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Pickel's Stories

Share your health experiences with others.

Icon_story_white_ground Am I Crazy? by Pickel on 05/05/2008

This weekend I received a bi-monthly update from my <a href="http://achildchosen.com">b5media managers</a> that included information on how to effectively search out your blog status, name, and how people link back to your blog. You would think that after over... more

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Icon_story_white_ground Is Mitochondrial Disorder the Re... by Pickel on 04/28/2008

The Vaccine Court<!--more--> has been in session for more than a decade debating whether or not Vaccines actually cause autism. A total of 4,900 families have signed on to participate in the Vaccine Court. However, in March of 2008, a case was settled that determined that Mitoch... more

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Icon_story_white_ground What did you Claim? by Pickel on 04/21/2008

It is not widely publicized but did you know that there are tax benefits for children with special needs? There are two types of tax benefits; one is a tax deduction and one is a tax credit. A deduction is based upon the marginal tax rate of the tax payer and a tax credit is a doll... more

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Icon_story_white_ground Good News! by Pickel on 04/21/2008

We had a meeting yesterday to discuss AJ's current BIP, or Behavior Intervention Plan. After a rough start to the year (and I am sure some of you remember my rantings and ravings about his Occupational Therapy) AJ is finally starting to make some really GOOD progress. In the last f... more

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Icon_story_white_ground Shouldn't We Be Aware Everyday? by Pickel on 04/12/2008

April is Autism Awareness Month and by now EVERYONE knows that. It is only April 4th but it is ALL over the news, all over the blogs, all over the world. Autism is being celebrated. Children with autism are being thrown in front of cameras and microphones. Reporters are taking adva... more

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Icon_story_white_ground Is Your Child Mislabeled? by Pickel on 04/12/2008

I am not a doctor, nor am I any sort of medical professional, but it is my personal opinion that many children are mislabeled as ADD, ADHD, and even Autism. Yes, Autism.I have always very clearly stated that AJ has never had a diagnosis of Autism but that we believe that he may be ... more

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Icon_story_white_ground God Chooses a Mom by Pickel on 04/12/2008

This is one of my favorite articles ever written by Erma Bombeck.   God Chooses A Mom For A Disabled Child  By Erma Bombeck  Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures, and a couple by habit. This year, Nearly 100,000 w... more

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Icon_story_white_ground Risperdal Update by Pickel on 04/12/2008

The Risperdal has literally been a wonder drug for AJ. We were, initially, very hesitant about it because of the side effects; drooling, ticks and twitches (which can be irreversible), sleepiness, increased OCD tendencies, increased urination, and rapid weight gain because of incre... more

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Icon_story_white_ground Risperdal, the miracle for aggre... by Pickel on 04/03/2008

We started AJ on Risperdal, a medication used for children with autism and who need help regulating moods, last week to help control the aggression we were seeing during visits to the library or during transitions. We saw a psychiatrist to get an evaluation and to help us determine... more

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Icon_story_white_ground April is Autism Month by Pickel on 04/03/2008

In honor or Autism month I have collected the best of the best autism blogs on Discussing Autism. Head over there to see ALL of them...over 30 of my favorite blogs.  You can also see a fabulous list of month long activities all over the country.   more

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Icon_story_white_ground Thoughts on Adoption by Pickel on 03/26/2008

Today at A Child Chosen I have a post up that took me a long time to write. Today's adoption arena can be volatile because there are so many opposing views, because of politics and international reform, and because because birth parents are finally speaking out about how they were ... more

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Icon_story_white_ground I Have a Voice by Pickel on 03/26/2008

As an extended family we have been met with a variety of challenges. I am extremely proud to say that every single one of my relatives has met those challenges with grace, especially my cousin and her spouse who were blessed with a son who has Down Syndrome.Their most recent advent... more

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Icon_story_white_ground Colon Cancer Awareness Month by Pickel on 03/26/2008

Apparently, March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month but even I did not know this amazing little tidbit.Because Colon Cancer is a genetic cancer (up to 20 % have a direct family member with Colon Cancer) I have already been tested, as has my brother...and I am only 31. And I am VERY l... more

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Icon_story_white_ground I'm Just Like You by Pickel on 03/19/2008

Just because I have a child who is different doesn't mean I'm not like you...I still like the same television shows, the same clothing, the same designer purses. I still love to go out for coffee or couple dates. I still want to be invited to those silly book club meetings (where n... more

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Icon_story_white_ground No Child Left Behind by Pickel on 03/19/2008

Six years ago the U.S. passed the No Child Left Behind<!--more--> law, sending states and school districts into an uproar. It required parents needed to be included in education, that schools needed "Highly Qualified Teachers" , scientifically based reading instruction... more

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Icon_story_white_ground Peeps, anyone? by Pickel on 03/12/2008

Easter is right around the corner and society says that your child's Easter basket should be filled to the brim with candy. There are Gluten Free/Casein Free solutions for our children if you want to include candy. Make sure to check this post for the most comprehensive Gluten and ... more

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Icon_story_white_ground Gluten Free Casein Free School S... by Pickel on 03/03/2008

Now that we are all purchasing school supplies there are some of us who need to be especially careful when it comes to ingredients. There are many brands of school supplies that contain gluten, casein, and corn, dietary ingredients that I work very diligently to keep out of Little ... more
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Icon_story_white_ground What is a Sensory Diet? by Pickel on 03/03/2008

No, I am not talking about food here folks, I am talking about a diet built for the senses…for kids with Sensory Processing Disorder. If you read my blog regularly, you will know that AJ’s main issue is Sensory Processing Disorder or otherwise known as Sensory Integrat... more

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Icon_story_white_ground Yes, I Have THAT Child by Pickel on 03/03/2008

Iwas told today, by a friend, that her two children are not thrilled to play with my son. Great...he's "That" kid. You know, the one that all of the other kids don't want to play with but all of the mothers say they have to in order to be nice?Random Mom: He's different, ... more
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Icon_story_white_ground I Hate Being THAT Parent by Pickel on 03/03/2008

When it comes to Special Education parents often get ignored, thus the need for Advocates, Due Process, and yes, Court.<!--more-->But, when it comes down to it...I am AJ's best advocate and I am his parent, the one who knows him best. And I will have to fight for his services...... more

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Icon_story_white_ground The Vaccine Debate and the San D... by Pickel on 02/26/2008

Every parent makes their own choices based upon science, medicine, religion, or even theology or ideology. But, when does the safety of other children come into play? I talk a lot on my sites (Discussing Autism and My Two Boys) about how vaccines affect the public, the safety of va... more

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immune systems, childhood diseases, vaccines, Autism, and measles

Icon_story_white_ground How Autism Affects Families by Pickel on 02/25/2008

Having a child will change your life but one day finding out that your child has special needs, or better yet, Autism, can be so life altering that families can either pull together or be ripped apart. <!--more-->Every family will eventually respond to an autism diagnosis in the... more
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adoption family, respite care, a...

Icon_story_white_ground There is No Cure for Autism by Pickel on 02/25/2008

Although there is no cure for organic Autism there is a cure for Institutional Autism, an acquired post-institutionalized syndrome. My son, AJ, has Institutional Autism, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, possible Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, multiple chemical and food allergies and intol... more

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chelation, post traumatic stress, Sensory Integration, fetal alcoho...