A Sigh of Relief

Just about 3 weeks ago my 3 yr and 2 month old started some major breakthroughs on a couple of levels!😃He started communicating and talking like crazy!  Literally, just one day was talking up a storm and understanding me by answering back with yes and no’s! He was also repeating a lot of the words I was saying!

Side Note: I’m so going to have to watch my mouth now!  Not looking forward to that! The nice thing about having a grown child (my first son is 21yrs) is you get to go back to cursing 🤬 when you want to!  Starting all over with Tristan, and being such a different parent, it’s that time I have to tell everyone to watch what they say! Including me, especially Me! 🤣

Worrying for over a year now on his development and possible autistic behaviors has definitely taken a toll on my soul! Of course, it was in the middle of several other deep deep stressful factors in my life!  

Side Note: Children with autism often appear relatively normal in their development until the age of 18-30 months, when parents may notice delays in language, play, or social interaction. Any of the following delays by themselves would not result in a diagnosis of autism. Autism is a combination of developmental challenges. Winthrop, Maine 1-800-273-5200

Reading this was information that has been explained before, which is nice that it all stays consistent!  After Tristan had his 3yr IEP with the school district they decided he was really on the fence! There was either a light case of autism or he had autism tendencies and would grow out of them.  As of that moment he was diagnosed with speech and communication delay and we would move forward with speech classes and evaluate in a year. Since that meeting back in February of 2019 Tristan attends group speech every Friday.  I love the teacher and I noticed an improvement with his talking after a month and a half! Another factor of autism is picky eating (I was told it’s a texture thing)

Side Note: Autism and mealtime: A therapist’s top ten tips for success. October 16, 2015. An Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network therapist shares her strategies for improving nutrition and mealtime behavior. This week’s “Food for Thought” post is by occupational therapist Moira Pena, of Toronto’s Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. The hospital is one of 14 centers in the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network (ATN). Editor’s note: The following information is not meant to diagnose or treat and should not take the place of personal consultation, as appropriate, with a qualified healthcare professional and/or behavioral therapist.
Feeding challenges are among the most common issues that bring children with autism and their parents to my practice. Of course, children’s nutrition and mealtime behavior are common issues for parents everywhere. But research confirms what our ATN parents have long been telling us: Children with autism are far more likely to be overly selective in what they will and will not eat. As a result, many of them have less nutritional variety in their diets than their typically developing siblings and friends. Fear of new foods and outright food refusal are among the most common concerns I hear from parents

This was definitely Tristan from age 10months to literally 2ish weeks ago!  His behaviors that point to autism are Repeat patterns, Picky eating, Not social, Late speech, Squinting his eyes ( I think that’s one). He has been making leaps and bounds of improvement on every single one of these!  With a crazy incline just in the last 2ish weeks!😃I’m going to end this blog on 2 awesome comments made to me by 2 separate people! These comments not only stayed with me but helped me to stop and think and realize, whatever Tristan has, doesn’t have… He ( and I) will be absolutely Fine!  

Dialogue between Kim a good friend of mine and me.  Me: “Ya so they say he could have autism.”
Kim: “That just means he’s going to be smart.”

Dialogue between a speech therapist from the school district and me.
Me: “What does this all mean, do you think he has autism?”
Therapist “ Ya know in all honesty, we all have autistic behaviors.”