Week 151

I want to begin by saying "Thank you!" to everyone for helping us through this past week.  The prayers, the emails, the phone calls, the texts, the hugs at work, and the offers of help, are all much appreciated.  With help, we were able to secure an intake appointment for Ryan with a therapist this Friday and another appointment with a psychiatrist next week.  We're still making calls and waiting for return calls from other doctors that were recommended to us.  This journey is far from over so we are keeping all of our options open. 

It was an overwhelming week trying to make and take phone calls with the few free moments I have during the school day.  We kept in close contact with Ryan's teachers and social worker at school.  The staff in his school has been very supportive.  With their help we were able to modify his IEP for him to get 8 individual counseling sessions between now and the end of June, and modify his homework.  For the most part we were able to get Ryan to complete most of his homework this week.  I think that is the time of the day that Ryan (and us) need the most help.  For anyone it can be overwhelming to come home from a long day at work and have to deal with making dinner and completing an evening routine of homework, bath, and bedtime.  Ryan's opposition to doing these things, and his constant bickering with us and Julia, is beyond frustrating and exhausting for us.  And I'm sure it is even more frustrating and exhausting for Ryan.  He is awake by 6am, out of the house by 6:30 am, at daycare for 2 hours, and at school for another 7 hours. He is expected to hold it together all day, while performing tasks that he finds "boring" and difficult.  Then he comes home, and we expect him to continue to do tasks that he finds "boring" and difficult.  As the work becomes more challenging and demanding, I fear Ryan will continue to struggle.  And this is not the same Ryan; there is something different about him these past few weeks.

One of my administrators at work offered to help me complete paperwork for assistance with Ryan during his hours at home.  He is the special education administrator in our building and knows a lot about this kind of stuff; he said there is a homework program out there where college kids come to work on homework with children with Autism.  I didn't even realize there was such a program.

As I mentioned before, this journey is far from over.  There is a lot of work to be done, and issues to be addressed.  There is a lot for us to learn, and resources for us to uncover.  There are questions upon questions to be asked, and I pray that there are answers waiting for us.

There were a lot of struggles with Ryan this week, but there were also some silly and fun moments.

Getting ready for St. Patrick's Day!

Having fun with our glasses from nonna.

Ryan focusing on putting together his project from our neighbor, Carol.

Ryan's St. Patrick's Day gels from Carol.  He hasn't lined things up like this in a long time.  He usually places them randomly on the window.  Why is he categorizing them and lining them up all of a sudden?

Happy Jack.  Unfortunately Jack is sick again.  He has a terrible cough and runny nose, but he is still smiling!

DC