Stephanie

Can anyone tell me the benefits of this oil. My son is on Omega 3 & 6 supplements. Should they take evening primrose with these or can it be used on its own etc.

I was just reading that article about the trial with ASD kids and probiotic drinks. They said the trial was not conclusive as so many parents in the placebo group gave up ... because they wanted their kids on the probiotics too when they saw the non-placebo kids results. Worth a go ....! Can anyone recommend which ones are best/ taste least offensive/ carry the right "good" bacteria etc. Do they taste like the yoghurt drinks because my son loves those? Anyone using them / noticed any difference / had any reactions? Also, can they have them from any age?

Last night my son seemed like the most non-autistic child ever - he was freely initiating conversation, joining in, talking really well - loud, clear, using long words, great dialogue etc. Even replaying a conversation I had had with him to my husband. He was just very "on the ball" and with it. School also said he had a really good day and I could see from the work he had done that his handwriting was much neater and tidier than it normally is. He sat down at home and did some lovely drawings of Winnie the Pooh - coloured them in, in the right colours ... normally he hates colouring in. They were probably the best drawings he had ever done. He was really proud of them and put them up in the kitchen. He was very loving, he even remembered to make a special point of kissing me goodnight whereas normally he needs to be prompted. He was just different, it kind of gave me a glimpse of what he might be like were he not on the spectrum. Everyone in the house was on a high because of it, it was brilliant. Does anyone know why they have days like these?? I know we all have good days and bad ones (and we have a fair share of those too) ... but does anyone else seem to occasionally have this child who appears to be so NT for a day or so?? I wondered if it was anything to do with the development of their brain - I've noticed before that he often has one of these really good days just before he has a growing spurt. I don't think there were any different environmental factors that played a part.

Gin

May the force be with her. Lordy, I hope mine steers clear of all that!

Because of my sons delay with speech he was diagnosed HFA, they were reluctant to diagnose AS because of it. Maybe he will go on to get an AS diagnosis one day?

Sometimes it is what they say rather than how much they say - and the way they intepret things. My son could never understand the difference between "you" "me" "I" "mine" etc. We used to go in a shop and he would say "look, there's a toy like "yours" instead of saying "mine" .. and he wouldn't say "I" he would always use his name. He talked fine in terms of words, he could tell you what any object was called, any country, but he had trouble stringing sentences together and past and present tenses. He was just strange with language, he never called me Mummy or asked questions until just before he started school ... and now he never stops asking questions and everyone of them starts with "Mummy ....!" Lol. I didn't realise his communication was so bad until he was assessed - I just thought he was cute saying things like "Oh no Asa gone whoops" or "Is this yours" (meaning is this mine) ... or apolgising to inanimate objects "sorry carpet, it was an accident" when he spilt yoghurt on the carpet. When he was 3 he went to a Playschool with a language unit - which really helped no end. If he had of been labelled as ASD at that time, he would not have had a place at the SALT unit, which I find infuriating because it was such a good thing for him (and would be for any ASD kid). Thankfully the DX came after. He still struggles with communication, but I got an e mail this morning from his SALT who did a report on him yesterday and found him to be within and beyond the normal range for his age - which made me leap with joy as last time he was 1 year 5 months behind. So they can/do catch up in some ways, but I know he will always struggle with the art of conversation.

Getting Away with Murder - Papa Roach

Oh yeah Zaman, you can! Lol. I love Google Earth, I am always checking out the posh areas, and seeing who has swimming pools. Try Beverley Hills 90210 and around there .... and dream! Very nice. My Brother in Law's Dad didn't realise that some of the areas do not show up clearly .. he thought it was his PC and went out and got a new one - idiot. I think some of the "i" information things are good - the ones that people post themselves of where famous people live etc. Oh god, I sound like someone who reads "Heat" magazine - all that star spotting. Did I mention I saw Tom Hanks .... oh look, I can't help it.

Working on it, but in the mean time scratching my chin like a builder about to give a quote.

Like any parent clutching at straws, I will give it a go. He likes that kind of thing anyway. So far Epsom Salts, Eye Q and Omega 3 Sups ... might as well. I didn't notice Asa's concentration levels improve with Eye Q - but I did notice it decline when we took him off them!!!! Needless to say, he's now back on 2 a day.

Hi We have been through many obsessions and interests. Colours Numbers Letters & Words Mr Men Certain Books Picture Dictionaries and Thesaurus type books Flags Countries Capitals Composers Dates & calendars Monkeys Planets & Space Certain toys etc etc Now he is into his computer more and more - he messes about with Art Studio's and Microsoft Word. I have not subjected him to any kind of playstation etc yet because he is only 5. I am trying to keep that for when he is older - I know that inevitably the two will meet one day! I just wondered what is next. He has a pattern of learning about a subject until he can not possibly learn anymore and then he moves on to the next. I never know whether or not it is a good thing to stop him learning about a subject or not. What are your kids into and do you encourage or discourage their special interests?

I find the shiny foily balloons (helium) loads better than the normal balloons, they last ages - weeks and don't make such a loud pop when they burst (in fact they are far more durable). We keep them for a week then have a "letting go" celebration out of the back door for helium ones and the other ones "mysteriously" pop over night and go out with the dustman. I curse everytime that a McDonalds employee walks up to me all smiley with the balloons (like they are doing me a favour) - the fact you have to walk around town with two kids with balloons for the rest of the day, trying to gouge each others eyes out with the plastic stick things. Also, they always end up squabbling over which one gets the blue one (as there are never 2 blue ones in the bunch).

When I am in the states driving an automatic, I love it and it always makes me wonder why more people in the UK don't, it's so easy! Good luck.

Life on Display - Puddle of Mudd.

Ah, took me a while but that is Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd (spelling?), it was on the tip of my tongue for ages. It's on just about every rock compilation ever made! How about:- Freezin', rests his head on a pillow made of concrete, Oh, Feelin' maybe he'll see a little better, set a days, ooh yeah Oh, hand out, faces that he sees time again ain't that familiar, oh yeah Oh, dark grin, he can't help, when he's happy looks insane, oh yeah Cheat if you have to! If you know me, you might get it!

The guy who did the hangliding with the dead mother obsession - yes. The guy with the 80's 'Shalimar' hair who lived with his parents - yes. The guy with the guns (very dodgy) - yes. But the guy with the 8 dolls and the girlfriend seemed to be kind of ok socially. Had to laugh that his girlfriend dumped him a week after he showed her his dolls - maybe he was planning a party? Being a woman, I was more horrified about what these guys were dressing them up in, the wigs and how they were applying the lipstick. And I didn't see one handbag (shock, horror!)

Did anyone see that programme last night, Guys with Dolls (you can guess the type of doll). I am not going to post any comments cos I could go on all day but all I have to say is "what the **** was that all about???"

Thanks for your comments everyone. It is obviously something you feel passionate about. It seems that the people with experience of the program mostly favour it and the people who haven't done the program are more sceptical. I think the cost is irrelevant if it works, but I hear your comments on the time thing, I do not think that commiting to that kind of schedule would be fair on my youngest son. I will wait for the brochure and go with the telephone conversation - well you have to take it if it is free! and then go from there.

My Mum used to have a coffee pot in the 70's, kind of like a teapot that you put instant coffee into to try and look posh!

Good on you Daisy, giving the Co & Cam a shot ... fab album (..Appollo??)! I was listening to it in the car earlier, mega volume, enjoying the fact that my kids were home with their Dad whilst I was on my way to a shopping mission at M&S! I often wake up with hair like Cladio Sanchez the Coheed & Cambria guy, thank goodness for hair straighteners!

Exactly how big is the fridge?

Like I have said before Liz, we seem to have a lot in common. I have boys approximately the same ages etc. I totally know where you are coming from and it's ok! My youngest son DS2, seems to be tougher, more of a fighter, more stronger physically somehow. I am happy leaving him with people, I never left my first with anyone. I have somehow "let go" more with my second son, he seems to have grown up a lot quicker, he's more independant and couragious than my first. I love them the same without question, but I had more of a "clingy" bond with my first son when he was little. Thinking about the first day I sent my son to Playschool still leaves a lump in my throat - he was standing in the corner of the playground, totally on his own, with a blank expression and looking sad mouthing the words "where's mummy gone?" to himself (seriously I'm filling up just writing about it). Now with my 2nd son starting playschool next year, I can't wait cos I know he will love it and will be fine. My eldest is more vulnerable, needs more protection, needs more attention - he also gets the sympathy vote and can get away with a lot more. My husband spends far more time with our eldest than our youngest because he feels he needs it ... I can understand that, but I want them to be treated equally ... and we don't even know if the little guy is NT yet anyway, it's way too soon. I think you are more emotional over your ASD child, because you feel sorry for him, you know what kind of journey might be ahead of him and you are trying to see things from his point of view all the time. You may also be feeling a little sorry for yourself along with that, I know I do. Anyone on here can tell you what an emotional journey it is, we have all had several moments where you feel the silent tears falling as you watch your child cope/not cope with the ASD, fighting back the tears, lump in your throat etc (wearing sunglasses on sports day is a must, you can hide a lot behind those!) I was in a card shop yesterday reading all those "wordy" emotional type cards, I had to leave, everything started relating to our story and I could feel the old bottom lip getting wobbly ... one said something like ["son, your challenge in life is to be yourself when the rest of the world wants you to be like them .."

Has anyone got any comments to make about the Son-Rise programme from the Autism Treatment Center of America. Anyone tried it? Anyone doing it? Does anyone believe in it? The CEO of the company, claims he was "cured" of his autism (he was the guy on Richard & Judy a while back if anyone saw it). I presume it is very very very expensive. I have just requested a brochure. I would just be interested to learn more about it from any comments you may have. Thanks.

I have tried my 5 year old with peanuts and he is fine, I have not tried any other type of nuts yet. He had a packet of peanut M&M's and I was on "high alert" but he was fine with them so I have given him food with nuts in since. My 20 month old son has never tried anything with nuts in .... at what point is it safe to try them with peanuts, nuts etc. He isn't allergic to anything as far as I know. Am I being paranoid?? I am the kind of parent who would only let him try them if we were sitting in the car outside of the casualty department - just in case. They say don't give nuts to small children, especially peanuts, but no one defines what age is appropriate to let them start. I have eczema and allergies to fruit and some vegetables (OAS) - touching and eating but am fine with nuts etc. Any comments??