Show and Tell - of the Christmas card variety and a question

Figured I'd show you the final version of our Christmas card for this weeks Show and Tell. As you can see I did finally get one good, usable picture for it. Yeah!

I finally printed off my address list tonight so I can start getting them ready to mail. But, I have a dilemma. I write a personal note in all of the cards I send out, close to 100 usually. Most years I do a little newsletter too, mostly funny stories of the past year with the kids and some pictures. (This year I didn't get to the newsletter, but considering I didn't send out cards at all last year I'm not going to stress about it.) But for the last several years the majority of the cards that I get don't include anything but a signature, and even that is becoming rare as people use more custom cards with their names printed on them already.

So, the dilemma. Does this mean I can stop writing the personal notes? Instead of taking several evenings to write my cards I can do it in about an hour. It would save me so much time, something I'm seriously lacking right now.

It feels so impersonal though. What do you guys think? Do you care if there is more than a signature? Does it make it extra special at all? Is it worth the extra work?

PDD-NOS

So we finally have an official diagnoses. Pervasive developmental disorder - not otherwise specified.

Am I surprised? - no

Am I relieved? - a little

Am I sad? - you betcha

He is on the spectrum but based on the outcome of the ADOS and clinical observation. He didn't test clearly in one area though, thus the PDD-NOS diagnoses. The women who performed the test and our doctor who reviewed the session all said he was atypical in his scores. There was a lot to take in during our appointment today so it will be good to get the written report and read it over with no distractions.

The developmental pediatrician kept talking about how we need to focus on his behavior as the result of a deficit in his knowledge/understanding and not because he is choosing to be "bad." She gave us recommendations on some books and websites to look at to get more information on helping him with his social skills.

I think I've known intellectually that his behavior is the result of a "deficit" for a while, but remembering it in the moment is much harder.

I'm not sure yet if this is going to change anything that we are already doing, at least as far as the services he is getting. He's doing very well in his emotional support class so clearly what the teacher is doing with him is working.

At home Rich and I are going to have to keep remembering that much of his behavior isn't purposeful and that he has to be taught the correct way to read a situation/person and how to respond appropriately. It definitely means I need to keep working on ways to improve my patience and parenting skills.

I definitely have some mixed feelings right now...
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