So where to begin... I am not even sure when I last updated, which should be a slap in the face I know...

Michael is off medications. He has had two cholesterol tests come back abnormally high. What I do not understand is if they are so high, then why not talk about diet changes or medication to regulate it. Instead now they want me to go a full month with no Risperdal and test again. But the thing is, and they will not actually listen no matter how many times I repeat, Michael was not on the meds regulary enough to cause an impact...

The Specialty Clinic who sees him is trying to phase him out. He does not even have the next appointment set up. They have lost ALOT of funding and rumors about already being closed (which I know to be false) and going to close. My family doctor admitted he cannot see them being open in two years. So He has referred Michael to a place called Season's Center which deals with counseling and all sorts of that crap. He goes on the 17th. If I am still not happy then I will demand a referral to Iowa City.

I have a feeling my son will never get a diagnosis that adequately describes him. He is still on the Autism Scale, but climbing towards the top of the ladder. People are blown away when I tell them Feb 2008 he was considered non-verbal and now he seems like a regular annoying little boy. His language is still behind. At his evaluation for Speech, which was right at his 5th birthday, he tested on average about a 3 1/2 yr old. He still has emotional breaks, where the smallest thing can cause a tantrum and it is so hard for him to pull himself out of it. There are many concepts he still does not understand but he is doing better...

Summer school starts next week, and we have Speech Therapy twice weekly. And a new thing I have added to his schedules, trips to the library. I figured he was old enough to learn how to use a library, and it gives us something to do.

He is also in a program called Reigns of Hope. He has had two sessions now. Every Monday for six weeks a group of 6 kids with special needs of some sort get to ride for an hour. Michael's horse is named Goober. He totally loves it. In his group none of the kids are afraid to get up on the horses, but I guess the group before his are filled with kids scared of the horses. They have been taking pictures of every kid, making sure to get every kid, so I wonder if the parents will get a copy of pictures of their own children. We all signed a release for our kids to be photographed, and then if we are sidewalking with them we had to sign a release for our pictures to be taken as well. But last Monday Michael wanted to give Goober a hug. He was trying to hug his neck before he even got out of the saddle. We convinced him that he could give a better hug once he was down and he ran around and threw his arms around Goober's chest. One of the ladies did get a picture, thankfully she was right there. That is the one that I really really want a copy of. I know Ma when she gets off next week is going to bring her camera-since mine does not take very good photos in dim lighting- so she can get a few pictures of him riding.

I should have my new camera in about a week. I took a workshop class and for every hour class you show for, they pay $25, and then there is a $50 bonus for coming to all of the classes. So as soon as I have the $200 check I am getting a new camera. Mine is adequate, but I want to branch out and get better photographs. Though I do not forsee a photography career in my future, I am still teaching myself. I am reading through books on photography and taking notes. This year for the Clay County Fair I want to submit a few. I have been talking about it since they first opened the Photography Exhibit, and I think with a better camera, there is no reason I should not at least try new things.