Support for those who have children with Autism

pjfmaui73
pjfmaui73 Posts: 408
edited September 26 in Motivation and Support
I'm looking for more friends, esp. those who are going through similar challenges (as if getting healthy is not enough). Everyone is going through some kind of struggle(s) and why not support each other through them :smile:

my youngest will be 3 next month and was developing normally and speaking as an infant. Then at around a year he wasn't talking as much, but still using some signs and I thought he was just focusing on walking. Then at around 16-17 months he stopped looking at me and I knew something was wrong. He's stools also changed and they became mucousy and lots of diarrhea. He still doesn't talk (only says a few words here and there...nothing consistant), he uses mmmm or mil for milk and signs some. I have him on a gluten free and caisen free diet which can be very challenging, but his stools have gotten totally better. He attends an autism school/therapy center since last Oct. that came to the area and it's been a God send. They just got a speech therapist and he has a therapy plan so I'm hopeful. They use PEC (picture exchange communication) at his school (we haven't been using it b/c I want him to try and say the word) It's been very difficult as you all know. He makes strides in some areas, but then it feels like there's deficits in other areas. He started grouping things together and moving them around and now when he gets frustrated he (gently) bangs his hand on his head. This has increased a lot over the past week He is also very sweet...usually loves to be held, wants to be around people (usually) and a complete joy!!! I wish it could be easier for him and all of us...but it is what it is and I just have to trust in God that it will all work out the way it's suppose to :)

My weight problem started as a teenager when I used food to console me (my mom passed away). I need to stop this control food has over me or that I allowed it to have. Now is my time to get in contol and I thank God that he brought me to this site and all the wonderful friends I've found here :bigsmile:

God Bless you all and all your children!!!


:flowerforyou: Pam

Replies

  • ElizabethJ17
    ElizabethJ17 Posts: 138 Member
    Pam ,
    First I'd like to say congrats on starting a profile and getting on here to start a great journey of weight loss. As a mother with a daughter who has special needs I commend you. It is hard for Moms to stop and do something for themeselves even though it is most likely something you are ultimately doing to benefit your family also. I wish you the best of luck with your weight loss and will pray for your son. Hang in there!
  • xHelloQuincyx
    xHelloQuincyx Posts: 884 Member
    i dont have a child with autism, but i did watch and do therapy with a teen who has autism. it deffinitly is hard, and i congradulate you on doing something right away to start off their learning. sure it may be difficult, but its so worth it. sometimes children with special needs can be the sweetest people you meet. keep working toward your goal!
  • carrieliz81
    carrieliz81 Posts: 489 Member
    www.loudmommy.com

    Started by an MFP mom with a son who has autism!! Check it out and look her up.... I think her MFP name is something resembling "taramaria"
  • Setof2Keys
    Setof2Keys Posts: 681 Member
    Mommy with 2 boys with Autism here...message me and I am always here and always advocating. I have been there with your struggles and have some different ones too. You can get through them and they do get better...just keep fighting...
  • florange323
    florange323 Posts: 50 Member
    My oldest son is Autistic. He is verbal and its mild. This is a blessing but its annoying when people assume his behavior is because he was babyed or because I didn't spank him enough. It makes everything difficult and I often question myself. Did I pick the best school, therapist, toys, am I disciplining correctly and because I have 3 children I also question if I'm being fair. I became overweight after my 1st pregnancy and obese after years of a sedentary lifestyle, desk job and eating large portions. Even now with the motivation to loose weight its often hard to balance parenting, working, cleaning with exercise and personal goals. My biggest help has come from my husband. He is my strength when I'm tired and the best friend I have. Your son is still very young. Early intervention is key. You can also find great tools thru Autism Speaks.
  • SarahJaneDeschamp
    SarahJaneDeschamp Posts: 359 Member
    God bless you Pam for posting this ♥ my 7 yr old has mild autism

    you are an amazing woman

    much love Sarah xo
  • Triquetra
    Triquetra Posts: 270 Member
    My son has a 15Q11.2 chromosome deletion which presents with Autism traits, ADHD traits, behavioural, motor skill and speech delays and heart abnormalities. You can friend me if you want to talk.
  • ridiculyss
    ridiculyss Posts: 108 Member
    I'm an autism sibling, majoring in Communicative Disorders/ Speech Pathology. :heart: My half-brother, Scott, is 10, and was diagnosed with autism around 2 years old. He is high functioning and very verbal (kiddo is seldom quiet!), but has severe aggressive behaviors and sensory integration disorder (needs to feel deep pressure, like hugging, every 90 minutes including at night). He also has his obsessions over the color red, racing, cars, Super Mario Brothers, and video games, among other things. He doesn't ever sleep through the night, and in the ten years since he was born, our mommy hasn't had a single restful night's sleep.

    I adore my brother, despite the troubles we have and the constant fighting and power struggles he instigates every day, (especially in transitions). He's very physically abusive, and threatens us verbally when things aren't going his way. He's been getting more and more vehement in his aggression lately, and we fear that someday if he doesn't improve, he could wind up seriously hurting somebody. For the time being, he's still a little scrawny kid, but scrappy as any rebellious teenager (and we've dealt with our share of rebellious teen stepbrothers). We hope that his behavioral specialists can develop a plan for Scott that helps to improve his behavior and can work towards getting him to sleep in his own bed at night.
    I miss when he was younger and wouldn't try to bring us harm. He's always been such a sweet, cute, and hilarious little boy. We just want our sweet Scotty boy back. xoxox :brokenheart: :cry:
  • RuthRW
    RuthRW Posts: 247 Member
    Hi,

    My youngest daughter, 3 1/2 yrs old, is autistic - her older sister is 5. Eve is non verbal but considered high functioning - just officially diagnosed this year. A month after she was born she developed a hemangioma that covered her left eye and has had significant vision problems, so that muddied the waters for us. Eve has worn glasses since she was 20 months.
    Eve never went through a regression faze and displayed signs of autism at one year, we just didn't recognize the symptoms and family around us that did didn't say anything. When she failed the autism spectrum tests at 18 and 24 months our pediatrician only talked to us about the communication gap so we attributed it to her poor vision . . . she just needed to catch up and besides wasn't that something that only really affected boys? We were wrong.
    Eve has been in special ed preschool since she turned three, was part of the "Help me Grow" program before that and she sees a speech therapist once a week. We will start OT therapy soon as well.
    I need to be strong for my self and my family but I have battled my weight and subsequent problems with self esteem for a long time. There is so much in my life that feels out of control, I am sick of talking about making my life better and decided it had to change NOW. I joined MFP last month and it was quite a shock to realize that not only did I like working out but that I NEEDED it as well - the stress relief is really important.
    I work out at home because my husband works long hours and a gym membership is out of the question now. Usually I do Leslie Sansone dvds and I have a others I will start (like Jillian Michaels) next month as I get stronger. My daughter Eve likes to lay on her stomach in front of the CD player with a book while I work out in the basement. I usually can get through an hour of cardio if I play the music she likes, otherwise it can be a constant interruption. For the first 3 weeks on MFP I listened to Britney Spears almost every day, now it is the Glee album. I'm hoping to integrate some of our Kidz Bop cd's next week because otherwise I might lose it with the repetition, LOL!
    Thanks for listening, I would love some friends that are sympathetic to this journey we are all on - because I am going to drop this weight, get strong and be a positive role model for both my girls!
    Ruth
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