Hi my name is Natalie, I'm a stay at home Mom ,I have 3 1/2 yr old twins, a girl & boy. :angel:
I took them for an evaluation in June for a speech delay with the intermediate unit in my area. They came back with a dx of autism for both of my kids. At first denial and depression hit. Then came the search for a developmental pediatrican, well this is nearly impossiable in my area , First CHOP has an 18 month waiting list. so someone will call me in a year to see if I still want that appointment. So next I find one in Delaware, I got one in April.
Meanwhile, my babies have started preschool with the EI unit at the end of august, my son Anthony is in an autistic support classroom, He is doing really well, He is saying his name, giving me hugs and kisses making eye contact when his name is called. He learned to sign cookie,I am so proud of my little guy.
My daughter Nicolette is in a specialized classroom and is doing really great,she was alittle more advance than Ant was. after the evaluation she started to say more & more words. and is now saying two to three words sentences. they both love school and can't wait for the bus to arrive.

Just wanted to share my story and looking to make some friends who under stand what I'm going through, and can offer some advice. My thoughts and prayers go out to all your little angels out there .

Hi Natalie!

Welcome to the board. I think you'll find everyone here to be pretty great. I've shared some real deep thoughts and fears here, and I've never felt they weren't welcome. You sound like you've really got your hands full. There are a lot of mothers here with more than one child on the spectrum. I myself, have one child one the spectrum. My son, Liam is 3 1/2. I also have an NT daughter named Kaya, who's 1. My son is also starting school, this is his second week. He loves being there, but he comes home at night so exhausted! But, already I think he's making progress. The hardest part is that he can't tell me about his day when he gets home. He's verbal, but not at all conversational. He mostly talks about construction vehicles. He has quite the genius for them. Yesterday he saw a Mobile Crusher (at least that's what he told me it was called, and I don't doubt him). It made his day, he still hasn't stopped talkng about it. These are the simple pleasures that our children bless us with daily.

Anyway, welcome to the board, and I can't wait to hear more about your little angels.

Suzy

Oh, and by the way..

We've been waiting six months now for our developmental assessment, and anticipate at least three more months. It's a hard wait, but we'll get there. Hang in there.


Suzy

Welcome, Natalie!

Good news on the progress of both of your children! Good luck to all of you in the future!

Hi Natalie,

I do not have twins like you, but I do have multiple children on the spectrum. 3 of my 4 children have been diagnosed with an ASD.

7 year old daughter: PDD-NOS and Nonverbal learning disability
6 year old daughter: PDD-NOS
3 year old daughter: Neurotypical
2 year old son: PDD-NOS

The wait for a developmental screening can be excruciating, but the good news is that you already have a diagnosis, and that should help your kids for the time being. At least you can get the interventions in place while your waiting for the developmental pedi appointment. It sounds like your kids are already making some progress.

Just wanted to welcome you to the boards, and let you know that you are not alone. We are all here for support. This board has been a huge help for me, and I'm sure it will do the same for you. Best wishes.

-Steph

Hi Steph

You're right. I'm so glad that my son's ped. was able to give us a working diagnosis so that we coud get the early intervention for Liam. Without it, I don't know where he'd be at.

Suzy

I am not a mother (except to cats), but I have had my own struggles with what I now believe is Asperger Syndrome, and I wish all of you the best of luck. If I ever do have children, I hope to be able to be as a good a parent as all of you.

Hi all,
Thanks for all the replies and support, Today seems to be one of them days when all I want to do is cry while I send my babies off to school. Some days are just so hard, the only real friend and her son I had started to distance herself after the twins Dx , and than came around one night, offer to babysit
while I went to the food store. The power went out in parts of my neighborhhood, and my 16 yr old step daughter had some of her freinds over for a sleepover, I went to my desk to get some money for the pizza I ordered, and to my surpised I was wiped out. All the money my husband had left while he was on a business trip was gone. So we haven't spoken in about two months. It's just really hard because my twins miss her son so much.
My husband is still alittle in denial about the twins having Autism and some of the rest of his family believe my son has it, but no way my daughter has it.
I just have to sit here an pray that God will just give me courage to take one day at a time. After all he's bless me with twins, after dr's have told me not to get pregrent for 8 yrs for kidney problems. thanks to all of you,I just needed to vent alittle today.:wave:

Sorry your havin a bad day... i live sort of near you...i live in West Chester, PA ....it is hard...you'll have good days and bad...but try and keep your head up...i know what it is like to have to deal with all the stress of everyday life and other kids and family and work..and still try and do research etc..so your AS children can have the best life they can have....:dizzy: My son is now almost 15...he is amazing, talented, smart...i know it is hard to see a light at the end of the tunnel this early...i hope your husband comes around...i can say things will get easier and you will learn more and more and start to become an expert ;) ...Good Luck and God Bless....

Hi and Hugs to you !!!

It's not easy in but somehow we always manage to muster up the strength to get through these tough times. This board was my extremely helpful when this was all fresh to me. There is alot of support and good information here.

My advice to you is ( if you haven't already ) call the places where you made the appointments and see if they have a cancellation list you can get on. Doing this changed my wait to three weeks from 1 year because I dropped everything when I got the call.

I hope this is helpful and works for you as it did for me. Best Wishes to you

Welcome to the board:) This place has saved my sanity more than a few times! I have a 10yr old nt daugher, a 6 yr old nt son a 5 year old autistic son and a 11 month old seemingly nt daughter. I know how agonizing the wait for a diagnosis can be. We are currently trying to get a medical diagnosis for our 5 yr old and what a rough journey its been so far. Keep your chin up and know that LOTS of us are struggling and laughing and crying and shouting right along with you:D Sorry you're having a rough day but we're all here for ya if needed. Once again, welcome!