Today Britney's class went to the Explorations V Children's Museum for their field trip. The kids made volcanoes from clay and made them erupt. The kids thought it was really cool. They got to keep the volcanoes and we now can make one at home from directions they put on the packages.
The kids had a lot of fun playing with different things throughout the museum. I think the thing the kids enjoyed most was grocery shopping and dancing on the stage.
On the way back to school, most of the kids took naps so it was quiet for a few minutes. The kids got bag lunches that they ate in the classroom once we got back. They were all starving from all the playing!
It was a fun day and I'm glad I got to share it with my girl!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Am I Really Reading This?
I received this link from Tyler's teacher from last year and wanted to share with everyone...
Autism researchers announce breakthrough in identifying gene
Autism researchers at UM and other universities announced a genetic breakthrough that could lead to improved treatment and prevention of the disorder.
BY FRED TASKER
ftasker@MiamiHerald.com
Researchers say they have found the first piece of the genetic puzzle that could lead to greatly improved diagnosis, treatment and even prevention of autism.
A multi-university team, which included the University of Miami School of Medicine, has identified a gene associated with autism, according to a report published Tuesday in the peer-reviewed medical journal Nature.
It may be only one of as many as 50 genes involved, and environmental factors are also involved, but Margaret Pericak-Vance, director of UM's Institute for Human Genomics, says the discovery could lead to practical results within a decade.
''Things are moving so fast, in the next five years or so you can see some of this information being translated maybe into prediction, even therapies,'' she said.
Therapies that would prevent autism are ''farther down the pike,'' she said.
The study is a collaboration of the UM institute, Vanderbilt University, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the University of Washington in Seattle and the University of California, Los Angeles.
In the study, research teams visited a dozen sites around the country and studied more than 10,000 subjects, including individuals with autism spectrum disorder, family members and volunteers without the disorder.
Autism is a serious developmental problem that usually appears before age 3, affecting a child's ability to communicate and interact with others. Experts believe autism affects as many as one in 150 children in the United States, making it one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders.
The apparent culprit is a gene involved in making connections among cells in the developing brain, the study said.
Diagnosing autism is often difficult because it manifests itself in different ways in different children. Treatment and therapies also are in flux. Some focus on reducing problem behaviors, while others set up highly structured educational programs or rely on drugs. Getting a firmer grasp on autism's genetic makeup could make drug therapies much more effective, Pericak-Vance said.
Because individuals with autism vary so widely, many autism researchers had doubted that common genetic factors ever would be found. The breakthrough was possible because of the mapping of the human genome, a 15-year project by hundreds of genetics researchers completed in 2003, which identified and mapped the 25,000 or so genes that control and operate the human body.
It also was assisted by cutting-edge technology -- a lightning-fast, $1 million-plus ''Illumina Platform,'' an ungainly machine that used computer chips to compare, contrast and analyze thousands of genetic-factor samples from the 10,000 test subjects.
Pericak-Vance has been instrumental in gene research, making similar discoveries about the genetic background of Alzheimer's disease in 1993, multiple sclerosis in 2000 and macular degeneration in 2005.
She is one of nearly 50 top researchers recruited from Duke University by UM Medical School dean Pascal Goldschmidt, who in turn was recruited from Duke by UM president Donna Shalala in 2006 as part of Shalala's $1 billion program to create the Institute of Human Genomics to boost UM's reputation as a research institution.
Thomas Lehner, branch chief of the Genomics Research Branch of the National Institute of Mental Health, which was not part of the study, called the finding ``exciting.''
''The more we understand the biology of autism, the more likely we are to find treatments that may lead to prevention,'' he said.
Autism is one of the most genetically complex disorders, Pericak-Vance said.
Unlike breast cancer, which in some cases can be strongly predicted by the existence of a single gene, autism may be caused by up to 50 genes interacting with each other, the prenatal and postnatal environment and lifestyle.
''Now it might be possible to see if different children respond differently to various therapies -- both drug therapies and behavioral therapies -- so you don't have to go through so much trial and error,'' she said.
Pericak-Vance compared the discovery to solving a jigsaw puzzle -- with the first gene identified, others will be easier to place.
``You think you have a 100-piece puzzle, and then it turns out to be a 1,000-piece puzzle, and you throw it on the table and you go crazy because you can't find anything. Then you find a corner piece, and then the outside rim starts falling into place.
``Well, we've got a big corner piece now.''
Autism researchers announce breakthrough in identifying gene
Autism researchers at UM and other universities announced a genetic breakthrough that could lead to improved treatment and prevention of the disorder.
BY FRED TASKER
ftasker@MiamiHerald.com
Researchers say they have found the first piece of the genetic puzzle that could lead to greatly improved diagnosis, treatment and even prevention of autism.
A multi-university team, which included the University of Miami School of Medicine, has identified a gene associated with autism, according to a report published Tuesday in the peer-reviewed medical journal Nature.
It may be only one of as many as 50 genes involved, and environmental factors are also involved, but Margaret Pericak-Vance, director of UM's Institute for Human Genomics, says the discovery could lead to practical results within a decade.
''Things are moving so fast, in the next five years or so you can see some of this information being translated maybe into prediction, even therapies,'' she said.
Therapies that would prevent autism are ''farther down the pike,'' she said.
The study is a collaboration of the UM institute, Vanderbilt University, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the University of Washington in Seattle and the University of California, Los Angeles.
In the study, research teams visited a dozen sites around the country and studied more than 10,000 subjects, including individuals with autism spectrum disorder, family members and volunteers without the disorder.
Autism is a serious developmental problem that usually appears before age 3, affecting a child's ability to communicate and interact with others. Experts believe autism affects as many as one in 150 children in the United States, making it one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders.
The apparent culprit is a gene involved in making connections among cells in the developing brain, the study said.
Diagnosing autism is often difficult because it manifests itself in different ways in different children. Treatment and therapies also are in flux. Some focus on reducing problem behaviors, while others set up highly structured educational programs or rely on drugs. Getting a firmer grasp on autism's genetic makeup could make drug therapies much more effective, Pericak-Vance said.
Because individuals with autism vary so widely, many autism researchers had doubted that common genetic factors ever would be found. The breakthrough was possible because of the mapping of the human genome, a 15-year project by hundreds of genetics researchers completed in 2003, which identified and mapped the 25,000 or so genes that control and operate the human body.
It also was assisted by cutting-edge technology -- a lightning-fast, $1 million-plus ''Illumina Platform,'' an ungainly machine that used computer chips to compare, contrast and analyze thousands of genetic-factor samples from the 10,000 test subjects.
Pericak-Vance has been instrumental in gene research, making similar discoveries about the genetic background of Alzheimer's disease in 1993, multiple sclerosis in 2000 and macular degeneration in 2005.
She is one of nearly 50 top researchers recruited from Duke University by UM Medical School dean Pascal Goldschmidt, who in turn was recruited from Duke by UM president Donna Shalala in 2006 as part of Shalala's $1 billion program to create the Institute of Human Genomics to boost UM's reputation as a research institution.
Thomas Lehner, branch chief of the Genomics Research Branch of the National Institute of Mental Health, which was not part of the study, called the finding ``exciting.''
''The more we understand the biology of autism, the more likely we are to find treatments that may lead to prevention,'' he said.
Autism is one of the most genetically complex disorders, Pericak-Vance said.
Unlike breast cancer, which in some cases can be strongly predicted by the existence of a single gene, autism may be caused by up to 50 genes interacting with each other, the prenatal and postnatal environment and lifestyle.
''Now it might be possible to see if different children respond differently to various therapies -- both drug therapies and behavioral therapies -- so you don't have to go through so much trial and error,'' she said.
Pericak-Vance compared the discovery to solving a jigsaw puzzle -- with the first gene identified, others will be easier to place.
``You think you have a 100-piece puzzle, and then it turns out to be a 1,000-piece puzzle, and you throw it on the table and you go crazy because you can't find anything. Then you find a corner piece, and then the outside rim starts falling into place.
``Well, we've got a big corner piece now.''
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Happy Easter!!!
I hope everyone had a Happy Easter. I worked until 1 this afternoon, so we had our Easter dinner around 4. It was yummy! We had ham, my homemade mac and cheese and rolls. Tyler had peanut butter toast. He has a real bad cough/cold so he will be staying home tomorrow to recouperate. The kids had fun looking for their hidden eggs and seem to enjoy the gifts the Easter Bunny left for them.
Another weekend behind us and waiting for the new crazy week to begin.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Eye Exam
I took Tyler for an eye exam this afternoon.
When school started this year, the county did check ups on all the kids. I received a blue form in the mail and it stated that Ty had a "possible" vision problem. I hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary at home, but his teacher said that he likes to be on her lap reading books. I went to set up the appointment last week, but needed a few days for Tyler's insurance to get the referral to the doctor's office. When I set the appointment up, I told them that Tyler was autistic and COULD NOT do a standard eye exam. I was told they would have pictures for him to look at. Well, today they try to measure his eyes, dialate them, have him read lines..NO GO! We were able to get some drops in his eyes and the doctor was kind of rude. I told the doctor, again, that Tyler was autistic and that is why he was playing with everything in the exam room. The doctor backed off and did what he needed to do and let Tyler "play" with the eye chart buttons when we were done. Based on what the doctor saw, he said Ty's vision is 20/25! No glasses for Tyler..thank god! I don't know how he would have worn glasses. He hates things on his face/eyes! Tyler will go back in a year for another check up.
Britney is next. I received a blue form for her b/c she has a lazy eye and the county is freaking about it. Makes you wonder how "accurate" the tests at school are. I know she has a lazy eye, and I had one when I was younger too. I just had to do eye exercises. I was without glasses till I was 13, so hopefully my kids can hold off till they are in their teens too!
One down, one to go!
When school started this year, the county did check ups on all the kids. I received a blue form in the mail and it stated that Ty had a "possible" vision problem. I hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary at home, but his teacher said that he likes to be on her lap reading books. I went to set up the appointment last week, but needed a few days for Tyler's insurance to get the referral to the doctor's office. When I set the appointment up, I told them that Tyler was autistic and COULD NOT do a standard eye exam. I was told they would have pictures for him to look at. Well, today they try to measure his eyes, dialate them, have him read lines..NO GO! We were able to get some drops in his eyes and the doctor was kind of rude. I told the doctor, again, that Tyler was autistic and that is why he was playing with everything in the exam room. The doctor backed off and did what he needed to do and let Tyler "play" with the eye chart buttons when we were done. Based on what the doctor saw, he said Ty's vision is 20/25! No glasses for Tyler..thank god! I don't know how he would have worn glasses. He hates things on his face/eyes! Tyler will go back in a year for another check up.
Britney is next. I received a blue form for her b/c she has a lazy eye and the county is freaking about it. Makes you wonder how "accurate" the tests at school are. I know she has a lazy eye, and I had one when I was younger too. I just had to do eye exercises. I was without glasses till I was 13, so hopefully my kids can hold off till they are in their teens too!
One down, one to go!
Thursday, April 2, 2009
April 2nd, World Autism Awareness Day
Please take the time today to think of Tyler and the other children who are affected by this disability. The cases are growing second to second each day. There is no cure for autism. I just hope with all the research going on, we can hopefully have a cure for autism and have our little boy back.
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