Let's do HAPPIES and CRAPPIES. I'll go first.

I'll start with crappies so I can end on a positive note.

I think both boys are sick. Cuy barfed this afternoon. Cam isn't feeling great and had some "barfy-farts" at school. This works out well. I will keep them home with me tomorow and I won't go to work.
I hate my job. Boy - I do not want this job.
Where do I begin?
I had a 7 day work week last week that I was unaware I had to do until just prior, so Sean had to take the week off work to stay with the boys. 9-5 shifts and I was feeling unwell and by Sunday was feeling burnt out.
Yesterday, I was supposed to have files for the kids. I had none and had to make them up as the children arrived. It was utter chaos. I was frustrated and embarassed at the lack of organization.
Long story short, myself and 1 other worker had 19 children between the ages of 7 weeks to 6 years old. The room is NOT big enough for that many kids.
Today we had 24.
The volunteer we had coming in 2 days a week, told our manager to take her off a day b/c she will not do 2 mornings a week.
The woman I work with told me she will look for other work if this doesn't improve by weeks ends.
Last wee, my manager offered me the Team Lead position. After 4 days of me asking what my wage would be, I was told that the position does not exist. But it would be great if I could take a leadership role in the room. Mmm hmm. Basically they're getting me for a deal...paying me peanuts. I always thought "over qualified" was a stupid term. I am so fucking overqualified for this job. The whole thing just goes against everything "ECE" about me.
The main problem I have with the company is that they will not cap the room to a max number of kids. AND they have opened it up to people who want to grocery shop at the store attached to the club. So we're getting club members and any joe blow off the street.It is not a licensed childcare - it's childminding and the parents leave the kids at their discretion. And they all freakin leave them!
It is not safe and they seem to undermine our concerns. I am supposed to be done at noon and am not getting out until 12:30, which screws up my picking up Cuyler and is putting me over his 4hrs max at school.
I have asked Cuylers daycare to try and find a short, midday shift for me.


HAPPIES:

Not only have I found an amazing online support through boards and bloggers, I have found an amazing web of connections in real life.
Our behaviour consultant gave me the number of a woman who lives nearby who is doing many of the same things we are with our ASD boys. Her son is 7, so a few years ahead of Cuyler.
Anyhoo, she has done RDI with her son and is on her 2nd RDA. She told me last night on the phone (our first time speaking) that she will be going to the Connections Centre in Texas in May to become a consultant and asked if we would consider being her supervisory family. UHHHH...YA!
We were on a waitlist for the nearest consultant (90minutes away) and probably wouldnt get picked up until October. If this works out, we'll be starting June/July.
The best part: she lives around the bend, about 30 houses away from us!!
Small world.

Sean is awesome and is totally sympathetic to the job situation and helps me brainstorm and hugs me at the exact time I need him to. I think I've fallen in love with him all over again in the past 2 weeks.

Phew...I thought it had been over a week since I blogged.
I meant to blog on Saturday about what a great day we had taking both boys swimming and then to McDonalds for dinner afterwards. It felt so "normal" and it was fun.

I also meant to blog on Sunday about how nervous and excited I was to start my new job on Monday.
How working mothers do it - I do not know...and I'm glad I don't have to after this week. I been 9-5 this week (Tuesday it was 9am-8pm). And I work 9-5 until Sunday.
Monday I start my 9-noon shift and we can get back into a routine.
I love it though. Sean's been off all week being "me" and doing amazing. He's brought the kids by a few times. He brought Cuy by today when Cam was at school and one of the girls said "Oh, your other son is autistic, right?". I was pleased to say "Nope...this one!" She was really surprised. He was running around and happily imitating what the other kids were doing and saying. Many of the girls have been really surprised. I guess they don't know what to expect. Not what they meet - that's for sure.
I actually had an opportunity to speak with the founder and CEO of the company I work for. He was there for our grand opening of the club (the 50th Womens Only) heard that one of the associates (me) has a child with autism (Cuy) and came to me for a chat. He asked about Cuyler and his skills. His daughter is 10 and was diagnosed severe. He said we were very lucky and Cuyler seemed to be doing well. His daughter wasn't able to do the things Cuyler can until she was 8 or so.
He told me he does the Son-Rise program and he offered Sean and I to go to his home (read: mansion) and observe what they do with her and their playroom that they do her therapy in.
He gave me the number of the only consultant in Toronto and said that he isn't too expensive (100/hr - HA-HA...that's fucking expensive!!).
So I'll check out the website and get more info on it. It was really great to meet him in person though. Neat guy. Multi-millionaire because he's a smart guy. Very smart. And I was very proud of myself - he was impresses with my "line" that I use.
He asked how we're coping and we chatted about that and I ended that part of the conversations with "I tell people that if he weren't autistic life might be easier, but I doubt it would be better." He paused for a second then pointed at me and said "I like that - great point!" I felt like I was a kid again getting praise.

Anyways...I'm bagged from all this working. Working Moms will think I'm a wuss and I will not disagree. I am missing the hell out of my boys and I couldn't do this every day and really don't want to. Like I said, Seans home doing the boys stuff (lunches, school...) and I'm still beat by 9pm. I have barely been online, just a quick email check.
Plus I have the cold that Cuyler has kindly shared with me. My heavy head and eyes make me doubly tired.

Cuyler had his last group therapy session this afternoon. Sean took him and we have decided to not put him in anymore of these sessions. Sean saw what I saw the last few weeks. He shuts down. He does not misbehave. He just sits there. Uses no langauge. Does not engage.
It was really apparent to Sean. He picked Cuyler up from daycare at lunchtime. Cuy said "Bye Jenn! Bye Kelly! Bye Jennifer!" (his teachers) "Bye Mitchell! Bye Sierra! See you to-mow-yo" (2 of his classmates).
At therapy, he pretty much says nothing. Not even bye. We think he's so distracted by the kids who have behaviour issues that he cannot focus and shuts down. One of the kids had to be removed from the room FOUR times. Cuy learns nothing and the program really is not effective. In the waiting room prior to the start of the session, Cuy walked in and said "Hi A.J.!" (the one kid withOUT behaviour problems and the highest functioning in the room). When the other children arrived, he shut down.
Sean said he just doesn't like seeing him like that and either do I. It's like he regresses back to the old days (before GFCF) for those couple of hours. So I think if it's offered, we'll go and see if there's different group of kids...we'll be able to gauge the first day. Just as I did with this group.
I'll go with my gut and make a decision the first week.
And not put him through that for 8 weeks.

Half asleep as I type...

It's 8:30 and I'm heaing to bed. I could have been asleep an hour ago.

About 10 minutes after I posted last night, Cam came downstairs. He hadn't been feeling well since after school. He fell alseep just before 7 and woke up about 10. He thought it was then next day - and that he had a full nights sleep...
He came down, cuddled with Sean and about 15 minutes after that he puked. Such a trooper - he held it in his mouth til he got into the bathroom and then did about 6 good chucks.
Sooo...I bring him in our bed with me, Sean sleeps in Cams bed (thank God they have doubles). He fell asleep around 11:30. Woke up at 12:30 & 2am - each time I jumped up thinking he was gonna barf. Thank God he didn't. At 4:30am he woke up and told me he wasn't sick anymore and the bug was gone from his tummy. The entire night I barely slept as I was so aware of him not feeling well and I was worried about him puking in the bed.
I also had to get up at 6am so I could be out of the house by 7 to make it for my training at 8am. Unfortunately I had gutrot when I got up and thought perhaps Cams bug jumped into my belly at 4:30 when he told me it left his...I wasn't sure how I'd make it to 5pm.
I get to training early - 7:35 - and was pissed off that my stomach was sore because I could have sat and really enjoyed a coffee quietly by myself.
I go to the club and say I'm here for the training.
"Ohhhhh....they changed it to 9am."
Son of a bitch...someone could have called to tell me that!
So I have an hour and a half to kill and I feel like shit.
By the time 9 came, the 2 girls I was training with showed up (somehow they got the memo regarding the change in time). They made my day and told me training was only 3 hours, we'd be done by noon. Suddenly I didn't have a stomach ache.
Training went well and I was home by 1:30 after I had done some shopping and gotten a bite to eat.
But I'm bagged and ready for a good nights sleep. And I can sleep in.

Before I go - a question posed to my fellow ASD mommies
Sean and I are not quite sure if this is a really really good thing or not:

He's been copying every single thing Cam does. I mean every thing. Scripting everything he says. For instance, Cam ran around the dining room table and was saying "Coming around the back of the net..shoots..scores!"
Cuyler followed him around the table and repeated everything he said.
It's even in the details. Cam came up to me as I was reading the flyers and he said "Is tomorrow a Daddy Day?" and he moved a paper out of the way. Cuyler did the exact same thing, even moving the paper the same way Cam did. Cam was jumping off the sofa shouting "Here we are!" Cuyler did and said the same.
It doesn't happen all day - but when he does do it, he does it for an hour or 2.
It is neat because on the surface it realy looks like they're "playing like brothers" like Cuyler is looking up to Cam and wanting to be like him.
But is he really? Is he using Cam as a tool or as a friend? Is he socializing with him? interacting with him? Or is he just using him as a tool to script and imitate? Is he experience sharing with him or is it a form of stimming?
I just can't figure out if this is a really good thing or if it's not. We try to direct Cam to do productive things like alphabet and number games for him to copy and imitate...try and make it useful. (We have been told a number of times that we are so fortunate to have a built-in typical peer model)

I wonder if my uncertainty is a defence mechanism, like I'm afraid to thinks it's a great thing only to have the OT or someone say "Oh no...not good...don't let him just repeat everything..."
It is really cool to see them together. It's awesome because Cuyler really does take an interest in Cam lately. Asks for him when he's not here. He gets super excited when Cam gets in the van when we pick him up from school. Greets him with a huge "Hiiii CAM!"
It makes us smile when we see him do it...so I guess unless we hear otherwise - we'll say it's not bad thing.

HE'S TOILET TRAINED!!!



Ummm...okay. He is SO NOT potty trained. Not even close. But he sure looks cute in boxer-briefs!

I've been thinking alot about the shoulda's, coulda's and woulda's this week. It's not healthy to that too often, but I do allow the feelings to surface. I deal with it and then move on.
It's been a bit emotional. This week was the week we would be registering Cuyler for kindergarten. He's eligible, but it is optional.
It's hard because all of his friends who are eligible (some are younger) have registered and will be starting junior kindergarten in September.
Just another reminder of where we're not. It's not a good way to think - but it happens sometimes.
It's hard to not go there.
All of the expectations of what I thought life would be like - they've had to change.
When I gave birth to Cuyler, I was elated that Cam had a brother. They'd be buddies, they'd play together, fight with each other. They are so close in age I was so glad I had another boy.
I imagined by now I would have 2 somewhat independent little boys.
Back then, when I thought ahead to Cuyler at 3 years old, I pictured a toilet trained little talker, going to regular nursery school and getting all set to join his big brother at Big Boy school.
The novelty of having 1 in senior kindergarten and the other in junior kindergarten.
I thought we'd go for family bike rides to the park. I was looking forward to them both being in swimming lessons and me not having to be in the water with them. I pictured us going for preschool skates.
Even mundane things like...I thought he'd be able to take showers by now. That would really come in handy for days when he shits his room.
I never thought he'd be on a diet this strict. Or this many supplements.
It is just not where I thought we'd be.
I was walking to the mailbox by myself this morning thinking "My kid is autistic. For real. That's reality for me." I cannot even go into the irony of that right now.
But, oh the fucking irony.

Enough.

I will ensure that the next entry will focus on the good things about our life. Because there are many.

Little things that I get every day make it good.
I was in the kitchen getting breakfast ready and heard Cam behind me playing with the LeapFrog fridge magnets.
"Juh...juh...juh...aww...awww...awww...shh...shh...shh...oooo...oooo"
And then he says "Is this how you spell Joshua?"
I turn around and see this.

The little boy in the photo is my cousins little guy - Joshua. He and Cuyler look so alike!

The day started off pretty awful. Cuyler woke up in a snit.
Well...not a snit. He was just in a rotten mood and he tantrumed for most of the morning. He was so full of fits that I became so frustrated with his screaming and my inability to calm or settle him that I kicked a hole in our linen closet door.
Everything I had planned on doing today, just didn't happen. We didn't even get out the door. I didn't want to risk being in public with him if he took another bad turn.
It was just one fit right into another. He wanted to set his juice cup (with juice in it) on the sofa and freaked when I set it on the table. Then wanted sausage - which we are out of. Then he wanted a bagel, but wanted it immediately (it was frozen). Then after he calmed from that fit, he couldn't open the basement door because he had margarine on his hands from the bagel he FINALLY got. Then I helped him and that threw him into another tizzy.
It was about 1:30 when he finally calmed down. He went downstairs and as much as I don't like doing it, I left him alone to chill by himself for most of the afternoon. Do whatever he wanted...roll his trains back and forth, jump on the trampoline. I had to just let him be. I seemed to really just piss him off when I went near him or said his name.

What timing!! We had a new behaviour therapist come this evening. She was wonderful. She is going to visit him at school and give us suggestions to increase his social skills. Gave us some great suggestions to start working on things at home. I have to to go the dollar store tomorrow and get a hair piece (one of those fake ponytails) for Cuyler. I am to give it to him when he pulls my hair. She thinks it may be sensory because on top of ripping my hair out viciously, he also likes to gently rub my hair bewteen his index finger and thumb. I'm pretty sure he's gonna hate the fake hair - he gets freaked out by barbie dolls or anything with hair like that...so it should be interesting. I'll try anything to keep him from ripping my hair out.
She also gave us some strategies for how to react (or not) when he's in a fit and also helping him "wait it out". I've got to get a kitchen timer tomorrow.
So I guess it's a good thing I didn't get out today. I can get all my stuff in one trip.

Today was my last day as a stay at home mom with both boys. Wednesday is the only day that both of them don't have school.
Tomorrow is my last day as a stay at home mom without kids. Yesterday I had running around to do and as I was just starting my errands I saw a lady on the side of the road. She had slipped on the ice. I took her to emerg and waited until her husband came. (She took my name and number and called me last night - she broke her fibia and will need surgery)
So, I was unable to get my stuff done. Which is why I bumped it to today. But at least I have tomorrow to do it all.
I start work on Friday 9-5. Everyday next week 9-5. Sean is taking the week off to be "me". I'm excied for him...for one week we get to swich places. And the following week I start my regular M-F 9-noon.
So while I am sad to leave my post as SAHM, I'm not really leaving it. Their life won't change and they won't even know I work. Well, Cam will - he'll be with me at work on Mondays.

I gotta stop writing. I cannot take my eyes off of "Skating with Celebrities"

Holy Crap.
And I do mean crap. I really should have taken pictures just to document it. Before and after.

Each night we read his 3 books and say our "night nights". As soon as we walk out, he turns on his big light. I always go in a turn it off before I head to bed.
I walked in last night and couldn't believe my eyes.

SHIT EVERYWHERE

Carpet. Wall. Books. Toys. Door. Sheets. Comforter.
In between his toes. Up his back.

And there he lay. Sound asleep.


Major PROPS to my man - once again. I retrieved him from the neighbours, where he was having a couple of drinks. I said I needed him for a second. I brought him upstairs. If he thought he was "gettin any" he surely was mistaken.
I open Cuys door and show him. We both stood there for a second, not quite sure even what to do.
He took the kid
I took the room

He made the executive decision to bathe him. There really wasn't an option, actually. He was covered in caked-on poo. And it was 11pm.
As he scraped the crap off of Cuyler, I scraped the crap off of pretty much everything in the bedroom. I tossed a couple of books, his pj's and a gorgeous teddy bear that just couldn't be saved into the garbage.
Sean took him into our bed while I continued scrubbing the floor and began doing laundry.
And as all this was going on, all I could think of was how grateful I was that all of that toxic stuff was out of his body. Just seeing the amount of poop that was everywhere - I was just happy that he got rid of it.

He's on an incline. He's gaining and he seems much more present these days.
We are treating him for yeast now and we are hoping that it's all working it's way out of him and clarifying him. I haven't felt like he's been with us as much as I have felt it this past week. We started the treatment on Monday. Coincidence? Maybe. But maybe not.
His comprehension seems to be increasing. Just little things...the really little things. Like grocery shopping today, Sean went to another section to grab something we missed. When he returned I said (looking right at Cuy, with no visual prompting) "Who's back?" (Sean was coming up behind Cuy)
Cuy turned around, looked right at Sean with a smile and said "Daaaaddy!"
Those are the little things that he would miss. Before.
And at bath tonight, he took his pants and socks off - without prompting or assistance. He heard the tub water running. Ran upstairs and started to undress. He asked for help with getting his "Shirt off". And "Diaper off. Help."

This was not that long ago. Imagine...he just did NOT know he had to undress to have a bath. And in just a few short months, he able to (mostly) undress himself without even having to be told.

That - my friends - is what we call babysteps.
And that is what it's all about. Babysteps. They come slow. And some are few and far between, but by God - they come!

It's coming.
It really is...

I started reading the RDI book which will get us started on the road to Relationship Development Intervention for Cuyler. Reading it made me quite aware of the great skills Cuyler has acquired in the last 6months - 1 year.

One of Cuylers favourite things to do is to pull us up from the couch "Sand up mommy!" I stand up and he pulls me by the hand to the middle of the family room and shouts with a big smile "Dancin!"
And there we dance without music. When I stop, he grabs my hand and says it again "Dancin!" So we begin to dance and I'll sing "Shake shake shake, shake shake shake, shake your booootay!"
The entire time he's looking right at me laughing.

He also loves to reach his hand up my shirt and rub my tummy. This is so extremely ticklish for me that I bowl over laughing. He now does this regularly throughout the day - anticipating my reaction.

Feels like experience sharing to me...


We find that when Cam is not around - he's a bit of a different kid. No competition. Cam is one of these kid who wakes up talking and falls asleep talking and talks the entire time in between, either asking question, telling stories or singing songs.
So when Cam's not around, Cuyler gets an opportunity to shine.
I gave him a salt bath last night while Cam was at hockey and realized that the Caillou bath set was the best 2 bucks I ever spent. He did some really amazing pretend play with them. I tried to do alot of declarative speech as opposed to imparative (RDI talk). I would say "Leo loves to swim!" Cuy would look around the tub, find Leo and say "Yee-oh swimmin" Or "Rosie splashes in the pool!" He'd find Rosie and make her jump in from the side of the tub "Spaaash!"
He even did this and said "Hode hands Yee-oh!"



He was doing some scripting here. "Oh Hi Yee-oh! Oh Hi Wosie! My turn. One, two, three - SPASH! Oh no! Your turn. One, two, three. Oh noooo! Ok. One more time."



But beyond all the amazing things he does and the joy he brings us...he's just so freakin cute!


So as stressed out as I am and as hard as I am working to make some changes for families affected by autism - I'm feeling good.
Optimistic - which is a rarity for me. Sean is the optimist and I am the pessimist.
But perhaps that's why I have IBS...


AND an arrhythmia. Yes. Cardiac arrhythimia. I was told that the next episode I have I am to go to emerg and be put on the machine. I had a lengthy episode that lasted a few hours last Thursday night and I should have gone...but I hate emerg. They always make me feel like I'm wasting their time. So my doc said "Fine...don't go for you. Go or me. I need to see the rhythms."
Ok. I'll go.
I was told to stay off coffee and I said no. I cut back to one a day. I gave up smoking for my kids. I gave up alcohol cuz it keeps me on the toilet. I am not giving up my Tims. No freakin way. He said 1 a day would be ok. But no more than that.
So I am getting my lists and info together with all of Cuy's stuff. Cuz if I keel over - God help my kids...Sean would have no clue!!

Thank you Easter Seals.
Finally...people who know what they are doing. We applied for the Incontinence Supplies Grant and sent the forms in on December 5th. We recieved the cheque on Thursday. One month.
The Easter Seals provides funding for diapers to children over the age of 3 with a diagnosis. We recieve 400 dollars annually - $200 in January and $200 in July. So we stocked up and still have enough money left to buy a mega pak to send to his school.


Considering all the bullshit that I've been through emotionally this past week, it was a nice surprise.
It really hit me what a mess our system is here.
Cuyler rec'd his diagnosis last May at the age of 2years 6months. He was then put on a waiting list for the only funded program in the province - Preschool Autism Service (PAS) and it's an IBI program.
Well...last spring as we where going through the gutwrenching, ulcer-inducing process of getting him diagnosed, a group of parents took PAS to the legislature to fight against the fact that the cutoff for PAS was 6. Every child was discharged at age 6.
Legislation was changed. And now all those older kids get to stay in PAS as long as they want or need to. GREAT. Hooray for you.
Now all the little ones are screwed out of service because these older kids are not leaving, therefore no spaces are opening up. I was told that Cuyler will, in all probability, never get into PAS.
And on top of that - the funding we are supposed to recieve through the Ministry of Child and Youth Services, called Special Services at Home (SSAH) will not be available for probably another 2 years. This was money we would love to put towards RDI...but that ain't gonna happen.
So in a nutshell, we were given a devastating diagnosis last May and in effect, left to our own devices to sink or swim. Not given any formal therapy. Lately I feel as though I'm sinking.
We should just up and move to BC. There, each family is given a lump sum to decide what they want to do with it. ABA, RDI, respite - it's their choice, no waitng.
And as far as money - I couldn't have gone to work even if I wanted to last year - there was nowhere for me to put Cuyler. No programs were available to supprt his needs. And right now I couldn't go full time if I wanted to, because again - no support, because again - no money.

I have spent the last week emailing town cousellors, MP's, MPP's, the mayor...anyone who might listen and be able to help. It's election time, so hopefully somebody will help. Or at least try and do something.
I've been emailing everyone I can think of to look for hidden grants or bursaries (nope). My college to see if they have any type of funding for alumni (nope). Sean is going to see if his work has any type of funding or grants for families - my guess will be a big fat fucking NO. As usual.

I'M MAD.
I am an angry irish redheaded mother.
And I will not accept this.

Ten Random Things About Cuyler:

1. His middle name is James after after my grandfather and uncle. Do NOT ever call him C.J.

2. He has a dimple in his left cheek.

3. At bedtime we read him the 3 same stories in the same order every single night: Wave Hello to Thomas, Thomas's Playbook and Elmo Says Achoo

4. I think that everybody who meets him falls in love with him

5. His favourite thing to eat are Tostitos

6. One of my favourite things he says (which we've got to get him to stop) is:
"I want more juice. Good asking Cuyler!"

7. When we toboggan, he sits on top of the hill and watches. He shouts out "HOT CHOCOLATE!" and laughs hysterically every time someone goes down the hill.

8. For breakfast every morning he eats a buckwheat waffle with ground flax.

9. He got skates for Christmas and is afraid of them. Just like his jacket and boots, he'll get over it in time.

10. He is no longer sleeping through the night.


Ten Random Things About Cam:

1. He is a red-head

2. He has a delicious smattering of freckles on his nose

3. He is good at pretty much everything he does (hockey, baseball, music, swimming)

4. His full name is Campbell William. Campbell is my maiden name and William is both my dad and Seans dads name.

5. He is obsessed with Green Day

6. He is also obsessed with hockey

7. He is beginning to read

8. He has a blanket that he's had since he was born and he sleeps with it every night and drags it around the house when he's tired.

9. He can stay up til all hours of the night if you leave him alone, but will crash within 2 minutes if you rub his feet

10. He prefers showers to baths

This was my baby boy at about 2 minutes after midnight last night. After I toasted the New Year with Sean with kisses and champagne, I rushed upstairs to give my little one a new years smooch (Cam had a sleepover at Nana's).
I repositioned him in his bed and I snuggled up with him for a few minutes. I allowed myself some time for reflection. To think about what we had been through. To think about what our family had gone through. How far we had come since that dreaded day in May when we heard the words we knew were coming, but yet still brought me to my knees and shook our world to it's core.
I thought about the people I have met. The disappointments I have faced. The joys we have celebrated. The things I have discovered about my children, my family, my friends and most importantly - myself.
It's been quite a journey. I expect just as many bumps on the road as last year, but I am hopeful that the ride is slowly smoothing out and I'm becoming a better navigator.
I was excited to see 2005 go. I was excited to see a new year come.

Yesterday I put Cuyler on the waiting list for RDI. It's what my gut is telling me to do. I truly believe that this will eventually be as mainstream as ABA/IBI therapy for kids with ASD. I believe that it will be much more effective.
I have been researching for a few months now, on the recommendation from a girlfriend who is doing it with her 7year old. I just really believe that this is what will help Cuy fulfill his potential. I am confident that he will be able to build relationships, maintain them and live a fulfilled life.
And RDI will be the tool to help us.
The good thing about this is the waiting list goes into the fall of this year...not good to wait...but the program is private (there are only 3 consultants in Canada) and so extremely expensive, it will allow us some time to save the money, apply for funds...whatever we need to do.
It will be a 6month program. We are willing to invest the money into that 6months because we aren't willing to sit and do nothing until a funded ABA program picks him up (a minimum 2 year wait). Plus the RDI focusses on the core deficits if autism - not just the "symptoms". I keep finding myself on the website and each time I go on and read more about it - I get excited at where this program could take our family. I get excited that it could give Cuyler a quality of life that last May I couldn't have imagined.

2006 will be good indeed.

CHEERS!