It was nowhere as bad as I thought it was going to be.  The first time I went to see her I really wasn't very fond of her.  I didn't really like her attitude towards DJ.  I figured I was giving her one more chance and if she pissed me off, we were out of there.  I'd just look for another one. 

Instead we had a very good visit.  DJ was really good, considering we were stuck in traffic almost 2 hours trying to get there.  Not one meltdown.  Recently, he hasn't had any meltdowns.  I'm not sure why.  When we got there, he was bouncing off the walls.  Much better than having a meltdown in my book.  Of course the doc asked if he was like this all the time.  I told her not to this degree.  Yes, my son is VERY active. 

She talked to him.  Asked him a bunch of questions that he responded to while running around her office.  Seriously, the boy didn't sit down!  Because of all that, we now have a secondary diagnosis of ADHD.  I knew that was coming.  I've been saying that since he was about 2.  Which is why I was floored with the Asperger diagnosis.  I swore it was going to be ADHD. 

She feels that many of his Asperger symptoms have been corrected/improved.  He's made many improvements over the course of the year.  I'm so proud of my guy.  He did it all on his own.  He works hard every day.  He still gets fixated on things, but his temper has completely evened out.  When we were sitting in traffic, alls he said to me was, "Geez, are we ever going to get to the doctor's.  What's up with all this traffic?"  In all honesty, I was the closest to a meltdown!

She does feel he's not ready for mainstreaming any time soon, especially since I won't medicate him.  Right now, he's still in an Asperger support class.  She doesn't feel he should go to Autistic support or to Special Ed.  The Asperger support is only until 2nd grade - next year.  Unless, Philly opens other Asperger support classes for 3rd graders and beyond, it looks like I'll be comtemplating a move out of the city. 

Three cheers for DJ and all he's accomplished!

Ok, for real, I'm back now.  Things have been crazy, crazy, crazy here.  Not crazy as in DJ is driving me nuts kind of crazy.  Crazy as in I haven't really had a free moment between doing the mommy thing, school and work.

School has been really hectic this semester.  Classes are over in two weeks.  I really can't wait.  This semester drained me.  I took Accounting and I aced it - by luck only.  I don't understand it not one bit.  I guessed at everything.  Seriously, I'm going to wind up with like an A+ and I don't know how I did it.  This summer I'm only signed up for two classes:  1) because I want some time off and 2) because I ran out of financial aid:) 

This afternoon I need to run and pick DJ up from school and take him to his appointment with the developmental pediatrician.  I'm not looking forward to it.  I will update more about DJ later.  I will say that he is doing really, really, really good!  And with that, I leave you with a recent picture of him.  Yes, I finally purchased a digital camera and it was the best purchase I ever made.  So expect more of these:)

My Supastar!
posted 04/27/2005 @ 10:44pm

Huh????
posted 04/27/2005 @ 07:44pm

Autism Awareness Day at the Philadelphia Zoo
posted 04/24/2005 @ 08:03am

The Doctor's Office
posted 04/23/2005 @ 07:52am

Didja Miss Me?
posted 04/20/2005 @ 12:23pm

Today was a rough day.  DJ did just about everything he could to push my buttons.  I share with you a recent conversation:

DJ:  Noone likes me.

Me:  Who?

DJ:  All my friends at school don't like me.

Me:  Maybe because you're mean to them.

DJ:  No.  I'm not mean to my friends.  I'm only mean to you.

Makes sense to me.

My commute today was NOT fun at all.  First I95 was jammed up.  PIC was working, Maintenance Man was not.  I'm late to pick up DJ.  I get off the highway and the streets are HORRIBLE.  I've driven in snow, in ice, in freezing rain.  I did a 360 on the road.  Yes, I did.  Scared the shit out of me!  I'm home, now.  I still have palpitations but I'm putting it all behind me. 

Yep, can't wait until tomorrow.  PennDot better get their asses moving.

Last night, I was putting DJ to bed.  He was so mad at me because I wouldn't let him have a treat before bed.  Why?  I called him in at 7:30 to have one but he was just TOO busy playing his Gamecube.  When I told him it was lights out at 8, he was mad.  My motto is, "You snooze, you lose." 

He's in bed and he tells me he wants a new mommy because I'm mean.  I told him to get up and get dressed.  He gets dressed.  Then he asks me where we're going.  I told him I was taking him to see his new mommy.  My brave little boy says, "Good."  I put on my shoes, my jacket and grabbed my purse.  I looked at DJ, shoeless, sockless and told him to put on his shoes and socks. 

His lower lip started quivering.  "But, Mom, I was only (sniff, sniff) joking."

Yes, I'll be paying for the therapy. 

Conversations From the Heart
posted 03/09/2005 @ 07:27pm

Sloppy, Messy Roads
posted 03/08/2005 @ 05:46pm

I'm So Mean
posted 03/08/2005 @ 01:25pm

My son always tells the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth.  My son shared this with me this weekend.  Now if this is coming out of the mouth of a seven year old autistic kid....you really should believe it:)

"Mommy, George Bush is an evil man.  He's evil, I tell ya!"

A chip off the old block that one is. 

Hi all!  I'm back.  Pops pulled through....finally.  He's in rehab now.  He will be there about 6 weeks or so.  I don't get it.  One day he was dying, the next he was awake and the day after breathing on his own!  I'm not going to question it, though.  I'm just going to be thankful he's pulled through again.  He's promised to get in shape, quit smoking, exercise daily and stop working. 

I know this update sucks, but, I've been crazy busy and promise to sit down this week and write a much more detailed entry.  But I do want to catch up with YOUR lives as well.  So, I have loads of reading to do.  I'm sure you will all see a comment or two pop up from me in your archives:) 

Tomorrow is DJ's birthday.  Where do the years go, really?  Seven years old.  My girlfriend told me her son started liking girls at 8.  I'm really not ready for this! 

From One Who Doesn't Lie...
posted 02/28/2005 @ 12:00pm