My story begins with the birth of my first child Jordan January 24 1994.  I had to have a emergency section due to baby being in distress and not hearing his heart beat! (yikes).  A new mom at 25 (very young and niave).  Scary stuff but alas I new my bundle of joy was going to change my life (as did not speak to family).  As he grew I grew in confidence and experience new mom you do everything by the book.  Routine was everything by god the amount of change bags I went through were hundreds (ok maybe 10). 

 I still worked so it was hard fulltime and being a mom.  But by the time he was 8 months to a year you could tell he just was not developing the way he should have.  (slow)  I took him to the gp as you do.  Alas they fobbed  me off so did the health visitor.  So by the time he was 18mths I was a bit more frustated and anxious my son was not doing the same as other kids. (me being the only one in the circle with a baby).  I asked again if he could just be referred to the hospital. 

 When the day arrived maybe july/august 96. My boyfriend couldn't make it due to work commitments.  I went myself with Jordan.  This little boy just a bundle of joy with no voice big eyes that stared all around but not at you.  I explained everything about him not speaking hours upon hours of silence.  Not playing with toys unless you approached him and played then he may join in.  I was so surprised when they showed him pictures and he answered chair dog man car etc.  I had a lump in my throat.  He did know what things were.  They decided that he had specific learning difficultities and speech and language delay. They did not know if he was autistic or not.  He got a fulltime place at nursery to see if this would help with his social skills. His little sister was born july 1997 Morgan She had excemaand allergies to milk and eggs.  He was still very quite and withdrawn.  Even when he started school in august 2000 at 5 and half.  My heart went out to him because I knew deep down he still was not ready for this.

 His other little sister Emma was born 16 august 2000.  She to was born with excezma and we had an inkling she to was allergic!. May 2002 Emma took a very bad reaction to milk (morgans half soya half cow weaning off soya at time) she had her fist anaphlaxis! We did not know what was happening very scary stuff.  June 2002 she took a very bad asthma attack did not have asthma.  Yet this little fighter took everything in her stride!.  She has accepted she has allergies and a serious skin conditon so does her big sister Morgan.

Carleith Primary was a very good small village school.  He had his own IEP (individual education plan) SEN Auxilary and class room assistant.  He enjoyed primary very much and they met his individual needs but he still did not have a label as such.

Emma took a very bad reaction to a chocolate football may 2005 we did not know if we were bringing her home.  I had a fright so did dougie my husband. She had picked it up at her friends it was not in its outer packaging and she thought it was hers.  Well I went mental with the health shop as they were not willing to do anything about it.  The supermarket was brilliant they understood were I was coming from and changed its packaging (took a few months but patience is a virtue).

High School in august 2006 a horror story!  He did not cope and 3 months into it told me he wanted to commit suicide.  Could not handle new place to many people and strangers.  To much for him.  I did 1st year the high school way.  Jordan was in the excluded room or either suspended.  I found it difficult because I knew he was a joy and not a bad bone in his body!.  He lives very much in the present moment.  2nd year which is now I have got my gp to refer him to be seen for autism and I have been so assertive.  I has also contacted a child advocate to help in the process of things.  Jordan has moved schools to an outside organisation called SPARK OF GENIUS he has only been thier 2 wks and loves it.  Their is only 20 kids his 14 /15 in a class of 10 with a key worker and 2 classroom assistants.  Still waiting on the list to be seen by the autistic team.  But I know he needs to be labelled to help him.  I just never looked at Jordan the way I looked at the girls medically.  11yrs we have went without a label. So loving and supportive of him.  I will fight on until we get the care he deserves and the understanding.  thankyou for reading my story of my children.