tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65552315110137068212024-03-12T21:27:23.115-07:00Joey's HopeThis blog is about my 8 year old son Joey and our journey into diagnosing his PDD-NOS and Epilepsy, learning from it and helping others, as well as being a great place to store all the information I gather along the way.Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.comBlogger399125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-48771823280613119562015-02-16T20:43:00.002-08:002015-02-16T20:43:59.362-08:00Monday, February 16, 2004Eleven years ago today (also on a Monday), I found out I was pregnant with Joey. I've told the story on this blog before so I will spare you the details. Long story short: I got pregnant on my 4th cycle of Clomid, the last one before we were scheduled to take a break. It was also 12 days after I found out my Mom was in Congestive Heart Failure so I was so stressed, I really didn't think I was pregnant.<br />
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Fast forward 11 years....I'm divorced from Joey's dad, I've earned 2 Master's Degrees, and I remarried and am now separated from my 2nd husband of almost 6 years. Joey was born happy and healthy, hit all his physcial milestones, was diagnoesed with ASD and epilepsy, learned to speak, practically has outgrown his seizures, was mainstreamed in Kindergarten and is now on grade level in all subjects in 4th grade, has excelled in soccer, football, and cross country, and is the funniest, most loving, and sassiest 10 year old you could ever meet.<br />
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Knowing that I will never again feel the excitement of being told I am pregnant again, I wish I could go back and relive so many moments, including Joey being a sweet little baby, and especially the one when the doctor told me I was going to be a Mom.Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-6533348656497054862014-12-24T11:43:00.004-08:002014-12-24T11:43:46.710-08:00Merry Christmas 2014It's definitely been a challenge to be in the Christmas spirit this year, but I have a very excited 10 year old who is still excited for Santa. He even asked me what cookies we should leave out at 4 a.m. this morning. So much will be different next year, so for the next 2 days I will be jolly, and enjoy Christmas through the eyes of my baby who still believes in the magic of Christmas. Merry Christmas everyone! <br />
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Joey's 1st Christmas</div>
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<i class="_4-k1 img sp_5Em_GKHOCoP sx_6cd32e"></i><i class="_4-k1 img sp_5Em_GKHOCoP sx_82157d"></i>Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-11433704261096684372014-10-19T05:07:00.000-07:002014-10-19T05:07:09.329-07:00Happy 10th BirthdayHappy 10th Birthday to my sweet little pepper, Joey! My toughest boss, my most important teacher, my constant companion, and the reason I live this life. I wished for you for so long before I was blessed with you and that's the reason I get so emotional as the time seems to be flying by. Double digits...you're really not my baby anymore. I am so proud of the young man you are becoming. We've been through a lot, me and you. I can't promise that the journey will always be easy...it's been really hard at times...but I can guarantee that I will always be by your side, as long as I am on this earth. "You are the best thing that's ever been mine." I love you! (And yes, I make him read this).<br />
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Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-16924671178555785572014-09-11T19:35:00.001-07:002014-09-11T19:35:44.044-07:006 years ago todayIt's hard to believe that 6 years ago today, my sweet little pepper was diagnosed with ASD. What a journey we have been on together. Sometimes, it's hard to look back on how far we've come. As much as I want to relive his time as a baby, there are certain moments, days, even months that I would rather skip. The very talkative young man that stands as high as my shoulder now, used to be a quiet, frustrated, little boy, living in a world I wasn't allowed to be a part of. The boy who runs to hug me used to never want to be touched. I am lucky that he is present in our lives and enjoying so many things kids his age enjoy. My littlest soul mate has taught me the biggest life lessons. And I am forever grateful. #tbt September 2008<br />
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Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-24534727502039468832014-09-07T07:53:00.003-07:002014-09-07T07:53:53.928-07:00Grandparents DayHappy Grandparents Day to all the grandparents out there and to two special ones, Neems and Gramps! Growing up without grandparents, it is very important to me that Joey have a relationship with my parents. I am fortunate that they live a light away. They have been witness to the highs and lows in my little man's life and provided support, unconditional love, and a home away from home, full of tasty snacks, life lessons, and lots of belly laughs. Happy (almost) 10 years of being Grandparents. Here's to (at least) 30 more!<br />
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Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-75151946006486561552014-05-27T11:19:00.000-07:002014-05-27T11:20:38.804-07:00When is the right time to tell your child he has Autism?Don't ask me because I haven't had the conversation with Joey yet. I've been told by colleagues that I should and I've even started the conversation when I thought it was a good time, such as when he spoke about having a hard time making friends. But he told me he didn't want to talk about it anymore and I respected his wishes.<br />
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Here is a great article with some tips on when and how to start that conversation.<br />
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Link: <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2014/05/27/your-child-has-autism-how-and-when-do-you-tell-him/">http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2014/05/27/your-child-has-autism-how-and-when-do-you-tell-him/</a><br />
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Your child has autism. How (and when) do you tell him?</h1>
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<time datetime="2014-05-27T13:11:59+00:00">May 27 at 1:11 pm</time></h6>
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<img alt="Max Burkholder, left, plays a teen with Asperger syndrome on NBC's "Parenthood." A 2011 episode explored how his parents talked to him about his diagnosis.(Jordin Althaus/NBC)" class="size-full " src="http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2013/09/09/Style/Images/NUP_157214_0074.jpg" height="404" width="606" /><br />
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Max Burkholder, left, plays a teen with Asperger syndrome on NBC’s “Parenthood.” A 2011 episode explored how his parents talked to him about his diagnosis.<br />
(Jordin Althaus/NBC)</div>
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It’s a conversation that requires more thought and planning than talks about sex, money, religion or drugs. For parents of a child who has an autism spectrum disorder, discussing what makes him different and why is a delicate matter.<br />
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When do you need to have the talk, and how do you do it so your child comes away feeling good about himself (and doesn’t start using it as an excuse for every little thing he doesn’t want to do)?<br />
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NBC’s <a href="http://www.nbc.com/parenthood">“Parenthood”</a> tackled this beautifully in a 2011 episode called “Qualities and Difficulties.”<br />
After Max, who has Asperger syndrome, overhears his father and uncle talking (okay, shouting) <br />
about his diagnosis, his parents Adam and Kristina, seek advice from a therapist on how to discuss it with Max. The answer? Emphasize his strengths and talk about how, just like anyone else, he has challenges too:<br />
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Link for Parenthood clip: <a href="http://www.nbc.com/parenthood/video/the-runners-stumble/n2302">http://www.nbc.com/parenthood/video/the-runners-stumble/n2302</a><br />
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I recently spoke with Jim Ball, the executive chairman of the National Board for the <a href="http://www.autism-society.org/">Autism Society</a>, and Amy Keefer, a clinical psychologist at <a href="http://www.kennedykrieger.org/patient-care/patient-care-centers/center-autism-and-related-disorders">Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Center for Autism and Related Disorders</a>. They agreed with the approach advocated in the show: Emphasize that everyone, every single person, is good at some things and struggles with others.<br />
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“Most families aren’t uncomfortable with having the talk, they just question when to do it and struggle with whether he or she has to know,” Ball said. “For a lot of our individuals, they see the world differently and they just go about their business, so why throw a wrench in it? That’s just how they see the world. It’s more about should I or shouldn’t I, as opposed to being afraid.”<br />
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It also helps to remember that even if you are really nervous about the conversation, most kids have either a neutral or a positive response to the news, Keefer said, and go about their day after the talk.<br />
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Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-8190156293777623842014-05-11T07:21:00.001-07:002014-05-11T07:21:28.216-07:00Mother's DayTwelve days before I found out I was finally pregnant, I found out that I could lose my Mom. Miraculously, she is still with us 10 years later. I know our days with "Neema" may be numbered, but I am thankful for the long warning that she would be leaving us earlier than she should. Some people don't get that warning. Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I'm so glad that Joey has had a chance to create some fabulous and long lasting memories with you.<br />
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Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-3587649666012618672014-05-03T06:32:00.000-07:002014-05-03T06:32:02.872-07:00Reading SuccessOn April 24th, I had Joey's annual IEP meeting. I was nervous, but with so much other stuff going on in my life, I felt like it was going to be another letdown. Usually the meetings start with how poorly Joey pays attention, how he can't focus, how he is behind grade level, etc.<br />
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Well I was in for quite a surprise.<br />
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Some parents would be upset to hear the word "average" be used to describe their child, but other parents would feel it was a dream come true. Today, I was told that Joey is "an average reader on a 3rd grade level." I wanted to cry tears of joy. He entered 3rd grade at a 1st grade reading level.</span><br />
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Miracles happen! Yes, I feel it's a miracle. Not only has he progressed, but his team, who weren't his biggest supporters, actually had positive things to say.</span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"></span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Of course Joey's response was, "Can I quit Kumon now?"</span><br />
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Speaking of Kumon, he received a Rising Star medal this week for being on grade level.</span><br />
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">I am so proud of my boy!</span>Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-28981896315064004902014-04-02T06:52:00.000-07:002014-04-02T06:58:11.680-07:00CNN iReport for Autism Awareness Day 2014: Reflection and HopeOne of the things I like the least is talking in front of others, let alone record myself speaking in front of others (and I really dislike the frozen shot of my crazy face). But his story needs to be told.<br />
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Today, I celebrate all the families who work tirelessly everyday to make their children's lives better. I also celebrate all of the therapists who work tirelessly to teach children the skills they need to adapt to the crazy world around them. But most of all, I celebrate my sweet boy, who challenged me in a way I never imagined and helped ignite the fire in me to help others. I love you, Joey!</span><br />
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Here is the link: <a href="http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1115749">http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1115749</a><br />
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My son hit all his physical milestones at the suggested age but he was quiet. Painfully quiet. At 18 months old, he was able to say less than 20 words. By 2 years old, his words were gone. <br />
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We started speech therapy right around his 2nd birthday and implemented a Picture Exchange Communication System. Around 2 1/2, he started to imitate us! Shortly after, I participated in a Jump Start program through a Phoenix-based organization and I learned how to work with my son by implementing a home program based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). <br />
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My son continued to be a quiet child who played by himself, but his language slowly emerged. He would surprise us each day with a new word. Once, at pet store, he looked at a puppy and said "poop." You couldn't imagine how happy we were to hear that word. Spontaneous and functional - what we always hoped for! I started recording all of the things he said back then. Seven years later, I still write down his funny quotes and thoughts about life. <br />
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By the age of 5, in his final months of preschool, Joey was mainstreamed into a general education classroom. Without early intervention, ABA, and determination, this never could have happened. <br />
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We have continued to work on my son's communication and social skills. He plays team sports (soccer and flag football) and does really well at school. His favorite subjects are math and science. He has a wide variety of interests and he shares those interests with his friends from school. He gets invited to birthday parties and has weekly play dates. These are things I used to only dream of, as I feared my son may never speak just 7 years ago. <br />
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The best advice I can give is for parents to find professionals that will work with their child and that will also train the parents on how to carry out the different interventions long after the therapists leave. Through the journey with my son, I now help parents as a Behavior Analyst, and spend most of my days training parents. I'm passionate about it because if I hadn't received parent training, I fear my son would not have come as far as he has. <br />
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If you are the parent of a newly diagnosed child, find support in your area. The support will help you grieve and heal, while hopefully providing you information and referrals to who will help your child achieve their goals. <br />
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Good luck. And never give up hope! <br />
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Follow Joey's story at joeyshope.blogspot.com Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-2394553442026556792014-03-27T21:49:00.002-07:002014-03-27T21:49:44.388-07:001 in 681 in 68. Speechless.<br />
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Link: <a href="http://nationalautismassociation.org/autism-now-affects-1-in-68-children-1-in-42-boys/">http://nationalautismassociation.org/autism-now-affects-1-in-68-children-1-in-42-boys/</a><br />
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Autism now affects 1 in 68 children; 1 in 42 boys</h1>
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Posted by <a href="http://nationalautismassociation.org/author/wendy/" rel="author" title="Posts by Wendy Fournier">Wendy Fournier</a> on Mar 27, 2014 in <a href="http://nationalautismassociation.org/category/featured/" rel="category tag" title="View all posts in Featured">Featured</a> | <a href="http://nationalautismassociation.org/autism-now-affects-1-in-68-children-1-in-42-boys/#respond" title="Comment on Autism now affects 1 in 68 children; 1 in 42 boys">0 comments</a> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Autism Groups React to New CDC-Reported Prevalence of 1 in 68 Children</b></span></div>
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<b>AUTISM POLICY REFORM COALITION URGES GOVERNMENT EXAMINATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES, AND FOCUS ON TREATMENT AND SERVICES</b></div>
<b>WASHINGTON, DC (March 27, 2014)</b>—Today, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the newest autism prevalence statistics. For children born in 2002, the prevalence of autism was 1 in 68; 1 in 42 boys. Almost 60,000 US 12 year-olds likely have autism. Thirty years ago, autism affected 1 in 2,500 children; there has been a 37-fold increase.<br />
Katie Weisman of SafeMinds stated, “Broader criteria and awareness cannot account for this magnitude of increase. The federal government continues to spend millions of dollars ineffectively and ‘potentially duplicatively’ according to a recent GAO report. We need to identify environmental triggers for autism, prevent them, and develop effective treatments.”<br />
Holly Bortfeld of TACA stated, “The federal government has spent $1.6 billion on autism since 2006, but the money is not helping those affected in meaningful ways. We need to improve medical treatment for the many co-occuring health concerns of individuals with autism and address the wave of students who are aging out and entering an adult world with no plan for them. ”<br />
The Autism Policy Reform Coalition (APRC) is advocating for changes in the U.S. Government’s response to the autism crisis and represents a constituency of over 100,000. The APRC is calling for significant changes in the Combating Autism Act, which is to be reauthorized by Congress this year.<br />
“Since 2011, 44 U.S. children with autism have died after wandering away from a safe environment,” stated National Autism Association President Wendy Fournier. ”Our federal government must recognize these deaths, and the urgent needs of our most profoundly affected population. They suffer silently in pain from untreated medical issues; they are abused, bullied, and may be at increased risk of suicide. Their deaths and injuries are preventable through an appropriate federal response, which our coalition is dedicated to securing.”<br />
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The <b>AUTISM POLICY REFORM COALITION</b> includes: Autism is Medical, Defending Academic Integrity and Research Foundation, Generation Rescue, National Autism Association, SafeMinds, Talk About Curing Autism, and The Thinking Mom’s Revolution. Its mission is to educate public officials and to encourage legislation that will make a measurable difference in the lives of the persons with autism and their families.<br />
<strong>To view the report in it’s entirety, <a href="http://nationalautismassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/1in68.pdf" target="_blank">click here</a>.</strong><br />
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Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-23091340988694724662014-03-24T22:06:00.000-07:002014-03-27T22:07:02.180-07:00Parenthood Magazine's shout out to ABA<span class="userContent">Thank you, Parents Magazine, for talking about ABA and warning parents about alternative treatments.</span><br />
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<span class="userContent">Link: <a href="http://www.parents.com/health/autism/autism-therapy-and-treatments/?page=1">http://www.parents.com/health/autism/autism-therapy-and-treatments/?page=1</a></span><br />
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Autism Therapy and Treatment Options</span></h1>
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<section class="storyIntro">No two kids on the autism spectrum are the same, and often, neither are their treatments. Here's what you need to know about finding the right approach for your child.</section><section class="byline"> By Virginia Sole-Smith </section><section class="byline"> </section><section class="byline"><img alt="woman talking to child" border="0" class="lazy" src="http://images.meredith.com/parents/images/2014/02/l_102207843.jpg" style="display: block;" /></section><section class="storyContent"><br />
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has two main hallmarks: difficulty with communication and social interactions and a tendency toward restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. But no two children on the spectrum are alike, which can make an ASD diagnosis particularly overwhelming. It can be hard to understand which aspects of your child's behavior and development are part of her ASD and which are typical for her age or just idiosyncratic parts of her personality. You may also worry that your child's issues are too severe or ingrained for treatment to make much difference, but it's important not to lose hope. "With good treatment, many and increasingly more children will get better," says <i>Parents</i> advisor Fred Volkmar, M.D., director of the Child Study Center at Yale University School of Medicine. "By that I mean they will grow up to be self-sufficient adults who can live independently. They may never be problem-free, but we see many children do very well."<br />
If your child has been diagnosed with ASD, you'll need to find an autism specialist who can partner with you in your child's care. That specialist may be a neuropsychologist or neuropsychiatrist, a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist, or a developmental pediatrician. "The key is that he or she has special training in understanding the needs of kids on the spectrum," says Michael Rosenthal, Ph.D., a pediatric neuropsychologist who specializes in autism at the Child Mind Institute in New York City. Your pediatrician should be able to make referrals; you can also contact the Autism Response Team at Autism Speaks for help finding a qualified specialist in your area. Once you find the right therapist, he or she will work with you and your child to devise a treatment program that will look something like this:<br />
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<h4>
Find the Right Behavioral Therapy</h4>
"When we see a newly diagnosed 2- or 3-year-old, our first goal is to get him into pretty aggressive early intervention known as applied behavioral analysis [ABA]," Dr. Rosenthal says. "There is a tremendous amount of research to show that this is the way to go." An ABA-trained therapist will work with your child for 25 or more hours per week, systematically encouraging desired social and communication behaviors and actively teaching the kind of social interactions that other children learn intuitively. The list of goals may include improving attention span, building social interaction skills, and developing verbal and nonverbal communication skills.<br />
Depending on your child's specific needs and progress, other evidence-based approaches might be used. These include pivotal response therapy (PRT), which is derived from applied behavioral analysis; the Early Start Denver Model approach, known for its developmental curriculum of skills; or the TEACCH approach (Training and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children). Many children with ASD also benefit from occupational, physical and speech-language therapies, and others need a kind of hybrid approach, in which therapists choose from a variety of methods to meet their needs. "With children on the milder end of the spectrum, we often find that all they need is a little bit of speech-language therapy to help with social skills," Dr. Rosenthal notes. "Other kids really need the total treatment package."<br />
It's important to understand that most public school systems offer only one kind of autism program. "It varies tremendously by school district whether your child can be in an ABA-based classroom or one with a developmental approach," Dr. Volkmar says. "We run into problems when a kid is diagnosed but the only program available isn't a good match with his needs." If you think your child's current therapeutic approach isn't working, talk to your specialist about the best strategy for switching to something different.<br />
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Consider Medication if Appropriate<br />
"Medication can't fix autism itself but it can be useful if a child has some associated problems," Dr. Rosenthal says. For example, some children with ASD also experience high levels of anxiety, inattention, or hyperactivity; medications are often prescribed to help with those issues, which can otherwise interfere with their social and behavioral progress. "When medication can help get the symptoms of the associated problem under control, we often see a big jump in a child's progress," Dr. Rosenthal notes.<br />
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<h4>
Be Wary of Alternative Treatments</h4>
Diets, vitamins, and chelation (a process that is said to remove mercury or other heavy metals from the body) have all been touted as treatments for ASD. But "none of these have any reliable science behind them," Dr. Rosenthal says. And some (particularly chelation, which can cause kidney or liver damage) can be very dangerous. If you want to pursue an alternative therapy for your child, be sure to consult a qualified physician first.<br />
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<h4>
Will My Child Recover?</h4>
It's important for parents to understand that autism is often a lifelong condition, without any known cure. But good behavioral therapy is extremely effective, especially when it's started as early as possible. "It's not a question of whether a child with ASD can make progress--it's a question of how much progress," Dr. Rosenthal says. In 2013, researchers at the University of Connecticut co-authored a landmark study published in the <i>Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry</i>, which showed that some children with ASD can achieve "optimal outcomes." "The 34 children identified in this study were making friends, doing well in school, and generally functioning well," says Dr. Rosenthal, one of the study's co-authors. "They had effectively moved off the spectrum. It's too soon for us to say why these children did so well, but early behavioral intervention does appear to be key." Further research is needed to replicate the results in a bigger population and understand more about what worked so well for these children. Dr. Volkmar, who was not involved in the study, notes that the term "optimal outcome" is subjective: "I know one college-aged boy who by many definitions has 'moved off the spectrum,'" he explains. "But he also can't do his laundry, so we have a long way to go before he's fully functional in all areas of life." But Dr. Volkmar, too, wants parents to stay optimistic. "I have seen many young children make tremendous progress," he says. "There are so many reasons to be hopeful."</section></span><br />Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-15225672966225958352014-03-14T09:07:00.003-07:002014-03-14T09:07:35.539-07:00Flashback Friday 2005 (they grow so fast)I was going to post a picture of Joey at 5 months old in his St. Patty's Day pajamas, but why? He did look cute but that day has little meaning to me.<br />
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Instead I selected a picture from June 2005. <br />
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This picture of Joey shopping with me always reminds me of how lucky I was that I worked for a company that allowed me to switch to working nights so that I could spend everyday with my sweet Pepper. I wish I could get those days back. Being home with him this week reminds me of those days and how time goes so fast. The time we spend together gets less and less with each passing year. I am so lucky to be his Mom. For those Moms home with their babies, enjoy every "first," every giggle, every moment you can. Before you know it, they will be saying "I'm Italian, deal with it." Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-91035872738873225832014-03-03T12:13:00.001-08:002014-03-03T12:13:51.663-08:00Losing the Autism Dx - A doctor's persepective<span class="userContent">It sounds like Joey isn't protected from having to get a reassessment, but that's ok, because his school doesn't acknowledge his dx anyway.</span><br />
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Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arshya-vahabzadeh/autism-diagnosis_b_4885084.html<br />
<header><br /><h1 class="title">
Why Are Children Losing Their Autism Diagnosis?</h1>
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<span class="posted"> Posted: <time datetime="2014-03-03T12:59:47-05:00"> 03/03/2014 12:59 pm EST </time> </span> <span class="updated"> Updated: <time datetime="2014-03-03T12:59:51-05:00"> 03/03/2014 12:59 pm EST </time> </span> </div>
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<span class="group"><span class="entrytag"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/psychiatry/">Emotional Intelligence</a> </span> <span class="entrytag"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/mental-health/">Mental Health</a> </span> <span class="entrytag"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/health/">Health</a> </span> <span class="entrytag"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/pediatrics/">Pediatrics</a> </span> <span class="entrytag"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/autism/">Autism</a> </span> <span class="entrytag"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/psychology/">Emotional Intelligence</a> </span> <span class="entrytag"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/Health-Insurance/">Health Insurance</a> </span> <span class="entrytag"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/parenting/">Parenting</a> </span> <span class="entrytag"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/Asperger%27s-Syndrome/">Asperger's Syndrome</a> </span> <span class="entrytag"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/asd/">Asd</a> </span> <span class="entrytag"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/medicine/">Medicine</a> </span> <span class="entrytag"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/autism-diagnosis/">Autism Diagnosis</a> </span> <span class="entrytag"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/dsm-5-autism/">Dsm 5 Autism</a> </span> <span class="entrytag"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/autism-dsm-5/">Autism Dsm 5</a> </span> <span class="entrytag"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/Healthy-Living/">Healthy Living News</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="group"><span class="entrytag"></span></span>Parents of children with autism have many obstacles to getting their child the resources and support that they need. I was therefore concerned to hear about the increasing number of people who are reporting that their children are <em>losing</em> their autism diagnosis.</div>
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<strong>Why is this happening? Did their autism resolve? Did the parents ask for a second opinion?</strong><br />
In many of these cases the answer to all of these questions is a resounding "no" -- the children didn't change one little bit. What changed was the criteria for diagnosing autism, which is now based on the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). This is the guidebook that is used to diagnose a range of different conditions including depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. There has been some debate as to whether the use of DSM-5 will reduce the number of people diagnosed with autism. Autism Speaks, a prominent autism advocacy group, has established an <a href="http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/diagnosis/dsm-5/survey" target="_hplink">online survey</a> that is beginning to discover that people with autism are being "undiagnosed" after having been reevaluated under the new criteria. <br />
<strong>So why are people worried about losing their autism diagnosis?</strong><br />
A diagnosis of autism helps to ensure that special educational and social opportunities are provided to that individual; additionally, health care insurers are under increasing pressure not to deny coverage to people with an autism diagnosis. The reality for many people is that the loss of their autism diagnosis takes away many of these very helpful, sometimes crucial resources. I should emphasize that the gold standard for diagnosing autism remains a specialist clinical assessment. Doctors and other clinicians may very well have different opinions. Blood tests, brain scans, or psychological testing cannot make or rule out autism.<br />
<strong>A little caveat</strong><br />
In order to prevent every child from having to undergo a reassessment, and with the knowledge that losing an autism diagnosis can impact health care and educational resources, a clear caveat was placed into the DSM-5. A stipulation that I feel many people with autism and their caregivers don't know about. This caveat can help protect families from being forced to undergo a "reassessment" on demand from any organization. The DSM-5 clearly states that anyone with an established autism, Asperger's, or pervasive developmental disorder that was diagnosed prior to release of DSM-5 should continue to be given the new diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. This becomes especially important if there has been no clinical change in the child. It doesn't mean that the parents cannot seek out a second opinion, or that if their child develops new symptoms then other conditions cannot also be diagnosed.<br />
As a physician, I realize that a fundamental part of my work involves moving past a diagnosis, and trying to make my patients lives better. While some children with autism may also have psychiatric or medical conditions that I can help treat, the vast majority benefit hugely from suitable educational and social skills resources. The reality is that these resources are so tightly tied to an autism diagnosis, that "undiagnosing" these children would be detrimental to their longer term outcomes. Our health care and educational systems struggle to help children that require assistance but lack a diagnosis.<br />
<strong>Picking and Choosing</strong><br />
I think it would be duplicitous for any organization to pick and choose the components of DSM-5 that one would adhere to when looking at a child with a possible autism diagnosis. We cannot on one hand use the criteria to attempt to "undiagnose" a child with autism (and in the process put their educational, social, and healthcare services into turmoil), while on the other hand deciding to skip over the explicitly stated caveat that a previously made autism diagnose should persist. <br />
I understand, and many researchers have pointed out to me, that grandfathering these autism diagnoses is scientifically messy at best. It may take decades to "clean up" the science; in the meantime, it's my duty to advocate for my patients.</div>
<strong> Follow Arshya Vahabzadeh, M.D. on Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/@vahabzadehMD">www.twitter.com/@vahabzadehMD</a> </strong>Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-64662350974762140752014-02-16T20:34:00.000-08:002014-02-16T20:34:34.757-08:00Life changing news, 10 years laterToday marks the 10th anniversary of the day I found out I was pregnant. 10 years ago today, my doctor confirmed I was going to have a baby. They say once you have a baby, time flashes in an instant, and before you know it they are leaving for college. When he turned 9 this past October, I realized that half his childhood was over. Where did it go? Some parts I wouldn't relive, but those precious times as a baby...well I would give anything to have them back. If I knew back then that hed be my one and only, I would have treasured them even more.<br />
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When I found out I was pregnant, it was a surprise. It wasn't like we weren't trying. We were! We just finished our 4th cycle of Clomid. But 12 days before I found out I was pregnant, my Mom was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure. Her ejection fraction was 19%. Anything lower than 35% means you are in serious danger of your heart stopping. To say I was distressed was an understatement. So when I went in to the doctor for my monthly check up, I told her I was late with my period but I brushed it off. I told her how stressed I was about my Mom. I also told her I booked an 8 day trip to NY for April that very morning because I didn't really believe this pregnancy thing was going to happen (I would have never booked it if I knew I was pregnant). She told me to humor her and take a urine test. She came back and said I was pregnant but that we should confirm it with a blood test. I couldn't believe the news.<br />
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Now, 10 years later, I have a bright, sweet, beautiful boy. Soon, he
will be a handsome, strong man, getting ready to start his life. I am so
honored to be his Mom. I tell him everyday that I love him more than
anything. I do, with every fiber of my being. I've often wondered if I
love him more than some other parents love their children because I
wanted him so much. I prayed for him for a long time. I will never take
him for granted because he almost wasn't mine. I was so close to never
conceiving. He truly is the love of my life. And I'm so glad I got the
chance to be his Mommy.<br />
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<span class="userContent">I also didn't understand how protective you
could feel over another human being until that day. A fitting picture on
the 10th anniversary of the day I found out I would be a Mom.</span>Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-42518047361752320492014-01-26T22:27:00.001-08:002014-01-26T22:27:27.373-08:00Avonte's LawI am glad that they will finally do something to help our kids that wander. I am sad that another precious life had to be taken before this happened.<br />
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Link: <a href="http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news%2Flocal%2Fnew_york&id=9407546">http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news%2Flocal%2Fnew_york&id=9407546</a><br />
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Schumer to propose "Avonte's Law" to protect autistic children</h1>
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Sunday, January 26, 2014</div>
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<span class="name"><a class="name" href="http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/bio?section=resources/inside_station/newsteam&id=5771943" rel="author">Kemberly Richardson</a></span>
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More: <span class="links"><a href="http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/bio?section=resources/inside_station/newsteam&id=5771943" rel="author">Bio</a>, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/kemrichardson7">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/explore?columnist=kemberly-richardson">Stories by Kemberly Richardson</a>, <a href="http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/newsteam">News Team</a>
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Eyewitness News</div>
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<span class="storyDateline">NEW YORK (WABC) -- </span>
It is something Michael Rosen, the Executive Director of Autism Speaks
has lost sleep about - his son Nicky is autistic and non-verbal. When
Nicky was little, he wandered. Rosen says he once found Nicky on a
neighbor's roof. </div>
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"Eventually we had to put locks on top of doors, and that's
how people with autism live," says Rosen, "you can't turn your back for
one second."<br />
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This was a tough thing for Vanessa Fontaine to
hear - her son, Avonte Oquendo also wandered. On Saturday, Fontaine
buried her 14-year-old. <br />
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On Sunday, still too upset to speak, Fontaine did throw her support behind an idea that could have saved her child. <br />
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Senator Charles Schumer calls it "Avonte's Law" - a high tech solution
to an age-old problem. The law uses tracking devices for kids like
Avonte. <br />
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"We know how to do it, we've seen it done - it works," says Senator Schumer. <br />
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After Avonte disappeared, volunteers spent months searching for the
teen, whose remains were just recently discovered along the banks of the
East River. <br />
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Schumer says under this new program, police would
track kids. It is modeled after a similar federal program that now
tracks those suffering with Alzheimer's. <br />
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"The only barrier is
the funding," adds Senator Schumer, "the devices themselves cost about
80 or 90 dollars, and then it costs only a few dollars a month to do the
monitoring." <br />
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As for the actual tracking device, it could be
worn as a wristband, clipped onto a child's belt loops, put in
shoelaces, or sown into clothing. <br />
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In Avonte's case, time was of
the essence. Experts say using these devices saves precious minutes,
and reduces the amount of time it takes to find a child by 95 percent.
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Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-24791929584033390352013-12-12T20:52:00.000-08:002013-12-12T20:53:04.901-08:00New position at ASUI am humbled that my alma mater, ASU, has asked me to be a part of their facilitator team in the program I graduated from (it's now split into 2 programs - I will be part of the Behavior Analyst program). I probably should become a Sun Devils fan now. And create more hours in the day.
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F1CgpjzcGgQ/UqqSHYn2EiI/AAAAAAAAAWE/0qzrr5de400/s1600/Hogan-41.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F1CgpjzcGgQ/UqqSHYn2EiI/AAAAAAAAAWE/0qzrr5de400/s400/Hogan-41.jpg" width="400" /></a>Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-27273302464340720502013-11-03T20:40:00.000-08:002013-11-03T20:40:13.321-08:00It happenend again....more school disappointmentI am seriously at a loss for words. I see that my son, who is at the top of his class in math, gets a 61 on a math test and I can't help but be pissed. You know why he scored a 61? Because no one read him the instructions, which is part of his IEP! He has progressed to a 2nd grade reading level which is great, but I am constantly told "he loses focus." I have respect for teachers but I am struggling with the concept that they cannot see past their own noses and change up their teaching style for an exceptional kid. Trust me....my son is not the only one who needs help, but because he is the one with the dx, he is now labeled as "loses focus" and "hard to teach." As sassy as I can be, I have been patiently waiting for this to get resolved. The best part is when, in Joey's meeting, I am asked "Do you think you could help our Behavior Interventionist with other kids? She's new." Ummm no. Try helping my kid first. I guess I'm going to have to get loud and risk Joey not having his variance approved next year. But at this point, I don't even know if we'd stay at Parkridge.
Feeling disappointed.Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-91911533612701348732013-10-19T23:58:00.001-07:002013-10-20T00:00:35.023-07:00Game 6, the Sox, and the bloody sock all over againAlthough today was the best day of my life 9 years ago, Eric Rodman had to remind me that it was also the day of the Bloody Sock, also known as Game 6 of the ALCS, Yanks vs. Sox and the Sox won! And tonight, the Sox won Game 6 again. But no bloody sock. Still traumatized.
Link: http://www.thepeskypole.net/2011/10/october-19-2004-bloody-sock.html
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
October 19, 2004: The Bloody Sock
The greatest thing about Game 6 is how it still bothers Yankee fans. Yankee fans still refuse to admit that Curt Schilling had anything wrong with his ankle. They are convinced the blood was fake and Schilling was just creating the drama. As a Red Sox fan I love it, it shows just how much the collapse bothers Bronx Nation. The facts are the facts, Schilling only made 11 starts the following season because of surgery and had an ERA of 5.69. Schilling was not the same in 2005 and in reality was never the same after that incredible night in 2004. It was the ultimate sacrifice by Schilling, he went out there on one leg and forever changed the Red Sox franchise. He will always be remembered for it and it was the kind of thing that may just push the Cooperstown doors open for him. The bloody sock will live on forever and be a thorn in the side of Yankee fans as long as there is baseball.
BOX SCORE
The Schilling heroics were far from the only story line from this game. Bronson Arroyo and the Alex Rodriguez saga continued in the 8th inning. The saga actually got it's start back on July 24th when Arroyo plunked AROD on his elbow pad in a game the Yankees were dominating. This touched off the infamous bench clearing brawl with Jason Varitek giving AROD a picture perfect facial. The Red Sox woke up on that day and came from behind and beat the Yankees with a walk off homer by Bill Mueller against the great Mariano Rivera. The Red Sox would use that win as a rallying point and it transformed them from a team that wasn't looking like postseason material into a very dangerous pennant contender.
With the Red Sox up 4-2 in the 8th inning they turned to Arroyo. The Red Sox bullpen was on fumes and Arroyo who served most of the season as the fifth starter was now asked to get three very big outs before turning things over to Keith Foulke. Arroyo struck out Tony Clark for the first out of the inning and then gave up a double to Miguel Cairo and a single to Derek Jeter. AROD was up with runners on the corners with one out in a two run game. Rodriguez had a chance to build a reputation right here as a true Yankee and a great postseason performer. Instead, he dribbled a ball off the end of his bat and then slapped the ball out of the glove of Arroyo.
As the ball was rolling free, Cairo and Jeter scored. Alex was standing on second base and the game was briefly tied. I was watching in utter horror. Jeter was pumping his fist as he touched home plate and I was contemplating throwing my television out my bedroom window. The umpires came to the rescue and for the first time in the history of postseason baseball the Yankees did not get the call. Arroyo got Gary Sheffield to pop up and the Red Sox dream was alive and kicking. AROD would go hitless in Game 7 and would struggle the next several years in the postseason. He would briefly redeem himself in 2009 but Rodriguez will be more known for his big game failures than for anything else and it all started with that at bat against Bronson Arroyo seven years ago tonight.
While AROD began a personal trend of postseason failure, the Red Sox second basemen entered his name into Red Sox lore. Mark Bellhorn was booed incessantly by Red Sox fans throughout the 2004 playoffs. He hit just .091 against the Angels in the first round. Fans wanted Pokey Reese, but Terry Francona stuck with him, beginning a pattern that would define Francona's mangerial career in Boston. He always stuck with his veterans, it was a trait that angered many Red Sox fans but it was his style to the very bitter end. In Game 6 of the 2004 ALCS it paid off. The Red Sox would win 4-2 and force a Game 7 thanks to a Mark Bellhorn three run homer and an incredible performance from Curt Schilling. Two of Tito's veterans stepped up when it mattered most making this 2004 team one to remember for the ages.Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-15504095425305929882013-10-19T06:47:00.000-07:002013-10-19T06:47:18.556-07:00Happy 9th Birthday Joey!Happy 9th Birthday to my sweet little pepper! How wonderful to hear you joke with your friends (you have friends!), hear your belly laughs, and know that you are just like the other boys. There is no difference, no standing out. You understand my sass and give it right back to me! Hard to believe that a little more than 6 years ago, you spoke less than 20 words. You amaze me everyday! I am definitely going to annoy you and cry today because half your childhood is over. In the first 9 years, you learned to walk and talk, enjoy Italian food, and ride a bike; you started school and learned how to make friends; you learned how to complete your morning and night routines by yourself; and you learned what it meant to care about someone else. In the next 9 years, you will learn how to drive, go to high school, and become a young man. I can't wait to see what is in store, but know you will always be my little man. "You are the best thing that's ever been mine." I <3 you!<br />
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Favorites from your 9th year:<br />
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Games: Skylanders, Sonic Colors<br />
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Food: Noodle soup, oatmeal cream pies, Sidekicks shakes, vanilla shakes, Lunchables, Crunch bars, hot dogs<br />
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Sports to play: Soccer (in your 3rd season now!)<br />
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Friends: Connor (play time every week), Chase, Donovyn & Tristyn, and Xavier (all of whom were at Guys Night)<br />
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Clothes: still anything soft but we're slowly working into itchy clothes territory!Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-65988315533937878992013-08-19T09:25:00.000-07:002013-08-19T09:25:08.843-07:00Joey's Hope Blog is 5 years old!To commemorate the 5th anniversary of starting this blog and documenting our journey, I decided to repost the very 1st post. My, how far we've come.<br />
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Joey's Journey in Silence <br />
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Joseph was born October 19, 2004. He was by all means a pleasant baby. He was sleeping through the night at 6 weeks. He reached all his physical milestones early or at the appropriate time. He even had his full set of teeth in by his 1st birthday...yet he barely said a word. At his one year check up, his pediatrician asked how many words he spoke and he barely said ten.<br /><br />During his second year, Joey was noticeably quiet. As friends' children the same age were advancing with their speech, Joey was not. He was more advanced than other children when it came to everything else so I wasn't worried. As his second birthday approached, my Mom voiced her concern that he wasn't repeating after us. I spoke to his pediatrician who ordered a hearing test and a consultation with an ENT. The audiologists were concerned and wanted to see him back for a retest when the middle ear fluid cleared up, while the ENT thought it was too soon to put tubes in his ears. The audiologists also hooked me up with a program through the state to get Joey started with speech therapy, which I started shortly after Joey's 2nd birthday.<br /><br />I had Joey's hearing retested in March '07 and again I was told to bring him back when there was no middle ear fluid. He was prone to ear infections but was not having one at the time of the test so how was I to know when the middle ear fluid was present? I brought him back to the ENT, who finally agreed to place tubes in both ears. Joey had his surgery a few weeks later and on the very same day, he started repeating after us!<br /><br />The ENT said Joey had "glue ear" because the middle ear fluid was solidifying. He heard everything as if he were underwater. I can't imagine what that was like and feel terrible for not catching it sooner. When your children don't have a voice, parents need to be their voice and I failed my son by not being his soon enough. </div>
Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-80496456538014213462013-08-18T23:07:00.001-07:002013-08-18T23:56:53.835-07:005 years ago today<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">It's hard to believe 5 years ago, we had our 1st appointment at the Melmed Center (Joey was dx'd later on 9/11). Who knew how much our lives were about to change...</span><br />
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">And on August 19th, it will be 5 years ago that I started this blog!</span><br />
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">This is what my Mom wrote on Facebook in response to my status above:</span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".r[2npph].[1][4][1]{comment10201739720273000_7116483}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2]"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".r[2npph].[1][4][1]{comment10201739720273000_7116483}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[2npph].[1][4][1]{comment10201739720273000_7116483}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2].[0].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[2npph].[1][4][1]{comment10201739720273000_7116483}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2].[0].[0].[0]">August 18th has always been an important date in my life -- 41 years ago I lost my father and my life was changed forever but it became a happy date when we bought our house on LI 36 years ago and all our lives changed for the better. I knew it would </span></span><span data-reactid=".r[2npph].[1][4][1]{comment10201739720273000_7116483}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2].[0].[3]"><span data-reactid=".r[2npph].[1][4][1]{comment10201739720273000_7116483}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2].[0].[3].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[2npph].[1][4][1]{comment10201739720273000_7116483}.[0].[right].[0].[left].[0].[0].[0][2].[0].[3].[0].[0]">be another important day when we took Joey to Melmed 5 years ago -- I'd like to think my father has been watching over Joey and helping with the phenomenal changes that have taken place these last 5 years -- thanks Dad!</span></span></span></span></span></span>Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-81963541320663908192013-08-18T15:20:00.000-07:002013-08-19T09:20:10.571-07:00The first week (and a half) of 3rd gradeWe have survived our first full week (and 2 days)!<br />
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The first day went well. We got there 24 minutes early and just in time to snag the last parking spot. New classroom, no familiar faces, and he says he doesn't remember his teacher, who is the mother of a classmate from 2nd grade / former t-ball teammate. I annoyed him with my usual pictures. He was anxious just to get into his classroom. I told him to unpack his backpack and he said "You do it." I knew he was feeling anxious so I helped him unpack and showed him how to organize his desk.<br />
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This was the first year I didn't pick him up from the first day - my dad did - so I was anxious to find out how his first day went. When I got to my parents house to pick him up, I asked "How was your first day?" His response? "Horrible." Why? Because he says it made summer vacation end.<br />
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The second day went better and he came home telling me that his day was "good" which was an upgrade from "horrible." But it didn't start out good. We arrived on the playground like we did everyday last year. I waited with him for the bell to ring and for him to line up with his class. But today was different. I totally forgot that it was a new year and a new grade, which meant a new line to find.<br />
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When the bell rang, I asked him if he knew where to go. He said "Yes" and ran off. As I turned to leave, he ran over to me with panic in his voice and said "I don't know where to go." We walked over and when we weren't sure, I asked Mrs. Yanez. She said her line was right in front. When I got Joey in the right line, he said, "This doesn't look like my class. I don't know anybody." I assured him it was the right class and pointed out Kayla from 1st grade. He was still visibly upset. I was so worried about him that I drove up to school between appointments in S. Phoenix to have lunch with him and make sure he was having a good day. When I got there, he introduced me to Samuel and Leland. Samuel is the boy that earlier that day, Mrs. Yanez told me Joey was playing rock, paper, scissors with on the 1st day and resulted in him having his desk moved. When she told me, I couldn't believe my ears. My son got in trouble for socializing! Music to my ears! Words I never thought I'd hear!!<br />
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The third day started without a hitch and ended with Joey and Connor walking out together and asking if they could have a play date. I had a feeling this might happen and I'm glad it did. Connor had asked the day before if they could have a play date soon and on the way to pick Joey up from school, Connor's dad had texted me about the possibility that afternoon.<br />
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Monday started the first full week of school. It also was the day he was ok with me leaving him on the playground before the bell rang! We got into the groove of daily homework and a new way of taking a spelling test. He forgot his folder on Monday and we had to run back to school. He knew I was upset and said "I'm very sorry. Is there any way I can make it up to you?" He promised he wouldn't do it again. My boy is growing up.<br />
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By Wednesday, it was time for Grandpa to pick him up again and I guess there was an issue on the first day. Well, there is always confusion on the first day, but I found out through Mrs. Yanez that he told her he was an am/pm kid and so he was there instead of at Jamba Juice. When we were trying to coordinate where Grandpa would pick him up, he was visibly frustrated. I know it was because he gets confused and is starting to feel frustrated about it. Another thing to show he is growing up. I tell myself that we can work on it. As a mom, I just never want him to feel anything other than happy.<br />
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The first full week ended with Connor coming to our house for a play date. Unfortunately, at 2:45p.m., I was called by the nurse because the teacher sent Joey to the nurse because "he smelled. He smelled yesterday but it was worse today" (that's what the nurse said the teacher said). It was a bump in the road that we've been working on and it has improved, but that incident was a reminder that we still have some work to do. <br />
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On to full week #2 and a wonderful year of growth, new friends, new experiences, and overcoming learning obstacles. I love my sweet boy!<br />
<br />Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-41349982250149237072013-08-14T13:12:00.000-07:002013-08-14T13:12:41.490-07:00Interesting study linking the use of Pitocin to AutismMy clinical director posted an interesting study today about the increased use of Pitocin being linked to the increased number of children being diagnosed with Autism. Read more below.<br />
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Link: <a href="http://www.wnd.com/2013/08/study-links-autism-to-birth-inductions/">http://www.wnd.com/2013/08/study-links-autism-to-birth-inductions/</a><br />
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WND EXCLUSIVE</h3>
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Study links autism to birth inductions</h1>
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JAMA Pediatrics eyes labor hurried along by drug Pitocin</h2>
<time class="updated" datetime="2013-08-14T19:51:03+00:00" pubdate="">Published: 2 days ago</time></hgroup><div class="byline author vcard">
<fig class="author-img"><img alt="author-image" src="http://www.wnd.com/files/2013/05/gloudon_avatar.jpg" /></fig><span class="fn"><a href="http://www.wnd.com/author/gloudon/">Gina Loudon</a></span> <a href="javascript:;" id="about-the-author-link">About</a> | <span class="archive-link"><a class="mail-link" href="mailto:Jsnbrowning@gmail.com">Email </a> | <a href="http://www.wnd.com/author/gloudon/?archive=true">Archive</a> </span> <div id="about-the-author">
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<a href="http://facebook.com/drginaloudon">Gina Loudon</a>, Ph.D., is host of "<a href="http://docgtv.com/">The Dr. Gina Show</a>" and a national speaker, <a href="http://youtube.com/drginaloudon">analyst</a> and <a href="http://drginaloudon.com/ladiesandgentlemen/">author</a>. She has appeared or been cited by the BBC, ABC, Vanity Fair, Al Jazeera, Huffington Post, CNN, New York Times, Time magazine, Fox News, Fox Business, The Hill, "The Daily Show" with Jon Stewart and many others. Loudon is credited as one of the "100 founding members" of the tea-party movement, founder of Arizona BUYcott and originator of the field of policology – the nexus of politics and psychology. She is the co-author of <a href="http://superstore.wnd.com/Ladies-and-Gentlemen-Why-the-Survival-of-Our-Republic-Depends-on-the-Revival-of-Honor-Paperback">"Ladies and Gentlemen: Why the Survival of Our Republic Depends on the Revival of Honor."</a> Follow her on <a href="http://facebook.com/ggloudon">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/drginaloudon">Twitter</a>. </div>
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Can inducing labor cause autism?<a href="http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1725449"><br /></a><br />
<a href="http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1725449">A new study out today in the journal JAMA Pediatrics</a> says that induced labor might be the reason for the spike in autism over the last couple of decades. <br />
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Autism is the most pervasive childhood disease today, with one child born every 20 minutes who will fall into the autism spectrum, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the CDC. It is more prevalent than Down Syndrome, diabetes and cancer combined.<br />
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Duke University and the University of Michigan conducted the study. Researchers looked at mothers whose births were induced or hurried with the drug Pitocin and found that there may be a connection between induction and children born with autism, or ASD.<br />
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Pitocin is a synthetic form of oxytocin, a naturally occurring hormone that causes feelings of warmth and relationship toward others.<br />
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Pitocin, made from the pituitary glands of cattle, is used to induce or speed up labor. Its use has increased in the last two decades, according to the CDC, as has the diagnosis of autism.<br />
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That correlation may have prompted the study.<br />
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<em><a href="http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1725449">Read the study.</a></em><br />
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Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by difficulties in social interaction and by repetitive behaviors, according to AutismSpeaks.org.<br />
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Mary Ueland, a Missouri-based midwife and owner of a birth and wellness center, told WND that as a midwife who follows research closely, she finds it “concerning that as a society we have made pharmaceutical induction the norm, even for women with no known complications.”<br />
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“We have not studied the effects of Pitocin imprinting an infant’s brain,” she said.<br />
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She poses the question: “Could it be that bombarding an infant’s oxytocin receptors with far larger than normal amounts of synthetic oxytocin could destroy or ruin their oxytocin receptors?”<br />
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<a href="http://www.acog.org/About%20ACOG/News%20Room/News%20Releases/2013/Study%20Finds%20Adverse%20Effects%20of%20Pitocin%20in%20Newborns.aspx">Earlier studies</a> indicated that there was a connection between Pitocin and adverse effects on neonatal outcomes, such as lower Apgar scores, and time spent in neonatal intensive care units.<br />
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<a href="http://www.medicaldaily.com/vaccines-and-autism-evidence-shows-strong-link-between-autism-and-mmr-vaccine-249423"> Other studies</a> examined a possible connection between vaccines and autism.<br />
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Dr. Eric Hollander, chairman of psychiatry and director of the Seaver and New York Autism Center of Excellence at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, suggested that “a possible imbalance of blood levels of oxytocin may be associated with certain forms of ASDs.<br />
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“I think that this is an important area for future development to understand the underlying root cause of ASDs and develop treatments to help manage symptoms,” he said.<br />
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<a href="http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/articles/oxytocin-pitocin-and-autism-researchers-wrestle-links#sthash.1aHWDyQ9.dpuf">Dr. C. Sue Carter</a> conducted a study that confirmed a link between oxytocin and ASDs.<br />
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She said that the oxytocin receptor chemicals (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNP’s) may be compromised during Pitocin induction and that further research was warranted. Her work has resulted in studies examining whether the use of oxytocin will benefit patients with ASDs.<br />
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“Patterns of oxytocin, even in [the] blood of nonautistic persons, are not well described. We don’t understand the developmental effects of oxytocin very well, and it is possible that the most important effects of oxytocin on ASDs occur in the prenatal or early postnatal period,” Carter explained.<br />
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Both Hollander and Carter have studied the possibility that excess oxytocin, given intravenously during birth via Pitocin, might be a potential cause of ASDs.<br />
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“In some individuals whose oxytocin system could be genetically vulnerable, a strong environmental early hit while the brain is still developing could down-regulate the oxytocin system, leading to developmental problems. But this is only a hypothesis that has been observed by association,” Hollander commented.<br />
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Carter said the biggest hurdle in studies are finding people who have not been exposed to Pitocin, because it is given so frequently. The last two decades have seen such an increase, that perhaps examining 30- and 40-year-olds would offer some clues.<br />
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The obvious coincidence of the massive increase in Pitocin use, coupled with the massive increase in Autism diagnoses is suspect. In 1980, one child in 5,000 had autism. In 1990, one child in 1,000 was diagnosable. In 2000, 1 in 500; 2004, one in 166; in 2007, one in 150; and in 2010, one in 110 children had autism. Today, one in 70 boys are ASD. The numbers are mind boggling, to the point of epidemic, according to the CDC.<br />
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Carter said it’s often assumed that Pitocin does not reach the infant in amounts that would directly affect it.<br />
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“Increasing amounts of Pitocin are being given in some hospitals, though,” she said. “In our most recent research in animals, a little extra Ooxytocin given directly to newborns facilitated certain forms of social behavior, but larger amounts were disruptive.”<br />
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Michelle Huffman, mother of two, said she was forced to use Pitocin in both of her births, “and I begged not to.”<br />
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“Of course I worried about the effect on my babies, but they told me that the Pitocin would not even get through to the babies in traceable amounts,” she said.<br />
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Most mothers and birth professionals agree that Pitocin makes the contractions very intense, sometimes too much so. Hospital births may use Pitocin to time the births so that they are paced with a doctor’s presence.<br />
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Other birth professionals, like midwives, tend to reject Pitocin use as unnatural and embrace other birth facilitating measures such as walking, massage and positioning, sometimes in a warm bath or pool.<br />
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Midwifery today cites the work of Dr. Michel Odent, founder of the Primal Health Research Center in London.<br />
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He says that “autistic children show alterations in the oxytocin system.”<br />
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The period of birth, he says, causes a natural but dramatic reorganization of central oxytocin binding. He speculates that artificial induction of labor could create a situation in which that reorganization is dangerously interrupted.<a href="http://www.sandiegohypnobirth.com/uploads/Pitocin___Autism.pdf"><br /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.sandiegohypnobirth.com/uploads/Pitocin___Autism.pdf">Other factors may be at play</a>. Neurologist Lawrence Lavine says that today’s obstetrical practices might be to blame for some of the problems, while use of Pitocin and epidurals might represent the structural factors leading to ASD.<br />
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As the author of “A Natural Guide to Autism,” Stephanie Marohn said the use of Pitocin elicits contractions so hard, it is like “using the child’s head as a battering ram to force the pelvis to reshape to accommodate it.”<br />
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Marohn says it is natural then that the compressions compromise the cranial nerves and nervous system, resulting in cranial compression.<br />
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The research leaves room for studies of other possible problems with induction.</div>
<br />Read more at <a href="http://www.wnd.com/2013/08/study-links-autism-to-birth-inductions/#2WiKT0bRcC9EA5iW.99" style="color: #003399;">http://www.wnd.com/2013/08/study-links-autism-to-birth-inductions/#2WiKT0bRcC9EA5iW.99</a> Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-5179294191428180232013-08-07T00:00:00.000-07:002013-08-07T00:03:22.271-07:00Independent Joe on his way to 3rd GradeAugust 6, 2013
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My sweet boy. I have no words. I broke down earlier as I packed up his new Skylanders Giants backpack with all of his supplies for his 1st day of 3rd grade tomorrow.
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I told myself I wouldn't cry. I told Joey I wouldn't cry. I lied to both of us.
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There were so many times over the course of the summer that I was just in awe of the little man that my sweet boy is becoming. The things he said, the way he acted, the concern he showed for his friends and family, the confident reader he is becoming, the choices he is started to make for himself (his clothes, activities, etc.)...all of these things show how his personality is changing and how he is growing up.
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I don't know why I get misty every year on the first and last days of school. I'm not sure if it is because he is my one and only baby boy, if it's because of the journey we have been on and how far we've come, or if it's because every year, he needs me just a little bit less.
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I mean, let's face it...every mom goes through a constant identity crisis for 18 years. We become somebody's sole supporter the day we give birth, and as the years go by, we struggle back and forth with wanting to be needed and fighting to get our independence back, hoping we aren't need sped so much, even just for one day.
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I love how far Independent Joe has come. But now matter how old he gets or fast he grows out of my arms, I will always long for the days when he would say, "Do you need some snuggle time? Because I'm available."Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6555231511013706821.post-27083491662918471432013-07-04T00:04:00.001-07:002013-07-04T00:04:46.494-07:00Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Wait...that's me!Today started out like any other day. Although I had been waiting for weeks to get the results from the BACB, I tried to put it in the back of my mind. I even started planning alternate career choices if I didn't feel like redoing my course work. Call me a negative realist.<br />
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I sat in the movie theatre, waiting for Despicable Me 2 to start. I checked FB before shutting my phone down, and someone posted on one of the BA message boards that the results were posted.<br />
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I panicked.<br />
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Do I check now and chance ruining the movie that Joey has been waiting over a year to see?<br />
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Or do I wait and get increasingly anxious as the movie goes on.<br />
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I checked. The site page looked different. I scrolled down. My jaw dropped.<br />
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Then I saw the word PASSED.<br />
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Holy crap!<br />
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My mom looked at me and asked me what was wrong. I stammered when saying "I passed my exam."<br />
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I texted and then called my husband.<br />
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I texted my boss and told her I had bad news. She said she couldn't handle any more. I told her she was stuck with me and I passed. She called me crying.<br />
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I texted Nick and told him I had bad news. He called me and I told him to buy me that bottle of vodka he owed me.<br />
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I texted my closest family members and co-worker friends.<br />
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I posted to FB: "<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">What did I do today? Played games, tried not to die in the heat, saw a movie and....found out I'm now a Board Certified Behavior Analyst! In the words of my son: "Boom!"</span><br />
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">I am still in shock. This is surreal.</span><br />
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<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">And so a new journey begins. I am beyond excited. And relieved. And proud of myself for not giving up. And forever thankful to my Joey, who started me on this journey. He is forever my inspiration to be a better person. I hope I make him proud.</span>Michelle Downie Hoganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17570174236640766799noreply@blogger.com0