Some History...

We welcomed Phoenix into our family on November 24, 2007. I was 37 weeks pregnant at the time, but our little boy came into this world weighing 3 lb. 14 oz. Come to find out later it was due to a blood clotting disorder I didn't know that I had at the time. Phoenix scored low on his Apgars, was groaning, and did not cry (he never has cried to this day). He was sent to Children's Hospital in Milwaukee where he spent his first three weeks of life surrounded by loving nurses, visitors, and family. Doctors there found that Phoenix had been experiencing minor seizures, which went away after a few months time.

As Phoenix grew, we noticed that he didn't meet the normal developmental milestones that he should have. There were times where we would say, "can he see?", "can he feel pain?", "can he hear?", "can he talk?", etc. Phoenix was involved in the Birth to Three program from the age of 3 months to 3 years. At the age of 3 he started Early Childhood Education.

Due to his developmental and social delays, we had him evaluated at age three to see if there was anything that the neuropsychologist could tell us. After extensive testing, and 4 long visits later, they informed us that Phoenix had Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified, which is to say Phoenix diagnosis falls on the low end of the Autism Spectrum.

As parents, we wanted to do everything that we could for our little man. We implemented a gluten-free and caisen-free diet, which has helped tremendously. At age four Phoenix is acedemically developed every bit of his four year age; however in other areas of developement Phoenix is still at a 2.5 year old level or below. Trying to be an informed parent, we searched the internet looking for a way to help Phoenix. This is when we stumbled upon a site for Brain Balance Centers which uses a natural, non-drug approach to normalizing brain and body functions. We are fortunate to have a center in Mequon, about 40 minutes away from our home. After talking to parents who have sent their children to Brain Balance with positive success, we started taking Phoenix as of 11/28/2011. This blog is Phoenix's Journey towards an improved way of life.

How It All Started...

A few months ago, I was researching Autism and options to help Phoenix with his PDD-NOS and came across a website for Brain Balance: Achievement Centers. As I looked at the site, I noticed that there were seminars in the area that gave an overview of the program. On a Wednesday night, my mother and I went to meet Dr. Jeremy Fritz and hear a lecture on what Brain Balance is all about and what the program entails. My mother and I were very impressed. It made complete sense... Through research they understand that the underlying cause of many of the disorders is a functional imbalance of brain activity between the right and left sides of the brain. After much discussion and reading the book Disconnected Kids by Dr. Melillo (the founder of Brain Balance) we scheduled an appointment to have Phoenix evaluated to see if he was a good candidate for the program. A week later, we met with Dr. Fritz who went threw the evaluation results. Being very cautious I recieved a list of parents that have taken their children to Brain Balance and asked them about their children, their experience, and what thoughts they may have. It was AMAZING! They had success with their children. There was one parent I talked to that her son was nonverbal and within the first 4 weeks he started to talk. There was a parent as well that her son had sensory issues and was not calm at all and within weeks he was calmer. The mothers I talked to, including one I met in the waiting room today, said that the time and expense were worth the success their children have had with Brain Balance. A few days later, I called and signed Phoenix up for this new program. I can't wait to see the little or big successes that Phoenix will have. http://www.brainbalancecenters.com/

Monday, April 30, 2012

Week 18

I know it has been a while since I have posted... but here is to new beginnings...

This past week I was able to meet with Dr. Fritz at Brain Balance. We reviewed Phoenix's progress.  He continues to progress!  Dr. Fritz did talk to me about Phoenix's diet.  On Fridays we usually eat out and since Phoenix doesn't eat what we eat, per say, we usually give him a few french fries. However, Dr. Fritz really recommended cutting them out of his diet because there are hidden traces of gluten in them and trans fats.  Since Phoenix only eats a small handful anyway, we are making the commitment to eliminate them entirely.  There are also exercises that need to be done at least once a day, and we have committed to do them as well.  With only 6 weeks left at Brain Balance, we need to dedicate ourselves to helping Phoenix perform these exercises.

That's right... 6 weeks left.  Phoenix would benefit from another 6 months of Brain Balance, but that is something we really need to contemplate since Phoenix has been on a waiting list for Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy for a year and will begin that in June. ABA is a huge committment of time so we will need to seriously consider his whole therapy needs and plan.

Over the last month or so, we have seen more progress in Phoenix.  First, Phoenix is talking A LOT. He is still shy with showing his verbal skills in public, but at home and with family he is chatting up a storm.  He is constantly surprising us with words that we didn't know he knew.  The other day Phoenix said "Daddy, reach" to have Mike grab a balloon that had gone up to the ceiling.  Also the other day, we were playing with his instruments and pretending to be a marching band and he gave me the recorder and said "flute".  Who knew he knew what that was.  Phoenix no longer takes our hands and leads us to what he wants, he will communicate in words, as best he can, what he would like.  

Phoenix has in the last month, said a prayer and given a talk in Primary (like Sunday School in our church).  I printed pictures and put them in order on wordstrips.  Phoenix would see the picture and know what to say.  He did so well!  Like most children he LOVES the microphone! Another note of progress regarding Primary is that Phoenix sits and stays in his chair rather nicely.  Phoenix has been doing so well that the Primary president has suggested we slowly move Mike out of primary as his assistant in the next few weeks.



Disciplining Phoenix has become much more easy as well.  He really is listening better.  We use the 1-2-3 system and by 3 he usually will do what he is required to do.  Also, when Phoenix wants to do something other than what he should be doing at the time, we will give him a verbal consequence and he will realize we are in control and will do as he is told.  We love that we have finally met this milestone!

We certainly like to concentrate on the positives, but there are always set backs as well.  Phoenix has certainly been asserting his independence and wanting to control the situations he is in, especially at school.  Since socially and mentally he is at the age of a 2.5 year old, this makes complete sense. Though very frustrating, we look at this as very appropriate for his functional age.

Sarah and Laura today at Brain Balance commented that it is funny when Phoenix doesn't want to do something or is done with it.  He will say "All done please" or "Go Away please."  Oh my little boy, still polite while trying to take control.  He is so sweet and cute.  Good thing he has good therapists that keep on going even though mentally Phoenix is probably finished with an activity.

We are very pleased with the success we have seen during this process and know that the next 6 weeks will be worth the time and effort from all parties.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)