Sensory Processing Disorder?????

Dexter is currently having a "Sensory Profile" done. This involves an OT asking questions about him and observing him.
She then compiles a report and gives us ideas on how to divert him from certain behaviours!
It's looking highly likely that he has Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD.) Another little label to add to ASD, learning disability and significant development delay.
I'm just looking forward to having an explanation of why he does certain strange things and being able to explain it to other people!

At the moment he's going through a major furniture moving and climbing phase! This has replaced the licking to some extent so there's a lot less saliva on the TV/clock/window. Which is great as we can actually see what's on the TV, what time it is and look through the window!

Dexters' eyesight

It's taken 14 months of attempted (and failed) eye tests for the orthoptist to decide Dexy is very short-sighted. He thinks Dexy could be up to minus 4 already and could end up as minus 9! His Scooby Doo glasses are on order, but, he wouldn't even let the lady at Specsavers put them on him or take measurements so I can't see him wearing them. Makes me even more concerned about his chronic climbing now that I know he can't see properly as well! There goes another sigh : (((

School hols are over!!!!!!

Phew! All the kids are back at school! That was possibly the longest six weeks of my life - virtually housebound due to naff weather, kids having runny bottoms, hubby at work and just not enough hands to take all the little ones out together. But that's it for another year, hurray!
Cody is now full-time at school, which I didn't really want, but his lovely teacher persuaded me it would benefit him AND they do PE and go to Space on Wednesdays so I relented.
He also travels on the minibus now - which I also didn't want but does make things less hectic. I will feel bad forever about this as I have always taken all my kids to school, so why should Cody be any different? Well, because he goes to a special school and I can't be in two places at once! For the past two years I've been dropping him off late and picking him up early so that my other boys were always on time at their school and Codys' been losing half an hours education a day, which over a term adds up to quite a few days. So I had no choice really but to put my little 4 year old on the minibus. It's just another one of those things that makes me sigh. Like him not wearing his glasses or hearing aids : (((((

The "Climber"

I have been neglecting my blog lately! There is a good reason for this - I've been mad busy! Holiday, appointments and constantly picking Dexy off various surfaces!
Current favourites include the kitchen table, sideboard, cooker and all chairs in general. It's like living with extreme sports toddler at the moment. I am so worried about him putting himself in precarious situations but there is nothing that can be done to stop him - he just keeps going back. Right now I can see him through the window of the conservatory stood on a stack of garden chairs looking around to see what he can see! I spent last week ringing people - OTs, National Autistic Society, health visitors, specialist schools etc. in the hope of finding a "cure" but soon realised there's no way of stopping him. As with the licking, he will stop when HE wants and will probably start it again in a few months. Someone suggested weighted vests or jackets but short of putting dumbells in his pockets I can't see these working.
He had a close call a few weeks ago. He dragged a kitchen chair into the utility room, used it to climb onto the worktops and reached into a cupboard, knocking a glass out. I was on the phone, heard the smash, ran in to find him balanced on the edge of the worktop surrounded by shards of glass - he must have a guardian angel looking after him as all he got was a tiny tiny cut under his toe! If I'm not totally grey by the end of the summer holidays it will be a miracle!!!

Good deed for the day......

Phew! I volunteered as a "parent helper" for year one's trip to Blackpool Tower yesterday. I was "leader" of five kids - including one of my own. They all had packed lunches in named carrier bags and soon removed their school sweatshirts due to it being so hot - so I had to carry them round all day in a yellow toxic waste bag!
The bumpy ride on the double decker bus had me nauseous before we even arrived at the tower! And the random conversations with other people's kids! Mind boggling! Punctuated by "I'm hot!" "I'm cold!" "I'm thirsty" "I'm hungry""I need a wee!" Fifty overexcited kids all talking at the same time - I was exhausted by the time we got there. And don't kids fidget! They were pulling each others seat belts, smashing their packed lunches, taking their shoes off, screaming....

Once inside the tower I began to feel like a sheepdog! I was constantly head counting and rounding up wandering off children - and boy do they like to wander off! I've got a crick in my neck from looking over my shoulder to check they were all there. If I said "hold your partners hand!" once, I said it fifty times. It didn't help that there were twenty other schools on a trip there that day and half had the same uniform as our school!

The kids tore round Jungle Jims, bumped their heads, got friction burns on the plastic slides and generally had a great time, while me and another mum guarded the exits (yes a few tested the perimeter but I headed them off!). They then ate their sweaty squashed packed lunches and then we watched the superb circus - at least they were seated and couldn't wander off! Then we went to the top of the tower, one little girl was hysterical due to fear of heights so we swiftly went back down. The bus was waiting and I gratefully climbed aboard, only to find we were on the top deck! How wobbly and bumpy are buses "up top?" The journey back was torture with a rolling stomach - the kids loved it and chattered away relentlessly while I resorted to grunts and groans in answer to their many questions.
Still, the kids had a lovely time and no-one got lost (for long) or hurt (much) and they were still bursting with energy when we got back to school. Wouldn't it be great to bottle some of that?

Eye Clinic FAIL!

What a stressful waste of time this mornings visit was! Took 4 youngest kiddos (school hols!) to the orthoptist though only Cody and Dexter actually needed to be seen.
Cody has glasses but refuses to wear them - well actually you can put them on him if you hold his hands and distract him by singing "Row, row, row the boat" but the second you turn your back he flings them - hence his Shrek pair are all twisted as hubby stood on them! Cody however, will LOOK at the orthoptist and show a slight interest in the things she's showing him. His result was inconclusive - keep trying with the glasses, see him in March next year.
Dexter. I knew there was zero chance of co-operation as soon as we hit the waiting room. He was moving chairs, climbing and oh yes, LICKING. You know the grubby box of ancient broken toys every NHS waiting room seems to have? Well, he licked them. The ripped tattered ancient books? He licked them. The depressing posters on the wall, yes, he climbed up and licked them too. He was on a lickfest and no woman was going to pin him down and look in his eyes NOT TODAY! He climbed on the orthoptists swivel chair, licked the medical bin lid (OMG! the germs!) he rolled around the floor screaming and kicking because he just didn't want to be restrained and have someone look in his eyes. I told the woman about his left eye turning in so far he looks like he's staring at the side of his nose! Told her people have suggested it might be a sensory thing he does - which she rubbished. Also told me his eye would be turning outwards if anything! I know which way his bloody eye was pointing! GGGRRRRR!
So, back in 3 months for a repeat of the same. When will they give up? Don't they know kids with autism can't be bribed with chocolate or a sticker or even the promise of a small toy? They don't work off praise and clapping and "Good Boy!" Dexter just wanted that woman to get the f**k out of his face and leave him alone - to lick the dirty bin lid!

We have reached a milestone!!!!

I am thrilled and PROUD to announce the our little Dexy has actually managed to give himself a bottle at the age of 2 years and 5 months! He previously refused to even touch the the bottle and would have rather gone without than put his hands on it! But, whilst my eldest son was giving him his bottle the phone rang and eldest son laid Dexy on a cushion, put the bottle on his chest and answered the phone. After a few seconds of confusion Dexy put his hands on the bottle and drank - all of it! Now he's doing it all the time! Yippee!!! Just need to get his other brother to crack it too!

Politics blah blah blah...

Well tomorrow is the Big Day - the country votes! Personally the whole run-up is so boring and predictable - lots of empty promises, hot air, glammed up wives wheeled out and about, shaking hands, kissing babies, whatever.
I'm going to vote Labour - I know Gordon is bumbling and not very charming but I feel his heart's in the right place whereas David Cameron! The more down to earth he pretends to be the more of a toff he reveals himself to be. He may be a really nice person in real life, I don't know I've never met him and never will coz I'm not posh and don't live in London. But what does he know about working class people and the hardships they face? Yes he had a precious disabled son who sadly died, but he's a millionaire - he's never had to grovel to social services to get a few hours a month help with looking after his disabled child has he? Sorry but he just seems false, snobby and he does have bad hair, so lets hope he doesn't get in!
Phew, don't know what came over me then, got all political, won't happen again, now, what to make for tea - chicken poppets and chips or bacon butties?

Hello and welcome!

This is my brand spanking new blog! I've never done this before so expect lots of mistakes!

Licking metal comes from my beautiful little autistic son Dexter who licks metal - taps, sinks, door handles, cooker knobs etc... He also licks wood (licking wood didn't sound right ahem!) and plastic and carpets and walls and sometimes people! Well, that's the title explained and I must dash as it's that time when I round up the sheep - I mean kids and attempt to get them into pyjamas, drink their milk and get to bed!