Me Against the World

Yesterday, May 15, 2008 I received the 26 page report. I feel better. Here's where the fighting begins:

Today, I turned in a copy of the report to Calen's preschool. I spoke with his teacher about ABA therapy. The report recommends that Calen receive 20 to 25 hours per week of ABA therapy. I told her I would like to start him off with about 1 to 2 hours per day to see how he tolerates it. This woman looked me in the face and told me that they do not have any teachers certified in ABA therapy. AND????? I guess that was supposed to be the end of that. LOL
I've left a message for Brandy Worthy in Huntsville. I would like to see if they have a program where a therapist will come to my son's school at the expense of the school system. No certified teacher? No problem! I will fix this situation. I will find a certified teacher and have the entire thing set up. There will be no reason to say no. The new IEP meeting is next Thursday at 1pm. I also plan to contact the special education coordinator Monday to have a short discussion with her.

Here's fight number 2:

I started Calen on the gf/cf diet around April 4, 2008. Since being on this diet, he's made progress. The most noticeable for me is the sleep patterns. He used to wake up in the middle of the night screaming and crying. There was no comforting him. I just had to watch him to make sure he doesn't hurt himself and wait for him to calm down. What I was told by another parent is these episodes were caused by pain in his tummy from the foods he was eating. These episodes stopped almost immediately after starting the diet. He hasn't had one since...until last night. Around 11pm, he sat up in bed with his eyes shut and started flinging his arms around. Then he opened his eyes and started screaming and crying. I picked him up and carried him into the living room so he wouldn't wake his sister. There he fell out in the living room floor and screamed and cried. I had to watch my baby in pain for 45 minutes. He had spent the entire day at daycare. I knew he had something he shouldn't have. Just the other day, I had to get onto the staff again about giving him foods that they were unsure about. I told them that if in doubt, either call me or just don't give him the food. What is so hard about that? Well, while watching my son rolling around in the floor, I called my friend Ashley with DHR. I left her a message about my son. She called the next day (today) and gave me a number to call the daycare division in Montgomery. It was too late to call them today, but they will hear from me 1st thing Monday morning. I will accept nothing less that cooperation for my son's health. It pisses me off just thinking about him in the floor.

It honestly feels like the whole world is working against me. All I'm trying to do is help my son. I want him to grow up and be as independent as possible. I refuse to let this hinder him in anyway. I have many people who send me information, and I am so appreciative of them. When someone does something to help, they're doing more than they know. I'm not trying to complain! I love my job of being a mother to my children. I just wish I didn't have to fight so much. I have a lot of things weighing on me anyway. When someone attempts to stand in my way, I'm forced to steamroll over them and keep moving. That takes all the energy out of me. Now watch, as soon as I finish winning these battles, I will break down and catch a bad cold. Small price for a victory for my baby...the 1 in 150. I love him.