Re: Looking for Summer program options for AS teen

[Guest guest]

I could watch that video of him walking out onto the field over and over. Seeing him get a standing ovation and hearing the crowd roar!! I makes me smile and cry at the same time. :-)

My son is doing better now. Thanks. He got TBI (traumatic brain injury) from his vehicle being blown up, but thank GOD he was alright other than that. He is still seeing a dr regularly for his TBI. He has chronic headaches now and back spasms. He is only 23. I worry about him all the time.

My AS son, thank GOD again, is not suicidal anymore. We requested a change of placement and he was switched to a self contained classroom. It has helped with his anxiety but the teacher and the administration is crap. (see my post about the suspensions) So we're still struggling.

His dr also upped his Zoloft and that has helped too. He also takes resperidon and stratera.

How is your son doing? Are the schools any better up there? It is so frustrating when you have to fight all the time. How is he doing in school?

Well, I can't wait until game day. :-} Beer and brats sounds perfect! .....and maybe some cheese! LOL! you know I'm just messing with you! :-)

Gonna head to bed for the night...It was really nice chatting with you! Hope to do it again....

Hugs back to ya!

ne

From: dweeny123@... <dweeny123@...>Subject: ( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.Thansk,maria

[Guest guest]

First and for most , what an amazing video, i bet that was such a proud moment for you and him to share! You can tell he is a very humble man , just walks on and off the field like " yeah im a hero , no big deal tho"!! lol my grandfather served in the Korean war when he was just 17 years old! He is one of the most decorated men from that war, winning 4 purple hearts, 3 bronze stars , and 2 silver stars! He was my hero who i will never EVER forget about , his legacy he left behind is kindness, if you walked into a room with my grandpa not knowing him at all , you would leave the room having a new friend! His one year anniversary of his death is coming in a few days! So i guess thats making me a little more emotional then i need to be , so ill stop rambling on , im just so proud of him

and that he was MY grandfather! Its just amazing what the men and women serving in this country give up , to protect their country! God Bless your husband , tell him THANK YOU!p.s. i cant believe i have never heard of " the monsters of midway" at least the bears have a cool nick name , we got "cheese heads" Granted i know the whole cheese heads thing started with a bears fan making fun of us , but still its not scary at all! lol Its like oh no the cheese heads are coming ..... " ook sooooo are you telling me to be scared , or to go get some crackers and sausage to go with the cheese?" lol oh well guess we are stuck with it! MeaghanFrom: and/or Robin Lemke <jrisjs@...> Sent: Wed, January 19, 2011 8:10:31 PMSubject: Re: ( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen

Oh how cool for him!!! My hubby is also in. He's now in the Natl Guard!

We were both in the Marine Corps MANY, MANY years ago....he he.

He's also from Illinois, and although he didn't grow up following the Bears, once he got up here, his naughty self started to become a Bears fan. Darn him. hehe.

Congrats to your hubby. Again, how cool. Oh - and I've never heard of the Monsters of Midway. That actually sounds awesome!!!!

Robin

"Normal is just

a cycle

on a washing machine....."

From: dweeny123@... <dweeny123@...>Subject: ( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.Thansk,maria

[Guest guest]

Robin,lol your hilarious , i know im pretty nervous about the game , i hope im not crying on sunday either lol , you probably wont here from me for a couple days if we do lose! lol and probably divorced if my husband rubs it in my face that we lost!!! lol Gosh all this talk about football , we really took this way off topic! lol well , gonna go to bed now! Talk to you sunday and if we do lose , its ok , we will just have to start a support group to get through the loss together!! lol take care MeaghanFrom: and/or Robin Lemke <jrisjs@...> Sent: Wed, January 19, 2011 8:34:11 PMSubject: Re: ( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen

Meaghan,

Our house is crazy, too. Hubby is a Packer fan but loves to cheer for the Bears since that's where he's from.

2 of my kids adore the Patriots. My 2 gals love the Packers, like they SHOULD.

I tell everyone that if they can't shut their pie-holes during the game, then out they go.

My hubby and I joke that we're not sure if our marriage is strong enough to weather a "mixed" marriage (Die-hard Packer fan and So-So Packer fan).

I guess football can get people a little freaky.

As far as chatting about the game on Sunday.....I hope I'll be chatting and not crying. hehe

Robin

"Normal is just

a cycle

on a washing machine....."

From: dweeny123@... <dweeny123@...>Subject: ( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.Thansk,maria

[Guest guest]

Hello ne , No offense taken believe me!I have a big family some from chicago who are obviously not packers fans im used to the trash talk , lol Me and my husband ( who is a bears fan) get pretty brutal during games! Its starts with logical comebacks back and forth for a while , but it usually ends in one of us making one last dig that has nothing to do with football at all , im not too good with comebacks all the time like he is , so ill end up saying something soooo stupid like "shut up, i dont care that your team just got a touchdown ......(awkward pause)............."your the one always leaving the lights on in the basement every night running up are electric bill ......stupid" ..... yeah i know , not my best line right?

lol I think i should start writing down some good lines for the game on sunday , so im better prepared for this!! lol MeaghanFrom: susanne hansen <s_hansen34@...> Sent: Wed, January 19, 2011 8:45:01 PMSubject: Re: ( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen

Hey Meagan, I agree it's gonna be a good game! Like I told Robin, bring in the Pack cause we're the Mosters of the Midway!! Gonna eat some cheese! JK!! LOL! No offense! :-)

We love to talk trash with my in-laws too who are Colts fans. It's all in good fun! Gotta love football!!

ne

From: dweeny123@... <dweeny123@...>Subject: ( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.Thansk,maria

[Guest guest]

They wont , because the bears wont make it to the super bowl...... yeah i really just went there susanne!! lol MeaghanFrom: susanne hansen <s_hansen34@...> Sent: Wed, January 19, 2011 7:14:43 PMSubject: Re: ( ) Looking for

Summer program options for AS teen

I'm also a Steeler fan! I watched the game last weekend and was glad they won. I'm more of a Bears fan though! LOL! So it would be very interesting if they played eachother in the Super Bowl! ne

From: dweeny123@... <dweeny123@...>Subject: ( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.Thansk,maria

[Guest guest]

My gosh......how wonderful to hear that your son survived the IED. Man.........is it a serious TBI as far as functioning and working? SOooo sad but such a blessing that he made it home alive. Hugs to you.

I'm also sooo glad your son is not suicidal anymore. Did you ever think of yanking him out of the crappy school?My son is doing well. I suppose. he he. I yanked him out for 6th and 7th. The elementary school had a shitty prinicpal....and although the teachers were really good, when there were issues 'high up" that had to be dealt with, the principal really screwed with us. Wish I had had bigger YOU KNOW WHAT"S back then, like I do now. Oh well. Bringing him home was wonderful for him.

Now, he's a freshman. Academically really good. Socially.....ugh. He likes to be along......really likes it. But,,,when he deals with peers, it's annoying to THEM. With as many strides as he's making, it seems that his age / hormones cause him more anger.......sigh.

With him being 14 1/2, I am really starting to worry about what happens after HS. He's always said that he wants to be in the Military. We thought it would be a good place for him with it's rules, etc......as long as the job is the right fit. But,,,,since getting put on OCD meds for horriible OCD 2 years ago, we've learned that you can'[t join while on things like that.

We'll see.

Hugs, again, to you ne......Oh - are you northern/southern Illinois? My hubby is from Olney (southern).

Robin

"Normal is just

a cycle

on a washing machine....."

From: dweeny123@... <dweeny123@...>Subject: ( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.Thansk,maria

[Guest guest]

He he. will be watching the game and whether or not the Packers are playing the Bears or not....will make a comment about how they're playing. Like, kindof negative. I get soooo mad. I see him as a "fair weathered fan" and it really ticks me off. The madder I get, the more he gets his little grin. Makes me want to punch him in the throat.

Sad thing is,,,,,,by now, he probably really DOES like the Packers.....but I'll never let him into my "Packers are the Best" club, cause I can't totally trust him.,

I know this sounds sick. Like we're talking about true betrayal and abuse...he he. I guess THIS is the life of a fan, huh, gals? Only those who really live it can "get" it. he he.

Man,,,,after re-reading this,,,,,,,,maybe I'm addicted? HA!

Robin

"Normal is just

a cycle

on a washing machine....."

From: dweeny123@... <dweeny123@...>Subject: ( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.Thansk,maria

[Guest guest]

Yay Sgt. Hansen! That is really cool, susanne!

Roxanna

"I

predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Jefferson

( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen

Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.

Thansk,

maria

[Guest guest]

I bet you have to whisper that, lol.

Roxanna

"I

predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Jefferson

( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen

Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.

Thansk,

maria

[Guest guest]

Small world, Robin. My dh is from Mt. Carmel, Ill - nearby.

Roxanna

"I

predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Jefferson

( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen

Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.

Thansk,

maria

[Guest guest]

Thank you Roxanna! :-) Too bad about your Vikings this year! LOL! ...Just messing with you! :-)ne

From: dweeny123@... <dweeny123@...>Subject: ( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.Thansk,maria

[Guest guest]

He he. Actually, when I have said it, it's usually in response to someone saying they like a different team other than the Packers....so I offer it up. He he.

I sure wouldn't speak of it in certain circles. hehe.

Robin

"Normal is just

a cycle

on a washing machine....."

From: dweeny123@... <dweeny123@...>Subject: ( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.Thansk,maria

[Guest guest]

Oh my gosh.....

said it's about 1 hour. We've gone over there.....can't remember why, exactly. VERY small world.

Robin

"Normal is just

a cycle

on a washing machine....."

From: dweeny123@... <dweeny123@...>Subject: ( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.Thansk,maria

[Guest guest]

You guys are cracking me up!!! Only a couple of days until the game is ON! It will be exciting! I hope I'm not crying if the Bears lose! ne

From: dweeny123@... <dweeny123@...>Subject: ( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.Thansk,maria

[Guest guest]

My son's TBI seems to be moderate right now. Headaches, back spasms and some memory and consentration issues. But he says it's getting better. These things are hard to tell though. I've heard some people get worse symtoms years later.

Yeah, I've thought of yanking my son out of school SOOO many times. Still do at times. But I work full time and he doesn't do well when he is alone at home for too long. He's alone most of the time when we're home anyway because he is mostly in his room or doing "his thing". But when he is home all day alone (without us here) for more that a couple of days he gets really depressed and has meltdowns where he sobs and says his life is so awful and he might as well be dead and that no one cares about him except family. Its scary.

I thought having him place in a self contained classroom would help but we didn't know it was a classroom mainly for children who are conduct/oppositional, not ASD. They didn't tell us that at the time. They treat him like his behaviors are due to conduct or just being oppositional and this is what is so bad. It is not going to work for him.

I too wish I had bigger "you know whats" when he was younger or even last year! Things might be different now. I beat myself up all the time for not seeing how hosed we were getting.

Anyway, I'm happy for you that your son is doing well in school. Hormones added to the AS definitely makes everything more challenging. Like we needed more challenges!

We're not from IL, we're actually both Army brats. My husband lived in IL when he was a kid for a while and that is how he became a Bears fan. My husband is from IN and I grew up in Germany but graduated in GA. We live in TN right now, near Fort , KY.

I think we all worry about what the future holds for our Aspies'. My husband keeps telling my our son will be fine. Everything will be fine. I could just choke him sometimes. He is so laid back! I think I stress and obsess enough for the both of us! LOL! ;-) That's were my welbutrin comes into play. I think I'd be a basket case if I wasn't on it. So sad!! LOL!!

ne

From: dweeny123@... <dweeny123@...>Subject: ( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.Thansk,maria

[Guest guest]

That's ok Meaghan, go there! But we shall see this weekend....who will eat their words! LOL!ne

From: dweeny123@... <dweeny123@...>Subject: ( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.Thansk,maria

[Guest guest]

You are so hilarious Meaghan! Love how animated you can write! We've never met but I can almost picture you as you're saying these things. Where did you say you live? Or did you? ne

From: dweeny123@... <dweeny123@...>Subject: ( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.Thansk,maria

[Guest guest]

Thanks Meaghan for the compliments about my husband. I think he is an amazing man! He is definitely My hero! If he had a choice though, he wouldn't have wanted to go out on the field. He just wanted to go to the game. Goes to show how die hard of a Bears fan he is that he agreed to do it just so he could go to the game. LOL! He wanted to salute to go to his soldier but they couldn't do it because he didn't have any deployments. Since my husband has four, they picked him.

Wow, your grandfather sounds like he was an amazing man! Sorry to hear he has passed. I bet he is watching over you from above now. :-)

p.s. I'll have the crackers and sausage out for the game this weekend!...LOL! ne

From: dweeny123@... <dweeny123@...>Subject: ( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.Thansk,maria

[Guest guest]

We can say "Too bad about our Vikings" every year....sigh....

Roxanna

"I

predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." - Jefferson

( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen

Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.

Thansk,

maria

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the reply, ne.

Sorry I didn't respond right away.

Anyway, again, man, you are really lucky in so many respects but wow, how strong you must be. Does your son who was in the military live with you? Is he good with your other son?

So, have you had your son taken out of the self-contained classroom?

Man....you'd think they would have told you ahead of time. Dammit.

Ian went through a really rough/sad/depressed/scary time and all I can say is THANK GOD we found some meds and it pulled him out of it. It's been 2 years, but I still worry that all of a sudden, we'll find ourselves "back there". I really worry about what will happen when he's an adult. Will he tell me things? Will he advocate for himself?

Part of me says, "Yes". (good days). But, then, we have days where he's on edge and freaking out with everyone or literally reads or plays a game by himself and when he has to deal with people, he can't . On those days, I freeze and fear.

Parents of NT kids have no fricken clue. Most teachers have NO FRICKEN CLUE.

I sometimes wish that any person that dealt with kids with "issues" (teachers, aides, police, therapists, principals, bosses of places young kids would work, etc) HAD to have a child with an "issue"... HE HE.

Course, I also wish that there were communes expecially for families that had kids on the spectrum. Sigh..................................wouldn't that be amazing?

Anywho - Gotta get running. Daylights burning.

Oh - so you live in TN. We used to live in NC and would just LOVE driving through TN. went to school there for the military years ago. Gorgeous!!!!

We're also planning a trip down there this year to go to Memphis!!!! Can't wait!!!!!

Robin

"Normal is just

a cycle

on a washing machine....."

From: dweeny123@... <dweeny123@...>Subject: ( ) Looking for Summer program options for AS teen Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 12:33 PM

Looking into options for our 15 yo. AS son. Needs a great summer camp that helps with independent living skills, planning, social thinking, maybe academics combined with outdoors fun, adventure.Thansk,maria