Donna

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/7/02 9:04:58 AM Eastern Daylight Time, DPLigon@...

writes:

> Donna, glad seems to be adjusting to school close to home. I

> really admire this girl of yours and her determination to get past

> this difficult time, I read what you shared that she said about

> Maddie and did not get the chance then to tell you, I think this is

> precious, those therapists, I remember, can be a little overwhelming

> and they can put stuff out there that just isnt true! Thank goodness

> your daughter spoke out and said, no, this is a wonderful part of my

> life!! Well, just wondering how she is and if she still has some of

> her buddies close to her or are they all away at school? I know she

> will continue to do well, as I said before what a super family she

> has! Dawn

Hey Dawn,

You're so sweet to say such kind things....I appreciate it very much!!

has a core group of girlfriends from high school (5 of them) with whom

she is very close. They are all good, quality friends, but so is .

Her very best friend though is her cousin (one of the 5---we're extremely

lucky...all of our kids' best friend is a cousin on Duff's side or

mine...with the exception of Maddie---I'm pretty sure *I'm* her best

friend...LOL) is also dating a guy who is good friends with our

oldest son, and she has kept in contact with her friends down in DC from her

year at American University (two girls from Long Island came and spent a

weekend, and she and her cousin went down to AU last weekend to visit). And

since starting Temple U. last week, she has met a few people and run into

some old buddies from grade school. Tonight she is going to the Arrowsmith

concert with her cuz (her b-day present to Amy) It's hard for us to

believe that this is a kid who thinks she has social problems, but that's all

part of her eating disorder. As you can imagine, she's been pretty

busy...LOL

Thanks for asking Dawn.

Hope you and yours are doing well!!

Donna

[Guest guest]

Donna, glad seems to be adjusting to school close to home. I

really admire this girl of yours and her determination to get past

this difficult time, I read what you shared that she said about

Maddie and did not get the chance then to tell you, I think this is

precious, those therapists, I remember, can be a little overwhelming

and they can put stuff out there that just isnt true! Thank goodness

your daughter spoke out and said, no, this is a wonderful part of my

life!! Well, just wondering how she is and if she still has some of

her buddies close to her or are they all away at school? I know she

will continue to do well, as I said before what a super family she

has! Dawn

> In a message dated 9/5/02 10:13:47 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

duffey48@a...

> writes:

>

> << THanks for asking GAil. I haven't given much updates...just

busy busy

> busy

> here. started school Tuesday and likes it so far (despite

being

> overwhelmed by the amount of reading she has to do----she's got

TWO history

> courses). She still does her therapy twice a week and is doing

MUCH

> better

> on the zoloft. We go back in October to see if there are any

changes in

> the lump on her breast and the bruising completely stopped (see,

I'm

> CONVINCED it was the prozac). So, so far, so good!!!

> So sorry about Seth's school situation. When you're dealing

with your

> other kiddo and new school you surely needed his stuff to go at

least ok!!!!

>

> {{{hugs}}}}

> Donna >>

>

> Glad to hear things are okay at your place Donna, and that is

doing

> better. Hope she keeps up with school. Sounds tough!

> Gail :-)

[Guest guest]

Donna, so glad for , she sounds like she has such a great, well

rounded group of people close and away, to help her through all this!

I know this makes you happy. I asked this cause all my big kids have

most their friends in Ky. or where they go to school and even though

they love coming home, Tn. is not where there " friend roots " are if

ya know what I mean. So I wish they had some buddies here too, they

just have lots of family, I guess that is important too, can you tell

I miss them? Anyway, thinkin of you, Maddie and and glad things

are well! Dawn

> In a message dated 9/7/02 9:04:58 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

DPLigon@m...

> writes:

>

>

> > Donna, glad seems to be adjusting to school close to home.

I

> > really admire this girl of yours and her determination to get

past

> > this difficult time, I read what you shared that she said about

> > Maddie and did not get the chance then to tell you, I think this

is

> > precious, those therapists, I remember, can be a little

overwhelming

> > and they can put stuff out there that just isnt true! Thank

goodness

> > your daughter spoke out and said, no, this is a wonderful part of

my

> > life!! Well, just wondering how she is and if she still has some

of

> > her buddies close to her or are they all away at school? I know

she

> > will continue to do well, as I said before what a super family

she

> > has! Dawn

>

> Hey Dawn,

> You're so sweet to say such kind things....I appreciate it very

much!!

> has a core group of girlfriends from high school (5 of them)

with whom

> she is very close. They are all good, quality friends, but so is

.

> Her very best friend though is her cousin (one of the 5---we're

extremely

> lucky...all of our kids' best friend is a cousin on Duff's side or

> mine...with the exception of Maddie---I'm pretty sure *I'm* her

best

> friend...LOL) is also dating a guy who is good friends

with our

> oldest son, and she has kept in contact with her friends down in DC

from her

> year at American University (two girls from Long Island came and

spent a

> weekend, and she and her cousin went down to AU last weekend to

visit). And

> since starting Temple U. last week, she has met a few people and

run into

> some old buddies from grade school. Tonight she is going to the

Arrowsmith

> concert with her cuz (her b-day present to Amy) It's hard for us

to

> believe that this is a kid who thinks she has social problems, but

that's all

> part of her eating disorder. As you can imagine, she's been

pretty

> busy...LOL

> Thanks for asking Dawn.

> Hope you and yours are doing well!!

> Donna

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/26/02 9:01:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

smilinggail@... writes:

> Ya know, as alike as Miss Maddie and Sir Seth are, they are also vastly

> different. :-) The combo of Teacch and Pecs got Seth nowhere.

> BUT.........unlike Maddie, words make sense to Seth, who by the way, is

> doing

> fantastic things in school this year.....so far!

> Gail :-)

>

Gail,

That is so awesome that Seth is having a good year!!!!! Boy, do you

deserve that after surviving your nightmare with DH!!!! I'm thrilled for

you guys!!!!

Donna

[Guest guest]

Donna,

I hope some of the new ideas work out for Maddie. I just want to share

what happened with Brookie when they tried that approach. For Brookie they

tried the detractor idea for a long time and it didn't help matters. I think

that is the word they used. The teacher would set up Brook's eating area

with either 2 or 3 pictures or pecs of different foods. Then the real foods

would be behind the pecs or pictures. One of the foods was always something

he would never eat, that was easy since he was a terribly picky eater. One of

the foods was one of his favorites, like cheese puffs. The idea was that he

would make the connection and pick the food item he enjoyed. Unfortunately,

Brook never looked very closely at the pictures or never made the connection

and would still pick the undesired pec item frequently. Then they would

present him with it and he wouldn't eat it, he would push it away or spit it

out, etc. They couldn't get him to eat it, NO WAY, LOL. This whole procedure

was written into his IEP and he still made no progress with connecting the

pecs to the actual foods. The only pecs he learned were bus and computer and

maybe one more. Of course food was never that much of a motivator with Brook

though he did love his cheese puffs! Maybe Maddie learns in a different style

than Brook and it will work for her. I hope so, or there are always other

alternatives to pursue, Maddie sounds pretty clever to me.

Marisa

[Guest guest]

At 09:18 AM 10/23/2002 EDT, includeallofus@... wrote:

>AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION, i will be 30 november 6th, so that takesm e out of

>the girl category...i will now be a woman :-)

No way darlin'. You'll always be our little girl.

joan

(who is now 41)

[Guest guest]

Hi donna,

Your month sounds great! I could use a weekend with Lucy! Thanks for thinking

of Cait. I sat another afternoon in the hospital,grrrr. They keep telling me

she is fine but she sure doesn't act fine. I'm certainly not thrilled about

setting up a nursery but once this baby is born they can treat the cancer.

How is ?

Charlyne

Mom to Zeb 9 DS/OCD ?

[Guest guest]

Hi Donna,

Yeah, sure. I'd like to know what I'm getting into in checking this

therapy out. Good luck with your computer, mine has the mind of a 2 year old

and is in desperate need of some " physical therapy " . I guess slapping it up

along side the monitor doesn't do the trick!

a

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/5/2003 12:47:59 PM Eastern Standard Time,

smilinggail@... writes:

> Donna,

> Hey, this is the stage that Seth is at too. :-) He has just started the

> *I want* pic for pecs. That is cool to watch him make progress. I never

> thought he would be using the sentence strip this fast. How is Miss Maddie

>

> doing with potty training? Any luck yet?

> Gail :-)

>

Hey Gail,

Wow...way to go Seth!!!! Maddie is nowhere near a sentence strip, but is

starting to discriminate better. I had them put in a matching game in her

goal work that Leah told me to do. Last year she wasn't matching

anything...well, sheesh, she was bored to tears with matching yellow with

yellow and red with red. So we have duplicate pictures of family, friends,

teacher and therapists, Barney and balls, and she is doing wonderfully with

matching them up correctly. I believe this has been a huge help in her

distinguishing pictures. As far as potty training, progress is slow, but

hey, it's there. She is not letting us know, but rather likes sitting on

the toilet...LOL Duff found a little trick that often gets her to go pee.

While she sits on the toilet, we fill a cup with warm water and dip her

fingers in.....LOL

How bout Seth?

Donna

[Guest guest]

> In a message dated 2/5/2003 12:47:59 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> smilinggail@a... writes:

>

Hi Donna. We did this with too, but we actually poured it

right on her ..... between her legs. It made her go every time and

then one time she pushed my hand away and just went. After that she

went pee every single time we would put her on the potty, even if it

was just a dribble. She is now completely potty trained and can even

wipe and pull her pants up.

> While she sits on the toilet, we fill a cup with warm water and

dip her

> fingers in.....LOL

> How bout Seth?

> Donna

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/10/2003 6:30:14 PM Eastern Standard Time,

Duffey48@... writes:

> Hey Charlyne!! Welcome back!!!! I hope you soaked up plenty of sun and

> fun!!! What's the latest with Zeb??? I can't believe they are so cruel

> with him. I " m surprised Zeb gets up each day to go there when this is

> his

> routine. {{{hugs}}}

Hi Donna,

Aruba was just great! I am nice and brown. My friend's home is a piece of

paradise. We had a snowday on Friday and today I had an appt. with the

neurologist first thing in the am. I was planning on bringing Zeb to school

at noon but they called an early release with the snow so he never went to

school today. I haven't heard anything yet after my complaint with the

superintendant. Zeb was also suspended during my vacation. I was told he went

over to another student, his best friend, said happy new year and put his

hands around her neck. The school insists that Zeb was choking her but she

said he wasn't. The principal called my older son to pick him but never told

he was formally suspended for the day. I recieved the notice in the

mail when I got home. I called the principal to appeal the suspension and

asked him what the procedure was and was told he didn't know. The

superintendant told me that he certainly knows and I was misled. I didn't

want to put anything in writing before I spoke to the attorney. I haven't

been able to reach him. The suspension states per the behavioral plan but

nothing in Zeb's plan indicates suspension so if anything I will be able to

get that off his record. Zeb doesn't always like to go to school. Once he

experiences another traumatic event he gets clingy and insists he's sick. He

is very possesive of his classmates and goes to school more for the kids than

any other reason. If I had another option I would move him but at this point

all I can do is fight them. I will let you know the outcome. They usually lie

so I am not too optomistic.

Charlyne

Mom to Zeb 10 DS/OCD ?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/11/2003 1:41:24 PM Eastern Standard Time,

smilinggail@... writes:

> Donna, I hope your problems with Maddie are

> solved now that she is back in school. Keep us posted!

>

Thanks Gail. Not good news. The note from school today said that she was

*very distracted* during goal work, and flipped during circle time and

actually bit her aide. This is something she hasn't done since the onset

of her autism. I'm really upset. I put a call into Dr. Cady (her pedi)

to see if I can up her GERD meds according to her new weight (she just had

her annual). Maybe since she gained a little and grew she needs more?

I'll call her gastro guy tomorrow, but thought I'd call the pedi first, since

he's typically quickest in getting back to me. My heart sank when I read

this; I was so hoping she'd bounce right back.

:-(

Donna

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/13/2003 12:47:11 AM Eastern Standard Time,

Duffey48@... writes:

> My heart sank when I read

> this; I was so hoping she'd bounce right back.

>

Hi Donna,

I know how helpless you must feel. Hopefully the meds will solve the problem.

Wishing you better days.

Charlyne

Mom to Zeb 10 DS/OCD ?

[Guest guest]

I'm sorry, Donna. Maybe a change in the dosage of her meds will

help. I know when begins having behavior problems, or just

weird.....er behaviors, it's usually because her thyroid med. needs

to be adjusted.

Good luck.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/13/03 12:47:07 AM Eastern Standard Time,

Duffey48@... writes:

> The note from school today said that she was

> *very distracted* during goal work, and flipped during circle time and

> actually bit her aide. This is something she hasn't done since the onset

> of her autism. I'm really upset

So sorry to hear this Donna. Rochelle has bitten 3x this year and I don't

know how to stop it. I wonder if Maddie is in pain. Rochelle tried to bite me

the other day when I accidentally scratched her. She doesn't understand

accidents yet. It is so heart wrenching. I kept saying I'm sorry but the best

thing I did was just leave her alone and she calmed down quicker. I'll pray

you get some answers.

Diane

[Guest guest]

Donna,

I'm glad the matching is going well for Maddie.

I sent in pics of the family last year for Seth to match, but the teacher

didn't like the idea too well. She had him matching forks, spoons etc....

Well, he didn't even LIKE utensils, let alone having to match them. This

year we are back to family pics and matching is going better too. Oh, I sent

the pic of Maddie at school to Leah. I can't believe how much Maddie looks

like Ashton. Leah was shocked! LOL Hope that's okay with you that I sent

it to her.

Gail :-)

<< Hey Gail,

Wow...way to go Seth!!!! Maddie is nowhere near a sentence strip, but

is

starting to discriminate better. I had them put in a matching game in

her

goal work that Leah told me to do. Last year she wasn't matching

anything...well, sheesh, she was bored to tears with matching yellow with

yellow and red with red. So we have duplicate pictures of family,

friends,

teacher and therapists, Barney and balls, and she is doing wonderfully with

matching them up correctly. I believe this has been a huge help in her

distinguishing pictures. As far as potty training, progress is slow, but

hey, it's there. She is not letting us know, but rather likes sitting on

the toilet...LOL Duff found a little trick that often gets her to go pee.

While she sits on the toilet, we fill a cup with warm water and dip her

fingers in.....LOL

How bout Seth?

Donna >>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/18/2003 9:56:53 PM Eastern Standard Time,

smilinggail@... writes:

> I'm glad the matching is going well for Maddie.

> I sent in pics of the family last year for Seth to match, but the teacher

> didn't like the idea too well. She had him matching forks, spoons etc....

Oh Gail, that is ridiculous!!!!! Isn't it amazing how clueless teachers can

be sometimes?!?!?

<<I can't believe how much Maddie looks

like Ashton.  Leah was shocked!  LOL  Hope that's okay with you that I sent

it to her.

>>

Of course honey, that's fine. I cut the little bugger's hair yesterday.

Three inches, and it's STILL long...LOL

Donna

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/25/2003 11:09:35 AM Eastern Standard Time,

Duffey48@... writes:

> If no one was watching or

> paying attention, how do they know that Zeb wasn't defending himself. How

> do they know the other kid didn't hit first? And what's up with this

> lunatic mom?? Calling you at 10:00 and threatening to have your son

> arrested!! I wish her luck convincing the police to arrest a 10 year old

> for punching another boy....LOL Sorry, don't mean to joke about it, but

> she seriously sounds off the wall!!!

Hi Donna,

I know Zeb was upset about something. He asked 2 girls if he could have lunch

with them and they said no. The aide asked another student to have lunch with

him but he was still mad at the girls. The boy had nothing to do with it but

was laughing with another student across the room so Zeb could have possibly

thought he was laughing at him, who knows. The boy's mom is totally whacked.

You can joke about it, ok with me. If I didn't shake my head an chuckle a bit

myself I would be the same. It is a big problem trying to deal with a nut. I

am not sure where to go with all this. I really felt badly that Zeb pushed

this little boy. He was not seriously injured but I am sure his stomach

didn't feel too great.

Charlyne

Mom to Zeb 10 DS/OCD ?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/28/2003 9:51:27 AM Eastern Standard Time,

smilinggail@... writes:

> Donna? Miss Maddie doing any better? I'm still behind with posts so

> haven't

> heard the latest news.

> Gail :-)

>

Well Gail, we had a good few days, but she's back to her wild self. I am

going to start looking at what type meds would calm her. As Sara said,

family harmony is crucial---even the kids are getting sick of running back

and forth through the living room and playing ring around the rosey 24/7.

You can stop and try to distract her, but it's like she's WIRED!!! And

OBSESSED!! WHen she's obsessed with Barney or balls or danglies, it's a

different kind of challenge....this challenge is exhausting for us. And if

she doesn't get what she wants she starts hurling lamps or somersaulting and

head banging. In between, when she's content, she is still the same sweet

child---giggling, smiling, taking my face in her hands and kissing me. I

just feel like if we don't do something, we may lose the strides we've made

lately. Still, I'm terrified of doing it. Oh well, off to do some

homework.

Thanks for asking Gail honey,

Donna

[Guest guest]

Sorry Donna,

I, too, have not even thought about the med issue for Seth. I can't imagine

my little sweetie wired for more than a day or two. But, if it got bad, I

would certainly consider the med route. Our kids have enough things to deal

with, let alone self inflicted injuries from head banging, biting oneself

etc.... Like all good Moms, you will put aside your hopes, dreams and wants

and do what is best for your child. I am so anti med, for any reason, that

it will be hard when I have to deal with the issue. Heck, I don't even take

an aspirin!!! LOL I hope Dr. Capone helps you in making your decision of

what to do. With all the pros and cons, and each child / family so unique, I

suppose it's a matter of trial and error, no matter how much info you have.

Luck and prayers Donna.

Gail :-)

<<

Well Gail, we had a good few days, but she's back to her wild self. I am

going to start looking at what type meds would calm her. As Sara said,

family harmony is crucial---even the kids are getting sick of running back

and forth through the living room and playing ring around the rosey 24/7.

You can stop and try to distract her, but it's like she's WIRED!!! And

OBSESSED!! WHen she's obsessed with Barney or balls or danglies, it's a

different kind of challenge....this challenge is exhausting for us. And

if

she doesn't get what she wants she starts hurling lamps or somersaulting and

head banging. In between, when she's content, she is still the same sweet

child---giggling, smiling, taking my face in her hands and kissing me. I

just feel like if we don't do something, we may lose the strides we've made

lately. Still, I'm terrified of doing it. Oh well, off to do some

homework.

Thanks for asking Gail honey,

Donna >>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/3/2003 6:53:36 PM Eastern Standard Time,

Duffey48@... writes:

> Shouldn't the police be going after HER for

> harrassment?!?!?

Hi Donna,

They would have arrested her only if I had pressed charges. I wouldn't ever

do that. If she persists in her so called quest for justice then I will have

to do something. There have been many frivilous law suits before so I am not

taking anything for granted these days.

Charlyne

Mom to Zeb 10 DS/OCD ?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/3/2003 6:53:36 PM Eastern Standard Time,

Duffey48@... writes:

> Shouldn't the police be going after HER for

> harrassment?!?!?

Hi Donna,

They would have arrested her only if I had pressed charges. I wouldn't ever

do that. If she persists in her so called quest for justice then I will have

to do something. There have been many frivilous law suits before so I am not

taking anything for granted these days.

Charlyne

Mom to Zeb 10 DS/OCD ?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/17/2003 12:43:56 PM Eastern Standard Time,

Duffey48@... writes:

> CHOP is still the best hospital, but why can't they be

> more accomodating? Why can't all of them be more accomodating? It's

> crazy.

Hi Donna,

I would think having a parent for the staff would be so much better for

everyone. I can't imagine why the nurses can't make us feel comfortable

seeing we are doing most of their work. I went to a desk assuming I was

asking a very young nurse to please adjust the monitor to turn off the bells

after going off for an hour. She was so sweet, came right into the room

looked at the monitor and said she was a dr. and had no idea how this one

worked. I just figured it out myself,LOL.

Charlyne

Mom to Zeb 10 DS/OCD ?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/26/2003 1:17:06 PM Eastern Standard Time,

Duffey48@... writes:

> Whew!!! What a relief Charlyne!!!!! TEN POUNDS is a lot!!! Wow!!

> Gee,

> maybe *I* should go in and have my tonsils out....LOL

> Glad to hear he turned a corner!!

>

Hi Donna,

I'm happy that he is getting back to his old self but if he keeps up with his

eating he will put back double the weight. The best thing is that he is out

of school until the end of this week.

Charlyne

Mom to Zeb 10 DS/OCD ?

[Guest guest]

>

> Irma,

> I don't know that I'd get the results when they are done, since

I'm not going to participate. But no doubt they'll be posted at

some point on the KKI listserv. If I hear anything, I'll certainly

send it along. Will send pizza recipe this afternoon...been pretty

sick the last couple days.

> {{hugs}}

> donna

Whoa! I guess that nasty bug is really getting around. Hope you get

well and make sure you get plenty of rest and do not let it linger

on its own as one of my co-workers did with her allergies. Since it

was left untreated, it became a respiratory infection. So whenever

you get a chance, I'll look forward to the recipe.

Hmm, duh, I forgot about their listserv, but if you do hear

something, Thanks. Many hugs.

Irma,14,DS/ASD