Aspergers/Autism/Sensory Integration Chatter

oh Sarah! OMG... How incredibly frustrating. You must have wanted to pull the teacher by the hair.... ARGHHHH!!!!! She obviously doesn't understand him. That makes me sad. I know a lot of you mammas have issues with teachers and aides etc... no wonder so many ASD mums homeschool. Personally, I couldn't do it... but you never know how far a mum will go to protect her children.

and you know what? You are allowed to say you are over it here :hug:

Me, us... Matilda has been a perfect child at school. She does exactly what she is supposed to do, is playing with the other children... is the only child in school not to have a melt down at school. :o someone stole my child! BUT then she gets home... and has the meltdown for a few hours at home. I finally got to talk with the OT about it & she gave me some things to help. She totally expected that Matilda would be good at school and disolve on the way home. So we have cd's to play in the car, while eating crunchy snacks.... apparently this counters some of the auditory stuff from having to listen all day. Than straight onto the trampoline before going inside. Then a brushing once inside and then a lukewarm bath before dinner.... and you know what? It worked. Its a huge effort, and work for us to do it with the whole after school, making dinner and unpacking everything... but its easier without the screaming.

WTF!!!!! Sarah - go to the principal honey! If the teacher doesnt listen or brushes shiat of with Wilhelm I go to the principal. That is disgusting behaviour from a teacher. She does know he's on the spectrum doesnt she? How can she do that!!!!! fark im angry now. Let me at her and I'll pat her head!!!!

PMSL - Prentend mode...i think thats the mode in the male structure of our house atm aswell....:rolleyes:

Did I mention what DH said when we were in the assessment with the OT?? "I just don't want to think that there is anything wrong with her" the OT said "So, do you think there is something "wrong" with her?" and he said "No" :wall:

Now though, he's been going to OT with her and doing the exercises... they are getting there.

Firstly thank you all for being hear to talk too!

Christy - yes Xander is similar - lets it all build up and then we cop the meltdown. I like your routine, we do similar but I think I might start being a bit more routine about the routine and see if it helps. As for your DH comment I have a friend at OT who's hubby is at the same place, my heart goes out to you. I'm pleased he is getting involved in the therapy - that's awesome

teacher - yes I do want to scream at her but have contolled myself - just. Did I tell you she also went from letting them into the room to making them line up - in week 3 - no notice just a note on the door that said students must now line up in two lines until 8:40, parents must supervise. (I am checking with the school as to policies with this as I think they have a supervised before school place) anyway of course Xander chucked a wobbly becasue they don't line up before school, only after morning tea and lunch. Grrr. Now we get there just on the bell and she is making him get a late note! OMGoodness. Today I got there on the bell, as in the bell rang as I walked through the front gate and the whole class had already gone up to assembly - I just don't get it. Anyway I am rambling, thank you for letting me get that off my chest. We have an interview set up for next week and I'm going to ask the special needs teacher to be there also.

Anyways better go sleep and prepare for the weekend :-)

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. If you want some ideas for now check out sue larky's website and tony Atwood also for some good strategies.

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Are you able to pm me websites, if you are not allowed to post here.
:pray:

P.S When does this verification thing leave? and when can i view someones profile to send them a PM ?

MBP - I think it goes on post counts - maybe 20? It's just to stop random people signing up and Pm everyone with spam.

As for the websites try sue larkey with all the other stuff and it's an australian site so those letters on the end

For tony attwood same thing

Another good one is aspect.

Sorry I can't pm yo, go on a posting spree :-)

Yeah just google Sue Larkey separately from Tony Attawood. Fantastic resources.

OK we are having a BAD day today - well actually all weekend - I need help!

We went to Church today which he normally loves but finished up rocking at my feet - then we had to shop - had my purse stolen and DH refused to shop alone so we ALL had to go. We had coffee first and the kids had a babycino he is having lots of oral issues and ended up spilling/spitting his drink all over himself as he keeps overfilling his mouth. then just sat in it and didn't tell anyone - so all his pants and shirt are soaked. The nwe start shopping and he has the repetition going on saying the same things over and over. Ahhh. I got him to push the trolley and put the heavy things in - which is suppose to help with sensory but he just ended up in tears. Then he needed to go to the toilet, waited too long to tell us and wet his pants - I'm sure you know how that ended up.

So we are home and he just keep saying things over and over again, his verbal skills are so low at the moment it sounds like he has had a stroke - all his words running into each other, stutter is back in full force , he can't sit still, won't go jump, he is on the rolly ball at the moment but just keeps crashing into the walls or the floor and screaming! OMGoodness. We are suppose to be going for photos today - he just thinks we are going for a play on the beach - what am I going to do. I have no idea what has set this all off.

Ive been talking to our career andt he workers who have wilhelm thruday and friday. It seems when our kids go through normal groweths that its like the wiring gets crossed and all hell brakes lose. To much going on chemically in the brain and blah melt downs!!!!

Christy - Jed is tarted very much with teh same brush as your DH....I think its because they arent with the kids all the time but astill its no excuse. drives me insane!

Saram - I probably would be leaving him athome until this meetnig andI'd be a really cow about it and ring the school tomorrow and let the principal know that you cant send him to school when the teacher is being uncooprotive with his needs. Its not as if he's doing it to be difficult....why cant she think!!! Does she have children??? Is so nice for the teachers..the kids are wonderful for them at school but what about at home...when we have them back...do they realise how much they play with our kids heads???? grrrr

Ive gotta get an appointment with Richard Isanhower (I think thats how its spelt)..he is the best in Vic appartently...hmmmm

We for a change have been having a good week :) (knock on wood). We went to the bakery for lunch today and Wilhelm was so happy..little steps again. We have also noticed having the small laptop is working great as he can google stuff ect and have a bit of down load...after 1/2 an hour he's happy and turns it of and puts it away.

Gotta get him to help me with the roast chicken in a min....this is gonna be interesting

Saram ~ ((HUGE HUGS)) to you hun, if only you knew what set things of, it would all be so much easier to deal with.

Well we gave K a haircut this morning and OMG, it was like i was trying to kill him, he got so upset during the cut he fell asleep for 20mins after. He was so concerned about the hair we cut off. :doh:

MBP - I hate giving Wilhelm hair cuts...we got through the same thing here :( ... I let his hair grown for over a year this timeuntil I had enough. Im made him a deal....he likes to feel in control of the situation so I give him to choices of what I want him to do and he picks which on...win win in the house :) so out last hair cut went like this

me - can i cut your hair Wilhelm

W - No i need my hair to cover my ears cause their sore

me - well if you get a hair cut you can pick between going for a big swim in the pool or playing the DS

W - ok...cut my hair I want a big swim :o

while we were cutting his hair...I kept saying...bye bye hair grow back soon - say bye bye to your old hair baby, everytime it fell into the bath...(I let him sit on the edge of the bath and just throw the hair in it) he thought it was funny and it worked!!!

I also blow on the back of his neck every now and then and he giggles.

Isn't it funny how something like a haircut takes such energy and precision to get it right? I was telling someone how hard it was to get Matilda's hair cut and she said "oh yeah... its so hard isn't it?" and I want to tell her how it really is for some of us. I get so frustrated I want to scream! You don't know what its like. You try to take my child to the shop to pick up some milk on my way over...

We're having trouble with teeth atm. Wilhelm has 2 teerth growing behind his baby teeth....he is totally freaking out at the thought of the 2 baby teeth coming out.

I got told to take him to the dentist...yeah RIGHT I can see it now....one look at all the drill's and the smell of the place and he's be out of there, screaming and holding his ears.

MBP - hair cuts are the worst! Xander's hair grows so fast he needs to have it cut at least every 2-3wks. It generlly gets donw every 6-8wks :-) We have found a really nice hairdresser - it's actaully a just cuts. I spent so long taking him only to have him throw such a tantrum even before it started that I got sick of making appointment. Anyway wandered into justcuts one day and bam - great hairdresser -uses scissors not the clippers was super fast and had a bucket of toys for him to play with, we had a few tears but not too bad. Next time went there, same lady - thank Godand now they have a portable DVD player - I have a movie addict so no more hair cut issues, we even got the trimmers to tidy up the back and it was OK.

Maz - oh no about the teeth - Xander lost his first tooth at school last year - apparently it was pretty horrific! I had been grooming him for the even as I could see it was really loose, hanging out at a strage angle. So funny as you see other kids his age, wiggling their teeth at every opportunity and he didn't even realise it was loose :-) Anyway fell out at lunch, he got sucha shock he swallowed it and of course all the blood. Apparently ended up in sick bay for nearly an hour trying to calm down - wish they had rung me! We are off to the dentist wed in fact just for a visit as I realised the other day eventually he is going to have to go. We are taking the DS with a brand new game, our own toothpast - Xanny can't stand the burning mint flavour of most stuff and lots of bribery :-) All the best for your visit.

Oh meant to say we got home from the photos - got some nice pics even though Xan wasn't what I would call cooperative :-) He loves playing in the wet sand so that helped to calm him and he was so exhausted form the weekend he fell asleep in the car ;-)

****GROWL****

I worked 30 hours on the weekend... I work 12 hours tomorrow... we leave for Brisbane on a plane on Wednesday morning.

HOW THE F@#$&(* am I supposed to be able to do this??? DH is staying home tomorrow to "help". But that means I have to leave a list for him and then double check when I get home because if I forget to write down "DS charger" he will forget it and we all know how that will turn out. His mum is having us over for tea tonight because his brother is in town 1 night. I'm not even packed for tonight, let along tomorrow and then WEdnesday! FARK (and I don't even swear.....)

Oh Christy - sleep is highly oer rated right :-) We did a similar feat recently, I put all the important stuff in the suitcase as I thought of it so go get it out now. Then I bought a lot of stuff I forgot like toothbrush, hair brush pj's:redface: when I got to brissie

Alex doesn't like having his hair cut either, you can't use scissors around his head, so he gets it clippered when it gets out of control. My mum didn't believe me that that I had to almost have him in a headlock to have it done, so she offered to take him to his last one ... ahem ... he was in such a state, they had to leave and go back later. I'm sure the sound and feel of the clippered can't be much fun and he can't stand the hair falling on him, he has to pick it off and he won't wear a cape or smock, even the Thomas Tank one. The DVD player sounds like a good idea.

We had our second of four paed. assessment visits today. The first one had a lot of puzzles and pictures and today had a lot of toys and playing. At first he didn't want to play, but once he got warmed up he was good for about 30 mins until he started asking to go home. She had a pretend party with a playdough cake and a doll - sing happy birthday, cut the cake etc.

I think she called it something like Griffiths assessment - has anyone heard of that?

Barbie-up - could you take on of his shirts with a high coller? Yes the DVD player is good and I keep brushing the hair off with the brush. He still hates it and it must itch him like crazy as he is out of sorts until he has a shower.

Never heard of the Griffith assessment - sounds interesting though? Have you had any feedback about what it's testing/looking for?

We made it! We flew from Sydney to Brissy today. Yes I took my child on the plane and you know what? She was perfect. We spent 10 days preparing her, we listened to cd's daily and then in the airport and on the plane. We brushed her at the airport and played squishing games, we had a new toy that I knew she would love. And 2 new colouring books. So Matilda was perfect, Jovie was awful!!! She screamed for around 60 minutes out of the 90 minute flight :rolleyes: her ears were crapping her. Ah well.... my "different" child who we expected to scream, was perfect, but my little gem of a girl was a righteous turd. Anyway, we are here at our friends house preparing for a wedding on Sat. I think Matilda's been amazing today.

Saram - We saw a paed. OT last year who said he had a sensory processing disorder. She said it was lucky it was picked up so early and talked about him being on the spectrum, but did use the 'A' word. We saw a pead. when he was two and a half who said that she did not diagnose until children were three, but she wrote mild ASD on the centrelink form.

There are a lot of little odd things about Alex and I don't know if its SPD or ASD or something in the middle, but I know that he's not going to be able to deal with school without help, both now and when he is there.

Just thought i would join here, not for me as such, but for my BIL. Hes 8 years old and has just been diagnosed with Aspergers Sydrome. We always knew that something wasnt right but always put it down to a phase. My MIL is trying her best but i dont think she knows alot about it. Are there any books or something i can get for her???

Hollye, its an overwhelming diagnosis at the best of times. Anything by Tony Attawood is good.

Christy - well done on the flight, hope it continues to go well for you, sorry to hear Jovie had ear issues - ouch.

Barbie up - It will be interesting to hear what the outcome of the assessment is, sounds interesting how they are testing all the different elements. We went through a similar process of riding up and down the spectrum - I think that is part and parcel of these awesome kids.

Xander is continuing to hae a rough time, took nearly two hours to get to sleep tonight, he just could not get still. Lots of deep pressure/sensory seeking and oral seeking - ick Looking at getting him some chew tubes or something - his fingernails are so chewed down - they are red and inflamed and he is licking eerythiing - tables, the car and seatbelt, trolleys, his sister - Has anyone bought any big OT equipment to hae at their house? My OT has a hammock/swing called an airwalker that Xander loer and I found this net swing that looks very similar but can only seem to find it in the US? Anyone got any good sites they could point me towards for big sensory stuff in OZ?

Saram I just did an OT order through something like the sense shop. Its due to arrive tomorrow! I bought 3 chew toys (Matilda licks or chews everything and at school she chewed up 4 pencils on Tuesday so I'm putting one in her pencil case). I also bought some blowers and stuff.

For the big stuff... I haven't bought anything like that yet. I'm making an A3 size wheat bag because she loves sleeping with mine on her belly, so I thought if I make a bigger one & attach arms & legs it can be her cuddle buddy for bed. Like having a weighted blanket.... but she hates having anything on her feet at night so this way she can be more free :)

Hi all, is so great to read all of your stories which describe Jackson to a tee most of the time!! Is not an easy ride hey!!

Jackson was diagnosed with an ASD at around 2.5 and has since been more definately diagnosed (at 3.5) as having Aspergers because of his rapid improvement in speech, so we were really happy with that!! He is doing extremely well, I think in part because we got onto it so early and he has had intervention since the time he was 3 - is almost 4 now.
He is mild, but every day is still a challenge, he has food issues as in he doesn't like anything and won't try anything new, he varies between 3 meals that he will eat for dinner, so he gets a different one cooked every night.

He is a toe walker and we are debating if he needs OT or not, he will 'walk on his feet' as soon as we tell him to - so think it may just be a matter of keeping on him, would be nice to get him out of it before he starts school so he doesn't have one more thing that will set him apart from the other kids. What else?... He has some sensitivities to sounds, he doesn't like any loud, sudden or high pitched noises. He has an obsession with Thomas the Tank Engine that seems to have backed off a bit lately to the point where I can actually take him to a shopping centre and he will wave goodbye to the toys without screaming until he vomits, so that is fantastic!!!

You were talking about haircuts..Once of Jackson's major fears. He would get so distressed he would bite his tongue until there was blood pouring out of his mouth. We took him to a children's hairdresser in Armadale that have TV's installed in all the benches and the kids can choose what they want to watch. Of course Jackson chooses Thomas, took about three visits until he was comfortable enough with a lovely lady that he would let her cut his hair without a tear. Still not happy, but he allowed it, and actually looked forward to seeing her! Then the last time we took him about a month ago, found out she had resigned and he went crazy, was screaming, violent for the first time ever, hit and kicked both me and my mum, was very upsetting to see him like that and I definately will not wear liquid eyeliner next time!! Not too sure where to take him next time now, another month or so to think about it!!

Ok, that is the short version of my complicated little boy - LOL. We are at the point now where as hard as it can be, we are learning to embrace his disorder because it makes him who he is and I can't imagine him not being the eccentric little boy he is, cracks us up most of the time!!

Hi Min! The early intervention really helps. We found with M getting into the OT was the best thing we could have done for Matilda's Auditory processing issues... its been life saving. We went on 2 plane flights in the past week & she was pure gold. Jovie on the other hand went hysterical and vomited on the way home.... ah well.

Hi Min and welcome! Sounds like you and DS are doing a great job. Another one here a fan of OT's it's amazing what they can acheive.

Thanks Christy looking inot that site now. Have found a place in the US that ships reasonably to OZ

Hi gals, I am placing an order with Pacific Pediatric Supplies (google them) if anyone wants to add to the order just pm me or email at sarah @ natural parent dot com dot au. We are getting a net swing and a body sox as well as some little things.

ohhh I will have a look Sarah. The chew T I bought Matilda is amazing!!! Its come in handy the last 2 days.

hey girls.

Well i have a few questions for you all regarding my BIL (hes 8).

He has the same issue with his hair. When it is being cut he shakes uncontrolably (sp). Its really daunting for him. I have been cutting his hair coz most of them time he wont let anybody else do it. He is getting a little better now but he used to not even wet it let alone wash it (still doing the shaking thing when its done). That was another problem, he would only wash it if i did it.. got abit hard when they were 4 hours away! but his mum says hes getting better at it now because i took it so slow with him. Will he ever get over the hair issues???

another thing he does is his clothes. He wears his pants really high and any shirts must be buttoned up right to the top, same with jackets. He has been told when he has no shirt on that his pants have to be under his belly button. I worry, coz it looks like he choking but he wont undo a button!

Holly my DS is the same with his pants, opposite with his shirt. I know it looks funny but it makes them feel better and better able to cope with more important things IYKWIM. We have found that by getting him really tight socks and shoes the pants aren't such a big problem anymore, so maybe look into a compression or weighted vest for him.

Hair issues - you can desensitive them by using sensory tools but we haven't done any of this yet, maybe Christy

Hi All again. Thank-you for all your kind words and welcome.

Everyone has been busy. I have had 2 very sick children to deal with in the meanwhile.

Can I ask has anyone put their child on a gluten free diet. With Oscar we have put him on it for almost 2 years now. I can swear by it the first couple days we cut it out his behaviour was completely different. He stopped bouncing off the walls, being annoying in the shopping centre and he actually started listening and even talking more. Eye contact improved also. Apparently for some ASD children its like giving them steroids it makes them uncontrollable. His diet was also supplemented with vitamins containing A ... which improves behaviour immensely. Fish oil has helped his concentration immensely. The transformation was amazing and he has been developing ever since.

This diet change was a very hard thing to do. He was a compulsive 'gager' and everything had to be plain and very smooth. 2 years on with persistence he has changed to the point that he eats soups (which he would gag and vomit up initially and scream his heart out saying no to) and even saucy things ... spag bog he loves. He even eats capsicum and broccoli.

MBP - I know exactly how it is. Oscar hated hair cuts too ... I swear he would scream to the point that he would go blue in the face and vomit ... It was emotionally traumatic for me holding him and his dad trying to cut his hair. But now he actually wants hair cuts and looks forward to it. He even says 'mummy my hair is growing to grow back' and 'I look very smart now'. What caused this. We changed the hair clippers to one that has multi-coloured combs. It became a little game 'which one should we cut your hair with ... which one do you want to hold?'. It also emits a lower level of noise. It has made hair cuts a wonderful experience. Anything to make it fun does the trick I guess. He loved washing his hair away and waving to it.


All the best!

Nicky C

Wilhelm went through a stage (3 years :rolleyes:) were he would only wear shorts, ug boots and a tshirt..inter or summer. I would get so many mean looks from older ladies it wasnt funny but what the hell could I do? He's just starting to wear long pants occasionally and jackets instead of jumpers...so its a start.

We have a PSP meeting at schhol today for him...time for maz to let rip at his know all special ed teacher! Im really peeved cause he hates being called Wil (so do I) and he gets an award last week and the stupid teacher write Will in the name section! So if yo hear thunder at 10am this morning you know its me going off! We've also found he wets his bed the nights after he has the special needs class.......but of course tha twould be my fault cause he is so good at school.....doesnt matter that ive told them so many times thaqt it is at home and 24 hours later that he lashes out.

I swear sometimes the teacher make you feel like your making it up...like we're trying to make their life hard for teh 6 hours they have them. grrrrrr

We also bought a small laptop that he's been aloud to play on after school for an hour. Its helped with getting him to settle down. We got it from WOW super store for $700 and although it has no cd driv eon it..its a nice little computer for both the boys to use. We thought we may as well get something they can use for school ect as we now get 50% at tax time

OH and its raining today...Wilhelm HATES the rain...gets scared shiatless of it so he had a fit when I dropped him of at school.

Best go......need to change a little boys bum then into the ring i go ;)

Ah Maz I hope it went okay & you stood your ground.

We had a good week. M is going to a social group with 5 children with the OT on Sat. Its in the guise of a Martial arts class for kids with sensory integration issues, but its actually a social class designed to build their confidence. I can't wait to see what she does with them.

BIL hates the rain too.. but i think its more to do with his hair getting wet?

Christy - cant wait to hear how M goes :)

Hi - I got the report today from Alex's paed. on the testing from the past three weeks. There seem to be three different scales and testing that were done.

Autistic Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) - 11 out of what ever that is scored out of. Classification: Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Griffiths Mental Development Scales - showed normal development. This has developmental ages in months for areas of Locomotor skills, personal social skills, hearing and speech, eye and hand coordination, perhormance and practicial reasoning. Alex is 40 months old and all of his scores came in between 36 and 42 months.

Schopler Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) - 32 'which is in the range for a diagnosis of autism'.

"The reported history, my observations, ADOS and CARS scores are supportive of a diagnosis of high functioning autism spectrum disorder".

I have to get onto have a speech/language and psychological assessment to complete her developmental profile.

What do they do in a psychological assessment? Do they deal with food issues?

One thing I did get today was a list of information sessions around the city/Preston area throughout the year on food, teaching literacy to children with autism, preschool and school integration ideas etc that sound really good.

I've known for over a year that there was something different, and now it's all on record.

I am not with Alex's dad and when I first bought it up with him last year he refused to acknowledge anything. Should I give him a copy of the report?

Hi Barb,

How are you handling all this now, it's always a bit of a shock when the paperwork comes through no matter how much we know it in our heart.

Food issues - as in texture, taste etc even putting too much in their mouth is a sensory processing issue and is usually dealt with an OT, find a good one who deals with SPD!

as for your partner I think it would be good to share it with him, he may not be ready to deal with it at the moment but at least you have laid the groundwork.

I forgot to say how the martial arts thingo went!! Apparently there were 5 children, 2 martial arts experts (?? maybe just black belts dunno) and M's OT. They worked on body awareness and did heaps of "how to relate to sensai" and "respect your team" sort of things. DH went with M and loved it. So hopefully KRudd's $$ comes through so she can keep going. Otherwise we have to wait until April because we only have enough $$ for one thing per term. This term is swimming. We just don't have the $$ to do everything, as much as I want too.... damn $$. If we had a fricken diagnosis at least the OT would be covered :wall:

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BIL hates the rain too.. but i think its more to do with his hair getting wet?

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:o I hate my hair being wet!!! I sometimes wonder if Im on the spectrum somewere :think: I am so anal about stuff and god I get in the worst mood's if things dont go my way.....and counting...I know im obsessed with counting...it was alright when I worked in the bank.....I always had to count and it sort of worked but I cant even have a money bank inthe house without having to open it and count what money is in it.

Barb - give him the paper work hon. men find it so much harder then us woman to get a grip of these things....heaven knows my DH was in denial for 3 years about Wilhelm...until we got the paper work.

Christy - Im so glad the martial art thing went well. I know Wilhelm loves it (I use to do it as a teenager and have showed him some of what i know)....hmmm I think I might look into it a bit more nore for him. Might be a great way for him to curb his anger. WE got our Unvcle rudd money on saturday so have no paid for the little lap top we bought. Its helped with calimng time. He wears head phones for it and he often laughs out loud. We go and see what he's up to and he's watching some mario thing on you tube.

Our PSG meeting went really well. I think the special needs teacher thoguht I was trying to work against her and it wasnt until the vice principal stepped up and backed me with things I do that she finally understood im not the biratch she thought I was. I also said that I would like the Career to step back a bit more as I find she is mothering him to much. EG - I got an invite to come have lunch with wilhelm at his special needs class...turned up and the career was there, who took over conversations with Wilhelm and kept butting in. she also mentioned he could play the principals DS when the principal and i both said no and he went off. I was ****ed and let her know it in front of everyone. Lucky for me the Vice principal was there and was the whole thing. I todl the special needs teacher that next time they have a parent student lunch like that that the career's need to step back and let the kids have it with their parents....she started getting defensive BUT the VP steppe din and agreed with me and she noticed that the career took over 'parent duties' (as she put it).
I understand that she loves wilhelm and I appreciahte that but she has to realise that Wilhelm is my son not her's and she needs to step back.

Other then that all is good (knock on wood) even though its afullmoon. He even wore long patns and a long sleeved jacket to school today :dance: Jed and i were so happy!!!!

Maz :lol: DH and i are always telling each other we belong on the spectrum! Niether of us live for being social and I have a very sensitive sense of smell.

Christy pleased to hear the martial arts went well! Hope you can get that offical paperwork soon so you can get some financial help.

Xander has been really sad lately. I'm on the verge of saying depressed and I don't know why. He says he loves school although he thinks it is too long. He is having some trouble with the kids but I asked him f it was bothering him and he said no. He doesn't lie but maybe he doesn't understand/can't communicate what is wrong???? Last night he cried himself to sleep and he is always saying he's a bad person or hopeless! I don't know where he is even getting the words from??? Any ideas. I just want him to be happy