Not again....

So, we requested a new service coordinator through the county, specifically, one that was more attune to those who requested/needed ABA type intervention. We were assigned someone yesterday, and she called. I asked her if she had experience with ABA. No. *sigh* I feel like a schmuck that is just going to be viewed as a troublemaker at the county. 9 more months of this.

So I haven't posted as much as I was. I guess I needed a bit of processing time. Zach is no longer speaking again. All the experts told me that a regression only happens once. What is this then? He no longer says anything except "pop" in Pop Goes the Weasel. This is totally breaking my heart. I thought it might just be a short period, and that perhaps he was developing in some other way instead. But after nearly 2 weeks of observing this, I can say that I don't believe so.

It is so hard to keep motivated when there is no improvement. I keep wondering what we are doing wrong. I know that we need to be more consistent at home with what the therapists are doing. Steve and I continue into the evening with working with him - Steve getting him to point at pictures in books, me withholding food items or toys in an effort to make him request the items through gestures or language.

I am concerned that there is something in his environment that is contributing to this lack of speech/language. His eye contact has also greatly diminished, again. Could there be a need for further dietary interventions? (is he possibly allergic to corn or soy or nuts?) Is he somehow still getting casein and gluten in his diet and we are unaware?

Steve says that in life there is no coincidence. Well, the other day when doing my daily research on autism, I came across some information that said there may be a correlation with Lyme disease and autism. As I stumbled upon this information, my stomach felt a jab. Zach had a possible tick "bite" back in the late spring/early summer of last year - just prior to the regression. When I called the pediatrician's office to discuss, they told me that if there was a problem with the tick bite, I would notice a "bulls eye" rash where the bite was. I didn't notice a rash, but it was in his hairline, and may have been difficult to detect.

So, back to work last week after taking a brief hiatus to get my wits about me (that didn't work by the way) , I ran into a fellow employee who I hadn't seen in several months. We exchanged the normal pleasantries and then the dreaded question about how the kids are. Well, I told her our news. I then asked J. about her daughters, one of whom I knew she had some difficulty with. J's daughter has had depression and behavioral issues with no known reason, and lo' and behold, upon a recent visit to a new Dr., they discovered she had Lyme disease. They began treating the Lyme disease and noticed an improvement in her behavior. OK - this is where this feels like coincidence. She was going to give me info. about their doctor and the specific test for Lyme disease that they used since several of the tests administered in typical Drs offices are not sensitive enough to detect older onsets.

Mom took a spill late last week. She was trying to knock down icicles from the roof from within the house, slipped and fell on the sink in the kitchen. She was pretty banged up, with bruising on her abdomen area, and a laceration to her shin. Mom is on coumadin for her blood clot, which thins the blood. Any possible bleeding (they actually request you do not work with knives) is considered unsafe. She called the doctor and they told her what to look for. UUggh. What was she thinking? I am sure this has to be frustrating to her, someone who always kept her house so meticulous not being able to attend to all the things she once did. I wish she would let us help her more. As I called to check in with her a day or two later, we got to talking about Zach. Out of the blue, my Mom mentioned the tick bite, and if that might have anything to do with this. God does not have to send me any more hints - I get it - I'll get this checked out. Now to find a doctor who has the appropriate test.

Sometimes I feel more like detective than a Mom.