Hi all, sorry once again for being MIA it's been a busy few weeks with appointments for K's diagnosis. But we finally have it, he is high on the ASD scale. So now we have answers we can move forward.
I have also had other twin J seen by pead, he has been diagnosed with SPD (sensory processing disorder) and also have lots of signs of autism, he has to attend and OT for four months and the pead will then reassess him. he told me to prepare myself for the diagnose of autism for J as well.
Hoping you are all well and i am thinking of all you. Stay strong & positive mummies.
I haven't got Al's paperwork handy, but I think they did that ADOS on him ... it was over four appointments. Lots of little toys and props.
From your stories here, I thought you already had a diagnosis ? You've been through heaps.
Al's paed. report said to get a speech and child psych assessment to go with hers. I went to a speechie recommended by a school mum as I didn't know where else to start. We/he went for five weeks - no report from her ?? She's not registered to provide under the helping children with autism package so I told her I would come back when she was. (not, I wasn't completely sold on her) In the meantime, two of the speechies from the early intervention centre have left as their private practice has gotten busy and we have spot with one of them, both of whom I really like. Al's had two one hour sessions and we will get a report next week.
We'd be in a bit of poo without the HCWA funding - this place charges twice what the original speechie does :-/
Barb we have been in this process for years. Because Matilda has been borderline, its hard to diagnose. She definately has sensory processing disorder, and is a high level of that... but whether or not she is on the spectrum has been the ongoing question for around a year now.
sorry ive been AWOL..had alot of issues here lately...mainly me and feeling down about the lack of understanding from people all around atm and feeling like im a badparent..you know the drill
SO for a bit of therapy and to get it out and have osme people read and understand what ticks in MY head I started a journal about our life with autsim. Its up in this section and although I cry when I post, its good...its helping me inside...helping me to feel a sort of calm if you like.
Best achievement in th eloast month...Wilhelm came up to my, grabbed my face with both of his hands and said...Mum I really love you you know...... it was right after I had had a massive melt down over things and I jsut felt so selfish...
ok will be prompting myself not to be such a tight butt and make more of an effort in coming in here
Hi everyone, sorry i haven't popped my head in in a while, how is everyone? i'm having major tantrum issues with Ethan and its really getting me down and i'm feeling really depressed.
I'm getting so tired of being screamed at all day everyday How much screaming can one person take?
This whole autism thing has got me feeling really alone and isolated. I feel like there's no one to talk to. The only person that understands is my hubby and even then he's getting sick of hearing about it. He's a solutions kind of guy and keeps telling me to 'call someone' but who? Is there a super nanny for autistic kids? Because if so send her my way!
I'm finding it really hard to discipline Ethan, without exagerating he is throwing tantrumes everytime i say no which is pretty much every 10 minutes. Today he had a monumental tantrum in the backyard because he lost his 'plug'. (bloody plug obsession, i feel like rounding up every plug in the house and burning them) His plug happened to be a tiny peice of red plastic he dug out of the ground (he pretends everything is a plug)and when he couldn't find it he went crazy...throwing himself on the ground, screaming, hitting himslef. so i took him upstairs (by this time the screaming had woken his baby brother up ) tried to put him in the shower because he was all muddy. Well i physically had to hold him under the water while he thrashed about. Then once he calmed down a little i tried to give him lunch and of course he went balistic again because his pancake was too big..he wanted two little pancakes, not one big one. And then he went crazy because he wanted cordial instead of water. Finally i got him into bed for his afternoon nap and then he started going nuts because he wanted a red ball to take to bed with him (which i couldn't find) and then he went crazy again because i tried to tuck him in and he wanted to be untucked.
Finally i just screamed at him to go to sleep and even then he only stopped screaming for a minute only to start back up again. I feel like i have no authority over him, i actually feel like i'm wrapped around his little finger. I physically cringe everytime i have to say no to something because i know a tantrum is on its way and what sux is that half the time i have to give in becasue if i don't he screeches so loudly it wakes his brother up no matter where he is in the house and its easier to just give in than deal with both kids screaming.
I'm really feeling lost and so frustrated. How do i discipline him? I try naughty corner/time out but he gets his head so stuck on whatever it is he wants that he will just keep repeating it over and over all the while getting more and more upset. And if i try and explain to him why he's in time out i can't get a word in, he just repeats and repeats and the tantrum starts again. My Dh has some luck with him, but he is a big guy and is quite intimidating when he's angry. He usually just throws him in his room and walks away. This works but the pay off is that Ethan hardly wants anything to do with Dh and he will scream at him if dh trys to show him any affection. I don't want that, i treasure Ethan's cuddles but what do i do?
I'm also feeling really dissappointed because i've had Ethan on the GFCF diet for a month now and i was really hoping to see an improvement in his temperament. I saw subtle improvements the first few days and was really hopeful but that all went out the window and to be honest i think his temper is worse. I don't know if its the diet or something else but his tantrums are off the chart.
I'm really hanging out for his appointment with the speech pathologist and peadiatrician next month. I'm praying someone can give me some answers and advice because i don't know how much more screaming i can deal with. I don't think we'll get a diagnosis then and there, from reading other posts it seems like its a loooong road of appointments and different specialists to get a formal diagnosis.
What do you guys do? How do you deal with the tantrums? what strategies have you found useful? I'm desperate and any help is muuuuuuch appreciated. I love Ethan soooooo much but right now i'm really not enjoying motherhood. Most days i just feel like running away but my heart wont let me and of course i never would. I feel like such a failure and bad mummy
oh lestyrox ... have you read Maz's and my stories? We've been posting our journey in this area... its amazing when you read about how other mum's have to cope with the screaming and the physical attacks you sometimes have to endure.
The biggest thing that helps me is knowing there are others out there who endure it as well. You are in Taree?? Have you got connected with the Aspect group up there? There is a "building blocks" group up in that area I think?? Have a google at Aspect or Autism Australia and find out if there are parenting groups or something up there.
We are going to get slotted in a parenting group straight away, just to have others who are living this way and with the screaming and watching their children hurt themselves. Its a different type of... living... its not living really, its existing.
Somedays we sit in the corner and cry next to them... or we take turns going away overnight for a break.... we have to make having a break a priority and get her used to it so we don't have those terrible repurcussions afterwards.
and feeling like im a badparent..you know the drill
How much screaming can one person take?
) tried to put him in the shower because he was all muddy. Well i physically had to hold him under the water while he thrashed about. Then once he calmed down a little i tried to give him lunch and of course he went balistic again because his pancake was too big..he wanted two little pancakes, not one big one. And then he went crazy because he wanted cordial instead of water. Finally i got him into bed for his afternoon nap and then he started going nuts because he wanted a red ball to take to bed with him (which i couldn't find) and then he went crazy again because i tried to tuck him in and he wanted to be untucked.
... have you read Maz's and my stories? We've been posting our journey in this area... its amazing when you read about how other mum's have to cope with the screaming and the physical attacks you sometimes have to endure. 
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