let's get a roll call going.
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let's get a roll call going.
| Wed, 09-12-2007 - 6:56pm |
We have a lot of new faces around here and a lot of people returning after the summer break. Lets introduce ourselves and our kids. so we can get to know each other a little better. -Paula

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Hi!
Hi, I'm new and glad to have found this board. I'm Kirsty, 37 and a university professor, married to Simon, who works in IT, and mum to Euan, nearly 9, Rohan, 4 and Maeve, 21 months. We have just moved to Stirling, Scotland, after living in Manchester, England for 10 years. It's a big change!
Euan was diagnosed with Asperger's last year, after a long and difficult road. He's incredibly bright, high functioning, but had always struggled socially and emotionally, particularly with changes in routine, getting violent when scared or when people 'broke the rules', and had some minor physical issues due to hypermobile joints (chewing, writing). The diagnosis, when we finally got it, was a mixed blessing, but mostly a huge relief to us all, and a lot of things are falling into place. Certainly Euan is 150% happier now with the understanding and support of us and his teachers (and his new school have been absolutely wonderful at integrating him, and he has made a lot of new friends and settled in amazingly well).
His brother Rohan is a textbook 'Normal Child', whatever that means :-), happy, full of life, throwing himself full tilt at everything, just starting school. Cope relatively well with his big brother. Sister Maeve is the one that has taught Euan everything he knows about empathy and consideration, it has been incredibly difficult and rewarding for him to have her.
Hope to get to know you all, really glad there is somewhere like here to come for support, because sometimes people really don't 'get it' and sometimes coping with Euan takes all the strength I have, as a parent, even though he is probably very 'mild' and 'high end' functioning.
Kirsty
I am Sara, and older than everyone so far, married 13 years to Cliff, younger, and mom to Malcolm, now age 10 and dx'ed mild PDD-NOS/SID/anxiety/receptive language disorder. He has always had language, charm, is very very bright academically, creative, flirts up a storm, has been in therapeutic schools and services since he was 3 and is now homeschooled due to complete lack of more appropriate programming in NYC. OK, there is SOME, but it is full to overflowing.
I had a long and lovely career in theatre as an actor and producer, now mainly working as a fitness instructor and personal trainer as the hours are short and flexible and the pay very good. 4 years ago, I closed my theatre company as the demands and financial strains of raising Malcolm became too much to continue. I hope to return to theatre someday, as not working in my passion since I was a little child makes for a dull ache of pain and loss on awaking every morning.
Cliff works in computers for a Wall Street firm, creates macros, writes programs and designs back-ends to websites. He is also a huge gamer (wrote some) and a huge hit with Malcolm and his friends, as he is REALLY one of them.
Malcolm has collected a large group of friends over the years and loves to hang out with them. He rides horses, does Tae Kwondo, loves Pokemon, Calvin & Hobbes, adventure stories such as Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. He is way too tall and stunning (OK, I'm maybe biased a wee tad) and has a lovely girlfriend (They've been "engaged" since they were 6). His sensory issues are the hardest thing for him, making large group activities such as sports and inclusion rooms tough, so we try to have him swimming and on long bike rides as much as possible, as repetitive physical exercise helps best. And he is now desperate to travel all around the world, so now we are starting a fund for trips, first stop Paris, second Japan and Taiwan.
That's us!!! Hi to everyone new, and Kirsty --- "mild" and "high-functioning" definitely has it's own VERY great, every-day challenges. Our world just isn't built for autism, and in some cases it is just down-right hostile. To me, the problem isn't my son ... it's the hostile environment he is required to live in. When I think about it that way, I remember to approach everything from the POV of training him and teaching skills he will need, providing understanding and accomodation for his growth so he not be HARMED by that environment while he reaches for his dreams and goals.
Sara
ilovemalcolm
Hi.
Hi, I am Molly, 41 and married 10 years to dh, 49.
Hello.
Late as usual.
I'm Debbie and a posted an update somewhere below. I'm one of the oldest here, or the oldest, at age 46. DH - Barry is 51 and DD, our only, is 9. I first became a mom at age 37 after 6 years of marriage and infertility problems. We weren't able to have anymore children, but we are so happy to have our sweetie. It is a challenge as all of you know.
She seemed a bit different than other kids when she was younger, but I thought it was just her personality. She always liked to play alone and not with other kids and didn't play the way they did. She wouldn't touch a puzzle until age 6 and now she loves them and can put one together in no time in a way I can't explain because she is better than even me. She started with seizures at age 5 and was diagnosed with epilepsy. The neurologist has been in her life ever since. She now feels her seizures are gone and we are going off her medicine and we'll see from there how she does.
She was dx with Asperger's and ADHD two years ago. She was always a fearful child and they are getting out of hand and are addressing them now. She might get some medicine for it and therapy. We had her in OT, but insurance didn't cover. We have secondary insurance now and she is back in OT. We are on a waiting list for speech therapy for help with speech and social issues. She likes kids and people, is somewhat shy, won't look right at the person, talks quietly when spoken too, doesn't pay attention real well, has trouble understanding what you want her to do, and doesn't know real well how to relate to others. She seems more bold when talking to adults and does better there. With peers, she follows their lead. She has trouble with physical activities and we hope OT will help with that. She also has trouble cutting, drawing and writing. These skills and social skills are a few years behind her real age.
She just had auditory processing testing done and we are awaiting those results. But a speech therapy evaluation some time ago indicate severe auditory problems. I homeschool her and she thrives on the one on one, but I see problems with comprehension and thinking skills. She does much better with rule oriented subjects (math and spelling), but has much trouble with math that incorporates multiple steps like long division. We are taking things one step at a time and the state is happy if she just improves. Some things she is up to her grade level, some behind.
She gets out a lot for therapy and socialization with therapies, homeschool groups, AWANA at church which includes group games. She isn't the fastest and needs help with the rules, but she doesn't do bad. Although she does have motor skill problems, I am surprised that at some things she is very good, like throwing a bean bag for instance.
She is a sweetie and likes to help and please, she rarely has discipline problems, she is well behaved but can be childlike and wants her own way, but she is adaptable. She has fears of steps, some things on the playground and letting go of me in the water. She won't relax so I can teach her to swim. We will address all this within the year.
It is hard as of now to see what her strengths are. She isn't overly obsessed with anything particular except on fears and worries and she likes colors. She has many sheets of paper that have lines and lines of different crayon colors. She still likes her stuffed friends and has them talk, and TV like Dragon Tales, Disney's Hannah Montana, Corey in the House, Suite Life of Zach and Cody, High School Musical, Clifford, Arthur and whatever shows and movies I like. She is like her mommy except that she has her daddy's big brown eyes. I have hazel eyes.
As for us, I used to be an administrative assistant and quit working when she was born. DH had various jobs, but all within manufacturing and machining. He is now an inspector with a sheet metal manufacturing business owned by two brothers. He works long hours, but is an expert at things made with sheet metal. His hobbies are computer programming and astronomy.
Stephanie and I love to play board and computer games.
Well, I think that is enough about us LOL. Oh, we live in southeastern PA, about 50 miles north of Philadelphia.
I would just like to be lurk here now-and-then.
Hi
I'm Carey, 32 from Michigan. Married 12 years and have 6 boys. I guess I should make that 7 since we now have legal guardianship to a severely impaired little boy.
I came here shortly after my 10 year old ds was dx'd PDD NOS and anxiety dis. NOS. They are doing pretty well with him at school, he receives a few services and resource room. The most important thing is speech/language, where they work on his comprehension and other stuff. Like others he has a very high reading level, and is a great speller, but he has problems comprehending what he reads. He is on Adderall, and will start something next week for anxiety. He is doing well so far this year, we held him back hoping that socially he would be better off, and to help with social anxiety. He is a great kid, and has the cutest dimples right under his eyes!
My other boys are as follows: 11 yr. ADD, GAD, probably an Aspie, but doing well enough to leave it alone.
7 yr old NT, and a great brother. He has the best imagination, and the biggest heart.
7 Yr. old Legally blind and CI. Most likely autistic but we are holding off on testing until the end of this school year, it is hard to tell with the developmental delays and blindness, some of his issues cross over so to speak.
3 yr. old NT, quite a handful and maybe the smartest little turd I have ever known!
2 yr. old with Down Syndrome. Sweetest little guy in the world.
I am now a SAHM, after a career in public relations. I don't regret my decision to stay home, but some days I really wish I could just go to work instead.
I hate it when people say "You sure got your hands full." I am not sure why this sticks me as "You sure bit off more than you can chew," but it does. I have recently been responding with "better full than empty."
I have a great dh that really seems to understand the kids, and helps me sooooo much, I really don't know what I would do without him. I know that I am a very lucky lady. I love the crap out of my kids, and wouldn't trade them for the world! Well, maybe for a day or two but that would be it!!!
Carey
Hey all.
I haven't been on lately because I am
Good thread. I enjoying reading about everyone and ((((Hugs))).
Plus I am trying out these new fonts and colors.
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