Becky Cook Ulster County, NY- New Paltz, Highland, Marlboro, NY Real Estate

Good news out today from the the New York State Association of REALTORS. The organization announced that home sales were up nearly 12% from April to May.

REALTORS in New York sold 6,623 homes across the state in May. Meanwhile, the median selling price held steady at $210,000. NYSAR chief executive officer says while numbers are still down year-to-year, the month-to-month gain is encouraging. Duncan R. MacKenzie said, "When compared to the national numbers, New York State's housing market is faring better, which is encouraging to see as we head into the summer months." Click here for national sales numbers for May

When compared to May 2007, sales were down 16.8% and the median sales price was down $20,000, from $230,000.

The good news continues here locally. In Ulster County, 82 houses sold in May, 12.3% more than April. The median sale price in Ulster County for May was $258,750. In Orange County, 182 houses sold in May, 15.2% more than April. The median sales price in Orange was $304,962.

Click here to see price data or sales data for another county.

Barbara Carter and Becky Cook Mother/Daughter Team Real Estate Two Together For You

ExiT Realty Services 10 Main Street Suite 424 New Paltz, NY 12561

Barbara (845) 505-3160 Becky (845) 853-4210 Office (845) 255-HOME

Okay- this a long post, but I really hope you'll take the time to read it-

My 3-year-old son, Nathan, has a form of autism. For the past 3 months he has been seeing world renowned DAN! (Defeat Autism Now!) doctor, Ken Bock in Rhinebeck, NY. I cannot tell you how amazingly well Nathan is doing- but I'll try.

Nathan has always been a very sick little boy. He was born a preemie and wasn't breathing at birth- the cord was wrapped around his neck 2 times. He spent 2 weeks in the NICU learning to breathe and eat. Since birth he's pretty much always been sick. Nathan has always been very tired. He slept at least 15 hours every night and would take a 3 hour nap during the day and just drag. A lot of mucus, asthma symptoms, chronic ear infections, either constipated or diaherria, runny eyes, and most troubling of all- migraines. It was so sad to see a 2-year-old little boy lying in bed, refusing to get up, covering his eyes, crying and rubbing his head because his head hurts so badly- this was every day for months.

Last June, Nathan was diagnosed with PDD-NOS- high functioning autistic. He had a few words at the time, very little eye contact, very disconnected, no appropriate play at all. We started him with speech therapy and special instruction. We saw a little improvement, he started using a few signs- please, more. Then in the fall, we added the developmental toddler playgroup at 123 PLAY in Highland. In October, I put him on the gluten free/casein free diet. We got a little more eye contact, and a lot more words. In November, we started ABA. We've seen amazing progress with ABA. He learned to say full sentences and really communicate his needs. We've also added occupational and physical therapies.

Then in February we started seeing Dr. Bock. I was nervous- it is VERY expensive- but I could not at least try it. On our first visit, we went through Nathan's complete medical history, he recommended some supplements (probiotics, fish oil, calcium and magnesium, Vitamin E), he also put Nathan on Nystatin- an anti-fungal medication, because Nathan had been on antibiotics 27 times in less than 3 years of life. Then we did A LOT of blood work. We tested for every vitamin deficiency, and every type of allergy.

After that first visit, I was really stressed out- what if he was allergic to our dogs? What if it was our house and we had to move right away? No matter what the tests came back with- we would do what we needed to help our little boy.

We went back in April. We found out Nathan is highly allergic to eggs- his absolute favorite food. No other allergies- thank God we can keep our house and our dogs!!!! We also found out that Nathan had absolutely no good bacteria in his bowels. He was also overrun with yeast. All the antibiotics killed the good bacteria, and yeast took over. He was deficient in many different vitamins, and severely anemic. We added more supplements and completely removed eggs from his diet (now he's off eggs, gluten and casein- although he's not allergic to gluten or casein his body cannot digest them properly due to the problems in his bowels).

The past 6 weeks have been amazing. We all know the awful virus going around- our entire family got it. When I took him to the pedicatrian, he checked Nathan's ears. For the first time in Nathan's life, a doctor looked in his ears and they were completely clear- fine. We went to Florida for 2 weeks. No therapies or school at all for 18 days. Nathan didn't backslide at all.. in fact he continued to improve. Now he sleeps about 10 hours at night and rarely naps- maybe 2 days a week. He doesn't get headaches. He's playing at age approriate levels. He plays pretend. And here's the part that brings tears to my eyes- he talks to me. He truely talks to me. The other day, he asked me, "What's the matter?" when I was choked up watching him play. Then he asked me for a hug. He laughs, he gets jokes. When I pick him up at school, he looks me in the eye and says, "Hi mommy-let's go home!!" Just 3 months ago his face was blank- now there's a smile, and actual recognition. Even Dr. Bock is amazed. We are still awaiting the results of his heavy metal test. But given how well Nathan is doing, Dr. Bock said even if the tests do come back with some signs of heavy metal- we won't do chelation- because his little body is working it out.

I know that this doesn't happen with every child. I know that not everyone believes that biomedical treatment works. I know this is an expensive course of treatment and few people can afford it (we can't). I know that I am truely blessed and that God has given me a gift- and I have to share it with everyone. Even our ABA therapist said in 13 years of doing this she has NEVER seen such amazing improvement over such a short period of time. If you or some you know has been effected by autism, please share our story with them. Dr. Bock is not the only DAN! doctor, you can find more on their website at http://www.autismwebsite.com/aRI/dan/dan.htm or you can buy Dr. Bock's book-"Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma and Allergies". He wrote the book with the intention that people would take it to their pediatrician and go through treatment with their regular pediatrician.

Nathan still has a way to go, we're going to continue to see Dr. Bock and continue with therapy. But I know that even if he doesn't improve any more, I have done everything. I have fought this with everything I have- and whoever Nathan grows up to be will be fine with me!!!