Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Hatred of All Things... Educational - Part 5/5

     By mid-January, Teagan was in the classroom... but only for a week.  The next week, he missed the entire week because of the flu, which really sucked, because he was just starting to get used to the new environment.  However, during that first week, Teagan said something we have never heard before, and we thought we had picked up the wrong child from school that day.  I asked him how he liked his new school, and he said, "I like it."  I was like, come again???  I couldn't believe it.  Of course, he still says he hates it, but he already let it slip that he likes it, at least sometimes, so we knew this was a good fit.  I can't say I like his teacher, and I can't stand the assistant teacher, but they seem to be able to do the job.
     However, last week, Teagan showed me a mark on his arm that had scabbed over, and told me the assistant teacher had grabbed him by the arm and made that mark on him.  I had seen her grab him by the arm and drag him all over the place like this, and I wasn't happy about it, but I had kept my mouth shut, until now.  The next day, Teagan told the assistant teacher about it, and she flat out told him he was lying.  Now, let me briefly explain about Teagan and lying.  Teagan cannot do it.  When he tries to lie, he will at first try to do it, but then immediately tell on himself and try to rationalize with you why it was necessary for him to do whatever it was he was trying to lie about.  So, basically, the assistant teacher was full of shit, and trying to cover her own ass.  I e-mailed the teacher (not the assistant), and she called me the next morning to discuss it.  I explained the situation to her, and told her this, "He does have two hands.  Why can she not take him in hand instead of grabbing his arm and gouging her fingernails into his skin?  In the future, to avoid this situation, make her take his hand."  That same day, I asked him how the assistant teacher treated him, and he said she was very nice.  Yeah, very nice because she was afraid of getting her ass handed to her by his bitch mom.  Grrr!!!
     Well, as far as that goes, Teagan seems to be doing well in this program, though he is only in this program until the end of this school year.  Afterwards, they will make a decision where Teagan should be placed.  Teagan still mentally shuts down when he is frustrated, and refuses to do work, but with coaxing or bribes (removal of his therapeutic recreation time/Lion's Den spending taken away) he is able to get enough done that I don't have to come to the school to sit with him.  I can't say what the future holds for him, but I'm sure the battle of the schools is not over.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Hatred of All Things... Educational - Part 4/5

     This was the first year we had let him ride the bus.  I am extremely overprotective of Teagan, as you will eventually see in my posts, and I was scared to death that some older or meaner kid would pick on him, to which I would have to jerk that kid up by his or her ear and set them straight.  Anyway, it took me all summer to talk myself into it, since the school was out of the way for us, and because of finances, a lot of money would go for gas to and from school every day.  I finally allowed him to ride the bus.  About three weeks into the school year, I was sitting at the bus stop waiting to pick up Teagan, when this Hispanic woman, who spoke very little English -- I had spoken to her before about the bus being delayed, and though I am taking Spanish classes, it was difficult even relaying that little bit of information -- came up to me and in her broken English and Spanish told me that the bus driver had assaulted Teagan, and that her own son had told her about it 3 days before.  I was absolutely livid.  So, once the bus came, I went over to get Teagan, and with the mother, talk to the little boy.  I asked him if the bus driver that day was the same one, but he was a substitute.  All I can say is the bus driver in question was very lucky he was not driving the bus that day.  I would have jerked him right off the bus and thrashed him to near death.  Anyway, the boy said that Teagan was talking excessively, which Teagan does when he is overstimulated, and he loved riding the bus.  The bus driver told him to shut up several times, and when Teagan didn't, he went to his seat, jerked him up by the front of his shirt, dragged him down the aisle and shoved him into a seat at the front of the bus.  The little boy was very descriptive, and I was very pissed.  I immediately called the school and told them I was on the way to discuss this matter with them.  I told the principal and assistant principal about it, but I refused to put Teagan back on the bus, and it may be a very, very, very long time before I feel able to do so again.  Because policies had changed, it was now a law that the school had to report any incidents like that to the police, so a police report was filed, the bus driver was fired, and even though I didn't get to beat the daylights out of him, I was marginally satisfied with the results.
     After picking Teagan up many more times after Christmas break, I spoke to the acting principal, the one I can't stand was blissfully out on medical leave.  This woman was a godsend.  Apparently all other school administrators are idiots, or she was the only one in the entire district who had this knowledge, which I find hard to believe.  She informed me there was a behavior program -- now, first I will say that Teagan is not a behavior problem, not in the literal sense of the word.  His problem is lack of motivation and ability to stay focused in class, which stems from multiple diagnoses and lack of services.  Anyway, this behavior class was similar to a self-contained special needs classroom.  There is a teacher, an assistant, and a behaviorist in the classroom at all times.  They also provide individual, group, and if you wanted it, family therapy for every child in the program, as well as adhering to each child's IEP.  Whatever its label, this sounded like the perfect place for Teagan, and we at once set in motion the application process.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Hatred of All Things... Educational - Part 3/5

     Second grade wasn't as bad.  His one hour of resource was bumped up to one and a half hours, I absolutely hated his resource teacher this year more than the one the previous year, but his teacher was amazingly just like me.  LOL  She was firm, kind, but also knew how to make Teagan behave.  Though completing homework was still an issue, I wasn't fighting the school every day, like the year before.  For the most part, this year ended without incident...
     Except for the fact that his school got a grant to build a whole new school just for them.  It was going to be awesome.  They put in a bid for land, they took bids for their current land and school buildings, they found a buyer, they sold!  Then... the bid for the land for the new school fell through, so now the school had no school, no land, and no prospects of building a new school within a year.  So, their solution?  They decided to use all that money to merge with another school and building another building BESIDE the other school, along with a series of outbuildings that North Carolina is so wild about... which are really trailers they shove children in and pretend they are just like regular classrooms.
     During open house last summer, we learned that Teagan was going to be in a classroom the size of my bathroom x 2.  Literally, it was like a broom closet, I started calling him Harry Pottery.  His second grade teacher, always very candid and blunt with me, which I always appreciated, informed me that the other school, we'll call the new one D and the old one L, the L school was closed down until further notice because they found asbestos rampant throughout the entire building.  Like OMFG, right?  So there were these precious little babies attending school in the L building all this time, and they just NOW realized there was asbestos?!?!?!?!?  I was totally freaking out.  Once they got that cleared up, I pointedly asked his new teacher in his new classroom in the old asbestos L building if they got all the asbestos out.  She said she was sure they did, or they wouldn't let the students in there.  I looked at her like she was the stupidest woman on Earth.  Did she forget she had taught in this very classroom for I have no idea how many years with the asbestos in there???  Made me want to smack her on the spot.
     His new teacher was a useless piece of horse dung.  Never have we had so many issues with his teachers, until this year.  When that woman didn't want to deal with Teagan, she would call me to pick him up.  He missed probably half of the first quarter of school because of this bullshit.  It was totally ridiculous.  The week before Christmas break, I went and stayed with him at school all day long.  And guess what?  I didn't have a single issue.  He did his work, he got it all completed, little fuss, no trouble.  I honestly believe that teachers do not want to deal with special needs children, because it takes more effort, and they just don't care.  Now, that isn't to say all teachers, because there are some excellent special needs teachers out there who are angels in disguise.  But, regular education teachers... no, they don't want to be bothered by it.

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Hatred of All Things... Educational - Part 2/5

     Teagan received services from a different one-on-one worker, who was nice, but just not the same.  Teagan did very well with her also, but when it came time for Kindergarten in the Exceptional Children's Program, he didn't need his one-on-one worker.  He was doing awesome in the new school, the classroom was great, the teacher and the assistant (we still love them!) were so wonderful, everything seemed perfect, my sweet baby was going to get an awesome education, he was going to grow up to be the little genius we all knew he would be.  The year went so well, that at end-of-year testing, he was academically exactly where he should be.  It went so well...
     We were called into an IEP meeting during that summer, prior to 1st grade.  We were informed that Teagan had done so well on his end-of-year testing that they were going to mainstream him into a regular education classroom, take away his IEP, all his services, and shove him into a classroom with 20 children with two full time teachers, instead of the perfect environment he was in with only 8 students and two full time teachers.  We begged and pleaded and begged again for them not to make this decision.  We knew he was not ready, he needed at least one more year to get the hang of it, even if it was another year in a mainstream Kindergarten class, which at the time they did not suggest.  They said their hands were tied, they had to make this decision based on his test scores.  Total bullshit.
     Enter the 1st grade in a mainstreamed, regular education classroom with a teacher who was too nice that Teagan literally bowled her over with his manipulative behavior and his awesome cuteness.  The assistant teacher, bless her heart, was so nice and loving, Teagan obviously was her favorite little baby, and she did everything she could to help him as much as possible.  Seven days after school started that year, the principal called me.  Her exact words were, "Teagan is struggling, and I have decided to place him back in Kindergarten."  To which I replied, "It's not happening.  We begged the IEP team not to place him in a regular education classroom, they did not listen to us, so now this is your problem, fix it." 
     So, from there, my husband and I spent the next several months fighting the principal and her team of psychologists, social workers, and school administrators who supposedly knew exactly what my son needed in order to achieve mediocre academic success.  We ended up contacting a child advocate who specialized in fighting the school for children with special needs.  She had been a school administrator and teacher for over 20 years, turn advocate, and she was wonderful.  After five months of fighting, we got Teagan back on an IEP, with "services" I wouldn't even discuss, except that wouldn't help me bitch about this school mess.  His "services" consisted of one hour a day of "resource" which was him sitting in a classroom for an hour with 10 other children, all from different grade levels and educational levels, being "taught" by a teacher who didn't do a whole lot of teaching, for the time I sat in her class.  From January to June that year, I spent half a day in Teagan's classroom monitoring him and trying to encourage him to complete his homework, since his regular education teacher and his resource teacher didn't seem to be able to do the job.
 

Friday, April 22, 2011

Hatred of All Things... Educational - Part 1/5


     So, here I thought I would rant and rave a bit about how much I hate the school systems of North Carolina.  This post ended up too long for one entry, such is my hate for the school system, so I separated it into five entries, that will post five consecutive days, so stay tuned for the complete story.
     Our story begins when Teagan was three years old, and he was first diagnosed with ADHD.  He qualified for the Early Childhood Intervention program/Exceptional Children's program, and he was placed into an appropriate pre-Kindergarten classroom.  Wait, did I say appropriate? 
     Of course, we knew that transitioning from playing all day at home to a structured school setting was going to be very difficult for Teagan, and we were prepared for it.  However, we were not prepared for the clinging, sobbing, heart-wrenching pleas not to leave him, could we please just stay with him, or better yet take him home?  But, we persevered, and left him in his big boy classroom with what we thought at the time, to be a very capable, kind, caring, and compassionate teacher and her assistant.
     About two months in, we were told that Teagan would mentally shut down when he did not want to do something, and would lay his head on the table and fall asleep.  This, we were also told, is exactly how the teacher let him stay until the end of the school day, which at that time was only a half-day program.  Seriously?  If I wanted him to sleep all day, I could have left him at home without the headache of juggling work, getting him to/from school, and coordinating with my mother when I wasn't able to take him or pick him up.  We met with the teacher and her assistant (the teacher we realized was a complete idiot and the assistant seemed to hate children, I have no idea why she was even in that line of work).  We explained to them that they were going to have to just wake him up and make him do the work, otherwise, how will he ever learn?  How will he ever get into the routine of school if he's allowed to sleep all day?  That just teaches him that if he doesn't want to do something, he can just shut down, fall asleep, and be left alone.  Needless to say, that first year was a complete nightmare.
     The second year of pre-Kindergarten, he was in the same school with the same teacher and the same assistant, but this time we had fought to get speech and OT therapies included in his IEP, which was no easy feat.  Let me explain the reason why we added these, and why I still hate this teacher to this day.  About this time, Teagan was diagnosed with Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified, or for those not in the spectrum-know, Autism.  We gave this new diagnosis to his teacher, who promptly informed us that she did not see Autism, and that there was a child (who went on to become my son's very best friend, but also died from drowning 2 years ago  - We miss and love you Grayson!!!)... sorry about that.  Anyway, there was a child in his class who had Autism, and Teagan was nothing like him, and she did not see Autism in Teagan.  I'm sorry, since when do teachers have medical licenses?  If they did, I'm sure they would not be pre-Kindergartner teachers.  Well, she kept telling us that all year, but we got our way anyway, and got the speech and occupational therapy placed in his IEP.  We also got him a one-on-one worker.  One, because the teacher obviously could not or was not willing to try to work with Teagan, and two, to keep an eye on that teacher for me.  The one-on-one worker was a dream come true.  She was so nice and caring, Teagan loved her, we all did.  Sadly, at the end of the school year, she took another position.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Thank You To Everyone!

     I wanted to dedicate this post to you.  To all of you who have read my posts so far, commented, rated, and reacted, I thank you for helping me put the word out on my blog.  This includes all of you Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter followers!  As well as my mom and husband, who are not only my editors, but my original audience, my critics, and are forced to read each and every entry as they are posted (because I put them on the RSS list.)  As I have said before, it is one part educational, one part inspirational, and one part humor.  I want this to be an enjoyable experience for all.  I certainly enjoy writing about Teagan, since my entire world revolves around him anyway, which some of you know, if you know me personally.  
     For those who have blogs or websites, I am working on a way to make a button that can be added that will lead directly to my blog (this is only for you hardcore Attack of the Autism Addicts. :-P - which I assume is all of you!).  Once I figure out just what I want to do with it, I will have it added to my own blog for pilferage, and would greatly appreciate it if you all would add it to your blogs, websites, etc.
     Thank you all again for your kind support.  Without you all, this blog would be nothing but my words floating out there in cyberspace.  I love you all for your encouraging words (and sometimes moving words - don't make me cry!), and I couldn't have done this without you all!


Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Body Of Missing Autistic Boy Found In Cushing Pond

Body Of Missing Autistic Boy Found In Cushing Pond

This is so heartbreakingly sad, I cannot even imagine the pain the family is feeling, especially if they were responsible for not watching him as he left their home/property. Terrible news.

A Mother's Worst Fear

     I will never forget the day that my role as mother of a normal child ended, and my role as advocate for a disabled child began.
     When my husband and I decided to have a child, we both envisioned this beautiful, healthy, glowing cherubic treasure. We planned (and argued) for months over what to name the baby once it was born. We were not fortunate enough to learn the gender beforehand, but this only added to the mystery and wonder that is pregnancy. It was finally decided that it would be named Teagan for a boy or Trista for a girl. Regardless, when our child was born, we were excited and a little scared. We had gone from happy couple to family of three in a matter of hours, and neither of us was fully prepared for the transition.
     Teagan was everything we dreamed, ten fingers, ten toes, cherubic face; and ours. At every pediatric check-up, everything seemed fine. He was a little chubby for his percentile, but fat babies make happy babies.
     When Teagan was four months old, we noticed he held his head to the left. We weren’t overly concerned, until we looked back at the hundreds of photos we had taken of our precious gift. In every photo since birth, he held his head in the exact same position. Red flags went up and sirens were wailing in our heads. We took him to the pediatrician, and explained our concerns.
“He’s just holding his head that way, there’s nothing to worry about,” was the pediatrician’s reply.
     Here, I will explain briefly, about the type of mother Teagan was born to. I was never one to take no for an answer, and if I tell you something, it would be best to just do it, than incur my wrath... in other words, one very forceful bitch.  I obviously returned to the pediatrician a few weeks later with photos, website information about a condition called Infant Torticollis, and one very bad temper.
     The pediatrician looked everything over, and agreed it was Infant Torticollis. He’s lucky he left work that day with his life intact, because at that moment, I wanted to strangle him.
     Six months of physical therapy later, and all seemed to be going very well for little Teagan, or so we thought. As you have read from my earlier posts, Teagan has been diagnosed with many other diagnoses, so the battle still wages on.
     I became a mother when Teagan was born, but my role as advocate began with Torticollis. Teagan is 8 years old now, and I am still waging war with his school, therapists, and doctors, to ensure he receives the necessary services to succeed as far as he is able. To a mother, the sky is always the limit for her child.

Autism, Epilepsy Together Up Death Risk

This is a repost from the website listed below the article.
Individuals suffering from both autism and epilepsy are placed at a greater risk of dying than those who have autism alone, a new study finds.

Autism Speaks Autism Tissue Program (ATP) researchers, who examined data gathered from the California State Department of Developmental Services, found that people with both autism and epilepsy have an 800 percent higher mortality rate than those with autism alone.

Moreover, a study on the donated brain tissues showed that 39 percent of the autistic donors had experienced epilepsy, indicating that the estimated rate of epilepsy is relatively higher among the general autistic population, the researchers wrote in the Journal of Child Neurology.

According to the Autism Speaks, it is well established that epilepsy is a major medical disorder that is often co-morbid with autism in as many as 30 percent of children. As many as one in every 20 children diagnosed with autism by the age 3 may have experienced epilepsy or develop the condition later on in life.

As noted by the ATP more than a decade ago, sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP) sufferers had been identified as a cause of death in autistic individuals. There is, however, relatively little known about the specific risk factors accounting for reported higher-than-expected rate of mortality in this population.

"This study highlights the importance of early identification of epilepsy in children with autism and of autism in children with epilepsy," said Roberto Tuchman, pediatric neurologist at Miami Children's Hospital and member of the Autism Speaks Scientific Advisory Council.

"The findings of this study should motivate the autism and epilepsy communities to increase their understanding of the risk factors and common mechanisms that can lead to epilepsy, autism or both epilepsy and autism. Understanding these early determinants will allow for the development of effective interventions and preventive measures and ultimately better outcomes for children with autism and epilepsy," he added.

"Sudden, unexpected or unexplained death in autism is often, but not always related to epilepsy and we need to use caution when interpreting these data," Clara Lajonchere, vice president of clinical programs at Autism Speaks, added in the news release.

"These findings are important for understanding risk factors that may contribute to early death in individuals with autism and further underscore the need for more accurate and accessible records on cause of death in this population."

SJM/PKH
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/175285.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Homework Headaches

This photo is actually not of Teagan in pain, but
showing off his newly lost teeth, but thought
it was appropriate for this post, because
homework is just like pulling teeth
sometimes. LOL
     Homework is a two-person battle, no matter how old your child is. With a child who has special needs, especially for those who have multiple diagnoses, homework is the devil’s work, and best left to the ninth level of Hell. Homework requires focus, an understanding of what is being asked, and an ability to write what the brain processes. Some children, those with ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) for example, have a very difficult time staying focused and sitting still.
     As the mother of a child with not only severe ADHD, but also five other diagnoses, I feel very qualified to help those who may be experiencing the same headaches with homework that we deal with every day in my house. These techniques will also work for any child struggling to complete homework.
     You will want to make sure you are in a well-lit area with a nice flat surface to write on. Ensure your child’s chair is of appropriate height so that he or she can reach the table or desk without kneeling in the chair. Another helpful tip is to place a small stool beneath your child’s feet, so they are not kicking and wiggling while working. You will then want to alleviate any distractions: put your pet in another room, turn off all televisions, radios, cell phones, etc.
     After you have the appropriate environment, make homework fun. Make spelling words a game, count to 10 for each word, and see if your child can write the word before you get to 10. For math, use something your child enjoys. An example would be if you have 10 cars and I borrow 5, how many cars do you have left? If your child still struggles, ask them how you could make it easier for them. Children may have an idea or two you haven’t thought of.
     Homework doesn’t have to be a nightmare; it can be an enjoyable time to help your child succeed in school and a valuable way to bond. Making homework more about fun and less about work will bring your child from the ninth level of Hell to top of the class.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Special Services for Autistic Families

     This is a repost.  There have been several questions about services for Autistic children and adults, and I thought it would be good to repost this for those who may not have seen it, or don't know how to find it.
     I thought I would dedicate this post to special services for Autistic families.  Most Autistic children are diagnosed with other diagnoses, and depending on these diagnoses, your child may qualify for SSI benefits through Social Security.  Depending on your family's income, you may or may not receive a monthly supplemental check, but the real benefit of SSI for Autistic children is the Medicaid.  Medicaid will pay for nearly any and all services your Autistic child may need.  I highly recommend looking into it.     
     Another thing you may want to look into is sedation for simple services like eye and dental exams.  Teagan is very difficult to handle when having these simple exams done, and after many trials and errors, we were finally referred to a local hospital, where they will sedate your child in order to perform these exams.  Yes, I know, sedation is such a scary thing for a parent, especially when it comes to your very precious, special child.  But if you leave a doctor's office more frazzled than you would if you were in the middle of a war, you can imagine the peace of mind these types of services can offer.
     Occupational therapy can do wonders for children with sensory integration issues.  Teagan was in OT for three years, and he went from not being able to slide down a slide, swing, or even step onto grass and sand, to playing like a normally developed child.
     If you are looking for other services that I haven't mentioned, gods know we have been through the gauntlet with Teagan, please feel free to e-mail me and I will try to share what I know.  But I'm sure, eventually, I will post it here. :-)


Sunday, April 17, 2011

The Joys of Boys

***AUTHOR'S DISCLAIMER - THIS POST MAKES REFERENCE TO PRE-PUBERTY ISSUES***

     I grew up in an all-girl household, aside from my mother's husband, who was the father of my two younger sisters.  So, when we had Teagan, I was literally at a loss for what I would be in for raising a boy.  Obviously, the early years were learning years.  You wouldn't think that diapering a boy would be so funny, messy, and frustrating.  The key here is to make sure you are not in the line of sight, otherwise you may end up the target. lol  For those of you who have boys, you know EXACTLY what I am talking about. 
     As Teagan got older, however, things seemed a lot easier than girls.  Boys love cars and trucks, and they don't come with accessories like shoes, dresses, evening gowns, day and night outfits, purses, luxury homes and cars.  So, basically, boys are cheaper than girls. :-)  Well, sorta... in the clothing department, boys are rougher on clothes, so they need to be replaced a lot more often than girl clothing does... unless you take into consideration that girls often like an outfit once or twice then decide they aren't into that anymore, and move on to another fashion, which could become costly. :-P 
     However... now that Teagan is getting older, I am starting to see just how hard it is raising a boy.  A few months ago, I took Teagan to his pediatrician for his yearly check-up, and his doctor asked me the most embarassing and perplexing question ever. 


 *****Please see disclaimer at the top before you proceed*****


     He says to me, "Has Teagan's testicles dropped yet?"  I looked at him strangely, and said, "Uh... yeah, I guess so?  I mean, they are just there."  Seriously?  How in the world would I ever know about that?  So, he informs me they have, but never went into why this was so important to even ask, and what the purpose of said dropping means.  So, asking my mom, who was just as clueless as I was (even though she grew up with two younger brothers), we went to the internet for answers.  Apparently there are conflicting opinions on this, but the majority opinion is that this is pre-puberty rearing its ugly head.  I was a little stunned.  He's only 8!
     However, I guess it must be true, because a few weeks ago, Teagan was supposedly using the potty before an outing, and I asked him what was taking him so long.  He says to me, "I'm looking in the mirror to see if I grew an armpit hair."  ROFLMAO  I nearly died laughing.  Apparently as far as Teagan is concerned, armpit hair is the end all to be all of manly coolness, but the thought of facial or "other" hair is completely appalling, and he isn't having any of it.
     Obviously, it's coming.  Never before has Teagan had an issue with helping out with the laundry.  But this morning, he got the laundry out of the dryer, and held up a pair of my underwear and asked me whose they were.  I told him they were mine, and he threw them at me and screamed, "EEEEEWWWWW!!!!!!"  That's new.  So, I guess he is entering the "Girls Have Cooties" stage, which is soon followed by the "Girls Are Cute" stage, followed by the "Girls Are Super Hot" stage, followed by the "Your Mother Will Kill You If You Even Think About Any Girl That Way Again" stage - my personal favorite. lol 
     Needless to say, the next few years, the pre-teenage years, and the teen years are going to be some very funny, very frustrating, very embarassing, very gross years to come.  I look forward to the experience, but I'm also very wary.  I don't know nothin' 'bout raisin' no boys!  I may not survive the teen years... If my posts abruptly stop around then, you will know why. 

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Teaganisms - Take 1

     As I said in my first post, Teagan is a very funny boy.  I thought I would dedicate this post to some of the things he has said in the past, which still crack us up, as well as some new things he has entertained us with.
     About a year ago, he was sitting in the car with our then lab-mix puppy, Ollie, and informed me that her breath smelled like hotdog water. I'm not sure he's ever seen or smelled hotdog water, but apparently to him, dog breath smells just like it, or maybe because Ollie was hot, he thinks hotdog water is more like hot dog's drool? Might want to consider this the next time you make hotdogs. LOL
     One day, Teagan was on his hands and knees behind the dog.  I asked him what he was doing and he said to me, "Ollie sniffed my butt, so I'm sniffing hers."  Seriously?  ROFL  So gross.
     Just a few days ago, my husband found a lost dog, so we took him in for the day, in order to find his owners.  Teagan really loved playing with that dog, until the dog, which was still a very young puppy, nipped his arm.  He said, "Mommy, the puppy bit me!"  I told him the puppy was just trying to see what he tasted like.  He said, "I can tell him that.  I taste like human.  NOT dog food."  ROFLMAO
     And on a more personal, but also slightly gross note... Teagan is well aware when mommy's "Aunt Flo" comes to visit, because mommy gets very cranky and isn't very fun. So, when he asks me to do things, I tell him I have cramps and my tummy hurts, and I don't feel like playing right now. Unfortunately, our toilet stops up without any warning, so when I went in to take care of that "personal" business, it stopped up one day, and I didn't know, and left the bathroom. Teagan went in shortly after, and came out all excited ranting and raving. I asked him what was going on, and he says to me, "Mommy! You popped out a cramp!!!" I was like, WTF?? So, he drags me into the bathroom, and I see just what a "cramp" looks like... it was the tampon that didn't flush properly. Poor child will be so confused when he's an adult... LOL
     About a year ago, there was an altercation with an African-American woman at Teagan's school. She was blocking the entrance and exit to the school with her huge SUV, and expected us to backup further holding up traffic, just so she could bogard her way inline of everyone else who had been waiting for 15 minutes or longer to pick up their children. She eventually cussed me out because I did what I usually do in those situations, the exact opposite of what I am expected to do. So, Teagan hearing all of this, I told my mom, who was with us, that I was going to call the school and report her behavior, because it was highly inappropriate with children going to their cars, and my own son sitting in mine listening to her foul little mouth. We are one of the very few white families in this school, so my mom says, "When you call, don't be afraid to throw the race card." Meaning, if we weren't white, she wouldn't have been so nasty. And Teagan replies to all this adult talk, "Yeah mommy, here, you can throw this race car! (he always has cars on hand) My mommy's gonna throw a race car! Mommy, what does the race car look like?" We just about died.
     On September 8, 2010, my car died several times on the way to taking Teagan to school.  He asked what was wrong with the car, and I told him there is a hole in a part of the engine, and he asked why.  I explained to him that it happened when Daddy wrecked the car back in March 2009.  So, he informed me that we should take the car to "Nappy Auto".  rofl  I asked if he meant "Napa Auto Parts", and he said no, it was "Nappy Auto".  I'm not sure I'd want to take my car to any place with the word "Nappy" in it... may end up getting my car back with no tires or rims...
     Last week, I was showing my mom these little tiny bumps on Teagan's back.  Now, I couldn't mention it outloud because when he hears about stuff like that, he totally freaks out, like he'll die from a little bump.  I was concerned they may be the beginnings of chicken pox, but without saying, "Hey mom, look at all these little bumps on Teagan's back and chest!", I said, "Hey Teagan, show mamaw all the hair you have on your back."  rofl  Well, the next day, my husband calls the family letting them all know that Teagan had gotten ahold of the hair clippers and wanted daddy to shave all the hair off his back.  Boys are so vain!  LOL
     One day, I was helping Teagan with his spelling homework, and one of his words was "gratitude".  I asked him to give me a sentence for the word "gratitude".  So, here was his sentence, "I have a bad gratitude."  ROFL  Seriously?
     Sometimes, Teagan gets little pimples on his "junk".  And we have to make him pick them, so they don't get worse or infected.  One night, he was spending the night with his mamaw, and he was showing her his latest pimple, explaining to her that the black pimples have "more chemicals in them than the white ones".  Supposedly, I had told him that, but I never did such a thing.  I have no idea where he comes up with this stuff.
     Teagan still has issues cleaning himself after he performs "#2", so today when he was performing his business, daddy went in to take care of the... err... business.  Teagan informed him, "Be gentle with the intersection where the poo comes out."  LOL  Never heard it called an intersection, always thought it was a one-way street.

To "Stim" or Not To "Stim"

     Dysfunction of Sensory Integration can turn a seemingly normal child into a self-stimulating ball of emotions. Dysfunction of Sensory Integration (DSI) is a neurological disability in which the brain is unable to accurately process the information coming in from the senses. This term is also synonymous with Sensory Integration Disorder and Sensory Processing Disorder. Self-stimulation, “stimming” or “stim”, can be used to describe any apparently non-functional behavior involving repetitive or rhythmic action in an unconscious or purposeful response to anxiety, stress or boredom.
     A child who lives without Dysfunction of Sensory Integration experiences life at home, as it is meant to be lived. Every new day brings exploration and infinite fun. Articles of clothing are just that, clothing; things that are to be worn to cover, enhance a certain look, or to make a child stand out. Common noises blend into ambient sounds of a child’s soundtrack for the day. An opportunity to have family or friends over is a joyous occasion for a child living without interference from Dysfunction of Sensory Integration. Toys of every kind litter a child’s room, awaiting their creative side to take over and take them to another world born from the child’s mind.
     A child who is affected by Dysfunction of Sensory Integration may suffer from frequent bouts of self-stimulation by everyday activities at home. Clothing can be a huge daily obstacle for a child with DSI. Because Dysfunction of Sensory Integration is a neurological disability, every nerve in a child’s body can become over-sensitive. Clothing can feel scratchy, rough, and even physically painful, or a certain color can be visually distracting or stressful to a child with DSI. A child may become attached to a certain article of clothing or color, because the fabric or color does not trigger their senses, causing them to become over-stimulated. Noises can be extremely stressful to a child with DSI, especially spontaneous or loud noises.  Toys can be difficult to choose because of the many colors, noises, blinking lights, and types. All of these sensory overloads can cause self-stimulation. “Stimming” is a way to cope with the sensory overload they are experiencing. Common forms of self-stimulation are hand flapping, feet tapping, spinning in circles, and rocking.
     A child without Dysfunction of Sensory Integration can function fairly normally in a school setting. Crowded classrooms and loud bells do not cause stress or over-stimulation, and the child is able to process the busy activity. Transition from classroom to lunchroom to playground is an easy job for a child without DSI. Unexpected events, such as assemblies and fire drills, are dealt with as minor disruptions in the child’s daily routine.
     A child with Dysfunction of Sensory Integration can suffer an emotional melt-down daily at school. Over-crowding in classrooms is a cause for major distraction for a child with DSI. The more people around, the more stressful the situation is, which in turn could lead to “stimming” for a child affected by DSI. Loud bells and announcements will almost always cause a reaction that could range from the child covering his or her ears, to self-stimulation, such as rocking or hand flapping until the announcement or bell is over. Transition and unexpected events can be major issues, confusing the child who has finally begun to process their current surroundings, only to be forced to move into a different area or situation, where they have not learned what to expect yet. Fire drills are a triple-whammy for a child with DSI, because they are loud, unexpected, and cause a transition from one area to another. Self-stimulation can be expected during most if not all of these examples.
     Public life for a child without Dysfunction of Sensory Integration is a sometimes an unexpected, but usually welcome trip for exploration, whether it is to a park or the grocery store. Strangers of all kinds are observed and sometimes well-met, and with the security of a parent or guardian nearby, rarely are they seen as a threat. Every trip could be an adventure to a child without DSI, the opportunity to see, hear, taste, touch, and smell new things are at every turn.
     A child who suffers from Dysfunction of Sensory Integration can find an unexpected trip, and even planned excursions, over-stimulating. Strangers can pose a threat to a child’s senses. Their voices, characters, the way they look at a child, and even the color of their skin can be stressful, creating a perfect opportunity for self-stimulation. A grocery store can be an especially overwhelming place for a child with DSI. The multitude of strange smells and sounds, artificial lights, and strangers in every aisle can be extremely stressful, causing multiple “stimming” fits.
     Dysfunction of Sensory Integration can be a major speed bump for a child and his or her family. Even if the smallest thing triggers self-stimulation, life is still meant to be enjoyed, and a new route around the speed bump that is DSI can be found, in order to provide a child affected by Dysfunction of Sensory Integration as much normalcy as possible.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Autism - Take 1

     So, obviously new to blogging, but thought it might be a good idea to start putting some thoughts out there for others who may be suffering as our family does.  Obviously, from the title of this blog, we are a family affected by Autism, among other things... 
     I guess I should start from the beginning.  I never wanted children.  I had been a babysitter and nanny since the age of 15, and though I loved other people's children, I didn't want any of my own.  However, once I met my husband, that all seemed to change.  We got married, and 1 1/2 months after our wedding, we were conceiving.  Though I never wanted children, I could never imagine my life without our special little guy, Teagan.
     Teagan was born two weeks early because of complications during pregnancy.  Four months after, he was diagnosed with Infant Torticollis.  Infant Torticollis is defined as, "...prolonged tightening (contraction) of the neck muscles that causes the head to turn to one side."  http://www.ptworkingforyou.com/tort.html  After six months of physical therapy, all was well.  However... when at nearly two years of age, he still was not crawling, we knew something else was wrong.  He was also not speaking.  Eventually the crawling turned into running in a short period of time, but it took six months of speech therapy to go from saying three words, "mama", "dada" and "peas" for please, to speaking like a normally developed three year old. 
     During all this time, we were noticing something else going on with Teagan.  He absolutely loved The Wiggles.  But everytime he would watch one of their videos, something strange would happen, and it appeared he was listening to someone speak in his ear, while his eyes would roll up into his head.  Obviously, we had MRI's and other scans done, but nothing came of them.  To this day, we are still trying to get these diagnosed, but from the research I have done, I have come to the conclusion that these are a type of epileptic seizure induced by music.  There is such a thing called musicogenic epilepsy, but we have not been able to get them diagnosed.  Either way, when he has these episodes, they are always induced by music, which is worrisome, because when he is older and driving a car, it could pose life-threatening.
     Teagan was diagnosed with severe Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at the age of 3.  And believe me when I say severe... the doctor said it was the most severe case she had ever seen in a 3 year old.  Cue the energizer bunny.  On to age 4, when he was diagnosed with high-functioning Autism.  At this point in our lives, our only exposure to Autism was from the movie Rainman.  Obviously, my son is nothing like that man portrayed in the movie, but at the time, we were totally freaking out, wondering how we would be able to deal with this new diagnosis.  I have to say that we are very, very, VERY fortunate that Teagan is high-functioning.  I have met other families who were not so fortunate, and I cannot imagine not being able to hear those precious words, "I love you", spill from his sweet lips. 
     At the age of 5, Teagan was diagnosed with Oppositional-Defiant Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Central Auditory Processing Disorder.  For those who do not know what these are, I will briefly explain each.  Oppositional-Defiant Disorder (ODD) is "... an ongoing pattern of uncooperative, defiant, and hostile behavior toward authority figures that seriously interferes with the youngster’s day to day functioning". http://aacap.org/page.ww?name=Children+with+Oppositional+Defiant+Disorder&section=Facts+for+Families  Sensory Processing Disorder has many names; Sensory Integration Dysfunction, Sensory Integration Disorder, etc..., and it is defined as "...the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses". http://www.sinetwork.org/about-sensory-processing-disorder.html   By the way, this website has an awesome book available in libraries that really goes into detail about the day-to-day rituals children go through in order to avoid overstimulation from sensory issues.  Teagan is affected by sound, sight, and textures of clothing, food, etc.  Central Auditory Processing Disorder is "...an umbrella term for a variety of disorders that affect the way the brain processes auditory information. It is not a sensory (inner ear) hearing impairment; individuals with APD usually have normal peripheral hearing ability. However, they cannot process the information they hear in the same way as others do, which leads to difficulties in recognizing and interpreting sounds, especially the sounds composing speech". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auditory_processing_disorder
     Later on, he was also diagnosed with Separation Anxiety, which presents itself whenever we leave him at school.  He clings to us and gets visibly and physically upset, fearing we will not return for him, but we always have and always will.  He's had this since pre-k at the age of 3, and now at age 8, still has not outgrown it. 
     So, now that I've gotten all the history and diagnoses out of the way, I thought I'd explain why I started this blog.  It is one part raising awareness for Autism and the other diagnoses Teagan suffers from, one part sharing the daily struggles (or weekly, depending on when I have time to write) that we deal with, and one part the hilarity that is living with Autism.  Yes, you read that right.  There is great humor and entertainment when living with a child with Autism.  Teagan is just about the funniest child ever, and I hope you all enjoy the exploits I write about, as much as I enjoy living them... well, most of the time.  Don't forget that Autism is an ongoing battle and there are many, many struggles both inside and outside the home that we must face on a daily basis.  But, for the most part, it is enjoyable having a child like Teagan, and I wouldn't trade him for the world.