kirstie

I can't beleive what i'm reading about the toast having to be practically anaemic!!! My son is exactly the same. It has got to be really pale as with most of his cooked food (i say that as if he eats salad and fruit and stuff- i wish!!!) many a time i have been in a very well known baker asking for the lady to give me the palest of sausage rolls! Just the look of it can put him off, then comes the smell and taste.... does anyone know any strategies to help overcome these sensory difficulties? OT has given me info but it is directed more toward the child who has difficulties knowing where their mouth is, can't feel it and will overstuff for example. Or for gagging children (like my other son) ie having a very cold drink before eating can help but none for help with the specific difficulties Lewis has. If any suggestions have been posted i apologise- i had to skip a few as i'm in a rush this morning!!! Thanks!

<'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> <'> Hun, i am where you are right now. I also have 2 other boys on the spectrum and my daughter is under assesment- in fact today she had neuro developmenatl assesment. Very delayed and indifferent (more so than her brothers) hardly ever smiles, no affection, no waving, no pointing i'm sure you get the idea. She is to get physio to help her sit up and weight bear, speech therapy to help with lumps and babbling, hip xrays (creases don't line up) and hearing test. But in my heart i know she has Autism. I am devestated. I understand your fears for your daughter because mine are the same. The clincher came today when paed said she was going to talk to Prof who dx both my boys. I feel like my world has imploded and honestly i want to get up off this chair and run- not away from her but just out of fear. It's like a never ending nightmare. So you are not alone, but you know what, we will dust ourselves off, cry a bit, get on with it and cry a big bit more but in time things will feel a bit better and that is what i'm clinging to. <'>

Oh aye, i agree that kids will be kids and children on the Spectrum can be naughty. I think, to me it sounds like the parents are either in denial about the dx or are very ill informed or not informed/educated atall. It can be tough knowing in those early days how best to handle certain situations or how to choose your words even can make all the difference. It's not something that will usually come natuarally to a parent/carer who has had no previous experience or knowledge of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Thanks for the replies on environmental triggers. I had never known quite what that meant. I do now! I agree that parenting does not cause autism but not doing certain things as a parent to help a child on the spectrum can lead to , well a situation like jb1964 describes.

My son is 3 in August and i have applied for a specialist nursery placement because he is very much as you describe your son. (had to smile at the shapes numbers colours- my son is exactly the same) but my reasoning is this, i have been 'fortunate' if that's the right word to use, that we got an early diagnosis and i plan to use it to his advantage. Intensive specialist support for his language difficulties and OT for his gross motor early on may well see him cope beautifully in mainstream down the line. He is a very smiley and interactive boy who in time i think will benefit from being with typically developing children to help his language along. But right now, knowing first hand how much of a joke it is getting adequate support in mainstream this is the route i have decided upon. I know this is agonising times, and the visits to various schools will leave you exhausted emotionally and mentally but take your time and go with your gut instincts every time! <'>

Mel, Good point!

<'> hope all is calm now! it's no fun when it all kicks off like that. I understand with the new school thing. We are having a time of it here too due to a new school. <'>

OOh that does sound iffy. I had read this week that men from abroad (or women too i should imagine) are chatting to people online asking for them to help take the money from an account and then passing it on to them so they are what would seem laundering it for them (in return for a large fee i might add!) Be very careful. I am not going to do online banking again. I hope that it will be safe enough for me to just check my statements online but i will be very wary of that even when my new details arrive.

Ok, so at the risk of sounding as thick as mince, can someone please explain what this means? The environmental triggers that is? I am well aware that it it's highly likely the ASD dx of both my sons is most likely genetic but the other bit i don't understand. Thanks.

<'> Oh hun i'm totally with you on this. My son has just gone into mainstream and he is finding it really hard. I was so happy to be able to finally pick him up from and take him to school and i was so excited about doing this having missed out when he went to his Language unit, but it's exactly as you describe- seeing his classmates all huddled together over some new game chatting away, or running around and not one of them looks the road my son is on, mind you he's not that fussed but he does try. It's killing me. The kids are not a bad lot but no-one is really interested and it hurts like mad. He does feel it too but his conversation is so domineering and not really appropriate at the best of times. I am fuming that he hasn't had the appropriate levels of support when going into a new school (em, that would be none in fact!) but i feel someone (and i did ask, many times) should have been taking more time teaching him to be more appropriate in social situations. I have thought about Cubs but it worries me that it will only highlight to him even more that he is isolated. It's the decisions like this i find agonising. I will see how after school club goes first. I'm sorry i'm not much help to you but i do understand. Totally. <'>

<'> I understand where you're coming from although my son is only 8. I do think about it a lot and he can't get out to play (even if he did have friends ) because he is vulnerable, thinks he could spot a 'baddie' because they all wear balaclavas and the road sense is non existant. I watch him and i see he takes little to no notice of what is going on around him, or who is around him so for him spotting potential dangers is not good. I am remedying this because i feel he spends too much time indoors and would play his psp all day long if i let him. I have decided (and asked him ) to have him attend the after school club at school for 2 or 3 sessions a week so he can mix with his new classmates, get outdoors (weather permitting) and get to know more children from the school. I have asked Social Work to help fund this under his section 23 assesment so will wait and see, if they don't i will send him anyway because he needs to get out there a bit more but he will be in a secure environment and i have arranged 1:1 for him with Capability Scotland. Is there any such club at your sons school? It is so tough isn't it <'>

Just under a year for each of my boys. But it was more because we went around the houses with my older Son with AS, and finally one of the people we saw at CAHMS referred him to the Dr who dx'ed him. Now i have Eilidh and worry that her development is not as it should be so i know exactly where to go now, i have their phone numbers- they can't hide I am shocked at how long most of you are having to wait, it's an outrage!

Lewis called me Mu for ages and Aiden (3 in August) calls me Daddy or Mummy, lol but i'm no better when i call for mine i go through all their names before i get it right, getting old urgh

Thunderbird is em, er ooh well, um.....dunno actually but its gross. Not sure if it's classed as a wine or what- not a spirit i don't think because you can get different varieties. Not sure if you can still get it to be honest, thankfully!! Lol.

Hi Gillian <'> what a week for you too with your sons dx. How are you feeling about it? I hope he finds the new school much easier to cope with. Lewis's teacher is with me on this, and the deputy head. He should've had support in there from day 1 instead he has been thrown in at the deep end. What his old school have done is assume he was going to be ok. One thing i never do with either of my boys on the spectrum is assume anything!! The school he's at now are doing great with him and are helping him out when it's all getting too much so i have no fault with them, it's the transition that has let him down (his old school basically) it's just not fair on him to have to deal with this on his own and somewhere the whole system stinks. He must be feeling so confused and i feel so sad for him. We worked damned hard to eliminate his very entrenched behaviours when he was younger and now i see it all unravelling before my eyes. I wish i had fought them so he could have stayed where he was. I have phoned VTSS (visiting teaching and support services) to demand someone come in as soon as possible to support him and the deputy head is applying for more audit hours too. I'm also going to phone I.S.E.A because they always know who to go to and what i can do to get what he needs.

Hi all, Thought i'd share with you the transition Lewis has undergone from his language unit into mainstream primary. Well, after digging my heels in last year he stayed put at his unit. But after the Easter hols he moved permanantly into his new school. Lewis had done so well at his unit, there were no behavioural issues, he was coping with his sensory problems and his work was fantastic- really brilliant. From the bewildered little boy who came kicking and screaming from Nursery he had done so well over the past few years. But as ever they want them out the door and into the big bad world. (he's 8 ) well i stipulated i want support for him and at no point did i want to be having to make phonecalls chasing people up to help support him, nor did i want a wait and see attitiude. I wanted help in the form of 1:1 from the off- Oh Yes Mrs D that will all be a matter of priority for children joining mainstream schooling mrs D, three bags full Mrs D blah blah.............anyway he's in there now and he's got no 1:1- only a designated person to see at break times etc should he need help (yeah, and he's going to ask for it right enough ) the school were awarded 10 hours from the audit and quite frankly its not enough. I have had a meeting with his teacher today. He's struggleing. There have been many tearful moments and tantrums, kicking of chairs and leaving the classroom (everything from not having milk to new coloured uniform is setting him off) and his work is suffering. He was way up there with his maths and reading and now he's doing two sums an afternoon I am now angry that the school before didn't a) write him a social story b)do him a communication passport c) organise him better support effective immediatly. So now i have to get on the phone ans start insisting he gets a better deal than this. This was what i was so afraid of and they have proved me right. His new school are very good, and the kids in his class are a nice bunch but he is just not coping. Hmmmmnew there was a reason he was in an ASD language unit WHY does it have to be so hard? for them and for us????

Right now ANYTHING is my tipple.... I remember getting ratted in a cemetry with my best mate on thunderbirds when i was younger, Urgh the very thought! Now i like rose cava (CHEEEEAP) and i do like a cheeky vimto but the heartburn is horrendous. White wine and soda or a strong cup of tea no sugar (cmuir makes a wicked cuppa!) In fact Cmuir Forbsay and i are meeting up again soon for a night on the tiles, anyone fancy a monumental p@*! up??!

<'> I'm relly sorry to hear about your Dad! sending you love and hugs <'>

Thought i should just warn you all- although i know you will all be clued up, to check and double check your accounts. If you do online banking be very careful. I have just had someone set up a mandate to the tune of �400. I noticed it the next day and now my account is on a stop untill the Bank investigates feeling rather angry and violated to be honest. It is not a nice feeling and it's not money we can afford to 'lose'. I am aware that quite a few Banks are seeing this happen a lot right now but DO NOT open any emails claiming to be from your bank or any other for that matter, unless you know for sure its not fake.( they are doing the rounds!) Doesn't help when so many agencies are 'losing' our personal data either!!

<'> Aw Bid that sounds really painful! When i had my last baby my veins got all inflamed the Doc gave me a diagnosis and a script- i left feeling so upset because i thought she said it was flabitis (my kids thought this was HILARIOUS!!) but turns out its called phlebitis which my Mum explained to me and found even more hilarious tut...!!! Hope the physio helps! Hob nobs (chocolate ones only!!) might help take your mind off it too.

<'> aw hun, it's never easy is it? Just take your time and talk to him when your ready. Cry bucketloads when you need to just know when we're all here for you! <'> <'> <'>

lol the tazer or stun gun Cmuir told me about a thing that was ina certain chemists lately. its like a little teddy thing i think goes on the child- like in their bag and will sound if the child goes away from you- i'm sure she will describe it ina better way than me but it sounded great to me!

Oh Shamu, This must be so tough for you. I have 4 children myself. My eldest is almost 16 and a apart from dyslexia in maths and chronic asthma he's doing fine- independant (or getting there) then theres my 8 y.o with AS and my 2 y.o with ASD and my 13 month old quite probably ASD too so for me there is no more children- in fact my husband has just been today for the snip. had no idea when i fell pregnant with my daughter that my youngest son was on the spectrum but i was desperate for another baby so we threw caution to the wind and whaddya know my honeymoon baby was concieved. Now i have the worry that she is on the spectrum too and to be honest i don't think i have the strength to go through another pregnancy and all the worries it will bring- knowing now the genetic link is evidently very strong. I feel sad, and i feel so cheated in a way that i ahve 3 out of my 4 children with Autism, cheated because when i walk into a room i am ignored, when i wave and smile (at my youngest mostly)i get no response and despite the large family it can be a lonely place for me. But i do understand that urge and that need to have another, it was so strong for me. But of course our circumstances are different and i totally get what you are saying about your daughter having someone for her on many levels. I reckon you should have a good long talk with your husband, give it plenty of time and then see where you are from there. Good luck in whatever you decide. <'> <'> <'>

ooh I met Billy Connolly once, when i was a wee lassie at Greyfriars Bobby. He tickled me and asked if i'd been kissing the boys cos i had no front teeth Lol!!

chips

Pookie- Stoooooooneybridge! yep, totally pant-wetting! Mrs Overall (Julie Walters) comedy genius. Billy Connolly (he put his leg in the arm of the eiderdown!!) An audience with, another pant-wetter!! Shooting stars, (ivavoo) Johnathan Ross- sometimes, Ab Fab, (Patsy) Gimme gimme gimme- hilarious (what';s the secret BD tell me tell me??) Porridge, Wayne n Waynetta (I'm smokin a faaaaaaaaaaaaaag!) Bubbles (Little Britain- daaaaaaling) Only fools (Come back, Christmas aint the same without you!) Ronnie Barker in Open all hours (Nurse Emmanuelle, ) Rising Damp Don't like, Lee Evans Harry Hill Ian Hislop, not a comic but God i can't stand his smug snidey comments. Paul Merton, bit of a burke too Bobby Davro (cheeseball) The Krankies (so NOT fandabidosey) Freddie Starr (Aarrgggghhhhh!) That other guy with the longish hair (bald patch) and beard. Emu Orville. Later French n Saunders work, although the send up of Silence of the Lambs was hilarious....Dr Lecter?? Dr Lecter???? And that's about it really!