Bagpuss

We are off to see Ice Age this afternoon. It does seem to be getting more and more expensive doesn't it? i only take our eldest two....our youngest would never sit and watch anything longer than half hour..and then it has to be Spongebob I find the sweets/drinks etc cost more than getting in, so try and take our own whenever possible.

I'd been wondering if she was ok too .

Viper, <'> <'> <'> Can see where your coming from. We have little support, and I also miss adult conversation. The school hols can be a killer and I find taking all 3 kids out alone so stressful! Luckily my husband works shifts, so he can be home sometimes during the day etc. Would hate to think how I'd cope without him. I think the driving lessons idea is great. Will give you greater independance and more freedom. If its a long term thing, that your husband is now going to be away alot, have you considered moving nearer family? Not sure if this is a possiblity for you to consider?? Take care, Debs

Thanks Lauren. To be honest though her new haircut suits her, and is less hassle, so think we'll be keeping it as it is. She looks so grown up Now she is planning girlie hairdressing trips, bless her When I asked her why she'd done it, she said she wanted hair like our oldest daugter (short bob)...had to admire her initiative! Found it so hard to keep a straight face while doing "thats naughty and dangerous lecture" Anyhow, have hidden ALL scissors to to be on the safe side....a short bob is ok, not sure I'd find a crew cut so sweet Take care, Debs

Kathryn, You must be so proud of your daughter. What she has achieved is wonderful. Maybe her confidence has grown to such an extent that she feels she can just be herself. Take care, Debs

Love the photo and drawing

reformed

Wise words Lauren. Take care, Debs

Hi Debbie, Our daughter has muscular dystrophy as well as autism so has low muscle tone and muscle weakness as a result. She has regular physio, done by us daily and also physio sessions monthly. She goes to hydrotherapy weekly. She also has weakness in her ankles, so she has support boots, which are supplied by orthotist. We try and keep her as active as possible, with swimming, trampoling etc etc. She uses a wheelchair for long distances, days out etc. The physio we do with her daily are a range of stretching exercises specifically for her legs, pelvis etc. Take care, Debs

Ouch Hope you're not too bruised and feeling a little better today Take care, Debs

Wish i could say I'm shocked, but I'm not. These stories are appearing ever more and are truly heartbreaking . There just seems to be a general culture now with young youths of total lack of respect for anything or anyone. We've had lots of problems locally with gangs of kids, which is spiralling out of control. The debate re. causes and solutions rages on and on.

I thought it would just be a matter of time Didn't the CCTV show two people jumping? Didn't think she would ever be found alive after hearing that. It's so sad, and was really upset when I heard the breaking news when it first happened. This must be so hard for all their family and friends.

Thats a fantastic outcome. Hope it cheers him up and takes his mind off his cuts. Take care, Debs

Bliss!

Well Done Our daughter was awarded DLA care and mobility when she was 3. They initially awarded it for 2 years, the date was on the award letter. They sent out the renewal pack about 6 months before, and when it was awarded again it was up to her 8th birthday, so just under 3 years. Take care, Debs

Station

Not sure if this is what you were particularly asking about, but we were given some help by social services. They arranged for our daughter to attend nursery throughout school hols, a couple of days a week, to give us time with our older two children. A form of respite really. She went to a private nursery 5 mornings a week during term time, but obviously was not covered during school hols, which social services arranged payment for. We found the help they gave us a god send, although now she is at school full time so we no longer feel the need for it. We've been told in the future,should we feel we need a break not to hesitate to contact them again. They had lots of services available and could even arrange payments to yourself so you could employ someone you trust ie family member to give you some respite. Take care, Debs

I saw this too. Looks smashing! Well done to all those involved with it Take care, Debs

Hi Sonia, We went to meeting last week re Early Bird Plus. We start course next week. Sounds really interesting and informative. Great to meet other families aswell. Hoping to learn alot! A TA who works with our daughter is also attending. Take care, Debs

Hi Sonia, Welcome! I'm Debs, have 3 children, and our youngest daughter aged 5 was diagnosed with autism in November. She also has muscular dystrophy, which was diagnosed when she was 3. I've recently joined, and have found this forum really helpful and supportive. Hope you do too! Take care,

They usually send renewal packs about 6 months before. You can claim mobility before the age of 5, our daughter was awarded care and mobility at 3. Not sure if you can claim mobility for running off/danger etc, as our daughter also has MD, so we claimed for that. From what I remember though we did make it clear that she had no awareness of danger and would wander off if we took our eyes off her. Dept Work and Pensions...dont you just love em?! I'm sure the DLA forms are designed to put people off claiming......they take so long, and the first time I filled our out I felt so low and depressed afterwards I had a good cry. It was awful focusing on everything our daughter "couldn't" do. Then after we supplied reports from OT's, Physio, Nursery, Orthotist, Ed Pysch, Paed, Prof of Genetics, GP, etc etc they still sent a doc round to do home visit. How much money must they waste doing this?! The doc was lovely though and offered us advice re claiming in the future. It made we wonder how the heck ANYONE manages to con them??!! Glad we did in the end though, and all I have to do now is gear myself up to claim Carers Allowance, which I've been putting off for 18 mths Hope it all goes OK Take care, Debs

This must be such a worry for you. It makes me so angry when I read posts re. this, and the school seem to treat the situation so lightly. How would the staff react if it were their child out there being jumped on? As a parent I'd feel like jumping on the kids involved.......be wouldn't advise this of course Our daughter has MD aswell as Autism, and she was continually coming home from school with lumps, bumps and bruises. Either from other children or falls/stumbles caused by MD. We were never informed of the causes, and as she attends a school in next town, we were never there to pick her up or drop her off, so never had chance to speak to teacher. Eventually I started getting quite stroppy via the Home/School Diary, and insisted a Bump Diary was started. This has worked out great. The school even spoke to all lunch time staff and every single tiny incident is logged and I know exactly what is going on. We even went to the school, during playtimes, and monitored the situation without our daughter even being aware that we were there. It put our minds at rest. I hope you get the support from school that you and your child deserve. No child should have to worry about going to school and deal with abuse from other kids. Take care, Debs

Oh Hev, my heart goes out to you. <'> <'> Please talk to someone. There have been times when I went to bed on a night I'd wish I wouldn't wake up next day. It seemed relentless. Everyone else seemed to be having a far better life than us Everything was stressful, shopping, holidays, days outs, mealtimes, car journeys, we felt trapped and isolated. I wish I could do or say something which would make it alright for you, but all I can add is that we did come out the other side and the bad days are still there but becoming less so. I read a fantastic book recently called Changed by a Child - Companion Notes for parents of a child with a disability by Barbara Gill. It helped me so much. Full of wise words and stories/thoughts/feelings from other families of children with all sort of disabilities. This is quote that might help you "It is normal to be afraid and to feel alone. Just for today remember that you are not alone: others have walked the road you are on now. Even though they don't know you, their love is with you" <'> <'> <'> Take care, Debs

Many many congratulations on the safe arrival of Dylan Take care, Debs

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