I'm not dead...

Hi there!

Well it's been a rip-snorter of a few weeks. I'm exhausted, that's for sure!

Let's see... what happened?

1. I have a major assignment due, worth 40% of my grade so have been stressing about that... slightly. Just enough to double my grey hairs. Yes, that's right folks, peroxide is my friend.

2. I finally decided that E's meltdowns were not normal, so I rang the Parent Helpline, and they suggested I make an appointment with the Childhood nurse for a development check. I took in my documentation of his reactions to certain things, what triggers them etc. Turns out that his meltdowns AREN'T normal and they are doing further investigating.
I have had to do some pretty detailed development paperwork, which they gave me, which is supposed to pinpoint problem areas. The nurse wants to get this moving as soon as we possibly can, so she freed up a few hours tomorrow afternoon so we can talk in depth more and then tee up seeing the doctor. The doctor specialises in autism and aspergers. I'm pretty confident... sort of... that it's not either of those two conditions. But I have to see a doctor anyway to get onto the child psychologist, to treat what I think is the problem - anxiety. So better to rule out (or not) the two big ones.
Anxiety is a hereditary condition in my family, my grandfather had it, my Mum has it, and my Uncle had some pretty queer behavioural issues growing up, but because of the time, I guess they weren't picked up, mainly just looked at as him being a brat. Poor kid.
E freaks out about similar things that my Mum freaks out about, and I have spoken to a friend whose child has this, and they sound eerily similar.
So for this week I've been a bit edgy and anxious, I just want this assesment to be over with and get to the problem and get it sorted out. And a very small part of me is scared that it could be something awful! We've been walking around on egg-shells trying to keep him from melting down for the last few weeks, and it's exhausting.

3. Mop has been a bit strange lately. I have put it down to her moving up a grade has shaken her up a bit and she has been behaving very badly. I've been having informal meetings with her teacher, hearing about what she is doing and saying. Eeeekk... not a proud moment that's for sure! So we have been putting all sorts of systems and consequences/rewards in place to try to encourage better behaviour. After 2 absolutely hideous weeks, she has finally cottoned on that we mean business and that it's in her best intersts to behave herself. She seems to have settled down now and she's back to her old self. It's been hard though on Daz and I. We hate to come down on her hard like that. I always thought we were pretty firm and strict parents..... that is nothing compared to what we had to do. I have felt wretched this whole time, and I think her last outburst I sat on her bed and bawled my eyes out.

4. Because of all this rubbish that is going on, I'm not sleeping well. I'm exhausted.

5. Because I'm not sleeping well, I'm run-down and have been sick for the last few days.

6. Milly and E have both been sick these last few days. We have had snot everywhere!! I think I better buy shares in Kleenex!

So there you have it. That's what's going on.

Anything happy happening?

Well yes. Last year you may remember my baby brother got married? Well his wife is now pregnant. It's very exciting.... though she is incredibly ill and has been in and out of hospital for a few weeks now. Morning sickness has knocked her about. She's getting drugs they give to chemo patients! Poor love. I have never seen anyone look so grey..

Ok so the baby coming is happy - not the morning sickness. :)

Love from whingy ol Skip