kirstie

i got tickets this morning!!!! Will have to go through to Glasgow but we'll make a day of it!! (Hmmm, my significant other is glaring at me in a very bemused way, he thinks it's a bit pricey bah humbug!!!! can't wait!!!)

It's pretty mince actually, we went to a social worker before Lew had his dx but she didn't have a clue about disabilities or how to help us a s afamily at crisis point. When he was dx we were instantly referred to the early years autism social worker attached to the hospital and she is brilliant. She is a wealth of information and does actually understand how hard life can be for everyone. She has done section 23 for me to see what sort of help, respite we could get. Why don't all hospitals have these? it's just not good enough.

crowd surfing how cool I have to admit to hedge surfing when i'm drunk !! It's really hilarious but not when you go right over the other side, (and i'm 32 !! )

Hi Mali, Yes it seems to be true that assessments and diagnosing seems to differ wherever you are in the country (and in some cases here abroad too) . I have to say thet our diagnosis wasn't really a long drawn out affair, although it felt like it at the time i now know from reading posts here that we were pretty lucky. we attended a Communications clinic where we saw a consultant and a speech therapist who both spoke with us and Lewis in turn then they had a chat together for a few minuets and returned with their diagnosis of Aspergers, he was 4 1/2 at the time. I did phone the clinic though, and left my number incase anyone cancelled, luckily they did phone about a week later and i had to go in the next day. Making yourself heard does seem to work a lot of the time. But you are definatley in good compant here come what may theres always someone to have a chat with and you'll always get sound advice <'> Take care, Kirstie.

how sweet. Me too, got the tears in my eyes! Thats just lovely, i bet you were chuffed.

Hmmmm roast chicken, love it! are you doing roasties too??! Sorry to hear about your husbands step dad, that is awful news. It is good however to hear your baby is jumping around and i hope you're feeling well in your pregnancy. We are great here too. Lewis is loving school (language unit) the new baby is truly a bouncing bubba and Jamie is still a smelly teenager (too much aftershave it really is enough to give you migraines or asthma attacks!) take care, Kirstie.

I have wondered about this too. My kids don't all have the same Dad and i would hate for them to be split up. Do ou have to name who you DON'T want to have them as well as who you do want to have them should i pop my clogs?

I wanna gooooooooo! i'll scream and scream untill i make myself sick if i don't get tickets!!! We went to see him at Murrayfield. ooooooooooohhh he was amazing! Which site is it that was selling them? Not tht i expect to get any now though!

hi vicletia, Feel alone no more, consider yourself at home! This forum is great at any time, day or night theres always someone to help out with advice, tea and sympathy (and hob nobs if you venture into the Batcave!! ) Take care, Kirstie <'>

Annie <'> to yiou all. It's awful, and i hope they catch the s**** thankfullt rhe police are taking it very seriously. It scares me rigid, my son is 13 and his pals go into town and he wants to go with them but i get so worried because of reasons like this. I can't settle properly untill he's home safe. I hope your son is ok, Love Kirstie.

Hi folks, I personally would be very apprehensive if someone wanted to take my NT kids out let alone Lewis! I would say no, as i know that he is likely to run off or have a meltdown and often people don't know how to deal with these situations. I also find that although people ask whats going on with Lewis, they don't actually listen to what you're telling them. Tis a very different world we live in......... I am thinking back to your posts about the day you went out with someone else here and the kids got on brilliantly and it sounded like you had an amazing time, now THAT i think is great, and it made for very entertaining and comfortable reading, the dinner lady, however..... nahhhh! I would also feel very cheesed off if someone had gone to my son first and then me to ask if it was ok, as you say you're kind of backed into a corner and i hate that. Maybe she does have the hots for you??! Maybe she is trying to 'save' Ben and in some very odd way thinks she is doing him a good turn by trying to mother him, but go with your feelings and don't explain yourself (to her or anyone) should you chose not to allow Ben to go with her. Over protective? not atall, brilliant Dad? definatley. When i was on my own with the kids i know how people used to look down on me as if i were some sort of sleazey ta*t ( How did they guess???? ) little did they know 'daddy-o was a violent raging alcoholic who was getting it on with his brothers wife so **** what anyone thinks of you and your situation they must have very sad and boring lives if all they have to do is gossip about you and yours. i totally admire what you're doing for your Son and appreciate how hard it can be. I know it's not always easy allowing people 'in' so thank you for that. What evre you decide to do with Ben and the dinner lady i am sure it will be right for you both. Take care, Kirstie.

I found that Lewis having a dx made most of the parents at his mainstream nursery more understanding and tolerant, particularly when their kids were too afraid to be around him As Lew had his dx at the age of 4 i was unsure how to tell him what that meant for him. I have however always talked openly about it and he knows he has AS but as yet i know he doesn't understand what that means really.I have told him he has a special brain because he is a special boy. He is blissfully unaware that he is 'different' so hasn't quereied anything, yet. He doesn't know, nor does he care that other people don't like the things he likes (quite as much) and he doesn't know other people have feelings and don't want to listen to him talk about his dinosaurs relentlessley. We are of coarse working on all of the above! Good luck, it's not easy and you can really tie yoursdelf up in knots over it. You will know whats the best thing to do, but take your time and think about how to tell him. Would his Consultant be of any help with suggestions of how to tell him? Good luck.And it's really horrible hearing one ofour kids is feeling so bad. I feel for the wee soul so much. big <'> to you both. Take care, Kirstie

The letter was polite but to the point, excellent. Well done you! It's not on when they are having such a difficult time, after all it is such along day at school when you're six and then having to do more at home can sometimes be the straw that broke the camels back. I hope you get it sorted out, let us know the response! Take care, Kirstie.

How disgusting!!! The senco woman and her attitude have infuriated me, stupid ignorant woman, i can't see how she has the position of Senco as she obviously doesn't have a clue As for your daughter being removed from the class by another child and put into a corner AAAAAAAAAARRRRRGHHH! how dare they! She cannot help the noises or indeed the behaviours, and as i was told there is always a reason for the behaviours so they need to take a closer look at just how badly they are doing at meeting her needs. The wee soul <'> <'> <'> these are for you and her. Have you heard of I.P.S.E.A ? they are a wealth of information and can help represent you at meetings etc. well worthphoning. I don't have the number but i know it's on this site somewhere. Someone no doubt will be able to tell you where! I remember when Lewis was around 2 (pre-dx) he would scream really high pitched noises on the bus, we were thrown off and told "Keep the child quiet i've got a headache...." on numerous occasions.Little did i know he couldn't handle the noises and the crowds, he was reacting to what was going on around him, could be your daughter is doing the same! I hope you get things sorted out and your wee girl gets the help and support she deserves! I'll be thinking of you both. Take CareKirstie P.S My keyboard is smoking i'm that mad!!!!

Hi All, This is purely out of interest. Lewis has been having a really bad time over the past week or two with tantrums and generally feeling miserable. I have now discovered he is cutting two rather large molars (He's 6) which, looking back on how he was when teething as a baby kind of fits into place. Lewis had the hardest time teething, constant sickness and diorreah for about a fortnight and never stopped crying. It would abate for a fortnight and then another one or two would pop up giving us yet another fortnight of this coupled with horrendous nappy rash too, any one had similar experiences? I just wondered too if this could have been the sensory side of things making it a really miserable time for him! Thanks, Kirstie.

I bought lewis a pair of ear muffs from pound stretcher last year!

Hey Tea or Coffee i'm in edinburgh, didn't realise you were a fellow scot! My son goes to a clinic for children with "special needs ". I didn't ever think he would sit in the chair let alone open his mouth. I remember when he was very little i would take him along to the six month check where we would all be seen and the minuete i sat in the chair he would go berserk! I was feeling the same way inside as i really hate the dentist but for the sake of my kids i've always put a smile on my face and made out it was totally fine :sick:Eventually hewas referreed by his consultant and with the help of a social story he sat and let her have alook and count his teeth only but i was thrilled! They tried for an x-ray but that was a step too far for him....! I do worry though what will happen if he needs work done as he is very needle phobic. I think he might have to go into hospital for the day.

Hi Bid, and everyone!! I know how you feel! My Mum has very little to do with my lot, i think the very thought of being a grandmother was enough to send her running like Zola Budd in the opposite direction! (showing my age there!!!) It has caused me pain anger and bitterness over the years. My sister has at 33 very chronic rhuemetoid arthritis and everyone rallies for her (rightly so, she has a daughter too and no partner so it's hard and i should know) And they all say to me "It must be so hard for you...." yet no-one offers to take Lewis for the night or take him out. My eldest goes camping with my brother but he won't take Lewis. It does hurt. I think now that i have Richard and we are a happy family unit my family don't think we need any help. They are so wrong, And as for the "out-laws" they are plain horrible and would never dream of lifting their finger to help. Put it this way they haven't even seen their new grandson and have no intrest either, let alone help with my other two! It's true, you can chose your friends but you can't chose your family............. You have no reason to feel guilt and you are not a bad person so don't even think it! You are doing and have done a wonderful job. I'm sorry you feel so crappy and i'm sorry to hear about your Dad too. Take Care, Love Kirstie. <'>

Hi Sharron, I think the fragile x test sounds about right. I know Lewis had the chromosone blood test done too and to be honest they were pretty vague as to what they were looking for. My son is needle phobic so this was really disturbing for everyone to see. He generally senses what is about to happen and bounces off the walls in an attempt to escape. But we distracted him the best we could and managed the blood test but its pretty awful for him. I hope don't have a hard time of it, poor wee mites i can only imagine how terrified they must be feeling! Take care, Kirstie.

Sarah, Hi and welcome! It really upset me to read your post and read how you felt such a freak etc. I'm really sorry you felt like that. We do live in a very harsh society sometimes and people kids and adults alike are not always very accepting of other peoples differences. I hate that! We are all individual and all special! I think you are right to seek a diagnosis. I have found that a lot of the supports aren't readily available untill you have that all important diagnosis. It really helped me to understand my son, and therefor bond with him properly. I really didn't know why he did the things he did and it was such astruggle with him. I'm sure that if you do have AS then a diagnosis would help you to understand your own experiences and feelings. There are also a lot of good books out there written by people with AS/ASD that may be worth reading? I wish you all the luck in the world, and hope you stick around and let us know how things go, and also if you need to have a rant thats cool too! Take Care, Love Kirstie.

Oh Lewis loves this too. But it has to be when he's in the right mood for it as he really hates being touched. Soph, this is great to know you are contemplating making something to help out ASD kids. My occupational therapist was going to get a gillet and put weighted objects into the seams at the bottom to make it heavy but she hasn't yet and i wonder how that would've helped. Also she used to suggest he wore a rucksack with a few things in it (Ie toys) to put pressure on his shoulders. I know you can buy weighted blankets and the like but they can be pretty pricey! Good luck and let us know how you get on! If you like i can give you her phone number she's at the Royal hospital for sick kids in Edinburgh and she has such amazing ideas! Take care, Kirstie.

Hi Hon, Its brill to hear from you! I haven't been around myself much lately either what with the new Baby, so i was wondering where you'd got to! We are all doing fine this end, Lewis is loving School and the new baby finally has a name (Aiden) I'm really pleased for you and your boy and that he's getting on great at school. I hope you're computer gets sorted soon! I'm sure you can win your husband round nudge nudge wink wink !!! And how amazing, Canada. I@m so jelous!! Hope you'll post soon, Take Care, Luv Kirstie.

Isn't it funny (ish) when theythreaten to call the police?! Lewis threatens to have me " under arrested" if i don't listen to him straight away, right this minuete when he wants something. Shaz i'm with you on the puberty thing. Phew it's not much fun for us (or him i guess) at the moment with his constant wants and attitude if he doesn't get!!! Grrr. (Jamie is thirteen and is all hair gel and aftershave at the moment, it really is enough to give you a migraine!) Anyway Lewis looked out the window at the fireworks but wasn't too bothered by them. And everyone has gone mad this year, they're everywhere. My poor dog is demented! Kirstie.

Hi all, Lewis was induced two weeks early, due to a previous stillbirth i had at 37 weeks. (Zemanski <'> to you!) It was the worst birth experience i've had in terms of pain. (Just given birth 10 weeks ago and although a very long labour it was a fab delivery!) I'm not sure what was used for the induction but i was contracting violently. After Lewis was born the midwife checked me over and said my womb had gone straight back down to pre-pregnancy size, something she had never seen before! And from the day he was born he was so unsettled and basically never slept. Following on from that were the endless upper respiratory infections, thrush, constipation and broncholitis But i do look at his father and see how inflexible he is how aggressive and a bit obsessive..... maybe my little man was genetically pre-disposed to his AS.

Hon, you've done great getting this far! Not long now although i bet the wait will be agonising. It really is a weight off your mind when people start to listen and see for themselves things aren't right. Well done!! And lucky you, a holiday? anywhere exotic? Hope you have a relaxing time, you so deserve it! Love Kirstie.