Re: i got the dx today

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/8/02 5:36:17 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

gracekeh@... writes:

<< I know, I know... maybe I should lower my doseage LOL. >>

Funny Grace,

No point in lowering your prozac, unless it's causing problems for you!

Being okay with having twins certainly isn't a problem.

kandie

Kandie and (9 years)

* 's website: <A

HREF= " http://kidsactivities.homestead.com/spage.html " >spage</A>

*

[Guest guest]

,

Ahh, yes .... I remember " the day " also.

You know what - - once the IEP happens and things start to take place - - -

it gets awfully mind-boggling and busy.

Until then, now that you have the dx, and now that you " know " for sure - -

my advice is to sit back, and do try to enjoy your son today, tomorrow, and

up until he starts therapy.

Once they start, they are SO busy that there really isn't too much of a

chance to relax and enjoy, and as some on this list will attest to - - the

school breaks don't always go as smoothly as you would hope because the

breakup of routine.... so this very well might be the last span of time in

which you get to spend quality time with your son, free of therapy, free of

expectations.

I think you have the perfect attitude for this. You might fluctuate a bit,

up and down, but don't let that bring you down - - it's expected. Just keep

chugging along, and hold your head up HIGH. This may not have been what you

thought you were getting into, but it sounds to me like really

lucked out in finding himself such a great mom who is going to get him all

he needs to get ahead.

This autism ride may be nauseating from time to time, but there are so, so,

so many lessons along the way that on my really deranged days - - - I'm

quite convinced that I could not have been luckier to have autistic kids.

Grace - who actually blurted out this morning, to her husband, " I think I

want another kid. Ya wanna have just one more? " <Somebody SHOOT me.>

i got the dx today

> I think some of us were talking last week about the day we " found out " a

> child was autistic.... well, that's today for me, about 2 hours ago to be

> exact.

> The woman from the testing school called me up and told me how my son

> (9-27-99) did on the tests. Some of this stuff I don't

understand

> totally, and I don't know how to spell a lot of these terms- so please

> excuse me on that.

>

> for OT he was in the 1st %

> for speech he averaged at a 15-18 mo level

> and he was all over the place on this- some high, some low.

> Baily's he is at a 9 month level

> the Autism rating scale he is mild-moderate

> got a 34.5 on the CARS (?) test

> Ackenback said " clinically significant withdrawn "

> Somtic complaints- " borderline-to- normal "

>

> the recommended program is 6:1:2 full day with speech and OT 3x's a week

> each.

> Our IEP is May 3rd (still have to confirm with school)

>

> She also gave me the name of a good develp. ped. near by-

> and the wait is supposed to be around 1 month (not 6 like the other

waiting

> list we are on) That doctor is going to help us with getting his hearing

> tests, blood work, allergies- etc... all that good stuff.

> Across the board kind of stuff.

>

> Well- surprisingly I feel really good overall- and happy that i know when

> the IEP is. He is supposed to attend a near by preschool with classes for

> autistic children on July 1st- so the timing is good. I am going to ask

at

> the IEP for ABA, speech and OT before July 1st-

> and extra ABA at home. ( i would just love for him to get 20-40 hrs a

week

> overall)

> I feel positive about our school district and the IEP. The woman i talked

> to said she goes infront of this group at least 2 times a month.

>

> Also- keep in mind that a lot of his tests were low because he doesn't

> follow directions 99% of the time (just doesn't have the language or

> attention) BUT I really, truly believe with all the help he is going to

get-

> he will improve greatly across the board.

>

> She is going to mail me all the results this week. So, i'll get more

> details. I'm feeling pretty focused now and glad we had the tests done-

and

> now for the fun part- THERAPY!

>

> thanks everyone for all of your support and prayers.

> thanks you too-

> Heeren

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

> > Grace - who actually blurted out this morning, to her

> husband, " I think I want another kid. Ya wanna have just one

> more? " <Somebody SHOOT me.>

WOW...you ARE feeling better, aren't you? :-)

Raena

[Guest guest]

B-A-N-G!!!!!

Penny - Be careful...what's to say you won't have 2 again?

>>>>

Grace - who actually blurted out this morning, to her husband, " I think I

want another kid. Ya wanna have just one more? " <Somebody SHOOT me.>

<<<<

[Guest guest]

Sounds like you've had a load taken off your back...

Good for you...

Now it's time to get to work... ;-)

Penny

[Guest guest]

Maybe this wasn't the right list to confess to.

Hmm.

)

Re: Re: i got the dx today

> In a message dated 4/8/2002 7:15:52 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> rgr4us@... writes:

>

>

> > > > Grace - who actually blurted out this morning, to her

> > > husband, " I think I want another kid. Ya wanna have just one

> > > more? " <Somebody SHOOT me.>

> >

> >

>

> Oooh Grace, how about twin boys this time..LOL

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

>> Would it horrify you to hear that TODAY, I am not quite as turned

> off by that possibility?

> I mean.... twins are GREAT!>>

My dad has a cousin who has THREE sets of twins, Grace...it could

happen.

Raena

[Guest guest]

> > > Grace - who actually blurted out this morning, to her

> > husband, " I think I want another kid. Ya wanna have just one

> > more? " <Somebody SHOOT me.>

>

>

> WOW...you ARE feeling better, aren't you? :-)

>

> Raena

LOL, I was thinking exactly the same thing.

[Guest guest]

Well said, Grace... , it is refreshing to see

someone positive. It really helps us all to remember that

Autism is the name, it's not the child - we treat the

problems, not the name, and they are still the same little

person they were before that particular label was used )

The really good thing about labels is they give you tools to

use!

You go girl!

in Sydney, Australia

Mum to , 6yo AS ADHD, and , 5yo mild hearing

loss

i got the dx today

> I think some of us were talking last week about the day we

" found out " a

> child was autistic.... well, that's today for me, about 2

hours ago to be

> exact.

> The woman from the testing school called me up and told me

how my son

> (9-27-99) did on the tests. Some of this stuff I

don't

understand

> totally, and I don't know how to spell a lot of these

terms- so please

> excuse me on that.

>

> for OT he was in the 1st %

> for speech he averaged at a 15-18 mo level

> and he was all over the place on this- some high, some

low.

> Baily's he is at a 9 month level

> the Autism rating scale he is mild-moderate

> got a 34.5 on the CARS (?) test

> Ackenback said " clinically significant withdrawn "

> Somtic complaints- " borderline-to- normal "

>

> the recommended program is 6:1:2 full day with speech and

OT 3x's a week

> each.

> Our IEP is May 3rd (still have to confirm with school)

>

> She also gave me the name of a good develp. ped. near by-

> and the wait is supposed to be around 1 month (not 6 like

the other

waiting

> list we are on) That doctor is going to help us with

getting his hearing

> tests, blood work, allergies- etc... all that good stuff.

> Across the board kind of stuff.

>

> Well- surprisingly I feel really good overall- and happy

that i know when

> the IEP is. He is supposed to attend a near by preschool

with classes for

> autistic children on July 1st- so the timing is good. I

am going to ask

at

> the IEP for ABA, speech and OT before July 1st-

> and extra ABA at home. ( i would just love for him to get

20-40 hrs a

week

> overall)

> I feel positive about our school district and the IEP.

The woman i talked

> to said she goes infront of this group at least 2 times a

month.

>

> Also- keep in mind that a lot of his tests were low

because he doesn't

> follow directions 99% of the time (just doesn't have the

language or

> attention) BUT I really, truly believe with all the help

he is going to

get-

> he will improve greatly across the board.

>

> She is going to mail me all the results this week. So,

i'll get more

> details. I'm feeling pretty focused now and glad we had

the tests done-

and

> now for the fun part- THERAPY!

>

> thanks everyone for all of your support and prayers.

> thanks you too-

> Heeren

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Are the girls identical? Because if they are, you could be

treading on *dangerous* ground thinking that you won't have

another set of twins next time... LOL

in Sydney, Australia

Mum to , 6yo AS ADHD, and , 5yo mild hearing

loss

RE: i got the dx today

B-A-N-G!!!!!

Penny - Be careful...what's to say you won't have 2 again?

>>>>

Grace - who actually blurted out this morning, to her

husband, " I think I

want another kid. Ya wanna have just one more? " <Somebody

SHOOT me.>

<<<<

[Guest guest]

> Would it horrify you to hear that TODAY, I am not quite as turned off by

> that possibility?

> I mean.... twins are GREAT!

GRACE????

Is that YOU?????

Or....who are you and what have you done with Grace?

;-)

Jacquie

[Guest guest]

> GRACE????

>

> Is that YOU?????

>

> Or....who are you and what have you done with Grace?

'Tis me.

Funny thing is - - this IS me.

I mean, that was what was so frustrating before.... I spent all that time

thinking " *I* have disappeared, there is no " me " to be found " because

everything about me was not the way the REAL me would have reacted.

Living life with 2 autistic kids - - not easy, but it ain't the end of the

world either. Sh*t happens, but life goes on.<~~~ THAT is what the college

me, the single me would have thought.

But to me, pre-Prozac, I really, REALLY felt like it WAS the end of the

world, and THAT was the most frustrating thing because I was certain that

the OLD me would never let this kill me.

But as far as the twins thing and the preggo thing goes - - I snapped out of

it. It was a 24 hr bug LOL. Seriously - - all I had to do was think,

" Hmm..... pregnant..... no drugs..... same life...... Uh, NOT! " LOL

Grace

[Guest guest]

> Are the girls identical? Because if they are, you could be

> treading on *dangerous* ground thinking that you won't have

> another set of twins next time... LOL

>

>

Fraternal, but correct me if I'm wrong - - - identical twins are by chance.

Fraternal twins are genetic, yes?

Actually - - I am surely treading on dangerous ground because they ARE

fraternal. With ID twins, I might have taken the risk some time ago if left

to just chance. <not that chance has been all that sweet to me LOL>

Grace

[Guest guest]

> for OT he was in the 1st %

> for speech he averaged at a 15-18 mo level

> and he was all over the place on this- some high, some low.

> Baily's he is at a 9 month level

> the Autism rating scale he is mild-moderate

> got a 34.5 on the CARS (?) test

Well, I do understand the CARS test pretty well. Most of us on this list

have done it for our kids ourselves. Asperger's is generally between 30-33;

HFA is 33-36. When I first gave Putter the test, he was 45 which is

severe -- THAT gave me a shock. So is not terribly severe and he is

very young. That's good news. If he is on the edge of AS now, when he is

under three, then I would guess he will be AS or perhaps will even test as

normal (with perhaps a few minor residual issues) by the time he is older.

That makes sense, but nothing about autism makes sense and nothing is

guaranteed. Severe autism can change to very mild and mild can remain the

same. What I have read says that IQ is the best predictor of outcome,

rather than severity of symptoms at a very young age. The bright autistic

kids can, if they so desire, solve the big problem of their disability and

end up functioning better than expected.

> Ackenback said " clinically significant withdrawn "

> Somtic complaints- " borderline-to- normal "

>

> the recommended program is 6:1:2 full day with speech and OT 3x's a week

> each.

> Our IEP is May 3rd (still have to confirm with school)

>

> She also gave me the name of a good develp. ped. near by-

> and the wait is supposed to be around 1 month (not 6 like the other

waiting

> list we are on) That doctor is going to help us with getting his hearing

> tests, blood work, allergies- etc... all that good stuff.

> Across the board kind of stuff.

>

> Well- surprisingly I feel really good overall- and happy that i know when

> the IEP is. He is supposed to attend a near by preschool with classes for

> autistic children on July 1st- so the timing is good. I am going to ask

at

> the IEP for ABA, speech and OT before July 1st-

> and extra ABA at home. ( i would just love for him to get 20-40 hrs a

week

> overall)

> I feel positive about our school district and the IEP. The woman i talked

> to said she goes infront of this group at least 2 times a month.

>

> Also- keep in mind that a lot of his tests were low because he doesn't

> follow directions 99% of the time (just doesn't have the language or

> attention) BUT I really, truly believe with all the help he is going to

get-

> he will improve greatly across the board.

I believe this too. I wondered how on earth they would test Putter too as

he did absolutely nothing anyone asked him to do. Well, he tested severe so

that is not a surprise but that testing with a hugely uncooperative little

three year old did not necessarily tell us much except that he was indeed

autistic.

Salli

[Guest guest]

>

> Grace - who actually blurted out this morning, to her husband, " I think

I

> want another kid. Ya wanna have just one more? " <Somebody SHOOT me.>

>

Go for it, Grace. Of course, they will be another set of twins as some have

pointed out. A woman in my La Leche League group had her second set of

twins last summer.

Salli

[Guest guest]

> No point in lowering your prozac, unless it's causing problems for you!

>

> Being okay with having twins certainly isn't a problem.

There are, in fact, unmedicated people who view such things with pleasure.

Salli

[Guest guest]

> Maybe this wasn't the right list to confess to.

>

> Hmm.

>

> )

Hey, everyone sounds pretty positive about the idea. Again, go for it,

Grace.

Salli

[Guest guest]

> > I mean.... twins are GREAT!

>

>

> GRACE????

>

> Is that YOU?????

>

> Or....who are you and what have you done with Grace?

>

The same alien spaceship that dropped off Sydney and Madison just dropped

off their real mother?

And took Grace off for testing and experimenting?

Salli

[Guest guest]

>>>> Also- keep in mind that a lot of his tests were low because he doesn't

follow directions 99% of the time (just doesn't have the language or

attention) BUT I really, truly believe with all the help he is going to get-

he will improve greatly across the board. <<<<

's 1st tests scores were very low for the same reason. A year later,

after playschool and working with his fabulous aide, he was much more verbal and

cooperative and his test scores improved dramatically.

Tuna

She is going to mail me all the results this week. So, i'll get more

details. I'm feeling pretty focused now and glad we had the tests done- and

now for the fun part- THERAPY!

thanks everyone for all of your support and prayers.

thanks you too-

Heeren

[Guest guest]

Salli-

thanks for your take on his test results. I've been thinking about

everything you said- and telling other people the same thing-

but this is the first time someone came to ME and said it.

thanks!

I have a question-

can a kid be High Functioning and Moderatly Autistic?

thanks-

[Guest guest]

on 4/9/02 11:12 AM, Grace Keh at gracekeh@... wrote:

>

>> Are the girls identical? Because if they are, you could be

>> treading on *dangerous* ground thinking that you won't have

>> another set of twins next time... LOL

>>

>>

>

> Fraternal, but correct me if I'm wrong - - - identical twins are by chance.

> Fraternal twins are genetic, yes?

> Actually - - I am surely treading on dangerous ground because they ARE

> fraternal. With ID twins, I might have taken the risk some time ago if left

> to just chance. <not that chance has been all that sweet to me LOL>

>

> Grace

>

>

Identical are from the same fertilized egg (same DNA)

Fraternal are from separate eggs- different DNA- different looks

[Guest guest]

Grace,

If you decide to do it again, I wish you good luck and congrats. If not, let me

pass on what my mother told me when I was pregnant for the third time:

" I truly believe that we were only meant to have two children per mother. After

all, we only have two hands to grab kids with. "

I have four kids. Does that tell you anything about how well I listen to my

mother?

B

Re: i got the dx today

Grace - who actually blurted out this morning, to her husband, " I think I

want another kid. Ya wanna have just one more? " <Somebody SHOOT me.>

[Guest guest]

> > Fraternal, but correct me if I'm wrong - - - identical twins are by

chance.

> > Fraternal twins are genetic, yes?

> > Actually - - I am surely treading on dangerous ground because they ARE

> > fraternal. With ID twins, I might have taken the risk some time ago if

left

> > to just chance. <not that chance has been all that sweet to me LOL>

> >

> > Grace

> >

> >

>

> Identical are from the same fertilized egg (same DNA)

> Fraternal are from separate eggs- different DNA- different looks

, LOL.... I think I know that much.

My question to you was that as far as *I* know, identical twins <yes, one

egg that splits> are by mere chance.

Fraternal twins, where 2 eggs are fertilized by 2 sperm, is a genetic

tendency rather than chance. Or assisted.

Grace

[Guest guest]

,

I'm glad you got the results you wanted and the recommendations for the

services. I hope you have no trouble implementing them.

Sue

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message -----

> But as far as the twins thing and the preggo thing goes - - I snapped out

of

> it. It was a 24 hr bug LOL. Seriously - - all I had to do was think,

> " Hmm..... pregnant..... no drugs..... same life...... Uh, NOT! " LOL

Grace,

I had the same 'virus' at the beginning of the year, just before Mark got

snipped. Then, reality set in again.

Sue