Monday, December 29, 2008

Santa and Evan

Yes he did! He sat on Santas lap - he was quite aprehensive about it to begin with, but he warmed up to the idea when he figured out the whole present bit. In fact at the second party, he tried to take other peoples turns... I will get some pictures posted ASAP... whatever that means-- probably Act Swiftly Awesome Pachyderm (think Horton Hears a Who).

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Today and Tomorrow

I have decided that having a diagnosis doesn't make anything easier. I still have to subject my baby to more testing to put him into the preschool and I still have to find some way to get him much needed speech therapy. In fact having a diagnosis doesn't do much but make me want to cry. As mentioned previously no one wants to have their child labeled. I am sad.

Kudos to my family for taking such fast action to support Clays Bill. I am so flattered they would do this for us, in spite of the fact that it may not pass in time to do much good for Evan. It is a step in the right direction I guess.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Evan and his IQ

So we all now my baby is pretty smart - well he was testing out of things at his psych visit at the five and six year old level. Super job Bambino. But he still falls on the Autism Spectrum. They (being the Doctors) have determined it is PDD NOS - Pervasive Development Disorder (not otherwise specified).

Friday, December 19, 2008

Contact your Senator!!!!!!

Sample letter to your legislator for the passing of Clay's Bill. Thank you everyone for being so supportive about this. It is so nice to know that people really do care about children and want them to have as much of an opportunity to succeed as possible.

If you need help finding your senate district, please email me at ashley_n_raines@yahoo.com and I will find out where you need to send your letter.


Dear Senator ______________
I am writing to request you take immediate action to support and co-sponsor Clay's Bill as presented by Senator Howard Stephenson. This bill would require private health insurance companies to approve payment of Applied Behavioral Analysis and other therapy claims for children with Autistic Specturm Disorder.
As a parent/neighbor/family member etc. to a child diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, I understand the urgent need for this legislation. The therapy available to the majority of these children is limited by the cost to their families. Some children are unabel to receive proven treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorders due to the high costs.
Passing Clays bill will allow better and more therapy to autistic children. More families will find speech, occupational and physical therapy to be affordable with the cost share of their insurance companies.
Thank you for your time and thank you very much for your suppoprt of our children who need your attention. If you need additional information regarding Clay's Bill, please contact Senator Howard Stephson.
Sincerely
Include your name, address, phone number and email – the more contact information you leave, the better chance you will receive something back.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I love you, Tomorrow

You can start singing the song from Annie if you would like... I will wait... Done Waiting! So tomorrow is when I take my boo bear to the developmental pediatrician to see where we go from here. Most of me is actually excited to get something moving - the rest of me is scared to death. You never want your child to be the one with the 'label'. Well I take that back, I would love him to be labeled lovable, adorable, smart, funny, cute - you know all the good things. Special Needs is not something I want for my child. I know that by thinking this way, I am helping to perpetuate the negative connotations, but I cant help it. We all made fun of those kids in Elementary and then we felt bad in High School, so we joined the buddies programs to help Special Needs kids adjust. Now as parents, we try to teach our kids not to stare, but can't help doing it ourselves. Point of todays babbling is I just want him to be okay. I can deal with a speech delay, I don't know that I can deal with much more.....