Waiting for the other shoe to drop...

Spencer has been adjusting really well to therapy, the new apartment, and the new school.  Almost too well.  I keep waiting for the melt-down, the 'I have had enough of this, get me back to my old life.'  I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, but I know Spencer and he generally doesn't adapt too well to such a change in his environment.

He did really well this first week of therapy an they are still in love with him at his school.   I am contemplating taking him off of his meds so we can get a better picture of his progress.  My ideal would be to have him not take any medication at all for ADHD.  We have an appointment with a new pediatrician on Tuesday to discuss this matter and get the little guy checked out.  I'm going to try to get Spencer outside today to play either at the playground here at the apartment or the big playground by the library.  Right now, I'm just waiting for the temperature to get a little warmer. (Still 30 degrees outside!)

I miss my other two guys, but I must admit it is easier to follow the program without having to deal with anyone besides Spencer.  Gotta go see what the little guy is up to, he's been quiet!

Who's in charge, here?

Day 1 is in the books.  I moved the portable DVD player and television out of Spencer's room and removed the dvd player from the den.  He really has no use for television that he can't control.  Needless to say, he was PISSED when he discovered his beloved left-brain activity had been taken from him.  He screamed, threw things, led me around the apartment to every hiding place he could conceive of (thankfully, none of them were the real hiding places), including the clothes dryer, in search of his stuff.  I felt like an alcoholic going through the 12 step program.  I just have to get through today. I'll deal with tomorrow when it gets here.  Two hours into the rage and I was ready to give in.  And then, boom, the epiphany hit me. We did not come all this way for the same old, same old.  Finally, Spence realized that he would not win this battle.  We sat on the floor playing with some of his Toy Story figures and he put on his music.  We danced and laughed.  By the end of the night, we were both whipped.  He went to bed all by himself and slept until the morning.  I was able to unwind and read for a couple of hours before going to sleep.  Let's see what day 2 has in store...
So, that is what I am planning to do.  While Spencer is in school, my days are my own.  But, when he gets home, I will be working with him to try and get the most out of his therapy.  I think I can, I think I can...

And off we go...

Okay, Mommy got her parent binder today which includes what she needs to do to help Spencer at home.  He will be liking none of it.  But, oh well.  We didn't pack up and move here to continue with the status quo.  That will likely be my mantra for the next few weeks of pure hell.  First of all, I need to limit his computer, tv and gaming time to 30 minutes.  For Spence, they suggested going cold turkey.  Tomorrow I will hide his personal dvd player, remove the dvd player from the den and move the tv out of his room.  His screams of displeasure are likely to be heard far and wide. Life will go on. (I may need to buy a couple of more bottles of wine...)
I need to be more diligent with his primitives.  Starting tomorrow it is a whole new ballgame.  I feel like a military general preparing for battle.  I have my plan of attack drawn up and I am ready for the resistance I will likely face.
There should be some dramatic music playing here.  Hopefully, my bravado will last beyond the weekend!

And it keeps gettin' better...

Continuing with my love affair of Peachtree City and the schools (yes, I am still in the honeymoon phase- we'll see how I feel in a couple more months!!)
- Got a call from school just about a half hour ago.  Seems Spencer got into an altercation with another child over a toy.  Spencer wanted the toy back on the shelf, and this child wanted it on the floor.  Spencer proceeded to try to bang his head on the floor in frustration.  He had to be restrained by the staff and they wanted to let me know they used bean bag pillows to keep him from hurting himself.  I kinda figured we were due for a little meltdown, this being his first real one at school. Here's the awesomeness:
   -On the days Spencer has therapy, I do not need to go to the office and check him out.  I merely need to drive up to the last door (close to his classroom) and they will bring him to me.  Great!
   -He is almost out of medicine, but there is no need to for me to bring it.  As long as I know he won't get into it (he won't) I can send it with him Monday morning in his backpack.  WooHoo.

And I am still raving about the hair place where I got my hair cut the first week I was here.  Not only did they give me coupons for future services, but gave me samples of the shampoo & conditioner they used on me.  No pressure to buy any retail products!  Liked the cut, too.

Now, if only I could twitch my nose and have my other boys here, all would be perfect.  There will be some blogging done next week, as Spencer will be starting his intensive therapy.  Say prayers for us both!!

A week in Hothlanta

Yes, it snowed in Atlanta on Sunday (1/9/11) and a combination of temps remaining below freezing, overcast skies and poor government response (deja vu?) led to us being homebound for the whole week.  Needless to say, Spencer was incredibly confused.  I can't say that I blame him- school for one day and then 10 days off.  It's going to be like starting over.  Had to get out of here, so Friday Spencer and I took a quick trip to NOLA to see the other boys.  Pey's heart is in the right place when it comes to his brother, but sometimes his methods are lacking.  He just wanted to hug on Spence and tell him "I love you", but Spence can only take that for a little while, then he wants you to go away.
It warmed up enough on Saturday for Spence and his daddy to go spend a little time in the hot tub.  Spence really enjoyed it.  Mommy took that opportunity to take a long nap.  Not sure how long I slept.  Somewhere between 2 and 3 hours.  Boy did I need it.
Found out Friday that Pey made the playground's All-Star basketball league, so that will keep him busy for the next two weeks.
As for the title, those of you without any Star Wars knowledge won't get it.  Hothlanta is a play on the common Atlanta nickname of "Hotlanta" and the frozen planet of Hoth. (Empire Strikes back, I think?)
Can't wait for Spence to start school tomorrow!!!

The waiting is the hardest part

I waited all day for a call from the County Special Education coordinator, but no such call came.  I was hoping they would be more efficient than at home...

At ten am on Tuesday, she called.  Her name was Cathy and she would prove herself to be an invaluable resource.  We talked about Spencer and his Louisiana IEP (she had actually read it!!).  We decided that Braelinn Elementary would be the best fit.  Spencer loved the bus ride at home, so Cathy put in the request for transportation.  All that was left was to schedule an IEP meeting including her, a rep from Kedron (groan) and the folks at Braelinn.  Our meeting was scheduled for 1 pm on Thursday and Spencer could start school the next day.  Yeah!

It was by far my most pleasant IEP experience.  All parties were well prepared and had questions and changes ready to roll. I was amazed at how at-ease I felt.  I was impressed with the school and all the staff members I came in contact with.  So, Spencer went to school on Friday.  Around 9:30, I receive a call from Cathy.  She was spending half her day in Spencer's classroom, observing him and making sure we made the right choice in schools.  She wanted to report that Spence had a little adjusting period in the morning, but now he was doing just fine.  All the teachers were already in love with him and think he is 'a precious little doll'. Yippee!  Now we get back to routine!  Right? Wrong!  Monday and Tuesday are snow days.  Just my luck!!!!!

GREASING THE PIG

Well, the first week was rather uneventful.  Peyton found moving boring and I am sure he was glad to go.  The boys left Thursday afternoon in the hopes of avoiding bad weather.  They not only ran into bad weather, but heavy traffic as well.  Monday found me and Spencer on a field trip to get him registered for school.  After driving there, Spencer will NOT get out the of the car.  After much coaxing, I get him out.  He is crying profusely as we walk in the door.  We are greeted by a fresh face boy no more than 20.  He glances over my paperwork and remarks that I need my current electric bill in order to register.  I have no such bill, having just moved here last week.  Well then I need a letter from the electric company stating I have an account.  All the while, Spencer is screaming, crying and trying to put my purse back on my shoulder.  I give this boy my best "You've got to be kidding me" face.  He seems unable to read it.  So I say, "Really?"  He tries to give me directions, sadly the same way I give directions, and he is met by my vacant stare.  He then spends the next 3 minutes trying to get me the address.  Thank goodness because it is nowhere near the landmarks he gave me.

WRESTLING THE ALLIGATOR

Spencer is so happy to leave, but not happy when we show up at the electric co-op office.  We are in and out of there in less than 2 minutes.  The joy of a 'small town'.  He is a little more agreeable to getting out of the car the second time we arrive at the registration office.  The same little boy greets us and hands me some paperwork to fill out while he makes copies of all the necessary documents.  Spencer has his portable dvd player, but refuses to sit down and/or watch it.  I am trying to fill out paperwork while he is grabbing my arm, whining and trying to push me off the chair so we can leave. The boy returns and brings all the paperwork to the back for an unknown person to process; we are left to wait.  And wait.  Spencer has no patience with waiting, so he throws a tantrum.  Granted, it was one of his lamest attempts at a tantrum, but he did succeed in getting everyone's attention.  I was at the point that as long as he was not being self-injurious or bothering other people, he could work through the tantrum.  (Usually this gets us faster service, but not at the school registration office.) FINALLY, a woman comes out with our packet that has the name of Spencer's new school on it.  She suggests we drop it off so they will be expecting him tomorrow.  Sounds easy, doesn't it?

GOING AGAINST THE NINJA UNARMED

I saw the warning signs of full meltdown upon us.  I also knew that his home school did not have the 'right' special ed program for him.  Let me explain, in Fayette County they have several different programs for special ed.  Some are tailored to a specific exceptionality (i.e. autism) while others are more broad in scope.  I learned during my time at Brain Balance that they thought the best place for him would be Peeples or Braelinn.  Trying to hurry this process along (and since there was no school on Monday) we went to Kedron Elementary.  Little man went into explosive tantrum: throwing his dvd player, laying on the floor wailing, trying to hit me.  It was obvious the front-office had seen nothing like this.  I had left Spencer's IEP in the car and unfortunately the principal wanted to see it while meeting with us.  I was more than willing to let one of the staff go get it, I knew all too well the hell it would unleash to go to the car and then come back.  And I was right.  Once inside the building again, Spencer is close to losing all control.  His pupils are dilated.  Crap- he is in fight or flight mode.  Adrenaline pumping, he believes he is in a fight for his life.  He comes to the principal's office, kicking and screaming.  I turn my head for a second, then I see what he is about to do.  I dash over, but am one second too late.  He was on the floor kicking the side of the principal's bookcase.  A couple of picture frames and a figurine fall.  At least one frame shatters.  I attempt to restrain him, to no avail.  The principal calls for a 'restraint trained' assistant.  So there the three of us are, on the floor, attempting to keep Spencer from hurting himself or us.  All I can think is "What a wonderful first impression we have made!" Once we get him semi-calm, the principal goes into the "I don't think we have the right program for him" speech.

That was a truth I knew before walking in the door.  Now we must navigate the red tape.  We decide that until he is placed in a more suitable program, it would be best to keep him home as the change from one school to another would do more harm than good.  Spencer can't wait to get the hell out of Dodge, so he is easy to get in the car.  I am told to wait for a call from the County Special Education Coordinator.  It is now only 11:30 am on Monday.  I am spent, both emotionally and physically.

Held captive in the land of Nood

It has been a long time since I last blogged, but I'll try to get you up to speed quickly.

We had a very nice Christmas, although I spent most of it packing for our adventure.  Of course, on the day we are to leave, the one person known as our earliest riser, was the most difficult to wake.  That's right, we could not wake Spencer!  Peyton got him up and dressed (Thanks!) and we were on our way.  Both kids rode with me so perhaps I could use the facilities when the time came.  I had packed both the Expedition and my car well, but there were other things I wished I could bring.  Not that I couldn't fit them. (I learned how to pack a car going to college away and from my brother.) I was too cold and too lazy to completely unpack and repack the car.

Our drive here was uneventful.  Peyton and Les unpacked both cars.  Boxes and suitcases were everywhere.  Out first priority was to make Spencer feel at home.  We made his bed, hung Toy Story pictures and brought in his toys.  I must say he really likes his room.

The first week was spent unpacking and organizing and making numerous trips to Target, Walmart and Bed, Bath & Beyond for 'necessities'.

Now to explain the title of this blog.  Spencer has sensory issues with clothes touching him (I think) He only dresses when leaving the house.  Otherwise he is running around in only a pullup.  When that gets wet, you guessed, he throws it off and runs around the house au naturelle!