DIS/DISUnplugged/Dreams December Event Info – DISapalooza (continued)

[scarlett873]

I've been watching The Good Wife. I think I am going to be addicted to this one.

We have been quiet tonight.

I've gotten hooked on Mercy on NBC...I thought about watching The Good Wife, as I Chris Noth, but I've got so much TV that I already watch...I just can't add another show to my list!

 

[aspen37]

Everyone has heard that I spend the better part of most work days in meetings, most of those are management related but every once in a while it is focused on an individual situation. Today was one of those days.

I generally talk about my work on the boards in pretty vague terms, mostly because it is hard for people to understand but also out of respect for the privacy of the people that my agency supports.

Today we met with the parents of a young man we have been supporting for about 6 months. I first met these parents about 9 months ago when they were reeling with the diagnosis of schizophrenia for their 20 year old son. This is such a devasting diagnosis for families - not because there is not hope because there is but because it is still experienced as a failure or fault by the parents. I am always amazed at the resiliency of people. This family who spent most of the time during the first meeting asking where they could get a second opinion and denying the struggles their son was having are moving through their own recovery process and coming to terms with their son's illness. It is still a long process and will have many ups and downs.

It always comes home to me how blessed I am to have relatively healthy kids.

Thanks for listening. Back to DAP planning.

Hi Anne, I feel for that family. My mother was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic in the 60's. Mental Illness is miss understood and has a stigma attached to it. I hope he gets the help and the support that he needs. It is a hard life, but with support and the proper meds he can have a great life. I will keep him in my thoughts.

 

[aspen37]

Kristen just posted on FB that she was at Wal Mart and heard Christmas music and I just got my first email from the Black Friday people. IT'S NOT EVEN CLOSE TO HALLOWEEN YET!!!! What's going on??!!! I'm with Charlie Brown, it's just so commercial!

Our Wal-Mart has Christmas stuff out, but I didn't hear any Christmas music yet. I can't wait for December but not enough to start buying Christmas stuff.

Scott, I would have been speechless too.

Some days my job is very rewarding and other days well - you had one of them today.

I'm not sure what your job is, but I would like to say thank you for trying to help people. My mom has a social worker who is the greatest person. If it wasn't for her social worker we would be lost.

The christmas decorations are already in the stores here.
They even have all the trees set up on display!
Talk about sick, we haven't even had our thanksgiving yet.

Hi Katherine!

My first iPhone post!!!!!

Congrats Dodie!

 

[aspen37]

Christmas decorating starts this weekend at our house. I am on our DCL cruise for 2 weekends in November so I am a little worried everything will not be ready for lights on the Sunday after Turkey day and yes the lights do dance to the music. Not quite the Osborne lights, but I do enjoy it.

Wow what a great display!

One of them. But not the one you know about.

Yeah, they would be very, very,very small.

 

[AnneR]

Good Morning everyone!

For my official count down:

64 days until DAP

It is also chat night

Of course I feel like we have been chatting for the last couple of nights.

Typical day coming up for me, I only have 2 formal meetings on the schedule but that does not mean I'll get everything done around them. I'm gonna have to cut back on the boards one night to check some things off my list.

We are anticipating another day in high 60's - low 70's.

Have a great day everyone.

 

[tlcoke]

Good Morning Everyone!! Sorry, I didn't join in last night. I was exhausted, so much so, that I went to bed at 9:00 last night. I have to get caught up on the posts from last night. See ya all in Chat tonight.

 

[wildfan1473]

Everyone has heard that I spend the better part of most work days in meetings, most of those are management related but every once in a while it is focused on an individual situation. Today was one of those days.

I generally talk about my work on the boards in pretty vague terms, mostly because it is hard for people to understand but also out of respect for the privacy of the people that my agency supports.

Today we met with the parents of a young man we have been supporting for about 6 months. I first met these parents about 9 months ago when they were reeling with the diagnosis of schizophrenia for their 20 year old son. This is such a devasting diagnosis for families - not because there is not hope because there is but because it is still experienced as a failure or fault by the parents. I am always amazed at the resiliency of people. This family who spent most of the time during the first meeting asking where they could get a second opinion and denying the struggles their son was having are moving through their own recovery process and coming to terms with their son's illness. It is still a long process and will have many ups and downs.

It always comes home to me how blessed I am to have relatively healthy kids.

Thanks for listening. Back to DAP planning.

Anne - Thank you

As a parent of a special needs child, finding the resources one needs to live as normal a life as possible is very difficult. Finding people like you to help us is a godsend.

 

[wildfan1473]

Good Wednesday Morning! Rumor has it we're going to see the sun in these parts today

I have another busy day of running around, DS7 has speech therapy after school, I have a parent-student assoc. meeting tonight that I have to get ready for, and, hmm, I'm forgetting something....oh, wait, I need to start PACKING!

Have a great day everyone! Hopefully I will make it to chat tonight.

 

[jeanigor]

Morning All!! Just checking in before I go out into the weather. Power went out at home because of the wind. Two and half trees down on my way into work, due to the wind. Barricades and road construction barrels knocked over by the wind.

Wish me luck!

 

[mainegal]

I've gotten hooked on Mercy on NBC...I thought about watching The Good Wife, as I Chris Noth, but I've got so much TV that I already watch...I just can't add another show to my list!

Good Wife is mostly a lawyer show. Do not watch it for Chris Noth, he is on very rarely.

I totally know what you mean by not wanting to add another show to your watch list.

 

[mainegal]

I woke up to rain today. Went for early walk, any way.

 

[tlcoke]

Morning All!! Just checking in before I go out into the weather. Power went out at home because of the wind. Two and half trees down on my way into work, due to the wind. Barricades and road construction barrels knocked over by the wind.

Wish me luck!

Good Luck Todd, Hook on to the safety harness line, so you don't blow away.

I woke up to rain today. Went for early walk, any way.

Rain has moved east today, sun is to peek out today, but Rain moves back in tomorrow. Just back from my walk, breezy and cool 50 degrees this morning.

 

[sshaw10060]

Morning all. I had a moment of weakness last night when I realized I could save $30 a piece on our plane tickets and we expanded our January trip by a day. I do love flying Southwest. The fact they let you change your itinerary with no fees is a great perk, not to mention no checked bag fees.

Highlight of my day is a meeting with one of our interns where I have to tell her she isn't cutting it and has 60 days to improve or she will be asked to leave the program. There are sure to be lots of tears. I just don't think she has what it takes to succeed in our hospital where we work at a very fast pace, so my guess is she'll be gone before DAP.

 

[tlcoke]

Good Wednesday Morning! Rumor has it we're going to see the sun in these parts today

I have another busy day of running around, DS7 has speech therapy after school, I have a parent-student assoc. meeting tonight that I have to get ready for, and, hmm, I'm forgetting something....oh, wait, I need to start PACKING!

Have a great day everyone! Hopefully I will make it to chat tonight.

Packing is on my agenda for Friday & Saturday, I just need to determine what to pack for my 14 day trip and not over pack.

 

[AnneR]

Morning All!! Just checking in before I go out into the weather. Power went out at home because of the wind. Two and half trees down on my way into work, due to the wind. Barricades and road construction barrels knocked over by the wind.

Wish me luck!

Wishing you luck!

Be safe - being on a roof in wind does not sound like the safest activity in the world.

 

[AnneR]

Good Wednesday Morning! Rumor has it we're going to see the sun in these parts today

I have another busy day of running around, DS7 has speech therapy after school, I have a parent-student assoc. meeting tonight that I have to get ready for, and, hmm, I'm forgetting something....oh, wait, I need to start PACKING!

Have a great day everyone! Hopefully I will make it to chat tonight.

Packing is on my agenda for Friday & Saturday, I just need to determine what to pack for my 14 day trip and not over pack.

Jennifer and Tracey - I'm getting a little jealous, I stil have 23 days for our trip.

 

[tlcoke]

Jennifer and Tracey - I'm getting a little jealous, I stil have 23 days for our trip.

Those 23 days will be here before you know it, then you'll get back and look forward to DAP.

 

[AnneR]

Anne - Thank you

As a parent of a special needs child, finding the resources one needs to live as normal a life as possible is very difficult. Finding people like you to help us is a godsend.

Jennifer - Have you found your parent resource center in the state? My understanding is that every state is funded to have one and the purpose is to help families get connected with needed services.


The sad part to this story is even though it is mandated in IDEA, transition services for youth with mental health issues are neglected. I know in my state, youth who have the academic skills to get a high school diploma don't get adequate support in planning for their exit from high school or linkage with supports in the "adult" world. It is often a shock for parents to find out that there is not a "system" that pulls together the pieces for their child.

 

[wildfan1473]

Morning All!! Just checking in before I go out into the weather. Power went out at home because of the wind. Two and half trees down on my way into work, due to the wind. Barricades and road construction barrels knocked over by the wind.

Wish me luck!

Good Luck!

Jennifer - Have you found your parent resource center in the state? My understanding is that every state is funded to have one and the purpose is to help families get connected with needed services.


The sad part to this story is even though it is mandated in IDEA, transition services for youth with mental health issues are neglected. I know in my state, youth who have the academic skills to get a high school diploma don't get adequate support in planning for their exit from high school or linkage with supports in the "adult" world. It is often a shock for parents to find out that there is not a "system" that pulls together the pieces for their child.

Our issues stem from the fact that DS7 was adopted at the age of 4. For the first year, everyone (social services, school district, pediatrician) said "just give him more time." Well, DH and I are not Super Man and Wonder Woman! When we adopted the boys, we were his 6th placement. He had the language of a 2 year old Russian child, massive sensory issues, extreme anxiety and hypervigilance, temper tantrums that were physical struggles over an hour long (several times a day)...I could go on and on. "Give him time" was a phrase I HATED.

After almost a year, we were pointed in the direction of an OT who has been amazing. She referred us to a speech pathologist who, while not perfect, has been willing to listen to what I have researched and try new things. We now have a child neuropsychologist who specializes in Autism and ADHD, and has an internationally adopted child herself, so she "gets" it, and, most recently, a developmental pediatrician who convinced DH it was time to try anxiety meds (on DS, not DH!). After 3 1/2 years, we are finally on the right road forward. We held DS back one year, and now he is in a parochial school with new teachers who have backgrounds in special needs. I am happy to say, he is thriving.

 

[shellyminnie]

Packing is on my agenda for Friday & Saturday, I just need to determine what to pack for my 14 day trip and not over pack.

Bring shorts!! It's still hot here!!