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| Sat, 12-08-2007 - 8:25pm |
Hello all,
It has been a while with me more of a lurker than a poster here. But my semester is over in less than a week and my big projects are done for now so maybe I will have a touch more time. Thought I would give a little update.
This semester has been a rough one recently. It started well. Cait rocked the first month of school and earned being in a play. she LOVES theater and we finally thought 8th grade was the magical year. Miss Cait started with double vision on and off a bit over a month ago. Actually, she first got it over the summer but we thought it was a side effect of her seizure med and we adjusted it and all was well until recently. It took forever to get her neurologist and then they thought it was a new kind of seizure. She had some other seizure symptoms as well and new ones. So we raised her meds again but it did not help. It is taking forever to get approvals and doctor appointments but basically it comes down to she needs an MRI, an Ophthalmologist, some blood work and another neuro visit. They are ruling out a tumor it would seem. I just want to make the dang things stop as it is getting worse and more frequent. Her grades are starting to tank again as well.
Yesterday was a clincher. After a rough week I got a call at 4pm from transportation. It seems the bus driver and a whole crew of sped staff couldn't get her on the bus and I had to go pick her up. She still has no idea why she wouldn't get on.She is due to go to high school next year and it is a huge concern. We are currently looking into a new magnet school that is openning in the fall for the performing arts since that is very motivating for her but who knows. As she gets older I get more nervous.
Mike is in the non-public school and after a bit of a rough start things seem to be going better. The teacher "gets" him at least. She realized a few weeks back just how "autistic" and delayed socially he is. His academic abilities can mask that a bit but when he couldn't figure out this social situation all the other kids in class had, even those more delayed, she finally got it. The others were kind of ganging up on him doing this clique thing and whispering about him, etc. He had NO clue even when they said stuff that they were upset at all. She adores him but he is still having some behavioral challenges. The last week at school was good but at home he is having trouble. it is the holidays though so no big surprise there.
He has been growinng leaps and bounds. His voice is changing and his hair went curly. Very handsome but a bit of a turd. He has learned some colorful new language and stuff from kids at school. Darn teenagers.
The other 2 are doing well.
I am busy as all get out. My class is going pretty well. The principal brought the superindentdent of our district into my classroom last week. He was giving a tour so it was a good thing but MAN it made me nervous! I have 1 assessment and 2 behavior plans to write and have IEPs for in the next week in addition to all my course work that has been due. I am ready for a 2 week break for christmas.
Next semester I am doing my student teaching in the afternoon after my students leave so I will have even less time. Great.
That's the news that isnt new.
Renee




Renee!
I have been missing you!
- Christina mom to-
Chloe (10) Aiden(8)
Renee,
Well, we miss you around here but we understand how busy you are. I hope you manage to get some kind of a break over the holidays.
This stuff with the Cait and the DV must be very scary for all of you. I hope you can get her in for the MRI etc soon,
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Maybe I should clarify. She recognized he was autistic but I think she was thinking in the more aspie sense. Being a very verbal guy with good academic skills is rather misleading. You don't realize just how far behind his social skills are until you get to know him for a bit I guess.
He is getting pretty good at covering it too. At least in public.
Hi Renee,
It's great to get an update on everyone, sorry it has been a rough Fall particularly for the Caitster. It must be even more draining for you now that you are teaching --- such demanding work! --- but also more rewarding with the work on your plate as well. Here's PPT for Cait's tests to happen soon and that all be easily fixable and well.
I know quite a few Aspies and many of them really struggle socially. These qualifications are hard to figure out, Aspie, Autistic, PDD-NOS. I have always thought that Malcolm being PDD-NOS has been part of his adapting socially so well, although Gawd knows he has his days and situations where all does not go well socially, oh my yes! And then the fact that he was doing so well 5 seconds ago makes his gaffes that much more confusing for the unwashed public...
But I figure being able to cover up is a big step towards being able to DO well socially. We all cover up, don't we? I myself am the QUEEN of faking it 'til I make it.
Anyways, great to hear from you!
Sara
{{{Renee}}} I really hope things turn out okay for Cait.
Renee-
Huge hugs, prayers