Devin's Crazy Busy Week

Last week Devin had OT and Feeding therapy on Tuesday...OT went really well but we're going to start going into the clinic about once a month so his therapist can use some of the equipment they have there.  Feeding therapy was the getting nowhere battle it always is.  Wednesday morning I took Devin to his psychology appointment with Dr. Peck(who is my new favorite person!) It's funny cause everyone at the health department now knows Devin, as soon as we walked in the attendant cried out "the gerber baby is back!" and the receptionist had us half checked in before we even got to the desk!  She took us back to the waiting area and asked Devin if he wanted to turn the tv on...they know him so well!  We passed his Developmental Pediatrician Dr. Winters on our way and she let Devin pick the movie they put in...he didn't really get it though and just tried grab them both.  We were running a bit late due to an accident on 4th South so we didn't have to wait very long for Dr. Peck.  He took us back to an evaluation room, where Devin immediately started looking for a tv...but there wasn't one so he started to get upset.  I pulled out my phone to try and start a show on Netflix but I didn't have data connection in their building...luckily Dr. Peck pulled out his IPad and put on Go Diego Go which sufficed for a while but not too much later Devin kept trying to get into the diaper bag I told him a couple times to wait cause we were going to get special toys out, but finally he got too upset so I opened up the diaper bag and that was it for Devin, everything I offered him made him more and more upset and then he was gone and wailing...this went on for nearly a half hour, before he finally calmed down.  Dr. Peck said that answered a whole section of questions right there and he was kind of glad to be able to see what he calls "his overload" behavior first hand.  Then the evaluation began and it was much like his therapy...play! He started with the bubble gun, he'd blow bubbles then just stop(waiting for Devin to sign more) Devin never did sign more without having to be asked to or prompted to...so he failed that portion...but he did sign it!  So that was positive!  It also took Devin a long time to play with the bubbles, he just stood there staring at them for nearly five minutes!  The evaluation also tested his receptive language which he failed because once again he had to be encouraged t follow commands, but the positive was once again that he eventually did what he was asked(most the time).  Then at one point Dr. Peck pulled out a toy dog that "barks", walks and does flips...Devin LOVED it!!  And Dr. Peck saw that so just as Devin was laughing at it he snatched it up quickly and put it back in the bin(he had warned me that some parts of the test may seem mean but not to interfere as they are an important part of the test) Devin just sat there staring at the bin.  I kept waiting for the screaming but it never came, he never asked for more...never went over to the bin to look for it...he never made a sound.  I felt like crying and scooping him up and buying a hundred of those obnoxious little dog toys for him!  I didn't need Dr. Peck to tell me he failed the "appropriate emotional response" part of the evaluation.  Once the evaluation was over he went over everything with me(while Devin happily played with a balloon and the fun dog toy).  He informed me that Devin had failed every area of the evaluation so he definitely has an Autistic Spectrum Disorder, but that he noted many positive and promising things as well.  ASD(Autistic Spectrum Disorder) is just what it says a spectrum and there are 5 categories within the spectrum 2 of which include a metal retardation which Devin doesn't have so that leaves 3 that he could fall into, they are Autism, Aspergers, and PDD-NOS.  Children with PDD-NOS are typically saying a few words before 18 months, so Devin doesn't fall into that one.  Autism and Aspergers are the most similar, speech and severity of emotion and social delay and irregularities separate them.  Dr. Peck told me he wasn't yet comfortable in officially placing him yet as he feels as he gets older he'll develop his own way into one or the other.  He did say at this time Devin falls in the Autism part of the spectrum but is pretty confidant that as he gets older with all the wonderful help he's getting that he'll end up officially in Aspergers, though it will be a sever form of it.  When I asked him about speech, he told me ASD kids burst into speech, it typically happens all at once, basically because they know how to talk, it just depends on when they decide to choose to do it.  When and how he decides to talk will also help place him on the spectrum.  Dr. Peck ventured a guess that Devin would start talking(like sentences talking, not just single words)between 3 and 4, so I'll guess we'll see!  As of now he has no real words but does make some "sound words" which don't count as speech.  He says "yay" and "whoa", we've heard "go" and "dada" but he doesn't say them consistently, only know and then.  But the positive key to that is that he does seem willing to say words so he will eventually talk whereas some Autistic kids never do talk.  I was so very relieved to hear him say he really think Devin will talk eventually.  As for why Devin has to have the tv on and played with buttons to the extreme...it is exactly what is seems, an obsession.  ASD kids almost always have obsessions, it's like a unique form of OCD.  He gets some unexplainable satisfaction and comfort from it...it's just one more proving point that Devin is Autistic.  We talked about everything I've wondered about and Dr. Peck was able to give me answers and understanding to everything!  He also gave us some things to help Devin learn to socialize and communicate.  Basically he has to come to understand it isn't optional...we have to force him to do it.  The truest form of tough love...it seems mean to force him to do it now but it gives him the best chance for somewhat normalcy as he grows older.  So we do, we take his his hand and make him wave to people who say hi to him, even as he hides into my shoulder.  It was such a great appointment!  Yes Devin is Autistic but their is great hope in his future!  As we were getting ready to leave Dr. Peck staring at Devin smiling and waving by to him, told me that something in Devin's uniquely amazing smile gave him the feeling that, in a good way, Devin was going to surprise us all!  I got such a lump in my throat and my eyes started swelling up with tears...because I see it too, I've seen it for a long time.  Things may harder with Devin but I know they will be worth it!  I don't know why or how they will be....I just know Our Father in Heaven has a very special plan for my beautiful boy!  And I feel so privileged to have been chosen to be his mother and help him find his way with the Lord by my side.
And that wasn't even the end of Devin's crazy week.  The next day I took him to the pediatrician's office where he was taken off cow's milk and put on soy milk, and referred back to his GI doctor to check for any reasons in that area that may be causing his lack in food selection, and in prep for a feeding tube if that becomes necessary.  Then it was back up to PCMC for a whole slew of blood work.  I think Devin was just as mortified that a stranger was touching him  as he was about being poked...twice!  But he trooped through and picked out a very cool yellow Hot Wheels car that he would not let go of for hours!!  His blood work showed no obvious food allergies but it can't detect food aversions, his GI will check for that.  His blood work did show a severe lack of nutritional vitamins and minerals in his body.  His Thyroid was low, his blood sugar was low...pretty much everything but his weight is low.  So we're going to start with a vitamin supplement and go from there...hopefully we don't end up at  a feeding tube.  My little handsome man keeps us pretty busy these days!  But we sure love him!!  Elizabeth's been such a good trooper though it all as well...then again being left to play with your cousins isn't exactly a sacrifice!