Oscar Blahs

I saw The Matador over the weekend... Pierce Brosnan and Greg Kinnear. I loved it. Brosnan played totally against type and he was fantastic. I really thought he should have gotten an Oscar nomination. It's hard to say who on the Best Actor list he should have replaced, but I am certain there must have been some mistake - he should have been on the list!

And Michelle Williams must win to remind Katie Holmes who was the superior actress on Dawson's Creek.

Jimmy Loves His Grandma

We swung by my mom's house to pick up a textbook I needed for my class. It was late, Jacob was asleep in the backseat, so my mom came out to say hello. Jimmy was visibly happy to see her. We rolled the window down and he said "I want hug." I thought my momma was just going to drop right there. She ran around to the side of the car and gave him a hug. As we pulled away, Jimmy began to cry "Goodbye, Grandma!"

End of Another Week

We will start with a Jimmy story, from school yesterday. Jimmy, who does little more than "I want" phrases and labelling, was having animal crackers at snack yesterday. He asked for the elephant crackers until there were no more elephants. Miss Debby told him she was out of elephants, that he could have a zebra. He looked at the cracker and said, "Well... zebra." With an air of resignation, no less. I have never heard real vocal intonation from him. I keep trying to imagine the scene in my mind. It makes me laugh.

Well, I survived yesterday's interviews... I think the soon-to-be degree overqualified me in the panels eyes for the paraprofessional position at the administrative office. I still hope to eventually work in admin... I very much like the people there.

The second interview was in the neighborhood library as the children's librarian. I very much like the department, the library and the people at the branch. I was breezing through the interview, confident in my answers, until this question was asked:

"Describe to us a successful crafts program that you have lead in the past."

Freeze... wha... wha... what??? Crafts. I didn't learn crafts in library school. My answer sort of reflected that - one of the ladies stopped and said "do you any crafts, have any hobbies?" I about died. What hobbies? I work full time, go to graduate school and change diapers in my spare time. I don't do crafts! I did mention two things - if you have reference books you use, I can do that. I used to run a summer youth center class when I was in high school. We did crafts there. Got through the question, but somehow I expect the craft thing to be a deal breaker.

What I didn't say is that I think crafts shouldn't have a place in the public library, that we should be focusing our programming around the goals of literacy and information literacy. Maybe the head children's librarian saw the question forming in my mind. She explained that "the mothers like them." Oh. I guess in the days of declining library use, we can't be to picky. To get this job, I would paper mache on a regular basis. I can do it. I can leave the high minded library/information sciences school student thing behind. As long as I can eventually do a session with high school students about how Google and the internet are not the be all, end all for your information needs.

I'll get there.

On the agenda for the weekend - reading for my independent study, reviewing 490 for comps, cleaning, laundry, and a Southern Living Party. I am taking Jacob so Jim can have some focused work time with Jimmy. He has skipped talking and gone to reading and spelling. We figure he'll start writing soon. It is then that he will present us with a list of demands that must be met before he will speak in complete sentences.

Swamped

New semester... I should be caught up soon. I also have two interviews on Thursday to prep for, although I want to be in Richmond the same day testifying on behalf of SB241. Supposedly, this thing was killed in subcommittee, but State Senate Ticer breathed life back into it, so it will get a full hearing on Thursday. One of the most pro-child, pro-family, pro-student pieces of legislation I have seen ever for children with disabilities. I really hope it makes it to the floor of the General Assembly.

Happy Birthday...

... to me. I can't lie. I am 36 today and have absolutely no idea how I feel about that number. Oh well...

Jimmy is talking more and more. He is being quite echolalic in his approach to language. It is a common phase in language development, but one that autistic children often get stuck in. He like to learn new words, read, and spell favorites. He has a Leap Pad writing desk that teaches children to write using three letter words. Everytime you get something right, it says either "good job" or "great job." He is also learning greetings like "Hi" and "Goodbye." When he incorporates them, however, it can get a little weird.

Jimmy likes the bathtub, so much so that the only way to get him out of it is to drain the water. Those moments, however, when the water is flowing out, he gets very sad. He'll look at the drain and say "Goodbye water. Great job!"

You have to laugh.

Musings about Jacob

He smiles, honest. It's been a while since I posted a photo of Jake. This is actually an older one, from last spring in Sacramento. He is just huge now. When Jimmy leaves the room, Jacob runs around the house calling out "'Immy, where are ou?" Jimmy probably shouldn't feel too special - he does it for the cat too. Jake is my hope - on the days where I worry about Jimmy somehow not being normal, Jake grabs his brother around the waist, throws him to the ground, and wrestles with him.

This Week Simply Must Be Better Than Last

It may not be possible though. I am turning 36 on Thursday - so begins the downward slide to 40. I have what will likely be my last SEAC meeting, since they don't bother to meet as they are supposed to and it looks like the district will be forcing me out into Manassas or Prince William County next year, neither of which have appropriate programs for my son. Either that or I get to pull him out entirely and try to find a preschool that will deal with therapist visits. That was the greatest source of my frustration last week. Given that we pay what is the highest property tax rate in Northern Virginia, I find it stunning that the school district in this city cannot be bothered to educate my child in the local schools.

Rather than ruminating over last week, we are scheduling an ABA training with Jimmy's lead therapist. Until I can get someone else to pay for it, we are going to have to do it ourselves. Actually, even if we do get some services, we still will have to do some of it ourselves. I am going to get into gear for this semester and start studying for comps. I have too much to do.

I'm Still Here

Sorry for the lack of posting... I have been busy, sick, down, frustrated. Just not a good week. I have company coming, my house is a disaster, and I just want to crawl into bed for a month. I will try to post again over the weekend, hopefully with more (and something good) to say!

The Kirkland Boys Go to Church...

... and nothing bad happens. I went to church with my friend Melanie (also met up with Amy, Mike, and their baby James) for the second time. This time I left both of them in the nursery. Much nicer service. I put Jimmy in the wrong room, but they kept him. He ate snack and even stayed in his seat for the Bible story. Jacob was in the 18 - 29 month old room (yeah, I don't understand that age break either.) He didn't cry once and actually didn't want to leave when I came to pick him up. He was driving one of those Little Tykes cars around the room. Such a boy.

Happy Saturday

I started my day by going back to Weight Watchers. Ever year I say this will be the year, so I will not say that in my post. I was please to find out that I have lost three pounds already since my last doctor's visit a week ago. I met Paige (a recent UT graduate who took a job up here) for lunch - she's so much fun. Women like make me long to a single girl for about a minute. Ultimately, I wouldn't trade family life for anything.

Jimmy and Jake are currently destroying the living room. Jimmy started the day not feeling very well - he took a long nap this afternoon. The most disconcerting thing about Jimmy being sick is the silence. He won't talk, he doesn't cry. He is just listless, glassy eyed, and silent. I hate it. He is feeling better, bringing the Chips Ahoy bag to me, going "I want cookie." Hearing his voice is a relief. He and his brother are playing together, putting together a train track. Another sight I really enjoy seeing.

Not much else to report... I promise more later.

January Fundraiser

When I started this blog, it was pretty much to answer the usual question I got from friends near and far - how's Jimmy doing? With the exception of the occasional Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes rant, I have stuck pretty much to the experience of raising a four year old on the autism spectrum and a very normal two year old. You have all heard me talk about going to Richmond to try to get a bill considered for habilitative care for children like Jimmy, going to legislative town hall meetings to ask that a task force be set up to look at how the state of Virginia can best meet the needs of this growing population of children, going to the school board to ask that the needs of Jimmy and his fellow students be considered as much as any other student's... I want to help all children with autism, yet I am frustrated often because I can't help my own.

In addition to being in an Early Childhood Special Education class, Jimmy receives services from a center call Matthew's Center for Visual Learning. They come into the daycare and home and provide one-on-one therapy and instruction using a method called Applied Behavioral Analysis. These skilled providers don't come cheaply - the rate is $58 an hour. We contract for two to four hours a week, depending largely on what we can afford. The therapist did a recommendation for services stating that he really needs ten hours a week. I can't afford that myself. It's depressing.

When I got today's bill for services, I got a sponsorship commitment letter. Apparently, tax deductible donations can be made to the Matthew' Center can be made to benefit my son. The money would go to pay for the cost of ABA for him. With my head and heart, I believe with 18 to 24 months of these intensive ABA services, he will be able to be in a normal class with some support and eventually not need any support at all. I don't think for one minute he is going to be exactly like everyone else - Lord knows I am not, certainly few in my family would be considered normal - but he would be able to function in school, in society, in life. He'd go to college, get a job, and likely just need a little extra help in getting married off. But he would be okay.

The above link is to a PDF of that sponsorship letter. Please read it, print it off, share it with a friend. Many people do charitable giving over the year to get the tax deduction. All I am asking is, if you would like to, consider giving something small to help Jimmy get the help that he needs. Insurance doesn't cover ABA. I am on my own with this one and need all the help I can to get this therapy for my son. If you give $5 or $50, you don't have to tell me - honestly, I think anyone who knows my son would do this if they could afford to. Not everyone can. I feel so weird in doing this, but I feel like I have to. That it just might help.

Tell your friends... and thank you. Thanks to all my friends who read this to keep up on us - here in Virginia, my UT SIS friends in Tennessee, Georgia, West Virginia and further afield, to my family all over the country, and even to those who don't know us, who have stumbled here quite by accident. I appreciate the interest, support, and ability to vent more than you will ever, ever know.

Jimmy's ENT Appointment

Tubes are still working. One is about to fall out, but about to means sometime springtime. Should get him through the winter months. He is running back and forth currently... Doing well though. More tomorrow.

Just a New Year's Eve Kiss

My husband is way into mixed martial arts (think UFC, Japan's Pride and K-1), so I saw this on the net over the weekend. Apparently, this video is becoming about as mainstream as "Lazy Sunday" (The Chronic... what?... -cles of Narnia...), so I thought I would share. The reason I selected this video is because you can hear a little of what the Texan Heath Herring says. It really is too funny!

A Bundle of... Misery

Okay, this explains a lot. It's an article about how adults with children are more prone to depression than those without them. The article is a vindication of a lot of emotions that I thought were exclusive to my own experience at times, always knowing at least on the intellectual level that I couldn't possibly be alone. Interesting...

A Good Day

Went out the Rist's in Front Royal today. It was relaxing, the kids played well together - a lot of fun. A great way to ring in the new year. Now I have a day to put my house back together before returning to work.