Talk Thursday: Endings..... and Beginnings

I've been having a hard time with this topic... As you can see, I'm late.

I got the call yesterday morning. Burp's IEP meeting is June 2nd. *HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF!* There is light somewhere in this tunnel. Of course, I have no idea what the outcome of their investigation is, but the autism specialist will be at the meeting, so that's hopeful, right?

I found out that it can take the CDRC 3 to 6 months to finish their process for a medical diagnosis. I also found out that this is a process of several 6 hour sessions. *SIGH*

Unemployment is trying to deny me. Unfortunately, I held a job at a hospital, and hospitals work round the clock and I'm supposed to be willing to accept any clerical-type job, no matter what shift it is. Who cares that my child has "issues"? Who cares that if I accepted an evening shift, Monday through Friday job, 9 months out of the year my child will never see me? Who cares that he'd probably flip the fuck out? Who cares that his Dad isn't involved and he only has one parent? Well, I can tell you who doesn't care... the stupid heartless, tight-assed, no soul bitch that is my adjudicator with the Unemployment department. She gave me 48 hours to get Burp's professionals to fax her a letter. 48 hours. His psychologist, the school psychologist, and his advocate have sent their letters. His psychiatrist returned my call 30 seconds before he left the office yesterday and I wasn't able to take the call as I was driving Burp to his counselor. And his pediatrician couldn't get the fax number to work. My deadline is in 2 hours.
I am feeling a LOT of hate for this bitch.

So for those of you who don't know, the hospital hired me back as resource. I'm not guaranteed any hours, but at least I am once again an employee. Staffing has agreed to cross-train me to be resource for other departments and I start my training on Saturday.

There is a possibility that Lane  Workforce (who we go through for our Unemployment stuff) might help me get a little extra training. To work as a Unit Secretary in ICU or CVU, I have to be monitor tech... if I can find out what that entails, then they might help me pay for it.  Or, finish out my 5 credits for my MOA. To get a Unit Secretary job at the other hospital, you have to be a CNA. They might help me get that. What they don't cover, the hospital might!
Those are options at least.

I'm trying some new parenting techniques. Being laid off for so long, I have finally started watching a bit more tv, mostly 'World's Strictest Parents', 'Trading Spouses', and 'Wife Swap'. I've gotten a few ideas, maybe seen a few areas I can improve on. I've instigated Consequence Cards for random disobedience. "5 Minutes of Silence" to maybe help combat Burp's volume control issues. (Burp has one volume, loud. My hope is that when he's having serious issues using his indoor voice, maybe 5 minutes of total silence will help him "reset" by showing him what quiet truly is. *shrug* maybe?) And last, but not least, I am so tired of repeating myself!! Burp now has to do 10 sit-ups or push-ups every time he ignores me or argues with me. By the end of summer, he's sure to be the buffest kid in his class!!!!

Side note: Burp apparently has a huge interest in history. I knew he was kind of interested, but a few weeks ago- he shocked the shit out of me.
The 4th and 5th graders hosted a "wax museum" for their underclassmen. The kids dressed up like historical figures and taught the younger students about them. This had a HUGE impact on Burp! He came home telling me about Harriet Tubman, Annie Oakley, Betsy Ross, Molly Pitcher, Rosa Parks, Benjamin Franklin, Martin Luther King Jr, Jackie Robinson, and Edison, Washington, Lincoln, and God knows who else. Yes, sappy me cried a little. He was so fascinated and excited to tell me about these people. He told me facts that I didn't even know. Sometimes he'd forget the name and was totally amazed when I could come up with the name. "Yeah, that's it Mom! How did you know that?" lol

A few days later, the school had it's annual Walk-a-thon and the kids were all there together. At one point Burp went up to his teacher and pointed to some of the 4th and 5th graders who had been in the "wax museum".

"Mrs. C- I feel like I'm walking amongst greatness!"

*sniff* My child amazes me.

(And she verified that, yes, that was a direct quote. "Amongst"
He's been popping out all these mature words lately; amongst, literally, discombobulated, or "Mom, it's just a figure of speech!"