Beth's Wild Week...aka overcoming sensory integration!

June 21, 2004

My 15 year old (aspergers/social anxiety/possibly bipolar) daughter is blooming lately!

I can't believe all that Beth has participated in since "" my cousin's daughter) has been down visiting here from Alaska. They are similiar in age and even share some disabilities, and have hit it off very well. She went on a 2 day trip to a huge water park and went down one of the world's tallest water slides (7 stories tall, I believe) three times! My cousin caught it all on video so we'll have it to watch over again and again. They stayed overnight at my aunt's house (my cousin's mom) two nights too.

Then on Friday, they went to Six Flags Great America. It was Beth's first time. Again, they had a fantastic time. She went on every roller coaster except for one (the vertical one)! AND....unbelievable as it might sound....they did the daredevil dive...which means being tied together, pulled up a rope to a very high place (20 stories high perhaps?) and then pulled the ripcord and they went flying through the air.....literally FLYING through the air....back and forth, back and forth......they LOVED it! My cousin also captured that on video tape!

So after Friday's long day ( 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.), her boyfriend came over on Saturday. Then Beth felt a strong emotional need to stay overnight with her good girlfriend from school after that, because she was starting to feel " withdrawal pains" ( gets on a plane today to go back). They were up until 3:30 a.m. I hear. I picked her up at 4:00 for the 6 p.m. father's day picnic at our house yesterday. My cousin and came too...and beth ended up going home with them tonight!!! And she's going to O'hare with them tomorrow afternoon to say goodbye.

WHAT A TRIP this has been for her. She was in quite a nasty mood tonight...reeling, I think, from the pace and emotions of the last week or two.....but came out of it after an hour into the picnic...and started talking to again...and as you heard...went home with them.

Never a dull moment.

She's either going to sleep for a week after tomorrow....or complain every single day for the rest of the summer because she's bored.

That's my prediction.

Maralee

p.s. She DEFINITELY does better when I'm not around! I really am very proud of her and all of the energy she put into having fun and doing things she's not done before!

Maralee

My Mantra This Year (A "Milestone" Year)

"He will not often consider the years of his life,

because God keeps him occupied with the

gladness of his heart." Ecclesiastes 5:20

June 22, 2004

Hi Maralee...

I'm sitting here smiling at everything you wrote thinking... " how

adventurous our kids are....when we aren't around " and then read the

last of your post (you said the same thing) LOL!!

But I do think the same age 'peer' with similar disabilities made the

difference in Beth's case. Would MOM ride all the roller

coasters or do that 'dive' with her; *giggles* I think not. Neither

would I sweety!

aaaahh my two are going to Wisconsin dells with Daddy-o (driving in

from NY end of june) and some other fun things. I would imagine I

will have my hands full when they get back; correcting sleep habits,

hygiene, and other 'routine' items they will lose that week. But,

they will have a blast..... especially without their 'nag' Mom with

Got another IEP meeting on Wed.. yep..still working on middle boy

(14) *sighs* I've not been a practicing Catholic in years....but I'm

considering Confessions after this past school year *snickers*

Don't know....this may continue over the summer! ICK

Hope the 'nasty' goes away soon... pssst.. remember its not

personal

luv ya Maralee!

DES

June 22, 2004