He has definately done things the hard way as it's said. Maybe he just needed to do them in a way that would definately be memorable. Whatever it was, it will definately not be forgotten any time soon.
Spending almost his entire first year hopped up on drugs left him agreeable and happy. It also made figuring out what was going on with him later more difficult because everyone would always point back at that first year and say "Oh, it's just a carry over from that, he'll catch up soon enough".
I know his pediatrician mentioned in passing once at least a year ago, if not more, the possibility of autism, and if I thought that might be the case. I was firm in my statement that no, that couldn't be it. I was familiar with autism after all, simply because of all that James has gone through (Asperger's and ASD are both parts of the same spectrum of disorders) and Izzy just wasn't anything like James in behavior.
It wasn't until this past May that I actually considered the validity of the "Autism Question" as I'll call it. Jayden's therapist, who spent a grand total of MAYBE 10 minutes a week with Izzy said that she felt he was autistic and that he may benefit from a special local autism program. I didn't like the woman anyway, so as is my way, I told her off in a barely veiled "polite" manner.
What she said stuck with me. It just wouldn't let go no matter how much I told it to go to hell and that it couldn't possibly be the case. Then I did what I usually do and went looking for answers. The thing about answers is that when you get them, they may not always be what you want out of them. What I was finding was that what was going on with Izzy very well could be autism.
Now that I knew about the possibility I went to the pediatrician and asked what to do next. So she told me. I put in the request for an evaluation through the local agency that handles that stuff county wide. I met with them for the original appointment in June. The evaluation was scheduled for the end of August. A very long wait for a final answer, and a very frustrating one at that.
At that first appointment the woman told that based solely on what I said there that it seems like Izzy is autistic and that he would qualify for the program. From that point on, I told people that he most likely had autism. We didn't know for sure, but we were looking for the answers and waiting for that day at the end of August that would hopefully yield them.
That day was August 26. I took Izzy at 9 in the morning to the school where we met with the team. There were 4 people on the team. For just over 2 hours they took turns playing with Izzy and talking with me. Getting as much info as they could through observation and from what I had to say. They left for 10 minutes. When they came back they had the answer. I had been told that they may need to do a home visit or two, and I was expecting that, but they told me that they wouldn't need to, that they knew then what was going on.
Izzy is autistic. He'll be attending the special program 5 days a week for 1/2 days, most likely in the afternoon. This is a year round program. It is run by the county wide agency, not the school district. He is going to remain in this program until they decide to "mainstream" (I really hate that concept, but I won't get started on that now) him and then he'll come home to be schooled. At that point, we'll keep extra services, if they are needed, going.
I know a lot of parents would be absolutely devestated with this diagnosis. I was expecting it. I am relieved to finally have it because now things can move forward with meeting his needs in the best possible way.
Prayers and blessings everyone. Don't despair if you get news that isn't usually seen as the best. Take it and know that with that knowledge you can do what is best and turn it around for the better. I know, that's so glass is half full all we need is love hippy stuff, but I honestly believe that.
All pictures are copyrighted by JD Rhodes Photography in the year of 2010. Please don't take them or use them for anything. That's just not a nice thing to do and you could get in some big trouble for it. Thanks.
4 comments:
He's definitely a cute baby. *smile* Glad that you now know what you needed to and you sound like you're at least somewhat prepared to "do what it takes" to help him. *hugs*
I'm happy for you that you have your answer and can now do what is necessary to help him (and the rest of you). I understand the frustrations early in your journey and not being able to consider that it may actually be autism since Jayden's issues are so much different. That's probably the biggest thing I've learned over the last 18 months -- every case of autism (anywhere on the spectrum) is totally unique -- no two kids are the same (as evidenced by my own kids). I hope the programs work well for Izzy and you will be able to homeschool him with the others soon.
Honestly, right now, we are happy to have him going to school. I knew when I walked in to that evaluation what I wanted the end result to be. When I asked what I expected would happen I looked at her and said "I expect that you'll tell me that he is autistic and that he qualifies for ***** (the special program, here deleted for safty sake)" She said "well, that's very concise. Would you consider a different classroom environment" I told her that it was the program or nothing. I know my kid and we tried the classroom for a day and I could tell then that it wasn't going to work out. I know that with him gone in the afternoons the other two will be better able to focus on their own work, and working together, and I will be able to work (play) with the twins without Izzy getting jealous and getting in the middle of it. Right now, we really do need him in school, for all of our sake. He's just become more than what we know to do with.
It sounds like you are very sure of what you want done for him--that seems like a good thing. It's much better to have a label and help rather than no label and no help.
He is a cutie :)
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