An update on us

Just a little update on us. We are moving to San Diego in a little over a month! I'm so excited because I have heard wonderful things about EI there including ABA. I am really hoping that we get an ABA therapist soon and that Austin will get more intensive therapy and following that, more progress. :)

Currently Pi$$ed @ CBS!

Received this via email today and needless to say CBS shouldn't have aired the comment. I read that CBS is not responsible for the opinions of their contestants but nevertheless, they are responsible for editing and showing what they do. I'm glad someone has brought this to attention even if I don't watch this particular program. I am truly disgusted. I hope this guy ends up having to leave the show and gets fired from what I am told is a PR manager position for the United Autism Foundation. He should be definitely not be working for or anywhere near our children. See Below:

Hi everyone. The new season of Big Brother has begun on CBS. One of the players, Adam, works in public relations and claims to work with autistic children. On last night's show, he was telling the other houseguests about a haircutting place he wanted to start for special needs kids. Sounds great, right? He then said "So all the retards can get it together and get their hair cut". Yes, that's right, he referred to children on the autism spectrum as "retards". When later confronted by another houseguest, Adam was completely unapologetic and, in fact, stated he works with "them", so he can call them whatever he wants. As the parent of a special needs child, one with autism who is not mentally retarded, I cannot put into words how that comment cut through me. To think that someone involved in working with or for our children would laughingly refer to them as retards makes me sick. Even worse than the comment, however, was CBS's decision to air it on television, with no regard to the feelings of people living with autism. It was a decision surely made for ratings and controversy and one they should be made aware was wrong. I've already written to them and if you have a moment and feel some outrage, would ask you to do the same and to pass this message along to anyone else you think would care.

To do it online you can follow this link: http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.shtml.

To mail a letter, you can use this address:
CBS Television Network
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019

And to call you can use this number 212-975-4321

A nice day for a walk

WOW! Today was actually higher than 50 something degrees so we went for a walk to the park and just around our neighborhood. We haven't really been out like that for a few months due to the cold weather and I can definitely see some improvements in Austin. Mere months ago, he didn't really pay attention to things around him outside but today he got really excited about the birds, squirrels, dogs, and even cars driving past us! He looked everytime I pointed out something which is just amazing. I can remember trying to point out squirrels when we lived in Illinois but he just didn't really follow my pointing. Also, at the park, I let him just run around and play and he actually was interested in the park equipment. A few months ago, he would have just tried to run off but he stayed near me and in the park the entire time! YAY!! I can't wait for warmer days!

Martha Stewart

I saw 2 posts on GFCF mommy and GFCF mama about this and just thought I would take time to blog on it as well. The more people who see it & vote the better! And even though we are not GFCF anymore doesn't mean we won't be in the future.

So here is the scoop: Martha Stewart had a company wide competition for employees to come up with ideas for new project. It has come down to 7 finalists and one of them is an editor who wants to create a magazine that caters to people that have food allergies such as nuts, dairy, wheat, gluten, etc...

Please copy and paste this link and vote every day to help out! BTW, when I voted tonight, this was the idea in the lead!

http://blogs1.marthastewart.com/martha/2008/01/the-big-idea.html?rsc=todaysidea_Homepage_Homepage

Not a word but a sound!!!

Austin is making the "B" sound for simple b words that he knows such as bubbles and bite. I haven't really heard him do it for bubbles until Friday's session with his OT but bite has been pretty consistent for a few weeks.

It is very odd though b/c he takes his fingers and rubs them on his lips to make the "buh" sound. I did get it on video so maybe if I can manage to get technically savvy, then I can upload the clip.

I am very happy and we give him what he is asking for when he does that but at the same time I don't want him to think that is talking and a word and never learn the real way to ask either!!

Some other really great things that he has learned to do recently is blow kisses and clap his hands when we say "yay!". He is also doing the signs "more", "drink", "all done", "please", and "book" pretty consistently which is extremely nice.

Austin is 2!

Happy Birthday to my little one! I am a little late on my blog b/c he actually turned 2 on 1-5 but we were in Texas visiting some family so I didn't post. I just wanted to share two adorable pictures. The first is him enjoying his cake and the second is of him sharing a book with his cousing Chloe. During our trip, he was not very fond of her but on his birthday he was really good and let her look at the same book that he was looking at. :)

Time Outs Work for Us!

Austin's tantrums seem to have gotten really bad. He doesn't do them alot but when he does, he hits anything in sight (including me) and he will also throw things. I had been reading on how to redirect or what else I can do b/c simply saying no or ignoring the behavior was not helping. I also tried to take his hands and say "gentle" while showing him how to stroke with his hand and not hit. That works sometimes but if he is too mad, he continues to hit. I decided that we would try time out and very very thankfully it has worked. He is only 2 and I don't think he understands time out but what I have been doing when he starts to hit is, tell him no hitting. If he hits again, I say no hitting, we are going to time out. I then take him over to the wall in our living room that has nothing against it (so he can't play) and I sit with him while holding his hands down so he can not hit and I count to 10. After I reach 10, I get up and he is also free to go. We have only done this twice in the past few days (that is all that was needed) and both times, he was much more calm afterwards and did not hit again.