Today, it was a beautiful(but very windy) Texas day. I received an invite from a friend, for a play date at a nearby playground. We took then up on it and went to enjoy the company.
As I sit with the other mom watching our kids, I notice myself watching Finnigan playing and interacting with the other kids. This may not sound like a big deal for a 3 year old kid but in our case, it's actually rather significant.
Over the last few months, I've started worrying myself about his lack of desire for talking or how in social settings playing on his own is his normal. So I got in contact with the people I needed to for inquiry about therapy.
The school ended up being the direction we were pointed in. The first thing the therapist there wanted was to do a small examination to see if she thought just some help with speech would get him on the necessary track. The initial thought was maybe the stuff stems from him not grasping how to communicate.
So in we went. After about a 30 minute series of little tests, the word autism was thrown out. Not only was she concerned about speech but his entire mindset. He followed and was able to do a lot of what she asked. He also ignored, showed lack of understanding simple things and blatant shyness/social interaction. Not the normal 3year old with his own agenda kind but almost like in his own world.
So another and more thorough exam was set up for later with a psychologist and occupational therapy, as well as, one more additional speech exam with her.
That exam took place this week. Now over the last couple weeks or so, I have noticed a lot of significant changes. He specifically asks for things when he never did before. Normally he let Lorelai do all the talking. He has stopped ignoring us so much. Also, like today, he understands playing with others and making friends. It's like a switch flipped on!
The exam went amazing, he did a lot of what they asked for. There were still some hang ups of the last one, and his words and how he says them have him in need of AT LEAST speech. I think they are still considering a well rounded therapy for him, also. We have a meeting with their official plan soon. They also gave me some things to do at home to help with dexterity. He has great coordination and gross motor skills. However, when he works with smaller things, his hands shake like he is cold. That will also have to be addressed in what they do.
This is the journey, thus far. I have a feeling they while he did great at the meeting we still have quite a bit of it left. However, this experience is really teaching me patience. With Lorelai taking off with flying colors in everything, I have to remind myself often to not compare them. I use it as a standard of where he should be getting to. I can't company, though. Im having to learn to slow down and let him go at his pace.
I get weekly journal prompts from the Fill Your Cup subscription from another blogger. This week the theme was patience. It prompted me to spill about this. While we dont have a result to include, I thought id write where we are on the journey.
When he was making friends at the playground today. It just made my heart smile. It's like getting a sign that all this that has me nervous and anxious will be ok.
No comments:
Post a Comment