Autism,
Trying to let this morning's adventure sink in...
I've been home only a few moments (just long enough to get the kids settled) so bare with me I am still in the accepting/processing stages. My emotions are all over the place, but we set out this morning for answers and well...we got them.
I had a horrible night's sleep with two toddlers hogging every inch of our queen size bed. They like to sleep at the opposite end but in horizontal position so its impossible to extend my legs without kicking someone in the face. I eventually embraced my defeat, stumbled to the bathroom, then flipped on the television to catch the early news. Kenya was already awake searching for a pen as she was taking work related phone calls. We decided to go ahead and wake the boys (which after the nights sleep or lack there of, I didn't feel guilty about at all).
Jon's appointment was at 8a.m. We arrived at the LAF Hospital and while skimming the lot for a park Krishon announces " Jon, you gotta go to the doctor!" Jon instantly went into a frenzy! He wouldn't take his seat belt off and just screamed through tears that he did NOT want to go to the doctor, that he was scared. I gave him a big hug and assured him he didn't have to do anything alone that we would be with him every step of the way. I would hold his hand through each and every moment. I talk to him about the fact that we would NEVER put him in harms way or let anyone hurt him. He wiped his face and reluctantly agreed. I picked him up and we bounced and sort of ran to the door, he was anxious to get there before mama and shon. It was a race, we won. lol!
Immediately after checking in we were called to the back. Upon entering, the boys noticed a cool rug on the floor. It was designed as a street that depicted houses, schools and even a library. Shon called it "the city". I didn't realize I was standing on the rug until he said "Mom your a giant you have to get off the city." I smiled and moved away.
Kenya and I took a seat and a male military nurse came in. He checked Jon's blood pressure which I pretended was a cool bracelet that likes to give arm hugs, and then wanted him to step on the scale and height measure that we pretended was a cool black box you could stand on but if you do you would be frozen (so he could stay still for the nurse).
After that we were on to him being knighted and then crowned king (The nurse kneeled down because he wanted to check his head circumference) I guess my early childhood education works paid off, because Jon's anxieties were eased and he did great.
Once the nurse was finished performing his royal duties, doctor G, the pediatric specialist entered the room. He would be doing a 2 hour observation and interaction with Krisjon to see if there was in fact something underlying going on. I could tell right off bat that this doctor was great with kids. He had a gift. He was so patient, he knew all the silly things to say and he was willing to get on eye level and all the above. I instantly fell in love with him and knew he would be a great asset to our parenting team.
Jon took a while to warm up to him, but eventually started to interact. As time passed Dr. G begin to mention a few behaviors that he felt were atypical behaviors for a four -year-olds development. Things like the lack of eye contact, the lack of engaging conversation and some other things like Jon's strong attention to detail and obsessions (lining his cars up a particular way, then noticing if one is moved).
With my educational background I knew some of his behaviors were atypical, but Dr. G helped bring new things to my attention. It's not that I wasn't aware of the actual behaviors, I just didn't realize they were apart of the whole picture in figuring a diagnosis.
We talk to him in depth as he continued to interact (or at least try to) with Krisjon. He even talked to Shon and could see the huge difference in their developmental abilities.
I was very pleased at how much time and interaction that he gave our son. He eased a lot of my personal anxieties as well.
Kenya was fine, she asked a few questions, but this is kind of the area in our relationship were I usually take the lead. The specialist inquired about what our thoughts were to what was the issue. We voiced our concerns about ADHD. He said that he could understand that thought process because of the hyper activeness and no impulsive control but he was thinking more along the lines of autism.
There I said it, Autism Spectrum Disorder. It's been hard for me to wrap my head around. He talked about how some children have similar symptoms as ADHD (or can actually have both) but there are lots of other things that can go along with it. I can't say that I was prepared for this diagnosis (who really is) but I did have my suspicions.
Dr. G did officially diagnosis our son with Autism today. He gave a packet that had lots and lots of information such as how to go about finding a behavior specialist, speech therapist, occupational therapist, and of course school information since he will be starting school in the fall. The packet was packed with information and websites that assist with parenting Autistic children. I haven't had a chance to actually comb through it with great detail but I will be taking the time to do so through the next few days.
My new anxieties are worrying how this diagnosis will effect my baby's life and our life as a whole. How will others treat him? How will the teachers interact with him? How often an how much therapy will be needed? Where exactly does he fall on the spectrum? What are his developmental capabilities?
Being who I am and knowing how much I love my son, I will see him through every obstacle he encounters. We will move these mountains together for as long as we live. As I'm sure you know, there is no greater love than a mother's love....and our children happen to have two. :)
D day: Diagnosis
I've been home only a few moments (just long enough to get the kids settled) so bare with me I am still in the accepting/processing stages. My emotions are all over the place, but we set out this morning for answers and well...we got them.
I had a horrible night's sleep with two toddlers hogging every inch of our queen size bed. They like to sleep at the opposite end but in horizontal position so its impossible to extend my legs without kicking someone in the face. I eventually embraced my defeat, stumbled to the bathroom, then flipped on the television to catch the early news. Kenya was already awake searching for a pen as she was taking work related phone calls. We decided to go ahead and wake the boys (which after the nights sleep or lack there of, I didn't feel guilty about at all).
Jon's appointment was at 8a.m. We arrived at the LAF Hospital and while skimming the lot for a park Krishon announces " Jon, you gotta go to the doctor!" Jon instantly went into a frenzy! He wouldn't take his seat belt off and just screamed through tears that he did NOT want to go to the doctor, that he was scared. I gave him a big hug and assured him he didn't have to do anything alone that we would be with him every step of the way. I would hold his hand through each and every moment. I talk to him about the fact that we would NEVER put him in harms way or let anyone hurt him. He wiped his face and reluctantly agreed. I picked him up and we bounced and sort of ran to the door, he was anxious to get there before mama and shon. It was a race, we won. lol!
Immediately after checking in we were called to the back. Upon entering, the boys noticed a cool rug on the floor. It was designed as a street that depicted houses, schools and even a library. Shon called it "the city". I didn't realize I was standing on the rug until he said "Mom your a giant you have to get off the city." I smiled and moved away.
Kenya and I took a seat and a male military nurse came in. He checked Jon's blood pressure which I pretended was a cool bracelet that likes to give arm hugs, and then wanted him to step on the scale and height measure that we pretended was a cool black box you could stand on but if you do you would be frozen (so he could stay still for the nurse).
After that we were on to him being knighted and then crowned king (The nurse kneeled down because he wanted to check his head circumference) I guess my early childhood education works paid off, because Jon's anxieties were eased and he did great.
Once the nurse was finished performing his royal duties, doctor G, the pediatric specialist entered the room. He would be doing a 2 hour observation and interaction with Krisjon to see if there was in fact something underlying going on. I could tell right off bat that this doctor was great with kids. He had a gift. He was so patient, he knew all the silly things to say and he was willing to get on eye level and all the above. I instantly fell in love with him and knew he would be a great asset to our parenting team.
Jon took a while to warm up to him, but eventually started to interact. As time passed Dr. G begin to mention a few behaviors that he felt were atypical behaviors for a four -year-olds development. Things like the lack of eye contact, the lack of engaging conversation and some other things like Jon's strong attention to detail and obsessions (lining his cars up a particular way, then noticing if one is moved).
With my educational background I knew some of his behaviors were atypical, but Dr. G helped bring new things to my attention. It's not that I wasn't aware of the actual behaviors, I just didn't realize they were apart of the whole picture in figuring a diagnosis.
We talk to him in depth as he continued to interact (or at least try to) with Krisjon. He even talked to Shon and could see the huge difference in their developmental abilities.
I was very pleased at how much time and interaction that he gave our son. He eased a lot of my personal anxieties as well.
Kenya was fine, she asked a few questions, but this is kind of the area in our relationship were I usually take the lead. The specialist inquired about what our thoughts were to what was the issue. We voiced our concerns about ADHD. He said that he could understand that thought process because of the hyper activeness and no impulsive control but he was thinking more along the lines of autism.
There I said it, Autism Spectrum Disorder. It's been hard for me to wrap my head around. He talked about how some children have similar symptoms as ADHD (or can actually have both) but there are lots of other things that can go along with it. I can't say that I was prepared for this diagnosis (who really is) but I did have my suspicions.
Dr. G did officially diagnosis our son with Autism today. He gave a packet that had lots and lots of information such as how to go about finding a behavior specialist, speech therapist, occupational therapist, and of course school information since he will be starting school in the fall. The packet was packed with information and websites that assist with parenting Autistic children. I haven't had a chance to actually comb through it with great detail but I will be taking the time to do so through the next few days.
My new anxieties are worrying how this diagnosis will effect my baby's life and our life as a whole. How will others treat him? How will the teachers interact with him? How often an how much therapy will be needed? Where exactly does he fall on the spectrum? What are his developmental capabilities?
Being who I am and knowing how much I love my son, I will see him through every obstacle he encounters. We will move these mountains together for as long as we live. As I'm sure you know, there is no greater love than a mother's love....and our children happen to have two. :)
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