is it a kind of dream?

So. Its official. Its hfa and we've been right all along.

The relief is entirely palpable.
via TinyLJ@NokiaN95/12.0.013

Pumpkin has just finished with the child development clinic, day 2.

Pumpkin has semantic-pragmatic disorder, as defined by the speech-language pathologist today, who said she is definitely on the spectrum and was talking high functioning autism.

We'll have a big meeting on 18 Sept in the morning, with all the professionals she's just seen these last two mornings, and pool the information into one big report, which we can then take to schools and make sure that they can help her when she gets there.

She has problems understanding the nuances of what is said to her, she has social impairments (ie she cannot understand what kids are doing or why, or indeed relate to kids at all), and she has little/no imagination, cant imagine people or relate to them.

Every professional we've talked to AGREED with us today. We were gobsmacked, stunned really, at how receptive they were, instead of being fobbed off as we have been for so long by health visitors etc, told pumpkin was normal, etc. The CDC didnt think she was normal, oh no.

*aims this at the entire planet Earth*

I FUCKING TOLD YOU SO!

I've been saying it for 3+ years, the kid is autistic. I've known it from birth - she was never 'normal.' She's 'disabled.' She's 'special.' She's different.

My god, the relief and vindication are almost palpable.

pumpkin had a child development consultation with a paediatrician this morning. Better half came with me.

pumpkin has problems that havent got a name yet, but warrant further investigation.

Paediatrician and registrar were very pointed in their questioning in relation to autism and Asperger's, and it seems pumpkin fits in with a lot of their criteria, in particular her ignoring of other children, her literal-ness, and her inability to understand certain concepts, like the passage of time, and to articulate some things, whilst her vocabulary is actually gigantic, her ability to express more complex ideas is limited. Also her jumping when she's excited (her version of hand flapping, i take it), and her fidgeting when she is thinking about something.

Paediatrician was very much reassuring that there is something wrong. There will be a further appointment in September where she is studied specifically over the course of a few mornings in a set situation with several professionals there, and then there will be a big meeting where we all sit down and discuss it afterwards.

Better half thinks this will lead to pumpkin being statemented for school at the very least, and possibly to a diagnosis. The paed said she may not be able to give it a specific name, but at least narrow it down to tendencies so that we can best help pumpkin and get pumpkin the best help we can in school and in education in general.

Halilujah for being taken seriously at LAST. Yes.

edited: and she's 3ft 3 (98.7cm), and 34 1/2 lbs (15.7kg). Bloody metric system.

a 3 day migraine (!!!) that zomig hasnt stopped / keeps coming back, I've been watching a lot of DS9 in addition to my regular errand running.

God almighty Julian Bashir / Siddig is the cutest thing in outer space. Full stop.

OFF. Shortest do i've had since 2000.

Like this: http://www.hairstylesdesign.com/gallery/fiche.php?id=8
but even shorter, pushed back, and mine's shit-brown not blonde, heh.

Adrian, i'm not as pretty, but i have a similar do as that girl in the photo. Except mine will be pushed/brushed back, because it just goes that way.

No more shoulder length bob for me! OMG.

Hair guy said it took 10 years off me, but more importnatly, chubby round faces dont need a frame of hair, so getting the hair off my face shows off my high forehead and makes me look a little thinner in the face.

Good, cause i'm tired of the Michelin Tyre man look :( Bloody thyroid indeed.

migraine aura, complete with technicolour zigzag line that almost looked like a rainbow fractal.

Weirdness. I guess i'm due a migraine. I have a mild headache this evening, and my neck is quite sore.

to Stratford to see David Warner in Henry IV sometime this summer/fall. It's a date!

We can get a babysitter for an evening or a saturday afternoon. Tickets go on sale to the general public (that's me) on the 30th, so i'll be on the phone at 9am to buy them then and there.

I wanna scream and pull my hair out when i think how close Stratford is to Brum, and how many times I've missed a chance to see Patrick Stewart or Sir Ian McKellen in the past year alone...but now David too? The line must be drawn *here*, lol. I ain't going to miss this one.

Chronic illness sucks and keeps/has kept me home a lot these past 7 years, but i WANT to get out and see culture and drama and things. I want the life other healthy normal people have, and I'm going to do my damndest to have it. What's the point in living in this fabulously cultured country full of amazing people with amazing talents, if i never get out and see/experience any of it?

Hence the Invasion, in a week and a half !! *omg*  - i'm going to meet PD in less than 10 days. Gulp.
(come on Jen, you made it to Manchester last year for the Crotchwoot premiere with less than 24 hours' notice and back again, you can spend one night in London by yourself and mosey over to Barking the next day, surely.)

And hence Henry IV. Yes.

*dies*