Family with 6 Autistic children [Archive]

Lorah

03-21-2008, 04:58 PM

tcolera

03-21-2008, 05:09 PM

Initally I thought, why would they keep having kids? But I have to say if anyone is thinking that same thing, Aspergers does not usually appear until between 5-9 years only. So since their 3 oldest have aspergers that would most likely be why, they probably didn't know.

I can't imagine why anyone would want to have 6 kids period.

Lynette

03-21-2008, 05:14 PM

I think they are Utah so maybe they are LDS? I can't even imagine either way.

TaivensMama

03-21-2008, 05:24 PM

That is a lot of work...But hopefully the study they are doing on the family will help find answers to some unknowns in the autistic world...

Lorah

03-21-2008, 05:47 PM

I saw this on the news a little bit ago and that is why I looked for something online so everyone could see it, but what I saw earlier said that *none* of the 6 children were DXed until after *all* of them were born.

I think maybe that would have made a difference if they knew before all of them were born.

Tammy, I'm the oldest of 6, nothing to do with religion, and I LOVE having a big family with lots of sibs! My mom just loved kids....still does. :) Some people just like having big families...some don't. Like I only want 2 even though I LOVED it growing up and still do, its just not for me. ;)

Kellie_MO5

03-21-2008, 06:22 PM

I can't imagine why anyone would want to have 6 kids period.
I think they are Utah so maybe they are LDS? I can't even imagine either way.
Umm.. because kids are fun, and maybe they like em (and making them ;) ) ?
Kinda like I can't imagine dropping $100 on a pair of jeans, shoes or a bag, but others have no problem doing it .. to each their own ;)

Kellie_MO5

03-21-2008, 06:23 PM

oh, I wanted to add that I didn't comment on the story because my sound is broken so I can't hear it anyway :( are there any print articles on it?

howardvm

03-21-2008, 06:23 PM

There was a family on Extreme Home Makeover that had a few autistic children too. Was it three of them? I can't remember. That family was told autism was not genetic, so they kept having kids. Maybe they were told the same thing too. I have no idea if its genetic or not, but to see these cases makes you think at least for some families it is genetic.

LessasLashes

03-21-2008, 07:23 PM

They are finding genetic links, especially in twin and sibling studies..

Hopefully they have support, education, and resources.. It's a challenge I'm sure to have 6 kids that are "normal".. I can't imagine (except that it's all that they know).. the patience, endurance, and stamina for 6 with a developmental condition..

No two children with autism are the same (in topography).. so I'm sure they are very busy!!!

Lynette

03-21-2008, 08:16 PM

Umm.. because kids are fun, and maybe they like em (and making them ;) ) ?
Kinda like I can't imagine dropping $100 on a pair of jeans, shoes or a bag, but others have no problem doing it .. to each their own ;)

To clarify, my "I can't even imagine" comment was in regards to having 6 kids with autism especially at the levels that some of their kids have it. I don't have any judgements on the number of children people have unless they aren't all loved and taken care of in which case even one is too many for some people.

tcolera

03-22-2008, 09:03 AM

Umm.. because kids are fun, and maybe they like em (and making them ;) ) ?
Kinda like I can't imagine dropping $100 on a pair of jeans, shoes or a bag, but others have no problem doing it .. to each their own ;)

Maybe but far to many people keep having kids even thought they can't afford to. As for children with disabilities, how on Earth does it cost $500 a month to care for them? I have 2 autistic kids and it doesn't cost extra to care for them. I also don't spen $100 on jeans, purses etc. I don't think people should live outside their means when it comes to kids or material things.

tcolera

03-22-2008, 12:50 PM

There was a family on Extreme Home Makeover that had a few autistic children too. Was it three of them? I can't remember. That family was told autism was not genetic, so they kept having kids. Maybe they were told the same thing too. I have no idea if its genetic or not, but to see these cases makes you think at least for some families it is genetic.

I believe it has something to do with genetics. My 2 oldest are from my ex, they are on the spectrum. Between his genes and mine I could see where the boys were bound to have some kind of disability. My two younger are from DH and are so obviously not on the spectrum. With our situation you can't help but think part might be genetic.

MamaLaura

03-22-2008, 02:07 PM

Maybe but far to many people keep having kids even thought they can't afford to. As for children with disabilities, how on Earth does it cost $500 a month to care for them? I have 2 autistic kids and it doesn't cost extra to care for them. I also don't spen $100 on jeans, purses etc. I don't think people should live outside their means when it comes to kids or material things.

Maybe the extra is therapies or something, not covered by insurance? I don't have any autistic child, so I have first hand experience, but my brother has Aspbergers (and ADHD) and I've read about therapies to help and I'm sure not all insurances cover it.

tcolera

03-23-2008, 04:49 PM

Maybe the extra is therapies or something, not covered by insurance? I don't have any autistic child, so I have first hand experience, but my brother has Aspbergers (and ADHD) and I've read about therapies to help and I'm sure not all insurances cover it.

That may depend on where you live, but my boys get there therapy through the school and have since they were 3 years old. I feel there is too many "docs" who think they have found the "cure/solution" and pass on this idea of what you have to do to make your child better, which I don't know about you but I never hear of kids recovering from autism. There needs to be more info about resources for sure. And maybe some parents need to be better about putting their foot down about what they want. I have never had to pay out of pocket for anything for my kids, thanks in a huge part to NBRC. I hope other states do or will offer those kinds of resources.

Have you other moms with Austism Spectrum kids had to pay much out of pocket?

If so for what and how does it work?

TaivensMama

03-23-2008, 05:19 PM

I have heard of many people swearing by gluten and casein free diets curing their kids of autism. that it is more of a toxin, digestion, enzyme issue over a nurological issue. I tried it with Taiven and it worked wonders although it is VERY hard to stick to since nearly everything has wheat oats and dairy in them. Jenny Mccarthy claims her son is now cured after following the gluten and casein free diet. After I did it with Taiven most of his symptoms were gone...but as we stopped some returned slowly but surely...I try my best to keep him away from gluten and casein so he does have many of the benefits but like I said earlier he does still consume some so he does still have some traits...but he went from being high functioning autism to aspergers to language pragmatic which is debatable wether it is on the spectrum at all...we also suppliment him with enzymes to help his body digets the small amounts of things he is getting that I know he shouldn't...I hear all the time how much he has improved and I think it has a lot to do with the diet because he has not gotten any other therapy or intervention for his "condition"

tcolera

03-23-2008, 06:22 PM

I have heard of many people swearing by gluten and casein free diets curing their kids of autism. that it is more of a toxin, digestion, enzyme issue over a nurological issue. I tried it with Taiven and it worked wonders although it is VERY hard to stick to since nearly everything has wheat oats and dairy in them. Jenny Mccarthy claims her son is now cured after following the gluten and casein free diet. After I did it with Taiven most of his symptoms were gone...but as we stopped some returned slowly but surely...I try my best to keep him away from gluten and casein so he does have many of the benefits but like I said earlier he does still consume some so he does still have some traits...but he went from being high functioning autism to aspergers to language pragmatic which is debatable wether it is on the spectrum at all...we also suppliment him with enzymes to help his body digets the small amounts of things he is getting that I know he shouldn't...I hear all the time how much he has improved and I think it has a lot to do with the diet because he has not gotten any other therapy or intervention for his "condition"

I never went the diet route because I was never really sure. Plus with my reading issues it was to overwelming to try to read about it. Can we plan some time to chat about the diet??

Colleen&Kail

03-23-2008, 06:51 PM

Maybe but far to many people keep having kids even thought they can't afford to. As for children with disabilities, how on Earth does it cost $500 a month to care for them? I have 2 autistic kids and it doesn't cost extra to care for them. I also don't spen $100 on jeans, purses etc. I don't think people should live outside their means when it comes to kids or material things.

i was thinking the same thing....

LessasLashes

03-23-2008, 07:14 PM

I have worked with many families who've done a variety of diet therapies (wheat, gluten free, feingold, etc.) as well as chelation and detox therapies. I've seen some kids drastically improve in some of their "autistic features" and some who haven't. Since each person is different albeit similar characteristics.. it can often be a guessing game. I've heard of "typical" without autism who've eliminated or removed certain things in their diet (wheat, soy, milk, sugars, carbs, etc) who've from a health standpoint improved not only weight, but energy, memory, muscle tone, etc.

Not every therapy/dietary change will work for each child with autism. I had a family that I worked with for years who have a son with severe autism and I watched him go through a detox (he had high levels of mercury and other metals in his blood) program as a part of a university research program and oohh boy did his aggression and PICA (eating non-food items) go through the roof.. After the initial phases.. we did see a reduction but it was a painful process for both the child and the family.. his levels did go down.. but ultimately they reintroduced certain foods back into his diet (minus dyes, artificial colors/flavors) since he already had food selectivity, and he started having other health issues (lost too much weight, anemia, etc.)

TaivensMama

03-23-2008, 08:22 PM

Sure tammy....and totally agree amy...it is so hard to stick to because many of them have food sensetivities to begin with, sensory issues, and are so damn picky getting them to eat anything is hard enough...but it's great that it does improve things for some...in others I have heard it is deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals or toxins from household cleansers and such...

tcolera

03-24-2008, 07:35 AM

I fear those diets because like you said spectrum kids are so picky as is. I can count on 2 hands all the things Dakota will eat. Plus he is really skinny already and really can't afford to lose weight. We did for a while remove red dye because it seemed to cause a neon green BM and the doc thought it was a food alergy. But since he has had some red dyes again with no problem. But we will definatley have to talk and see what I could change for him that will still keep him healthy.

TaivensMama

03-24-2008, 02:05 PM

we just stay away from all artificial dyes and preservatives as possible only at birthday parties and such...I used to not allow them at all but the last year or so I have been a little more lax because he already has sooooo many restrictions I can't bare to not let him have cake at a party...