Let me start off by saying this past week was one of the worst weeks Angela has ever had behaviorally, but there was a definite reason and we were prepared for it.

We had to switch her medications around a bit, which meant NO meds at all for over a week. For those who aren't familiar with Angela's history...well...hyperactive doesn't even begin to describe her. On the ADHD scales she tests in the 99+%. And then there is her mood swings, puberty hitting, and very severe OCD. She just BARELY doesn't qualify under Autism Spectrum Disorders. But it got better on Thurs and Friday because we were able to start new meds. In fact, Friday she was AMAZING at school. She was her usual self, one they haven't seen for many many weeks. With a super structured and predictable schedule she does fine. But at home where it's much more lax...well...not so fine.

Ok....so...have you ever seen the movie "The Rain Man"? You know how he always says "Definetly not. Nope, Definetely not." OMG....I feel like I'm living with him. Angela obsessively repeats phrases, except that very often they're of the 4 letter variety.

It's EXTREMELY hot here, which is very unusual for this time of year. Angela doesn't sweat so I planned on being holed up in the house all day. Decided to go to the grocery store right away this morning. Well...bad idea apparently. When we got there she wanted a "car cart", but there weren't any. Besides, she's getting too big for them and it takes her forever to get in/out of them. I can usually distract her while we walk past them. So she was peeved there were no car carts. I told her she could push the cart (I guide in the front) and she was fine with that idea. We made it through the entire store, get to the check-out and she asks if she can get M&M's. I told her yes, she could pick some. Well, the choice was too overwhelming for her, so while I was bagging the groceries she's at the candy rack...with increasing volume, "Nope! No candy for me! Fine...I'm not wanting candy. FINE! BULL****! Fine...Yep! BULL****". Of course, I've already paid for the groceries, so now I'm stuck having to finish bagging them. I drag her over and plop her butt on the floor, told her to stay right there, etc. and just kept bagging as fast as I could. I think you can picture the stares and the comments I was hearing behind me. YOu can't punish her for saying the stuff, because the punishment means NOTHING to her. Not sure how else to explain it.

The frustrating part is once she gets to the point of perseverating, you can't shut it off. For the past 2 days she's been talking about a field trip. I swear, I have heard 500 times, "Mom, I need my swimming suit. For the field trip tomorrow. (It's on Thurs next week)" or "Mom...wheres my towel?"

Later this afternoon she got to spend 2 hours playing in the wading pool outside, and was perfectly happy and content. We decided to go out to one of her favorite restaruants for dinner. She was doing great, super happy, being her usualy self. It's so hard to see this very high funtionining kid all of a sudden turn on herself. Here she was doing great, loving the food, announcing over and over again how she's going to have icecream when she's done.

Except that there came a piece of food that was too big for her to chew so she spit it out on the plate. I told her next time to ask for help and I'll help her cut stuff up to the right size BEFORE she tries to eat it. Apparently that was a mistake. She spit the next 3 bites out so I took her plate away and set it aside, told her to let me know when she was ready to try again. I thought that would be the end of it, as she NEVER EVER acts up in restaraunts. Well, it wasn't. Instead she folded herself in half so she could get her feet up on the table. Before she could even take a breath I had her out the door sitting on the side walk.

That was a couple hours ago. Since then all I've heard every 3 seconds is, "Fine! No icecream for me! Too bad. Yep...too bad! Oh well! Nope...no icecream!"

I swear....the repetative phrases are going to drive me insane. HELP!

Wow, I don't have any advice about this at all, but I will say that both my 12 and 15 year old often repeat things....just to get under my skin sometimes.

It is not quite as much as you are talking about, but it is fairly common. I know this sounds silly, but have you tried to ignore her when she does this? No attention-no need to repeat?

Leah... are you SURE you not talking about Courtney.

I hate school being out for a few reason....but love them being out and we can go and do what we want.

Courtney repeats it over and over 'time for school' nope.. on vacation.. she stomps off and saids'fine'.
We not only here it once a day.. some days it is several times a hour. One of the other biggest thing she does now is say d@@m it.. Seems she using it when it is appropite to use. Hmmm but seems all the time some days.

The other day I took her to the store with me.. every one in town was there.. Courtney acted out.. screamed at me.. mostly because I would not let her roam the store.. very impulisve never know where she going to 'end' up at. She got ticked off when I told her to stop putting eerything in the buggy. Well I have to say.. I gave her 3 warnings.. on the 3rd.. I left my buggy there and we walked in a hurry to the van and I drove her home and we had a talk and left her home with Daddy.. I went back.. my grocery was gone. lol so I had to re shop and gave me time to calm down! This was first time I had to EVER do this.

Good Luck on your stuff! Are you planning going to Atlanta are you taking Angela with you??

If you're going to atlanta, I'm sure you'll hear her repeating stuff. It's not to bother me. It's more to herself, and can be repeated 20 times in a minute. (and because of her hearing loss, she's pretty loud.) We rarely acknowlege it, but instead will ask her something about her day, or dinner, or anything to change her focus to something else. For example, last night before bed she said about 50 times, "Mom...mom...(pointing to her fingers because she's going to start listing things) in the morning we're going to (finger one) get my stroller out, (finger 2) go for a walk before it's hot, (finger 3) come home, (finger 4) then what?" I better be prepared to answer the "then what?" part or she gets louder and louder and louder with repeating the rest of the thing. Except that you can't give her an answer to something like that unless you KNOW FOR SURE it's something you're going to do, and not something that could get changed. Don't be changing her plans, or life is going to be miserable. So finally I asked her if she'd practice her routine with Dudley the dog (it's for the school talent show) That got her up and runniing for the dog treats and playing with him in the kitchen. Thank God for Dudley!

Yes, we're going to Atlanta, but I doubt she'll be a problem. She's rarely a problem in a totally new environment. Also, because she's so into listing things, and knowing what's coming, I give her a check list of things I KNOW she'll see. This helps her predict things a little bit, and gives her something to do. And she HAS to be really good, because we're going with Ann, who volunteered to take her once while I go to one of the speakers. What was she thinking?????

Tee hee hee! While you're at your sessions Angela and I will be roaming around the hotel (cause we won't be able to go outside in July in Atlanta!) and I'm going to repeat everything she says, and maybe I'll make up a few interesting phrases of my own. "Yup, hotter than h*** here. Can't go outside. Fine! Bull****!"

Ann, Dean said he'd love to come take Mark fishing, maybe teach him some new signs or cues while they're out.

Leah, I am so sorry you are having to live through this right now. I don't have any help, just alot of sympathy. I wish there was a way to help. You are in my prayers that you will be able to find the solution. Hang in there.

Kayla

I know I sound mean, but that whole thing made me giggle. If it makes you feel any better Noah says STUPID 400 times a day. Everything is STUPID. If I offer him something new to eat, he says "NO ma hate it, it's STUPID". And I SOOOOOOO hate that word. WAAAAAAAAAAA.

Sounds like a stimming phase. Or just part of her processing things, ect. I don't have much to offer in the form of help because Russell has NO language yet LOL.. but I know in some kids, this is how they process things.. by the echolia, rote memory stuff.

And with us and all of Russell's "phases" we roll with it and wonder what the next one will be

Sorry I am not much help!

A.

I am not an expert but it sounds like something she is going to grow out of.
I'm really excited about meeting her in Atlanta.