Autism Blogger

$10 off coupon for adult weighted blankets at http://www.cozycalm.com

Good for any twin, long twin, double, or queen size.  Yes, we have grown-up colors!

Expires July 31, 09

Discount Coupon Code:  July10-A

Go to www.CozyCalm.com

I hope you like them!

 --Eileen.

I tried Issac on the melatonin and 1 mg at 10:30 gives him a bedtime of 12. 2mg at 10:30 gives him a bedtime of 11. Thane however is still getting up at 5:30. Since it is daylight, it is hard to argue with him, but man I wish I could. I do not know if giving him any melatonin at that time would work or not. And how long would he be asleep? Guess I will have to try it and find out.

The kids and I made a screen door yesterday. We built the wood frame and put the screen (actually it is a wire mesh) on and then installed a handle. We put it on the patio door because the boys have a hard time remembering to shut the door behind them there. This door swings shut just like a normal screen door. It works great. We had a good time making it.

Issac took the light out on my front porch, took it out in the grass and stepped on it. He then had to have 2 bandaids. I can't get him to stop breaking lightbulbs, or tearing up mattresses. I need to call the lady who is sewing up the mattress cover and ask her her estimate on when she will have that done. Hopefully soon. Issac tore up his jammy shirt last night and started on the mattress, but left it alone when I told him too. He got up this morning and tried again to tear into it. I moved it into Mallie's room and locked the door.

Nothing happened at Scott's court date. They have set another one for Sept. So, he's not in jail yet. He also hasn't moved yet. He is staying with a buddy in the town where he was living. That means he can take the kids for a day visit, but not overnight. Ironically, I kind of need the overnight to catch up on the sleep.   read more »

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.  read more »

I need help, well not just me but this whole town.  So many of these parents are seemingly burned out exhausted just from interacting with our children with autism.  We all get the disgusted looks, we all get the whats wrong with your child looks, and the '"can't you shut your child up?".  and i think the most demeaning is the look "You are an abusive parent because i see all the bruises on your childs head face and arms, DCFS here we come".  How can i possibly help bring the moral up for all of us?  the town wants to know what to do they want to help, i am doing the best i can, but all the public sees is how only my children behave not the full spectrum or age differences.  I think about running for city council and worry it will be waisted effort to help educate the community.  Please help?  What helped you guys pull through every waking day and sleepless nights we all go through?  Mine is for my children and my answere isn't good enough.  so again i am begging for participation to help bring the moral up so that parents relatives and workers can see hope once again. to get the old spark going.

Has any one ever made their own weighted vests and or blankets?  If you have, was it hard to do?  I want a vest for Kaylee for certain..not sure about Michael yet, he may use the blanket more, but he is so attached to his current blankie, I do not know if he will go for a new one.  Anyway, thinking about trying to make a vest for Kaylee but have no idea where to start.

It has been brought to my attention, that though signed up for 1/2 day school, 4 days a week this fall, the twins are probably going to need all day school there....and this thought just petrifies me.  I am a stay home mom, have been for all my kids till kindergarten time...the thought of the twins being gone all day, is just almost unbearable.  Has anyone else felt this way or am I just a paranoid wimpy mom?  I know we plan to take the kids up to school a couple times a week before fall, so they can toddle around the classroom and play on the playground, but the thought of leaving them all day just is the last thing I want to do.  Yet, I know that if they really need it, I will have to let them go.  If they weren't special needs kids, they would be home with me till they were 6 and starting kindergarten, august birthdays.  I guess we will have to wait and see.  They will start out the 1/2 days, but therapists and school say that I should be prepared for the whole day experience to get brought up a few weeks into school.  I almost can not breathe when I think about it.

Well I threw the party, three families showed up actually two and a half.  The person that was supposed to help pulled a no-show, no-call.  But you know what we all ahd fun anyways.  We had one of the bubble machines the kids absolutely adored and a ball that acts like a sprinkeler.  Im glad a brought food for a small party with the sandwich makings and drinks and a little bit of fruit.  the other families brought chips and cookies.  A tiny success but a success anyways.  We are victorious and im still depressed.  I wonder why to my self, don't these parents care anymore?  have they truely given up hope for these children with so much talent we don't even know what to do?  What am i doing wrong?  Is it because im still new in this town that because i haven't establishe a name for myself that nothing comes about?  My best isn't good enough for my own expectactions i guess.  bummer.  Well im not giving up.  Now im trying to set stuff up so that some of these kids in town can do modeling with hair styles or clothes and toys or something.  They have all these abilities they are so smart if only we could give them a chance to shine through...and i feel like so many parents here hold back for one reason or another.  I feel like they almost are exploiting their child for some form of gain, "Woe is me and my children with disabilities, give me please".  I think perhapse i am to harsh and i probably am.

wish i may. wish i might. may i have a wish tonight?

i wish that people knew how truely blessed we as people that have been and are touched by autism truely are!

Bonnie

I curse the day those automatic flushing toilets were installed into public bathrooms.  Caden had no fear of the toilet until we took him to the movie theatre and he had to pee.   Moments after stepping away from the toilet in the public bathroom there was a loud WHOOSH and my terrified son nearly crawled out of his skin.  It is very difficult trying to explain to a 3 1/2 year old that some toilets flush even if you don't want them to flush (he must be out of the bathroom at home before I am allowed to flush). Today, I took him to the children's museum and he started doing the potty dance.  I got him to agree to come into the bathroom so I could show him it was a friendly toilet, and not a monster.  I agreed to pee first so he could witness, first hand, that the toilet was not going to swallow him whole.  Just as I was about to squat (with my shorts at my ankles) Caden decided to bolt - He opened up the door and gave about 5 other parents a nice view of me on the toilet.  And so goes another day at the museum.