#865 Saturday 12 April

During the school picnic yesterday and during recent discussions with a friend, I've been pondering the nature of 'anxiety' ..... what is it and where does it come from.  We all experience anxiety ourselves .... and we tend to give other people's experience the same quality as our own .... so we can understand and empathise.  This  can be misleading ... as anxiety for another person may be very different from our own .... and may have very different causes.

When told of Kaylia's anxiety attacks, a common response is "what is making her worried?"  .... assuming that there must be an external issue that is the source of the anxiety.  For a normal person this is a valid question .... but for a person on the spectrum, I think that anxiety is the physical response to a set of emotional or physical triggers .... and many of the triggers are issues that don't register for a normal person .... such as changes in routine.  Although repeated changes get to be wearing, we usually take them as not very important.   But for Kaylia, a change in routine is a big problem and if it is not be a big source of anxiety, the change in routine must be managed very carefully.

...... or the trigger may be an internal one such as a tummy ache .... or a head ache.  For most of us, such a trigger is "just an ache" but for Kaylia, it's a change in her universe that she can't handle .... anxiety!

#864 Friday 11 April

It's the last day of term and I'm at the class " end of term" thingie at Whiteman Park.  I'd forgotten about the range of different sorts of disability that the 7 class members have .... the kids range from one boy who I wonder about why he's there down through a range to a child who barely reacts to external stimulii.  Kaylia is in a bad way today .... very focused on her stims.  She was also very focused on getting into the water! The class activities prevented this but Kaylia is in no state to be able to adjust her behaviour according to the group .... she wanted water and she wanted it NOW!

She's the square peg in a round hole when this is going on.   The teacher can't change the class activity to suit Kaylia .... and Kaylia is unable to fit the school situation.   I hate being here because I can't help wondering what Kaylia has to go through in the normal school day.  Despite Kaylia being a lovable, gorgeous child, the world just does not suit her .... apart from water !!

Evening

The Perfect Gift!  Lara's current 'thing' is unicorns ... no I'm not joking!   So Naomi found a unicorn 'onesie'. .. Chris's reaction was an absolute treat!

..... and Lara loved it!

#863 Thursday 10 April

Yesterday I was concerned that she was becoming dehydrated again .... and then last night she managed to flood the bed twice!  I think I can stop worrying.

After this performance I wondered about the moon ..... sho nuff .... the full moon is four nights away.  The next couple of nights will need careful management.

#862 Tuesday 8 April

At the risk of almost being political, may I commend the following to you ....
 

https://newmatilda.com/2014/04/08/humour-isnt-total-defence-against-bigotry

This is written by Naomi's aunt and I have seldom read such a balanced and entertaining article.  It highlights the risks and dangers involved in the current push to amend the law.

#861 Monday 7 April

Phew .... don't give her chocolate for dessert at tea-time!  She was wired last night and I gave her a Melatonin at 8:30 when she was showing no sign of slowing down.  Fortunately the Melatonin works a treat and within 10 minutes she was asleep.  Melatonin is a funny thing .... use it very infrequently and it's very effective .... but use it regularly and it stops working.

We're thinking about once again going through the exercise of finding an alternative to Risperdal.  It's still very important for her ability to concentrate ... .but the side effect of weight gain is an ongoing concern.

#860 Sunday 6 April

It's bedtime and Kaylia is settling to sleep early ..... Oops - I spoke too soon!  She's up with a dingle dangle.   

The day has gone according to routine so she is happy.   We just had story time .... Little Red Ridinghood .... and after this she went to the bathroom. As she turned on the light we heard her say "... all the better to seee you with!"  Now this may have been coincidental but it's nice to think that it was intentional.