He said what??

At the dinner table last night, Savannah & Noah were "talking"  about different colors, so Savannah asked Noah what's your favorite color??  Noah said. "Purple" (which we already knew) She then asked, "What's your second favorite color?"  (I wasn't sure he understood what that meant)  He thought for a second and then said, "Green."   WOW!

I had to prompt him but he asked, "What's your favorite color?"  Savannah said. "Blue."  So I thought great job, then Noah blurted out, "What's your second favorite color?" AWESOME, no prompting an appropriate response no help!!  I was SO PROUD of him & Savannah!!

I just feel that all success we have been experiencing lately is because of the "medicine" that we are on in the clinical trial.  We go back this week and we come off the medicine gradually over the next month.  I don't really know what to expect.   I pray the behaviors we were experiencing BEFORE do not come back full force!!  Praying daily about this!!

Update On Clinical Trial

Noah is in a clinical trial for new medicine for ASD to improve social skills At Vanderbilt in Nashville. We are 2 months into the study and its a "blind study" we don't know if he is on the medicine or not. I firmly believe he is on the medicine because I have seen a remarkable changes in his behavior, his communication, he is noticing his environment, he is reading billboards that we pass its been amazing.

The thing is with the study is we are going to have to withdraw in the next month or so. We will be able to put him back on it after the withdrawal period. Since we participated in the study we have that option when its over. I am so afraid that when we withdraw him the behaviors will come back, the aggression and so on. But I know that it won't last but about a month, we will decrease the medicine over a 4 week period. The medicine is used now for individuals with Fragile X.

We are experiencing some MAJOR sleep issues right now, that's one of the side effects insomnia so I don't know what we are going to do about that.  This past week as been really tough at night one night he didn't sleep at all!!  He hasn't been to bed before 2:30 this week.  He is in a great mood, he just can't shut his body down to go to sleep, melatonin is not working right now.

I think it will really make a difference for some kids on the spectrum. I am so truly blessed that we were able to participate!!

A Great Article on How to Handle a Child That Hits (this is one for me)

By Anthony Kane MD

Quite often parents come to me, worried that their child has begun hitting others. These children, usually between the ages of 2-6 now strike out physically at anyone who denies them their wishes. This usually includes their parents.
These mothers and fathers are understandably concerned that their children are going off in the wrong direction.
We will now discuss young children who hit; what it means and what you as the parent should do about it.

Link to Dr Anthony Kane's Article