Gifted? Autistic? Or Just Quirky?

The first of the articles the Post ran in the Health section today. The second is a little more interesting to me... It's called Rare No More. The author speaks of his daughter, who was diagnosed in the early 1990's, when it occurred in three of 10,000 children. Now it's 1 in 150.

More snow...

Although, this time I am hoping for a delay, so I can sleep a little longer after the Oscars! Boys are a little stir crazy today.

The update with the Jimmy meeting. They told me sometimes he snaps the belt on the Rifton chair, sometimes they do, just to get him to stay. I told them to move away from the chair and work with the Matthew's Center therapists to get him to do it. I probably should have done what was suggested and tell them no more chair, but I took the middle ground. I am still really mixed on the whole subject.

I met with the head of Special Programs the next day to talk about that meeting and getting Jimmy more services. He is putting him up for FAPT again, this time for VABA with a speech therapist. The public hearing on the school budget is in two weeks and I am getting ready for it now. I will definitely be there - they have to raise the level of services they are providing. Alex, the reporter who put all that hard work into Jimmy's story, found that Manassas Park only spends half what Manassas City spends on children with autism. I don't care how small we are, but if they can afford a new building, they can dig a little deeper and pay for the education Jimmy and his classmates need, with direct and consultative ABA services as well as parent training.

"In My Language" Video

I am going to processing what I saw in this video for a week.

Meet the Rifton Chair

This is the beasty... there is a belt in addition to the tray as well as a pad between the legs.

More on the meeting later.... Jacob is melting down.

Sulu takes on Tim Hardaway

George is the best!!!!

If you are interested in my George story, go here...

http://realityblah.blogspot.com/2005/10/george-comes-out.html

Rifton Chair

I get to meet with my son's school regarding the use of the Rifton chair - it's a mechanical restraint that is used to keep him sitting (think high chair) instead of having him learn to sit and attend. Apparently it's illegal. So I get to go talk to them about it. My son's therapists, who said they would go with me, have now backed out, citing conflict of interest. I am furious.

Yippee!!!!

I don't have to work tomorrow - my school will be closed. But, Jimmy's school is open. Jacob will go to daycare. What does that mean? I have the day off!!! Granted, some of that will be spent on housework (namely cleaning their room - impossible to do with them around), but I am going to read, do some collection development, and plan my garden. Oh, I am happy, happy, happy!!!!!!

Stimmy Jimmy

His stimming behaviors have increased lately. He was under the weather this week, so I am thinking it has something to do with it. But he is stimming with his toys more and talking less. Hopefully next week will be a better week....

Autism Rate in US Higher Than Thought

"The largest U.S. study of childhood autism to date has found that about 1 in 150 have the disorder — a higher prevalence than previous national estimates."

I knew it would go up sooner rather than later...

Another Snow Day...

Jimmy's second day off school in a row. He has a cold and is pretty miserable. I kept Jacob home out of convenience - I don't want to commit to having to go out to today. I don't like cold and snow. Fortunately, we don't get it all that often.

Jimmy is increasingly scripting his language, especially through song. I guess any language is good, but it is a little weird to hear him quote something that you have heard on TV in response to a question.

More later... Jacob is screaming at me. I swear that is the kid's only volume.

The Update

Things have gotten busy yet again. Jimmy's lead therapist met with the head of Special Programs and switched our services from 2 hours of direct service to 4 hours of consultative a week. She had some good points in her argument for doing it, but I am still uneasy. Consulting doesn't ensure that things actually get done. Additionally, what we are getting is still less than other jurisdictions - he needs direct and consultative services. No school system should be allowed to plead poverty when this is what constitutes "a free and appropriate education" for my child. Especially when they have so many capital expenditures...

Jimmy is doing well, though. He is still pooping in the toilet. He hasn't mastered wiping though - I'll spare you the details on that. Jacob is just Jacob. He and I battle every morning getting dressed and dropping him off at daycare. It is quite honestly the worst part of my day. His favorite teacher Shannon's last day was Friday, so I think it will be an even bigger battle of the wills now. Jimmy's signed up for spring soccer and, in the interest of equity, I am looking around for something for Jacob to do. I have to fit it in around my class though. I thought life would slow down post-graduation.

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.