problems and solutions

We've had a crazy few weeks with Calvin mastering the new trick of not getting off the bus at school. My gas bill has skyrocketed with all the trips I've made down to his school (30 min each way x 20 times since the school year started). We really needed an idea to help with this. Plus, it wastes my entire day. Anyway, ABA uses the idea that you reward the positive and ignore the negative. While I had been trying to think of a way to punish Calvin for making me drive down to school, since it is so punishing to me, I realized there really isn't anything in that arena that would actually work. So a reward for getting off the bus is going to be our first try -- if he gets a treat if he gets off the bus. Last night we went to the store and he picked some fruit snacks and he gets one little bag if he gets off the bus at school.   He told me "Mom, that is a really good idea." I got a kick out of that. Hopefully it works long enough to get him back in the habit of hopping right off the bus when he gets to school!

We will be starting in home ABA therapy soon. It takes a while to get approval from insurance. We had an evaluation and another meeting to go over treatment plan. we are trying to get approved for 4 hours a week in home plus 2 hours of consult. That would be awesome!    We are making up for lost time. We should have started this YEARS ago. 

What's new?

We continue to try medications, hoping to find a magic mixture.  I was talking to an old friend a few days ago who shared the story of her (now 40 year old) nephew who has a similar temperament to Calvin. She mentioned it took YEARS for the family to find the right medicines to help him and he is doing remarkably well.  It helped me to realize I shouldn't give up. However, it does get me to worrying about the $. We are paying out of pocket for this psychiatrist and it is adding up. We've hit the $2000 mark after 4 months. We'll be in trouble if we have to keep this up all year. I need to call insurance and see if there is a way for them to pay for this doctor.

We've had a lot of trouble with the bus the last few weeks, as I had previously mentioned.  The bus drivers recently "bid" on routes and Calvin's driver who we have loved got out bid for Calvin's route. We have a new driver now who has already had several complaints from her and I am worried a bit about her ability to endure 3 hours a day with Calvin on her bus.

Elder Holland gave the most amazing talk today, speaking to people with mental illness or who care for people with mental illness. It could have been given to just me, but I know there are so many who suffer with various mental illnesses.  I'll post the link when it becomes available.