Bi-polar & Aspergers

My Missy went off to the Clinical Psychologist last week and when she came out and told me she has Aspergers. Hmmmm..... interesting

She (the clinical psychologist) was very intereted in seeing Missy as Zaks level of Autism is so high. (Severe Autism no less!!) After doing some testing and some more testing, it seems Missy is a combination of Bi-Polar and Aspergers. Still not quite sure what to do with this new information. She is still the same Missy we all love, but just with an added 'extra' I suppose.

The information from one of the tests was very fascinating though. It broke down how her thinking/brain functions. eg: working memory, perseptual reasoning, processing speed and verbal comprehension. It was amazing to have this information and be able to relate it directly back to how she 'operates' for want of a better word.

At the end of the day she is still my Missy

:-)

Another day, another load of washing lol

Good to see not much has changed since I was on here last!!

It has been a very eventful couple of months. Team Zak has had some changing of membership. Zaks aide at school resigned and we now have a new aide called Anne. Welcome to team Zak!! ;-)

On the down side, I have found out (the hard way as per usual) that in the last year and a bit, my little fella has done nothing at school. Has not advanced, but has actually slid backwards. There has been alot go on in the classroom that has upset me, horrified me and made me exceptionally pissed off. His former 'teacher' discriminated against, segregated, labeled violent and made his days awful. No bloody wonder they had behavioural problems!

Needless to say, in his NEW classroom (younger kids + great teacher) he is doing so well. The only outbursts he has had have been hand biting and head banging.

We are doing work at home as well to try to get him caught up even a little. He has been allowed to do nothing for so long, the first week was a shocker, but he is working well now.

Side effect of all this stuff is..... I am just tired lol

I am THE slackest blogger!!!

I am a very slack blogger! It has been 6 months since I last wrote on my blog. Geezzzzz, now I sound like an alcoholic... its been six months since ..... ohhh move on Di...

Let see.... I have missed braggin about Alex graduating Year 12, getting an acheivement award and being offered a place at RMIT. Missy getting an excellence award at the end of year 7 and Zak moving into a brand spanking new classroom at school. I did spend a few days with a fat head after reading of all the great progress everyone had made during the school year. Of course it was a BIG year for Alex... and all of the hard work, study and of course nagging on my behalf payed off well.

Over the school holdiays we had a relatively quiet time..... Missy the social butterfly off and about, Alex joined at the hip-top with her fella Tall Zac and my Zak in hog heaven with cricket season.

On the fire front..... brilliant.... nice and quiet.... we needed that after last year.

I took Zak to the MCG (a first for both of us) for the 5th day of the Boxing Day Test ... thanks Gary for the tickets.... and did he have a great time. The grin, the glowing eyes, the excitement and cant sit still factor were all present. It was stinking hot, but we kept hydrated and he only had a couple of small seizures on the way home.

The Polly dog is working hard guarding her domain and doing some serious relaxing on the back deck.... she has it really tough... a new 2 seater couch from the op shop in the shed for her new bed!!!

Bert the blue tongue lizard is doing well and Alex got some new fish (4) and a snail about 3 months ago.... we are down to one fish and the bloody snail has multiplied!! The newest member of the family is 'Rowdy' the cockatoo.... he is mumys boy lol and very aptly named. Bob just finished making him a palace to reside in... excellent job if I do say so myself... better than a bought one!!!

Got issues with 'ologists, behaviour stuff at school, DHS etc..... but for today.... I will ignore and drink a cuppa and look for the secret choc stash.

One last thing.... the diswasher.... she has a name... Delilah.... she does such a good job that even Tom Jones would croon to her ;-)

Autism Ignorance ......

I cannot believe that in this day and age, there is still reluctance and ignorance against children with a disability.

As you will all know... my dude... Zak has Autism.

The other night I made a suggestion about including him in an organisational activity group with my of course my support as his helper and was met with..... ignorance!!

I can't say that I am angry by it because I am not..... just upset and disappointed.

The persons ignorance was shown loud and clear. The comment about his 'noises' made me go into mother bear mode and in my usual manner, said it was the acoustics in the building, trying to make light of his hurtful comments. I did not like the feeling that it gave me in the pit of my belly. It was just his opinion and attitude towards my fella that I thought was antiquated and well past due for overhaul. I guess he will never know the joy of knowing this special, funny, unique and of course handsome little bloke.

I felt the need to stand my ground and mention anti-discrimination and equal opportunity for all.... even though the ignorance was limited to the one person.

Oh well... lucky for me... I have been there and done all that before... but, it still stings when I look at his sweet smiling face.

Feel free to leave you words of wisdom and opinions......

Positive Partnerships

Supporting school aged students on the Autism Spectrum.

Just finished a two day workshop in the positive partnerships. It was a good couple of days. There was alot of information and it was of course a good chance to meet up with parents in a similar situation to ours. We all had children on the autism spectrum.... some at the higher end... aspergers and some with low functioning autism (thats our category).

The facilitators (teachers/instructors) were full of great information and quite respectful of our position as parents/carers. It was never a case of them telling us what to do with our kids.... just leading discussions and making us aware of different tools we can use to assist us.

All in all, I think the program has some great points to make..... there is a dual program running.... one for parents/carers and one for teachers/educators. It is great that everyone is trying to get on the same page so to speak.

All of us have a similar goal... to make sure our child/student has the best opportunities in their education..... and alot of our issues were similar.

There was some great sharing of knowledge and systems that parents have used and had great success, which can now be tried with other kids in similar circumstances. You just never know... a new strategy seen through a different perspective can make a big difference. There is never one single answer, fix or strategy... each child with Autism is different.... their needs are different and therefore some of the 'tried and true' parenting techniques that have worked on your 'neuro typical' children for years, just wont work. Its good to get a few more tricks to put into your never ending bag of solutions, adaptations and trials.

But wait...... there is more.....

The positive partnership people have a website that can be accessed by all. Its not just for parents or teachers of children on the autism spectrum.... anyone and everyone can have a look and then do a couple of learning modules if they want to. I think its a great way to get out there and educate people who do not have a great deal of knowledge about autism and want to learn at their own pace. Which ever Government Department, University or Association thought of this idea..... bloody ripper!!! It is just so pro-active. That what I like. Positivity. It is way too easy to get bogged down in the negatives... so good for you guys!! ( have of course posted the link on the page)

PS: The darling dishwasher is still without a name.... but it has been confirmed that she is a girl... 'cause lets face it... a bloke could NEVER get the dishes as clean as she does!!

Relativity

Its all a matter of relativity ....

I have been giving this a great deal of thought, and in consultation with many of my friends and acquaintances I have found that the majority of things that piss you off, drive you nuts or just plain aggravate you are all based on .... relatives!!! Whether they be distant ones or immediate... its all the same... relatives..... hmmmm

Therefore, I would conclude that all matters of agitation tend to be matters of relativity!!!!!!

Of course each persons relativity is individual to themselves and their relations

C.A.M.H.S (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services)

What can I say..... If in need of help..... the WORST people to ask are those who are supposed to be there to help you!!!

I rang CAMHS for some advice on bipolar for Missy. After being put through to the 'intake worker' (now another kind of person not to deal with) and having a long phone conversation about her medication, moods etc etc ranging back from when she was about 3 til now (nearly 13), this woman, whom has never met Missy, never seen any of her medical records and as of now will never meet her!! informs me that in 'her opinion' Missy has been miss diagnosed and there is really nothing that they could do for me because, of course bipolar is really for older people!! FUNGOO

The bloody woman is of course assuming that Missys paediatrician (Dr Harry) who put her on her current medication and made the diagnosis after quite alot of reaserach into our family history and one on one chats with Missy and evaluation from a psychiatrist, who may point out our peadiatrician has a thriving practice and has had extensive dealings with children with mental illness and disabilities and not just 'physically sick' kids.... is of course wrong. Miss-diagnosis and medicating her. Needless to say..... I think this woman is in the WRONG JOB!! Hmmm... wonder is she is a doctor or a bloody social worker? (one of the kinds of people I dont like to deal with)

I did not ring to ask for anything other than some reading material, so as to better understand the highs and lows associated with bipolar. I went off to the 'staying well with bipolar' night in Ballarat last week and although the night was great... it was only really about adults not children or teens.

So bad was my dismay that I rang Pam (team Zak member) to see if I misunderstood the woman. Sometimes I can take things the wrong way. It happens. I had of course had my cranky pills and the 'black dog' has been firmly on its chain, but, I wanted to be sure. I just couldnt believe it. So Pam rang and got the same woman.. and you guessed it, same response but rude and arrogant to Pam. She was not a happy camper either.

Needless to say... off to my trusty computer and amazon.com and $175 later, I have some books being sent to me from America about bipolar in children and strategies to deal with, understand and help keep well. If you want something done... do it your self.... easier and less stressful.

We are off to see Dr Harry next week, will have to mention CAMHS to him and see what he thinks.

To anyone who reads this blog and is interested in the books I am getting, I will write a post about them after reading!! Might be some great information.

PS: dishwasher is still working like a bloody legend!! going to have to give it a name, any ideas?