Autistic Twins

It is one thing to have an autistic child, it's another to have twins. Justin's twin sister is not autistic, and has no delays.

They both have a special bond. When they were babies, they loved looking at each other, jabbering, and touching each other.

As they started rolling, they would roll to each other and smile and laugh at each other.

Once they were crawling, I made a play area for both of them. It was a couple hundred square feet. It was full of their toys. This lasted several months, until they became escape artists.

By the time I took down the play area, they were walking and running around.

What it's like Having an Autistic Child

I've had people ask me, "What is it like to have an autistic child ?"

The best comparison I found is a movie.

Every day starts new, there's the opening scene. This sets the tone for the rest of the day.

Next, the plot starts to develop.

As the day continues, the plot thickens.

In Justin's case, just like a movie the day goes from scene to scene. He can be totally happy, than all of a sudden he is crying and upset. He can be in a mischievous mood, and morph into a really good mood. Some days, Justin is in a really bad mood, these days are usually the hardest.

When Justin is in a really bad mood, he does not listen to what he is told to do or not do. He also tends to do things he knows he is not supposed to do. He will do them over and over again.

Sometimes, there are days when scenes jump from one right to another with no warning.

Towards the end on a movie, usually the plot peaks and than slowly lets the viewers down.

This is the same with an autistic child. Whatever the scene has been for the day, by the end of the day it's reached it's peak and morphs into bedtime.
#autism

The Mad Scramble

Every morning when Justin wakes up, the first thing he does is bring out half his toys from his room.

He will not stop until he has every toy out that he wants. This is usually about  5-7 minute process, which looks like a mad scramble.

He runs full speed back and forth in almost a frenzied state. If you try to stop or delay this process, he will get very upset and start crying and throwing a "fit."

He also does this before he can go to bed too.

The scramble begins, back and forth until every toy is back in his room. Usually he'll grab some extra toys too that he didn't originally take out in the morning.

Every morning and night, the mad scramble happens !

Autistic 4 yr. old spelling

Autism in Children, the Beginning Symptoms of Autism

For More Autisim Info, Follow This Link !

What an Autistic Meltdown Looks Like.

Autistic Children and Their Love of Water.

Justin has entered a new phase of playing in the kitchen sink. He hops the gate, climbs on the stool and covers himself from head to toe with water.

This becomes a game for him. Try to get into the kitchen before I can "catch" him.

This can become frustrating for me because I can't leave that side of the house without having my kitchen and kid doused in water.

After the Autism diagnosis.

Once I accepted that something wasn't quite right with Justin. There was a time of extreme sadness, almost like that of a mourning. Nothing prepares you for there being something wrong with your child.

Once there is no more denial, and you have faced the facts of what is, and the mourning, and guilt are done. I switched that energy into full force for Justin.

I took him to his pediatrician, and got a referral to a autism specialist. Than I found out that there was about a year wait. That was unacceptable that my son wouldn't even be tested until almost 5 yrs. old.

I called Justin's insurance company, and talked to them about this issue.

Long story short, I was able to go out of network and have his insurance pay for it. Because it was considered medically necessary, and I didn't just accept waiting a year.

About a month after I called the insurance company, Justin was tested.