What Led me Here

In December 2005 I welcomed my twin boys.  Dylan did everything first, but Jake always seemed to catch up.  He was a happy kid who had a huge smile in every picture taken of him.  Shortly after the boys had their first birthday, Jake began to withdraw.  He had been saying a few words, but those seemed to disappear.  He had tantrums and never seemed to want to be loved or held, or even be around people.  His days were filled with frustration from him and for me.  When the boys were eighteen months old (and Dylan was speaking in complete sentences while Jake remained silent), we took Jake to a developmental pediatrician.  She felt he showed signs of PDD and would most likely be high functioning autistic.  That was unacceptable to me.  He had been a bright and happy baby, and I was determined to get that baby back.  After tons of research, and a little more Jenny McCarthy than I care to admit, I settled on a regiment of natural supplements that includes digestive enzymes at every meal and snack, Coromega, Liquid Carnosine Plus, Behavior Balance DMG Liquid, Nutrimax liquid vitamins, Primal Defense Kids, and a little Children's Claritin thrown in for good measure.  It is a lot to think about on a daily basis, and although we still have our ups and downs, Jake is now three and a half and doing pretty well.  He is cheerful, social, and playful.  He and his brother are best friends, and he is an absolute goofball.  I still tweak his medicines every once in a while (which can be hard as I haven't found a doctor who knows enough to guide me in what I should be adjusting or giving him), but I wanted to put up this blog to see what other parents are doing in my situation, and what or who has helped them.