Well I have been quiet the last couple of days and admittedly they have been pretty full on lol. My house inspection went really well and I got approval to install a security screen on Callum's window so there is no chance he can jump or fall out! She asked me if we had a pool and I said no but where is the form to put in for one lol. It has been a fun ride I tell you what and only a couple of days have passed.
Cal's first EVER play in the playground at lunch yesterday with all the other kids 100% success and he had a ball! This was one of the biggest steps for him since he has started school because he was never given a chance to be included. Two thumbs up for yesterday! Here's hoping that tomorrow the same thing occurs. I want the best possible outcome for my son at school. Having say that after his psychologist appointment today my high hopes of his school started to tick me off again.
At his first appointment I was given a heap of paperwork for his school full of strategies to try and use when one of his triggers started and told them to give his psychologist a call. Three weeks later and she still hasn't heard from them. Patrick gave her Callum's Behaviour Support Plan and she has added to it which is good. Also found out today that Cal has no concept whatsoever about emotions :( or their meanings. This did kind of upset me. He doesn't understand what happy or sad or angry actually mean. My years of thinking he isnt so bad he will be fine is slowly dwindling out the window. My son needs help and fast. He can tell me that he is angry but doesnt understand why and its heartbreaking. There must be so much confusion going through that little guys head.
Fingers crossed within the next couple of days the CAT-Kit that I brought arrives and that should help a lot. Once I sit down with Callum and work through it I will give everyone a report on how it is working out. I have also brought him a squishy stress ball to help him when he gets frustrated but he thinks it is just a toy so that will definately be one we have to work on. I am still on the hunt for a good Occupational Therapist and am getting absolutely nowhere. I have an interview with one of the HOSES at a nearby school with a proper SEU in the school on Friday so will see how that pans out. Hopefully the future is starting to look brighter as of tomorrow :)
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Oh So Tired....
Well it's gotten to that time of the day. Kids have been put to bed (even though it is obscenely obvious that they still have more energy than the energiser bunny). It's been a very tiring day and my work is not done. I have a house inspection tomorrow and didn't realise until today how bad the house and yard had gotten because of everything I had been dealing with over the last few weeks. I have been noticing how drained I have been because I have been going to bed super dooper early.
For the last couple of weeks Callum has been sleeping on his mattress on the floor. Why you may ask? In one of his massive meltdowns he broke his bed. We have been trying to work out a "meltdown proof" bed. So we decided on an ensemble. First he didn't want it when Pat took him to pick it up but he's come good now lol. His room is all set up and ready to be slept in which I am hoping that is what he is doing right now.
Today we have started a new week and I am still contemplating about what to do with his school. After what I was told this afternoon when Pat brought him home I am having doubts. Callum's classroom in on the 2nd storey of a building and I found out today that he was sitting on top of the port racks with his legs dangling off. Obviously they found a way to get him down without him getting harmed. But what the??? My whole body just shuddered when Pat told me about it. Why does my little guy have absolutely no sense of fear??? There are things I am scared of as an adult (main one being spiders ok I know you're laughing now) and he is fine just picks them up or squishes them for his sister when she is screaming like a banshee lol. His lack of fear amazes me and scares the living crap out of me at the same time.
Tomorrow will be his first lunchtime with his friends so Pat is going up to the school on standby just in case something happens while I wait around for the real estate to turn up. I am hoping he has a fantastic time and it is a great end to his school day at 11.30. Hopefully next week we can try for 12.30 he stays until. He is slowly but surely getting there with school. I didn't get a phone call to come and get him earlier than I should have (even though the port rack incident probably should've qualified) but they are starting to figure out strategies with him which is good.
Only a short blog tonight as I am buggered fingers crossed after he gets home from school tomorrow I will have a whole lot of positives to write about!
Night Night everyone :)
For the last couple of weeks Callum has been sleeping on his mattress on the floor. Why you may ask? In one of his massive meltdowns he broke his bed. We have been trying to work out a "meltdown proof" bed. So we decided on an ensemble. First he didn't want it when Pat took him to pick it up but he's come good now lol. His room is all set up and ready to be slept in which I am hoping that is what he is doing right now.
Today we have started a new week and I am still contemplating about what to do with his school. After what I was told this afternoon when Pat brought him home I am having doubts. Callum's classroom in on the 2nd storey of a building and I found out today that he was sitting on top of the port racks with his legs dangling off. Obviously they found a way to get him down without him getting harmed. But what the??? My whole body just shuddered when Pat told me about it. Why does my little guy have absolutely no sense of fear??? There are things I am scared of as an adult (main one being spiders ok I know you're laughing now) and he is fine just picks them up or squishes them for his sister when she is screaming like a banshee lol. His lack of fear amazes me and scares the living crap out of me at the same time.
Tomorrow will be his first lunchtime with his friends so Pat is going up to the school on standby just in case something happens while I wait around for the real estate to turn up. I am hoping he has a fantastic time and it is a great end to his school day at 11.30. Hopefully next week we can try for 12.30 he stays until. He is slowly but surely getting there with school. I didn't get a phone call to come and get him earlier than I should have (even though the port rack incident probably should've qualified) but they are starting to figure out strategies with him which is good.
Only a short blog tonight as I am buggered fingers crossed after he gets home from school tomorrow I will have a whole lot of positives to write about!
Night Night everyone :)
Friday, February 24, 2012
The People In Your Life
Today isn't necessarily a blog about ASD just one in general I wanted to write. It's about the people who have come in and out of my life. Every single person that you meet is there to serve a purpose. Whether it be to teach us a lesson (whether it good or bad), to help us, for us to be there for, for a shoulder for us to cry on. This list goes on and I would be here forever. I have a small group of friends who I am extremely grateful for. They understand me. My mood swings (which haven't been too bad of late), they are there for a shoulder to cry on when I need one and trust me all of them have seen a lot of my tears over the years and best of yet to have a great laugh with. They are all different in their each individual ways (no point having a heap of friends that are all the same right?) and I love them for it. I hope everyone who reads this has a group of friends that they can find support in.
Next is my family. On my side I don't have a huge family as I am only one of three kids but it is full of so much love. My Mum and Dad have been together for nearly 30 years. I have a younger sister Emma and a younger brother William. Mum and Dad know all too well what Pat and I are going through. William has Downsyndrome. Over the years I have learnt from my parents that being myself should be good enough for everyone. If it isn't then they aren't worth knowing. Best advice I have probably ever been given. My parents show a sense of understanding to all 3 of us kids as we are all so very very different from each other. Mum and Dad have helped so much with Callum it has been awesome! I don't know what I would do without either of them.
Last but not least is my husband Patrick. We have been together for 8 and a half years and its been a rollercoaster just about the whole time lol. He's my rock and stands by everything that I do and I love him for it. He understands me better than just about anyone. He knows when to pester me to find out whats wrong, when to hug me, when to leave me to my own devices. Well most of the time anyway lol. He sacrifices spending time with his family so we can have a better life. Working away from your family for so many weeks on end is pretty gutsy if you ask me. I know how hard it is. He is away in somewhat isolation and I get to play the single mum gig for a few weeks. Not always a ball of fun that's for sure but you know what they say absence makes the heart grow fonder and they were right about that one. The best days are seeing the looks on the kids faces when they realise dad is home. It's a Kodak moment every time. Thank you so much hunnie xxoo
Thank you to every person who has come into my life whether it be friends or family, doctors, therapists, teachers or whoever. They have all done something to make me who I am today.
Next is my family. On my side I don't have a huge family as I am only one of three kids but it is full of so much love. My Mum and Dad have been together for nearly 30 years. I have a younger sister Emma and a younger brother William. Mum and Dad know all too well what Pat and I are going through. William has Downsyndrome. Over the years I have learnt from my parents that being myself should be good enough for everyone. If it isn't then they aren't worth knowing. Best advice I have probably ever been given. My parents show a sense of understanding to all 3 of us kids as we are all so very very different from each other. Mum and Dad have helped so much with Callum it has been awesome! I don't know what I would do without either of them.
Last but not least is my husband Patrick. We have been together for 8 and a half years and its been a rollercoaster just about the whole time lol. He's my rock and stands by everything that I do and I love him for it. He understands me better than just about anyone. He knows when to pester me to find out whats wrong, when to hug me, when to leave me to my own devices. Well most of the time anyway lol. He sacrifices spending time with his family so we can have a better life. Working away from your family for so many weeks on end is pretty gutsy if you ask me. I know how hard it is. He is away in somewhat isolation and I get to play the single mum gig for a few weeks. Not always a ball of fun that's for sure but you know what they say absence makes the heart grow fonder and they were right about that one. The best days are seeing the looks on the kids faces when they realise dad is home. It's a Kodak moment every time. Thank you so much hunnie xxoo
Thank you to every person who has come into my life whether it be friends or family, doctors, therapists, teachers or whoever. They have all done something to make me who I am today.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Keeping My Cool
Well it has been a fun day today. Callum had a massive meltdown and refused to get dressed for school. When we made him he then proceeded to strip off naked and wouldn't put even a pair of shorts on let alone his uniform. We have had things thrown about the house, furniture pushed into walls and one very angry little boy. Something has to give right? I kept my cool. He was obviously frustrated and no matter how much I or Pat tried, things were definately not going to go our way this morning.
Finally at about 10am he had calmed down and gotten dressed. Thank God for that. I was getting worried I would have to chase the nudie run kid back inside all day. A few weeks ago the morning I had would've made me snap and breakdown and cry. It was full on to say the least. A fortnight ago I swallowed my pride and admitted I needed help. Anyone who knows me knows that I am pretty good at keeping up the happy routine. I am very good at pretending nothing is wrong when all I wanted to do some nights was go to sleep and never wake up. It is hard work and some days I just felt seriously underqualified for the job. I finally went on antidepressants. I don't know how I have gone so long without them.
I am not saying that they are a miracle cure but they have helped me so much. I never realised how much of an angry person I was. Angry at myself, my children, my husband and just about everyone around me. I was ready to explode at a moments notice. Now I manage to keep my cool. I am a much calmer person that doesn't appear to be so highly strung. I am back to my philosophy to take each day as it comes. As a parent with a child with ASD everything is so predictable yet unpredictable.
Now to the next section of my day....
We had a meeting with Callum's school principal about what the next step it. Finally I got asked for my opinion on what to do with my child. What I think would be good for him PLUS his Behaviour Management Plan that I have been waiting for since the start of school. Callum started grade 1 this year with nothing. No social stories were made for him (which the school found last year was to be highly successful) and they are going to do one up for him now. His main triggers at school are handwriting and cutting. So we discussed other alternatives on occasion for him for handwriting. Now my main want for Callum.... Inclusion. For the last year and a bit Callum hasn't ever gone out in the playground with his school friends to play at lunchtime. Now while down at the Special Education Unit he just gets frustrated and doesn't want to be there. Why is my little guy not even given a chance to play at lunch. I am at the point now where it is just starting to piss me off. Every child with a disability is entitled to inclusion at school. So now I finally have it. Tuesday at lunch Pat and I will both be up there (not watching him but on standby just in case something does happen because I have a runner) and he will be able to eat lunch with his classmates and play in the playground. Not much to most parents but a heck of a lot to me.
We are taking baby steps. One day at a time. Hopefully next week the ball gets rolling.
Finally at about 10am he had calmed down and gotten dressed. Thank God for that. I was getting worried I would have to chase the nudie run kid back inside all day. A few weeks ago the morning I had would've made me snap and breakdown and cry. It was full on to say the least. A fortnight ago I swallowed my pride and admitted I needed help. Anyone who knows me knows that I am pretty good at keeping up the happy routine. I am very good at pretending nothing is wrong when all I wanted to do some nights was go to sleep and never wake up. It is hard work and some days I just felt seriously underqualified for the job. I finally went on antidepressants. I don't know how I have gone so long without them.
I am not saying that they are a miracle cure but they have helped me so much. I never realised how much of an angry person I was. Angry at myself, my children, my husband and just about everyone around me. I was ready to explode at a moments notice. Now I manage to keep my cool. I am a much calmer person that doesn't appear to be so highly strung. I am back to my philosophy to take each day as it comes. As a parent with a child with ASD everything is so predictable yet unpredictable.
Now to the next section of my day....
We had a meeting with Callum's school principal about what the next step it. Finally I got asked for my opinion on what to do with my child. What I think would be good for him PLUS his Behaviour Management Plan that I have been waiting for since the start of school. Callum started grade 1 this year with nothing. No social stories were made for him (which the school found last year was to be highly successful) and they are going to do one up for him now. His main triggers at school are handwriting and cutting. So we discussed other alternatives on occasion for him for handwriting. Now my main want for Callum.... Inclusion. For the last year and a bit Callum hasn't ever gone out in the playground with his school friends to play at lunchtime. Now while down at the Special Education Unit he just gets frustrated and doesn't want to be there. Why is my little guy not even given a chance to play at lunch. I am at the point now where it is just starting to piss me off. Every child with a disability is entitled to inclusion at school. So now I finally have it. Tuesday at lunch Pat and I will both be up there (not watching him but on standby just in case something does happen because I have a runner) and he will be able to eat lunch with his classmates and play in the playground. Not much to most parents but a heck of a lot to me.
We are taking baby steps. One day at a time. Hopefully next week the ball gets rolling.
Being Strong
I have always been a big believer that you are only dealt what you can handle in life. Lately I have been doubting that. I knew that being a parent was going to be exhausting. I was never going to have the full on care free life I used to have when I was a teenager. If I could go back to living at home being a checkout chick and paying $50 a week in board to mum and dad some days I wish I could. You don't find out until you face the big bad world how sweet it is as home.
When the twins were babies, Pat was working as a chef so worked horrid hours. I learnt to deal. When they were born his employers were nice enough to give him a whole 4 days off (funnily enough, one of his workmates also had twins that were born 2 weeks after ours so both of them missed out). As they were going from babies to toddlers I was one of those parents who used to brag about how good my kids were. They were angels and could do no wrong. Yes I was one of THOSE parents lol. I have to admit they were pretty good. I cleared the terrible 2's without a worry. I had another baby and things were actually running rather smoothly. After we had Noah, Pat decided that he was going to put cooking on hold for a few years and actually get to know his family. He got a factory job (which believe it or not paid more than being a qualified chef). Monday to Friday and we loved it. We could do things as a family on weekends, no more split shifts and it was great.
The changes we have seen in Callum have been astonishing. The child who barely spoke was now putting whole sentences together and even singing! The first song I ever heard him sing was "Hot and Cold" by Katy Perry when it was the theme song to Masterchef. I sat there and cried. I've never heard him sing along to a song before. From there on his talking got better and better.
July 2010 we decided to take the next journey in our life and Pat now works away from home offshore as a chef. He missed cooking. I was under the misconception of "I will be fine", "I'm a tough cookie". Admittedly most of the time I have been but I have been too busy to notice how much of an emotional toll everything was taking on me.
In the last year and a half Callum has gotten used to Dad working away from home. He knows when we take daddy to the airport he goes to work. I now have a small insight into what it feels like to play mum and dad on my own. Let me tell you what I take my hat off to all the single parents out there because it's bloody hard! His first swing out was 8 weeks long. I thought by the end of it the ground had opened up and I had been sucked into hell. I had no idea how much control I had lost with my children. They thought they ran the place. Who are these small demons that are ripping through my house. When Pat started working away it was just before the twins started Prep. Callum started in the 4th term of 2010 at a special school for his language 2 days a week. It made a heck of a difference. He continued to go to special school for two days a week as a help to transition him into the mainstream school he attends.
2011 was a fantastic year for us. Well to an extent anyway. Both Callum and Rhiannon started Prep and they were both loving it. There was so much support for him. The special school got him Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy (which he still really needs). He had social stories made to transition him through each major change that happened throughout school. He thrived on routine. I thought last year was absolutely fantastic. Until the start of this year.......
When the twins were babies, Pat was working as a chef so worked horrid hours. I learnt to deal. When they were born his employers were nice enough to give him a whole 4 days off (funnily enough, one of his workmates also had twins that were born 2 weeks after ours so both of them missed out). As they were going from babies to toddlers I was one of those parents who used to brag about how good my kids were. They were angels and could do no wrong. Yes I was one of THOSE parents lol. I have to admit they were pretty good. I cleared the terrible 2's without a worry. I had another baby and things were actually running rather smoothly. After we had Noah, Pat decided that he was going to put cooking on hold for a few years and actually get to know his family. He got a factory job (which believe it or not paid more than being a qualified chef). Monday to Friday and we loved it. We could do things as a family on weekends, no more split shifts and it was great.
The changes we have seen in Callum have been astonishing. The child who barely spoke was now putting whole sentences together and even singing! The first song I ever heard him sing was "Hot and Cold" by Katy Perry when it was the theme song to Masterchef. I sat there and cried. I've never heard him sing along to a song before. From there on his talking got better and better.
July 2010 we decided to take the next journey in our life and Pat now works away from home offshore as a chef. He missed cooking. I was under the misconception of "I will be fine", "I'm a tough cookie". Admittedly most of the time I have been but I have been too busy to notice how much of an emotional toll everything was taking on me.
In the last year and a half Callum has gotten used to Dad working away from home. He knows when we take daddy to the airport he goes to work. I now have a small insight into what it feels like to play mum and dad on my own. Let me tell you what I take my hat off to all the single parents out there because it's bloody hard! His first swing out was 8 weeks long. I thought by the end of it the ground had opened up and I had been sucked into hell. I had no idea how much control I had lost with my children. They thought they ran the place. Who are these small demons that are ripping through my house. When Pat started working away it was just before the twins started Prep. Callum started in the 4th term of 2010 at a special school for his language 2 days a week. It made a heck of a difference. He continued to go to special school for two days a week as a help to transition him into the mainstream school he attends.
2011 was a fantastic year for us. Well to an extent anyway. Both Callum and Rhiannon started Prep and they were both loving it. There was so much support for him. The special school got him Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy (which he still really needs). He had social stories made to transition him through each major change that happened throughout school. He thrived on routine. I thought last year was absolutely fantastic. Until the start of this year.......
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Where it began
Hi everyone. My name is Sarah and I am 27 years old at present. I am a stay at home mum to three beautiful children aged 6, 6 and 4. I have a wonderful husband who does everything he can to provide for our family. We live on the northside of Brisbane, QLD, Australia. One of my children has Autism. Welcome to my blog.
On the 6th of September 2005, my husband Patrick and I were made the very proud parents of twins. I couldn't believe it. We did it. We created not just one magical human being but two at the same time. The most overwhelming feeling swept over me. Amazement. Look what we did. At that time we lived with my Mum and Dad who helped us out so much with them. I never realised how much harder it was having 2 babies compared to 1 was (having say that I don't know any different). The twins were an April Fools Joke gone wrong lol I told everyone as a joke that I was pregnant with twins on April Fools Day. However when I got my first ultrasound done just before my 21st birthday, I found out I was having twins. By the way its the last time I have ever played an April Fools Joke on anyone.
Everything was awesome. By the time the twins were 3 months old we were living in a small unit a few houses away from mum and dad. The twins were starting to settle and sleep through the night by 4 months. I thought I had everything down pat lol. Just after Callum and Rhiannon turned 1 I found out I was pregnant again. I had an ultrasound at 5 weeks to make sure that we were only having one baby this time lol. I was told that there was an 80% chance beforehand that there could either be twins or triplets in there. So as you can imagine I totally freaked out. But luckily for us on the 17th of August 2007 baby Noah was born. The twins were 3 weeks off turning 2 when I had him. It was a ball of fun for us.
I had the twins in Family Day Care which I absolutely love. By the time Noah was 2 months old he was going as well (I trust these woman with my other 2 kids so why wouldn't I trust them with my baby). I am really glad I did that with him because when I put Callum in at just over 1 we had big separation issues for a while. By the time the twins were 3 Rhiannon was a little chatterbox while it was noticed that Callum was quite happy just to sit quietly. A few people said to me "Oh she is just doing the talking for him". He wasn't as talkative and couldn't string a sentence together. Luckily I followed my instincts and got his hearing checked out. Turns out he needed grommets/tubes put in his ears because he could barely hear us.
This is where the fun began......
I was told by doctors that once his ears were fixed his behaviour will be awesome because now he can hear what was going on around him and what we were saying to him. The opposite happened. He started lashing out and getting frustrated. Both Patrick and I were completely baffled as to what was wrong with him. We took him to go and see The Wiggles a couple of months after he got his hearing fixed and he had (what I now know today) was his first major meltdown. He hadn't been diagnosed with Autism at this stage so we didn't know what was wrong or what was happening in the mind of my poor little guy.
We started to see a child psychologist where we did the Triple P parenting course. Throughout this she came out and observed Callum and she was the one that started the ball rolling that he was ASD. I am so glad to this day that she did. On the 1st of September 2010, Callum was diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. I was actually relieved. I had an answer now I had to figure out how my little guy ticked. To this day I am still trying to find it out.
On the 6th of September 2005, my husband Patrick and I were made the very proud parents of twins. I couldn't believe it. We did it. We created not just one magical human being but two at the same time. The most overwhelming feeling swept over me. Amazement. Look what we did. At that time we lived with my Mum and Dad who helped us out so much with them. I never realised how much harder it was having 2 babies compared to 1 was (having say that I don't know any different). The twins were an April Fools Joke gone wrong lol I told everyone as a joke that I was pregnant with twins on April Fools Day. However when I got my first ultrasound done just before my 21st birthday, I found out I was having twins. By the way its the last time I have ever played an April Fools Joke on anyone.
Everything was awesome. By the time the twins were 3 months old we were living in a small unit a few houses away from mum and dad. The twins were starting to settle and sleep through the night by 4 months. I thought I had everything down pat lol. Just after Callum and Rhiannon turned 1 I found out I was pregnant again. I had an ultrasound at 5 weeks to make sure that we were only having one baby this time lol. I was told that there was an 80% chance beforehand that there could either be twins or triplets in there. So as you can imagine I totally freaked out. But luckily for us on the 17th of August 2007 baby Noah was born. The twins were 3 weeks off turning 2 when I had him. It was a ball of fun for us.
I had the twins in Family Day Care which I absolutely love. By the time Noah was 2 months old he was going as well (I trust these woman with my other 2 kids so why wouldn't I trust them with my baby). I am really glad I did that with him because when I put Callum in at just over 1 we had big separation issues for a while. By the time the twins were 3 Rhiannon was a little chatterbox while it was noticed that Callum was quite happy just to sit quietly. A few people said to me "Oh she is just doing the talking for him". He wasn't as talkative and couldn't string a sentence together. Luckily I followed my instincts and got his hearing checked out. Turns out he needed grommets/tubes put in his ears because he could barely hear us.
This is where the fun began......
I was told by doctors that once his ears were fixed his behaviour will be awesome because now he can hear what was going on around him and what we were saying to him. The opposite happened. He started lashing out and getting frustrated. Both Patrick and I were completely baffled as to what was wrong with him. We took him to go and see The Wiggles a couple of months after he got his hearing fixed and he had (what I now know today) was his first major meltdown. He hadn't been diagnosed with Autism at this stage so we didn't know what was wrong or what was happening in the mind of my poor little guy.
We started to see a child psychologist where we did the Triple P parenting course. Throughout this she came out and observed Callum and she was the one that started the ball rolling that he was ASD. I am so glad to this day that she did. On the 1st of September 2010, Callum was diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. I was actually relieved. I had an answer now I had to figure out how my little guy ticked. To this day I am still trying to find it out.
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