It's been a while!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
It's been a while!
8
Mon, 10-03-2005 - 10:46pm

Okay, I'll admit that I have an actual question to ask, but thought I'd better give you and update first!

It's been quite a while since I popped onto the board to say "Hi." I hope this message finds all my "old" friends well. To all the newbies, welcome to my favorite on-line safe haven. What a great group we have here!

All is good in our home. The kids settled into their new school easily, and our youngest (Claire, 5 y/o autism) is doing amazingly well. She has a fabulous aid, and is truly thriving. Her teacher is incredible. In fact, when the members of her class couldn't believe she was able to read, the teacher gave her a book, put in the front of the room, and let her go! She earned instant respect, and with that came patience for her disability. It seems like every child in the school knows and adores Claire. Her language skills are emerging, as is her personality. Lately she's been spending more time "with us" and less time in "Claire world." Needless to say, my decision to fight the school district to get her into a mainstream environment w/ a FT one on one was the right thing to do.

For those of you who remember me, you'll be happy to hear that she's actually tried a couple of new foods. She started slowly by licking plain spaghetti noodles, but tonight she ate several bites! Next Monday we're going in for her brain scan. They'll have to sedate her, which bothers me, but there's no way around it.

Noah (7 y/o Asperger's) is also doing very well. Since starting in his new school, I have yet to get one bad report. His teacher is fresh out of school, and is thrilled to have Noah in class. She says that because he is so smart, it challenges her to keep up with him.

Now for my question. Claire's kindergarten teacher would love to have a book she could read to the class to introduce them to autism. Anybody have any suggestions???

Hopefully I'll be able to hang around more often in the future. I miss everybody and reading the posts daily.

Amy W.

Meez 3D avatar avatars games

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Tue, 10-04-2005 - 10:51am

AMY!!!

welcome back.

I remember seeing a book in the school disrict library called "Ian's walk" It was told from the POV of an older sister who was frustrated at the kid's inability to do anything 'properly' -that he went into a store to stare at the fan, or into the lanudromat to watch things spin. And then one day she decided to try and do things his way. (i.e. take the mountain to Mohammed). Here it is http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0807534803/qid=1128436927/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/002-7158659-0987228?v=glance&s=books

Ian was pretty low functioning, if I remember correctly. You may want to read it first to vet it.

Also I found this while searching Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1891383132/qid=1128436927/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2/002-7158659-0987228?v=glance&s=books

It *looks* like it may be more appropriate.

Is Claire's brain scan a CAT or an MRI?

If it is a CAT scan. it may be possible to achieve without sedation. A CAT scan is out in the open -you put your head in a big doughnut thingy and it makes "whirry" noises. Peter had to have one recently, and we managed to get it done without sedation (eventually). Read this
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-pspddnos&msg=5183.1&ctx=128

However an MRI is a different story. Yoy slide into a tube, have to stay real still, and it is LOUD -bangs and moves unexpectedly. I had to have one recently, and I had a hard time not freaking out.

OK better go and make lemonade. Life is handing me lemons (not really. Peter is thirsty).

-Paula

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
Tue, 10-04-2005 - 1:53pm

Oh Paula!

It's always great to see my "online sister"! Thanks for the links. I think the second one is a better option for our needs.

Claire's scan is an MRI. It'll probably be harder on me than her...but hey, I'm the MOM! It's supposed to be that way. Right?

Pass me a glass of the lemonade...oh, and could you put a little vodka in it?

Amy W.

Meez 3D avatar avatars games

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Tue, 10-04-2005 - 6:53pm

Passing a "Pink Paula": Vodka, pink lemonade, cranberry juice.

yep she will need to be sedated for an MRI. And yes it will be harder on you. I have been through a bunch of 'hospital' stuff with Peter and may have to do some more. It's a total bummer. The staff try, but most of them just don't *get* how stressful these situations are for our kids and families.

((((HUGS)))), girlie. I'll be thinking of you. Let us know how it goes.

-Paula


-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Avatar for betz67
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 10-04-2005 - 8:48pm

Hi Amy! Good to see you!

Yeah! so glad the placement is working well for her! good for her teacher in showing the kids that she really is a smart cookie, just handles stuff differently. I don't know of any books/programs to help others understand, we're looking for something like this for Weston's 4 grade classes.

Yeah for Noah as well, the right teacher makes all the difference in the world! wish we could hold on to all the good ones we've had and throw the others in the teacher landfill.

I don't have any help on the sedation either. Weston's had surgery when he was 4, the anistesiologist said it was work to put him under and keep him there-- his brain works differently-- we know!

Betsy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 10-04-2005 - 11:37pm

Can I have a pink Paula too?

Amy,

Good to see you. Glad to hear Claire is doing so well. Hopefully the MRI goes quickly and well. And here's hope's for continued progress.

Gosh, I don't know any kindergarted appropriate books off hand that I have read. I have heard of Andy and His Yellow Frisbee. I can go look some up but I haven't read any for that age level myself. Now if she was upper elementary I would have some.I will ask around though and see if I know of anyone who knows.

Kudo's to Noah too. Glad to hear he is doing well as well.

Welcome back.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
Wed, 10-05-2005 - 3:36pm

Thanks ladies~

By the way, the Pink Paula is fabulous. Everybody should try one! (or two!)

Wow...I've been on the board three days in a row. That's a good sign. (Running to knock on wood.)

Amy W.

Meez 3D avatar avatars games

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 10-06-2005 - 10:03am

It is amazing how well kindergarteners accept a classmates differences. It is wonderful. My DS is very strong in academics and is a great reader too and it has also helped him become more readily accepted by his peers. They have become very protective of him. They see the child with autism as a person, not just the disability. I know many older children, adolescents, and adults that need some lessons in acceptance, tolerance, and prejudism from these 5-6 yr olds.

There is a book called "Taking Autism to School" that might be useful in your DD's class. The only thing I don't like about it is it has a page about the child with autism taking medication to help. Not all ASD kids need meds. You can find this book on Amazon.

Glad that your kids are doing so well!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-22-2003
Thu, 10-06-2005 - 11:18am

Wow...both the books that were on my very short list have been mentioned by my fellow "boarders"- guess that's a good sign!

My SIL brought by her daughter's copy of "My Friend With Austism" last night and it is excellent! I wish it were in color, but the way the story is presented hits the nail in the head. A great choice for explaining ASD to younger children.

Amy W.

Meez 3D avatar avatars games