Father/Daughter Valentine's Dance

Jon and the girls got all dolled up and headed to the Father/Daugther dance at St. John's (where Mattie goes to school) tonight. They were all super excited. I wish I could be a fly on the wall to video tape it. After the dance they are going out to eat. How fun! I pulled out a ruby/diamond heart necklace that Jon had given me about 10 years ago and told Alison how special it was to me and that I thought she was old enough to borrow it tonight. She was so excited and I even got the I love you mom and a big hugh. Aaah! Here is a quick pic of them right before they left.

Bring on the Soccer!

For the last two years Mattie has cried on the sidelines because she wasn't old enough to play soccer. Well, now she is and had her first practice last Friday night. Next Saturday is her first game. Jon is coaching with a friend of ours, Ron Zunker, and I think they did a great job with the kids. I can't imagine coaching 4-5 year olds at soccer. It all went well and Mattie had a great time. Jon got her this outfit. Is she too cute or what? Good job, daddy!

The University!

Someone said something at the Autism meeting last night that I liked.

Having a child on the autism spectrum is like going to that University you never wanted to go to or pay for in the first place!

There is so much information to absorb and learn and wade through it is overwhelming. Living with a child on the spectrum no matter how intelligent and dealing with them on a daily basis is a huge undertaking let alone all of the background work you have to do in order to get them services and the help they require and deserve. Children can overcome some of their difficulties and lead productive lives and even go to college. My child is going to be one of those! But boy, do they make the getting there difficult to obtain.

Slap in the face!

That is what I got last night so to speak, a great big slap in the face and back and forth a few times as well. I am so overwhelmed with everything that I don't even know where to begin with Austin. All of the paperwork and evaluations and IEP's and BIPS's and so forth are extremely detailed, lengthy, wordy, and downright confusing. I read everything and it all starts swimming before me. We have a huge ARD coming up where they are going to discuss the future of Austin at the school. They have evaluated him under the Autism diagnosis for the school. (see this is different from a doctor that is trained to do this, whole other story) We don't know what they are going to say but we have a pre-meeting on 2/14. I really don't even know what to ask for them to put in his IEP (individual education plan) and feel ignorant and helpless. Well, last night I got off my butt and went to the NW- Houston Autism Chapter meeting with another mom. (her child has autism and is in Austin's class) She was so helpful it was amazing. Now, I have to say that she did contact me last April to help me when word got around from her neighbor that Austin had been diagnosed. I never responded as I didn't know here and was probably scared to death, nonetheless I am out of my hole now. At the meeting they went through Austin's entire file (in the new binder I was told how to put together before I arrived, very organized now) ask me tons of questions, told me how to break down the reports to get him the help he deserves. Told me how to respond and request help from the school in their language. Made sure I understand that I better become a bigger voice for my child and advocate for him. Made sure I knew that they were there to help me and could advise me through the process. I mentioned some issues we were having such as: Austin coming home with holes in his shirts. He is poking a pencil through them. The lady says, here is what that tells me: 1) he is not focusing on any instruction if he is poking holes in his shirt and 2) he is not receiving as much attention from the para's as he needs if he has time to poke holes in his shirt. Duh, why didn't I think of that. I knew something was off but not sure what. Anyway, I could go on and on but basically I accepted the slap (or two) and am moving forward with a lot more knowledge.

The subject last night was on HB 1919 which is the insurance bill in Texas for Autism. Didn't really apply to me yet because it is only up to age 6 but it was very interesting how to work the insurance companies and the employer to get the services paid. I learned alot!

Pampered Chef

Okay, I don't like having home parties (I like going to them though) but I think I am going to have to fit a Pampered Chef party in so I can get some things. I haven't bought anything from them in a few years and I was surprised that I am loving their new catalog. I carry it around everywhere for 3 months now.

Take this trifle bowl for instance. Do I make trifles, NO, but the pedestal comes off and it comes with a lid. It can be used with decorative things in it, a salad, a fruit thing, and much, much, more. I love this thing. This picture does not do it justice, not sure what that even is. Oh and when you put it up it all fits neatly in the bowl with the lid on top. Hmmm!

Pure Autistic Evening

Austin has been doing so well lately that sometimes I forget that things are not all rosy. Last night was one of those nights. Austin was in full autistic mode from when he stepped off the bus. His friends called for him to come play outside as it was almost 80 degrees. I thought better of it at the time but let him because he needs as much social as he can get. He threw a fit but then wanted to go. Played for about an hour very well with two other boys and then I get the phone call. Amy, Austin is upset and is running down the street we think he is coming home but can't catch him. (he is on the next street over from us) I walk outside and there he is, angry looking and coming home on the sidewalk. There were several families between us, I still was on the phone as I started down the walk and all of the sudden he took off across the road without looking for cars. (mind you I live on a pretty busy street, while there are cul de sacs on the sides our street is open and the cars drive too fast) Luckily, nobody was coming down the rode but I took off running after him. When he got to the side of the road he threw him self on the ground and starting rocking and screaming. I went and told him I couldn't help him without his words so I got something along the lines of basketball and nobody passing him the ball. Okay, now lets get home so we can talk about running across the street (yeah right). It took me about 25 mins to get him home and I pulled him most of the way while he was yelling at me that he didn't want to walk with his family and his family was not to touch him and so forth. He threw himself down at least 10 times in the distance of three houses. Of course, most of the neighborhood was out for this display and to hear him. I just keep going like I don't even see him. We get into the house and he immediately curls up and is rocking and screaming (not crying, just screaming and high pitched too). I decide at this point there isn't much I can do and he won't let me touch him. Not any reasoning going on with him so I leave him to go call his Dad. Even more lucky for me, Dad was home early and in the garage. When I went out to tell him what had happened and asked for help getting him calmed down we came back in the house and couldn't find Austin. He had went upstairs and hid and the kid is the quietest kid around and boy can he hide. We finally found him and had a talk with him about running across the road first and then about how we can play with our friends. He was upset because he said he did try to voice that he wanted them to pass him the ball and they didn't listen. Who knows but that is an improvement. We talked to him about what to do in that situation and that he can NEVER run off down the road he needs to find the adults. (which there were several outside that he knew) I went to get the girls (an hour and half later as they were still on the next street) and asked him to come along to apologize to his friend but he was not up for that but decided to write a note. He did a GREAT job on it.

I am sorree like Micll (he wanted to sound this out on his own and write it) WOOHOO!!! In the midst of all of it this is a huge milestone. I am sorry and I like Mitchell! We even knew what it meant. WOOHOO again!!!

After dinner Austin had basketball practice and I warned Jon to check his patience level because it was likely not going to be a great one. They both came home frustrated and worn out soooo we had some more screaming and rocking but this time he let me hold him tightly until he could calm down and go to bed.

Yes God, I am very thankful that all of our days have not been like this one, lately and pray that they will continue to grow further apart. Amen

Alison was sick, NOT!

Got a call from the school nurse yesterday at 2:30 pm saying Alison was in there. She had got to coughing in class and spit up some stuff, no fever and they had her lay down in there but she wanted to come h0me. They asked me if I wanted to talk to her. I really wanted to say NO! Alison, what is wrong? I am sick please come get me! Can you not stay the next 40 mins that is left of the day? No! So, I got Mattie around and we went to get Alison at school. I really did not want to pick her up, she fakes sick so much we don't know what is fact or fiction. I really didn't think she was and knew it was tiredness because she has stayed up the night before worrying about the tests at school (ridiculous they put so much pressure on them in 2nd grade). Picked her up and asked her why she would pretend sick just when she was tired and that if it happened again I wouldn't be picking her up. She looked at me shocked and started to deny it. I think even she knew the gig was up! I made her come home and go to bed, no tv, no music, no books, nothing. I then became the meanest mom in the world! Oh well, it wasn't the first time and certainly won't be the last.

Benadryl

I am in a benadryl induced state this morning and it stinks. For over the past month I have been breaking out in hives every single night. This is getting really, really old. I have scratched myself until it bleeds. I can't figure out what is doing it. But I itch head to toe, literally. Last night was the first night I didn't itch so bad at bedtime. I think I was so exhausted I fell asleep anyway and woke up at 2 a.m. ITCHING! So I took benadryl about 3 a.m. and I am certainly dragging now. We have ruled out so many things I don't know what else it could be. I am so tired of itching and my skin can't take much more.

Snippets!

Well, Aunt Bette Lu is NOT coming to Houston right now much to Austin's dismay. He called her and she said she was too old to come on the airplane right now but thanked him for his offer. They had a great conversation and she learned that Austin loves m&m's! He was quite depressed about this whole scenario. However, it was quickly erased.

At Tae Kwon Do he was told that he was going to graduated up to the big boy class for 6-8 year olds and get another belt. He is Dark Green right now in tot class but will start earning the "real" belt colors. He doesn't even have to go back and start at white but will be starting will orange!! Yeah. And his favorite part is that he will be able get his sparring gear. Includes, pads for arms, legs, and a helmet. They get to really spar against each other in class. Master McCloskey told me that his experience has been that "kids like Austin" are usually very good at it once they grasp the moves because they have no concept of backing down. However scary that is it is very, very true. I told him to make sure he explained that sparring was only for use in TKD class. This move is a HUGE HUGE deal for Austin and we didn't think he would be making it so soon. But then again the schedule change the TKD studio was imposing kind of pushed things along (see future post). We are really excited for him and this small act alone in his life has boosted his self confidence.

Ali has a BIG math test today at school. She was actually told that if she didn't do well then she wouldn't be able to go to 3rd grade. Are you kidding me? They put so much emphasis on these TAKS tests she is seriously stressed out in 2nd grade. Ridiculous. She knows all of her stuff so I wasn't even worried about it for her but she sure was. We spent until 9:30 pm last night going over questions just to appease her. She was quite the grump this morning as she said she couldn't get to sleep worrying about it. Again, RIDICULOUS!

Mattie has gymnastics this morning and it is my turn to drive the car pool so I better run. Bring on the 4 year olds!

Aunt Bette

The kids (and us) always received cards for every occasion from three people, Great Grandma Jane, Great-Great Aunt Alvene (Grma Jane's Sister) and Great-Great Aunt Bette (Grma Jane's other sister). Austin was telling me last night at bedtime that he wanted to go visit his Aunt Bette at her house. I was amused by this and a little taken aback that he would voice this. I told him she lived a long way away and that it probably would not be possible. He told me he didn't care how long it took he wanted to go visit "my aunt Bette at her house!" Again, I explained that it might not be possible. Austin said, but mom, I have never been there and I like going to my Aunt's house. I paused and said I understood. So this is his response, "Well, maybe since she is more older than me she can come visit my house!" Okay, Austin we will see about that.

This morning at breakfast Austin said, "Mom, don't forget we are calling Aunt Bette today after school to ask her to come to our house to visit on the airplane!" Great, now I have to come up with a phone number and he is going to be very sad when he finds out it probably isn't going to happen any time soon. :-( He sure does love getting those cards and his Valentine's card from Great-Great Aunt Bette Lu is posted proudly in his room.