Friday wasn't a whole lot better. Nathan had problems at school, but at least this time they kept him there and didn't make me come get him. His OT said he seemed to be overwhelmed by schoolwork, and that any hint of him slipping behind is extremely upsetting to him. I explained that the huge quantity of homework that hit him right after Christmas was just too much for him, and he doesn't seem to trust that he won't go back to that again. She agreed. She also thought it was a bad idea to send him home every time he throws a fit. She's afraid he'll start using fits to get out of school. I agreed.
In his folder was the letter saying they want to hold another IEP meeting, with everyone invited. I nearly flipped when I saw the school psychologist listed. No way is he getting involved again. I can't let that happen.
Noticibly absent from the IEP letter was the phrase "to re-evaluate his meds." (Not that this isn't the intent, it just isn't stated). It says it's to "review and or develop your child's IEP and determine the child's educational placement." (This is a form letter, with boxes to check). I also noted the absense of a checkmark next to "consider the need for a functional behavioral assessment for your child." How odd.
Also in his folder was a note from the special ed teacher regarding his day. She said he was kept in the resource room due to "high level of anxiety resulting in aggressive and violent behavior." Shc has been repeatedly using that word "anxiety" to justify the school's insistance that Nathan be put on stronger or different drugs. I notice that no one ever tries to figure out what is behind the anxiety or the behavior. I don't think anyone cares. They just seem to want him drugged.
Saturday, dh and I awoke to screaming. Nathan was running through the house, and he hit his foot into our aquarium. This is no little aquarium. This is a 70 gallon aquarium, weighing somewhere in the vicinity of 300 pounds - it had no give in it when Nathan ran his foot smack dab into it. Oh, the poor kid! His toenail even cut the skin on his toe (and blood and Nathan do not get along). He was literally wailing when he saw it was bleeding. He could slightly bend his toes, and could walk on the foot, so we decided to wait and see how it went. I tried to get Nathan to ice it, but that was short-lived. It didn't seem to swell up much or anything, and sometimes he would walk fairly normally on it, without a discernable limp. We figured he could have broken a toe (or more), but I know from past experience that there isn't much they can do for a toe. (I had a similar accident when I was a teenager). There was a bit of a bruise, in the shape of a triangle, from his middle toes to a point on the top of his foot. Not too bad. Yet.
However, the next morning, that bruise had extended across his toes, and up his foot, and around to the side of his foot. There was also swelling. I knew this was not just a jammed toe. I told dh we needed to get him to a doctor. He figured I was probably over-reacting, but I figured I would rather be accused of over-reacting than to have something wrong and know I did nothing about it. So off we went to the emergency clinic.
It was a broken toe. It wasn't too bad of a break, but it sure looked awful. They put him in a "boot," with two toes taped together with a mini elastic bandage. He can walk fairly well on it. No gym, no physical exertion. Tylenol or Motrin for the pain. We go back next weekend to have them follow up on it.
The pain is pretty bad for him, but fortunately the Motrin seems to keep it pretty much at bay, and lasts most of the school day. But he's really stretched thin on what he can tolerate, and he's very sensitive. I don't blame him. I would be too.
Today the special ed teacher called and told me that she knew she wasn't supposed to include their school psychologist in the IEP, but they hadn't determined who they would use, so she just put the title down without a name. She thought they might go with a retired school pscyhologist. I suggested they use the same girl they did before. (After all, she had a really good rapor with Nathan). She may have been a student, though, so I don't know if that's an option. At least the guy we dealt with before will not be a part of this.
Ironically, I just finished reading my brand new copy of Nathan's IEP. It says that we discussed restraining Nathan at the last IEP meeting, which is not true at all. The special ed teacher brought up restraining Nathan to me several days later, at a Valentine's Day party, and I told her it only served to worsen the situation, and hugely escalated his meltdown. It says in the IEP that "CPI physical restraints may be used." (I have never been told what CPI means)> The IEP also stated that the principal attended the meeting, which was not true. Then she included a copy of the Autism Team's recommendations. She had told me before that they recommended medication. Funny, there isn't a SINGLE WORD about medication in their recommendations!
I'm so worn out. I wish life would just smile on us for a while. We've had a lot of bad times, and not too many good times to balance it out.
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