger's when she was 4 years old. Which, since the DSM change, is now considered ASD, high functioning (or level one), and ADHD. My daughter has sensory issues. She isn't able to deal with loud noises or lights that are too bright. When we arrived I could tell that the noise was too much for her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Luckily, mommy is always prepared!!! Earplugs to the rescue !!! I also brought her sunglasses, but it wasn't overly bright in the building so she didn't need them. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBRhWt0Y26bO55GypHl9l6iInSn2he_80CXR_E9N94WwhSbPfjiRs3J8Yxmh8Yi2CG9GEdWVvhy1okR8olbR-Y3F9sLnHx4lCSCfKuFgqfG4pe0fvJiX9PPxvsqH3G4sHDXaIKa6sPpo/s1600/IMG_4259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBRhWt0Y26bO55GypHl9l6iInSn2he_80CXR_E9N94WwhSbPfjiRs3J8Yxmh8Yi2CG9GEdWVvhy1okR8olbR-Y3F9sLnHx4lCSCfKuFgqfG4pe0fvJiX9PPxvsqH3G4sHDXaIKa6sPpo/s1600/IMG_4259.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Putting in her earplugs !!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As we walked around she realized it wasn't as loud as when we first arrived, so after about 30 minutes, she took her earplugs out, looked at me and said 'Mommy, I don't need these right now'. I was over the moon !!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was quite an experience to say the least. They had a lot of summer camps visiting that day and it was a bit chaotic. Despite all of the commotion, it was still a pleasure to be there.</span> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaPC3cJCtpUNNjpmFvkh75I7Wk30sGriZxAfT04IMqia9NqqkwC4_9elJB53BWDuLMOrypdtIHgKR4QR5Xo62C03k_wOM10ORSg0HynzfWax2oUSGDQi6MPtGGO0mJEP6zFGlGU-GKo4/s1600/IMG_4261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaPC3cJCtpUNNjpmFvkh75I7Wk30sGriZxAfT04IMqia9NqqkwC4_9elJB53BWDuLMOrypdtIHgKR4QR5Xo62C03k_wOM10ORSg0HynzfWax2oUSGDQi6MPtGGO0mJEP6zFGlGU-GKo4/s1600/IMG_4261.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She was designing her own crayon label with daddy.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-DjWstlZNiHedLxpwNnGG84b6D4jbT-aMjl04GMV0Y5ByLSvvMch1-NXpJenxepjAw0z5sQZv5mw6EIRK6nZ4L-OthP7xSLL9cLKQIuulgAPqsPiKL0C7s_CAvLM0O8B0DqJNoe-dTY/s1600/IMG_4263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-DjWstlZNiHedLxpwNnGG84b6D4jbT-aMjl04GMV0Y5ByLSvvMch1-NXpJenxepjAw0z5sQZv5mw6EIRK6nZ4L-OthP7xSLL9cLKQIuulgAPqsPiKL0C7s_CAvLM0O8B0DqJNoe-dTY/s1600/IMG_4263.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She ( I ) wrapped her crayon with the self-designed wrapper. It was royal purple and she named it Marley's Princess royal purple. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4CWF0mcDaO_HStzXZlJesvKIqMWIpegKzp_87cZT-MyGoKJzWjORV4Ub8anKDKnoNs5w5cks0xPCj3nO8Wn0iLHNTlnWNIEXaapww-LfXCvm-LMLp6QFmcb5GNYRjreDcehi5wAz8Ao/s1600/IMG_4273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4CWF0mcDaO_HStzXZlJesvKIqMWIpegKzp_87cZT-MyGoKJzWjORV4Ub8anKDKnoNs5w5cks0xPCj3nO8Wn0iLHNTlnWNIEXaapww-LfXCvm-LMLp6QFmcb5GNYRjreDcehi5wAz8Ao/s1600/IMG_4273.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here she was able to draw on the tablet and it would be animated on the wall to the left side of her.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnm8lrxb9INFSia2cDB4WHyLEJCYarADp__h_2tLxM4lKll8NRigzFh2y0DrbkK_wTZIC5D-c0qhTCbmUHdZJAiErLI3-B_1Uqw0BXcj6TG9V-bT3Gt8lBY1P-SovpBhFBj70APfuAKA/s1600/IMG_4291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxnm8lrxb9INFSia2cDB4WHyLEJCYarADp__h_2tLxM4lKll8NRigzFh2y0DrbkK_wTZIC5D-c0qhTCbmUHdZJAiErLI3-B_1Uqw0BXcj6TG9V-bT3Gt8lBY1P-SovpBhFBj70APfuAKA/s1600/IMG_4291.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">She drew a pink glittery unicorn !!! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7-DLPT551OBkWLCbpv8XEObven28kZ7A34ZRRxiY_Zyl93VQB4hfhYvxJa6tCTP-sCKQ38e9cLOvv2j1rVOQwj6pn1cACtSKAfGSC7KlhL1KPXF1fETDsKV0VvUN22aiI8fmTEMRBsA/s1600/IMG_4296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn7-DLPT551OBkWLCbpv8XEObven28kZ7A34ZRRxiY_Zyl93VQB4hfhYvxJa6tCTP-sCKQ38e9cLOvv2j1rVOQwj6pn1cACtSKAfGSC7KlhL1KPXF1fETDsKV0VvUN22aiI8fmTEMRBsA/s1600/IMG_4296.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And here it is on the wall. Sorry for the blurriness, but it was animated and I have the iPhone 4 that has no stabilization. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She wasn't much into interacting with any other children, but it also took everything she had to be able to self-regulate and not melt down from all the noise and activity going on. So I guess one thing at a time should be expected.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_OWkYr_jc2xWhitRdNHQhbA45np_pqLk6_edtp-xKvJL2Za8Cj7WbcdBLlHEMIrQmn5fTMrX5sPMuFy5OUAGqDYX1UsRwqNp5QRTVujTcQtjbzFvjvVrGngBQm3tt-QZx-HzzVqs8Y4/s1600/IMG_4339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_OWkYr_jc2xWhitRdNHQhbA45np_pqLk6_edtp-xKvJL2Za8Cj7WbcdBLlHEMIrQmn5fTMrX5sPMuFy5OUAGqDYX1UsRwqNp5QRTVujTcQtjbzFvjvVrGngBQm3tt-QZx-HzzVqs8Y4/s1600/IMG_4339.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Look at the size of that crayon holder !!! Just about right for all the crayons she has...lol !!!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKwknot_TffVm7bRvW0_ka8Z0BOFqXfp2_6vPxQ0ErM73iZ4MrCtqOqdGnaRoOOUww7uLop-3zUrO69dKXCdlJ2cvC37M2r4mKVSG5XRtQlGyUjc39jCgwWivIBTPvbg64IFMWGU0zkM/s1600/IMG_4346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKwknot_TffVm7bRvW0_ka8Z0BOFqXfp2_6vPxQ0ErM73iZ4MrCtqOqdGnaRoOOUww7uLop-3zUrO69dKXCdlJ2cvC37M2r4mKVSG5XRtQlGyUjc39jCgwWivIBTPvbg64IFMWGU0zkM/s1600/IMG_4346.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We can't forget the sand art! She loves watching the sand pour into the bottle.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6C8jWFSTORsVxzFPlqpmOlGYR8tctF4PrcuqlVs-Gqtm670DgjMaFo9XW4f_nsCb5YgGzGo5CCV2RtDe1sznRepEVgfHLq523aFvx9cvMF1AgRGBjCzdt1Z4FtBXrQTBZGAKFWcIh-Ck/s1600/IMG_4362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6C8jWFSTORsVxzFPlqpmOlGYR8tctF4PrcuqlVs-Gqtm670DgjMaFo9XW4f_nsCb5YgGzGo5CCV2RtDe1sznRepEVgfHLq523aFvx9cvMF1AgRGBjCzdt1Z4FtBXrQTBZGAKFWcIh-Ck/s1600/IMG_4362.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">They had molding clay also. It was a different texture and firmness than the play-doh she is accustomed to playing with. She spent the first few minutes squishing it in her hand, staring at it and smelling it. And as you can see, Daddy was being silly with the bunny ears. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZu6zs6R_iOe9JdK-sbYxjgOew16AhQXvXwQi46C1Ok9unGbEwxlAZncs6jc4vGOzKjhuyLukU2DXJ8b0xNZnKWrOmrXBumu0JFHI9Q7i654FhNsEF5AG2oxYbA7Tf-kDVmZVWYoTF3io/s1600/IMG_4370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZu6zs6R_iOe9JdK-sbYxjgOew16AhQXvXwQi46C1Ok9unGbEwxlAZncs6jc4vGOzKjhuyLukU2DXJ8b0xNZnKWrOmrXBumu0JFHI9Q7i654FhNsEF5AG2oxYbA7Tf-kDVmZVWYoTF3io/s1600/IMG_4370.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And this is where it got interesting ! It was so chaotic that she was overwhelmed and got 'lost' in here. She was going around in circles. Bob and I were worried because we would see the same kids go in and come out several times, and yet no Marley !!! We finally saw her and we were able to guide her out of this maze. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJd1Ggz5oZw6RHf_Y6FW0mReYpt_joV_ES0kLEDQrpeOtPi2JcLZBg81BtQ5kQqvjLd6OZCdH6zi_Yoh-ATqrPIUi-1mp6OJnupq9wQ8AYLvcwhf8Em8uar9jPaxQYj-t4FOtJOTnGTQ/s1600/IMG_4388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQJd1Ggz5oZw6RHf_Y6FW0mReYpt_joV_ES0kLEDQrpeOtPi2JcLZBg81BtQ5kQqvjLd6OZCdH6zi_Yoh-ATqrPIUi-1mp6OJnupq9wQ8AYLvcwhf8Em8uar9jPaxQYj-t4FOtJOTnGTQ/s1600/IMG_4388.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We were able to make our own shaped crayon. She chose the dinosaur. She had picked a purple crayon. We had to wait a whole 4 minutes !!! That's an eternity for an ASD 7 year old !!! But we pulled through and she now has her own purple dinosaur.<br />(no Barney jokes please...lololol)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIfxe-vhoptdVT58ltvV-TQK2_cs3XZITezd0sWkSSREuBwtnvqWq_2yHM05ZE98R0LQUeXxAHTJdl3hg6v8XReP_6GQsnJtM32vZQSgiAmx8wbCzK1IfP-GUQ2cHzrOamQ83YpOAHyc/s1600/IMG_4378-MIX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibIfxe-vhoptdVT58ltvV-TQK2_cs3XZITezd0sWkSSREuBwtnvqWq_2yHM05ZE98R0LQUeXxAHTJdl3hg6v8XReP_6GQsnJtM32vZQSgiAmx8wbCzK1IfP-GUQ2cHzrOamQ83YpOAHyc/s1600/IMG_4378-MIX.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here she is letting us know she has had enough!!! Part of her stimming is making facial gestures. She looks silly here, but this is her brains way of saying 'shutdown mode activated, you have 20 minutes till meltdown mode commences'. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9iJ1BdWJHCLQ-t02CXy2tr_Fyj7WfoCmdzDvxvnNNnOxy9B2-dVsQ7bb1DcsipGCviEv0uf4Ztk2Q7lMa66slWjXYCXCYlTVv2yG4yFEvnGmwJhyxaE4PMWnAdr48aApZK95rB5tfVM/s1600/IMG_4374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9iJ1BdWJHCLQ-t02CXy2tr_Fyj7WfoCmdzDvxvnNNnOxy9B2-dVsQ7bb1DcsipGCviEv0uf4Ztk2Q7lMa66slWjXYCXCYlTVv2yG4yFEvnGmwJhyxaE4PMWnAdr48aApZK95rB5tfVM/s1600/IMG_4374.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">OH BOY !!!!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLUPOpEBlu8V-G_-Z_MVXXVb3XR3aYYha-4Xhrjl5SW-2LzmgMMYWeAYMCKXMQ0dnF783_m-4cHFVtmBAGXHRZgwUf5fFVdaVGkN-3LjziFk10rQPoZAkp34F7RAwmsH-ufLKd8NQZX4/s1600/IMG_4391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLUPOpEBlu8V-G_-Z_MVXXVb3XR3aYYha-4Xhrjl5SW-2LzmgMMYWeAYMCKXMQ0dnF783_m-4cHFVtmBAGXHRZgwUf5fFVdaVGkN-3LjziFk10rQPoZAkp34F7RAwmsH-ufLKd8NQZX4/s1600/IMG_4391.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">AAAND we're done............</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just a short 3 years ago I couldn't even take her to a store without her having a meltdown. She would wander off or start pacing in circles (stimming). Her preschool experience wasn't very pleasant. Her classmates would call her weird and ask why she acted the way she did. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">She is a very loving, sweet and highly intelligent little girl. I am very proud of my daughter and she is certainly my favorite person in this whole wide world. </span><br />
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VanessaK527http://www.blogger.com/profile/07325037507302688933noreply@blogger.com0Howell, NJ 07731, USA40.1407113 -74.20619310000000739.9465453 -74.5289166 40.3348773 -73.883469600000012tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622929606283164775.post-73082610051369954292014-06-08T17:33:00.001-04:002014-06-14T08:46:47.857-04:00My greatest accomplishment.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My greatest accomplishment.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OFHPyq31aozoKhBM7GyfZOzsgnh5hLi8w7mx-_I6ts3oFadzY3i-wj_0sBDIYPPqvA9ZvSIxiVVoNVeZmR0dlyJ-3K3I-e3SeEvIpVn-zO1h615PujMOZ5V3H4db8eXcpNVZD114w9k/s1600/IMG_3463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OFHPyq31aozoKhBM7GyfZOzsgnh5hLi8w7mx-_I6ts3oFadzY3i-wj_0sBDIYPPqvA9ZvSIxiVVoNVeZmR0dlyJ-3K3I-e3SeEvIpVn-zO1h615PujMOZ5V3H4db8eXcpNVZD114w9k/s1600/IMG_3463.JPG" height="320" width="239"></a></div>
So this right here is my greatest accomplishment. My daughter Marley Rose. She is 7 years old going on 15. The girliest girl I have ever met. She was diagnosed with Autism when she was 4. My pride and joy, the apple of my eye. <3<br>
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VanessaK527http://www.blogger.com/profile/07325037507302688933noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8622929606283164775.post-23861943783599346192014-06-08T16:57:00.001-04:002014-06-14T08:48:58.093-04:00My personal outlet......I decided to start this blog in order to post some of my masterpieces...yeah, right... that I have made with my own two hands. <br>
I have always enjoyed using my hands to create and build things that were running through my head. Sometimes I get it in the first shot and others, well, not so much.<br>
I like to make jewelry, paint furniture and renovate my house. I have been living in Howell, NJ for 5 years now and loving it. I am originally from North Bergen, NJ. I enjoyed my time in good old North Bergen, but it's so close to Manhattan that it now resembles it. So off to the boondocks, or so my mom likes to think, I went. <br>
Howell is not the boondocks...lol... I have a mall 7 minutes away and lots of strip malls on route 9. Tons of restaurant and a top notch school system. My daughter is in special education and she is thriving in the Howell school system. They have a very good Autism program.<br>
I will try to post every week with any projects that I start or finish, or anything in between that.VanessaK527http://www.blogger.com/profile/07325037507302688933noreply@blogger.com1Howell Howell40.160879 -74.237759