Re: Intro. Janice & Mr. Ian Houdini

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/21/01 3:35:45 PM Eastern Standard Time,

janicen@... writes:

<< Life with Ian is always a challenge, but also a delight.

I went to the archives and read quite a few of the past letters and

I'm glad I joined this list.

Janice >>

Hi Janice,

Welcome!!!! I'm Gail and I home school my girls. It looks like I will also

be homeschooling Seth this September. A challenge and a

delight.....hmmmmmm....yep, that is how I would describe ALL my kids! LOL

I can't wait to hear all your input on our glorious kids escapades. LOL

Glad you found us and your family sounds great. This is a great place,

whether your day be sunny and bright, or downright stormy. Welcome again,

it's nice to have you here.

Gail, Mom to; Seth-4 DS/ASD/PDD/PICA, jo-8, Becky-10, -23, Jen-25,

Grandma to Errick-4

and wife to -my hero

[Guest guest]

Jnaice,

Glad to have you on the list. This list is full of

very nice and very funny people. I'm sure you'll like

it!

Mom to 11

--- janicen@... wrote:

> Hi-

>

> My name is Janice. I joined the list yesterday. I

> had been thinking

> of looking for a ds-asd list for a while. I saw

> mention of this list

> on another list so that saved me the searching.

>

> I have two sons, ages 7 and 8. I homeschool them

> both and love it. My

> sons couldn't be more different. The older one is

> very bright, good

> natured, calm, and into science and technology. The

> younger one, Ian,

> has Down Syndrome. Ian loves music and movement and

> is a delightful

> but hot tempered little busy body. Fortunately the

> boys get along

> great even though Ian is very rough with his

> brother. When he was

> younger his brother nicknamed him Mr. Ian Houdini,

> Rock Head Monster

> Man.

>

> Ian's issues have always been so different that I

> stopped bothering

> with most Down Syndrome resources long ago. About a

> year and a half

> ago, Disability Solutions introduced me to the dual

> diagnosis of ds-

> asd and it really fit. I've never attempted to have

> Ian diagnosed.

>

> Some of Ian's symptoms (sensory integration issues,

> texture

> preference, inability to identify hunger, suspected

> " neurological

> issues " ) were present from birth. Others became

> evident as soon as he

> was able to express them. Ian never developed

> normally (for a child

> with Down Syndrome).

>

> Ian's speech therapist still considers him to be

> non-verbal, but he

> is less and less so. He has been able to communicate

> basic needs for

> quite some time--major priorities came first ( " Ah

> deed a dideo. " I

> need a video.), followed by those of lesser

> importance ( " Ah wan to

> eee. " I want to eat. " Ah wan uh deeng. " I want a

> drink. ). LOL

>

> Ian's main communication problems seem to be

> pronunciation (gone from

> non-existent to still very poor), initiation (still

> initiates very

> little), and narrow interests.

>

> Ian has made some significant leaps recently. Last

> Saturday he

> suddenly learned to use a mouse. He could

> immediately point very

> precisely.

>

> He also recently began discovering some aspects of

> nature that he was

> oblivious to before--stars, snow, rain.

>

> It seems that Ian does best when he is bombarded

> with an object or a

> concept. If we can sing it, sign it, act it out, see

> it on a video,

> experience it, practice saying it, practice reading

> it, practice

> matching it, hear Barney say or sing it, and see it

> as a clue (Blue

> fans will understand) and try to draw it on his

> handy dandy

> MagnaDoodle, he just might get it.

>

> Life with Ian is always a challenge, but also a

> delight.

>

> I went to the archives and read quite a few of the

> past letters and

> I'm glad I joined this list.

>

> Janice

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi Janice,

Welcome!!! My Madison (7, DS and ASD) is nicknamed Little Houdini, so I

know all about it!!!! If you have indeed read the disability solutions issue

on DS/ASD, then you've seen my little peanut, as she's in there a few times.

I'm glad you found us too. We have lots to share and I know you do

too!!! It sure sounds like your guy is doing well and moving forward. Just

what we like to hear.

BTW, did you go to the database and sign in? (See Joan and ???? I'm

helping out here. LOL)

Donna

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the new people here. I know you'll find the support and

understanding you haven't found elsewhere.

I also have an Ian -- he's going to be 12 next week (!!) and has had his

autistic behaviors since he was about 5, so it's been a long haul. He was

diagnosed about 3-4 years ago -- it's all a blur now, so I can't be

specific. He's on several medications -- dexedrine, risperidal, and

clonidine (as well as synthroid, but that's not related to his behavior).

Right now, we're dealing mostly with his pubescent behaviors -- sexual

hugging, aggression, questions. The other night, he told my husband about

how he wants to get married and have children and be a grandpa, and my

husband tried to explain to him what was possible and what wasn't -- and in

the course of their conversation, Ian asked what Down syndrome was. I

thought we had explained it to him long ago, but evidently not consistently

enough. I wonder about that -- do you all explain Down syndrome to your

kids, and how? Do they get it? I should ask this on the Down syndrome

lists too -- I'm curious as to how people do it. Don't be surprised if you

see my question there too.

Anyway, Ian had an overnight experience this past summer when he spent four

nights at sleepaway camp. That was very successful for him (after the first

24 hours, during which he was nervous about the things we all take for

granted -- would they let him use the bathroom? go to bed? eat?), and so

we've done another overnight, this past Friday night at a respite house

nearby. A terrific experience for him, and he wants to do it again soon.

Also great for us, and too short. It was a true respite for the family, as

we had dinner out in peace, and did normal family things without worrying

about Ian's issues.

We had an awful time with Ian this past summer, when he was in a camp

program (not the sleepaway camp) that was way too much for him -- our fault,

not his, we should have known better. Now, he's doing much better and isn't

as anxious -- although his teacher of 3 years just left her job on Friday,

and he's got to get used to a new teacher just months before making the

transition to middle school. So who knows how the next few months are going

to be?

Anyway, welcome!

CK,

Mom to Ian (2/89),

(9/90),

and Rose (6/94)

[Guest guest]

Great to meet you janice, my boys are clsoe in age too nicholas just turned

8yrs in november and nathan ds/pdd/add/hd is 9yrs, I homeschooled them for

almost two years when we lived away from home, very challenging but

rewarding and fun too, but we moved back home over a year ago, and they have

been back in public school since both doing well. I highly recommend

homeschooling shen possible and it was highly done away from home a hughe

group but here its a smaller town and no group etc, and my 8yr old often

asks when he can homeschool again, but i remeind him all the homework and

reading etc we do together for school is like homeschool and public together

in one. This makes him happy for now. also says little except for

needs, but does wrestle with brother etc. and also has hurt him as us many

times even last night he bit him on the leg, after cubs pack meeting too

wound up and hadnt had meds yet, wound to the max!!! cant wait to hear more

from you! shawna.

>From: janicen@...

>Reply-To: egroups

>To: egroups

>Subject: Intro. Janice & Mr. Ian Houdini

>Date: Sun, 21 Jan 2001 20:31:46 -0000

>

>Hi-

>

>My name is Janice. I joined the list yesterday. I had been thinking

>of looking for a ds-asd list for a while. I saw mention of this list

>on another list so that saved me the searching.

>

>I have two sons, ages 7 and 8. I homeschool them both and love it. My

>sons couldn't be more different. The older one is very bright, good

>natured, calm, and into science and technology. The younger one, Ian,

>has Down Syndrome. Ian loves music and movement and is a delightful

>but hot tempered little busy body. Fortunately the boys get along

>great even though Ian is very rough with his brother. When he was

>younger his brother nicknamed him Mr. Ian Houdini, Rock Head Monster

>Man.

>

>Ian's issues have always been so different that I stopped bothering

>with most Down Syndrome resources long ago. About a year and a half

>ago, Disability Solutions introduced me to the dual diagnosis of ds-

>asd and it really fit. I've never attempted to have Ian diagnosed.

>

>Some of Ian's symptoms (sensory integration issues, texture

>preference, inability to identify hunger, suspected " neurological

>issues " ) were present from birth. Others became evident as soon as he

>was able t express them. Ian never developed normally (for a child

>with Down Syndrome).

>

>Ian's speech therapist still considers him to be non-verbal, but he

>is less and less so. He has been able to communicate basic needs for

>quite some time--major priorities came first ( " Ah deed a dideo. " I

>need a video.), followed by those of lesser importance ( " Ah wan to

>eee. " I want to eat. " Ah wan uh deeng. " I want a drink. ). LOL

>

>Ian's main communication problems seem to be pronunciation (gone from

>non-existent to still very poor), initiation (still initiates very

>little), and narrow interests.

>

>Ian has made some significant leaps recently. Last Saturday he

>suddenly learned to use a mouse. He could immediately point very

>precisely.

>

>He also recently began discovering some aspects of nature that he was

>oblivious to before--stars, snow, rain.

>

>It seems that Ian does best when he is bombarded with an object or a

>concept. If we can sing it, sign it, act it out, see it on a video,

>experience it, practice saying it, practice reading it, practice

>matching it, hear Barney say or sing it, and see it as a clue (Blue

>fans will understand) and try to draw it on his handy dandy

>MagnaDoodle, he just might get it.

>

>Life with Ian is always a challenge, but also a delight.

>

>I went to the archives and read quite a few of the past letters and

>I'm glad I joined this list.

>

>Janice

>

>

> http://www.onelist.com/community/

>

_________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

>Right now, we're dealing mostly with his pubescent behaviors -- sexual

>hugging,

is a " hugger " too, especially girls, i discourage it greatly, and

he's not allowed to at school, they did it alot at first the teachers like

to get hugs but i put a stop to it, they understood after i explained from

caring for teen mentally disabled many times that hugging becomes a prob if

allowed soo much, so it was stopped, and has reduced greatly, occasionally

if trying to butter a teacher up, but they know he is sucking up, the little

genius, a couple weeks ago, at a wrestling tourny of nicholas' (nathan's

little brother) A sister of one on nicholas' team mates really knows nathan

well and is always saying hi to him and gives him a hug and tries talking to

him, usually he ignores her, echoing toons and hand/finger or string

stimming, but today he gave her a hug and kiss, I told her being friends is

great but not to be hugging and kissing with nathan, she said ok and

stopped. she is a second grader I found out, nathan is in third, huh go

figure, kids sure start early these days. shawna.

>

>Reply-To: egroups

>To: <egroups>

>Subject: Re: Intro. Janice & Mr. Ian Houdini

>Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2001 16:30:27 -0500

>

>Welcome to the new people here. I know you'll find the support and

>understanding you haven't found elsewhere.

>

>I also have an Ian -- he's going to be 12 next week (!!) and has had his

>autistic behaviors since he was about 5, so it's been a long haul. He was

>diagnosed about 3-4 years ago -- it's all a blur now, so I can't be

>specific. He's on several medications -- dexedrine, risperidal, and

>clonidine (as well as synthroid, but that's not related to his behavior).

>

aggression, questions. The other night, he told my husband about

>how he wants to get married and have children and be a grandpa, and my

>husband tried to explain to him what was possible and what wasn't -- and in

>the course of their conversation, Ian asked what Down syndrome was. I

>thought we had explained it to him long ago, but evidently not consistently

>enough. I wonder about that -- do you all explain Down syndrome to your

>kids, and how? Do they get it? I should ask this on the Down syndrome

>lists too -- I'm curious as to how people do it. Don't be surprised if you

>see my question there too.

>

>Anyway, Ian had an overnight experience this past summer when he spent four

>nights at sleepaway camp. That was very successful for him (after the

>first

>24 hours, during which he was nervous about the things we all take for

>granted -- would they let him use the bathroom? go to bed? eat?), and so

>we've done another overnight, this past Friday night at a respite house

>nearby. A terrific experience for him, and he wants to do it again soon.

>Also great for us, and too short. It was a true respite for the family, as

>we had dinner out in peace, and did normal family things without worrying

>about Ian's issues.

>

>We had an awful time with Ian this past summer, when he was in a camp

>program (not the sleepaway camp) that was way too much for him -- our

>fault,

>not his, we should have known better. Now, he's doing much better and

>isn't

>as anxious -- although his teacher of 3 years just left her job on Friday,

>and he's got to get used to a new teacher just months before making the

>transition to middle school. So who knows how the next few months are

>going

>to be?

>

>Anyway, welcome!

>

>CK,

>Mom to Ian (2/89),

> (9/90),

> and Rose (6/94)

>

>

> http://www.onelist.com/community/

>

_________________________________________________________________

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