He's back!

Yes, the boy has returned. He had a great time. He reported that girls in bikinis were not much in evidence. Possibly because the clubbers are up all night and asleep all day. He talks a lot about having a girlfriend but as I said to his neurotypical sister, he may have to leave the house once in a while to find one...

Still waiting on results of blood tests for possible genetic conditions. In one sense, it doesn't make a whole heap of difference. Nothing alters in Jordan's educational provision or his daily life. I suppose it's one more piece of the jigsaw.

It's too quiet

Yes, the boy has departed for sunnier climes. See post below. It's far too quiet in the house.

Jordan was ecstatic to be going. I think it's weird that he's going but think it's a good thing. It will challenge him to be more independent. I'm not even convinced that he thinks about us that much when he's away; his autism means he lives very much in the moment and deals with the here and now.

The person who is really suffering is his father who hates it when his son is away.

Off on his hols

Yes, it's that time of year and the boy is off on the annual school trip. last year it was Lanzarote, this year Ayia Napa, if you please! Electra Village to be precise. Reviews and photos here The school have been before and always had a good time. I won't be able to stand the silence so I'm off to Wales to see my mum. Jordan looked most put out. He clearly expected me to be weeping in a darkened room until his return...

Impersonations

Jordan is currently developing several impersonations which is interesting as he has always had problems with expressive speech. Maybe repeating certain well worn favourite phrases bypasses the usual linguistic pathways.

His three voices of choice are Cartman, Jimmy and Timmy all from the mighty South Park. Crude? Oh yes. Staggeringly offensive? I should hope so. NO ONE is spared. Some of the best characters (with disabilties) that we've seen in a very long time? Why else would we be watching...

The lads

So anyway, I was at a coffee morning at Jordan's school yesterday to have a look at their shopping and independence photos.
Sure enough Jordan spent the entire time trying to trick me into saying the word 'arse'. Sigh.

Here is a pic of him and his best mate Luke.

Aimee Mullins

Chromosome 9

Well, the plot, as they say, thickens!

Ongoing genetic testing has revealed that Jordan has extra material on Chromosome 9.
Testing continues and we should know more in a couple of months. Looking it up on the web revealed this could be the cause of Jordan's developmental delay! Blimey! Not the meningitis then.

'Other changes in the structure or number of copies of chromosome 9 can have a variety of effects. Intellectual disability, delayed development, distinctive facial features, and an unusual head shape are common features. Changes to chromosome 9 include an extra piece of the chromosome in each cell (partial trisomy), a missing segment of the chromosome in each cell (partial monosomy), and a circular structure called a ring chromosome 9. A ring chromosome occurs when both ends of a broken chromosome are reunited. Rearrangements (translocations) of genetic material between chromosome 9 and other chromosomes can also lead to extra or missing chromosome segments.'