Niko is my little rockstar today. First of all, had a great call from the speech pathologist yesterday. After just two speech sessions Niko is strutting his stuff. She sees great promise and potential.
Niko - 1
Ominous, vague diagnosis - 0
I also took Niko to his regular pediatrician today to check for monkeys in his ears. No monkeys AND Niko has gained a good amount of weight. He's almost 26 pounds and at the 10% percentile for weight!!! I've been having an ongoing battle with that effing weight chart. How you like them apples, stupid chart!! Tell your other chart friends to beware!
Niko - 1
I'm a loser for a mom chart - 0
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Therapy, therapy and a little more therapy
The developmental pediatrician is recommending the following for Niko:
1) 2 hours a week of occupational therapy
2) 2 hours a week of speech therapy
3) TWENTY hours a week of ABA (translation = putting Niko is special school)
Excessive much? I don't want to be that parent who's in denial, but I also think this is a bit much. Niko currently receives 1 hour/week of special skills training and 1/hour week of speech therapy (just started speech two weeks ago). The feedback from providers has been great. Niko is making progress. Niko is doing well at school. Why would I pull him from a place he enjoys, and where he is surrounded by typical role models and put him in a school with other autistic kids. This makes no sense to me. Now, let's say I was getting daily phone calls from his school...that would be a different story.
This part of the process must be so hard for families. I know it's hard for mine. Now all the layers and layers of parent support fliers piled onto a cork board at the doctor's office make sense. This is so overwhelming. Emotionally, of course. But right now the harder part is the logistics and finances of it all. That special school has a special price tag. And it's too big for our meager income.
So, we fiddle and fumble about, and hope that we're not shortchanging Niko in the process.
1) 2 hours a week of occupational therapy
2) 2 hours a week of speech therapy
3) TWENTY hours a week of ABA (translation = putting Niko is special school)
Excessive much? I don't want to be that parent who's in denial, but I also think this is a bit much. Niko currently receives 1 hour/week of special skills training and 1/hour week of speech therapy (just started speech two weeks ago). The feedback from providers has been great. Niko is making progress. Niko is doing well at school. Why would I pull him from a place he enjoys, and where he is surrounded by typical role models and put him in a school with other autistic kids. This makes no sense to me. Now, let's say I was getting daily phone calls from his school...that would be a different story.
This part of the process must be so hard for families. I know it's hard for mine. Now all the layers and layers of parent support fliers piled onto a cork board at the doctor's office make sense. This is so overwhelming. Emotionally, of course. But right now the harder part is the logistics and finances of it all. That special school has a special price tag. And it's too big for our meager income.
So, we fiddle and fumble about, and hope that we're not shortchanging Niko in the process.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Niko
My sweet boy. Mommy had a hard day. Today (March 8, 2013) was our big day with the big wig at the doctor's office. I'm not entirely sure why I'm surprised with the outcome, but I am. The doctor told me you have autism.
You are broken. Mommy's broken too. We're gonna get through this my sweet prince. I promise.
But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again
-Mumford and Sons
You are broken. Mommy's broken too. We're gonna get through this my sweet prince. I promise.
But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck
And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again
-Mumford and Sons
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