Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Case Management

Now that we have finally been approved for MaineCare under the Katie Beckett waiver, I went ahead and got Thane a case manager. It is someone I have known for a couple of years through the soon to be much larger Knox County Child Development Service (the state is going from 16 sites to 9 on July 1 – I hope it works, but I worry about the kids and access).

This person has been helpful along the way, so I am sure it will be a good thing, but it is a weird feeling for me. I am not used to taking handouts, and this feels like more of one than getting services through CDS when Thane was younger. Sometimes my friends make me feel like I don’t have the right perspective, that I am entitled to all sorts of help, but I still have trouble with the idea. It seems weird for the state to pay for respite for us just because Thane has Asperger’s.

Our yard does need to be fenced in again because we had storm damage and some is being held up by wire ties, but I feel that is our expense as homeowners. Yet I don’t mind the idea of getting a pool alarm. I guess part of that is that Dave and I don’t really agree on that, and I wonder how many times a bird will set it off, but I would feel safer having one.

Mostly I want an advocate when we go in to chat with the school. I do think the school is trying to work with Thane, but I think some of the action has been slow. I also need help finding some services, such as therapist who might be able to help reduce his anxiety level. I really want to work on that before he gets older because life does indeed get more stressful.

Dandelion Wishes


This is one of those grainy photos taken with a cell phone, but it is still just too cute not to post. I wish I had a real camera at the time as I caught the moment perfectly. Thane has taken to picking the dandelions as he is trying to save them from the lawnmower.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Lost Tooth

Thane lost his first tooth today at 6 years, 4 months, and one week old. I have been dreading this for a long time as he doesn't handle change well. It was indeed traumatic, but we seem to have solved the problem within about 10 minutes. We made a note asking the Tooth Fairy to return the tooth so he can put it in his keepsake box. Otherwise he says he will miss it. He hasn't eaten since he lost it, though, so we'll have to see how that goes.


Thane's Spring School Portrait


I think Thane's spring school portrait came out pretty cute . . . just like him!