We have two more days left of the Winter break. I mentioned this to MAC this evening and she stopped talking to me. The old song "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas" was right: Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again. MAC has been sitting at home watching TV and drawing. I have left her the Italian Study Guide and I am hoping that she will work on it tomorrow. (Oh, God, please hear my prayer and let her have this finished before Sunday! Amen.)
Tomorrow she will be heading to southern Maryland to spend some time with her Grandmother and cousin. I made these plans for her last week before our trip to the emergency room. The general feeling was that she should be able to keeep to her regular plans but she would need to talk to someone if she started feeling "bored" again. She needs to continue taking her pills but we think things are under control for now. When we were in Virginia she refused to take her pills because I wasn't there to watch her, I have asked Hubby to place the box of pills into his mother's hands and make sure that she knows when MAC is to take them. (Oh, God, please hear my prayer and have MAC take her pills and be in a good mood. Hubby and I would rather not have to drive back to Southern Maryland in the dead of night tomorrow. Oh God you know how much she is looking forward to this and I really want her to have a good time. Amen.)
I have left her to do her thing tonight. We have gone over what she needs to pack three times. She has taken her pills for today, and as I said in the opening: she has stopped talking to me. Her father can check her bag in the morning.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
A Wonderful Christmas
What a wonderful day we had! For the first time in two years MAC woke up first and was very very excited to be able to wake everyone up. Of course this year she got to wake up Grammy, Grandpa, Cousin Z, Aunt R, and Z's father. She was a bit disappointed that we had to make coffee for the adults first but once she realized that others had to wake up she was ok with looking at the stockings.
It seems that she did recieve everything her little heart desired. Her grandparents were able to find the last two things on her list: Yu-Gi-Oh Egyptian God cards, and the Glee game for Wii.
We all enjoyed the Wii. Hubby and I took the WiiFit with us and everyone had a great time doing the 1-2 minute games. We tried to see who could eat more fish as a penguin, who could hula hoop longer, and who could actually make it across the tight rope. For the most part MAC did a great job, although she did try to push her competition out of the way. She really wasn't too happy when the Wii told her she was overweight.
We made the long trip home today and I get to go back to work tomorrow. MAC and Hubby will go see his father and step mother and then on Thursday she will go spend the night with Hubby's mother. She just needs to work on the Italian study guide before next Monday.
It seems that she did recieve everything her little heart desired. Her grandparents were able to find the last two things on her list: Yu-Gi-Oh Egyptian God cards, and the Glee game for Wii.
We all enjoyed the Wii. Hubby and I took the WiiFit with us and everyone had a great time doing the 1-2 minute games. We tried to see who could eat more fish as a penguin, who could hula hoop longer, and who could actually make it across the tight rope. For the most part MAC did a great job, although she did try to push her competition out of the way. She really wasn't too happy when the Wii told her she was overweight.
We made the long trip home today and I get to go back to work tomorrow. MAC and Hubby will go see his father and step mother and then on Thursday she will go spend the night with Hubby's mother. She just needs to work on the Italian study guide before next Monday.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas Eve
We went to Christmas Eve service this evening. MAC wore her new purple sweater that made her look like the teen that she almost is. Being at Mom and Dad's we went to their new church. It is a quaint little building that reminds me of what you think of when you hear the words "church in the valley". It is growing but the sanctuary seats about 100.
We got to the church about 20 minutes before the service started. It was amazing how it went from 15 of us to 100 in about 5 minutes.
MAC surprised us all by singing her little heart out during the carols. Some of them she didn't even need the music for! I had a great time watching the head of the teen in front of us keep turning around. I think he was wondering where the big voice was coming from.
At the end of the service MAC turned to me and said, "Boy that was much shorter than I expected!" I explained that for the first time in years we didn't have to go early for practice or set up and after service we didn't have to clean up. She seemed to think this over a little than nodded and went on her way...
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it. I'll be back on Sunday!
We got to the church about 20 minutes before the service started. It was amazing how it went from 15 of us to 100 in about 5 minutes.
MAC surprised us all by singing her little heart out during the carols. Some of them she didn't even need the music for! I had a great time watching the head of the teen in front of us keep turning around. I think he was wondering where the big voice was coming from.
At the end of the service MAC turned to me and said, "Boy that was much shorter than I expected!" I explained that for the first time in years we didn't have to go early for practice or set up and after service we didn't have to clean up. She seemed to think this over a little than nodded and went on her way...
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it. I'll be back on Sunday!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Bored
Ok, so after spending 6 hours in the emergency room yesterday we were amazingly able to get a canceled appointment with Dr. P MAC's talk therapist today! The office opened at 9 and by 9:30 we had the canceled appointment at noon, which was right before their office holiday party. This left us enough time to be able to pack the car and run to the dollar store for the traditional family "night before Christmas" exchange (my father reads the book 'Twas the Night Before Christmas and every time he says right we pass the gift to the right, etc).
What we found out at the talk therapists was that although yesterday MAC really couldn't say why she tried to grab her friend's dry ice cubes, today she was able to say that she was bored during class and that bored is a "negative" word for her. She has two coping strategies only one of which is viable during school hours, go and talk to her guidance counselor.
We had a 6 1/2 hour drive to my parents after the meeting and she was able to keep herself entertained (thank God for electronics)! We tried to talk to her but all she wanted to do was draw. I know this is the asperger’s kicking in but it's almost Christmas! I hope tomorrow she'll at least come and draw in the same room as the rest of the family. Wonder of wonders I was just talking to Hubby about finishing the grocery shopping tomorrow morning and MAC said she wanted to go with us! Yeah!
What we found out at the talk therapists was that although yesterday MAC really couldn't say why she tried to grab her friend's dry ice cubes, today she was able to say that she was bored during class and that bored is a "negative" word for her. She has two coping strategies only one of which is viable during school hours, go and talk to her guidance counselor.
We had a 6 1/2 hour drive to my parents after the meeting and she was able to keep herself entertained (thank God for electronics)! We tried to talk to her but all she wanted to do was draw. I know this is the asperger’s kicking in but it's almost Christmas! I hope tomorrow she'll at least come and draw in the same room as the rest of the family. Wonder of wonders I was just talking to Hubby about finishing the grocery shopping tomorrow morning and MAC said she wanted to go with us! Yeah!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
The Emergency Room Again...
Just as you think everything is going well a shoe is thrown into the soup. We were talking about the trip tomorrow and the Christmas Presents MAC was hoping for this morning. This afternoon after sitting in a two hour meeting I was beginning work on a Christmas center piece when I got a phone call from the school Psychologist. My heart dropped to my feet.
MAC had tried to hurt herself in science class with the dry ice. Apparently the teacher hadn't seen anything but one of her friends had mentioned to the guidance counselor what had happened and the counselor sent her to the psychologist.
The psychologist would only release her to Hubby or I (even though MAC had said she was fine and just wanted to go back to class). Hubby went to pick her up and I was supposed to meet them at Anne Arundel Medical Center. I was glad that Hubby was able to get her because what should have taken me 20 minutes took me almost an hour to get to due to an accident on the South River bridge.
We sat in the Emergency room through a shift change and saw a medical doctor and the hospital psychologist and MAC even got to eat some of the hospitals great turkey. It was the same one we saw about 6 months ago. Once again we were told that we needed to bond better with MAC and that she needed to see her talk therapist on a weekly basis not a bi-weekly. We were also told that we should attend family therapy and that I should call several groups in the area. I tried to explain that we are trying but that MAC needs to help in her own treatment.
At least this time we were released. Around 9pm we left the hospital. If you are ever in the emergency room ask the nurse for some food if you are hungry! MAC had a cup of mac and cheese as a snack and I got a sausage, egg, and cheese bagel. Considering that I hadn't had anything else to eat today it tasted like a steak! If she hadn't said she was hungry we probably would have sat waiting for her dinner of cold turkey, 1/8 c of stuffing and green beans, YUCK!
We are looking forward to Christmas even if we aren't looking forward to the drive.
MAC had tried to hurt herself in science class with the dry ice. Apparently the teacher hadn't seen anything but one of her friends had mentioned to the guidance counselor what had happened and the counselor sent her to the psychologist.
The psychologist would only release her to Hubby or I (even though MAC had said she was fine and just wanted to go back to class). Hubby went to pick her up and I was supposed to meet them at Anne Arundel Medical Center. I was glad that Hubby was able to get her because what should have taken me 20 minutes took me almost an hour to get to due to an accident on the South River bridge.
We sat in the Emergency room through a shift change and saw a medical doctor and the hospital psychologist and MAC even got to eat some of the hospitals great turkey. It was the same one we saw about 6 months ago. Once again we were told that we needed to bond better with MAC and that she needed to see her talk therapist on a weekly basis not a bi-weekly. We were also told that we should attend family therapy and that I should call several groups in the area. I tried to explain that we are trying but that MAC needs to help in her own treatment.
At least this time we were released. Around 9pm we left the hospital. If you are ever in the emergency room ask the nurse for some food if you are hungry! MAC had a cup of mac and cheese as a snack and I got a sausage, egg, and cheese bagel. Considering that I hadn't had anything else to eat today it tasted like a steak! If she hadn't said she was hungry we probably would have sat waiting for her dinner of cold turkey, 1/8 c of stuffing and green beans, YUCK!
We are looking forward to Christmas even if we aren't looking forward to the drive.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Happy Winter Solstice to You!
Happy Winter Solstice everyone! Happy birthday to my friend EK!
I was amazed at the fact that although there are several total moon eclipses that last night's was special. It was the first time in over 400 years that the eclipse comes on the same night as the winter solstice! It won't happen again for another 400 years. MAC was very excited to see it but when I tried to wake her up to go outside she whined and said she didn't really mean she wanted to get up and to go away. It was 4:50 am and I was cold and tired, I left her alone and went back to bed.
Tonight was her winter concert. It was a combined concert of the Bates Chorus, PVA chorus, Liberal Arts Concert Band, PVA Band, PVA Chamber Ensemble, and the Bates Jazz Band. It was one of the longest concerts I have ever been to! MAC had to be there at 6:15 and we left somewhere around 9:15. I could hardly believe it, a school night to boot! I must say, it was one of the best concerts we have ever been to though. The kids were all very well behaved, and were quiet during all the set changes (of which there were 6). It really did get everyone into the Holiday mood.
She is really looking forward to the last day of school tomorrow. Of course what she is seeing: a whole week and two days off of school watching TV and playing with her friends, what I am seeing: time to finish up her Italian study guide, and to do the reading for Language Arts. Yeah vacation and 6 hours of being in a car together!
I was amazed at the fact that although there are several total moon eclipses that last night's was special. It was the first time in over 400 years that the eclipse comes on the same night as the winter solstice! It won't happen again for another 400 years. MAC was very excited to see it but when I tried to wake her up to go outside she whined and said she didn't really mean she wanted to get up and to go away. It was 4:50 am and I was cold and tired, I left her alone and went back to bed.
Tonight was her winter concert. It was a combined concert of the Bates Chorus, PVA chorus, Liberal Arts Concert Band, PVA Band, PVA Chamber Ensemble, and the Bates Jazz Band. It was one of the longest concerts I have ever been to! MAC had to be there at 6:15 and we left somewhere around 9:15. I could hardly believe it, a school night to boot! I must say, it was one of the best concerts we have ever been to though. The kids were all very well behaved, and were quiet during all the set changes (of which there were 6). It really did get everyone into the Holiday mood.
She is really looking forward to the last day of school tomorrow. Of course what she is seeing: a whole week and two days off of school watching TV and playing with her friends, what I am seeing: time to finish up her Italian study guide, and to do the reading for Language Arts. Yeah vacation and 6 hours of being in a car together!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Homework
It is very disappointing to me that although I am told by the teachers and guidance counselor, that I can go to "Blackboard" and see the assignments and homework that when I actually do take the time to go there they are 2 weeks behind in putting things up.
I asked her to show me her homework and of course get the, "It's almost Christmas and I only had homework in math." I had to take her word for it. Apparently, her science homework is to see if she sleeps at the foot of her bed with a spoon under her pillow if it snows tonight.
Tomorrow is the winter chorus concert. There is no PVA plus after school but we'll have to see if there is help day...
I asked her to show me her homework and of course get the, "It's almost Christmas and I only had homework in math." I had to take her word for it. Apparently, her science homework is to see if she sleeps at the foot of her bed with a spoon under her pillow if it snows tonight.
Tomorrow is the winter chorus concert. There is no PVA plus after school but we'll have to see if there is help day...
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