Crap crap crap

Well, i've been pretty silent lately for lack of news. The pediatrician sent a referral to Vanderbilt's Developmental Pediatrics department (i don't think it's called exactly that, sorry), which diagnoses SPD as well as ADHD and autism spectrum disorders. Unfortunately i found out today that the wait list is 3-6 months, including last-minute cancellation possibilities. i'm seeking out other diagnostic options, including OT (Occupational Therapy) practitioners and early intervention.

Char bit again today. She'd actually had a few good days last week, starting the previous Friday and then through Wednesday. Unfortunately the streak ended on Thursday afternoon after a very fun but exhausting field trip to the pumpkin patch. i can't say i'm surprised; if it would happen any day, it would be that day since all the kids were overstimulated and most slept in the cars on the way home and didn't sleep at all at their normal nap time. Char had a hard time with the structure of the field trip, too, wanting to do things that were "off limits", so it wasn't a great start to her day.

i don't think she bit on Friday (actually she was bitten because she put her hand in another child's mouth - der) but she bit the same child from Thursday today. And that child still had bite marks/bruises from Thursday today. And that child's parents are understandably very concerned; reading between the lines it seems that they may have threatened to pull their child from the school.

So the school called today and wants us to take a break from the school for a while. Which is really not feasible; a day off from school means at least one of us has to take 1/2 day off work. We both have about 2 vacation days (Alan's are to last the year but i'll get a couple more on Nov 1 and Dec 1) and the school has an in-service day next Monday, plus Wed-Fri on Thanksgiving week, plus 2 whole weeks at Christmas (one of which i am off but not the other). We've actually been trying to figure out how to handle the Christmas break as is.

So, we're going to go to 1/2 days at school for a while, with Alan keeping her in the mornings and then afternoons at school. We're hoping it's not for long because that's the time that Alan does housework and errands, but of course that's a minor concern comparatively. The hope is that a break from school helps break the behavior, but honestly i'm skeptical. i'm willing to do whatever needs to be done, though. So far, this is what we do/have done:

1. Read the book "Teeth Are Not For Biting" twice a day
2. Medicate her with Ibuprofen and send Tylenol to school
3. Teething necklace
4. Send alternative "biters", including a vibrating teether and a little plush toy she can bite
5. Role play, play act with toys, and fairy tales about biting and talk about alternatives to biting
6. The rare occasions she bites at home, we react consistently with time-outs and time-ins
7. Talk to the pedi about SPD and get a referral

Any other suggestions? i'm out of ideas :(.