The dreaded pill
2007-10-10 04:02:00
Demetrius has been taking Methylin for the past year or so, in liquid form. He's now gotten to be big enough that one small dose in the morning isn't good enough.
One of the options we are exploring is Concerta, but that only comes in pill form...and we want it time released so he can maximize his ability to focus and concentrate all day.
But its a pill.
We've tried a few different tricks to get him to take it, but no dice. There are three parts here as far as I can see:
1 - it is just hard for wee-ones to take a pill, so there is some learnin' that just has to take place (regardless of how painful)
2 - anything new is hard for a regular kid like this, kick it up a few notches for the likes of an autistic kid like Super D
3 - Demetrius is just plain being stubborn. He's won't even try and is being obstanant (I don't know where he would get that at all).
We've tried to hide it in peanut butter (he's dug it out with his fingers). We've tried to just let him approach
Family Fun Time at QuikTrip
2007-10-09 06:58:00
I’m beginning to think that Target is being challenged in the minds of my children by QuikTrip as the greatest store in the Western World. It’s surpassed Chick-fil-A, and if it hasn’t pulled in front of Target, then it is fast closing in on it.
Think about it from the young child perspective. You walk in – there are seven different types of slushees and smoothies to choose from….a few freezer down there are at least 15 different ice cream treats to choose. Go a bit farther down the candy aisle and you can grab a handful of Hershey bite sized for 5 cents each. Not too mention they sell Krispy Kreme donuts, that you’ve had in the past, right there by the front door.
So you can see that soccer practice really is just a prelude to getting the greatest tastes in the world afterwards.
Last night, after Demetrius’ practice we went in, and I said no to the slushee, we hadn’t eaten dinner yet (they don't remain slushees once melted or frozen completely), and told t
Read more: Family
Maya's I Can Make A Difference Picture
2007-10-08 03:29:00
So, this is a contest she's entered...
And she says she can make a difference by being a good friend.
So she drew a picture of her and Emily.
Emily and Maya, making a difference........
Read more: Picture
Yep, Pretty Much My Worst Fear
2007-10-08 03:19:00
Looks like these kids just wanted to get their rocks off beating up an autistic kid....while filming the whole thing.
They are getting what's due, so it seems. That said, legal process what undo the damage this family now has to deal with...
Read more: Pretty
Maya is helping with this blog posting
2007-10-07 08:19:00
So right now we are sitting out back on our porch and writing a blog post. Maya says: I played a soccer game, I went to church on Sunday, and I went to a movie (Brother Bear) at my school. Here are some pictures:
This is a picture of me and my friend Harrison at the movie at my school. We are in my Princess sleeping bag eating popcorn.
At my soccer game we found some colors and a Barbie coloring pad. My coach let us color when we weren't playing. I am coloring with Gabriella.
Demetrius is silly. He wasn't watching my game. He was putting this big cone on his head. I just saw this picture. I think it is funny.
Paulina And The Party
2007-10-05 03:58:00
Everyone who reads this blog knows how I feel about birthday parties. They are so important to being a little kid. Cake, ice cream, candy, your friends, and presents, presents, presents! Last year Demetrius was invited to David Button’s birthday party – David, Cowboy Bear, who now lives in Singapore (man, do we miss the Buttons) – and then it went dry. Nothing. Nothing told me more about the world we live in with this child than the fact he wasn’t being invited to birthday parties. The words I’ve heard the last few weeks hurt real bad, but this breaks my heart for my child. Because he loves birthday parties. In a way, it just shows me how lonely it can be for Demetrius.
Then came an invite in mid-May for Lounda’s birthday party. Lounda is a little French girl….with three brothers. I met her mother, Paulina
, at a couple of Demetrius’ school events. She always looked tired. I figured with four kids she would be. Each time I spoke to her (not that I got into in-depth conv
Read more: Party
Picture of the Front Bumper Of My Car
2007-10-04 09:53:00
Read more: Picture
, Front
, Bumper
Lost Autistic Boy Found
2007-10-19 05:50:00
Another one of our big fears, as Demetrius loves nature walks. Story can be found here.
Read more: Autistic
Head Phones
2007-10-18 09:42:00
I knew the head phones were a hit the minute Demetrius put them on the first time and listened to Abba's Dancing Queen. Since then, every time I've had lunch at school, he's been sitting more comfortably with the kids eating his lunch (but obviously, not interacting with them). Further, for long car rides, or when he gets upset - we offer him the headphones as an option. They actually calm him down.
His teachers put them in a special pocket included in his backpack, and if the boy forgets to unpack them...and then asks about them the next morning, oh brother....
So this morning, he forgot (we forgot....we need to train him better to remember) and the OCD kicked in that they wouldn't work, as he walked to the bus stop. These things are hard for him, and you have to play them just right or nothing you will say will calm him down, and he'll get on the bus and stress through the morning...through lunch....
But hats off to Mommy, as we walked out the bus stop she just stopped him,
Read more: Phones
Weekend Photos
2007-10-17 09:38:00
All are from Nonni, our family's photographer this past weekend:
The weekend started out bright and early with Demetrius' 8am soccer game. Here we are going over the gameplan: First, soccer; second, pancakes; third, trip to Target......
While the boys played soccer, the little sisters licked and ate ring pops...at 8:20ish in the morning. Starting the weekend off with a well balanced diet of sugar and red dye #7....
In between Maya and Demetrius' games, Grandpa and Maya had to play Littlest Pet Shop, the latest toy craze for Maya Marie...
Warming up for Maya's game, we played some keep away....Daddy attempted to keep the size 3 ball away from two very talented Cheetah Girls (laughing and giggling the whole time)....
Maya got the ball, and then worked on shooting drills (notice we are wearing our pink shin guards on the outside of our soccer socks...we gotta show that pink...)
After soccer, it was on to the big hotel adventure, for some indoor swimming action....
And som
Read more: Weekend
Soccer, Soccer And More Soccer
2007-10-16 12:33:00
So we have had many a discussion about Demetrius and soccer…on the autism front, this has been the front and center issue for the past few weeks. As you know, we’ve been monitoring and lamenting…so we huddled; and all agreed: the child is not enjoying this experience.
So before practice yesterday, Mommy and I approached Demetrius to try to ascertain how he really feels about playing (he tends to tell us what he thinks we want to hear, so we knew we’d need to work through that). He wants to still ‘play’. He’s having fun ‘playing with the boys’. We pepper him a few times with these questions, same answers.
So we go to soccer practice. However, instead of trying to get him involved in the practice, I just let him run around. At first he goes over to the boys, but then he runs off, tries to climb the fence…he has fun on his terms. After practice he tells me he had fun. No fits. No meltdowns. It was a good night.
So if we take off the expectations of playing soccer, a
Read more: Soccer
Car Kids
2007-10-23 09:16:00
My friend Maddy often writes about her two boys and how they have such a hard time with transitions and riding in their vehicle. I feel for her when she blogs about their family’s trials and tribulations going to Target or the grocery store.
In contrast, my kids LOVE going places. For Demetrius, there is always the opportunity to play with toys, watch a DVD, or get a snack. The benefits for him far outweigh the downsides. Maya’s just a car girl. At some point in her life she’s going to play a role in a high school musical of Grease. She just loves cars. I also worry that she’ll go ga-ga over some doofus in high school that can only drool his name and takes shop, but drives a Bitchin’ Camaro and has an idea about my daughter and that vehicle with too much room without an uncomfortable hump in the backseat of that gas guzzler. Let me take that back, I’m channeling the 1980s – a cool hybrid muscle car, circa 2015.
I, however, drive a 99 VW Jetta. I love my 99 Jetta. Its go
Well, It's Certainly An Answer
2007-10-22 09:18:00
Demetrius is getting better at expressing himself. As words come easier to him, and he is more confident in speaking, we are hearing more and more out of him about his day, and what he thinks about things.
Kim: Demetrius, will try taking your pill this morning?
Demetrius (shaking his head): No.
Kim (somewhat dejected, somewhat irritated): Will you ever take your pill, Demetrius?
Demetrius (answering quickly): Never.
Gotta love it when the answer comes so quickly to him these days.
Good For Kim
2007-10-26 10:12:00
Kim's decided enough with the waiting around. She took the initiative. Earlier in the week, I get an invite to a Halloween party from the wife in my email inbox. I assume we've been invited to a Halloween party and she's just forwarding it to me. Nah, if no one is gonna invite Demetrius to a party, then we are having a party and inviting other kids. Neighbor kids, school friends, long time friends, and......other autistic kids. Kids that don't get invited to birthday or holiday parties. So why sit around and have your heart broken or feel sad.?Throw your own party!
Like any last minute party, some can make it, some can't. But Demetrius has been talking about it ever since Kim came up with this and acted on it. "I'm having a Halloween Party!," he's been yelling to anyone that will listen. "It will be spooky...." (I don't know about that...)
But I tell you this -
It will be enjoyed by a few little boys, and those little boys Moms & Dads.
You go Kim Grasso! Well done.
Poor Lunch Ladies
2007-10-25 03:39:00
Last night, after choir practice for Demetrius (Maya's soccer practice was cancelled) we went for ice cream treats. Demetrius got a tried and true treat that he likes, a Twix ice cream bar; Maya tried a different Strawberry Shortcake style ice cream. She didn't like it. I could tell on the way home she was disappointed. We talked about it. About being 'big' and trying new things and accepting that she now knows she didn't like this and won't get it again. She then said to me:
"Yes, I also tell the lunch ladies at school when I don't like the lunch."
Those lucky lunch ladies. How many kindergartners do you think they hear this from on a daily basis? Heh-heh.....
Read more: Lunch
Where did THAT come from?
2007-10-24 10:36:00
Demetrius has never been a fan of 'the homework'. He's never been a fan of 'the practicing'. Alot of cajoling, prompting, pleading, threatening and bribing to get an assignment done. Doesn't matter what it is, whatever the subject, it is as painful as being boiled in oil.
Last night we were practicing some writing (after dinner, before we watched a SpongeBob Halloween episode). His handwriting isn't great, but servicable. He did it, and Maya did her assignment (Demetrius is Spider Man for Halloween/Maya is Dora for Halloween....). About five minutes into SpongeBob, Demetrius gets up, goes over to the kitchen table where we were doing homework.
Demetrius: Daddy, where is my pencil?
Daddy: I put it up, why?
Demetrius: My D (the letter) isn't right in my name, I want to fix it.
After I get up from the floor (I think I passed out, blacked out, or something)....I, in a fog, got him the pencil and watched him erase and fix his letter D, and go back over and finish watching Spong
Pics and More Pics
2007-11-01 07:49:00
We didn't get alot of pics last night from Halloween (bad parents!) so I thought I would share some pictures from the build up to Halloween over the past month. So here we go:
I'll start with my favorite. I call this 'PainfulPumpkinPatchPicture' (say it 10 times fast). Beautiful early Fall afternoon where the Grasso kids and the Seibold kids went out to the Pumpkin Patch to pick out some pumpkins. As you can see, the girls are having a good time (left to right, Jessie, Maya and Janie). However, Demetrius was either shot in the back by an assasian with a high powered rifle, is having an autistic fit, or is just sick and tired of hanging out with girls. You get to pick which one.
Pumpkin Patch...Demetrius behaving
This is a great picture of Nonni & Grandpa. I dunno, I just like it. Grandpa is talking about something. Nonni seems to be pretending to pay attention to him. Probably ignoring him. I also like to think this what Captain and Tenille look like today. M
Surfers Healing on NightLine
2007-10-31 05:46:00
Long time readers of this blog know that I'm a big fan of Izzy's autistic/surfing project, Surfers
Healing
. They also know we were going to do this in North Carolina last year, but a hurricane got in the way of what I'm sure would have been a totally amazing experience for the Grassos (and Demetrius, in particular).
Autism Speaks is cool, and from a professional PR point-of-view, they have done a fantastic job of raising awareness of the disability and the cause. But Surfers Healing, from a personal point-of-view, is more in tune with me. Not that I'm a cool surfer dude at all, I'm not. But its a Dad, trying to find a way with his son, the autistic world they live in, and something the two of them can relate to together. That just rings true to me. Nature walks are a little bit like that for me and Demetrius I guess, but Izzy has turned it into something more than just the two of them - and for the vision to do that, I'm in awe.
So the program was profiled again, this time on N
Tantrum Tick?
2007-10-30 08:33:00
In the past week I’ve twice noticed (well, a bit more than just 'noticed') a new tick/manifestation with Demetrius in public. The ‘things aren’t quite right so I’m going to throw a huge honking fit’ tick. Like last night, he spilled some water at IHOP and it got on his shorts (dinner at IHOP post- soccer practice) and he gave it the top of his lungs scream, red face, hands over his ears shout out to all who happened to be seated within 100 yards. Because he was sitting next to Mommy, she quickly quelled it (Mommy is always the best security blanket he has, period), but we got the stares and the blinks from the staff and the other guests.
Last Saturday we had some Daddy & Demetrius time happening and we went to Chick-fil-A for lunch….and, well, same thing. This one was a bit more interesting (they didn’t have the free toy he wanted) and he had a nice yell at the girl behind the counter and I had to go up into the indoor play area and retrieve him (he had calmed
Another Great Weekend
2007-10-29 05:27:00
The weekend was superb. A great one in all ways possible. Great
weather here in the Southeast (mid-60s) and a grandparent flew in for Halloween (Nanny Joan is in town). We had soccer games where we brought the treats (big hit…we brought Dunkin Donuts!) and had pizza and watched movies….Cub Scout Pack 808 took a nature walk on Sunday (and we know D loves those!)….
And we had a Halloween Party.
As soon as we got home from our Cub Scout nature walk Maya opened the door (she thought we were the first ‘guests’) and was in full-on Halloween costume, Demetrius raced upstairs to put on his Spider Man costume, and the doorbell started ringing. We had kids, kids and more kids racing around in baseball uniforms, Power Ranger costumes, cowgirl get ups…the works. There was candy to eat and brownies and pumpkin spice cake and Capri Sun to drink. Crafts in the basement (the boys were less enthralled with that) and a trampoline to jump on. Of course, with a few of the at
Read more: Weekend
CNN Piece on Identifying Autism
2007-10-29 05:14:00
Take a look here.
Read more: CNN
, Autism
We Give Up on The Pills
2007-11-05 09:10:00
We had a follow up with Dr. Pakula today and decided to give up on the pill. She was able to coax out of Demetrius that he is scared to take them...and that they are going to make him sick, and he doesn't want Mommy and Daddy to give him anything that makes him sick. That said, we realized this is not going to work at this time and are moving 'back', I guess, from the idea of the pill to that of Metadate CD sprinkles.
He seemed okay with this solution, especially since we allowed him to pick out his own yogurt (we ate at Whole Foods after the appt.) to take with the sprinkles. But, bad pun here, the proof will be in the pudding tomorrow morning when we give it to him to take. His bravery will be tested....
Anyone out there giving their little ones Metadate CD? I see the side effects are minimal, mostly headache or stomachache...
Tough Skin and An Old Sweater
2007-11-04 08:21:00
Each weekend it gets better and better. The other boys are talking to him, even a certain one roots him on during the warm ups. Parents are cheering for him, a few claps for him after I run out onto the field and get him during substitutions. Sure, he still buries his head into my belly after being out on the field – but since everyone’s expectations are calibrated, soccer is now officially ‘fine’ with two games left in the season.
I know there are a couple of dads out there on the team that take it seriously for their boys. I get it. And I also know that basically the boys are playing a man short when D is out there, he’s gotten out of the way of the other team when they are coming downfield…twice in those instances the team has been scored on. I get it that those dads don’t say anything to me, one-way or the other. I look at the experience this way, you can never talk about the reasons why we are doing this (having him play on this team) to a true believe…they want t
Read more: Tough
, Sweater
Give Me Your Ice
2007-11-02 09:20:00
Last night I picked Demetrius up at therapy. Nice to do that periodically. I was a bit early, so I stopped and got an iced decaf coffee to drink while I waited for him to finish (decaf and a crossword puzzle, so nice)....Demetrius, came out of therapy, zeroed in on my drink.
Demetrius: Daddy, what do you have?
Daddy: Iced coffee.
Demetrius: I like iced coffee!
He proceeds to drink about half of it.
I stare at him. Demetrius drinks four things: water, milk, orange juice and lemonade. He sometimes chomps ice. That's it. He walked over and drank this like it was his all time favorite. He makes a bit of the kid 'that's really bitter' face, and then reads a Thomas The Tank Engine book while I talk to the therapist.
We get in the car and start to drive home.
Demetrius: Daddy, can you finish your iced coffee?
Daddy: Yes, why, do you want some more?
Demetrius: No, I just want to eat your ice. I drank it so you would give me your ice. Hurry up, give me your ice.
Smart, smart boy..
Tears I Can't Dry
2007-11-09 07:53:00
A long day for Demetrius yesterday, so when he hit the wall last night, he hit hard. He flew into the bedroom (where I was getting my stuff ready for the gym in the morning) crying at the top of his lungs.
Demetrius: Daddy, please, please, please come to Nanny and Poppy's house after Christmas! I want you to go!
I've explained to Demetrius that I have to work the week after Christmas this year...that....at this time, at least, I can't make this trip. But he's decided that I needed to go, and that nothing I was going to say was going to stop his sobbing.
He does something that he usually doesn't do. He grabs my face with his hands (he's standing on the bed while I'm loading my bag with workout gear) and says to me, "Please come with me to Nanny and Poppy's."
Wow. Great eye contact and reaching out, Super D!
I fold my arms around him (used to be alot easier to do this when he was smaller) and give him a big ol bear hug, roll on top of him on the bed (a little sensory input a
Read more: Tears
Hello Kitty CD Player
2007-11-08 06:14:00
Maya won an art contest (I think I mentioned) a week or so ago. Her entry was a picture she drew about friendship with her and Emily Sellers holding hands. We are very proud of her, and for winning, we got her a sequenced Hello
Kitty
CD player from Target.
Check out the bling on this baby!
Maya's been dying for one ever since Demetrius got his headset for school. So she could not wait to open up this baby up and start jamming out to.....well.....the Betweeen The Lions free CD we got from Chick-fil-A this past summer.
I put in a couple of double AAs and whammo, she was live and listening to 'her' music on 'her' Hello Kitty
head set.
The interesting thing is that it totally messed up her balance and depth perception (just joking, she just quit paying attention to anything) as she walked into the railing on the stair case, and bounced off the door to her bathroom upstairs. Clearly, it didn't hurt, but she was semi-stunned. I walked over to her and realized at that moment that h
New Meds Fallout?
2007-11-07 08:31:00
Yesterday was our first day of the Metadate CD for our ADHD issues. Man, talk about a whiny, fussy boy. From the minute I got home from work yesterday, to the minute he went to sleep – he whined, cried, and fussed non-stop.
It could be the first day it was cold and the heaters were on (his sensitivity issues)…it could be that he’s getting sick (this is classic Demetrius, whining and crying and then getting sent home from school with the flu or cold or vomiting). Or it is the meds. I know one day isn’t a long enough amount of time to diagnose from, but it has me thinking his body is just a little out of whack with the new meds…
Read more: Fallout
Associated Press Story On Autism Here in GA
2007-11-06 12:09:00
Having the CDC in your backyard also helps, no doubt. Access the story here. For the families that have this condition under the roof, nothing really new in this story (I'd categorize it as 'educational')... but it might help as piece that explains its rise in the consciousness of America these days to friends or family members not so 'in the know'.
That said, you don't see much about how it may be related to less diagnoses of mental retardation. That's an interesting side note on the piece.
Read more: Press
, Autism
, Associated Press
A Few 'Interesting' Photos From The Weekend
2007-11-13 15:28:00
Here is just a great photo of Demetrius from his last practice of the season. I don't see as much David Beckham (pretty boy) in him as much as I see a great workhorse defensive midfielder...something more along the lines of a hustling Bundesliga player who could tackle you straight up and seperate muscle from shin bone while not flinching at all....or, just a 7-year-old boy that really wants to know when practice is over and he can get an ice cream cone. One or the other.
Here they are: the fearsome Cheetah Girls. You wouldn't know it from this picture, but these cute piggy-tailed blondes won every game going away, about 15-3. They are head and shoulders bigger and faster than any of the other teams. Of course, they have no concept really of winning and losing, just halftime and end of game snacks. Why are they so good? Simple - only two girls are the oldest in their families. The rest are little sisters. Feisty and fighters. Enough said. The Cheetah girls, mostly blonde and talle
Read more: Weekend
A few things
2007-11-12 04:16:00
Saturday was the last soccer game of the season for the boy (and girl). Last game of the season and the coach tried a new tactic – Demetrius could play as long as he wanted, and playing basically a player short wouldn’t penalize the team. This is what playing a team previously will do – the coaches of the other team remembered Demetrius, and how basically harmless he is to the flow of the game. So Demetrius wandered on and off the field at will. Now, he stayed on the field most of the game, because one of the team dads told him that if he got the ball and scored a goal that he could eat all the donuts he wanted after the game (donut party after the last game of the season).
Well, he didn’t score a goal, and he really didn’t mix it up, but he did try to kick the ball once that bounced to him and he was a bit more engaged than he usually is on the field. A couple of the boys tried to get him to run up and down the field with him, and he ran along with them. Donuts, clearly, ar
Read more: things
|
Recommend Site To A Friend
