Re: I'm back!

[Guest guest]

great to hear of your life these days.. thanks!   jkzThanks to Helen for putting me back in the system. I checked in a few weeks ago and saw I couldn't get in, but didn't have time to join. Today I did and I 'm so glad to be back! SOOOOO much has happened since my last post!1. I got a new job!!! I got THE job that I really wanted at the University of Alabama. It focuses on cultural awareness by promoting cultural events. I start May 1st and I am sooo exited! I will miss working 7:30-3:00 (now it'll be 8:00-4:45), but my children will be in extended day after school and I will work with ADULTS!!!! My previous job was a special ed teacher assistant. Having a 5 yr old AS/ADHD son, a 7 yr old ADHD son and a Husband who was just diagnosed in Nov. '07 as AS/bipolar/OCD was tough in itself, but working with special needs children and coming home to my family I was just wiped out, and had lots of tears that I'm sure some of you remember very well. You all had so much advice to help get me through. Now when I come home I think I'll have much more patience with my family and I think I'll be able to cope much better.2. My husband and I have been going to couples therapy...again, many tears on my part, but then SHAZAMM!!! I guess our graduate student therapist thought we were a little extreme, so her professor who is a psychologist came to one of our sessions. He decided to model communication for us. He played my husband so well...I actually laughed!! My husband simply did not see himself like this. Since his meds have gotten regulated, he is sorta like the guy on the commercial for red itchy eyes (I forget his name right off), but just that no facial expression, monotone communication. This professor modeled new things for Toby to try....it has been such a blessing. Toby just did not know how much his "dry personality" was having an effect on me. He thought he was doing well because of his choice of words....and he was...he was trying sooo hard...it's just when someone says "congratulations..." with no kind of inflection or facial expression, you don't know if they are truly happy for you or not. He has learned to put inflections in his voice and do little things like raise his eyebrows when making eye contact to show he's interested. It may seem silly, but I feel like I have a whole new husband now....If some of you remember, I was at the point of divorce on my last post.3. My last day at my old school job was Thursday. It was so funny because there is a little autistic boy that I was a one-on-one aid with in Kindergarten. Now he's in 2nd. His aid this year didn't show up Thursday and guess who's turn it was to keep him!!! MINE...on my last day!!! God knew what he was doing....being with this child did two things that day...it made me really appreciate that I was leaving, even though I love that little dude a lot....it also kept my emotions in check for the day....he was so active, I didn't have time to cry until...4. My husband sent me roses to work on his lunchbreak. He stuck a not in them that said he knew today would be hard for me because he knew how much I cared for the children. He said he knew I had an impact on those children's lives because I had a great impact on him!!! I couldn't believe what I was reading....he has NEVER done anything like this...and no one ask him too...I think he's starting to learn what I need and my walls of self protection are coming down.Anyway, sorry it's so long, but life is so much better. I didn't think I could be persistent much longer, but God made a way. Things aren't all "rosy" by any means, but communication is soooo much better. I hope life has been great for all of you these last few months...sorry it's been so long...I've thought about you all often... Kandy