Flash is lagging, slow to start, flash loads late. HELP!!!!!!

I have spent several hours searching these forums in order to possibly solve a problem that is haunting many of my projects. I have made many several small animations in flash (.36k-90k) and have embedded them into my slides to interact and play with each slide, usually having them start at the beginning. When I go to export the project and play it (i have tried exporting it in every way possible ie. CD, Online etc.) from slide to slide and rather randomly, all the articulate items will come to life and the flash item won't until several seconds later. Some slides, the flash (.swf) media plays immediately, while on others, it takes about 5 seconds to begin. I am a bit frustrated, because I can't figure out why this is happening. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Things I have tried:

• Insert flash file as video and swf (didn't seem to make a difference)
• build a super small set of slides to see if size was causing the issue. (didn't seem to make a difference)
• Export and play in all different web browsers including flash player (all browsers show same problem)
• Followed all articulate flash recommendations 30 fps., 3.0 script.
• triggering the flash in every way possible, even with start-buttons, flash starts late.

Thank you, thank you to anyone that can add some light to the subject. It is interesting because no matter how small or big the flash file inserted is, on certain pages (and usually randomly), it takes the flash media 5 seconds to load/start, while all other built in storyline actions play, making the timing of the slides media actions out of sync.

As I have watched several of the Articulate examples such as "the green Monster" and there doesn't seem to be any flash lag.

-Jeff