Well, it happened. We might have lost one of T's Personal Care Workers (PCW). We still don't know one way or the other.
What prompted it? A day from hell, I guess you could say. I wasn't home to witness things, so it's 3rd hand information from a husband who doesn't remember things. What I DO know is:
1. Meds were an hour late.
2. PCW asked T to do something while meds were kicking in.
3. T. needed his glasses fixed. Husband tried fixing them, but T began to meltdown because he wanted to watch a tv show and needed his glasses for that. Husband had PCW confine T, and then all heck broke loose.
4. PCW ended up leaving. T. had scratches all over his chest. PCW said T did it to himself (we DO believe that she wouldn't do that to T).
5. The home health agency called the next day to tell us that PCW wouldn't be there and they weren't sure if she'd back. PCW mentioned to agency that T. bit her as well, which we were not aware of.
So....the kid is not yet 6, and we're possibly losing a PCW.
That was all on Tues/Wed.
On Thursday, I got word that the ONE person our county could recommend for respite has said no because apparently the county has been giving everyone her name.
Unfrikkin' believable.
On the up side...we DO still have a PCW that has worked with us for a little over 2 years. He comes Mon, Thurs, Friday, and every other weekend. He's available on Tuesday, so if the other PCW did quit, we might just have one work Tuesdays also, and wing it on Wednesdays.
The whole PCW thing bothers me because T. takes forever to finally 'warm up' to new people. He had shown great signs of that in the last few months. Evidence was when he stopped having meltdowns at the mention of her name. In the last few months, he was able respond well.
I have to keep telling myself, it's not the fault of an almost 6 year old. It's NOT. It was a combination of things that he really had little control over.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
A very random update
I figured it's time for an update of random things going on.
Potty Training and pull ups: We're not making any progress at the moment, other than the planned "we're running out of diapers" speech. We're finally down to about 10 bags (long story on how we stock piled them due to Walmart's inability to process a prescription on a monthly basis)
Hugs/Kisses and other signs of affection: This is something Thomas never allowed to happen, and certainly never reciprocated. In the last month or so, he hasn't shown any resistance to the hugs we offer him. This is a big thing for him.
Hair combing and teeth brushing: This is an interesting mix. I noticed just yesterday that he actually let me comb his hair. I did it matter of factly, while he was brushing his teeth. Teeth brushing has now become an obsession for him. It's not the length of time spent that is an obsession, but rather the number of times he needs to do it. I would venture to guess he's been in the bathroom at least 10 times a day for this.
Basic listening skills: We finally broke down and decided to use a completely unrelated consequence if Thomas doesn't listen. "Doesn't listen" sounds vague, but after a few hours of either ignoring us or defying us, it's time for some action. The TV privilege is taken away for a day. After the first time about a month ago, it's only happened one more time (yesterday). We are sure to give all sorts of cues and reminders.
Meltdowns While his meltdowns pale to others, he had a doozy yesterday morning. It included hitting and scratching, yelling, etc. It even included sobbing this time. It seemed that just when we thought he was settled down from one mini-meltdown, something ELSE would set him off. It went on for about 90 minutes, which is very unlike him.
Showers: He's discovered the massage thing on the shower head and absolutely LOVES it. He looks so relaxed when the water is pulsating against his skinny little body.
Sleep HE is sleeping a little better, but WE are not. 'nuf said there.
Smirks and Sneakiness His sense of humor has been shining through. He'll give this little boy smirk that is just funny and cute. THAT cute smirk is what is also a dead giveaway when he's hiding something (he shouldn't even have!) behind his back so we won't see. We had a mystery cocount that he told us a teacher gave him. We called the school and no one knew anything about it. It turned out one of the Special Teachers let him borrow it for a night so he could show us. It certainly would have helped if they told us that.
Shortened school days This is really a sore spot for me. Due to (insert excuse here) his day was shorted from 6 hours to 3-1/2, not including bus time. This means he's on the bus right around the time he'd be down for a nap at school, and then getting home right around the time his meds are due. He won't take a nap at home, so we pay for it all dearly around 4:00 when he gets terribly tired & cranky AND another dose of med is due. We give him the med and he is sound asleep by 5....until 6. Then he's awake til whenever. If we DON'T give him the med, then we get into the not-listening cycle and general unmanageability on all our parts.
So, that kind of sums up Thomas's progress and lack of.
Potty Training and pull ups: We're not making any progress at the moment, other than the planned "we're running out of diapers" speech. We're finally down to about 10 bags (long story on how we stock piled them due to Walmart's inability to process a prescription on a monthly basis)
Hugs/Kisses and other signs of affection: This is something Thomas never allowed to happen, and certainly never reciprocated. In the last month or so, he hasn't shown any resistance to the hugs we offer him. This is a big thing for him.
Hair combing and teeth brushing: This is an interesting mix. I noticed just yesterday that he actually let me comb his hair. I did it matter of factly, while he was brushing his teeth. Teeth brushing has now become an obsession for him. It's not the length of time spent that is an obsession, but rather the number of times he needs to do it. I would venture to guess he's been in the bathroom at least 10 times a day for this.
Basic listening skills: We finally broke down and decided to use a completely unrelated consequence if Thomas doesn't listen. "Doesn't listen" sounds vague, but after a few hours of either ignoring us or defying us, it's time for some action. The TV privilege is taken away for a day. After the first time about a month ago, it's only happened one more time (yesterday). We are sure to give all sorts of cues and reminders.
Meltdowns While his meltdowns pale to others, he had a doozy yesterday morning. It included hitting and scratching, yelling, etc. It even included sobbing this time. It seemed that just when we thought he was settled down from one mini-meltdown, something ELSE would set him off. It went on for about 90 minutes, which is very unlike him.
Showers: He's discovered the massage thing on the shower head and absolutely LOVES it. He looks so relaxed when the water is pulsating against his skinny little body.
Sleep HE is sleeping a little better, but WE are not. 'nuf said there.
Smirks and Sneakiness His sense of humor has been shining through. He'll give this little boy smirk that is just funny and cute. THAT cute smirk is what is also a dead giveaway when he's hiding something (he shouldn't even have!) behind his back so we won't see. We had a mystery cocount that he told us a teacher gave him. We called the school and no one knew anything about it. It turned out one of the Special Teachers let him borrow it for a night so he could show us. It certainly would have helped if they told us that.
Shortened school days This is really a sore spot for me. Due to (insert excuse here) his day was shorted from 6 hours to 3-1/2, not including bus time. This means he's on the bus right around the time he'd be down for a nap at school, and then getting home right around the time his meds are due. He won't take a nap at home, so we pay for it all dearly around 4:00 when he gets terribly tired & cranky AND another dose of med is due. We give him the med and he is sound asleep by 5....until 6. Then he's awake til whenever. If we DON'T give him the med, then we get into the not-listening cycle and general unmanageability on all our parts.
So, that kind of sums up Thomas's progress and lack of.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Ahhhhhhhhh, it's almost back to school!!!!
I really am beginning to understand how my mother felt when it was the end of any school break. We are SO ready for Thomas to get back to school.
It's been an interesting 2+ weeks with Thomas. He is afraid of Santa, so the mention of that word sends him in a tizzy. He was afraid when someone told him Santa would come to the house at night. He kept asking us if the windows were shut and doors locked.
He only wore pants one time. The rest of the time, he's been lounging in shorts. He's already told us he won't be wearing pants to school tomorrow. Joy.
He started out using the toilet for a few days, unprompted. That's a HUGE thing for him. The last 4 days have been duds for toilet use.
He got us hooked on "Pizza Soup" for lunch. It's tomato soup, add some pepperoni and some seasoning, and cheese, and you have Pizza soup.
He managed to climb on his brick sized legos and knock down the glass dome from an anniversary clock, while I was in the bathroom. Needless to say, most of those blocks are now sitting in a box in the garage.
We've lost some progress on him sleeping in his room, and us sleeping in ours. Up until the break, he would generally start out in his room, then *maybe* come into our room. Now, he won't go to sleep without one of us in his room, and he ALWAYS joins us around 1am. There's alot to this that I'll save for another post, but we've had our sleep shot to heck for 2 weeks.
So, tomorrow, he'll be back on the school bus, and we will have 4 "child-less" hours. I've got dibs on the DVD player to watch "Mamma Mia." No other plans. I like that.
It's been an interesting 2+ weeks with Thomas. He is afraid of Santa, so the mention of that word sends him in a tizzy. He was afraid when someone told him Santa would come to the house at night. He kept asking us if the windows were shut and doors locked.
He only wore pants one time. The rest of the time, he's been lounging in shorts. He's already told us he won't be wearing pants to school tomorrow. Joy.
He started out using the toilet for a few days, unprompted. That's a HUGE thing for him. The last 4 days have been duds for toilet use.
He got us hooked on "Pizza Soup" for lunch. It's tomato soup, add some pepperoni and some seasoning, and cheese, and you have Pizza soup.
He managed to climb on his brick sized legos and knock down the glass dome from an anniversary clock, while I was in the bathroom. Needless to say, most of those blocks are now sitting in a box in the garage.
We've lost some progress on him sleeping in his room, and us sleeping in ours. Up until the break, he would generally start out in his room, then *maybe* come into our room. Now, he won't go to sleep without one of us in his room, and he ALWAYS joins us around 1am. There's alot to this that I'll save for another post, but we've had our sleep shot to heck for 2 weeks.
So, tomorrow, he'll be back on the school bus, and we will have 4 "child-less" hours. I've got dibs on the DVD player to watch "Mamma Mia." No other plans. I like that.
Ridiculous Laws
I'm way behind in what some of the new laws are/will be, but I found out about this one today:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-thrift2-2009jan02,0,2083247.story
After you read it, come back and read the rest of my thoughts...
.
.
.
.
.
done?
What were our leaders thinking when this law was passed? I'm sure they were thinking of the safety of our children. Great.
But, who is going to be appointed as the lead-police in a thrift shop, small business, etc? There are people who make baby bibs as a hobby and sell them. Will they no longer be able to do this? Or, the ones who make quilts for needy people? Will THEY be held liable if they don't get the quilts tested for lead????
The law is for anything used by a person under 12. Hmmmm. There are alot of things out there that may be geared for the over 12 crowd, but some 10 year olds are pretty crafty.
I don't know. I'm just thinking that the lawmakers need to rethink this law. Like I said, the INTENT is fine. The end result could end up hurting a LOT of good people.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-thrift2-2009jan02,0,2083247.story
After you read it, come back and read the rest of my thoughts...
.
.
.
.
.
done?
What were our leaders thinking when this law was passed? I'm sure they were thinking of the safety of our children. Great.
But, who is going to be appointed as the lead-police in a thrift shop, small business, etc? There are people who make baby bibs as a hobby and sell them. Will they no longer be able to do this? Or, the ones who make quilts for needy people? Will THEY be held liable if they don't get the quilts tested for lead????
The law is for anything used by a person under 12. Hmmmm. There are alot of things out there that may be geared for the over 12 crowd, but some 10 year olds are pretty crafty.
I don't know. I'm just thinking that the lawmakers need to rethink this law. Like I said, the INTENT is fine. The end result could end up hurting a LOT of good people.
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