Standing on the outside looking in...our life with autism

[kelebek]

I have giggled and cried while reading this thread and as usual you have left me wanting more....

thankyou for sharing your journey and letting us in from the other side

[Gigi]

thanks for sharing Maz

that sounds glib, but you know how i mean it (genuinely).

[~Raven~]

ONe boy started screaming, then it set another one off, and in the end all 4 SN boy's were looking at each other screaming. As they say when in Rome and me being me...I began screaming with them, the the other girls joined in....it was so unbelievable.

[Gracious_Goddess]

Maz, thank you so much for sharing your journey with us.
It really does open our eyes as to what it's like to walk a day in your shoes and all I can say is you are truly an amazing woman!

[mrsmac]

Maz this is the most amazing story. I went to a course for teachers on monday with a psychologist who specialises in ASD and Autism and much of what you have said he talked to us about. I think you are the most wonderful mother, you deserve a medal.

[Nettie]

I'm rather disappointed with Autism SA who have not responded to my Email of two weeks ago..

I guess you will be my only source of enlightenment Maz!

[squidipa]

i gotta apologize i have not been reading your posts maz but i will do when i have a clearer mind i have subscribed so i can come back later and read cause i do want to read.

[christy]

Mate I know when you've gotten quiet that things are hard. sew away... disappear for a minute or two.... and breath.

[maz]

AH you know me to well hon......trying to put the words that are messing around in my head down but a wall keeps coming up blocking the way.

thanks babe

[blessedatlast]

Wow Maz I only found this today.. What I have read so far is so amazing.. Thank you so so much for sharing this amazing journey with us.. You are such a strong lady and wonderful mother..

[maz]

............then came the special need school and the MRI...........


Early ed was um lets say interesting. Wilhelms class wasnt just for children on the spectrum but other children with special needs. Leaving him there was one of the hardest choices I had made to date. He needed to have some hard core intervention without me around...and I needed to have some me time for the frist time ever. By this stage he has just turned 4

He began to love it. I would get the greatest drawings...writings....smiles, interaction.

AN MRI was requested by our pead. The day was exhausting and frustrating. we had to be at the hospital at 7 in the morning with no food or drink as Wilhelm had to have an anthesethetic. by 10am we were still sitting...A stupid nurse came in without even reading what was going on and starting asking why he was having the MRI...um to determine his brain activities as he has autism......oh.......then she goes and gets to new nurses to explain in detail why spectrum children have scans..all the time standing and staring at him while he's going off. i had enough and let her know. She gave me the stupidest look and huffed at me before she walked out the door.
BY 2 pm I had an over tired, HUNGRY child and still no idea what was going on. ANother nurse rang and found out that the anethetist had gone home for the day and we had been totally forgotten about...not friggen happy Jan!!!!! so we had to wait for another...an hour later and we got Angus (I could have kissed the man). While we were trying to settle him down in the MRI room, all these stupid woman walked in and started tlaking flat out with each other and laughing...now a child who is wigged cant handle this let alone a cihld ont he spectrum so you can imagine how bad he was. Angus picked up straight away that Wilhelm as autistic and yelled at the woman to get out..along with some course words . Wilhelm just looked up at him and help his hand out to touch his face. It broke my heart. We were told to go away and come back in an hour. I walked out and fell in a heap on a chair...I was emotionally exhausted and it wasnt even finished yet.

Once he woke...he was startled but calm. What happened to my child? This wasnt like him not that I wasnt going to know it back but what happened??? We were todl we had to wait in the childrens ward until they thought we could go home.....6pm arrived and after spewing 3 milo's up (hehehehehh the evil nurse had to clean it lol) I had enough adn told them I was taking them home.

AH but we think he should stay here a few more hours

BUGGER YOU!!!!!

I took my baby boy home and wrapped him up with my arms on the couch for ages when we got home.

For a good month after the MRI I noticed that he was doing normal..non spectrum child things. I use to laugh and tell the specialist that i found the hidden cure to spectrum disorder...MRI's. We began eating more...interacting with others in our family and friend circle and seeking out the attention of other children. A comedian also began to emerge from under the shadows..who would make us laugh until we cried.

BUT allas as all good things come to an end...so to did some of this...when he began the second year of special ed

[kirsty_lee]

Maz, I have seen this thread quite a few times pop up, but never actually sat down and read it. This morning whilst having my cup of tea I read every word, every page. I cried & I laughed. I cried for your 'knowing' that something wasn't right, I cried when you grieved for the child you didn't have and I cried when you felt the sadness of what was to come. Coming from an abusive upbringing, I know that it can sound patronising when people say 'wow your amazing to have come so far bla bla bla' so please believe me when I say I do not want to patronise you or make you into some sort of matyr for doing something that sadly many families do, but I truly do think you, and women like you are amazing. I had a shocking day with Ava-Jayde yesterday, but in comparisin to what you go through on a daily basis it was nothing. And that's not to say that doesn't give us mothers that don't have children with autism any less of a right to whinge and b**tch and moan when our kids are giving us the irrits, it just means that for me, personally, I can put it into perspective and think that yes there are many worse things that I could be dealing with in regards to my child. As soon as I finished these 4 pages, I grabbed my daughter and held her tight. Thank you so much for sharing your story maz, I truly mean it when i say you have definately changed my perspective on things. I can't wait to read your next instalment.