Joe's Dr appt.

Some of you already know that Joe had an appointment on Monday with his developmental pediatrician. This appointment was one that I scheduled because I was concerned with his lack of language and even regression in some cases and certain behaviors that he was displaying.

Joe has a diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorder, not otherwise specified. Alright I know I have just caused more then a few of you to scratch your heads. Some of you because this terminology is bizarre bordering on terrifying others because Ed e-mailed you about autism. Well, you are all right it is scary and in a way it is autism. But please keep in mind it is only scary because for the most part all of us are not familiar with it, Joe is going to be just fine. Autism is now considered to be a disorder that is really a wide spectrum and all people who are autistic do not have the same symptoms. There is high functioning autism at one end and full blown autism(patient does not communicate with the world in any way.) Joe is in the middle of this. He does not attempt to speak to us or point at objects to make his needs known to us. For example when he has dropped something and cannot retrieve it himself his brain does not connect the fact that mom and dad always provide what he needs. So he does not get one of us to help him by coming to get us and pointing at what he wants, he simply screams in frustration. He also is not good with eye contact and occasionally flaps his hands. He will sit and stare on occasion retreating into his own world (not very often). These behaviors are all the pervasive developmental disorder, but the good news is he also has not otherwise specified. (This is a good thing) These are the normal interactions, when he plays puzzle with me, when he brings me brown bear to read to him, when he looks up and makes eye contact and smiles, when he laughs at the critters and claps his hands, When he listens to daddy play music and helps strum the guitar while daddy makes the chords, etc.etc.etc. . OK so now you are all asking what the heck happens now, well we are waiting for a letter or phone call from the intervention program that will include language therapy along with some behavior modification I imagine. I will know more when I hear from these folks and promise to keep you all up to date with the blog as we get started on our new adventure.

It has taken Ed and I a couple of days to digest everything even though I had a tiny voice in the back of my head saying wait a second didn't you learn about something like this in nursing school. But I didn't like that voice very well so I ignored it until Monday when I had to face the reality of life. Well reality is I can't wait to get started so Joe and I will be more able to communicate with each other. Fact of the matter is the same day we were in the office there was a four year old with the same diagnosis whose parents told us he had been in the same boat as Joe but now he speaks in full sentences and no one would ever know about his PDD,NOS. It's always nice to see that light at the end of the tunnel when you are just starting down it.

We appreciate all the well wishes that have voiced by so many of you. Thanks for your thoughts of well being as well as prayers.

Love Nikki and Ed