Great News!!!

Jimmy has used the toilet for number 2. The barrier has been broken. He has gone where he has never gone before. Woo hoo!

Yes

From Wednesday's post... Jimmy didn't draw the picture, but he wrote yes in the box!

The Brief Update

Jimmy is still sleeping well. Jacob is developing into a little monster. He fights me every morning, every step of the way. I am trying to figure out what to do about it. At least Jim is getting six or seven hours a night.

Back again... at GMU

Updating from George Mason. I have a class on Wednesday nights now. I am currently sitting in the old reserves room, waiting for Jim to pick up Jimmy (I brought him to campus with me while Jacob is with Diana.) Jimmy is writing on the white board. When I get home, I will add the photo. He just drew a picture of an elephant and wrote "elepant" next to it. One of the student assistants drew a character with a speaking balloon and he wrote in "yes!" I am just blown away.

Things are going better. Jimmy sleeps at night now. We are still trying to get it right, however, as Jimmy got up at 5 a.m. this morning, cutting into my primping and cleaning time. I have to send his doctor an e-mail updating him on the sleep so he can phone in a prescription for the attention issues. But he is doing pretty well. Jim is more rested. I am more rested. Unfortunately, we all have colds, but there isn't much you can do about that this time of year.

Got behind again...

This new job kicks my butt. It really does, but I love it. I just can't believe that I went eight days without posting.

Now, the Jimmy update. He hasn't been sleeping. He stays up until 2:30, regardless of what time we put him down. He just goes until there is nothing left. Yet, we still get him up to go the school at 7:30. He doesn't nap. It's crazy. So, after a week and a half of trying to get a referral out of Kaiser, we have an appointment at Children's tomorrow. I got a sub, since they only time I could get an appointment was 12:00. I am hoping they can give him something to sleep, so we can get him on a real schedule and the 10 - 12 hours a night a child his age needs. It would also enable us to get some sleep - although, in fairness, Jim shoulders most of the burden as I am useless after 10pm.

I guess the upside these days is Jimmy is doing well at the afterschool program. I sent him for a few hours on Monday, since they do holidays at a different facility. Two first graders came over when I picked him up and said they were Jimmy's friends. I went home and cried. I never thought Jimmy might someday have peer friends - he is such an introvert - but I guess it could happen. I thought it would always be just us. Maybe there is hope there too.

How am I doing? Mentally, it's taking a toll. I am exhausted, anxious, and stressed out. I think I am starting to realize, finally, that this might be forever. Not that I am giving up hope on how far he can go, but recognizing the possibility that his life might be limited in scope. It's painful, in a way that most people can't imagine. I have aniexty attacks over my mortality, over him, over what might or might happen. I know I am not in control of this situation and his progress and it has turned into a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach that I can't let go of...

With that said, I assure you I am trying. I am getting some help. I am taking care of my own health, physically and emotionally. I rejoined Weight Watchers and have lost five pounds. Someone at the meeting said about worrying how long it is going to take: "The time is going to pass anyway." They are right. I finally acknowledge that I have a responsibility to take of my kids, probably for a longer period of time than most parents. I won't be able to do that if I am obese and unhealty. I figure to be healthy, I need to lose 70 more pounds. I guess now is as good a time as any - the time is going come and go regardless.

Oh, and I turn 37 tomorrow. Lovely.

I can't believe I just posted my age on the internet.

Should I be worried?

Jim is on the bed, listening to "Strange Brew" by Cream. These kids are wacky - is it nature or nuture?

Jimmy Recovers... sort of...

He got over the flu, but he isn't sleeping well. His doctor from Children's called and scheduled him for Friday for an appointment - if Kaiser can produce a referral. I can't believe this is even a question, but it is. So I have to wait to request a sub until I know if Kaiser will come through. This sucks. And all I want is for him to get more than six hours of sleep a night. Six or seven is all he gets... He basically goes until he crashes at like 1 or 2 am, then we drag him out to go to school. Even on the weekends, we drag him out just to try to get him on some sort of schedule - and we fail miserably. Jim bears the brunt of this and is just fried because of it.

In good news, he is doing okay in the afterschool program. Our therapist had her first session with him at the school and she was pretty positive. It's a huge learning curve for these people, taking him on like that, but I deeply appreciate it. They'll never know how much.

I am off to bed. I should clean. My house is obscenely trashed, but I have no energy. I do have a three day weekend, so there is hope I will get something done.

I'll keep you posted about Jimmy.

Jimmy's Down for the Count

Has a virus. Will likely be staying home tomorrow. I am going to cuddle on him now and try to get him to drink something.

An Interview with Jacob

Yes, I am still behind... It's been a whirlwind of a week. I sat for the VCLA exam this morning. It's a professional assessment. I hope I did well - it was definitely easier than the GRE. No math. A good thing since I haven't seen the inside of a math classroom since 1987.

Jacob said he wanted to talk in this post. So here goes...

So, it's January 6th and 70 degrees out. Enjoying the weather?

Yeah.

Can today be attributed to global warming?

Yeah.

I know the ladies like you, but you have a special girl these days?

Yeah.

Who is she?

Shannon.

Going for the married women these days, I see. Do you think her husband will be jealous?

He's John.

Will John be jealous?

Yeah.

Jacob, why did you just dump the Ritz Bits on the floor?

Because I was putting them out.

Do you think you can put them away?

Yeah.

More with Jacob later, after he picks up the Ritz Bits.

Okay, Okay...

I have been busy. Back to school, back to work, back to daycare...

Jimmy started the afterschool program at Cougar. It's an adjustment for everyone, but I think especially the staff. I don't think they have had anyone quite like Jimmy before. I have been picking him up early this week, which makes no sense from a weather standpoint - if I want to go for a walk, you couldn't have a better week... I am afraid if they have too much Jimmy at once, they would head for the hills.

I started the whole narrative of our trip, but never finished it. I promise I will. Likely sometime Saturday. Saturday morning I have to sit for an exam for my provisional teachers license. I am suppose to meet my Mason friends for dinner at Wegman's on Saturday night. I thought the holiday bustle was over...

More later. I will post later tonight or tomorrow.