Reflections of a Year Gone By

As I sit here and reflect on 2007, I realize an awful lot has happened in just one year. We are animal lovers, so always have a number of cats and dogs. One cat and one dog that celebrated New Year's with us last year are no longer here. The cat died of old age and the dog at a very young age of cancer. The youngest munchkin is really affected by the pets and these two deaths hit him very hard. The cat was bad enough, but it was at least expected. The dog was unexpected for all of us and from diagnosis to her death took only about three weeks. She passed away while the kids were at school, so telling them when they came home was really hard. Our youngest really lost it and it broke our hearts even more. Telling a child a beloved pet has passed is hard enough, but combine that with his special needs and the fact that he is very, very close to all the animals and this was probably one of the hardest things I've had to do as a parent.

But, there are happy things to reflect on as well. We gained two new kittens and one puppy during the year and they are all a delight to us. They definitely fill a hole in our lives.

The past year also brought other problems and delights. Our two boys suddenly lost their classroom aides in April. We were terrified, but much to our shock and delight, both kids did really well without them. It turned into a blessing in disguise.

OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) became much more prevalent in our home this past year. The oldest munchkin always showed some signs of it, but this past year it began to spiral out of control. We talk a lot to her about it and about how she needs to not give into it if possible. We all know that she can't control most of it, but if she can learn to control even a small amount, she will be better off in the long run. So far, we have not put her on any medication for it, but it is beginning to control her life more and more.

The youngest munchkin (#3) is showing more and more signs of OCD as well, but this is to be expected with the Tourette's. OCD is very common with TS. His obsessions generally have to do with numbers, such as the sound on the TV (measured in a numerical graph) must be set to an even number. If he is doing something like pushing a button, he must push it an even number of times. So far, these haven't interfered too much in his life, so I'm grateful for that.

Speaking of munchkin #3, the year also brought with it a three month period of intense tics for him. He has TS much more severely than his brother and this was one of those times where the difference between them was remarkable. We considered home schooling him for a while because he simply couldn't function in a classroom with these near-constant noises and movements. No one else in his class could concentrate either, so it didn't seem fair to the rest of the students. We finally ended up switching to a different tic medication and after a few dosage adjustments, the tics have settled down. He is much more impulsive than he used to be though, so I'm not thrilled with that. However, the important thing is that he can live a somewhat normal life, so the tic control becomes a priority.

Much more happened during the year, but it's been a long day, so I'll stop reminiscing here. I know 2008 will bring with it both good and bad times, but I am looking forward to it with the enthusiasm I see reflected in the kids eyes. A new year means the promise of new opportunities. Hopefully, we won't waste them. Besides, it's an even year - munchkin #3 will be elated!

Introductions

Hello! I'm the mother of three kids, ages 14, 12, and 10. The two youngest both have Tourette's Syndrome - one mild, and one more severely. My oldest child has one tic, which is not enough to make the diagnosis of TS, but enough to know she definitely is a part of the family.

TS often comes with other conditions. In our case, all three kids have ADHD, two have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and one has an anxiety disorder. The two younger ones have always shown some signs of Asperger's Syndrome as well, which is a very mild form of autism that affects social relationships primarily.

So, we have our hands full! I often joke I just wouldn't know what to do with a quiet, "normal" child. That's okay though, I'm thrilled to have my three. They are my life and my love.

Munchkin #1, and the only girl, is 14. She would like to be known as the queen of all things, but we tend to just call her the drama queen. She is, above all else, a TEENAGER. Of course, this means she is certifiably insane. No really, have you ever tried to deal with a 14 year old girl? There is no logic or reason. Theatrics rule. She once, through tears streaming down her face, tried to convince us the big, mean, giant cell phone company had singled her out and falsely put those text message calls on her cell phone during school hours JUST to get her in trouble. For three days, she cried and swore up and down she was telling the truth. She should have gotten an academy award for the performance. After three days, when the punishment was still in force, she finally turned off the tears and admitted she had sent the text messages. Color me shocked it wasn't the evil cell phone company after all! Teenagers are insane. Trust me. In addition to her obvious acting abilities, she also has moderate ADHD, OCD, and one tic which sounds like an exaggerated hiccup.

Munchkin #2 is the middle child. We like to call him Mr. Antagonizer. I don't know if it's just his personality or middle child syndrome ... or both ... but this kid lives to antagonize others. His younger brother and older sister are obvious targets, but he also likes to antagonize his parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, teachers, and strangers on the street. It is his greatest talent. He has mild Tourette's in the form of a couple of tics, mostly clearing his throat and scrunching up his eyes. He also has inattentive ADHD that mostly affects him in school and shows signs of Aspergers. Being 12, he generally gets along with kids in the 9-10 year old range, not his same-age peers. His puberty so far has not shown up, much to my relief. I know it will be here soon, but I am enjoying only having one child with hormones at the moment.

Munchkin #3 is the baby of the family at 10. He is also the most difficult to parent, given his array of problems. He has a moderate case of TS, severe ADHD, an anxiety disorder, OCD, and Asperger's syndrome. He has been in special ed since the second grade and does fine in it, but cannot be in a regular classroom and still succeed. Through a lot of trial and error, we have finally figured out how he learns (hands on ONLY) and he finally has caught up to his peers academically. It's been a long road to get him there though. He has multiple and changing tics that range from full body shakes, to odd noises, to saying a word over and over again. His anxiety disorder centers around separation anxiety and there have been times he has refused to leave my side or his father's side. Friendships are difficult for him to make and keep for a variety of reasons - including a lack of acceptance for his tics. All that said, he is a loving and good hearted child and very special.

Okay, that's enough for introductions!