Bursting with JOY!

[amystoffel]

I havent really posted here in a long time, but this is news good enough to share and get back in the groove here!

Some of you may know my youngest son Braden has been diagnosed with PDD-NOS, a severe speech delay, sensory disorder, motor delay and other stuff. Last week he started going to a school called PEEC, and in just two weeks we already have progress!

Yesterday he said a word...a real word! This is huge. He started talking at one, and then at two he just STOPPED. And he has also played and responded to me in two interactive games. One where I asked him to touch my nose and his nose (he couldn't or wouldn't do this before) and one where I asked him to point at a certain picture in a book.

This is so BIG! We've had a slew of OT's, speech therapists, developmental therapists, behavior therapists coming and going for months. And I cannot believe that in two weeks we have this much progress. I could just cry with happiness.

[CA Dreamer]

Great to hear the news, Amy! That must be such a relief for you all and so good for him to feel capable.

--And so nice to see you here at SSD!

[amystoffel]

Oh..and PDD-NOS means pervasive developmental disorder- not specified, it is also referred to as atypical autism. Because though he has features of autism, but it's not clearly identified.

[Priscilla]

that's awesome :)

[Traci Reed]

That's SO wonderful Amy!!!!

[jessica31876]

That is awesome!! I know the feeling as we had similar stuff with my youngest. So everytime he hit a milestone that we were working towards it does feel great

[MamaBee]

Oh, that is sooo awesome!! I, too, can relate... my kiddo was delayed in motor development and speech. Isn't amazing what those therapists can do?!?

[Kara]

Great news!

[DawnMarch]

Yay! I'm so happy for you and him!

[ColleenSwerb]

Oh that sounds wonderful!! How exciting!!

[nun69]

that is WONDERFUL> Amy!!!!

[mrs_jb]

That is so wonderful Amy! YAY!!!

[Davita]

That is wonderful. It sounds as though you have found the perfect school for him. Yay for Braden!!!!

[crecia27]

This gives me goose bumps! I'm so happy for your family!

[Julie Billingsley]

oh Amy I'm so thrilled for you! That is a wonderful breakthrough!!

[rochelle789]

That is such great news!

[rach3975]

That's fantastic! It sounds like he's in the perfect place. One of my children had a speech disorder, and at 24 months, after a full year of speech therapy, he'd made virtually no progress. At 2 he was diagnosed with apraxia and we switched therapists. In the first 6 weeks with her he made more progress than in the previous year. It's a great feeling!

[bdances]

Great news!! :)

[emmasmommy]

I'm SO happy for you guys Amy!

[Lauren Reid]

oh that is HUGE Amy!!!! having one w/ issues over here, i completely appreciate that "AGH finally!!!" feeling! {{{HUGS}}} xo

[HeatherKS]

That is wonderful! One of my best friends has a daughter with autism and I remember her joy when they started seeing her reach milestones after starting preschool. How exciting for your family! :)

[sczos911]

oh amy! that is wonderful.

(thanks for explaining - i was about to google this. :) )

[jacinda]

Amy what fantastic news! I'm super happy for both of you.

[Leila]

I'm seriously crying happy tears for you Amy!!! I remember that day with D (initial PPD-NOS dx, 'upgraded' to Asperger's), so amazing!!

[amystoffel]

I'm pretty sure that is coming for us, they just havent been able to nail it down. Honestly he could have three heads, I love him so much. And he is so amazing anyway. It's so funny to think that I want to throw a party because he touched his nose when I aske him to! I'm seriously crying happy tears for you Amy!!! I remember that day with D (initial PPD-NOS dx, 'upgraded' to Asperger's), so amazing!!

[scrap2day]

Hooray for good news!!!

[~Julie~]

That's awesome news Amy!!!

[neenee]

This is wonderful news Amy! I am so happy for you sweet pea!

[pomi]

That's fantastic, Amy!!!

[BrattyMeg]

Fab news!!

having a spectrum kiddo myself I totally get everything some days is a milestone! Hope you see many more :)

[heathergw]

that's awesome (((HUGS)))

[LibbysMommy]

Awww Amy that is so awesome!! I am so happy for you guys!

[disneyaddict]

Amy,
That is incredibly wonderful!! I can't wait for you to continue to share his progress!! I am thrilled for you and your son.

[Lizzy257]

That's amazing news Amy, I'm so happy for your guys. x

[joelsgirl]

That makes me all teary!

[krystalhartley]

Did you cry, Amy? I don't think I would have been able to hold in the happy tears. That's so wonderful!

[MissKim]

Woo Hoo -- for your son and for early intervention! It's stories like this that make me LOVE what I do.

[lovely1m]

That's great news, Amy!

[dana]

so, so awesome!! so happy for you!!

[Balinda]

what wonderful progress for him..I will pray that he will continue to flourish and improve

[Nikki Epperson]

awesome news Mama!!! :)

[Melissa Bennett]

That is so awesome Amy!!!

[nonnie]

So so so happy for you Amy!!! What a wonderful day!!!!:thumbup:

[juliemarie]

How exciting Amy!

[KristinCB]

what wonderful news!!!! I'm soo happy for all the progress you guys are getting :)

[4noisyboys]

That is fantastic news!! Yay!!!

[schock77]

That's awesome! It's what I do for my "day job" and so whether it's a parent in my program or someone across the US, it feels good when we hear about families seeing progress so quickly! :) Early intervention works- way to go for getting him services early- now you get to reap the rewards and continued progress!

YAY!!!

[oohlala]

That is such wonderful new. So Happy for You!!
Hugs,
Alison

[ryliesmom]

That is awesome! I'm so happy for you!

[Sharon Kay]

Hi Amy ... I'm curious how old your ds is? I am so glad you found a school to HELP him... can you explain what that school is??? We've never had exposure to that kind of resources.

My middle son was initially diagnosed with ADHD but not until he diagnosed himself by seeing a puppet show on disabilities in 3rd grade!! 9 months later (they were really backed up on appointments) he finally got seen by the developmental pediatrician and diagnosed. It took until 6th grade to get the PDD-NOS diagnosis and until 10th grade for Aspergers ...

Amy I am so glad you have gotten a diagnosis MUCH earlier than we did... although I think that even though my son had some problems with speech that it wasn't severe enough for them to do a more thorough testing to discover his other problems. I wish there was some place I could take my child where he could learn more to help himself ... but I ask, and so far nothing has come of it. I have asked for a meeting with the high school transition specialist (unfortunately she retires at the end of the school year) to hopefully get some insight on where to go from here ... ways to get him independent, find his "niche", etc.

I homeschool my teenagers (brother has ADHD) and they are doing a TON better than they were doing in public school. The one with PDD-NOS is taking Small Engine Repair at the District's Technical School. He really seems to like working with his hands, although we were doubtful at the beginning of the year since he never liked his hands to get dirty and how would he repair a dirty lawnmower? ;-)

I'm so happy that you saw results so quickly...do keep us updated on his progress!

[Sharon Kay]

Oh a quick note ... I went to a seminar on interventions last week and found out about this sale:

the Austism Asperger Publishing Company is having a big sale 30-75% off all titles next Saturday ... so I am going (in Kansas City)!! I talked to a few people at that meeting and they went through the catalog based on how I described my son's difficulties and starred a few books/workbooks that they thought might help me.

You can check here to see if they are going to be in your area ... they have an online sale too... April 19-30 save 30-75% on select titles when you purchase online. Receive a free book and a coupon for $10 off a future purchase when you spend $50 or more...typing this from their flyer. ...see their site for details.

http://www.asperger.net/

Facebook: entering "The Autism Asperger Publishing Company"

[amystoffel]

Sharon, he just turned three. And thank you for all the info...will check that out!

[pkstew2]

Amy, that is so awesome! Love your avatar of you and your son. Keep up the great work with him - my son is 12 and we still celebrate each and every goal he achieves.

Hint Hint to the SSD designers - sure would be great to have an autism kit!!!! :thumbup:

[cindys732003]

That is wonderful news Amy! I hope he continues to progress!! :)

[suze]

that is such amazing news Amy!!

[Penny Springmann]

Amy, that's fantastic!!! I'm so happy for u guys!!!

[crystalbella77]

That's so fantastic Amy! I hope he just progresses more and more. HUGS!

[chloe]

Great news!!

[sannajeannine]

That is soooo awesome, Amy! :D