Autism,
So today was the BIG day. Jon's appointment with the doctor to see if he indeed does have something underlying going on. We woke up got ready and headed to the clinic. As we were sitting in the waiting area, Jon was being, well, Jon. Running, pulling away, falling to the floor, loud, screaming and throwing things. We chose to sit away from others so as not to irritate them, by his actions... They finally called the name "Krisjon O".
I picked Jon up off of the floor and headed to the back, first room on the left. The male military nurse greeted Kenya, the boys and I. Jon burst into random laughter. I sat him on the cushioned examining chair. He noticed it was lined with white paper and reached his hands under him and start ripping several pieces off as fast as he could. The nurse watched in awe, then reluctantly offered his best attempt to assess our preschoolers temperature. The result was of course inaccurate due to a mouth that refused to close, along with constant wiggles. We did somehow manage to get him on a scale, its reading was 39.6lbs. That was pretty accurate.
As we waited for the pediatrician, Krisjon bounced around the room, continued his efforts to rip the chair lining, turning the faucet on and off, and then banging the keys on the portable computer. I was constantly trying to redirect him to no avail. I picked him up and sat him down again on the exam chair. I then, in a desperate attempt to get his attention, begin singing. He instantly grabbed my lips to silence me. Kenya looked at me helplessly. I was so exhausted! Suddenly Jon jumps from the chair and proceeded to drop and roll on the ground as if on fire. What he did next, would send any parent over the edge...
He begin to spit and lick the clinic floor.
Yep. Spitting then slurping it back up.
My patience and energy were running completely on fumes.
Finally, the doctor. She introduced herself as Dr. E. She came across friendly and asked what was going on. As we expressed our concerns, it seemed to come out negative. It bothered me so much I burst into tears mid sentence.
No matter what I endure with our son, I hate feeling like I'm "talking about him". I know its NOT him, its his behaviors, most of which I believe he can not simply control.
As we conversed, Jon walked to the paper towel dispenser, grabbed a towel and threw it to the floor. Dr. E asked him politely to pick it up. He looked at her and shouted "NO!" She again asked him, this time a little more stern. He made a fist and punched the dispenser several times. In an even firmer voice, the doctor requested the paper towel to be removed from the floor. Krisjon's responded by again punching the dispenser then pulling another towel, ripping it up and throwing it to the floor. He begin to run around the room, this time the doctor asked him if he would have a seat. He would not. She picked him up and sat him in her lap.
He went balistic! She held his hands in restraint, he started throwing his head back, trying to head butt her as he let out piercing screams. The determined pediatrician did not let him go for a little while, and offered the advice that we should do the same, so he knows he should sit sometimes (yeah where were you 10mins ago).
When she did finally let him go and asked him to come and sit with me, he started swinging at her trying to punch her in the face, kick her etc. It was soooo embarrassing. If you're wondering why I let her handle it, it's because I wanted her to get an accurate experience of what we go through at home regularly. I thought it would be essential for a proper diagnosis.
Dr. E took it like a solider. Not backing down from our 4 year old she repeated "Have a seat with mom." He headed over to me and before reaching his destination, swung his arm to knock everything off of the countertop. I couldn't stand it anymore. "NO Thank you!" I shouted in an intense tone. "That is NOT nice!" He came and sat down calmly.
The doctor observed how calmly Shon (Krisjon's twin) was sitting. So quiet we almost forgot he was even in the room. She expressed her thoughts that they have had the same parenting, similar experiences etc. and yet are completely different. She continued, saying she would be recommending him to a specialist for an official evaluation.
She warned us that there could be counseling and possibly medication involved.
She high fived Shon and then held up her hand to high five Jon, he offered an aggressive angry high five. As we were leaving he mumbled to me, that she was "messing with him" that's why he did that to her.
It was an exhausting hour, but we made it through, some how we always do.
Pediatrician Visit: Seeing What's going on
So today was the BIG day. Jon's appointment with the doctor to see if he indeed does have something underlying going on. We woke up got ready and headed to the clinic. As we were sitting in the waiting area, Jon was being, well, Jon. Running, pulling away, falling to the floor, loud, screaming and throwing things. We chose to sit away from others so as not to irritate them, by his actions... They finally called the name "Krisjon O".
As we waited for the pediatrician, Krisjon bounced around the room, continued his efforts to rip the chair lining, turning the faucet on and off, and then banging the keys on the portable computer. I was constantly trying to redirect him to no avail. I picked him up and sat him down again on the exam chair. I then, in a desperate attempt to get his attention, begin singing. He instantly grabbed my lips to silence me. Kenya looked at me helplessly. I was so exhausted! Suddenly Jon jumps from the chair and proceeded to drop and roll on the ground as if on fire. What he did next, would send any parent over the edge...
He begin to spit and lick the clinic floor.
Yep. Spitting then slurping it back up.
My patience and energy were running completely on fumes.
Finally, the doctor. She introduced herself as Dr. E. She came across friendly and asked what was going on. As we expressed our concerns, it seemed to come out negative. It bothered me so much I burst into tears mid sentence.
No matter what I endure with our son, I hate feeling like I'm "talking about him". I know its NOT him, its his behaviors, most of which I believe he can not simply control.
As we conversed, Jon walked to the paper towel dispenser, grabbed a towel and threw it to the floor. Dr. E asked him politely to pick it up. He looked at her and shouted "NO!" She again asked him, this time a little more stern. He made a fist and punched the dispenser several times. In an even firmer voice, the doctor requested the paper towel to be removed from the floor. Krisjon's responded by again punching the dispenser then pulling another towel, ripping it up and throwing it to the floor. He begin to run around the room, this time the doctor asked him if he would have a seat. He would not. She picked him up and sat him in her lap.
He went balistic! She held his hands in restraint, he started throwing his head back, trying to head butt her as he let out piercing screams. The determined pediatrician did not let him go for a little while, and offered the advice that we should do the same, so he knows he should sit sometimes (yeah where were you 10mins ago).
When she did finally let him go and asked him to come and sit with me, he started swinging at her trying to punch her in the face, kick her etc. It was soooo embarrassing. If you're wondering why I let her handle it, it's because I wanted her to get an accurate experience of what we go through at home regularly. I thought it would be essential for a proper diagnosis.
Dr. E took it like a solider. Not backing down from our 4 year old she repeated "Have a seat with mom." He headed over to me and before reaching his destination, swung his arm to knock everything off of the countertop. I couldn't stand it anymore. "NO Thank you!" I shouted in an intense tone. "That is NOT nice!" He came and sat down calmly.
The doctor observed how calmly Shon (Krisjon's twin) was sitting. So quiet we almost forgot he was even in the room. She expressed her thoughts that they have had the same parenting, similar experiences etc. and yet are completely different. She continued, saying she would be recommending him to a specialist for an official evaluation.
She warned us that there could be counseling and possibly medication involved.
She high fived Shon and then held up her hand to high five Jon, he offered an aggressive angry high five. As we were leaving he mumbled to me, that she was "messing with him" that's why he did that to her.
It was an exhausting hour, but we made it through, some how we always do.
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