Archive for » December, 2009 «

Free article directory may be above board compared to others

By Jenn
18
Dec
2009

27I was offered the opportunity to review the home and family articles from Article Alley. At first I was unsure because in my experience many of the article submission sites are full of repeated false information. If not false, it’s often just misleading.

So, I took a look and am pleasantly surprised.  There were pages worth of information about the search term “special needs” and though I didn’t delve deep into each one, they look to be above the level I’ve seen on other sites.

One of the great things about this site is that you can use most of the articles for your own blog or online venue as long as you keep the author information in place.

 

This is a paid post, however the opinion stated is not influenced by the opportunity. Why isn’t it influenced? Because I haven’t actually been paid yet.

Category: parenting, products  Tags: , ,  One Comment

Santa’s little helpers drive a fire truck

By Jenn
17
Dec
2009

About 2 weeks ago I got a call oen a Sunday evening from someone who said they were with our local charity organization that supplies food and gifts for the less fortunate during the holidays. She said my daughter’s name had been suggested as a family who might benefit from the supplies which included food and gifts. (I said that already, sorry)

So, she talked with me some more and asked if I had other kids so I told her about Nove, who has Autism spectrum disorder. The lady verified ages and then wanted to know if we would rather pick up the items or have them delivered by the town firefighters.

Are. you. Kidding? I almost jumped up and down myself because Nove LOVES the firefighters and their truck even though it has bright lights and a loud horn and siren. She’s been to the station with her school, tried on the firefighter coat and hat, and even stood in their humongous boots.

Tonight was the night! I had warned her that Santa’s helpers would be coming by and that they’d be driving a firetruck. She thought the elves would be driving it, and then asked if she could open a gift when they brought them.

After dinner, Gramma came down the hallway and said she heard something so we opened the door to flashing lights and 2 matching firefighters named Cory. Okay, not exactly matching, but they really were both named Cory. Nove wasn’t shy and was hopping and up down while showing them to the kitchen to put down the over sized box of food.

I asked if she wanted to go see the truck closer and one of the Corys put her in the driver’s seat, then they let her push some buttons which made the variety of horns blare! I feel bad for my neighbors tonight. She was giddy! I forgot the camera. Dangitalltoheck!

I really wish I’d had the camera because it’s been a while since I’ve seen her so happy. It made my day and I think it made hers.

Now, we didn’t exactly need the food and gifts, but, I tend to let my pride get in the way sometimes and have put off my own health care for far too long. If I don’t have to buy some groceries for a week because someone was nice enough to donate some to me, I need to learn to accept help no matter where it comes  from.  I also don’t have the money to buy the experience of the big firetruck, lights blazing with horn honking ability, even if it were available to buy.

That my friends is the Christmas spirit, small town style. 

100_1594Apparently this was a long day. She was out by 8pm. She even said “I want to get into my bed now”.

Category: autism, parenting, sensory integration  One Comment

All the pretty meetings

By Jenn
15
Dec
2009

Stress-AntiStressKitSo, today I talked with a coach about why my business has fallen apart. I blame it on my children. Isn’t that convenient?

Anyway, I explained that before this last year, I had no outside help for Nove. No group, no camp, no case managers and counselors…… And I had all kinds of Time!

Now, we have meetings, meetings about meetings. She has groups, and counseling, and case management visits (when her support makes it).

So, yeah, that’s why my business has been slowly declining…… I don’t have time! Even my weekends have been blown to hell thanks to the ex and his crappy job. He’s rarely here on weekends like he used to be because his truck broke down 4 states away, or he is stuck waiting on a load.

Speaking of meetings. Tomorrow is her 3 year evaluation. I’m not sure what’s up, what to expect, or what kind of bomb shell will be dropped. With all the school budget cuts, I’m afraid she’ll lose support and that will not be good. She nearly failed (well, she did fail) and got kicked out of school last year without the supports she now has.

We’ll hear from the new district autism expert though. That could be interesting. We had a meeting with her shortly after school began and we filled out a survey type thing….. kind of like a Connors assessment but geared for more autistic like behaviors. I can’t remember what it was called.

So, if we survive this meeting, then we get to go to her case management team’s official therapist for a visit, which is new.We are required to meet with her once  every 6 months even though we have a family therapist (for nearly 3 years now). She’s nice though, so it should be okay.

But, when am I supposed to get anything done? I have a car that needs major attention, I might not be able to drive to these appointements!

Walking won’t work in this cold. No. It. Won’t. Work.

Category: autism, parenting  Tags: ,  Leave a Comment

Anxiety meds one week later

By Jenn
15
Dec
2009

100_0628Are they working? The anti-anxiety meds  I don’t know exactly.

I’ve seen a different child in the mornings this week, but (it’s a BIG but) she goes through stages anyway.  So, maybe she’s really bi-polar and just on the upside of the roller coaster?

Or, maybe the medicine is working…….

Your guess is as good as mine.

Category: autism, medicine, parenting  Tags: ,  Leave a Comment

Anti-psychotic meds for an 8 year old?

By Jenn
09
Dec
2009

100_1531I took Nove to the doctor yesterday after months of discussion and worry. We talked to the doctor about having her start on anti-anxiety meds. She’s only 8 but has strong anxiety about everything. I assume it is  part of her autism. There may be some ADD also, but we have to start with one thing here.

Anyway, the medicine is an anti-psychotic (sounds lovely, huh) and while there is risk with any medicine given, if it helps her not worry about everything (I’m not exaggerating) , then it’s okay.

Of course I’m worried about it.

 It took me a very long time to do this and I hate pills or drugs, so it wasn’t done lightly. We talked with our therapist who has a son with autism and now that I think back, it might have been him who brought up the idea last year.

For anyone who wants to tell me what to do, I say, YOU come  live my life and see how well you deal with it. No, no, I’m kidding. That would probably just incite even more anxiety for Nove since she doesn’t know you.

I have some kind of anxiety myself. What am I doing to my children? They both are on drugs! But, I have to remind myself that it isn’t just me dealing with her behaviors, or lack of behavior. The school sees it, and her dad sees it on weekends and even my boyfriend’s sister who took Nove to the zoo saw it. Apparently Nove couldn’t go through a cave on her own, but they couldn’t turn back because there were too many people behind them.

So, we’ll try this for a while. Keeping close watch over her for added symptoms or bad behaviors exagerated.

Keep your fingers crossed for me, will you?

Category: autism, medicine, parenting  Tags: ,  One Comment

Busy Body Book scheduling and planner review

By Jenn
08
Dec
2009
100_1583

BusyBodyBook Wall Calendar

I asked to test and write a review on this product for a couple of reasons. Nove has trouble understanding what day comes next, and weeks or months are even more troublesome for her.

My hope was that this type of system which not only allows for future viewing like a typical calendar does- it also shows every family member’s schedule, would help her to “get” time lines.

I’m not sure how much you can actually see in my photo, but that is 2 weeks worth of planner.

My mom wrote out the schedules for everyone and then we showed Nove. Each page, has one week’s worth of days. On the top page, my Nove crossed off the days she had gotten through. She also crossed out the days her sister, her gramma and I had gotten through. 

It became a bed time activity and is (I think) helping her not be so anxious about what comes next.

There are 7 rows for up to 7 people and the days of the week move down from the left side of the page. So, when we wrote out our schedules, My youngest, my oldest, my, and my mom’s days are listed from left to right.

The girls’ days are marked with school, after school activities, groups and even what type of school day it is. (ie: art, music, gym). My days are marked with work and doctor appts. or case management meetings.

This way, we see what each of us has and how to schedule each thing.

Here’s some stats on the wall calendar: 

  • two six-months-months-at-a-glance pages to help plan ahead for the holidays, vacations, or special events
  • a page for next year’s important appointments and events
  • key contacts pages for your emergency contact information and the phone numbers of doctors, coaches or babysitters
  • a 4-inch pocket on the inside back cover to hold important papers, receipts or coupons

    •  

    100_1581

    BBB Weekly Grid Pad

     This desk set is a really versatile planner. I made one just for Nove, but she didn’t take to it like she did to the big one where she can see every one’s schedule all at once.

    So, I made one for my business scheduling. In addition to trying to write for this blog, I also write for several other places and run a makeup business. Sometimes I lose track of what I’m doing and this is helping!

    You can see more review info at AlexShares.

     

    I was sent these products in exchange for testing and reporting on my experience with them. I am in no other way associated with the products or company and my opinions of the products are only based on my personal experience.

    Category: parenting, products  One Comment

    She just wasn’t home

    By Jenn
    04
    Dec
    2009

    100_1560100_1559last night was Nove’s 2nd grade Christmas concert. This is the 3rd year she’s performed with her class on stage with the lights, the audience, the noise. She’s typically done okay in this situation, meaning no melt downs or over anxiety.

     

     

     

     

    On the way in, she was happy to be there, if a little worried that we were late. We were not late, and after 3 seconds of panic when she thought she heard her class mates on stage, she walked into the band room and saw them all. Instant calm.  She sat where her teacher said to sit. Then another teacher gathered her and some classmates for a photo opp.

     

    100_1561 Not that they wanted their pictures taken.

    So, I told her I loved her, and have a good time. Then I went to sit with my older daughter and my mom in the auditorium.

    100_1562

    We thought we’d sit on the front row so Nove could see us, but we couldn’t see past the row of flowers! So, we moved up, and then across the way, and then up one more time. However, it was perfect because when the kids came out, we were directly across from Nove who saw us and waved.

    100_1565

    That’s her inside the circle.

    Here’s the sad part. last year at her concert, she was engaged in the process. She sang, she did the actions, and she was “on”. But, like her first year on stage, this year no one was home. Actually, she was visiting somewhere else……

    For the almost 20 minutes on stage, she was sliding her butt and back along the railing and looking to the left. I found out her crush was on the left side of the stage and she kept looking to see what he was doing. I can’t blame her, he has great hair! She’s the one in purple, top row, looking to the left in most of the pictures below.

    100_1567100_1569100_1571100_1573

    When she wasn’t looking at him, she was looking up at the ceiling or at nothing at all. She barely sang, and barely did any of the actions.

    100_1575

    And this, my friends, is what it’s like living with her too. We never know how much she’ll be involved, how engaged, or how much “in her head” she’ll be.

    Category: autism, sensory integration  Leave a Comment

    Today wasnt so bad

    By Jenn
    02
    Dec
    2009

    I still had to pretty much drag Nove out of bed, but at least it wasn’t a fight. She was being very clingy so she had to hug me as I tried to walk us into the living room.

    Then, she wanted help (no, she wanted me to do it all!) with getting dressed. But, she allowed me to dress her and wanted to cuddle before we had to leave. She even let me out of her sight for a while so I could get dressed and go warm up the car.

    When she got off the bus she was being her typical not – so – verbal 2nd grade self though. She refused verbally and physically to let me zip her coat andlet me tell you, it was 2 degrees from freezing. The kind of cold where it’s nearly 10 degrees colder in the shade and in the wind. But she did not even notice. This is typical for her also.

    However, I got myself a nice new short coat today and I was toasty except where my nose stuck out. For the record, I haven’t had a new warm coat in years. The one I’ve been wearing is about 2 sizes too big and is a heavy cotton canvas barn style coat. Because it is big, the cold rushes in around the hands and neck so it never kept me very warm, despite being a really nice jacket.

    Anyway, back to the story……….

    Wednesdays, she has a drum group after school through her case management system. Her driver came a little late and Nove wasn’t sure she wanted to go, but Zeta and I convinced her. Again, I had to put her shoes on. (this girl KNOWS how and CAN dress herself)

    She had a good time, got along with the other boys in the van and did well at group according to Zeta, upon her arrival home. She even told me that her class went to the high school today to practice for their Christmas concert which is tomorrow night.

    But, she wouldn’t tell me anything about anything directly after school. That’s so typical of her.

    Category: autism, parenting, sensory integration  Leave a Comment

    Fighting to go to school

    By Jenn
    01
    Dec
    2009

    So, today wasn’t much different than yesterday in that Nove didn’t want to go back to school.  But, I was able to fight her, and it IS a fight.

    I had to physically drag her out of her bed. (no amount of bribery, or threats got her out of bed. She tucked arms and legs under her body so I couldn’t get a hand hold) Then when she scrambled into mine, I had to drag her off it too. The  problem is that she’s gotten pretty big and my arm and shoulder are really screwed up. So, I dropped her close to the edge of my bed and she fell to the floor. (now don’t cringe, it’s carpeted and my bed is low to the ground) However, she landed funny, half on her face and kinda flipped over.

    This made her angry and it probably hurt, so she lashed out at me, then at her gramma when she tried to help.

    Now, before you get all judgmental – I asked her nicely, I said “lets go watch tv for a while” ” do you want some breakfast?” and a lot of other niceties, but to no avail. Then I had to start with threats ” those books you chose last night? I can’t get them for you if you don’t get up and go to school without a fight. ” “That was our agreement!” Nothing made a difference.

    Can you understand why I don’t fight everyday? I really just want to cry, hide in bed and cry. If this is autism (including anxiety, ocd, oppositional defiance) then I don’t want it. (not that anyone does)

    So, after feeling guilty for not pushing her into school yesterday, or last week before the holiday break, today I feel even worse for having to force her physically to school. I know the difference, my older daughter isn’t like this, never was like this.

    I’m going to go hide under the covers and give in to the hole in my chest right now. The dark, dark hole.

     

    This will be a chronical of my child’s issues with school – Is it hard work, social discomfort, or something else?

    Category: autism, parenting  4 Comments