Skating

Kevin’s been going to practice for Special Olympics Rolling Skating and he really seems to enjoy it. His teacher said he did great today. Now truthfully how well he skates I have no idea. I’ve never been able to get over to watch them during skating. His teacher tells me that he skates by himself and is doing great this year. She said she’ll video tape him next time for me. I can’t wait to see how well he does and for me it’s not that he does it prefect it’s that he can at all. I’ve never learned to skate. Maybe that’s from growing up on a dirt road. I do have to say one thing changing the time of day he gets his medicine has been a help, too. I was giving it to him after school, but with him doing the respite care after school a few days a week I decided to change it for him to get his medicine during his lunch break. You can tell a difference when he get s off the bus. He much calmer, but a little tired from doing so much during the day. He keeps saying “Good Night”. Sure sign he’s tired.

Not the Best Weekend Visit

I was hoping beyond hope that I could report that Kevin had another wonderful visit with his Dad over the weekend, but unfortunately I can’t. If you remember back in July I had Blogged about his visit and how nice it was for them. A lot of time has gone by since that visit, schedules get full and stuff just happens. It has been a while since they we’re able to have the boys for a weekend. From what I understand they had problems with him Saturday night and had to give Kevin an extra Ativan to help him settle down. I did find out that he had pizza for lunch that day, but I have no way of knowing if that was the cause or if Kevin was just over excited and maybe out of sync with the visit. Luckily, Kevin seemed to be feeling better last night and fell right to sleep with no problems. Today his off with his teacher after school for a few hours and I told her to bring him home early if she needs to this afternoon. So, far she said he’s been having a good day. A little stemming, but nothing she can’t handle. We’ll just have to wait and see how he does. I did ask a friend of mine up north, who has Celiac Disease, how long does it take for the gluten to leave his system. She has taken a lot of classes and is considering becoming a dietitian herself, so I feel safe with what she can tell me. She said it depends on the person, but it can take 1 to 2 days for the gluten to leave their system. Its ok stuff happens and we move on from there. I just really needed to document this for my records just in case there is something going on with Kevin.

Is This a Pattern or Something Else

The past couple of days I’ve noticed Kevin starting to stem a lot more to the point that it is close to taking over him again.  Example if he’s in the middle of one of his stems that makes him contort his arm way up in the air and trying to give him either his pills, lunch or a drink he doesn’t seem to be able to stop the motion and we have to wait for him relax.  Yesterday coming off the bus he was in one of those high strung moods, so I text his teacher to see how he was in school.  She said he was good, but a lot of stemming that day.  I told her I had noticed the same thing and wasn’t sure how to help him.   I know one thing it's very hard to concentrate on work with him like that.  I ended up shutting down my computer a little early for the day.  Thankfully, my boss that I work for here at the house knows and understands the situation with Kevin.  So, I’ve been pondering all morning about Kevin’s mood change.  I went back to my Blog and I think I may have found a pattern.  I started the diet just before Mother’s Day and 2 months into it I had to reduce his Risperdal by ½ a pill to help him with stemming.   It’s now another 2 months later and it looks like I’m going through the same thing with him.  I need to find an answer before his next visit to his father’s.  I’d rather those visits went well for everyone.  They’re not as use to this stuff with him and I’d rather not put anyone through what we deal with here at home with Kevin.  Don’t get me wrong he’s been wonderful all summer long, but we do have issues once in awhile.  Don’t we all?  Last night I did not give Kevin his ½ pill of Risperdal and he did seem to relax a little.  He even told me they did Basketball in Gym that day where as earlier in the day he couldn’t tell me anything.  Then he decided he had to play with the dog and then tell her to close her eyes while she was lying down near him.  She does love Kevin that’s for sure.

Back to School

Yes, the boys are back in school. The first day went pretty smoothly.  Of course the buses were running behind in the afternoon and it was past time for Kevin’s afternoon pills.  The later it got the more concerned I got, of course.  In truth it was only about 30 or 40 minutes late, but I wasn’t too sure what Kevin’s mood would be when he got off the bus.   He was too use to sleeping until 7 am and then taking an early morning nap on the sofa.  Needless to say he was the happiest boy in the area about being back to school.  Nothing but a big smile on his face when he got off the bus, which in turn made me smile.

Today I tried a new bread mix.  It was Bob's Red Mill Hearty Whole Grain Gluten Free bread mix.  Too my surprise it reminds me of Pumpernickel or Rye Bread.  I think more like Pumpernickel.  Kevin seems to like it and I wasn’t really sure if he would once I cut it.  He’s use to Gluten Free Multi Grain Bread’s, but this one seemed stronger than any I’ve bought for him before.  I can’t wait to try the white bread mix from Bob’s Red Mill.  The bread mix makes a bigger loaf than what I buy at the store, so it may be worth the effort.  If you’re looking for great ideas for bread you should check out their web site.

We Made it through the Summer

In a week and half I can take a deep breath and say we made it through the summer!  Summer vacation was always a difficult time for Kevin.  He’d get very bored and frustrated.  I think the difference is the new diet and starting Respite care.  His teacher (aka his Respite worker) took him out for a few hours the other day and she could not get over Kevin talking.  She was talking to him about going back to school and he started naming the students in his class.  He said one name and she said “No, he isn’t going to be there anymore.”  Kevin said “What!”  It tickled her so much she called his other teacher and told her what he said.  I have to tell you he’s been checking that calendar almost every day to see what day it is and how much longer.  Oh Boy, when he turns 22 years old I hope and pray I have something in place for him to do.  In the mean time we will keep plugging away at the time he has left in school.  I think both Kevin and his brother will graduate the same year.  Not sure about that, yet.  Speaking of his brother he cooked for us the other night.  He was bored and said he wanted to cook dinner tonight.  Fine by me!  I just stood back and told him how to make the pasta for all of us.  Yes, he had to make Gluten Free Pasta and Regular Pasta.