Get Hampshire Blogs - A mother's autism diary

May 4th

nospam@example.com (Jennie Donnelly) — Tue, 04 May 2010 22:57:47 +0100

Well got the boys off to school, Eric even remebered to take his French books. Alec was less than pleased and decided that he might have a headache and tummy ache. I asked him if he felt well enough to play DS after school. He got the hint and grabbed his reading folder... little monkey.

After work I went to the bicycle shop and purchased a helmet. Now I haven't owned one for years not because I was making any statement or trying to protect my hair... I just hadn't got round to it. I need a helmet now as I will be cycling 10 miles tomorrow with the merry band that will be cycling from Fleet to Bath. Yes I'm mad... but I'm not alone

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I survived the London Marathon

nospam@example.com (Jennie Donnelly) — Tue, 04 May 2010 22:40:16 +0100

Well needless to say the day after the marathon I was in a world of hurt. Stairs were not my friend as I crabbed walked to get up and bumped down the stairs on my derriere to get back down. Elegant I was not and quite frankly I didn't care... I had run and more to the point survived the London Marathon... I was an athlete... sorta. Kevin had booked me a massage for that evening and I must say it was ectasty and searing pain all mixed together

Tuesday my range of motion had improved slightly and I was able to hobble less pathetically up the stairs whilst chatting to the MD of my company. I say less pathetic but that is only in comparasion to the day before... it was pretty pathetic. Still I think the flip flops matched with my business attire was quite fetching

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May 3rd

nospam@example.com (Jennie Donnelly) — Mon, 03 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Monday brought more of a bounce to my step. The first port of call was to start work on the Dalek. I charged Eric with making evenly sized rings from wrapping paper tubes... an ideal job for someone who is obsessed with details.

Alec busily sorted out bits to make the Dalek's eye and suction cup. and together we created: ) Managed to catch up with my friend Laura and had a lovely 7 mile run round Fleet and Fleet Pond. I must say I felt more relaxed than I had felt all week when got back home. The boys and I finished off the Dalek and watched old Doctor Who episodes all afternoon. Now we just have to wait for it to dry before we spray paint it gold

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March 6th - 51 days

nospam@example.com (Jennie Donnelly) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:02:00 +0000

Walked up to Fleet this morning with Kevin and the boys. Eric had his usual problem at the library, spending an hour picking a book. When he is faced with lots of choice he becomes overwhelmed and shuts down to a degree. He keeps thinking that there might be a better book so even when he finds one he won't commit.

Still not sure how to tackle this problem. We certainly don't want him to associate books or going to the library with stress, so we allow him to have this time to go through this process. We were proud of him though for approaching a librarian and explaining how he had damaged the previous book. Eric had been reading in the bath (smuggling in the book without our knowledge) and had dropped it in the tub. The poor boy was genuinely concerned that they wouldn't let him borrow books anymore.

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March 5th - 52 Days

nospam@example.com (Jennie Donnelly) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:26:00 +0000

Both boys were poorly so no school today.

Not much else to report as marathon rest day... gearing up for tomorrow for the long run.

March 4th - 53 Days

nospam@example.com (Jennie Donnelly) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:16:00 +0000

Eric didn't have as good a time this morning. Kevin asked him to water the animals (his usual morning job) and apparently he lost it. Eric had decided he wanted to watch cartoons and have his breakfast in the living room. Kevin managed to calm him down by getting him back into his routine. Eric did ok after that and got off to school with all his kit on the first try today which is quite something in our house.

Alec had a good morning, he woke up feeling better the headache seemingly gone. He stayed late today to do an extra dance rehearsal his headache came back when they were doing some of their more rigorous maneuvers. So when I picked him up he was sitting over to the side wrapped up in his coat. Poor little boy, I put his pj's on him as soon as we got home. Eric didn't take well to this as not part of the routine. The first thing he asked was why Alec didn't have to do homework again. I tried to explain that Alec didn't feel very well and that he needed rest to get better but Eric just couldn't comprehend it. He shut down and started making noises and refusing to do his work to the point where he agreed that he would go to bed immediately after supper rather than do it. Alec will be kept home from school tomorrow to give him time to get better. We will have to deal with that conversation with Eric tomorrow morning...

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March 3rd - 54 Days

nospam@example.com (Jennie Donnelly) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:15:00 +0000

Eric and Alec got up bright and early this morning and were dressed with their morning chores done by the time I had come downstairs. Brilliant!!!!

After school Alec had a bad headache (he has a bad cold poor thing) and was asking if he could go to bed. So we got Eric, went home, dosed up Alec, got him into his PJ's and under a blanket on the sofa. Eric didn't like that Alec didn't have to do homework due to feeling poorly. He resisted doing his work at first till he realised that he wasn't going to get anywhere. So early night for both boys.

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March 2nd - 55 Days

nospam@example.com (Jennie Donnelly) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:13:00 +0000

Eric suddenly announced last night that he had to be dressed as a Tudor for school today. Fortunately we happen to have a Tudor costume in the dressing up cupboard (we have an amazing assortment that we have collected or made over the years).

When Eric got up, being the creature of routine he is, he put on his school uniform and came downstairs. He seemed a little unsure about whether or not he was supposed to dress as a Tudor all day or not. So at this point we suggested that he look out his bedroom window and see what the other kids were wearing and then he could change if he saw other 'Tudor's' milling about outside the school gates. At 8:30 Eric rushed downstairs disrobed and threw on his costume.

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March 1st - 56 Days

nospam@example.com (Jennie Donnelly) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:09:00 +0000

Woke up this morning with a bit of a head cold, have dosed up on medicine in the hopes of keeping it at bay. Running is supposed to be a natural decongestant anyway

www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-241-286--9082-0,00.html

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February 28th - 55 Days

nospam@example.com (Jennie Donnelly) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:09:00 +0000

We discovered that Eric has been systematically de-constructing his ceiling. I entered his room and initially believed a blizzard had blown of course and somehow made its way into his bedroom.

When questioned he claimed it was paper then looked away and told me it was the ceiling and he had been collecting it in a pile under his pillow. I couldn't be too angry with him he had come clean but, had him vacuum up the mess and talk to us about why it was wrong to pick apart the ceiling. Kevin and I both think it was a sensory thing as he was suitably remorseful but shut down emotionally for the rest of the day and exhibited some of his louder and jerky ticks for the rest of the day. We managed to get out swimming for an hour this afternoon but again Eric just couldn't focus and was putting himself and the other children in the pool in danger.

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February 27th - 56 Days

nospam@example.com (Jennie Donnelly) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:06:00 +0000

I had to work this morning but get time in lieu which I think I may need for additional training.

So Kevin had the boys for a few hours.

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February 26th - 57 Days

nospam@example.com (Jennie Donnelly) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:04:00 +0000

Today was another busy day at the Donnelly's. Alec's dance troupe's waistcoats arrived much to his delight. He is rightly excited as the competition takes place at Princess Hall in Aldershot on March 11th. Just to wait for the highlighter coloured t-shirts.

Don't worry I will be posting a picture of the little devils on the day. Eric had a good day at school though I suspect he may have sneaked my a packet of my post run Jelly Babies. I found one of the kitchen chairs under the cupboard where I had put them. Neither Ronnie or Reggie are admitting anything but are dropping loads of hints. Will question them separately later

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February 25th - 58 Days

nospam@example.com (Jennie Donnelly) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:04:00 +0000

Well the Ritalin is starting to become part of the morning routine. Everything has to have a rhythm to it including the morning verbalized mental check list. I still needed to remind him to take it but, that seems to be part of the routine because he does mention the medicine beforehand.

Today was his first time back at Environment club since the first week in November. Funnily enough Eric just sighed and muttered that "everything is back to normal now." He had his drum lessons today too, he will be sticking with the same sheet for another week and was a bit disappointed. This lead us into a discussion about practicing slowly and methodically instead of rushing things. I think it is starting to sink in.

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February 24th - 59 Days

nospam@example.com (Jennie Donnelly) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:01:00 +0000

Another mad Wednesday... Eric started the day by verbalizing and repeating his mental list like a mantra." Brush my teeth, get dressed, breakfast, water animals, cartoons, medicine, go to school, go to swimming lessons... then Beavers and Cubs, supper and bed with a book"

Poor Eric lost his underpants at the pool which he said upset him and made him uncomfortable. He doesn't like things to be different so I can well imagine that this distressed him. The first thing he did when he got home was to put on some pants and then all was right with the world once again.

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February 23rd - 60 Days

nospam@example.com (Jennie Donnelly) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:24:00 +0000

First day back at school for the boys!!!! The long faces as breakfast was eaten in silence and watched CBBC mourning the loss of their holiday time... me included

But it wasn't all bad...

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