Some of J.J.'s characteristics

1. Doesn't make eye contact when I talk to him
2. Isn't speaking in sentences (not even 2 word sentences)
3. Flapping arms when frustrated
4. Obsessed with hair
5. Likes to sit in high places (on table top, ontop of couch, etc.)
6. Cannot be seperated from "Baby" (his stuffed doll with long hair)
7. VERY picky eater (texture)
8. Gutteral sounds
9. Yells out a lot
10. Doesn't play WITH Blaine
11. Only interest is cars (parking cars in a row or side by side)
12. Only knows about 4-5 words (at his age 50 is everage)
13. Language development started normal to slow and has seemed to decrease
14. Seems under-sensitive to pain
15. Loud sounds bother him and get him frustrated
16. Very destructive
17. Only talking is immitating what he hears
18. Addicted to watching tv and movies
19. When I take him to other's houses he secludes himslef and doesn't get involved
20. Violent at times
21. Does notplay with other children at the park or at playdates
22. Only interest at the park is swinging
23. Grunts and pants a lot
24. Does not like to pet or feel animals
25. Did not like to cuddle or be held as a baby
26. Cried excessive as a baby

Now we're getting somewhere

Yesterday was Blaine and J.J.'s well-child check-up. It was the same song and dance-the boys get weighed, then we get shown to a room to wait for Dr. Frizzell. The boys act like monkeys, cry a little, and time stands still! Finally the doctor came in and did a physical exam on both boys. He asked how Blaine was developing and of course, everything is fine and dandy. Blaine passes everything with flying colors.
Then the doc starts asking about J.J.'s development noting that he is concerned with J.J.'s communication and interacting with others. He asks me about his speech.

Is he talking at all?

How many words does he know?

Is he speaking in full sentences?

Is he speaking is fragmented sentences?

I answer all the questions honestly and then that overwhelming feeling comes back to me that I push to the back of my mind anytime it comes up......J.J. may have autism. I realize the doctor may be asking me because he is concerned about J.J. having autism.

Finally getting somewhere

He brings me a survey to fill out and there at the bottom of the page I see the "a" word. So, I answer all the questions with Josh's help and assurance. The doctor comes back in and sits down after reading the survey and tells us he is concerned about a lot of my answers. "I don't want to label J.J., but I want to enroll him in a speech development class and an intervention program.", he says. He goes on to tell us h is concerned, but not to worry. "I want to see him back in 3 months."

I could have told you that. I, along with Josh, have know something wasn't quite right with J.J. I try not to compare Blaine and J.J. I know that they are just different people and kids develop at different rates, but it's more than that.

Taking control

I have decided to keep a blog of our family, my thoughts and my kids but mostly about J.J. and his development and our journey of knowing, yet not knowing. I just need to get it all out of my head and somewhere where I can sort it all out.

I have been researching Autism and observing J.J. regarding it for some time now, maybe 6 months or so. I used to think he was just ADHD, but when asking around most mothers told me he didn't sound ADHD or ADD but autistic. Many mothers with autistic children told me he sounded like their children. When I expressed my concern with family and friends, they acted like I was crazy. But when you are a mother and something isn't right, you just know! I have decided to go with my gut feelings, not let others silence me and take this matter seriously. Josh is behind me 100% and knows that something is wrong with J.J.'s development.

I am suppossed to be getting a call with the information about his classes and according to the nurse "it may take awhile", but I am not going to sit around and wait for a call! I found a facility in Memphis that deals with this and contacted them trying to get the ball rolling. I will not be happy until J.J. is evaluated and diagnosed or someone tells me that J.J. definitely does not have autism.