Friday, May 28, 2004
M's stable again after going back on the little brown pills. How long for is anybody's guess.
Still haven't heard from Meagan. I'm really not happy about the situation. I've been without regular respite since February -- I think I've reached the end of the line with her, no matter how much M loves her. Either she gets her act together despite her personal dramas or I get another worker. My parents are on holiday this month too and that has meant that they are travelling and going to the opera and I'm not getting my usual breaks because of that.
K's doing well at school so that's something I suppose.
I went to a Carer Cafe on Tuesday. Splendid name. Not. It was an event put on by an emergency respite and funding service and it was lovely. The food was incredible and we all got massages and a box of chocolates at the end. A lot of the mothers from school were there and that got interesting. I'm the only parent who is hooked into a regular respite service and I'm also the only parent who got DSQ funding. I'm also the only person who bloody applied for them too! But I got told by the whole group that they would be grateful for 3 hours a month respite and that by taking 3 hours a week I was taking time from other families... WTFever. I got the hours because nobody else applied for them! I also notice that everyone is perfectly happy to pick my brains WRT respite and funding while bitching about what I get. I'm being circumspect about what I share about how to get the funding until I get permanent funding because I am not a saint.
Must do housework including cleaning more mouse crap. Go away mice! Jim caught one and there was a dead one in the middle of the kitchen floor yesterday so I am making inroads on the population.
Still haven't heard from Meagan. I'm really not happy about the situation. I've been without regular respite since February -- I think I've reached the end of the line with her, no matter how much M loves her. Either she gets her act together despite her personal dramas or I get another worker. My parents are on holiday this month too and that has meant that they are travelling and going to the opera and I'm not getting my usual breaks because of that.
K's doing well at school so that's something I suppose.
I went to a Carer Cafe on Tuesday. Splendid name. Not. It was an event put on by an emergency respite and funding service and it was lovely. The food was incredible and we all got massages and a box of chocolates at the end. A lot of the mothers from school were there and that got interesting. I'm the only parent who is hooked into a regular respite service and I'm also the only parent who got DSQ funding. I'm also the only person who bloody applied for them too! But I got told by the whole group that they would be grateful for 3 hours a month respite and that by taking 3 hours a week I was taking time from other families... WTFever. I got the hours because nobody else applied for them! I also notice that everyone is perfectly happy to pick my brains WRT respite and funding while bitching about what I get. I'm being circumspect about what I share about how to get the funding until I get permanent funding because I am not a saint.
Must do housework including cleaning more mouse crap. Go away mice! Jim caught one and there was a dead one in the middle of the kitchen floor yesterday so I am making inroads on the population.
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Gah. My blog appears to be only present at random intervals. Gah.
M cracked up at school today. I could throttle G as I sent him off on the school run with clear and explicit instructions to tell a teacher, any teacher that M had switched back to his old drugs and he didn't remember to. So I got a phone call at 1pm telling me that M was off the planet and that Bonnie didn't know what to do and basically asking me WTF was going on with M. Rang G to come home and had a huge fight with him in the car over my management of moving M from one drug to another -- gee if I've done this before and it's worked fine, then how come it's my fault that it didn't work this time? I was also following what Michael told me to do so back off hairy legs, it's not my fucking fault that the kid is off the planet.
I do not know what we do next. He's got a few more weeks on the less effective tricyclic by my judgment and then it's anybody's guess what is going to work. All our other options are hideously expensive. Gah.
M cracked up at school today. I could throttle G as I sent him off on the school run with clear and explicit instructions to tell a teacher, any teacher that M had switched back to his old drugs and he didn't remember to. So I got a phone call at 1pm telling me that M was off the planet and that Bonnie didn't know what to do and basically asking me WTF was going on with M. Rang G to come home and had a huge fight with him in the car over my management of moving M from one drug to another -- gee if I've done this before and it's worked fine, then how come it's my fault that it didn't work this time? I was also following what Michael told me to do so back off hairy legs, it's not my fucking fault that the kid is off the planet.
I do not know what we do next. He's got a few more weeks on the less effective tricyclic by my judgment and then it's anybody's guess what is going to work. All our other options are hideously expensive. Gah.
Monday, May 24, 2004
I'm laughing hysterically here because A just rang to talk about her role in S*******d S*****t and mentioned that her mother is teaching a certain young NZ woman who was nominated for an Oscar. Holy shit, if she is grinning like a batshit crazy ape and bulging her eyes in her next movie, we'll know who to blame!
I don't normally do the asterix thingy because I think it's stupid. I really don't think that if you mention generic Johnny Depp or generic place you live in that it will put you up so high on google that it will be a problem but the name of the soapie and the name of the actress could potentially lead to someone figuring out who I am. As if anyone would bother but I'll do the decent thing and obscure details. A has a role on a soap opera! Yay A! Of course we do have this running joke that eventually everyone in NZ will appear on the aforementioned but obscured soapie. A friend from NZ visited last week and he's in the Two Towers. I knew that I had to know someone who was in those movies.
In other news, M's difficult but only two days until we can go back on the good drugs. Meagan sucks and let us down so badly on the weekend that I am furious. She was supposed to take M out for the day but her car broke down. Oookay I can understand that but she sent a message via Trey that she would be there at some stage of the day and never turned up. So M spent the day waiting for her and he was so excited about going to the beach with her. My inclination is to dump her in it with the agency but M loves her so much. I'm going to have to have a showdown with her about whether she wants to be his respite worker or not. I cannot trust her as things stand to pick him up from school. She's not returning my phonecalls which is pissing me off deeply. The problem is that I have been entirely too laidback over the last few months when she has been unreliable and I've also let her deal directly with me instead of going through the agency. I don't wanna deal with this crap. Respite is supposed to make my life easier not harder. M's a plum client who is amazingly easy so you'd think she'd do what is needed to keep him.
K went for his EEG today and was so freaking good! Incredible considering how diabolical he was at the optometrist. We caught the train with Ma and after the appt went to Samios and bought treats. Went to Mrs Flannerys and was completely appalled at the cost of GF stuff. The self-same tapioca flour I pay 99c for they had for 2.90. My beloved mother bought a chocolate mousse mix which had directions in Greek. For me to make for K. Gee thanks Ma. We muddled through it. It's a mousse but it doesn't look like the one on the packet.
My father got the sack last week and we were all feeling that he would never work again but he's had 3 interviews and has been offered 3 positions! I wish he hadn't stuck it out at the other company where the Pauline Hanson factor was strong. He's also going to collect 3 months wages as they violated the terms of his contract.
Ma spotted a house over the road from us and has decided she will buy it if it comes on the market. I'm Ok with that as my father hasn't got that many more years to live if his cancer progresses as it is supposed to progress.
I don't normally do the asterix thingy because I think it's stupid. I really don't think that if you mention generic Johnny Depp or generic place you live in that it will put you up so high on google that it will be a problem but the name of the soapie and the name of the actress could potentially lead to someone figuring out who I am. As if anyone would bother but I'll do the decent thing and obscure details. A has a role on a soap opera! Yay A! Of course we do have this running joke that eventually everyone in NZ will appear on the aforementioned but obscured soapie. A friend from NZ visited last week and he's in the Two Towers. I knew that I had to know someone who was in those movies.
In other news, M's difficult but only two days until we can go back on the good drugs. Meagan sucks and let us down so badly on the weekend that I am furious. She was supposed to take M out for the day but her car broke down. Oookay I can understand that but she sent a message via Trey that she would be there at some stage of the day and never turned up. So M spent the day waiting for her and he was so excited about going to the beach with her. My inclination is to dump her in it with the agency but M loves her so much. I'm going to have to have a showdown with her about whether she wants to be his respite worker or not. I cannot trust her as things stand to pick him up from school. She's not returning my phonecalls which is pissing me off deeply. The problem is that I have been entirely too laidback over the last few months when she has been unreliable and I've also let her deal directly with me instead of going through the agency. I don't wanna deal with this crap. Respite is supposed to make my life easier not harder. M's a plum client who is amazingly easy so you'd think she'd do what is needed to keep him.
K went for his EEG today and was so freaking good! Incredible considering how diabolical he was at the optometrist. We caught the train with Ma and after the appt went to Samios and bought treats. Went to Mrs Flannerys and was completely appalled at the cost of GF stuff. The self-same tapioca flour I pay 99c for they had for 2.90. My beloved mother bought a chocolate mousse mix which had directions in Greek. For me to make for K. Gee thanks Ma. We muddled through it. It's a mousse but it doesn't look like the one on the packet.
My father got the sack last week and we were all feeling that he would never work again but he's had 3 interviews and has been offered 3 positions! I wish he hadn't stuck it out at the other company where the Pauline Hanson factor was strong. He's also going to collect 3 months wages as they violated the terms of his contract.
Ma spotted a house over the road from us and has decided she will buy it if it comes on the market. I'm Ok with that as my father hasn't got that many more years to live if his cancer progresses as it is supposed to progress.
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
Woot! G sold a book and they want to see anything he has sitting around unpublished! Woot!
Best part is that we don't have to give the NY agent any money as this is in the Australian and NZ territories we retained.
I'm very happy.
Best part is that we don't have to give the NY agent any money as this is in the Australian and NZ territories we retained.
I'm very happy.
Monday, May 17, 2004
Rachel, I did epsom salts for a while but saw no change. He's currently in the have at least one bath a day phase so it's an easy experiment.
Rang T, heard all about her great birth last month and how hard it is to juggle 2 businesses with a 2 yo and a newborn. Ya reckon? She recommended a hair analysis place in NSW so I'll do that tomorrow.
Made appointment with doctor for end of June. Seriously unimpressed with cost and felt like snapping at the receptionist that the medicare refund reflected his professional quals, not that he practises unconventional medicine. Must work on attitude and go in there very clear about what I am doing and what I want. Will cancel appt if hair is OK.
I'm still processing stuff from the conference. Am deeply sceptical about facilitated communication. Would find it more credible if the communications were not so sophisticated.
Rebecca said K's attention is unchanged since stopping the dex. Splendid.
Have learnt that I am taking lectins out, not leptins. Am not doing it in any case as deeply alarmed at just how much work that would be. Do it in a few months time if progress stops I think.
Stood on bob the Cat in the dark last night and for a while thought I had ruptured something vital in his lard tumours. Then we decided I had broken his tail. The moral of the story is that large black cats should not lie on the steps in the dark.
ELR paid out today and was a goodly sum. More than I expected and less than G expected. We're doing fine financially.
Fence guy came round. Fence guy is idiot. Still don't have date so that we can tell horrible neighbours to tie the dog up and let us have access to their land to build new fence. They can't stop us and I doubt they will as we are asking for no contribution from them but it could get nasty
Rang T, heard all about her great birth last month and how hard it is to juggle 2 businesses with a 2 yo and a newborn. Ya reckon? She recommended a hair analysis place in NSW so I'll do that tomorrow.
Made appointment with doctor for end of June. Seriously unimpressed with cost and felt like snapping at the receptionist that the medicare refund reflected his professional quals, not that he practises unconventional medicine. Must work on attitude and go in there very clear about what I am doing and what I want. Will cancel appt if hair is OK.
I'm still processing stuff from the conference. Am deeply sceptical about facilitated communication. Would find it more credible if the communications were not so sophisticated.
Rebecca said K's attention is unchanged since stopping the dex. Splendid.
Have learnt that I am taking lectins out, not leptins. Am not doing it in any case as deeply alarmed at just how much work that would be. Do it in a few months time if progress stops I think.
Stood on bob the Cat in the dark last night and for a while thought I had ruptured something vital in his lard tumours. Then we decided I had broken his tail. The moral of the story is that large black cats should not lie on the steps in the dark.
ELR paid out today and was a goodly sum. More than I expected and less than G expected. We're doing fine financially.
Fence guy came round. Fence guy is idiot. Still don't have date so that we can tell horrible neighbours to tie the dog up and let us have access to their land to build new fence. They can't stop us and I doubt they will as we are asking for no contribution from them but it could get nasty
Sunday, May 16, 2004
Enzyme notes:
took peptizyde last night and this morning. Imaginative play, involved both me and G in it today. Followed me when I left greengrocer's. Was reasonable about coming home. G says he observed another couple of things but can't remember what.
Fluoro lights -- remove
Epsom salt baths
Hair analysis with view to chelation with Pfeiffer stuff.
Appt with local nut doctor so that I can get tests and access to treatment. Not happy but not much else I can do about it.
Leptin removal.
Manganese, selenium, check zinc quantities.
Nystatin trial?
Constantly keep in mind that he is doing incredibly well.
took peptizyde last night and this morning. Imaginative play, involved both me and G in it today. Followed me when I left greengrocer's. Was reasonable about coming home. G says he observed another couple of things but can't remember what.
Fluoro lights -- remove
Epsom salt baths
Hair analysis with view to chelation with Pfeiffer stuff.
Appt with local nut doctor so that I can get tests and access to treatment. Not happy but not much else I can do about it.
Leptin removal.
Manganese, selenium, check zinc quantities.
Nystatin trial?
Constantly keep in mind that he is doing incredibly well.
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
More WOOT! There was yet more bribery in this Budget. I get another $1200 top up with my carer allowance for the kids. Well it depends on how they define recipient but I can't see that I am the recipient -- it's got to be the person with the disorder so that's $600 per kid.
$3600 better off. Taxfree.
And they are continuing the Educational Lending Right scheme which is the bulk of G's income and which has been under threat all year.
Still hate the bastages though and won't vote for them.
$3600 better off. Taxfree.
And they are continuing the Educational Lending Right scheme which is the bulk of G's income and which has been under threat all year.
Still hate the bastages though and won't vote for them.
Yay for election bribery! $1200 within the next few weeks for Family Tax A and another $1200 at the end of the financial year! Woot! And I still won't be voting for little Johnny in any case.
K's been demon spawn all week since I trialled him with chocolate soymilk. Yeech. Talked to Rebecca and she said the only way she can describe him is that he is being naughty. Which I'd have to agree with -- he's totally non-compliant and is doing things like emptying a bottle of showergel all over the bathroom, making jelly when I'm not looking... things that he normally wouldn't do. Blech. Hope it is the soy.
M's doing OK although he's a bit weepy at the end of the day. His next big project at school is a worm farm and he's excited. I love his school when things like this happen. It's totally open ended so he can go as far as he wants with it. I bitched a bit to Mel that he's not stretched at all. Next project will be one of his own choosing. It will either be Star Trek or Dr Who, I'm betting.
Ma went off to NZ for 10 days. Lucky Ma.
Saw dental surgeon yesterday and we're pulling out two top wisdom teeth and a bottom canine which I severely neglected for years. The bill's not going to be too bad -- about $800 including a general. Not looking forward to it at all but am looking forward to it being over.
In other news I am as usual kidding myself that one shining day my house will be organised.
K's been demon spawn all week since I trialled him with chocolate soymilk. Yeech. Talked to Rebecca and she said the only way she can describe him is that he is being naughty. Which I'd have to agree with -- he's totally non-compliant and is doing things like emptying a bottle of showergel all over the bathroom, making jelly when I'm not looking... things that he normally wouldn't do. Blech. Hope it is the soy.
M's doing OK although he's a bit weepy at the end of the day. His next big project at school is a worm farm and he's excited. I love his school when things like this happen. It's totally open ended so he can go as far as he wants with it. I bitched a bit to Mel that he's not stretched at all. Next project will be one of his own choosing. It will either be Star Trek or Dr Who, I'm betting.
Ma went off to NZ for 10 days. Lucky Ma.
Saw dental surgeon yesterday and we're pulling out two top wisdom teeth and a bottom canine which I severely neglected for years. The bill's not going to be too bad -- about $800 including a general. Not looking forward to it at all but am looking forward to it being over.
In other news I am as usual kidding myself that one shining day my house will be organised.
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
G came back from his men's gathering all full of beans. Wish I could say I felt likewise but I don't.
M's stabilising on his new meds but has had a rough week so far at school. First falling out with his friend and he's heartbroken. Got very very very very annoyed today when I tried to talk to Bonnie about how M is going as she kept comparing him to the other kids in the unit and saying how well he communicates and how he says he's angry yadda yadda yadda. Yeah I already know that -- what I want to know is how is he compared with himself? What's his stress level like? Are the farging meds working or do I have to tweak further? Ma says I should stop asking unless they make me but that's a touch simplistic. I can't monitor his meds unless I know WTF is happening.
Got to school this morning to do the drop off and Rebecca said we're doing cooking today! Apple turnovers! So I asked her where she got the GF pastry. Oh no, they were just gonna make turnovers and give them to the teachers and not eat them.
Ummmmmm, no. Like hell I want him handling gluten pastry. He was already a challenge today as I'd let him eat yoghurt and skipped the enzymes. I said to her I didn't think it was fair that he was to bake something he could not eat even if he wanted to.
I was meeting my mother to go shopping so G went home and made pastry and bagged up GF flour and took it back to the school. I think I made my point as Rebecca was full of explanations when we picked K up after school as to why she thought making gluten pastry was an OK thing. heh.
Ma and I went to New Farm and shopped. Mostly window-shopped. There's a lot of delis and kitchen shops there. I bought membrillo for G but was mostly restrained. I did fall in love with some amazingly beautiful bundt cake tins for $60 each. They were cathedrals and roses. I think I've got enough points on my credit card to redeem some David Jones vouchers and I might buy a Le Creuset pan.
I was completely stunned that a couple of delis were selling a GF cake mix (to which you had to add 4 free range eggs and an orange) for $11! How moronic would you have to be to pay that?
In other news we have finally signed the contract with the New York literary agent. G was sweating a clause which I could not understand. It just didn't make sense but it turns out that it wasn't supposed to be in the contract for literary representation but rather for licensing contracts. She ceded Australia and NZ to us as territories which was the other BFD.
We finally heard back about the funding application and we got nearly $4000 to build a fence and they funded driving lessons for me. So now I have to learn to drive. Yeeeeeehaaaaa! So not looking forward to that.
M's stabilising on his new meds but has had a rough week so far at school. First falling out with his friend and he's heartbroken. Got very very very very annoyed today when I tried to talk to Bonnie about how M is going as she kept comparing him to the other kids in the unit and saying how well he communicates and how he says he's angry yadda yadda yadda. Yeah I already know that -- what I want to know is how is he compared with himself? What's his stress level like? Are the farging meds working or do I have to tweak further? Ma says I should stop asking unless they make me but that's a touch simplistic. I can't monitor his meds unless I know WTF is happening.
Got to school this morning to do the drop off and Rebecca said we're doing cooking today! Apple turnovers! So I asked her where she got the GF pastry. Oh no, they were just gonna make turnovers and give them to the teachers and not eat them.
Ummmmmm, no. Like hell I want him handling gluten pastry. He was already a challenge today as I'd let him eat yoghurt and skipped the enzymes. I said to her I didn't think it was fair that he was to bake something he could not eat even if he wanted to.
I was meeting my mother to go shopping so G went home and made pastry and bagged up GF flour and took it back to the school. I think I made my point as Rebecca was full of explanations when we picked K up after school as to why she thought making gluten pastry was an OK thing. heh.
Ma and I went to New Farm and shopped. Mostly window-shopped. There's a lot of delis and kitchen shops there. I bought membrillo for G but was mostly restrained. I did fall in love with some amazingly beautiful bundt cake tins for $60 each. They were cathedrals and roses. I think I've got enough points on my credit card to redeem some David Jones vouchers and I might buy a Le Creuset pan.
I was completely stunned that a couple of delis were selling a GF cake mix (to which you had to add 4 free range eggs and an orange) for $11! How moronic would you have to be to pay that?
In other news we have finally signed the contract with the New York literary agent. G was sweating a clause which I could not understand. It just didn't make sense but it turns out that it wasn't supposed to be in the contract for literary representation but rather for licensing contracts. She ceded Australia and NZ to us as territories which was the other BFD.
We finally heard back about the funding application and we got nearly $4000 to build a fence and they funded driving lessons for me. So now I have to learn to drive. Yeeeeeehaaaaa! So not looking forward to that.
Saturday, May 01, 2004
Courtesy of Harsh Betty
1. Let's talk about progress for a minute here. What have you done lately which would constitute progress for you?
Hmmmmm, probably it's progress that I have actually made an appointment for dental surgery and I plan to keep it. I've also just been given funding to learn to drive so when I do that, that will be the two things I promised myself I would do when I was 40.
2. And then there's technological progress ... pick one gadget or development, something which was developed, or became widely available, within your memory, and which you really, really appreciate, which has improved your quality of life measurably, and explain yourself (psst: computers are too easy!).
There's not really anything else which has improved my quality of life in the way that computers have. I cannot imagine raising my kids without the network I have because of my computer. I guess I could say the development of good medication has changed my life immeasurably. M would be in a psych hospital without meds. It would have been impossible to raise him at home.
3. Do you use your hands a lot when you talk? Do you touch people when you're speaking with them in person? Or does that kind of thing bother you? Insert your own commentary about body language or personal space here.
I use my hands a lot when I talk. I'm not a toucher and I dislike being touched intensely. Hate it, hate it, hate it. I'm a very sensory defensive person. I like a lot of personal space, always have done.
4. Speaking of your hands: do you like the way they look? how about your nails? short or long? polished? are you wearing any rings? ... if anybody wants to throw in a photo, that would be really neat!
No polish ever, short nails, no rings. The ringlessness often leads people to think I am unmarried. Bothers my parents no end, esp my dad. Heh.
5. I was just invited (third-hand and via word of mouth) to the wedding, tomorrow evening sometime, of a couple I don't know -- DH works with the guy, but I couldn't pick either of them out of a lineup. I have no idea what to give these people for a wedding gift. Suggestions? Do you have sort of a default gift you give in situations like this where you're not sure what a couple needs or wants? How about a default gift for new babies, or small kids (those pesky impromptu party invitations, argh!) or housewarmings?
I have no idea. I'd probably buy a random set of glasses. I hate buying kids presents with a passion unless I know the kid really well. My kids always seem to get such inappropriate presents at parties and I'm sure other parents feel that way about what I buy.
1. Let's talk about progress for a minute here. What have you done lately which would constitute progress for you?
Hmmmmm, probably it's progress that I have actually made an appointment for dental surgery and I plan to keep it. I've also just been given funding to learn to drive so when I do that, that will be the two things I promised myself I would do when I was 40.
2. And then there's technological progress ... pick one gadget or development, something which was developed, or became widely available, within your memory, and which you really, really appreciate, which has improved your quality of life measurably, and explain yourself (psst: computers are too easy!).
There's not really anything else which has improved my quality of life in the way that computers have. I cannot imagine raising my kids without the network I have because of my computer. I guess I could say the development of good medication has changed my life immeasurably. M would be in a psych hospital without meds. It would have been impossible to raise him at home.
3. Do you use your hands a lot when you talk? Do you touch people when you're speaking with them in person? Or does that kind of thing bother you? Insert your own commentary about body language or personal space here.
I use my hands a lot when I talk. I'm not a toucher and I dislike being touched intensely. Hate it, hate it, hate it. I'm a very sensory defensive person. I like a lot of personal space, always have done.
4. Speaking of your hands: do you like the way they look? how about your nails? short or long? polished? are you wearing any rings? ... if anybody wants to throw in a photo, that would be really neat!
No polish ever, short nails, no rings. The ringlessness often leads people to think I am unmarried. Bothers my parents no end, esp my dad. Heh.
5. I was just invited (third-hand and via word of mouth) to the wedding, tomorrow evening sometime, of a couple I don't know -- DH works with the guy, but I couldn't pick either of them out of a lineup. I have no idea what to give these people for a wedding gift. Suggestions? Do you have sort of a default gift you give in situations like this where you're not sure what a couple needs or wants? How about a default gift for new babies, or small kids (those pesky impromptu party invitations, argh!) or housewarmings?
I have no idea. I'd probably buy a random set of glasses. I hate buying kids presents with a passion unless I know the kid really well. My kids always seem to get such inappropriate presents at parties and I'm sure other parents feel that way about what I buy.
