A Leaner Christmas

I don't know about you, but the stores did not seem as packed at previous holiday seasons. I think we are learning what the holiday should be about. I also think the kids are learning they will live if the don't get the list of must-haves. Health, togetherness and peace are wonderful. If you have that, you truly are prosperous.

We had a good time decorating the Home Depot tree while listening to classic Christmas songs. This is become a family tradition for us. This year my ds 6 was able to play jingle bells on the piano. I would love for that to be added to the annual traditions. Fortunately, grandma spent the weekend and Christmas dinner was delicious. As we say farewell to the weekend, we are grateful for one another. We hope you are too!

What is going on with our children!

This weekend researchers at the CDC released a report stating that Autism rates jumped 57% in 4 years. One is 70 boys and 1 in 350 girls. Firstly, let's answer the question what is Autism:

Autism - A complex condition, autism is the most commonly diagnosed pervasive developmental disorder. Autism impairs a person’s ability to communicate, both verbally and non-verbally, to form relationships and to interact with others. It also typically results in a range of unusual and repetitive behaviors. A child with autism may initially appear to develop normally, but then withdraw and lose interest in others. Typically diagnosed by the time a child is age 3 or 4, autism can vary from mild to severe. Autism is frequently accompanied by mental retardation, but not always. In many cases, patients will show uneven levels of intelligence with highly developed talents in some areas.

Spotting the symptoms are critical, the earlier treatment is started, the better it is for the child. Here are symptoms to watch for;

Communication Symptoms:

-- Delay in, or total lack of, development of spoken language

-- Difficulty initiating conversation

-- Echolalia (repeating words or phrases instead of using normal language)

-- Doesn’t respond to name

-- Doesn’t use or respond to gestures and other nonverbal cues

Social Interaction Symptoms:

-- Doesn’t point to objects or show them to others

-- Doesn’t make eye contact at appropriate times

-- Doesn’t look at other people’s faces as much

-- Doesn’t respond to facial expressions or body language

-- Doesn’t smile back at others

-- Lack of peer relationships appropriate to age level

-- Less interest in other children

-- Not motivated by praise or physical affection

-- Doesn’t clearly demonstrate sympathy or empathy

Six key symptoms in infants and toddlers that parents should watch for:

Children don’t orient or respond to their names

They don’t look at faces or make eye contact as much

They don’t show objects to others or point at things

They smile at others less

They don’t try to imitate others as much

They show less interest in other children

While researchers search for the cause of the rise in Autism cases, some groups question the toxicity of our food, the mandatory immunization schedule and the age of mothers. Until its figured out, we must stay attentive and responsive to our little ones.

CNN.com video: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2009/12/18/cohen.cdc.autism.numbers.cnn?iref=videosearch