Hard day

So, it has been a bad day. Just an all around crappy one. Let's review:

I have to wake up early today. Landon had therapy at 11 and to make sure it got a decent amount of time in at school before I had to pick him up, he had to get up and get there earlier then usual. He was not happy. He gave me attitude about getting him up. He wouldn't drink his yogurt drink because he was coughing and wanted water. Never mind the fact that he needed that drink because it had his medicine in it to help him go to the bathroom, his stomach has been so bloated his pants won't button. (Just another lovely side effect of autism.) So I dump it out and get him water. He won't eat his breakfast because his nose is stuffy. So he is crying which makes it worse. So I dump it all in a bag and tell him he can just eat it at school.

He doesn't want to get dressed; he wants to look at the cats outside. So I am trying to get him dressed, brush his teeth and get all his stuff together. On the way to school, he starts complaining his stomach is hurting. We get to school and he flips out. I was completely caught off guard. He was okay last week. He wasn't thrilled, but he never cried. Well he did today. He cried and threw himself at me and clung to me. He refused to let me walk out the door. I didn't know what to do! I tried reasoning with him and telling him he wouldn't be there long today. He didn't care. He kept saying his stomach was still hurting so I asked him if he wanted me to go home and get some medicine. He said yes. So I drove all the way back home and got it and came back. He was eating breakfast. As soon as he saw me he got upset. I gave him some medicine and tried to soothe him. He kept complaining it was still hurting. I told him to give it a chance to work. He didn't want to and started becoming really agitated. The teacher finally came over and distracted him by asking him to play with her. I slipped out, feeling like a failure. 

I got back and got Halle up, fed her breakfast. By the time I got back home my whole plan of having him stay and get some school time in was shot to hell; he only had a little over an hour before I had to go back and get him. I took a shower, got dressed, got Halle ready and their things together. I picked Landon up, who informed me he was feeling better. We hauled ass to make it to therapy, while getting behind every slow person in the world. He enjoyed therapy at least. Although in the car, and the rest of the day, he and Halle have been at each others throats and have been obnoxious to me as well! Lunch went well, until Landon started complaining about his stomach hurting again. Halle wouldn't nap, but at least Landon did. It is all cold and rainy today. I want to crawl in the bed and shut out the world. No one is listening today, well more then usual. The only consolation I have is that it is a short week. Then I get to go through all of this again after him being out of school for so long, and Halle starting school... fun times.

This week

It has been a crazy past few days... we finally had Landon's IEP meeting Friday and they told us he would start school Monday (yesterday). I was nervous all weekend, for me and for him. Monday I took him and stayed with him for about 30 minutes. He seemed apprehensive about me leaving, but didn't cry. I did though, as soon as I got to the car. I pulled it together, other then just feeling gloomy all day. He didn't go all day because he had therapy at noon, so I think it was a nice way to ease him in. They said he did well. I figured he would, I was only gone around 3 hours. I was more worried about today when he would be there all day. And today was rough. Not as bad as yesterday, frankly I didn't have time to be upset. I had to do the usual and get up and dressed and get them both up, so we were running out the door 5 minutes before we were supposed to be there; good thing we live so close! He was still a little scared I think, he wanted to know exactly where I was going and when I was going to be back... but he walked off and started to play.

Halle and I had a good time at our play date. It was nice to be able to concentrate on her and not have to worry about Landon getting upset or overstimulated by the other kids. We made Mickey Mouse ears. :) And of course, ate lots of food! I think she misses Landon; she is always happy to see him. I am still waiting on the director of her possible preschool to call. She called when I was at our play date and I didn't get any reception. I called back but she was gone. She said on the message that they only had 2 day spots open. I was kind of disappointed about that but it is better then nothing. I can always get her into a 3 or 5 day spot for next year. 

I picked Landon up today and they said nap time was a bit of a problem. I knew it would be, he is used to sleeping alone in his room. She said he was upset about it and he told me about it too. The assistant stayed with him until he fell asleep. I am sure it will just take some getting used to. The only thing that bugged me was when I got in the car and realized they got his food all over his clothes. He even still had ground up food on the seat of his pants where he had sat and squished it in and no one had bothered to wipe it off. It was all over the place. I don't think they used the bib we sent, that is what catches all the food. So I am going to say something tomorrow. Don't want to sound like super bitch, but that was spaghetti sauce, I don't want all of his clothes ruined. I got them home and put some spray and wash on them so I think they are ok. But still...

Well enough for today!

Big changes ahead

We went for our testing last week. I am happy to say Landon did great! He rarely had to be around the lady who upset him so bad and when he was he did okay. But he was very cooperative and passed his vision and hearing tests. The speech therapist said that he will need some therapy, with answering questions the right way instead of repeating the phrase and also with pragmatic language, she thinks he has the language of a 3 year old. But is confident by kindergarten he will be caught up. They won't be able to accept him there because he is more advanced then the kids that go there, so they are going to put him in another place that has half "normal" kids and half mild to moderate special needs kids. It is much closer to our house, which is good. 

We went and took a tour today. It seemed nice; and everyone there was pleasant, the kids looked happy. The only thing I am apprehensive about is that it is so long, from 7:30 to 2:30, 5 days a week. That is a big change for us. I know he needs it, but I am still worried. :( And I will miss him sooooo much. She offered to see if there was a spot for Halle, but that is a lot of money a week. I would love to get a job to pay for it, but I just don't know of a place that will let me have that kind of hours and I have no one to watch them on their breaks or when they are sick. So I don't know what to do. I guess I will have to keep her at home for now until I can figure something else out. I am so bummed, I would love to let her go to preschool, I think she would love it, once she got over me leaving her!

I went to an autism workshop yesterday; it was very informative. It was mainly centered around getting autistic children to play with others, starting with their parents. Also showing them the "correct" way to play with things since their brains can't figure it out, they show sequences and breaking things down to where they can understand them, things that come easily for other kids. I also met a lot of other great people attending for their students, children, grandchildren. It felt great being around people I could identify with and knew what I was going through. 

Well, Landon's IEP meeting set up for next week, so we will know more after that; when he will get to start preschool and how kindergarten will go. Will update more then; off to autistic family therapy!