Ground Work

Well now that we have our diagnosis we have hit the ground running! Jason contacted our insurance yesterday after work to get some information from them. Today the weather was so bad I called in to work and I took the day to make some calls/emails/research autism and ABA.

So far we have one ABA therapy location contacting our insurance to see if they are able to help us and then I have emails out to two other locations. I have heard back from the Autism Alliance of Michigan and have a phone call into Easter Seals of Michigan. I've read the 100 day tool kit from Autism Speaks and ordered a few more books... I feel like I have had a very productive day. Now if that therapy location comes  back and says our insurance isn't going to work with us I think I might deflate a little bit. For now though I'm feeling very positive.

I am a little worried about the time commitment this is going to take. I have to work tomorrow my normal shift and I know the whole time I am going to want to be checking my emails etc I have a feeling that until Jackson is in the therapy that he needs this will be my full time job and my full time job will become my part time job I can see now how some people quit their jobs when their child is diagnosed due to appointments, phone calls etc. it's going to be very challenging keeping everything together. Wish us luck!

I had a nice little set up today!

Finally! Four of Four!

It's been a long time coming but Jason and I finally had our final appointment for Jackson. We have found out that Jackson does have Autism. The assessment was scaled on a 3 point scale 1 being mild and 3 being severe, Jackson scored a 1 on social interaction and behavior and then a 2 on language. Which the language category was not anything too surprising. What this means for us now...it was recommended that he start ABA therapy which is Applied Behavior Analysis therapy at 25+ hours a week, he will also need to continue to go to speech therapy.

Jason and I have already started looking into options as far as ABA therapy goes and we are thinking that center based therapy would be best for us. This means he would go to a center for a half a day and work one on one with an ABA therapist opposed to having one come to our home. However, as always there is a waiting list for most ABA therapy locations. So we are going to contact our insurance and see what they cover and who they work with and hopefully we can get on a waiting list soon. In the mean time Jason and I are going to attend a workshop on ABA therapy in March in hopes that we can start to incorporate some of the techniques into our home now and get a better understanding of ABA therapy and what it all entails. Of course I have already started doing my research online (I honestly started doing a little before diagnosis). Also, our doctor gave a list of 4 recommended books based on his assessment that may also help.

Jackson will have to be reassessed every few years because since he is so young his score may change on the scale and it is also a time for us to reevaluate his therapy and make changes if needed. Right now we are not sure what the future will look like for our little man but with each assessment we will be able to compare his progress and as the years go on we will have a better idea on what to expect. Right now we are going to take it one step at a time and hopefully do what is best for him.

The Birthday Boy

Well it's official my baby boy is now 3. We had a very fun weekend of celebrating and when I say a weekend I mean it was a whole weekend! On Friday it was his actual birthday so Jason and I had decided a while ago that we were going to take the day and spend it with him. Grandpa and Grandma Mettler flew in the day before and we all went up to Frankenmuth to the Splash Village which is a big indoor water park. I think that may be a mini tradition for our little family because Jackson had a blast as did Grandpa and Grandma. When we got back Grandpa and Grandma Lehr had flown in and so we were able to have a little family celebration with cake and presents.

I was nervous about him touching the candles!

 

 

On Saturday the boys had a boys morning at Home Depot at one of their kids workshops and then they just hung out while us ladies did a little shopping and running last minute errands for the party. Which Sunday was the big day (I know it was Super Bowl but it was in the morning so no biggie). We had Jackson's party at Bounce U which is an indoor inflatable place and all the kids had a blast, as did most of the adults. 

All his buddies after an hour of bouncing!

Jackson and his favorite babysitter Larissa

 

 

 

 

A party wouldn't be complete without cake!

 We had a great time and Jackson was of course spoiled rotten! We then took Sunday afternoon to rest, play with some new toys and watch the Super Bowl. 

Jackson loves his trains from Daddy and Mommy

I am still adjusting to the idea of having a three year old. It seems like every year goes a little bit faster than the next, and I know the next 18 months are going to go even faster as we prepare for the next phase of our lives. However, I am grateful for our family and friends near and far who were able to help celebrate our little man's special day.

Three of Four

I know I know I'm sorry to all our family and friends who have been coming on our site to check on Jackson and I haven't been posting anything. Having his third appointment on the week of birthday palooza and then getting a cold has made doing anything but the essentials impossible. But, I'm here now. Jackson did have his third appointment on the 3rd with the Pediatrician. I am not exactly sure how this appointment went because I didn't know what to expect. I am currently still picking apart moments in his appointment and analyzing them, which is driving me even more crazy. Anyway, we started out the appointment much the same as the previous one. Jackson was asked to do a few puzzles, he played with a few wind up toys and she was watching him to see if he would see help etc., he was asked to color/draw, stack blocks like I said a lot of the same activities from his first appointment.

After that portion of his evaluation she turns to me and asks about his gross motor skills, I think the direct quote was "Can he run?" I chuckled a little to myself  and thought aww that's cute because anyone who knows Jackson knows that he is a runner! We then went out into the hallway and he showed her how he could run, jump, go up and down stairs, throw and catch a ball he even at one point dribbled the ball like his soccer ball at home. She was watching how he was walking which recently he has been going up on his toes which is a little bit of a concern because of how it can tighten his Achilles tendon resulting in stretches and/or pt so she said that we should just watch him and encourage him to walk normal.

When the gross motor portion was done we then went back to her office for a physical exam. She took his weight and height (of course doing very well there). She then tested his reflexes and his range of motion (especially in his ankles since he has been walking on his toes), she also checked his ears and eyes. Poked around his belly, listened to his heart, which he loved because he loves stethoscopes. Then we just talked about his medical history.

I have to say the whole process is a little frustration because they don't give you any clues as to how he's doing, stone faced is what I've been telling people. I know they probably can't because the two doctors have to meet together and make a well rounded diagnosis and they don't want to say something and then contradict themselves later but it feels like they have secrets and they aren't sharing with Jason and I. It's so irritating. Anyway, done with that little rant...Jason and I were supposed to go to our final appointment on the 19th to receive the diagnosis but one of the doctors has to go to a conference so we are rescheduled for the 23rd. Then we will finally have some answers and hopefully some direction for our little man.

When I have some more time I will post about the birthday weekend for both Jackson and I! However, this new little 3 year old is demanding his Mama's attention.