The vast majority of this post was written a week ago, it's just taken a long time to finished tapping out the words---
It is crazy how much things can change in just the span of a month. At this time last month we were coming off our consultation with our RE, preparing to get started with our FET this month-- more accurately, this week.
We had, just two days before our RE appointment, found out that one of our boys was lagging behind his peers (we were aware, just not of its extent) and that he had qualified for "services" through our county's early intervention services. We were also told at that evaluation that because of his delays we also had the option of having him assessed for autism. In the moment, I said "of course" but really didn't worry about it. I was feeling fairly certain that wasn't the case. It was just before the holiday break and because early intervention is part of the school district, the evaluation process was pushed off until the new year.
Fast forward a week, when I received a packet from our RE outlining what we were about to embark on along with the deposit bill, and I had some serious second thoughts. Hubs and I talked it through and we decided that maybe it would be best to get our footing, see the evaluations through and see how things went with our early intervention home visits before committing ourselves to more stress and appointments with testing/transfer/bed rest.
I'm not going to lie, it was a very hard decision. We were ready. So very ready. And last night when I took the last active pill in my current package of birth control I thought to myself, "this week was supposed to be so different." This week I should have been preparing myself for testing on Friday- instead, on Friday Hubs will take the day off and we will meet with our school district's autism specialist and she will explain to us how the evaluation process will look.
Obviously, we will do whatever we need to for our precious little man. No diagnosis will change how much we love and care for him. But, this week we find ourselves sorting through what-ifs. We are now hyper aware of EVERYTHING he does and doesn't do and in all honesty, it is exhausting. I'm ready to get the evaluation underway and be able to know exactly what his needs are and the best way to address them.
Of course, after Hubs took friday off, our appointment was canceled. We'll try again this evening- the specialist comes tonight to explain the process and answer our questions- she'll be back tomorrow to begin the evaluation. I'm anxious. Ready to get this show on the road, and also anxious about the results. I'm trying HARD to not put the cart before the horse, but it's tricky.
5 comments:
Wow. Lots going on for you guys. Hugs to you and I'm just a phone call away if you want to talk!!
Hoping you get answers out of the evaluation. That is quite a bit on your plate and hopefully you feel comfortable in the decision you made to hold off a big with the FET.
That's a lot to process! I hope you get some answers. Feel free to email me with any questions as I've attended the autism testing with families in the past. Sorry things are differently than planned, but I think your focus is in the exact right place.
Oh man. I am so sorry that this week is so different, and that your FET is on hold. I think you are wise to take stock of all that's going on and focus on the evaluations and see what you are facing before moving forward, as hard as that must be. I have great faith in early intervention. As a middle school special education teacher, I see so much potential and brilliance in my students, and have an affinity for my ASD students in particular. It's amazing the services and resources lthat are available. Still difficult to face a challenge and the challenges your son may face if diagnosed. Try not to google too much, you can go nuts looking for symptoms as described online in the behavior of your child. Easier said than done, though. I'm thinking of you and your family and hoping for the best possible outcome, in all your spinning plates. Much love to you in this time of uncertainty!
Just reading this! Hoping everything has been going smoothly. Just wanted to throw this out there one of my daughters deals with sever sensory issues and sometime it leaves me in tears because I'm just not sure what to do. You should try reading the book The Out of Synk Child. It's a good read. Sending you lots of good thoughts and prayers.
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