It has been a crazy few weeks. Right now I am just grateful that I have only three weeks of school until the two week winter break.
Not that it is not going to be chocked full of appointments. I am managing to schedule all manner of doctor's visit in before the first of the year. Jimmy will be getting set five of ear tubes two days before Christmas. I feel pretty horrible putting him through surgery right before Santa, but he had two ear infections in five weeks in October/early November. I think having him on antibiotics so frequently is not good for him. So we go forward with round five...
I thought I was going to wind up under the knife as well. I went to a GYN because they found endometrial cells in my last pap (in the continuing quest to figure out where my abdominal pain is coming from) and I am back on birth control pills. He thinks endometriosis is unlikely, but I went mid-cycle and he was shocked at how I described my cycles. So even though my tubes are tied, I am on the pill again to regulate my cycles. He also has me thinking about a uterine ablation, which means that I would never get the monthly again (or if I did, it would be a shadow of its former self.) It is something to think about and I am doing just that... I will likely decide over the next few days. Even though I have no intention of having children again (thus the tubes being tied), the ablation further cements that decision. For a woman, it's pretty major. But I every 21 days, I am completely debilitated for a day or two by this function of nature. Maybe I shouldn't tinker with nature, but in terms of quality of life, getting those days back, even that whole week back where I don't go to the gym or the pool and I avoid really physical things... maybe it is worth it for me, worth it for my kids. But turning your back forever on the whole childbearing thing... It's hard... T, your thoughts would be appreciated!!!
All is going well in autism world, at least in mine. The Virginia bill that would mandate coverage made it out of the commission mid-month and will go a subcommittee and the hopefully the floor of the General Assembly. Just making it out of the commission is HUGE! Also, on November 5th, Barack Obama and Sen. Durbin introduced the Autism Treatment Acceleration Act of 2008, which addresses health insurance (though I am unclear if it just federal policies or what) and other issues related to the research and treatment of autism. The change that was most important for me and my son began the day after Obama's election. That is just huge. Talk about keeping your campaign promises!!!! I know there is some legislative assistant sitting on the Hill who worked his butt of drafting this - to him and his colleagues, I say thank you!!!! Hopefully, this can be passed and fully funded and implemented. You know the minute insurance companies have to pay for treating autism, there will be more money and time invested to finding treatments and cures for kids like Jimmy. Insurance companies would rather find a cure than throw money at kids like my son forever. I truly believe with action, it can happen.
Jimmy also had his first IQ test, to rule out mental retardation. It is sort of a requirement before we get him on the developmental delay waivers list to get additional help for him. They did. The report states that he is at least of average intelligence. IQ tests generally have sections that rely on verbal responses and others that are task driven. Jimmy can't do much with a verbal response, so to get an average score, it means he had to blow away that which required demonstration. I am thrilled with the results. Again, if there is a treatment or a cure that make him less stimmy, more verbal, more normal, have at least an average IQ gives him a place to begin in learning skills and being able to be a contributing member of society.
That's all I have for now. I owe you all some pictures and will try to get them up in the next day or so. Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoys the next few weeks as we roll on into the end of the year.
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