Today my son had his blood tests, they took 8 in all testing him for everything.
I was worried beforehand as my son has never had anything like this done before and I thought that he would be upset by it and nobody likes to see their kids upset.
He was a little star, he sat on my knee and even giggled when they sprayed his arm and numbed it before doing it, they had to do it twice as the 1st time it stopped coming out before they had enough.
Since getting home he hasn't been to bothered by it, he won't let me take the plaster off though so I guess that he will just have to keep it on until it comes off on its own in the bath or something.
I guess now we just have to wait and see what the results of these tests are and what the outcome of these will be.
He still doesn't talk or play or do a lot of the things that other 4yr olds do and really we just want to know why
Monday, 13 October 2014
Saturday, 11 October 2014
Our Busy Afternoon 11.10.14
Every weekend I have to take a couple of pics to send into the school with my son so that when they do circle time on a Monday he has something to show the other children. He doesn't speak so it is important that I do this to enable him to be able to join in with this part of the day. This is what I have done for him to take into school this week.
Saturday, 4 October 2014
September Update
Wow, September has been a really busy month, where to start
School have been really good, we have a communication book which tells us what he has been upto during that day as he doesn't speak it means that we can be sure that he is ok and that he is joining in, my main worry is that he will get left out because he doesn't talk.
We had a meeting at the school with the senco, class teacher, school nurse and ed psyche (new ed psyche which kinda made it feel like we were starting again with things. The action autism lady is going in to school on the 7th of October to see him, but I only know this because the school told me, they haven't contacted me at all. I have asked the school to raise this with them when they turn up, I have PR not the school and I should be informed when professionals are planning to visit and assess my son.
He has also started his swimming lessons, the teacher wasn't informed of my sons communication issues even though I made sure the swimming co-ordinator knew before I booked him on, and before the 1st lesson. So when he got out she said that he wouldn't tell her his name, he doesn't talk so he wouldn't do. I then explained everything that I had already explained, and did complain to the centre about the lack of communication between staff.
Finally yesterday I took him for blood tests, to get there to be told that one of the tests needed to be done in very specific conditions and taken to the lab within a set time frame and the clinic he had the appointment at couldn't do it. I was given the option of him having the other tests and just going back for the one that was missing, but I refused, I am not putting my lad through something twice when it can just be done the once and we have to go back a week on Monday to the hospital.
He is getting a bit better though, he is saying Mummy now - well 'amny' which is close enough for me.
Well lets go back to the beginning, he started big school and for me it was a really big deal, I had been so worried about him not being able to cope, it is a big class with 30 children, a teacher, a nursery nurse and a TA, he is getting 2 mornings a week dedicated TA time to support him.
The first week seemed to go ok, children in key stage one get free school meals but he wasn't eating anything at all and with the problems with his weight we decided that a pack up would be best for him. Since then he has been much better.
 |
| First Day of School |
We had a meeting at the school with the senco, class teacher, school nurse and ed psyche (new ed psyche which kinda made it feel like we were starting again with things. The action autism lady is going in to school on the 7th of October to see him, but I only know this because the school told me, they haven't contacted me at all. I have asked the school to raise this with them when they turn up, I have PR not the school and I should be informed when professionals are planning to visit and assess my son.
He has also started his swimming lessons, the teacher wasn't informed of my sons communication issues even though I made sure the swimming co-ordinator knew before I booked him on, and before the 1st lesson. So when he got out she said that he wouldn't tell her his name, he doesn't talk so he wouldn't do. I then explained everything that I had already explained, and did complain to the centre about the lack of communication between staff.
Finally yesterday I took him for blood tests, to get there to be told that one of the tests needed to be done in very specific conditions and taken to the lab within a set time frame and the clinic he had the appointment at couldn't do it. I was given the option of him having the other tests and just going back for the one that was missing, but I refused, I am not putting my lad through something twice when it can just be done the once and we have to go back a week on Monday to the hospital.
He is getting a bit better though, he is saying Mummy now - well 'amny' which is close enough for me.
Monday, 28 July 2014
Stressed dot com
sometimes my son leaves me feeling totally exhausted and stressed out and I start to feel like I can't cope and the last few days have been very hard for me and him probably to.
His tantrums are getting more frequent and lasting longer, plus he has been waking in the night.
I have got to the point of thinking that there is no point in taking him anywhere or trying to do anything with him, it always ends up in a tantrum and having to leave what ever we are doing and go home, here are three examples from just the last 4 days.
I took him to play football on the field, he was fine for a short amount of time, enjoying himself playing with me and his sister, and then he decides to pick up the ball and start walking towards the gate to the main road, when I called him back and told him to stay away from the road, he started screaming and carried on walking, this resulted in me having to carry him home as he was determined to go through that gate.
I took him to the shops with me, and I know that he hates shopping, and trust me I feel the same but unfortunately if you want to eat you have to shop, he started screaming as soon as we pulled into the car park and screamed all of the way around the shop whilst walking behind me, refusing any of my attempts to calm him, he didn't stop crying until he was home and in bed.
and Yesterday I took him to the park after about 30mins he said he needed a wee so I took him in the leisure centre to use the toilet, he then refused to go and started whining at me, I took him to look at the pool which seemed to calm him and he picked up a leaflet, when we got back to the park he wanted to play, he couldn't understand that to play he needed to put the leaflet down that he was holding with both hands and started screaming again, after trying to calm him and failing he followed me home screaming all of the way.
I really want to do things with him and I really want to play with him and do the things that he enjoys but it is starting to turn into such a battle whenever we do that I am utterly exhausted and ready to throw in the towel, it really doesn't help that my husband is always at work, even on a weekend meaning that I don't have his support, he has 2 days off work this week and they are both days that I am working.
I need to go to the shops shortly and then I am hoping that I can take my son to the park for a walk around, but since he woke up crying at 5.30am and didn't stop until 8.30am I am not expecting it to be a very successful day.
His tantrums are getting more frequent and lasting longer, plus he has been waking in the night.
I have got to the point of thinking that there is no point in taking him anywhere or trying to do anything with him, it always ends up in a tantrum and having to leave what ever we are doing and go home, here are three examples from just the last 4 days.
I took him to play football on the field, he was fine for a short amount of time, enjoying himself playing with me and his sister, and then he decides to pick up the ball and start walking towards the gate to the main road, when I called him back and told him to stay away from the road, he started screaming and carried on walking, this resulted in me having to carry him home as he was determined to go through that gate.
I took him to the shops with me, and I know that he hates shopping, and trust me I feel the same but unfortunately if you want to eat you have to shop, he started screaming as soon as we pulled into the car park and screamed all of the way around the shop whilst walking behind me, refusing any of my attempts to calm him, he didn't stop crying until he was home and in bed.
and Yesterday I took him to the park after about 30mins he said he needed a wee so I took him in the leisure centre to use the toilet, he then refused to go and started whining at me, I took him to look at the pool which seemed to calm him and he picked up a leaflet, when we got back to the park he wanted to play, he couldn't understand that to play he needed to put the leaflet down that he was holding with both hands and started screaming again, after trying to calm him and failing he followed me home screaming all of the way.
I really want to do things with him and I really want to play with him and do the things that he enjoys but it is starting to turn into such a battle whenever we do that I am utterly exhausted and ready to throw in the towel, it really doesn't help that my husband is always at work, even on a weekend meaning that I don't have his support, he has 2 days off work this week and they are both days that I am working.
I need to go to the shops shortly and then I am hoping that I can take my son to the park for a walk around, but since he woke up crying at 5.30am and didn't stop until 8.30am I am not expecting it to be a very successful day.
Sunday, 20 July 2014
Catch Up 20/07/14
Lots has happened and I haven't blogged so not really sure where to start
The LA and Speech and Language and health all agreed that my son would benefit from the picture exchange communication system (pecs) but they also all refused to fund it, so while they were busy arguing with each other and my son was clearly getting more and more frustrated by not been able to communicate I googled it, printed and laminated a number of sheets of images, bought him a folder put a strap on it from one of my bags and he has been using this.
The first day that he had it he did this with it
and yes I did cry when he did it, and since then he has come on leaps and bounds with it, he has been using it daily, at home, school and out and about, he is clearly loving been able to communicate and not having the pressure to speak has had a surprising effect, he seems to be trying to talk more, and he is slowly slowly making more and more speech like sounds.
He has been seen by the Ed Psyche and she has assessed him and sent some recommendations to his new school, these are mainly things like using short direct language, not using to many words, not putting him in groups as he doesn't cope well with it, letting him sit out of circle time if he is struggling, and encouraging him to communicate with the pecs, she is going to see him after he has been at school for a month or two to see how he is settling in and make further recommendations.
He has seen the community peadiatrician who assessed him and agreed with what the Ed Psyche said, she has referred him for blood tests to see if the reason for his delay could be down to any genetic conditions.
Both the Ed Psyche and Peadiatrician assessed him as been between 20 and 30 months, he is 4.5yrs so clearly he has a significant delay and it seems that the older he gets the bigger and more obvious the gap is between him and other children of the same age.
He has been poorly again, another sickness bug and ear infection which needed a trip to the docs, he lost more weight and after doing so well and getting to 32lb he went back to 28lb again. He is slowly starting to eat again, but the things he will eat seem to be getting fewer and fewer, I have bought him a pack of pecs pictures which are food items I am hoping that been able to ask for specific foods will increase the amount that he eats and today he used them to ask for boiled egg for lunch, so it is kinda working.
So going forward, I am waiting for the appointment for the blood tests for him, and I am waiting for him to start school in september, I am also looking for things for him to do over the summer which might build him up a bit, since both assessments said he had low muscle tone and poor gross motor skills.
The LA and Speech and Language and health all agreed that my son would benefit from the picture exchange communication system (pecs) but they also all refused to fund it, so while they were busy arguing with each other and my son was clearly getting more and more frustrated by not been able to communicate I googled it, printed and laminated a number of sheets of images, bought him a folder put a strap on it from one of my bags and he has been using this.
The first day that he had it he did this with it
and yes I did cry when he did it, and since then he has come on leaps and bounds with it, he has been using it daily, at home, school and out and about, he is clearly loving been able to communicate and not having the pressure to speak has had a surprising effect, he seems to be trying to talk more, and he is slowly slowly making more and more speech like sounds.
He has been seen by the Ed Psyche and she has assessed him and sent some recommendations to his new school, these are mainly things like using short direct language, not using to many words, not putting him in groups as he doesn't cope well with it, letting him sit out of circle time if he is struggling, and encouraging him to communicate with the pecs, she is going to see him after he has been at school for a month or two to see how he is settling in and make further recommendations.
He has seen the community peadiatrician who assessed him and agreed with what the Ed Psyche said, she has referred him for blood tests to see if the reason for his delay could be down to any genetic conditions.
Both the Ed Psyche and Peadiatrician assessed him as been between 20 and 30 months, he is 4.5yrs so clearly he has a significant delay and it seems that the older he gets the bigger and more obvious the gap is between him and other children of the same age.
He has been poorly again, another sickness bug and ear infection which needed a trip to the docs, he lost more weight and after doing so well and getting to 32lb he went back to 28lb again. He is slowly starting to eat again, but the things he will eat seem to be getting fewer and fewer, I have bought him a pack of pecs pictures which are food items I am hoping that been able to ask for specific foods will increase the amount that he eats and today he used them to ask for boiled egg for lunch, so it is kinda working.
So going forward, I am waiting for the appointment for the blood tests for him, and I am waiting for him to start school in september, I am also looking for things for him to do over the summer which might build him up a bit, since both assessments said he had low muscle tone and poor gross motor skills.
Thursday, 12 June 2014
PECS - Introduction
Yesterday SALT went to see my son at pre-school to start introducing PECS to him, they had already been with him for an hour when I got there, and when I arrived he was happily using the system to tell people what he wanted and was even trying to speak when pointing to the images.
The speech therapist said she was very impressed with him and how fast he had learnt to use it, she said that he is clearly a very bright boy and that she is going to seek funding for him to have his own PECS book so that he can communicate more freely at home/ school and when out and about.
She also asked what I thought was going on with him and I told her that I think it is autism and that although I am sure he is not severely autistic he has some very clear traits of autism and that I would like him assessing, she agreed and is going to start the formal assessment, he will need a number of assessments and then will have to go to the Autism panel to be formally diagnosed and this will not be finished before he starts school.
She did say that she will be able to get a lot of the assessments done before school and will be able to provide the school with copies of these assessments so that they are able to support him.
On Monday we had a family meeting, the school came and said that they have arranged for him to have a TA 2 mornings a week when he starts and that they are pushing for him to have a statement so that he can keep this support or get more support if he needs it.
I also met my new health visitor and I explained to her how let down I feel with the old one who hasn't seen him since he was 6 months old, explaining that I was ringing and saying that there was a problem and she was just telling me to ring people and make referrals and that I don't think that this was enough, I feel that she should have come out to see him and that a lot of the issues that he has could have been picked up sooner had he been seen at a younger age. She has arranged to come and do a home visit on the 23rd so that she can see what he is like at home it does feel like its a little late for this but I welcome her visiting if it could help my son in any way.
Tuesday night was the school information night at the boys new school where he will be going in Sept, I met the TA, the Nursery Nurse and the school Headteacher, all of the staff knew who my son was and where aware of the issues around his communication and the head said that she herself had been trying to chase up the Ed Psyche for his assessment to get his statement through for him when he starts school, they were all very reassuring, explaining that the reception children have their own lunch lady and she helps them at lunch with opening things and keeps an eye on any children that may need extra support.
The speech therapist said she was very impressed with him and how fast he had learnt to use it, she said that he is clearly a very bright boy and that she is going to seek funding for him to have his own PECS book so that he can communicate more freely at home/ school and when out and about.
She also asked what I thought was going on with him and I told her that I think it is autism and that although I am sure he is not severely autistic he has some very clear traits of autism and that I would like him assessing, she agreed and is going to start the formal assessment, he will need a number of assessments and then will have to go to the Autism panel to be formally diagnosed and this will not be finished before he starts school.
She did say that she will be able to get a lot of the assessments done before school and will be able to provide the school with copies of these assessments so that they are able to support him.
On Monday we had a family meeting, the school came and said that they have arranged for him to have a TA 2 mornings a week when he starts and that they are pushing for him to have a statement so that he can keep this support or get more support if he needs it.
I also met my new health visitor and I explained to her how let down I feel with the old one who hasn't seen him since he was 6 months old, explaining that I was ringing and saying that there was a problem and she was just telling me to ring people and make referrals and that I don't think that this was enough, I feel that she should have come out to see him and that a lot of the issues that he has could have been picked up sooner had he been seen at a younger age. She has arranged to come and do a home visit on the 23rd so that she can see what he is like at home it does feel like its a little late for this but I welcome her visiting if it could help my son in any way.
Tuesday night was the school information night at the boys new school where he will be going in Sept, I met the TA, the Nursery Nurse and the school Headteacher, all of the staff knew who my son was and where aware of the issues around his communication and the head said that she herself had been trying to chase up the Ed Psyche for his assessment to get his statement through for him when he starts school, they were all very reassuring, explaining that the reception children have their own lunch lady and she helps them at lunch with opening things and keeps an eye on any children that may need extra support.
Friday, 23 May 2014
Update 23.05.14
Its been a busy week so I haven't had the time to update this blog
Monday morning I took to my son for his chest X-ray he was really good and did just what he was asked by the lady, she asked him his name and his age and he didn't even look at her and I had to answer, this didn't surprise me as he has never answered either of these questions for anyone, he just doesn't talk when out and very rarely talks at home.
Tuesday was his birthday, unlike other kids he doesn't get excited about things like birthdays, he did say 'oooh' when he saw his presents and enjoyed opening them, he hasn't actually played with any of the toys that we got him since, he has looked at them but not really played with any of them. I had made him 2 cakes a small square one to take into pre-school and share with his classmates and a dinosaur one for at home. He did sit and blow out his candles but didn't eat any of the cake, I threw some of it away tonight as it was just sitting on the side.
Wednesday I got a letter from the comm peadiatrician saying that they are going to discuss my sons case at their team meeting/panel and make a decision on whether or not they will see him, I will then get another letter letting me know the outcome, if the outcome is no they won't see him for any reason then I will be going back to the GP to get him re-referred until they agree to see him.
He also had his first full day at pre-school on Wednesday, he loved it but was really tired when he got home, they said that he had done really well and he ate some but not all of his pack up which is what I expected.
Thursday was a pretty normal day, hubby was off work and son was at preschool
Monday morning I took to my son for his chest X-ray he was really good and did just what he was asked by the lady, she asked him his name and his age and he didn't even look at her and I had to answer, this didn't surprise me as he has never answered either of these questions for anyone, he just doesn't talk when out and very rarely talks at home.
Tuesday was his birthday, unlike other kids he doesn't get excited about things like birthdays, he did say 'oooh' when he saw his presents and enjoyed opening them, he hasn't actually played with any of the toys that we got him since, he has looked at them but not really played with any of them. I had made him 2 cakes a small square one to take into pre-school and share with his classmates and a dinosaur one for at home. He did sit and blow out his candles but didn't eat any of the cake, I threw some of it away tonight as it was just sitting on the side.
Wednesday I got a letter from the comm peadiatrician saying that they are going to discuss my sons case at their team meeting/panel and make a decision on whether or not they will see him, I will then get another letter letting me know the outcome, if the outcome is no they won't see him for any reason then I will be going back to the GP to get him re-referred until they agree to see him.
He also had his first full day at pre-school on Wednesday, he loved it but was really tired when he got home, they said that he had done really well and he ate some but not all of his pack up which is what I expected.
Thursday was a pretty normal day, hubby was off work and son was at preschool
Friday, 16 May 2014
Update 16.05.2014
Current weight 28lb which is an increase of 0.4lb, this means that it is going in the right direction, he still isn't really eating and is refusing to eat much variety of food, he is eating mainly cereal and only drinking milk refusing any other liquids but it is a big improvement on what he was eating.
I got home from work today and got the bike out, the sun was shining so I oiled the chain/gears and put some air in the tyres and dug out the helmets, and after tea we went out for a bike ride, my daughter sulked and grumped about it and refused to bike up the hill near my mothers house, but then I guess that it what 14 year olds do.
Down hill all the way home though so she was happy then
Got home and put the lad to bed no bother, he went to sleep straight away and then I went to do the food shopping, I have started doing this on a night when the lad is in bed it just makes it so much easier as he hates shopping so much.
Good things about today
1. he ate something
2. he put on some weight
3. he went to bed without a problem
4. I got the shopping done
5. I got the bikes out
6. The sun was shining
7. I got a letter from the local CCG saying that he will be discussed at the next children's panel to see if he needs allocating to a Peadiatrician.
No appointment yet but a letter is a start, at least I know that he is on the list and that I will hear something soon.
Plans for tomorrow
Play centre with friends and their kids
A little bit of gardening in the afternoon
I got home from work today and got the bike out, the sun was shining so I oiled the chain/gears and put some air in the tyres and dug out the helmets, and after tea we went out for a bike ride, my daughter sulked and grumped about it and refused to bike up the hill near my mothers house, but then I guess that it what 14 year olds do.
Down hill all the way home though so she was happy then
Got home and put the lad to bed no bother, he went to sleep straight away and then I went to do the food shopping, I have started doing this on a night when the lad is in bed it just makes it so much easier as he hates shopping so much.
Good things about today
1. he ate something
2. he put on some weight
3. he went to bed without a problem
4. I got the shopping done
5. I got the bikes out
6. The sun was shining
7. I got a letter from the local CCG saying that he will be discussed at the next children's panel to see if he needs allocating to a Peadiatrician.
No appointment yet but a letter is a start, at least I know that he is on the list and that I will hear something soon.
Plans for tomorrow
Play centre with friends and their kids
A little bit of gardening in the afternoon
Wednesday, 14 May 2014
Update 14.05.14
Well he is still now eating and not weighs only 27lb
He has an X Ray on Monday to look at his chest and see if there is anything other than the normal causes for his constant coughing and yes he is still coughing.
I have spent the last couple of days trying to chase up his referral to the community paediatrician it has not been fun, I rang the number the GP gave me and they put me through to 2 or three different people until someone gave me another number, I spoke to 3 different people on that number before someone took a message and said they would get back to me, this was on Tuesday and guess what nobody has.
On Monday they put me through to the wrong department and I just gave up.
After Tuesdays phone call I rang the GP and asked if they could also chase it up for me, they said that they would, I haven't heard anything yet so I will be ringing them back tomorrow after work to find out what is happening.
Tuesday night after they didn't get back to me, I was an emotional wreck, it just seems like my son who is the world to me is just a name on a piece of paper to these 'professionals' and they can't even do me the courtesy of giving me a call and letting me know what is happening, the referral was put in in March FFS its not like it was done this week.
I'm not sleeping and bursting into tears randomly, I can't concentrate at work and struggling to remember what I am doing or should be doing when or where, even the gym isn't making me feel better it normally does. I can't clear my head of anything and I am constantly worried about him and his weight, his speech, his school in Sept everything.
Anyway enough about me, I took the lad for a walk on Monday to see his new school I had to take some forms in and I thought it would be nice for him to see his school, he seemed happy when he saw it and excited to go inside which can only be a positive thing.
He has an X Ray on Monday to look at his chest and see if there is anything other than the normal causes for his constant coughing and yes he is still coughing.
I have spent the last couple of days trying to chase up his referral to the community paediatrician it has not been fun, I rang the number the GP gave me and they put me through to 2 or three different people until someone gave me another number, I spoke to 3 different people on that number before someone took a message and said they would get back to me, this was on Tuesday and guess what nobody has.
On Monday they put me through to the wrong department and I just gave up.
After Tuesdays phone call I rang the GP and asked if they could also chase it up for me, they said that they would, I haven't heard anything yet so I will be ringing them back tomorrow after work to find out what is happening.
Tuesday night after they didn't get back to me, I was an emotional wreck, it just seems like my son who is the world to me is just a name on a piece of paper to these 'professionals' and they can't even do me the courtesy of giving me a call and letting me know what is happening, the referral was put in in March FFS its not like it was done this week.
I'm not sleeping and bursting into tears randomly, I can't concentrate at work and struggling to remember what I am doing or should be doing when or where, even the gym isn't making me feel better it normally does. I can't clear my head of anything and I am constantly worried about him and his weight, his speech, his school in Sept everything.
Anyway enough about me, I took the lad for a walk on Monday to see his new school I had to take some forms in and I thought it would be nice for him to see his school, he seemed happy when he saw it and excited to go inside which can only be a positive thing.
Saturday, 10 May 2014
Practice cake 10.05.14
Its the boys 4th birthday in a couple of weeks and I have bought a new cake mould, this is the practice cake that I did today, hopefully it will be a bit tidier on the day, but it gave me a better idea of what I am going to do.
Friday, 9 May 2014
Back to the docs 09.05.14
Well after another night of coughing fits I asked my husband to take him to the docs, but apparently he didn't have the time, the last morning appointment is at 10 and he didn't start work until 1pm so I would argue that he did have time and that he in fact has his priorities wrong.
I called the docs up from work and got a teatime appointment.
When I got there it was our usual doctor so I didn't hold out much hope of been listened to but he did listen and agreed that the cough has been going on for far to long.
He is sending him to the hospital for a chest xray and has asked me to chase up the appointment with the community paediatricians for his development check. He also wants me to take in a water sample so that he can check it for sugar because he isn't gaining weight.
All in all I think it was a worthwhile visit or at least it will be if it gets us some answers to why he always has a cough and why he doesn't eat.
Thursday, 8 May 2014
Update 08.05.14
Today is my long day at work and boy did it drag today,
Anyway... the lad was brought downstairs this morning by the hubby, but he didn't scream the house down this time, he did whine and he wasn't happy about it but he didn't quite scream which is an improvement on how he has been over the last few months.
He didn't eat his breakfast again, and only had a cheese dipper a rice crispy bar for his lunch, wouldn't eat any tea but did have a small amount of cereal. The hubby said that when he refused breakfast he gave him a millkshake which he did have, and he has had some after his lunch and again after his tea with calpol in as he still has a slight temperature and still isn't himself.
This not eating thing needs to stop soon, he doesn't normally have as much milk as we have been giving him over the last few days, normally he just has a cup with his breakfast but since he started to loose weight we have upped it to replace some of what he is missing.
The hubby has got him a box from shop, I am sure that he was a cat in a previous life he just loves sitting in boxes.
Its my favourite night at the gym tonight, body combat and spinning, means I am there until 9 but it is worth it, I always feel better for it.
Anyway... the lad was brought downstairs this morning by the hubby, but he didn't scream the house down this time, he did whine and he wasn't happy about it but he didn't quite scream which is an improvement on how he has been over the last few months.
He didn't eat his breakfast again, and only had a cheese dipper a rice crispy bar for his lunch, wouldn't eat any tea but did have a small amount of cereal. The hubby said that when he refused breakfast he gave him a millkshake which he did have, and he has had some after his lunch and again after his tea with calpol in as he still has a slight temperature and still isn't himself.
This not eating thing needs to stop soon, he doesn't normally have as much milk as we have been giving him over the last few days, normally he just has a cup with his breakfast but since he started to loose weight we have upped it to replace some of what he is missing.
The hubby has got him a box from shop, I am sure that he was a cat in a previous life he just loves sitting in boxes.
Its my favourite night at the gym tonight, body combat and spinning, means I am there until 9 but it is worth it, I always feel better for it.
Wednesday, 7 May 2014
Underweight 07.05.14
I weighed the boy this morning he was 29lb last week, this week he is 28.4lb any loss is not good when he is so tiny, the not eating thing is starting show and I am worried about it, today on the way home I got him some meal replacement milkshakes as he loves milkshake, I am hoping that these will help stop him loosing anymore weight and that if I can get him to eat a little bit aswell he will get back on track.
I think it is important that I weigh him weekly at the moment so that I can monitor how he is doing and if we don't have any increase in weight in the next month he is going to have to go and see the doctor, I can't have him not eating. I know that children aren't supposed to be fat but he is very thin at the minute.
I put his weight and height into the NHS calculator and it said this, this is very worrying, but he does only need to out on 3 or 4 pound to be healthy. In theory when he is well that shouldn't be to difficult.
He is coughing again, he seems to always have a cough, the Doc is sure it is not asthma, again I think I am going to start a diary and log the nights/days that he is coughing and the nights/days that he isn't, he doesn't seem ill in himself just tired so I think that there must be a reason for him always coughing. This has been going on since he was a baby and I think it is the only reason we have ever had to take him to doctors.
I think it is important that I weigh him weekly at the moment so that I can monitor how he is doing and if we don't have any increase in weight in the next month he is going to have to go and see the doctor, I can't have him not eating. I know that children aren't supposed to be fat but he is very thin at the minute.
I put his weight and height into the NHS calculator and it said this, this is very worrying, but he does only need to out on 3 or 4 pound to be healthy. In theory when he is well that shouldn't be to difficult.
He is coughing again, he seems to always have a cough, the Doc is sure it is not asthma, again I think I am going to start a diary and log the nights/days that he is coughing and the nights/days that he isn't, he doesn't seem ill in himself just tired so I think that there must be a reason for him always coughing. This has been going on since he was a baby and I think it is the only reason we have ever had to take him to doctors.
Good Morning 07.05.14
Poor lad was coughing all night last night, I was up with him a few times and have made the decision that he is not going to preschool this morning, he is cough cough coughing and snotty as hell
Not sure what causes it with him, he is always coughing and always snotty its getting to the point that I might have to try some piriton or something to see if it is allergies rather than illness with him.
He hasn't eaten any breakfast and has drank his milk, I'm going to work soon, luckily he can go to my Dad for the day and I finish at 2.30 so will be picking him up not to long after the hubby has dropped him off.
Have a good day everyone, I need caffeine to get through the day I think after so little sleep.
Not sure what causes it with him, he is always coughing and always snotty its getting to the point that I might have to try some piriton or something to see if it is allergies rather than illness with him.
He hasn't eaten any breakfast and has drank his milk, I'm going to work soon, luckily he can go to my Dad for the day and I finish at 2.30 so will be picking him up not to long after the hubby has dropped him off.
Have a good day everyone, I need caffeine to get through the day I think after so little sleep.
Tuesday, 6 May 2014
Update 06.05.14
Today I have been at work and the hubby has been off so he got the boy up, the boy on the other hand didn't want Daddy to get him up and screamed the house down when he went in to him, I am not sure why he does this but every morning is the same if I go in he is happy as anything jumps up out of bed and there isn't any problems, if Daddy goes in he screams, we decided that even though this is the case when I am at work and hubby is off he needs to get up for Daddy so we let him have his strop.
He refused to eat his breakfast and when I called at lunch time my husband said that he hadn't had any lunch either, by the time that I got home from work it was 3pm and he had had the tiniest amount of pastry from a pork pie, I put the grapes from the fridge on the coffee table and started to pick at them, not a massive amount of food but better than nothing, he totally refused to eat his tea to even though he was allowed to choose it and put it on the oven tray.
I left the grapes on the table all night and he did eat about half of them before bed and I went to the gym leaving the hubby to put him to bed, the lad is again happy to go to bed with him so long as I am not there if I am in the house he has a tantrum about it and refuses to go, this meant that I had to go to the gym slightly early to allow my husband to have an easy bedtime with the boy.
This afternoon we had to fill out a form for his next assessment with the speech and language people, it was a lot of questions about what he likes to eat and drink, what he likes to play with and how he plays, one of the questions was about social games that he likes to play and other than peek a boo which is mainly his roaring in our faces and laughing his head off about it we were both struggling to think of anything, but we had a whole list of things that he doesn't like, circle time, action songs/nursery rhymes, noise, crowds, busy shops, swimming.....
Took the lad for a walk to the post box and let him post the letter he seemed to like doing that.
He refused to eat his breakfast and when I called at lunch time my husband said that he hadn't had any lunch either, by the time that I got home from work it was 3pm and he had had the tiniest amount of pastry from a pork pie, I put the grapes from the fridge on the coffee table and started to pick at them, not a massive amount of food but better than nothing, he totally refused to eat his tea to even though he was allowed to choose it and put it on the oven tray.
I left the grapes on the table all night and he did eat about half of them before bed and I went to the gym leaving the hubby to put him to bed, the lad is again happy to go to bed with him so long as I am not there if I am in the house he has a tantrum about it and refuses to go, this meant that I had to go to the gym slightly early to allow my husband to have an easy bedtime with the boy.
This afternoon we had to fill out a form for his next assessment with the speech and language people, it was a lot of questions about what he likes to eat and drink, what he likes to play with and how he plays, one of the questions was about social games that he likes to play and other than peek a boo which is mainly his roaring in our faces and laughing his head off about it we were both struggling to think of anything, but we had a whole list of things that he doesn't like, circle time, action songs/nursery rhymes, noise, crowds, busy shops, swimming.....
Took the lad for a walk to the post box and let him post the letter he seemed to like doing that.
Monday, 5 May 2014
Update 05.05.14
Well after not eating anything yesterday he went to bed at the normal time and didn't seem poorly or anything, he woke up in the middle of the night and was sick, I was thankful that he only woke up the once but he did cough quite a bit in the night.
When we got up this morning he seemed much brighter than yesterday but was still very warm so I gave him some calpol which worked like magic, he still didn't eat any breakfast and I still cancelled our trip to the Deep I was a little upset about having to cancel as I was looking forward to taking him but I didn't want to risk him been sick or ratty on the way round so we will have to go next weekend instead.
He ate a little more for his lunch only a cheese dipper and a yoghurt but significantly more than he had been eating, he then watched a bit of telly with his headphones on, he seems to find this a much better way to watch the telly, especially if the washer/dryer are going in the other room. He is still covering his ears quite a bit especially when he is in the kitchen and the washer is on, the dryer is on or the kettle is on, he also doesn't seem to like the hoover to much. He is also shushing us when we are talking if there are a few people in the room.
He didn't eat much tea just a tiny bit of mash and then another yoghurt, again probably not much more then 500cals for the day which is still a worry but after he was sick last night I guess that it is more to do with him not feeling 100% than anything else so I am trying not to worry to much and just keeping an eye on it as the days go by, I gave him some multi vits again.
I have some questions that I need to sit and answer with the hubby for Speech and Language before they come out and see us on the 27th, he is working late tonight so maybe I will make a few notes and see if he agrees with what I have said as I really want to get it posted back, I will be speaking to work tomorrow about taking that day off, its half term that week so it might be nice to have another day off anyway so that I can spend it with the kids, or maybe get the garden sorted it looks like Steptoes Yard at the min.
Positives from today
1. no major tantrums just one minor strop about picking up toys
2. loved his bath and went to bed really easily
3. went to shops without a fuss but had to sit in the trolley to do it
4. ate something, even if it wasn't much
5. didn't wake up at crack of dawn
6. played with his toys a little bit even if he was just lining them up across the room
7. I got the housework done
When we got up this morning he seemed much brighter than yesterday but was still very warm so I gave him some calpol which worked like magic, he still didn't eat any breakfast and I still cancelled our trip to the Deep I was a little upset about having to cancel as I was looking forward to taking him but I didn't want to risk him been sick or ratty on the way round so we will have to go next weekend instead.
He ate a little more for his lunch only a cheese dipper and a yoghurt but significantly more than he had been eating, he then watched a bit of telly with his headphones on, he seems to find this a much better way to watch the telly, especially if the washer/dryer are going in the other room. He is still covering his ears quite a bit especially when he is in the kitchen and the washer is on, the dryer is on or the kettle is on, he also doesn't seem to like the hoover to much. He is also shushing us when we are talking if there are a few people in the room.
He didn't eat much tea just a tiny bit of mash and then another yoghurt, again probably not much more then 500cals for the day which is still a worry but after he was sick last night I guess that it is more to do with him not feeling 100% than anything else so I am trying not to worry to much and just keeping an eye on it as the days go by, I gave him some multi vits again.
I have some questions that I need to sit and answer with the hubby for Speech and Language before they come out and see us on the 27th, he is working late tonight so maybe I will make a few notes and see if he agrees with what I have said as I really want to get it posted back, I will be speaking to work tomorrow about taking that day off, its half term that week so it might be nice to have another day off anyway so that I can spend it with the kids, or maybe get the garden sorted it looks like Steptoes Yard at the min.
Positives from today
1. no major tantrums just one minor strop about picking up toys
2. loved his bath and went to bed really easily
3. went to shops without a fuss but had to sit in the trolley to do it
4. ate something, even if it wasn't much
5. didn't wake up at crack of dawn
6. played with his toys a little bit even if he was just lining them up across the room
7. I got the housework done
Watching the box 05.05.14
Headphones for watching the telly, he seems to struggle to watch it without them, he seems to struggle to concentrate on it, so when it is something he really wants to watch this is what he does. Today he is watching inspector gadget.
Sunday, 4 May 2014
Update 04.05.14 Nil by Mouth
Or at least that is how it had felt today, the lad doesn't seem to notice when he is hungry and it is starting to get to be a real challenge to get him to eat anything at all.
Today he refused to eat his cereal that he asked for, and then when I did egg on toast for my breakfast he asked for that to so I did him some, he at 1/4 of a slice of toast, I gave him some yoghurt covered raisins to eat whilst I was in the shower and a fruit juice, he didn't have any of them.
He then fell asleep, I don't know if this is because he hasn't eaten enough to get the energy he needs to keep going or because he is tired from coughing in the night.
He woke up I gave him some lunch which he didn't even have 1 bite out of, I managed to get him to eat a small pork pie before we went to my sister in laws, whilst out she offered him chocolate cake which he wouldn't eat and a drink which he wouldn't drink.
For tea I cooked him pork in pastry and mash which is usually one of his favourites he had one spoonful of mash and refused anything else. So before bed I gave him some multi vitamins and a large cup of pink milk which he did drink.
It is such a worry when he doesn't eat, he can't have had more than 400cals all day which is nowhere near enough to sustain him, he is so thin and I worry that if he does get ill that he will struggle to fight it off.
Other things that have happened today
1. He wouldn't interact at all with his cousins who are both around his age (1 a yr younger and 1 older) at all
2. When his uncle was trying to get his attention he wouldn't even look at him or acknowledge him but it was clear that he could hear him
3. Everytime that the washer has spun or the dryer has been on he has had his hands over his ears
4. Minor tantrum over putting toys away
Today he refused to eat his cereal that he asked for, and then when I did egg on toast for my breakfast he asked for that to so I did him some, he at 1/4 of a slice of toast, I gave him some yoghurt covered raisins to eat whilst I was in the shower and a fruit juice, he didn't have any of them.
He then fell asleep, I don't know if this is because he hasn't eaten enough to get the energy he needs to keep going or because he is tired from coughing in the night.
He woke up I gave him some lunch which he didn't even have 1 bite out of, I managed to get him to eat a small pork pie before we went to my sister in laws, whilst out she offered him chocolate cake which he wouldn't eat and a drink which he wouldn't drink.
For tea I cooked him pork in pastry and mash which is usually one of his favourites he had one spoonful of mash and refused anything else. So before bed I gave him some multi vitamins and a large cup of pink milk which he did drink.
It is such a worry when he doesn't eat, he can't have had more than 400cals all day which is nowhere near enough to sustain him, he is so thin and I worry that if he does get ill that he will struggle to fight it off.
Other things that have happened today
1. He wouldn't interact at all with his cousins who are both around his age (1 a yr younger and 1 older) at all
2. When his uncle was trying to get his attention he wouldn't even look at him or acknowledge him but it was clear that he could hear him
3. Everytime that the washer has spun or the dryer has been on he has had his hands over his ears
4. Minor tantrum over putting toys away
So much for the housework 04.05.14
Poor thing has been awake coughing all night, just climbed on me and did this.
Looks like the cleaning and washing is going to have to wait today
Saturday, 3 May 2014
Update 03.05.14
Its been a really long day today.
Firstly I got a letter from Speech and Language saying that they want to come out and do another assessment on my son on the 27th of May, this will be with his normal therapist and her senior who needs to do a separate assessment before we can put him forward to the autism panel for a confirmed diagnosis. I would normally be at work on a Tuesday but I think that I will try and swap my day rather than asking them to change the appointment, I don't want to end up having to wait a few more weeks for them to come out and see us.
The lino was fitted in the kitchen this morning, my son was interesting in this he stood and watched the guy doing it for a bit without saying anything to him.
When he had finished and left I took the lad to the park for an hour, whilst I was there one of the children who did talk time with us at the children's centre was there with her lad, and her boy who is the same age as mine just seemed so much more able, he was climbing up the climbing frame, swinging on the swing and chatting away to his Mum, my lad is still going on the baby slides and in the baby swings and has no interest in playing with any of the other children at the park. It does make me sad that he doesn't play with other children, I do feel like he is missing out on something, but then I look at him and he is happy he doesn't seem to realise that he is missing out so maybe for him its not such a bad thing.
I get home just before the parents come round, my Dad had decided to come and trim up the kick plates and put my washer/dryer back on for me as hubby was at work and I needed it sorting, this was nice of him but I would have likes a little but of warning. It took a couple of hour and I was helping, in-between my Mum trying to get the boy to do stuff that he wasn't interested in. They left just as hubby got home and then we tried to do some washing. Washer wouldn't work.
I ignored this and cooked tea, I let the boy choose what he wanted for his tea, I cooked it for him and then he refused to come to the table and eat anything at all, he ended up going to bed without any food, he hasn't really eaten very much again today, which as always is a worry, but then yesterday he did so well.
After tea we sorted out the washer, moving it around must have dislodged some gunk or something as the pipes where blocked, it took us a while to sort it out but it is working now, making a noise when it spins though so looks like I will need to get a new one soon, anyone out there want to get us one?
Jobs for tomorrow - clean the house (its a tip), finish the washing and ironing, go see the sister in law and take nephew birthday pressie round, cook tea, and go to the gym.
Firstly I got a letter from Speech and Language saying that they want to come out and do another assessment on my son on the 27th of May, this will be with his normal therapist and her senior who needs to do a separate assessment before we can put him forward to the autism panel for a confirmed diagnosis. I would normally be at work on a Tuesday but I think that I will try and swap my day rather than asking them to change the appointment, I don't want to end up having to wait a few more weeks for them to come out and see us.
The lino was fitted in the kitchen this morning, my son was interesting in this he stood and watched the guy doing it for a bit without saying anything to him.
When he had finished and left I took the lad to the park for an hour, whilst I was there one of the children who did talk time with us at the children's centre was there with her lad, and her boy who is the same age as mine just seemed so much more able, he was climbing up the climbing frame, swinging on the swing and chatting away to his Mum, my lad is still going on the baby slides and in the baby swings and has no interest in playing with any of the other children at the park. It does make me sad that he doesn't play with other children, I do feel like he is missing out on something, but then I look at him and he is happy he doesn't seem to realise that he is missing out so maybe for him its not such a bad thing.
I get home just before the parents come round, my Dad had decided to come and trim up the kick plates and put my washer/dryer back on for me as hubby was at work and I needed it sorting, this was nice of him but I would have likes a little but of warning. It took a couple of hour and I was helping, in-between my Mum trying to get the boy to do stuff that he wasn't interested in. They left just as hubby got home and then we tried to do some washing. Washer wouldn't work.
I ignored this and cooked tea, I let the boy choose what he wanted for his tea, I cooked it for him and then he refused to come to the table and eat anything at all, he ended up going to bed without any food, he hasn't really eaten very much again today, which as always is a worry, but then yesterday he did so well.
After tea we sorted out the washer, moving it around must have dislodged some gunk or something as the pipes where blocked, it took us a while to sort it out but it is working now, making a noise when it spins though so looks like I will need to get a new one soon, anyone out there want to get us one?
Jobs for tomorrow - clean the house (its a tip), finish the washing and ironing, go see the sister in law and take nephew birthday pressie round, cook tea, and go to the gym.
Friday, 2 May 2014
Update 02.05.14
Well firstly the Ed Psyche didn't ring me or email me to let me know how long I will be waiting for an assessment for my son, looks like I will be chasing her up on Tuesday, I know that they are busy but she could have even asked her admin to email me I only want some sort of a rough idea.
Whilst I was at work today the floorers came and put the concrete stuff down in the kitchen to level the floor which meant that I couldn't go straight home, this meant that I went to my Mum and Dad's after work and instead of picking up my son stayed there and then went out to pub for tea with them.
I have honestly never seen my boy eat so well when out of the house, I got him a child's fish and chips and kind of expected him to play with it and not really eat but what he did was eat all of his fish, half my Dad's fish some of my mums and then all of his chips. I am really pleased with this he hasn't really been eating that well recently so to see him munching away like that was a real relief, he only weighs 29lb at the moment and could really do with putting on a pound or two.
When we got home the floor was dry enough for me to be able to make a cuppa and finally put my feet up which I did whilst he was playing in the bath, he has gone from hating baths to loving them again it took me a good 6 months to get him to accept baths and then a little while longer for him to start enjoying them but it has been worth all of the work with him to see him playing with the bubbles and his water squirters.
He then had his story and went to bed without so much as a whimper and went straight to sleep, so all in all not a bad day.
Roll on tomorrow and a new floor finally a new floor in the kitchen, maybe a tidy house and if the weather is nice a walk to the park
Whilst I was at work today the floorers came and put the concrete stuff down in the kitchen to level the floor which meant that I couldn't go straight home, this meant that I went to my Mum and Dad's after work and instead of picking up my son stayed there and then went out to pub for tea with them.
I have honestly never seen my boy eat so well when out of the house, I got him a child's fish and chips and kind of expected him to play with it and not really eat but what he did was eat all of his fish, half my Dad's fish some of my mums and then all of his chips. I am really pleased with this he hasn't really been eating that well recently so to see him munching away like that was a real relief, he only weighs 29lb at the moment and could really do with putting on a pound or two.
When we got home the floor was dry enough for me to be able to make a cuppa and finally put my feet up which I did whilst he was playing in the bath, he has gone from hating baths to loving them again it took me a good 6 months to get him to accept baths and then a little while longer for him to start enjoying them but it has been worth all of the work with him to see him playing with the bubbles and his water squirters.
He then had his story and went to bed without so much as a whimper and went straight to sleep, so all in all not a bad day.
Roll on tomorrow and a new floor finally a new floor in the kitchen, maybe a tidy house and if the weather is nice a walk to the park
Thursday, 1 May 2014
Update 01.05.14
I rang the Educational Psychology dept today to find out if they had received the referral for my son and see how long it might be before he gets seen, I am so conscious of the fact that he starts school in September and it is unlikely that he will be able to cope without additional support.
They said that they got the referral through on the 29th of April, approx 3 weeks after I had been told by Pre-School that it would be done, they really did drag their feet with that one, but at least I know that it has been done now.
The Ed Psyche who is will be seeing him should be giving me a call back in the morning to let me know approximately when he will be seen.
Its good to know that things are happening in the background even if it is very slowly.
In other news we had the carpet fitted in the hall and stairs whilst I was at work, when I came home the hubby was stressed about it and had been rushing around all afternoon, after apparently doing nothing all morning while the boy was at pre-school, no matter how many times I tell him that he should get his jobs done whilst our son is out of the house he doesn't do it, choosing instead to play minecraft on the PC and then get stressed about getting stuff done with a nearly 4 year old to look after at the same time. He then proceeded to cook himself some tea while I did mine and the kids, he couldn't manage to do both and I also hoovered the stairs whilst cooking tea. He did volunteer to clean up after tea which he never does so I will let him off a little bit.
The carpet looks good, so much better than the old one, tomorrow the fitters are coming back to level off the floor in the kitchen and then on Saturday they are laying the new lino in there, I can't wait to get it all finally finished.
Taking the kids to pub for tea tomorrow night with my Mum and Dad, hope that the boy is ok with it, he doesn't tend to eat much when we eat out, even less than he does normally so I am expecting the same thing tomorrow.
They said that they got the referral through on the 29th of April, approx 3 weeks after I had been told by Pre-School that it would be done, they really did drag their feet with that one, but at least I know that it has been done now.
The Ed Psyche who is will be seeing him should be giving me a call back in the morning to let me know approximately when he will be seen.
Its good to know that things are happening in the background even if it is very slowly.
In other news we had the carpet fitted in the hall and stairs whilst I was at work, when I came home the hubby was stressed about it and had been rushing around all afternoon, after apparently doing nothing all morning while the boy was at pre-school, no matter how many times I tell him that he should get his jobs done whilst our son is out of the house he doesn't do it, choosing instead to play minecraft on the PC and then get stressed about getting stuff done with a nearly 4 year old to look after at the same time. He then proceeded to cook himself some tea while I did mine and the kids, he couldn't manage to do both and I also hoovered the stairs whilst cooking tea. He did volunteer to clean up after tea which he never does so I will let him off a little bit.
The carpet looks good, so much better than the old one, tomorrow the fitters are coming back to level off the floor in the kitchen and then on Saturday they are laying the new lino in there, I can't wait to get it all finally finished.
Taking the kids to pub for tea tomorrow night with my Mum and Dad, hope that the boy is ok with it, he doesn't tend to eat much when we eat out, even less than he does normally so I am expecting the same thing tomorrow.
That Moment When.... 01.05.14
The hubby gets the lad up instead of me.
Unlike yesterday when he woke at 5:30am the boy woke at the normal time of around 7am, as I need to leave for work at 7:30am and the hubby is off work on a Thursday I leave him for hubby to deal with.
The boy isn't so keen on this idea though and as soon he sees that it isn't me getting him up the tantrum starts, and it keeps going until he is downstairs and sat on my knee.
This is something that up to a few months a go wouldn't bother him but now he point blank refuses to get out of bed for his Dad, we have made the decision that this can't be the case when I am at work there is not time for me to get him up when his Dad is here and has time to sort him out. So today hubby lifted him out of bed and carried him to the bathroom, he was refusing to come down so hubby left him in the bathroom having a strop.
A few minutes later he made his way down the stairs and jumped on me, he is now sat next to me so close that he is touching me as he always seems to have to be when I am here eating his cereal.
Unlike yesterday when he woke at 5:30am the boy woke at the normal time of around 7am, as I need to leave for work at 7:30am and the hubby is off work on a Thursday I leave him for hubby to deal with.
The boy isn't so keen on this idea though and as soon he sees that it isn't me getting him up the tantrum starts, and it keeps going until he is downstairs and sat on my knee.
This is something that up to a few months a go wouldn't bother him but now he point blank refuses to get out of bed for his Dad, we have made the decision that this can't be the case when I am at work there is not time for me to get him up when his Dad is here and has time to sort him out. So today hubby lifted him out of bed and carried him to the bathroom, he was refusing to come down so hubby left him in the bathroom having a strop.
A few minutes later he made his way down the stairs and jumped on me, he is now sat next to me so close that he is touching me as he always seems to have to be when I am here eating his cereal.
Wednesday, 30 April 2014
This made me smile today
This did make me smile when I picked up my son from my Dad this afternoon, helped me get rid of some of the stress of the day for a little while
 |
| Caterpillar |
Rant 30.04.14
This morning I dropped off the boy at pre-school, on a Wednesday the children who are going up to 'big' school in September are allowed to stay lunch and have an extra afternoon session, but it was made very clear to us at parents night by the owner that it isn't right for my son, because in her words not mine "of how he is" and she also asked if we had ever thought about teaching him his colours.
Obviously because he isn't speaking and doesn't interact with the other children that means we don't try and do anything with him ever, right? well no, wrong actually we probably do more with him than parents with so called normal kids do with their kids, since every waking moment we are trying to encourage him to speak and play and interact.
The way the owner spoke to us at parents night made me think about moving him, if there was another pre-school close to my Dad's house (Dad has to walk to pick him up when I am at work) and he wasn't so happy there I would have done. Luckily the manager of the setting isn't the owner and she knows how hard everyone is trying to get him up to speed for September.
I managed to speak to the manager this morning and might even raise the issue of him staying all day on a Wednesday with her next week (I won't be taking or picking up again this week due to work commitments) as I do feel that he would really benefit from the extra session and the experience of been away from home for a full day in preparation for September when he has to start school.
If they refuse to allow it maybe I will make a call to the local authority and see if this is something that they can take forward for me, I really feel like he is been excluded because he has some additional needs and that is not fair on him.
Obviously because he isn't speaking and doesn't interact with the other children that means we don't try and do anything with him ever, right? well no, wrong actually we probably do more with him than parents with so called normal kids do with their kids, since every waking moment we are trying to encourage him to speak and play and interact.
The way the owner spoke to us at parents night made me think about moving him, if there was another pre-school close to my Dad's house (Dad has to walk to pick him up when I am at work) and he wasn't so happy there I would have done. Luckily the manager of the setting isn't the owner and she knows how hard everyone is trying to get him up to speed for September.
I managed to speak to the manager this morning and might even raise the issue of him staying all day on a Wednesday with her next week (I won't be taking or picking up again this week due to work commitments) as I do feel that he would really benefit from the extra session and the experience of been away from home for a full day in preparation for September when he has to start school.
If they refuse to allow it maybe I will make a call to the local authority and see if this is something that they can take forward for me, I really feel like he is been excluded because he has some additional needs and that is not fair on him.
Early Morning 30.04.14
Half Five this morning the lad decided he was awake, he doesn't just get up and play with his toys or look at his books or even go downstairs and put the telly on like a lot of 4 years olds would though, he lays in his bed making a whining sound until someone (normally me) gives in and goes in to him.
I gave him a few minutes just in case he decided that he didn't want to be awake after all, but as he was coughing a bit in-between the sound it was pretty obvious that this was not going to happen.
So we were up and dressed and downstairs watching the news (no kids telly in this house until everyone is ready for school) by half 6.
Hubby is sulking with me because I got up to him, apparently going in to him to early just encourages him to get up early, I'm not sure that is true, after all he can't tell the time and he doesn't always wake up this early. I think that if he is awake and making a noise that means I can't sleep that there is no point in been in bed listening to him I might aswell sort him out, and have a cup of tea whilst I am at it lols.
Oh well, I am at work again today, I am not at the gym tonight hubby is working to late for that and we need to move furniture ready for the carpet fitters coming tomorrow.
I gave him a few minutes just in case he decided that he didn't want to be awake after all, but as he was coughing a bit in-between the sound it was pretty obvious that this was not going to happen.
So we were up and dressed and downstairs watching the news (no kids telly in this house until everyone is ready for school) by half 6.
Hubby is sulking with me because I got up to him, apparently going in to him to early just encourages him to get up early, I'm not sure that is true, after all he can't tell the time and he doesn't always wake up this early. I think that if he is awake and making a noise that means I can't sleep that there is no point in been in bed listening to him I might aswell sort him out, and have a cup of tea whilst I am at it lols.
Oh well, I am at work again today, I am not at the gym tonight hubby is working to late for that and we need to move furniture ready for the carpet fitters coming tomorrow.
Recipe - Flapjack
Everyone at work loves my flapjack and so do my kids so here is the recipe
100g Butter (proper butter none of that low fat rubbish)
1-2 tablespoons of honey (again proper honey not golden syrup)
100g sugar (caster or granulated doesn't make a difference)
125g oats (I use porridge oats)
50g Self Raising flour
1 tsp of ginger
You can add coconut, dried cranberries, cocoa powder or any other dried fruit to it if you want
Enjoy
100g Butter (proper butter none of that low fat rubbish)
1-2 tablespoons of honey (again proper honey not golden syrup)
100g sugar (caster or granulated doesn't make a difference)
125g oats (I use porridge oats)
50g Self Raising flour
1 tsp of ginger
You can add coconut, dried cranberries, cocoa powder or any other dried fruit to it if you want
- Mix all of the dry ingredients in a bowl
- Melt the butter and honey over a low heat and add to the dry Ingredients
- Mix well, the mixture shouldn't look to sticky if it does add more oats
- Pour onto a lined baking tray and press down with the back of a metal spoon until it looks smooth, it should be about 1- 1.5cm deep and a deeper tray like a square cake tin works best.
- Bake in a moderate/hot oven (about 180C) for 15-20 mins
- It should look brown on the top when you take it out of the oven
- If it looks wet in the middle give it a few more minutes
- Once out of the oven allow to cool before removing from the tin but try and slice it into portions whilst still warm.
Enjoy
Tuesday, 29 April 2014
Busy day at work and update 29.04.14
Well work was pretty mental as always, but I dropped my son off at preschool and the senco wasn't there so I couldn't ask the questions that I had, hopefully she will be there in the morning and I will be able to talk to her then.
On the plus side he was very happy when I dropped him off and was good for my Dad.
I have been given some books about autism spectrum disorder and behaviour from work and such a lot of it seems to apply to my son, all I want is for him to get through the assessment process and find out for sure, then we can move on and concentrate on making him the best that he can be.
He is such a happy little boy, but he does live in his own world a lot of the time.
On another note the teenager is making curry tomorrow at school, no idea what it will be like but will have to at least pretend its fab :-)
Morning 29.04.14
Humph back at work today after the weekend, the lad is back at pre-school to which will give me a chance to talk to them about him and what is happening, they are supposed to have referred him for an Ed Psyche assessment a couple of weeks a go and I haven't heard anything yet. I know that these things take time though so I just want to be sure it has been done. I am also waiting for an assessment by the community paediatrician for a developmental check for him, all of the pre-school assessments and speech and language assessments have him at about 16-24 months for speech, communication and social but 3yrs for physical development.
He still isn't talking, we get the odd thing at home but he is mostly silent unless you force him to ask for things or ask him what something is. He still doesn't initiate any conversations and if you ask him what he has been doing he doesn't answer you, its so frustrating it would be nice to hear him say Mummy or tell me what he has been doing at pre-school, he is 4 in 3 weeks and so far he has done neither of those things.
Work really sucks at the minute but I have the gym to look forward to for tonight :-) I used to feel bad about going to the gym on a night but since the boy stopped allowing anyone to do anything for him when I am there apart from me its meant that he will let his Dad put him to bed on those days, if I didn't go out my husband would never get the chance to have that special story time with him.
So for now I will drink my coffee and hope for a good day xx
He still isn't talking, we get the odd thing at home but he is mostly silent unless you force him to ask for things or ask him what something is. He still doesn't initiate any conversations and if you ask him what he has been doing he doesn't answer you, its so frustrating it would be nice to hear him say Mummy or tell me what he has been doing at pre-school, he is 4 in 3 weeks and so far he has done neither of those things.
Work really sucks at the minute but I have the gym to look forward to for tonight :-) I used to feel bad about going to the gym on a night but since the boy stopped allowing anyone to do anything for him when I am there apart from me its meant that he will let his Dad put him to bed on those days, if I didn't go out my husband would never get the chance to have that special story time with him.
So for now I will drink my coffee and hope for a good day xx
Monday, 28 April 2014
The library and teatime :-)
Well I was expecting tears and tantrums at some point whilst we were out, but it just never happened, so that makes me a happy mummy tonight.
If only the staff at the library could be a little more friendly, we have two at our library one that is always happy and has time for children and grumps who always looks angry. Both were on today, luckily my son got served by the nice lady who even let him stamp his own books and gave him a sticker.
Last time we went it was grumps who barely makes eye contact with you when she is serving you and seems to really hate kids.
When we got home we read the books and then I cooked tea, which he refused to even try. I am not sure how I am going to get him to eat more he doesn't seem interested in food, anyway he is in the bath now having a great time.
I don't think it is going to be fun getting him out.
Morrisons 28/04/14
Usually I try to avoid supermarkets with my lad, he generally screams all of the way round it and is very uncooperative so today when I had to go to the shop and take him with me I was ready for a battle and could feel my anxiety rising as the time came to go.
Before we went out I managed to get him to go to the loo and bring me his shoes (he still doesn't put these on for himself but we are working on it) without a fuss, he wanted to take his toy and a bit of paper with him, I have no idea why but that is what he wanted to do, I decided that it was easier to let him take them than fight with him and start out with him in a strop.
He got in the car no fuss and when we pulled into the carpark didn't start shouting "no no no no" which is what he would normally do. I was starting to think that all was going to be ok, until it came to getting a trolley, usually I either get a basket or a big trolley which I can put him inside (he is to big for the seat) but today I decided to get a small trolley, he started to point at the bigger trolleys and whine I was expecting it to turn into a full strop but managed to distract him by telling him I needed his help to find the things that his sister needs for her school shopping.
He walked around the shop with his hands over his ears, he is sensitive to a lot of noise and often covers his ears and puts his finger to his mouth the shush people. Even though he was doing this he stayed with me and didn't cry or strop at all.
When we got to the till he was picking up the peppa pig DVD's (Thanks Morrisons for setting kids and parents up for a battle) but I reminded him that he had one at home and he happily put it back.
So Far so good
Until he saw the kiddies rides on the other side of the till and went to investigate whilst I was paying, followed by setting off a till alarm by moving a barrier and then having a minor moment when I told him I didn't have a penny for the ride.
So even though he did have a couple of minor blips and had to cover his ears for most of the time in the shop I would say that this was a successful trip to the shops, he didn't cry at any point (well not for more than a few seconds) and I managed to get right round the shop and everything on my list without it taking to long.
Next challenge of the day..... The library, will do the ironing first though and give him a little bit of chill time
Update 28/04/14
Yesterday was going so well, until I asked my son to take his dressing gown upstairs for me and put it on his bed, this turned into a huge tantrum that lasted for more than 45minutes, he did eventually calm down and take his dressing gown upstairs and put it on his bed. 45 mins is a relatively short amount of time for my son to tantrum for, they can last for hours and often result in him tiring himself out and going to bed rather than doing anything else.
It doesn't seem to bother him that he is sat in time out and will quite happily sit there for hours refusing to do whatever it is that we have asked him to do. No really does mean No when he says it, I have been told that this is a sign of autism but I guess that we will only really know when he has had all of his assessments.
Hoping for a better day today, its gone 8am and he is still snoring, he has been coughing all night again so I think he is just exhausted from it, no pre-school for him today he is back tomorrow so no need for him to be up if he is tired.
I'm going to body combat soon and leaving him at home with his Dad, he is usually quite happy to be left with his Dad which does make things a little easier for me, especially as when I am there he clings to me and I do feel like I have an extra shadow at time.
I need to go to the shops this afternoon which is always a bit of a flash point and if he is in a good enough mood I might take him to the library to get some new story books afterwards as a little treat, he loves the library but can get a bit grumpy when we go sometimes.
It doesn't seem to bother him that he is sat in time out and will quite happily sit there for hours refusing to do whatever it is that we have asked him to do. No really does mean No when he says it, I have been told that this is a sign of autism but I guess that we will only really know when he has had all of his assessments.
Hoping for a better day today, its gone 8am and he is still snoring, he has been coughing all night again so I think he is just exhausted from it, no pre-school for him today he is back tomorrow so no need for him to be up if he is tired.
I'm going to body combat soon and leaving him at home with his Dad, he is usually quite happy to be left with his Dad which does make things a little easier for me, especially as when I am there he clings to me and I do feel like I have an extra shadow at time.
I need to go to the shops this afternoon which is always a bit of a flash point and if he is in a good enough mood I might take him to the library to get some new story books afterwards as a little treat, he loves the library but can get a bit grumpy when we go sometimes.
Sunday, 27 April 2014
Carpet Shop 27.04.14
Last week we (I say we it was actually me and my Dad) decorated the hall/stairs/landing, it was much fun :-/
So today we went and ordered a new carpet and some lino for the kitchen, I have wanted lino in the kitchen since we put in the new kitchen about 8 years a go but hubby tends to forget about stuff like that so I took the opportunity to get both whilst we were there.
Now we are nearly £500 lighter but on Thursday I will be getting a new carpet and new lino fitted and I can't wait.
The lad coped really well with shopping for it, had a little wobble about getting back in the car to come home but nothing major, he walked off in the other direction but was able to be talked into coming back without a tantrum even though you could tell he really didn't want to get in the car. The shop was mostly empty which helped he really doesn't seem to like busy places, he did like running up and down the shop with hubby whilst I was sorting out the fitting and paying. For once it was a trip to a shop without any stress.
He is now eating the remains of one of his Easter Eggs and watching telly, he seemed to get so many that the supply of chocolate is never ending for him, I think he has another 2 to eat, and my daughter has barely touched hers either.
In other news I am not really keen on this Aldi Coffee that I bought to try, maybe its an acquired taste and I haven't acquired it yet, and I am going to the gym tonight after tea which makes me happy. They have moved the gym as part of the refurbishment, I am really hoping that the next few months pass quickly I am not liking been in a room with no windows or air con.
Update 27.04.14
So a lot has happened since I last blogged about my life
- my son is nearly 4 now, still not talking, and currently been in the process of been assessed for possible autism. He is a lovely little lad, always happy and when he is at home with us you wouldn't think he was any different, but put him a group of his peers and you can see that he is very different. He functions at a much younger age than he actually is, he doesn't play with other children and his speech is virtually non existent to name just a few of the differences.
- my daughter is now 14 and starts studying for her GCSE's in September, she is a typical teenager, sleeps late and doesn't really speak to us much unless she has to. Like a lot of teens she has acne and is on anti-biotics to help treat it, if only she could remember to take them and not get in a mood with me for reminding her she would be the model teen, she loves reading, music and art and is already planning what she wants to study at University.
- hubby is still working hard, his hours are all over the place though which makes getting into any routine with anything difficult
- and me well I am still going to the gym 3-4 times a week, I prefer to go 4 times but its not always that easy with the hubby's hours, I managed to loose over 50lbs and I am finally feeling like myself again. My job is currently part of a commissioning review which means that in a few months I might not have a job and if I do it will be very different to what it is now.
With the stress of the lads assessments, him starting school soon and work I am feeling like it is all crumbling around me at the minute.
- my son is nearly 4 now, still not talking, and currently been in the process of been assessed for possible autism. He is a lovely little lad, always happy and when he is at home with us you wouldn't think he was any different, but put him a group of his peers and you can see that he is very different. He functions at a much younger age than he actually is, he doesn't play with other children and his speech is virtually non existent to name just a few of the differences.
- my daughter is now 14 and starts studying for her GCSE's in September, she is a typical teenager, sleeps late and doesn't really speak to us much unless she has to. Like a lot of teens she has acne and is on anti-biotics to help treat it, if only she could remember to take them and not get in a mood with me for reminding her she would be the model teen, she loves reading, music and art and is already planning what she wants to study at University.
- hubby is still working hard, his hours are all over the place though which makes getting into any routine with anything difficult
- and me well I am still going to the gym 3-4 times a week, I prefer to go 4 times but its not always that easy with the hubby's hours, I managed to loose over 50lbs and I am finally feeling like myself again. My job is currently part of a commissioning review which means that in a few months I might not have a job and if I do it will be very different to what it is now.
With the stress of the lads assessments, him starting school soon and work I am feeling like it is all crumbling around me at the minute.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)