Another on the Spectrum And Driving

Well I recently came from another IEP meeting where another of my girls is being helped for Autism and ADD after much testing and a Psychologist evaluation. I think I might just melt down! lol, works for them I should be allowed once a year right? Well that gives me 4 confirmed children on the spectrum out of 6. Well I guess I should be grateful that 3/4 of them are aspies. I dont know if it really makes a ton of difference as they all melt down and the latest child also has sensory disorders so you never know what is going to set her off. I however am fairly certain my youngest is also an aspie but she flaps and repeats which my others have not they do call it an puzzle for a reason :)

My oldest Aspie has been having alot of anxiety and depression lately she tries the hardest to fit in with her peers then seems to come home and shut down. School is getting to be alot for her to keep up with halfway through 11th grade. I hope she can keep it together till high school graduation but the emotional toll is what I worry about. She also has got a learners permit and is driving AHHHHH! lol just kidding she is actually pretty good.

My second also an Aspie struggles with OCD behaviors and anxiety. We have been using a stress ball and this seems to have limited her finger chewing. She has also adjusted to life as a 7th grader to some degree so she is less anxious.  She also comes home and is very tired just needs to unwind.

My third is neuro typical and seems to do well she does struggle being in a family full of Autism and trying to keep her siblings focused at times.

My fourth is the newly diagnosed Aspie mentioned above school is a huge challenge for her more then the others as she is more distracted. She has been in Dual immersion and struggling to keep up with the double homework I am not sure how long she can keep it up. She is very good at spanish and actually struggles with english so I am unsure what the best move will be for her.

Ahh My fifth a son he has adjusted well to kindergarten however his latest is to tell me he is too tired to go to school. He got an ear infection and the flu and just does not seem to have bounce back very well its been 3 weeks so I am waiting to see they say flu can linger for 6 weeks. I actually had to carry him into school today and I have not had that ever. He discovered a lego book at the orthodontist office the other day and had to have one now he cant wait to get home and look it over again and again.

Last but not least is my flapper she has a huge vocabulary and speaks well like my oldest did. However when she gets upset she flaps her hands and can not talk to you its like her brain is misfiring.  She also at times like when she wants something she repeats it over and over and over like 4 times. Even if you acknowledge that you heard her she cant stop.

Well such is the challenge of my husbands and my life. I love my kids and try daily to met their various needs I just hope that with divine help we can help them succeed to the best of their abilities.

ADHD

ADHD can be very trying to parents and children. A lot of children with ADHD can be helped by use of caffeine, I know this sounds crazy but I am here to tell you it can make a huge difference. Of course it does not work the same for all children as everyone is different. However it has improved my daughter tremendously and I do not have to deal with all the nasty side affects of most ADHD medicines. I started doing this right before Christmas break as my daughter was driving her teacher crazy. She just takes 2 oz of mountain dew in the morning right before she goes to school this helps her not get so hyper later in the day. From what I have observed it tends to even her out for most of the day. However some days at around 3pm she gets a little cranky so we give her just a bit more so her mood stays even all day. The time might vary for each child so just be aware of how they are doing.
I like the caffeine because I can control how much she gets and when as she does not need the caffeine when she is home as it does not bother me that she is hyper. I do not want her drinking mountain dew all the time and could choose another drink with caffeine but I like to also use vojo mints. She only has to take 2-3 of these and they act just like the mountain dew they come in citrus, berry sour, and peppermint. She likes citrus the best but some other kids might like the others you get them at 7-elevens and other stores you can look them up online under vojo extreme.
I am not completely sure of why the caffeine works but from my research it changes the way the blood flows to the brain or something to that effect so when in most people it makes them hyper it makes most children with ADHD mellow.