Cuilty

[Guest guest]

I, originally, wrote this email to Salem. I thought it might be a bit

too personal to post to RSS-Support. But seeing how a few of you out there may

remember us, I figured, " What the heck! " I have lost all of my prior contacts

through this group. So feel free to email with your info.

We missed the Magic Convention this year. Perhaps we will see some of you again

at the next one.

------- Otto

Hello ,

I know it's been awhile since you've heard from us. So long, as a matter of

fact, that Yahoo Mail closed my weewilly mail account. On one hand, I am

relieved, because I was unable to get to this account regularly, so the message

space was maxed out. I know I couldn't have possibly ever made it through all

of the messages that I wanted to read. On the other hand, I am very

disappointed because I have lost all of the information, emails and contacts

that I have gained through this support group.

So here we are again, starting afresh. And as always, questions, questions,

questions. But first, let me fill you in on 's progress.

He is five years old, a whopping 20 pounds and quite a hand full. He doesn't

talk yet, but he makes up for his lack of verbal skills with his motor skills.

He walks and climbs and stands on his head lot still. He likes to climb up to

the top bunk bed or on top of a table and then stand on his head! Can't take

our eyes off of him for one minute. And walk, walk, walk, usually away! He

still really enjoys his pianos. (Funny thing, I was showing how to play

Had a Little Lamb on our friend's piano. I think I had to show her about

20 times at least. When we got home, I heard that tune being plunked on our

little mini-piano and as I poked my head around the corner to congratulate

, to my surprise, it was Willie standing there! Sometimes I just don't

know what to make of the little guy.) But mostly, likes to shred pieces

of paper, usually 's homework or an important document from my briefcase

or something messy from the trash into tiny pieces and

throw them on the floor. Just in the time I have been writing this email, the

floor is again covered in strips of paper.

Recently we moved into an income-based apartment in Laughlin, Nevada. (That is

just across the river from Bullhead City, Arizona.) It took a long time to get

services here. It seems that if we would have moved to Las Vegas, which we may

do in the future, we would have come upon a whole new realm of opportunities for

, but here in Laughlin, the social workers from the Nevada Welfare Dept,

only come out once or twice a month. But finally after about four months, we

have gotten his pump and formula started again, gone to the dentist and things

are looking up. I have even found a child-care facility that is willing to take

so I may start working again. Boy, am I looking forward to that!

is now in pre-K at Elementary School. attends second

grade at the same school. Being a new school for him, he is, again, the center

of attention where ever he goes. (I'll never forget the time my van stalled in

the middle of an intersection last year in BHC. A car-full of women got out to

help push the van out of the way. As they got up to the passenger side window,

they all shouted, " Well, hi ! Look, it's ! " I didn't recognize

any of them. " Oh yea, we see around all the time at my son's school. " ,

etc.) So now he is the new anomaly at .

During my first meeting with the staff for 's IEP, I was hit with

a little reality slap. The psychologist termed him as " mentally retarded! " I

was taken quite aback. After thinking about it for awhile, I thought to myself,

of course he is! What? Has this been obvious to everyone but me? I have been

researching Autism, of which I think he has quite a few tendencies. I didn't

think they even used the term " mentally retarded " anymore, but I guess I was

wrong. Every time I inquired about Autism during this meeting, the issue seemed

to get quickly brushed aside. Apparently, if they label him as Autistic, they

will have to follow a very strict curriculum; whereas, if he has the MR label,

it will open up a wider variety of services for him. It just all threw me for a

loop at the time. Meanwhile, I don't feel he is getting enough of the therapies

he needs, just in school. (PT, OT and especially speech) This has become my

newest quest. It has to be approved by

his new PCP, who seems a little blown away by her new patient, to say the

least. But we are working on it.

Another piece of news that has gotten my feathers ruffled is... I don't know if

you recall, but 's father, Marty, (we are no longer together) has never

been told who his biological father was. Throughout his 49 years of life his

mother has refused to divulge this little " unimportant " bit of information. He

is very estranged from his family. Recently, Marty's step-father passed away.

He attended the funeral, but that was about it. Some of his older children

stayed behind to pay their respects. It was then that they found out somehow, I

guess a slip of the tongue from Grandma, that Marty's real father was actually

his mother's uncle! This makes me so angry! Wasn't that a bit of information

that I, and the two other mothers to Marty's children, should have had a right

to know? Do you have any idea of, or do you have any info on the genetics

results of children of children of uncles and nieces? (This is a kind of

confusing, is that correct?) I remember hearing when I

was a kid, to put it bluntly as kids often do, that sometimes the MRs parents

are related. Do you think this is a major genetic factor with ? Or is

it mostly an old wives tale regarding mentally retarded children? I would

appreciate any enlightenment you might be able to shed on me.

I hope all is good with your family. How is Lindsey doing?

I realize you are a busy woman. So please get back to me at your leisure. It

will be a lot easier finding your email, since weewillyinbullheadcity@...

is starting anew.

Sincerely,

Otto

mother to and

Cuilty age 5/20 lbs

---------------------------------

Yahoo! Music Unlimited - Access over 1 million songs. Try it free.