What?!??

I am posting this both on our blog about Austin and this blog, because while it deals specifically with Asperger's and Austin, it also deals with ignorance about larger families.

Some quick background - Austin has Asperger Syndrome, which is a type of high functioning Autism. Because of AS, he has a lot of sensory issues, plus a lot of anxiety.

For several years, Austin has worn his coat all day long at school. He refuses to take it off. I've spoken with him on several occasions about it when it first started, but then eventually gave up. Last year, because he was at a new school, I had to speak with him about it again because we got a lot of complaints about him wearing his coat all day. He still wore it. This year, there is a new guidance counselor.

When she started, I was so excited. She is fresh out of college and I thought she knew a little bit about AS. Now, I didn't expect her to be an expert, but she had heard of it and acted like she understood it. My hopes were dashed, as she may have heard about it, but understanding it is a whole other thing. She totally doesn't get it.

She has been e-mailing me for a long time and that has been good. However, as the weather got colder, I started getting e-mails about "the teachers" being concerned about Austin wearing his coat all day long and that "he might be cold" and "need more layers."

So, I decided to politely ignore the fact that most of these teachers knew Austin last year and knew that he would not take his coat off, so that didn't seem as much the point. I politely pointed out that he had on several layers under his coat (UnderArmor, a long sleeve shirt, and a hooded sweatshirt), so he was plenty warm and it was more a security/anxiety issue than anything else.

Do you know what she wrote back??? She said, and I quote, 'I'm glad to hear that he has options to wear at home and to help him with layers!' Seriously!?!?!? Like, because we have six kids, we can't possibly afford to clothe all six children and be sure they have enough options to keep them warm. What?!?! I was so offended and so angry that she ignorantly thought that we did not have enough money to afford our children.

Yes, maybe some people cannot afford all the children they have in a larger family. However, most larger families that I know, know that they can afford the children they already have and any future children they may have prior to having more children. Adding to one's family, especially a larger family, is not something taken lightly and not an accident. Everyone I know, myself included, knows they can feed and clothe all of their children in a manner which is weather-appropriate at all times. They may not be designer clothes (and sometimes they may be), but each child has what he/she needs.

In that same e-mail, she mentioned that the teachers were concerned his coat "wasn't clean." Well, I informed her I wash his coat three times a week. She was happy to hear that. I figure if I am washing the coat that often, then they really can't complain about it. It isn't dirty. So I've taken away the two reasons they want him to not wear his coat. And I've spoken with him about it. He's still wearing his coat daily and I'm fine with it. He has on layers, and it's clean - they can say nothing.

Why is a coat such a problem??? And, seriously, of all the issues we have had with him, why pick on the coat?? And if that's their only complaint right now, then we are doing MIGHTY good!!!

THIS is why Nothing Ever Gets DONE....

This happened after rice and macaroni, at different times this morning while I was doing laundry and dishes (respectively). This time, I was trying to make supper. To say I'm a touch ticked would be putting it extremely mildly...
The Guilty Parties:

Even a dyson was not made to withstand triplet boys, I do not think... And, for those of you who are thinking "She must not baby-proof"...here is the proof. How they got it open is beyond me and nothing else works...

Hannah's Happy Heiny

About two weeks ago, we started Hannah in cloth diapers. It has been awesome! I so wanted to do it with the triplets, but didn't think I could. They are now next on my list. I'm still waiting on inserts for her diapers, but I have the extra ovals already. I started using prefolds, but those were way bulky. Then I started cutting those apart, but it was still bulky. Someone told me to try microfiber towels cut apart. That is what we are using currently and they work awesome! I'm hoping the inserts will be slightly less bulky than the towels, but for now, this is working. She has had more messes in her overnight disposables than in these! She only has three so far, so it takes her through the entire day, but not nighttime (when I wash them for the next day). Steve has said if I do the laundry and follow through with it for a month, then I can order more! Yay!


I did learn one thing. I am not going to do sizes again. When I was looking, I got an awesome deal and they were sized diapers. Well, as soon as she grows, that means I am going to need more. Our next ones will be one size fits all gender-neutral diapers. That way everybody can share. The laundry has been so easy! Because she's breastfed, there is no need to rinse them until she starts on solid food (around 8 months) and they are fleece-lined, so the poopies just rinse right out. I throw everything in, wash it, and it comes out sparkling. I know most people are already aware of this, but the last time I used cloth, it was over 13 years ago and those were still just prefolds with lots of pins and rubber pants - with lots of scrubbing. What a pain! They have come a long way since then!


I'm excited for the triplets to get into them because they more than likely have another year in diapers and even at that rate, I am saving a huge amount on the landfill. I also think they'd be great for Noah - he is sooo sensitive to everything. Maybe with all the snaps, they might even deter Nathanial from whipping it all off in the middle of his nap/night.

Random Picture Challenge 1.0

Courtesy of Four Little Men and Girly Twins. The challenge today is May 2008, 21st picture. Today's random picture challenge:

This is Noah and Nathanial (I think) watching Aidan sing at church on May 11, 2008.

Finally!!

We went back in to see Dr. B (ENT) and she has finally recommended getting the boys in to be checked for their speech. I have been increasingly concerned about their lack of speech for the last six months. At that point, no one was hearing too great, so Dr. B (Family doctor) said to wait three to four months and see how they were at that point. Well, life happened and between Hannah and multiple visits for various illnesses, it never got brought up.

Lately, I have been extremely concerned. Dr. B (ENT) asked about it at their appointment this week and I said they say very little. She wants them to be seen by the AEA for a comprehensive evaluation. I am so thrilled this is getting done. She said even with the massive ear problems we've been dealing with, they should be hearing fine because it's all draining out and not sitting behind the ear drum. She said she definitely thinks it's a speech problem at this point, but it could be compounded by the fact that they are triplets and have developed an extensive language amongst themselves already.

We know they hear. They follow commands, they interact with each other and us, and they jabber. They have talked to each other since birth (literally) and they truly understand each other. I feel that could be hampering their speech, but they still should be saying something. They say very, very little.

Noah says hi, ba (bye/nigh-night), this, that, see, oh, yeah, and no (A LOT). He will occasionally say "sister," but is hard to understand when he says it. He uses all of those appropriately also. Nathanial says ba (bye/nigh-night), da (dad) and mom. Bye and da he uses appropriately, mom he whines for me, mine, mom, and just about anything else. Ethan says ba (bye/nigh-night) and mom for everything Nathanial uses it for. Noah will tell huge stories, though, and really thinks you understand him. He's hilarious to listen to.

They are doing a hearing test first then they will be evaluated by a Speech Language Pathologist, child development specialist, and some other specialized person. They said those three will go together because one will pick up something in their area while another will pick up something different. This is especially good for Nathanial. Ethan and Noah I believe are neuro typical (if Ethan is a little neurotic and OCD). Nathanial I am almost positive is somewhere on the spectrum. He does not interact as often with the other two, he is often isolated, he smears, he is very sensitive to lots of things, and he is just "different." While he may just end up being a quieter little guy, I would like to know now if something is different and if he is on the spectrum rather than wait.

I am very excited for the 23rd to get here so we have some answers soon, even if it will be a very long day!