In a former post, I wrote about the concerns regarding the secondary testing at some airports using the Backscatter X-Ray, also known to some as the “Naked X-Ray”. Personally, I think that concerns over privacy are a bit overrated due to the circumstances which show need for such a device. My safety is worth more to me than some male or female sitting in a room making sure that I am not carrying anything that can be potentially harmful to my flight.

New concerns, written in todays USA Today, are regarding the safety of such devices. I have to wonder if this is anything like other articles that are written in this particular media platform, poorly researched. So far this morning, I have found that this is just another way to scare the unknowing public into thinking that this is a horrible thing. I can see if airports decided to use this as a primary measure of security, however, if it is used as a secondary means after failing the first metal detector, then it is actually a time saver.

I cannot tell you how many times I have had to wait inside this enclosed glass 4×3′ “room” (exaggeration), while other travelers are walking past me staring probably wondering what I did wrong, waiting for up to 10 minutes for some “female assist” to decide it’s worth her time to come over and frisk me. At times, I wish that the closest male agent could just do it and get it over with. Some are very good. The search is quick, respectful and only necessary. Others, I have offered to tip and come back the next day! They run their hands, using the back of them over sensitive areas, along your legs, arms, back and any other areas that beep when the wand detects metal. I have even had one call out that my skirt was “awfully short” and she didn’t know how she was supposed to do it. How is this anymore intrusive?

I am a flight attendant so I go through this every day that I am at work.

Back to the safety of the machines. Unlike the x-rays that are used on luggage, which are usually a dual energy x-ray system, which passes through the items, the backscatter machine uses x0ray protons that bounce off of the objects. Depending on the item they “hit”, a different pattern is made and is more specific that with the pass through method. Although the American Science and Engineering, Inc., shows a little bit higher

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Have you ever imagined what life would be like trapped inside your own body? What if you couldn’t communicate properly to express even your most basic needs and wants?

Well, it seems that the iPad is giving children with Autism and their parents a new opportunity at life. Read more here:

http://www.sfweekly.com/2010-08-11/news/ihelp-for-autism/1/

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Sometimes my husband feels weak or light headed all of a sudden. He thinks his blood sugar is low and I am pretty sure that he fells a little better after he eats something sweet. Does this automatically mean that he is hypoglycemic? Could it mean that he has diabetes? Since he just had a physically for surgery, I would hope that the blood work would have revealed something.

Let’s visit webmd.com and see what they have to say, shall we?

Your liver controls the amount of blood sugar goes into your blood stream, the kidneys filter the blood and your pancreas produces insulin, which is the hormone that your body uses keep the blood sugar in a normal range. If you have an underlying problem with any of these, this could be the culprit.

Medicines can also cause the problem, such as anti-depressant, malaria medicines and aspirin. Oh, I will have to ask how much aspirin he is taking!

Does anyone in your family have metabolic problems? Have you had any stomach surgery? These are some things to take into consideration.

While I would love to believe a piece of candy is all you need, you should probably see the doctor for the above reasons. Sorry.

According to the webmd site these are the symptoms:

• Mild hypoglycemia can make you feel hungry or like you want to vomit. You could also feel jittery or nervous. Your heart may beat fast. You may sweat. Or your skin might turn cold and clammy.
• Moderate hypoglycemia often makes people feel short-tempered, nervous, afraid, or confused. Your vision may blur. You could also feel unsteady or have trouble walking.
• Severe hypoglycemia can cause you to pass out. You could have seizures. It could even cause a coma or death.

So, pick up the phone and make that call for your own good!

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Today I am in Boston, Massachusetts. When we walked into the hotel, I noticed an event for Autism going on and had to check it out. Unfortunately, I missed the conference and Dr. Amy Yasko speaking from the Neurological Research Institute, LLC. I did get to talk to some of the women working the event and another Mother that was there and overheard our conversation. I was really disturbed to hear that this Mom’s daughter was growing typically for the first 6 years of her life until her 6 yr shots. Shortly after the vaccinations, be it a coincidence or a horrible blow to the child’s immune system, the girl began to bang her head on the floor. This completely disturbs me because my conclusion that Autism usually strikes by the age of 4 years old is shot.

Enter in Nutrigenomics and Biochemical Individuality Testing.

Not only is this used to check the DNA of each person or child as an individual to find what is not working correctly and the supplements needed to try and correct the problems, but it can also be used to prevent injury within the body based upon each persons individual needs using something as simple as diet and nutrition.

Although the FDA’s intentions are good, they are possibly outdated and with the constant developments in science and how our bodies perform as individual beings, why would we rely on an antiquated system. If you take a look at each person and their outward appearance, you would notice that there are differences in each one. Only siblings that run into the identical twin, triplet, ect, area are closest to exactly alike, which is not even always the case. One may have something as simple as an eyebrow that tilts to the left while their identical twin’s eyebrow tilts slightly to the right. So, what makes us think that our insides would be the same either. Even as with the example of twins, they are transforming into full grown beings from an egg in the mothers womb in separate areas. And, they are doing just that. Growing. How is it possible even in all of God’s glory to guarantee that each cell is growing at the same pace?

The FDA recommends a certain percentage of each “normal” persons diet consist of a certain amount of meats, dairy, vegetables and grains along with minerals and vitamins. However, what is considered “Normal” and how is this consideration made?

If each persons internal body works differently, then how can one classification be made so generalized?

By using biochemical individuality testing, we can find out exactly how each person is performing within their own body and how to keep it running as a well oiled machine. Even as in an automobile, if everything inside that works to keep the car moving is not performing at its best, there will almost always be problems. Even something as simple as not having enough air in the tires can throw it off and cause a bald spot, reduce fuel mileage and eventually even cause an accident that can cause death. This is a MACHINE! Man-made from metal and plastic. Although the human body is also a machine, it’s internal parts are much more expansive and necessary for a person to live and function properly and needs great care. So, why would you leave to something too general and one size fits all?

The recommended daily amounts of vitamins and minerals again, are based upon studies performs decades ago to help prevent illnesses such as Scurvy and Rickets and do not take into account the poor diet of todays society as well as nutrient depleted soil. With the array of new diseases since the 1940′s, I personally think that it would be a good idea for the FDA to take a look into the 20,000 or more studies based on higher doses of vitamins and minerals than they originally recommended and still do today. Each condition comes with it’s own needs for different supplements and needed levels of each one.

With the Biochemical Individuality testing, the levels needed are perfected to each person. I have to wonder that if a parent has a child on the Spectrum and decides to have another child, would it be beneficial for them to have the newborn tested as soon as possible to help prevent similar occurrences?

Image via Wikipedia

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Autism Speaks held a walk in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 22nd, 2010 that I had the privilege to take part in. I wasn’t really sure what to expect and it turned out better than I could have ever expected. When my Mom, who flew up from Florida to join me in the event, and I got to Coney Island, we were not sure what to expect. Hundred’s of people gathered together to support the cause with Q102 and the Jeff and Jenn show hosting the function. Refreshments from Starbucks Coffee along with bananas, bottled water, ice cream and hotdogs were available to participants. Star Wars characters and the Cincinnati Reds baseball mascot were there also to entertain the kids.

Students from Oak Hills High School football team and marching band offered music during the walk as and barriers to help direct traffic and guard the lake to prevent any accidents.

One of the best parts of the event for me was when a young girl walked on to the stage to sing. Shy and unassuming, she appeared on stage with no expression on her face and a doll in her hand. I quietly smiled and was proud that she got on stage at all. Suddenly the music started (It’s the climb by Miley Cyrus) and she began to sing with a voice that I would have never imagined coming from this child. This child with Autism. It’s not that I thought that there was anything wrong or incapable about her however, I still have a lot to learn and have not had much experience with the vocal abilities of a child with Autism. As she sang, tears started to form in my eyes until they flooded down my mascara stained cheeks. After she sang and walked off of the stage, a grin from ear to ear delighted the face of this beautiful girl so proud of herself and the applause. I found out from her Mother  that doctors said she would never walk or talk!  Imagine and embrace the fact that doctor’s do not know everything but God is in charge at all times.

Thank you to Autism Speaks and Q102 for an amazing event that brought thousands of people together to share, learn and give back and for allowing me to join in the celebration of life.

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As some of you may already know, my Mom and I participated in a walk for the Autism Speaks foundation with Q102 last Saturday. I wasn’t really sure what to expect since the only children with Autism that I have been around were screaming and trying to get away from the adult with them. I asked another Mom with an autistic child who told me that it would be a great event and very fun. She was right! Just in case, there were team mates from a local highschool football team to guard certain areas like the lake at Coney Island, where the event was held.

Almost no crying, no running away and no temper tantrums that I noticed. Whoa! I still have a lot to learn. The spectrum was wide and I could tell (only due to knowing what to look for) what some of the children’s limitations were. One of the highlights for me was when a little girl named Leslie Howell got up on stage to sing. She held a doll in her hand and stood really still with almost no expression on her face. With a microphone in the other hand she began to sing “It’s the Climb”, by Miley Cyrus beautifully. Only about 10 seconds into the song, I could feel the tears surfacing in my eyes until I was outright crying. The words to that song couldn’t have described these kids any better. Walking down the stairs, a smile from ear to ear painted the face of this beautiful miracle that just sang in front of us. Offering hugs to everyone that wanted one, I accepted. I told her Mom who I was and why I was crying to find out that the doctors said her daughter would never walk or talk! This proves my point over again that doctors cannot predict God and his awesomeness!!!!!

Leslie Howell

So now, I am on to studying how these children with Autism are so socialized compared to the little boy that I saw in the grocery store or the boy with my next door neighbor both fighting to get away.

Enter Dr. Laurie LeComer, M. Ed. with her new book, The Socially Included Child: A Parent’s Guide to successful Playdates, Recreation, and Family Events for Children With Autism.

First things first. You will need to find out more about your child with Autism by watching and writing certain things down for them on paper. It shouldn’t be too hard to do. Keep the paper with you if you need to so that you can write down a situation when it happens. Let’s get started:

List 5 of your child’s favorite objects and activities:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

List 5 of your child’s non-favorite objects and activities:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Take a couple of days and find two times during the day when your child is most likely to enjoy interaction with others. Two times best to avoid social situations.

1.

2.

1.

2.

List three adjectives that describes your child’s desired type of playing (active, quiet, artistic, indoor, outdoor, ect.).

1.

2.

3.

If a child with Autism anticipates a sensory discomfort, he/she may experience intense anxiety and try anything to get out of it including “misbehaving”.

When does your child become excited? ___________________________________________________________________________

When does your child become scared?

___________________________________________________________________________

List three ways that your child likes to be touched:

1.

2.

3.

List three ways that your child does not like to be touched:

1.

2.

3.

Are there different ways that your child reacts to different sensory experiences?

Sounds:

______________________________________________________________________________

Lights:

______________________________________________________________________________

Voices:

______________________________________________________________________________

Motion:

______________________________________________________________________________

Heat:

______________________________________________________________________________

Cold:

______________________________________________________________________________

Eating:

______________________________________________________________________________

Drinking:______________________________________________________________________________

Touching:______________________________________________________________________________

Toileting:______________________________________________________________________________

Clothing:

______________________________________________________________________________

Riding in a car/van:

______________________________________________________________________________

Other:

______________________________________________________________________________

Now, think about what your child does well/does not do well. Will your child join peers in an activity by his/herself or do they need help? Is s(he) high or low in sensory, verbal, visual, communication?

List three things that you think your child may enjoy.

1.

2.

3.

List three things that your child may not enjoy.

1.

2.

3.

What are two immediate reinforcers and two delayed reinforcers that your child responds to?

Immediate:

1.

2.

Delayed:

1.

2.

Could it be the workout that I did three days ago now or the fact that I haven’t had my Prednisone for a couple of days? Yes Mom, it’s waiting for me at the pharmacy and no I don’t need money . I think that I left my container of pills in Kansas City along with my gold earrings! I have the even more important ones so as long as I don’t hurt like this for the walk this weekend, I’ll be happy. But in the mean time, oh my!

I walked quickly back and forth in the 3ft pool in D.C. and then the next day did seat “kisses” (control sitting without actually sitting down all the way and return to standing position), pliés and calf raises. The next day, I could really feel it. When I say “really feel it”, read “Oh my goodness I can barely stand up without crying”! Yeah. In some sick and twisted way, I think that if I don’t hurt the next day then I didn’t work the muscles enough. This is a little ridiculous though. So, I ask myself, “Is it really the workout or the Fibromyalgia“? Of course, could it be the lack of Prednisone that is either causing it or exaggerating the pain?

I wanted to work out again today but am afraid if I do that I won’t be in any condition to walk in the Autism Speaks Now walk this Saturday at Coney Island (Cincinnati, Ohio)! What do you think?