Hello Blogland
How are you?
It's Tuesday! (I think!)
I had a chat with Lucas' teacher on Friday morning, and asked if there were any problems this week, I explained what happened Thursday night to her and even said I was in two minds whether to bring him into school that morning or to keep him home, she was very understanding, and promised to look out for any suspected triggers, but was also able to tell me that she thought Lucas had been working extremely hard that week at working hard! - yes - that does make sense if you read it 6 times :) - so I left the meeting feeling very positive.
We had a nice weekend, so pleased the snow had finally gone - although my sister was NOT pleased when her road turned into a river when she came to pick Lucas up for the afternoon on Sunday...
Monday was a slow morning - we got to school at 9:15am - well, we haven't been in the Latebook for ages! - in fact that was the first time this year!!!!!!!!!!!! - so we had to check it was still there. There was just no point trying to speed him up Monday morning, we got everything done eventually, and Lucas was in happy mode to start the day.
Today was an interesting one. We were going to be on time!! - seriously! - and then... Lucas found out that if he threw his book bag up in the air and didn't catch it - the really heavy metal swiss waterbottle inside his bag will land on his head and hurt him badly...
Today he spent the whole day on the sofa with alternate frozen flannels placed over the massive lump on the top of his head.
Top Tip - Get 2 face cloths or flannels - put one in the freezer for 20 minutes - and the other draped on the top of Lucas' head - change flannels every 20 minutes. This soothes and smoothes down the large lump, and keeps Lucas happy watching the time.
Today has been very quiet, Calpol was our good friend. We did NOT visit the Hospital, but I did have him on Amber Alert just in case.
Best wishes to all that read this...
Good night......
Tuesday, 29 January 2013
Thursday, 24 January 2013
Reality Check
Hello Blogland
How are you
To be honest I have been in denial for a few weeks now, arguing with myself that we had this condition wrapped up, and things seem to be going great - too great! - we have achieved so much - we can do this - its easy. That sort of thing has been going through my mind, with a bit of extra guilt and "you really should go to more meetings" thrown in on top too.
OK...... SO I got the reality check today delivered by sledgehammer.
I am writing this "Post Meltdown" so - I apologise now if this seems a little raw - but.... all I can say is Sorry. - but on a good side - I did find a good article - how to deal with Meltdowns....
Meltdowns - How to Cope
The simplest of things can just go crazy - note to self - YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS ALREADY!!!!!
This is the crazy situation.
My friend kindly picked up Lucas from school and we were going to have a mini playdate with her son and their friend. 3 boys were going to be playing and we were going to have a cup of tea and a chat.
Simple easy every day scenario! - right?
All 3 boys are even in the same class at school! - it all went pear-shaped. Totally pear-shaped, sadly the other boys left, and THEN the whole world went mad. I have since diffused the situation, and found the suspected trigger...
To all non ASD people reading this, he did not have a "tantrum" - he had a meltdown - and it was really disturbing to see him throw his precious toys around and then start kicking his legs against the wall in a perfect rhythm, the look in his eyes was fixed - and I closed the door and let him carry on.
The article above states that both Parents and Child are mentally exhausted - this is a total understatement. It feels like someone has just attacked me with a vacuum cleaner and sucked out all my life - I feel totally crushed from within
We had the "recommended" calm down talk, and it is heartbreaking to see him in tears talking about the incident. We spent the rest of the evening just quiet, with no computers or distractions - except Top Gear - he likes watching James May programmes, even Top Gear was turned off after 15 minutes.
Then I had the 20 minute phone call apologising to my friend - oh the guilt trips this condition sends you on! - they are unbelievable!
The result of this evening? A very exhausted drained little boy is fast asleep - and a totally drained Parent - not really sure which way to turn.
I do think this this was a tip of the ice-berg, there is a further issue, I am sure. I will need to look deeper at school.
I think a meeting with his teacher is on the cards.
These are my thoughts - "live" as they happened - post "first major melt-down of 2013" - lets hope they stay away for a while.
Love and best wishes to all that read this
How are you
To be honest I have been in denial for a few weeks now, arguing with myself that we had this condition wrapped up, and things seem to be going great - too great! - we have achieved so much - we can do this - its easy. That sort of thing has been going through my mind, with a bit of extra guilt and "you really should go to more meetings" thrown in on top too.
OK...... SO I got the reality check today delivered by sledgehammer.
I am writing this "Post Meltdown" so - I apologise now if this seems a little raw - but.... all I can say is Sorry. - but on a good side - I did find a good article - how to deal with Meltdowns....
Meltdowns - How to Cope
The simplest of things can just go crazy - note to self - YOU SHOULD KNOW THIS ALREADY!!!!!
This is the crazy situation.
My friend kindly picked up Lucas from school and we were going to have a mini playdate with her son and their friend. 3 boys were going to be playing and we were going to have a cup of tea and a chat.
Simple easy every day scenario! - right?
All 3 boys are even in the same class at school! - it all went pear-shaped. Totally pear-shaped, sadly the other boys left, and THEN the whole world went mad. I have since diffused the situation, and found the suspected trigger...
To all non ASD people reading this, he did not have a "tantrum" - he had a meltdown - and it was really disturbing to see him throw his precious toys around and then start kicking his legs against the wall in a perfect rhythm, the look in his eyes was fixed - and I closed the door and let him carry on.
The article above states that both Parents and Child are mentally exhausted - this is a total understatement. It feels like someone has just attacked me with a vacuum cleaner and sucked out all my life - I feel totally crushed from within
We had the "recommended" calm down talk, and it is heartbreaking to see him in tears talking about the incident. We spent the rest of the evening just quiet, with no computers or distractions - except Top Gear - he likes watching James May programmes, even Top Gear was turned off after 15 minutes.
Then I had the 20 minute phone call apologising to my friend - oh the guilt trips this condition sends you on! - they are unbelievable!
The result of this evening? A very exhausted drained little boy is fast asleep - and a totally drained Parent - not really sure which way to turn.
I do think this this was a tip of the ice-berg, there is a further issue, I am sure. I will need to look deeper at school.
I think a meeting with his teacher is on the cards.
These are my thoughts - "live" as they happened - post "first major melt-down of 2013" - lets hope they stay away for a while.
Love and best wishes to all that read this
Monday, 7 January 2013
New Year, New School Term, New Tennis Course
Hello Blogland
Today is New School Term Eve.
Lucas goes back to school tomorrow after a long and enjoyable Christmas Break. Lucas had a great holiday!
2013 has well and truly started - and with this new year, we are signing him up for 2 Tennis Group Sessions each week! - yes, that child that could not cope with working in Groups and PE at School is now an established member of Lister Tennis Mini Tennis Orange Squad. I have just dropped him off for the first session of the Year - and they were all sitting round the coffee table chatting about their holidays - and Lucas was sitting happily "glowing" sharing stories with his little friends. It was a really lovely sight to see. This is a major achievement! - one small step for man - one huge massive step for an ASD child!
Last year we tried with just one Squad meeting, with a separate 1-1 lesson each week - but this Term, we are going for 2 Groups! some of his friends are already in both groups so - it should only be a good thing! - Social Networking - Lucas-Style!
Aspergers and Autism have been in the news recently for all the wrong reasons, since then a really great site has been created called http://www.facebook.com/AutismShines - I posted Lucas on there - there are lots of amazing stories on that site. This site is brilliant.
Since joining that site I have also been reading a few more "Mom Blogs" that have filtered past me - phew I am not the only one, its lovely to read that there are others like me sailing the same boat upstream along the same scary river - (where did THAT come from????)
Melatonin is still my best friend. I did a controlled experiment - it eased my mind! - I tried putting Lucas to bed without it one night - just to see - and the clock instantly rolled back 18 months! - and my poor little Lucas was instantly reverted back to how he was pre-diagnosis - and it was painful to see him saying "I have tried really hard mummy, but I just cannot get to sleep!" - Melatonin works for Lucas and looks like it will be in our lives to stay.
Why did I do this? The Gremlin inside me with all the doubting questions needed to be quashed. So I did!
ASD Parents will "understand" :-)
To all Parents with Children starting back at school tomorrow - Have a good day tomorrow!
Best wishes from the UK to all that read this.
Louise - calling LIVE from Lucasland
Today is New School Term Eve.
Lucas goes back to school tomorrow after a long and enjoyable Christmas Break. Lucas had a great holiday!
2013 has well and truly started - and with this new year, we are signing him up for 2 Tennis Group Sessions each week! - yes, that child that could not cope with working in Groups and PE at School is now an established member of Lister Tennis Mini Tennis Orange Squad. I have just dropped him off for the first session of the Year - and they were all sitting round the coffee table chatting about their holidays - and Lucas was sitting happily "glowing" sharing stories with his little friends. It was a really lovely sight to see. This is a major achievement! - one small step for man - one huge massive step for an ASD child!
Last year we tried with just one Squad meeting, with a separate 1-1 lesson each week - but this Term, we are going for 2 Groups! some of his friends are already in both groups so - it should only be a good thing! - Social Networking - Lucas-Style!
Aspergers and Autism have been in the news recently for all the wrong reasons, since then a really great site has been created called http://www.facebook.com/AutismShines - I posted Lucas on there - there are lots of amazing stories on that site. This site is brilliant.
Since joining that site I have also been reading a few more "Mom Blogs" that have filtered past me - phew I am not the only one, its lovely to read that there are others like me sailing the same boat upstream along the same scary river - (where did THAT come from????)
Melatonin is still my best friend. I did a controlled experiment - it eased my mind! - I tried putting Lucas to bed without it one night - just to see - and the clock instantly rolled back 18 months! - and my poor little Lucas was instantly reverted back to how he was pre-diagnosis - and it was painful to see him saying "I have tried really hard mummy, but I just cannot get to sleep!" - Melatonin works for Lucas and looks like it will be in our lives to stay.
Why did I do this? The Gremlin inside me with all the doubting questions needed to be quashed. So I did!
ASD Parents will "understand" :-)
To all Parents with Children starting back at school tomorrow - Have a good day tomorrow!
Best wishes from the UK to all that read this.
Louise - calling LIVE from Lucasland
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
Happy New Year Blogland!
Hello Blogland!
Welcome to 2013!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How have you been?
We have been GREAT!
December is a big celebration month - big on celebration - but very tough on the Bank Balance - but hey! - that's life. December has.... My Birthday (yay - happy birthday me!) Christmas! - Merry Christmas! - Lucas' Birthday - PARTY! - and then to cap it all nicely New Year's Eve. So... quite a quiet month really... haha.
My Birthday was lovely - a nice family Sunday Lunch at the Local Chinese Restaurant - it was all you can eat - Lucas had 3 trips to the Chocolate Fountain! and lots of Egg Fried Rice (separately - obviously).
Christmas was quiet, Father Christmas was very proud of Lucas had had him listed very high up on the Good Boy List - he has been very proud of him this year, and I think he had managed to get everything on his Surprise Wish List too.
We had Christmas Turkey Surprise! for lunch - the surprise? Marcus bought a massive Pork Joint at 5.30pm Christmas Eve weighing in at over 6 pounds in weight - (3 kgs) for the bargain price of £1.56 - seriously! - and it was a very very very nice piece of meat indeed! Marcus now has a full time job going "bargain shoppinging on Holidays now". Marcus came home with lots of lovely goodies from his Shopping Expedition. He had a similar result New Year's Eve too.
Lucas's 8th Birthday was lovely. It was a real Friends and Family affair. We managed to book a Bowling Party for him at the local Hollywood Bowl. This was a risk as it was a "Group Event" - but Lucas has been doing so well with his Group work with Mel and his Tennis Lessons, we took the risk and Booked a Group Bowling Party - ok, I confess - the massive in bold statement on the Party advert stating PARTY HOST! - was very tempting... I really just handed 12 Children over to this poor defenceless Party Host and let him get on with it... it was fun!
Well, actually there were 12 of us Adults all looking on watching the "Party Host" trying to handle the 12 Children.... and... yes... it was fun..... haha - and they provided us with free Coffee too! - Lucas announced that it was his best Birthday Party Ever! - he had a great time.
One of Lucas's birthday presents was Monopoly Millionaire - a revamped version of Monopoly. (Thank you Auntie Debbie).
We played this on New Year's Eve. Daddy won the first game - then I beat Daddy on the second game! - YAY me! I AM writing this fact down! - we had a lovely family New Year, Lucas stayed up till midnight and watched the fireworks on the TV and really enjoyed the evening.
On New Year's day we spent the afternoon "Scooting" around the local Park. Definition of "Scooting" - 8 year old child "Scoots off on Christmas Scooter really fast" - Auntie Mandy and Louise spend the afternoon trying to catch up - it's a New Year Workout...
We then got back and played Monopoly Millionnaire again. THEN Lucas really surprised me.
He is only 8 years old. He has only played this game 3 times. He had managed to purchase "Park Lane and Mayfair equivalents" on the board - the richest squares, and he had also put 2 "free houses" on the cards - and then it was his next go, he just said - OK.... how much do I need to buy another house? - I told him it was M60 each for those cards - he then said - ok... I already have 1 on each, here is M120 for 2 more, then another M120 for another 2, then another M120 for another 2 - have I got 4 houses now? ok cool - so here's another M120 for a hotel on each... is that right?
I was impressed. VERY VERY impressed. I told him how extremely impressed I was with his maths and his business head. He is 8 years old! - and that was his 3rd go at that game.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! - AND BEST WISHES TO ALL FOR 2013
Welcome to 2013!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How have you been?
We have been GREAT!
December is a big celebration month - big on celebration - but very tough on the Bank Balance - but hey! - that's life. December has.... My Birthday (yay - happy birthday me!) Christmas! - Merry Christmas! - Lucas' Birthday - PARTY! - and then to cap it all nicely New Year's Eve. So... quite a quiet month really... haha.
My Birthday was lovely - a nice family Sunday Lunch at the Local Chinese Restaurant - it was all you can eat - Lucas had 3 trips to the Chocolate Fountain! and lots of Egg Fried Rice (separately - obviously).
Christmas was quiet, Father Christmas was very proud of Lucas had had him listed very high up on the Good Boy List - he has been very proud of him this year, and I think he had managed to get everything on his Surprise Wish List too.
We had Christmas Turkey Surprise! for lunch - the surprise? Marcus bought a massive Pork Joint at 5.30pm Christmas Eve weighing in at over 6 pounds in weight - (3 kgs) for the bargain price of £1.56 - seriously! - and it was a very very very nice piece of meat indeed! Marcus now has a full time job going "bargain shoppinging on Holidays now". Marcus came home with lots of lovely goodies from his Shopping Expedition. He had a similar result New Year's Eve too.
Lucas's 8th Birthday was lovely. It was a real Friends and Family affair. We managed to book a Bowling Party for him at the local Hollywood Bowl. This was a risk as it was a "Group Event" - but Lucas has been doing so well with his Group work with Mel and his Tennis Lessons, we took the risk and Booked a Group Bowling Party - ok, I confess - the massive in bold statement on the Party advert stating PARTY HOST! - was very tempting... I really just handed 12 Children over to this poor defenceless Party Host and let him get on with it... it was fun!
Well, actually there were 12 of us Adults all looking on watching the "Party Host" trying to handle the 12 Children.... and... yes... it was fun..... haha - and they provided us with free Coffee too! - Lucas announced that it was his best Birthday Party Ever! - he had a great time.
One of Lucas's birthday presents was Monopoly Millionaire - a revamped version of Monopoly. (Thank you Auntie Debbie).
We played this on New Year's Eve. Daddy won the first game - then I beat Daddy on the second game! - YAY me! I AM writing this fact down! - we had a lovely family New Year, Lucas stayed up till midnight and watched the fireworks on the TV and really enjoyed the evening.
On New Year's day we spent the afternoon "Scooting" around the local Park. Definition of "Scooting" - 8 year old child "Scoots off on Christmas Scooter really fast" - Auntie Mandy and Louise spend the afternoon trying to catch up - it's a New Year Workout...
We then got back and played Monopoly Millionnaire again. THEN Lucas really surprised me.
He is only 8 years old. He has only played this game 3 times. He had managed to purchase "Park Lane and Mayfair equivalents" on the board - the richest squares, and he had also put 2 "free houses" on the cards - and then it was his next go, he just said - OK.... how much do I need to buy another house? - I told him it was M60 each for those cards - he then said - ok... I already have 1 on each, here is M120 for 2 more, then another M120 for another 2, then another M120 for another 2 - have I got 4 houses now? ok cool - so here's another M120 for a hotel on each... is that right?
I was impressed. VERY VERY impressed. I told him how extremely impressed I was with his maths and his business head. He is 8 years old! - and that was his 3rd go at that game.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! - AND BEST WISHES TO ALL FOR 2013
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