Laters

Well the birthday boy is in his room watching series 3 boxed set of Quantum Leap...He bought it using some of his money and the gift card he got back in march...We actually watched the whole of the monaco grand prix :o) It was more exciting than usual with plenty of incidents...Not least of which was michael schumacher *parking* his car yesterday and being sent to the back of the grid LOL...Very unprofessional of him but nothing new as he has been a *bad* boy in the past...Brill to see Coulthard back on the podium too :o)

So me and M walked into town after the F1 finished...So far he has £30 cash, which he's spent, a £20 cheque and more money on the way...I bought him the Nintendo DS with super mario kart game...Two games for the PS2, the winter olympics one and Buzz the big quiz...The Buzz game is his pressie from G :o) We got the bus home as he decided he was tired LOL...Thank you to everyone who filled the NAS campaign thing in either via my journal or Sara's one :o) My darling K has emailed it to everyone she knows and ordered them to do it LOL...She's also told everyone she knows to *spam* their friends with it too <ggg> M was on cloud nine last nite because Robbies team won soccer aid even if they were an english team...Was rather funny ,and no offence meant, but both him and G said we're only supporting them because they are Robbies team we do not support england...Maybe i have brought them up too patriotic <ggg> So they're in their room giving me peace and quiet so going to catch up on boards i read and blogs and then make team...M wants his chicken strips with roast tatties and G wil have his usual beans/sausages on toast LOL...May manage to persuade him to have some roast tatties instead...Am having steak :o) It's not a bank holiday in scotland (cept for the banks though usually the main branches here are open for a couple of hours) but hope you have some nice weather for yours and have a lovely day tomorrow

Toodle pip tc xx

Happy Birthday to my baby boy

My baby boy's birthday today...As you can see M is 15 now and i think that's supposed to make me feel old LOL...We're off out soon to buy his birthday pressie and for him to spend the £30 he has been given so far...He's rather cheesed off that his birthday has fallen on a sunday this year as it means no post...He opened the 2 cards that arrived yesterday grrrr...One from my older sis arrived on fri so i hid it until this morning LOL...It's a cheque so i will put it in his account tomorrow...Am allowed to watch half of the monaco grand prix LOL...We won't have cake well we might but am the only one who will eat it so not much point or a good idea LOL...He's 6 feet tall and still growing and doesn't seem like 15 years since he was born...That only feels like yesterday...Ok am getting old now it's official <ggg> BUT i don't feel old :o) More later i better go get ready to go out...Here's a piccy of a cake that will do instead

TTFN xx

 

Make School Make Sense

I know that Sara over at SmilesHouse has already done an entry on this BUT some that read here don't read her journal and this is VERY important....Please please click on this link and fill it in and help the NAS campaign for better understanding and education in schools for autistic pupils...As you all know from reading my journal and other journals autism is an extremely complex disability...It's not as straightforward as most other disabilities are...Some teachers do believe they are just badly behaved little toerags and only believe that autism exists in it's classic form...Classic autism where the person who has it is in a world of their own, silent in a corner is actually not the most common type...Inclusion in schools is all well and good in theory, however it MUST work both ways...Teachers need training specifically in autism in order for inclusion to work...Also the pupils in the school need educating in autism in order for inclusion to work...There are far too many autistic/apsergers pupils in mainstream schools who are being excluded and not taught in an appropriate manner...They are not being *included* at all :o(  Now i know i have been incredibly lucky with G because he has a mix of the best of both worlds...For secondary school he is in a base/unit that is for high functioning/aspergers pupils...He gets mainstream education in subjects he can cope with...He gets support if needed in those classes...He also get a base cirriculum which will enable him to cope better once he is beyond school age and to lead as *normal* a life as possible...Although M is in an SEN school his school also equip them with those same skills...The usual type of special needs base/unit that is attached to either a primary or secondary school doesn't often work for a pupil with autism...Please read about the NAs campaign and add your name to it :o)

The National Autistic Society - Campaign with the NAS

Thanks in advance :o)

Too many Zzzzzz's

Slept in this morning...Didn't even hear M's taxi tooting for him <whoops> They waited though :o) But he decided not to bother with putting on socks or looking out his swimming gear...I still wanna just lie down and sleep but if i do then i will be awake half the nite and sleep in again tomorrow so i better not.

K said the EEG on fri was alright but her hair was disgusting after...Then she didn't get a chance to wash it as people kept popping in to see her or phoning her...Eventually late at nite when she did have a spare 5 mins to have a shower the light in there was broken DUH!!!!...Yesterday morning she got the 24 hour ECG monitor attached to her at the hospital...She was a bit worried that she might get arrested by the police if someone saw the bulge under her clothes, hear the ticking and scream bomb...She was moaning that the patche were really itchy too...Was 2 each side just above her breasts and 2 below them at each side with wires attached to a small machine thing that ticked...So yesterday everyone was calling her a ticking clock LOL...And how typical that the day she had it on she didn't blackout although she did have a couple of dizzy turns...She had to sleep with it on as well though goodness knows how without the wires coming off...I'll phone her laters or talk to her on MSN to find out how it went...She was going back this morning to get it taken off at 9am

G got back yesterday about 6.20pm with a black bag full of wet clothes and trainers LOL...He also had a DVD of them white water rafting on the fri which we need to watch later...He said he had a brilliant time and loved it all except this year no pressies as they didn't get a chance to spend the money they had with them really...Some of the lads did spend their money as they didn't do all the activites but G took part in them all...Sat he was kayaking across the loch, then he was absailing down a sheer bit of rock, labyrinth which was a pitch black mze underground and they old had 2 low light battery torches...On sunday they did jacobs ladder which was a ladder made out of logs that they had to use team work to climb up, then they did something called Splosh which was gorge walking with extra splosh pools, he did the labyrinth again LOL and they lit a campfire in the evening...On mon before they left to come home they did raft building...Their raft did float although it didn't move much and could only support 5 people LOL...He went to footie training soon as he got home and was absolutely shattered...Today he got up about 11.30 but he still looks tired...The disabilities sports officer phoned yesterday afternoon and said there wouldn't be many places for parents on the bus...But as M had been a bit tetchy last time that me and 2 other parents who's kids need them there were being given first refusal...So on 31st we'll be up at 5am again to get the bus to glasgow ARGH...Gonna be sleeping on bus on way down methinks <ggg>

This morning i had an appointment with the Occupational Therapist...Now on the appointment card it looked like it said 11.50...I went along and she asked where i had been as it was at 11.00...Showed her the card and said well that looks like a 5 to me and her secretary agreed LOL...And i was supposed to have G with me although he hadn't told me that and neither had the base <sigh>  So now have an appointment for next tuesday at 11.00 and will be taking G with me LOL...Coffee time to keep me awake

Toodle pip tc xx

Not a lot

Whoops i said was tomorrow which would have been yesterday but was actually today that K had her appointment...She phoned briefly to say when it was finished...I think she said would be about 2 weeks before she gets results...I was half asleep with a headache so forgive me for being a bit dense...I'll talk to her later as although her MSN is on she's not there...Once i know more then i'll do another entry.

So from losing a day somewhere along this week yesterday was a flurry of packing for G's trip...Now i have insect repellant somewhere in the flat...So i wasn't going to spend another £5-£6 to buy more...I'd only seen it the other week and put it somewhere easy to find for packing...Yeah right could i find it last nite, could i heck...So guess am in trouble because he's got none with him...Told him look you can share with someone else and you can share yer suntan lotion...They'd changed the leaving time so his taxi picked him up...I took his bag down for him and the escort and the driver were teasing him...Saying now remember kiss mum cheerio <ggg>  He just glowered at them and muttered under his breath LOLOL...Don't you just love teenage boys <bless> Weathers become a bit grim here so i hope it was ok in perthshire for their white water rafting...He'd said they'd been told NO gameboys or suchlike...Said well says on letter to take either personal CD, MP3 player, gameboy, book etc to while away the time travelling...So he's off with his nintendo DS.

Mikey had athletics last nite and they were doing shot putt...So no sand everywhere this week from doing long jump <phew> He was using the proper ball and managed to throw it over 4 metres which isn't bad for never having done it before :o) ...Watched the launch show for Big Brother last nite...What a shower they have in the house LOL...One thing i hope that the bloke there who has tourettes makes people more aware of how the condition can affect people...I do want those lights that change colour at click of your fingers...That would be so cool to have and could be calming for the boys...Would cost a fortune though...Never mind never know one day that lottery win may just happen...NOT...Anyways have a nice weekend everyone :o)

Toodle pip tc xx

 

Grrr mo alert at all

Well never know THIS might get an alert but entry i did earlier had no alert go out at all <sigh>

Last exam and trips away

Well G has his last standard grade exam yesterday so just the big wait until august now to see how he's done...He had Graphic Communication yesterday and said it was alright...Said it was a bit easier than the prelim but doesn't want to say too much...Think he's scared he will jinx his results if he says too much on any of them...Except for the maths LOL...The school phoned me yesterday so i asked when does he chose his Highers (A levels)...Got told he'd already chosen them so i said he didn't tell me...He's adament that he did but he didn't...He may have told M but he didn't tell me LOL...So next year he is doing 3 Highers...Usually in 5th year they do 5 subjects so 3 is brill...I better do an explanation here for the readers who aren't in scotland...Up here we don't have 6th form college...You stay on at school for 5th and 6th year if you wish to...In 5th year usually you do Highers which are our equivalent of your A levels...One difference, our Highers are done over ONE year not two...If they then stay on to 6th year they can do a mix of types of exams or do advanced highers...That clear enough i hope :o)  So G is doing Higher Maths, Higher Technological Studies and Higher Graphic Communication...Doing only 3 will allow him time in the base to get help with homework and also continue the base cirriculum...The base teach them life skills and how to live with their aspergers/autism in the outside world...If he wishes to do more then he can in 6th year...Now his school work in conjunction for 5th and 6th year with another high school close to it...Both of the schools are smallish with only around 500 pupils total...So working together means those who are staying on have a better chance of a class running in subject they want to do :o)  The pupils get shuttled in a mini bus between the 2 schools for classes...Two that he is doing are in his school and the other one is in the other school...Don't ask which i can't remember cept it isn't maths LOL...He's now off until june 2nd as it's still study leave time...On fri he is away to Ardroy again for an adventure weekend with the base...They're back on mon tea time...Ardroy is the name of the outdoor centre and it is situated at Lochgoilhead...That's slightly north west of Loch Lomond...So other side of the coast from us...On the way down this year they are stopping off in perthshire to go white water rafting again...Am JEALOUS big time...I would love to try that out and this will be second time he's done it <sob> Do hope he's back in time and not too knackered to go to footie training on mon night.

The boys are in different teams for the footie tournament i spoke about the other week...G is in one of the 16+ teams as a defender...M is in one of the under 16 teams and he's being goalie...Forgot to ask if parents are allowed to go with them this time...I kinda need to go really as M may throw a strop like he did last time...Defo packing extra clothes in case it rains or hails like last time

K has appointment for her EEG tomorrow...No idea how long before she gets results from it but fingers crossed they find something...I know that sounds bad kinda but not knowing what is causing all this can be worse than knowing if you get my drift.

Anyways i have 20 zillion things to do and get ready for G's trip...Lucky i didn't throw out old trousers with hole in knees LOL...No jeans for watersports and a hole in knee won't matter for something that is going to get soaking wet and thrown in bin after using...Lucky he has old trainers that are about ready for the bin too...Must remember buy him disposable cameras and insect repellant tomorrow.

Toodle pip tc xx

Catch up

I hadn't realised it was quite so long since i did an entry...We're still alive LOL...M didn't have athletics on saturday we had been sent the wrong info in the post <sigh> That put him in a bad mood for the whole weekend...Actually all the boys did was niggle at each other, argue, fight etc all day saturday and i was glad they were away to playscheme on sun...Apparently they had been fine all day there but as soon as i turned up to collect them it started again...On way home i told them if they didn't shut up and behave i was leaving home LOL...It worked they became quiet after that <ggg> Think they were a bit miffed as usually it's the child who says they're going to leave not the parent LOL

So this week what have we done...Well not a lot really...I had the GP on tues and he's now given me a 2 month suplly of these happy pills but i have to go back in a months time...They seem to be helping but i dunno really...Not sure if it's the pills or me just being back to my 'don't give a stuff, just get on with it' usual attitude...He's said to stay on them for a few months just now anyways but he is going to see me regularly...See that's what i like about our GP he doesn't just hand out meds and then not see you but likes to keep an eye on how you're getting on.

At club on sat and at playscheme they weren't impressed at G not going outside in the gorgeous weather...As i said to the bloke in charge of club and to playscheme there is no way you will get him outside in this weather...We could smell new mown grass near club which was enough of a deterrant...G suffers from extremely chronic hayfever and has done since he was a baby...He was first put on meds for it at only 5 weeks old :o(  I dread to think what he would be like without the meds as he can get really ill on them...He doesn't just react to say grass pollen or tree pollen but them all :o(  So spring and summer to be honest are a really miserable time for him...He tends to stay inside and not go out at all...Now i didn't know this before but i was reading some info and noticed that some trees start pollen in january and some others don't stop pollen until nov...I am now wondering what type of trees it is that are around his school...This could go a lot to explain why he has had rhinititis all year round just about at this school...Could be not something inside the school he's reacting to but the trees...He had his geography exam on wed and he said it was hard...He think he may have managed enough to get same as he did in the prelim though which would be brill...Would also be a kick in the bum for MrsP who claimed no-one with aspergers can do geog LOLOL...On sat i bumped into one of the teachers from the base in sainsburys...I told her what G had said about the maths exam...How he reckoned he has 100% correct answers for both the general and credit papers...And that he only thinks he may have dropped a couple of points for workings in the credit paper...She said she doesn't doubt he's correct in assumption of having all correct answers at all...It was her who was in with him for the exam so she should know LOL

K has appointment next fri for her EEG...She does have to wash her hair before it so it is clean...Told her yeah but don't bother straightening it or making it look pretty as it will just be covered with gloop...Her and her boyfriend went through a minor blip this week :o(  Well he dumped her on tues as he couldn't handle it all anymore but they were back together by wed afternoon...Young love eh who'd wanna go through that again <ggg> Now her fella says i am officially insane as i understand him <ggg>  See i said i didn't think he deserved a slap for putting her through tues nite...As i said to them both what is happening with K would put a lot of pressure on a relationship...Let alone one that is still only 6 months old and especially both so young...I know how worried i am and he's there with her day in day out seeing it all happening...The infuriating thing is she's not worried at all and i do believe her when she says that...Anyways they have had a good long talk and are back together and happy again :o)  Two of their friends did slap him though LOL

It's been rainy and chilly here today after over a week of glorious weather :o(  It is brightening up just now so hopefully will be nice over the weekend but am not holding out much hope...Have a nice weekend anyways wherever you happen to be :o)

Toodle pip tc xx

Forms and exams

Yesterday i went to the appointment that was rearranged...Had a really nice friendly chat with the benefits advisor in the carers centre...In the past the DLA forms i have filled in for both boys have always been under 16 child ones...G as he is now 16 is an adult form...In all honesty the adult one is a breeze compared to the child one...A lot less pages for starters :o) One major difference that is crucial is does he have the ability to plan and make a meal for himself...Considering his aversion to touching certain foodstuffs or even putting them in his mouth to eat due to the texture then he couldn't prepare a *normal* meal...He's also not that great at handling a knife or potato peeler because of fine motor skills...I do have to change my approach to filling in the form hence going and getting advice even though i've been filling them in for 13 years now...With the child DLA form what you have to do is to compare how much help they need in comparison to another child their age...Don't do that with the adult form...Every single little thing will go in to help try and keep him on same rate he is on just now...HE does still need help getting around so i'd presume his low mobility won't get taken away...But you can never tell with DLA lot...It really all depends on who's desk your application lands on...And if they have any experience in the particular disability you are making the claim under...G can walk and he can use a bus, BUT he won't go anywhere unfamiliar on his own...If he doesn't know exactly where and why he is going somewhere then he will panic :o(  He knows how to go the shop where he buys games but he'd go straight there then straight home...If they didn't have what he wanted he wouldn't consider trying another shop...I forgot to mention but with everything that she said then putting down that he has been issued with a concession bus pass for him AND a companion will be a big help on the form...The extra help he needs at school and is getting with his standard grade exams she said to put down...Every little bit helps...Again as with child form it is a case of putting down worst day possible because that worst day can happen at any time...Perhaps this time they will also give G an indefinate (life) award

Speaking of exams today was Maths one...So when he got in i did the usual and asked how it went...According to him it was *pimps*...Word that teenagers here use for easy peasy LOL...He is so confident he reckons he has managed to get 100% in the general papers and in the credit papers he may have dropped a couple of marks for workings...G has always been obsessed with numbers and maths gave him a channel for it...It's always been his strongest subject and i don't think he's ever got below 90% for any maths test...But we'll see in august how he got on today LOL...They don't get told actual percentage but the schools do...IF he has done as well as he thinks then i do hope that the school ackowledge it.

Today i snoozed for a while in the morning as i had a headache last night, due in part to the weather...We were lucky we haven't had the thunder and rain that affected the west coast and it has been bright and sunny but still some of that mugginess in the air that makes you want thunderstorm....Tomorrow M restarts athletics in the morning, they have club in the afternoon and i have to do part of my friends DLA form for her...Bit where someone who knows you well can have their say, although that part is now optional...It wasn't in the past but i am going to get someone to do it for G's form...Am hoping we don't have the same crap at night this weekend as we had the last two...Decided not gonna phone crimestoppers but gonna dial 999 instead...The purple dragon siggy tags are all by the lovely Sara :o) ...Anyways have a nice weekend everyone

Toodle pip tc xx

 

 

Car, Dragons and Exams

Do you sense a pattern to my entries of late LOL...Good news is i got my car back...no idea how much it's gonna sting me this time as he's not done a bill for me yet...He's good anyways as if you're regular customer then he sends you out a bill rather than taking payment there and then...The heater plugs were knackered hence the diesel burning off through the exhaust...I'd topped up teensy bit too much oil on sun so they drained some out LOL...Well it was leaking or should i say being used up too quick due to overheating...Anyways at least i can go shopping at asda laters and don't have to rely on a lift.

That was todays good news...Had a fight with one of my banks earlier...They closed the boys bank accounts without informing us!!!...If not used for over 6 months then they close the account...Flaming cheek i say...Woman was not happy with me and said i was obviously wanting to pick a fight...I'd had words about something else today and yesterday...I said so even if it's a kids account you do that and she said yes ALL banks do...Said no they don't and walked out LOL...Now got an appointment with M to open an account for him at other bank next fri when he's off school for in-service day :o) They do NOT treat their customers in same manner <ggg>

G had english exam today and all i can get out of him is it was OK...He said some of it was harder than prelim :o(  He so struggles with english as do most on autistic spectrum...Am afraid our language is very difficult for them to get their heads round...Too many words that sound same but spelt different and have different meanings...English is too removed from their literal viewpoint on things...As long as he tried his best then that to me is all that matters.

So on to dragons...I have added some pics of a few of the dragons i have...I found pics online so used them rather than me try to take closeups :o) All of the dragons shown are from the Tudor Mint Land of Dragons collection except for one...The Dragon Tamer is a different company...My Celestial dragon is no longer made...Well i presume that as it is no longer shown on the tudor mint website and anywhere i find online that sells it says stocks discontinued when all sold out...The Seatosus one and the frebruary one are the two that K bought me yesterday :o) No idea oh how tall they are yet...She also bought herself the october one grrrr...Guess who was gonna be buying it for her birthday pressie LOL...They do range vastly in price to buy from around £12 - £17 for smaller ones to around £50 for the large sized ice dragon and there are bigger ones that cost nearer £100...The Vespertilio one is the one i got for my birthday from the boys...The Cruciatus was my mothers day pressie...If i won loads on the lottery i would buy the whole land of dragons collection for me and also buy it all for K LOL...Of course then i'd need a house to display them in...I have loads of others that are different makes or just cheap ones that didn't cost much but are still lovely...I am considering joining the collectors club from tudor mint at some point...Then if anyone wants to give me a pressie i'll say money please so i can buy at discount :o) Considering you can get the large pieces at 50% off then it might be worth it as usually i can't afford to buy them...They have 3 flying dragons in land of dragons series that are being discontinued this year and i'd love to get them...They're small and on a stand flying (obviously) :o) Am not one much for ornaments but i do love my dragons and they're only ornaments i let people buy me...I don't clean them with a cloth but i use a blusher brush to dust them with and to get into the nooks and crannys.

Toodle pip tc xx

tag by sara (sarajanesmiles)

Car, neurology and exams

Just a slight change in todays entry title but tis different one LOL...Well i did manage to wake up in time for G going to school this morning...Surprised me as with all the noise in the street EVERY night over the weekend my sleep pattern is shot to bits...After M left for school i forced myself to get up properly even though i just wanted to sleep...Also remembered to phone K make sure she was up 20 mins after the time i promised to phone her...She was already up anyways <phew>

She had neurology at 9.35 and i think was more than one bus to take from uni to get to the hossy...Anyways the neurologist doesn't think it is epilepsy...She (think K said she) is arranging for K to have an EEG and a 24 hour ECG...She may also get a CAT scan but not so sure on that yet...Must remember to tell K no point in her doing her hair nice for the EEG as it will be a mess after it and full of gel stuff...These tests will be done very soon as neurologist wants them done before end of uni year which is not that far away...K sounded happier on phone so this neurologist must have listened to her and finally having someone listen and not put you down is a great help :o) On her way back she must have had a wander round some shops as she phoned again laters...Asking if i wanted any dragons...She's found a shop there that sells loads of really nice ones and also has the myth & magic ones...So she's bought me two as belated birthday pressie <bless> ...Might send her some dosh to buy me more LOL...IF i had any to send down.

Car is back in the garage again <sigh> I checked my oil level on sun and it was extremely low...So the oil must be leaking somewhere as i'd just topped it up the other week when going to edinburgh...Thing is there's no puddle under the car from leaking oil...It must be leaking somewhere when it's being driven and the smoke from exhaust is oil being burnt off :o(  Told nice Mr Garage man i can't afford to fix dratted car again...Also said i wasn't too impressed at having to pay for rear brakes being cleaned etc in MOT or for the handbrake to get fixed either...He agreed that should have been done as a fix under guarantee type thingy...Anyways i left him the keys and the cars disappeared from the street now...If it's something major then sod it and he's gonna sell me another car LOL

G's just not long come in the door...Technological studies was his exam today...He's said it was ok and i said was it easy then...He said no it wa challenging...He did find it easier than the prelim LOL...G's idea of challenging is something he has to think about a teensy bit...What he calls challenging most would call damned hard...Anyways thats one down and four to go...Tomorrow is his nightmare one english...It's such a struggle for him and i'll be so glad when he doesn't have to do it anymore...As for me well am alright, i have no idea if the pills are helping or not...Some of the things that were stressing me too much i can cope with now regardless...In that although i am still very worried about K i can deal with that worry now...The boys will always be a worry so with that i just get on with it...I have had the impetus to actually tidy up and clean the flat again which is good considering it looked like a bombsite...Well it still does but slightly less so LOL...I did pop in past the solicitors i used for my divorce this afternoon...They do have someone who deals with guardianship for special needs/disability but in their other office...So i'll phone and make an appointment to go see her and see about starting process of getting that all sorted out...Am off for a coffee and a surf to keep me awake...If i sit down to watch telly i'll fall asleep as i watched the snooker last night...Wahay to Graham Dott winning as he's scottish :o)

Toodle pip tc xx