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| Tue, 03-07-2006 - 10:25am |
Hi! My name is Andie and I was referred to this board by Liza. I've been lurking for a couple of weeks but decided to join in today. I have 4 children, Harley is 8, Jagger is 6, Xander is 4 and Milan will be 3 this month. Xander is my aspie and though we've known he was 'special' for a while and possibly AS, we just got a firm dx. Since we've gotten the dx things have run a lot smoother around this place, which is normally a madhouse because we have a ton of kids but dealing with Xander has taken an easier turn. Fortunately I have an uncle who has been going through the very same thing with his son for years so I have wonderful support and great ideas from him. I also suspect that Jagger might be exhibiting some qualities of AS but might not be put into that category if tested. (He is very oppositional defiant, shows no remorse, etc.)
The best advice I've gotten so far was to get him a bean bag and a heavy blanket for his 'chill out' chair. He is all about marine biology and Buzz Lightyear so we've placed books that focus on those things next to it and he's slowly learning how to calm himself down. In the meantime it's been an invaluable tool to us.
We're taking the unconventional route for working with him as I will be homeschooling him starting in the Fall. Is there anyone else on here doing this? I would love to hear about what's worked for you.
Can't wait to get know all of you and learn from you! (Hi Betsy!)



Andie,
Welcome to the board! I'm glad things are settling down in your household since you got Xander dx'd! Our kids can be a handful! I have 2 boys, and my youngest was dx'd HFA. He's 7yrs old now and doing pretty well. I actually have his IEP tomorrow, so I'm preparing for that today!
I'm not homeschooling, but I believe that there are a couple of ladies here that might be able to shed some light on that subject. We've gotten quite alot of new people on the board, so I'm not real sure!
We got our kids bean bags too a couple of years ago...but they don't bother with them anymore! My youngest, Nathan, prefers his trampoline and his rocking chair that we just bought. But whatever works for him....is GREAT for me!!!!
I'm glad Liza referred you over to us. This board has lots of info and it's a great place to share your experiences. Glad to have you here!
michelle
HI Andie! Glad you finally decided to join us!! We really need to get together and talk about our Aspie kids and what works and what doesn't...I could give you some pointer for those tween years! They have been the hardest for me so far! I bet Katie and Xander would play really well together -she is used to playing with "aspie" types.
I am glad you have gotten a dx so early for Xander. Jake was 10.5 when he finally was dxed. I contribute that to the school system not listening to me, until 5th grade when I started threating and finally took him to Dr D. and proved to them it was more then just ADHD. I admire the fact that you are homeschooling-I could never do that, Jake is just too oppostional when it comes to me.
We will have to talk soon.....
Liza
Hey, Andie!
Glad to see you here! I'm sure you'll get lots of great ideas from these ladies! They are a wealth of info!
We use a beanbag chair and lots and lots of sensory stuff. Weston loves lots of pillows and fuzzies (teddybears are one of his obsessions right now so they help as well) to calm himself as well. We've used different kinds of music to help him to settle down at night and to wake up in the morning.
I'm interested in the homeschooling as well but don't know much at this point.
Betsy
HI Andie and Welcome!
Yep, sensory stuff is great. We have beanbag chairs but they have been flattened due to too much luvin! I recently got some of those round type folding chair. I forget what you call them but they are great too. I also moved the boys weighted blankets to the family room where they will get more use out of it. It is too hot to sleep with them but sitting somewhere to chill out they are great.
We also have a tent and a suspended enclosed swing. Those are great too.
Welcome again. Gotta run and get the troops from school.
Renee