Well December 10 came and at 2pm we met with the MDT Panel to discuss Logan receiving specialized services. We told the panel about Logan and his challenges. They asked us a few questions and the meeting was done. They told me I most likely would not hear back for a few weeks or after the new year. I was really nervous. I felt it went really well. We continued on with our day as normal. When the phone rang at 4:30 and it was our case worker telling me they gave us pretty much everything we asked for I was thrilled. She told me what a great job we did discribing Logan. She was surprised at the speed of the response and she said she had never had a response that fast. We are so excited and relived that this process is over for at least a year. I have been told now that he is in the system it should run smoothly each time his contract comes up. If there is one thing I have learned through it all is that nothing will run as it should. The meetings we have had with Logan's developmental aide have been great. We will continue these through the holidays then start his specialized services in the new year. I look back and can't belive it took us a year to get this far. I still don't understand why it takes this long. I have had many people say to me "how do you keep fighting". I tell them this is my son I would do anything for him, then I think of Dr Suess. "Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.” Hope you are all getting excited for the holidays but I am sorry to say that I just got the best present ever.....a future for Logan!
Dec 15, 2009
Dec 9, 2009
Therapy
Well Tuesday was Logan's first day of therapy. J (his therapist) played with him on Tuesday to see how Logan reacted to different play styles and where his interests were. It is so neat to see how they pick up on things many people do not see. She has given us many ideas on things to work on through the day. I was happy to see that Logan took to her right away. It was refreshing to hear positive feedback on things Logan is wonderful at. She was amazed by Logan's memory. When she returned on Wednesday he remembered exactly what they played and how they played it. Tuesday he was very upset with the transition between games/toys by Wednesday she figured out how we could work with him to transition with out tantrums. It will be interesting to see how Ruby takes to all the attention in the home around Logan but I am going to find special projects for her to work on when Logan is in therapy. There will be a time when they would like to work with both kids to teach Ruby to play with Logan functionally but for now they need to work with him alone. The part of ABA therapy that I love is that the family is incorporated into the therapy and we are taught along with Logan. I am so proud of him. This is the first step on our way towards recovery and we are so excited.
Tomorrow is our MDT meeting to see if Logan will get specialized services. It is a very important meeting and I am hoping that all will go as planned. I have a wonderful positive feeling but am still nervous. I will let you know how it goes....
Dec 4, 2009
Santa Visit
Well lots has happend since I wrote last. We got Logans test results back for his Celiac biopsy and it is clear for now. He and Ruby will need to be checked in a year but he is not showing signs of damage.
Logan's therapy will be starting on December 7th will will have a developmental aide in our home for a few hours at least twice a week. Our MDT date will be on December 10 to get more specialized services for him but at least something is happening.
Logan and Ruby went to visit Santa at the Mall on Wednesday. I was worried that he would not sit with Sanata or act up. He did GREAT he went right up and sat on Santa's knee and said "cheese". Once he realized Santa had candy they were BFF's. He even ran back to give Santa a hug then he said "see you soon". He surprises me more and more everyday. I think it had a lot to do with Ruby building him up about sitting with Santa and being such a great example. Aunt B also sat with him at first and had her picture taken (that helped).
We are looking forward to some down time over the holidays and getting started with Logan's therapy. It has been a really long road and it is starting to pay off. We are so proud of Logan and the progress he has made and look forward to the future.
I must tell everyone that we went to Ruby's Student Led Parent/Teacher Conference and we were amazed at all the things she was able to show us. She was able to translate the french to english for daddy. It was amazing, she is amazing!
Logan's therapy will be starting on December 7th will will have a developmental aide in our home for a few hours at least twice a week. Our MDT date will be on December 10 to get more specialized services for him but at least something is happening.
Logan and Ruby went to visit Santa at the Mall on Wednesday. I was worried that he would not sit with Sanata or act up. He did GREAT he went right up and sat on Santa's knee and said "cheese". Once he realized Santa had candy they were BFF's. He even ran back to give Santa a hug then he said "see you soon". He surprises me more and more everyday. I think it had a lot to do with Ruby building him up about sitting with Santa and being such a great example. Aunt B also sat with him at first and had her picture taken (that helped).
We are looking forward to some down time over the holidays and getting started with Logan's therapy. It has been a really long road and it is starting to pay off. We are so proud of Logan and the progress he has made and look forward to the future.
I must tell everyone that we went to Ruby's Student Led Parent/Teacher Conference and we were amazed at all the things she was able to show us. She was able to translate the french to english for daddy. It was amazing, she is amazing!
Nov 29, 2009
Starting Over
We are very thankful for all your positive feedback about the blog. We are so happy to be able to share our journey.
In my last post I spoke of all of the skills Logan was not able to do. In the year that has followed my phone conversation with Early Intervention Logan has regained some of the skills he lost and learned some new skills. He began talking again and although his speech is echolalich (repeat what he hears) he did start saying Mom/Dad, and I love you Mom/Dad. It is that sentence that keeps me going each day! We taught Logan to make some eye contact which is called joint attention. He learned to wave and point that is referred to as gesturing. Although these typical milestones seem small to others they are huge to our family. With the persistence of his sister Ruby he has learned to play alongside other children. I can't say enough about what Ruby has provided Logan. She thinks outside the box and has figured out if Logan does not understand something one way she will figure out another way to teach him. I often find myself asking Ruby if I don't understand why Logan is frustrated. We are so lucky to have Ruby on our team. She is so patient and compassionate. Logan has an amazing memory he knows many songs off by heart I often catch him singing Oh Canada or songs from TV shows he watches and can put together puzzles really fast. One of the things Logan enjoys the most is going to Calgary Hitmen games with Ruby and Dad. He sits and watches the entire game and has started mimicing dad and yelling at the players and the refs.
We have been really busy getting ready for the holidays and I have enjoyed watching the kids decorate the tree, build a gingerbread house and watch Christmas movies. We are trying to expose Logan to Santa as much as possible in the hopes he will get a picture with Santa. Ruby keeps telling me not to worry because Santa will give Logan a candy cane so he will be happy!
Nov 27, 2009
Where did Logan go?
Our story starts like any other January 5th 2007 Logan was delivered at Rocky View Hospital at 4:59pm. He was a full term bouncing baby boy at 9lbs 2oz I knew he was healthy. He had 10 fingers and 10 toes. My husband and I now had the "million dollar" family as my mom would say. Logan joined his sister Ruby who was two and a half. We went home within 11 hours of Logan's birth.
The following 12 months were wonderful. We were so excited whenever Logan toppled a new milestone like rolling over, crawling, walking and running. I would call him my baby bird he would always wave his hands like he was flapping his wings. When he started to eat solids he would open his mouth and scream if I didn't get the food in fast enough.
In February of 2008 Logan became ill. Thinking he had the flu I kept him hydrated. He was very tired and was vomiting and had diarrhea. We saw our doctor 10 days into the vomiting and diarrhea and she was surprised he was so well hydrated. She ran some routine test to make sure it was just a flu. The test came back positive for rotovirus. It is a flu that is typically around and can be passed easily from one person to another. After 14days the diarrhea and vomiting went away but Logan still seemed "out of it" Lethargic, uninterested, and removed. The shaking that I once thought was so cute became more vigorous. He could barely walk and stumbled into things. Words he once said and gestures that he once made were just gone. Something was not right but he was just getting over the flu. A week or so later I took him back to the doctor and told her about the shaking episodes and she lined up a EEG to confirm it was not seizures. We were placed on our first of many long wait lists. She also referred us to our pediatrician. Our first appointment with the pediatrician was great. She listened to me and asked a few questions and suggested we be placed on a wait list for Early Intervention. If there was anything wrong with Logan they would find it.
The EEG came back and showed no signs of seizures. Early Intervention called one morning and asked if they could do a prescreen to make sure Logan was referred to the appropriate agency. She asked very simple question but I was surprised by my own answers. Does your son make eye contact? Of course I thought what is she talking about then it hit me....No I responded. Does Logan gesture (wave, point)...No. Does your son come to you when he needs something...No. Does Logan show an interest in people around him.....No. Does he play with other kids....No. Does he play appropriately with his toys.....No. Does he come to you if he needs help, wants something or would like to share with you something he has done......No. Then she told me Logan should be on the PAART wait list but it could be a very long wait. What is PAART I asked it is Preschool Autism Assessment Resource Team. I was shocked but when I started to put the pieces together it was a slap in the face. I went to the library and got Jenny McCarthy's book Louder than Words. I read it cover to cover and was shocked it seemed (minus the health concerns) she had written a book about Logan.
My husband and I decided the wait for PAART at 10+ months was too long. After complaining and appearing on CTV evening news. We decided to pay out of pocket for Logan's assessments. Our neighbour who had a friend that worked for an Autism agency put us in contact with a Speech and Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist and Psychologist. I went back to my pediatrician and asked if I was to get the assessments done would she read them and write the diagnosis if it was warranted? She agreed and we had the assessments done and once reviewed by our pediatrician we got Logan's diagnosis on August 11, 2009.
There was no time for a mommy pitty party or time to dwell on the diagnosis. I thanked our pediatrician took the diagnosis forwarded it to our case worker at Family Services for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) then applied for Specialized Services. I think it was a fight or flight response. I told myself I cannot change what I don't acknowledge. I came to terms with Logan's diagnosis quickly.
We are currently involved with FSCD and are fighting for Specialized Services for Logan. We have a MDT date in December where the final decision will be made on weather Logan qualifies for Specialized Service and how many hours he is entitled to.
I have created this blog so our friends, family and others can take part in these travels. I also want people to understand the system that can be so frustrating and difficult to navigate. I count my blessings everyday I am so lucky I have a wonderful husband, two great children and a wonderful family.
Stay tuned.......
The following 12 months were wonderful. We were so excited whenever Logan toppled a new milestone like rolling over, crawling, walking and running. I would call him my baby bird he would always wave his hands like he was flapping his wings. When he started to eat solids he would open his mouth and scream if I didn't get the food in fast enough.
In February of 2008 Logan became ill. Thinking he had the flu I kept him hydrated. He was very tired and was vomiting and had diarrhea. We saw our doctor 10 days into the vomiting and diarrhea and she was surprised he was so well hydrated. She ran some routine test to make sure it was just a flu. The test came back positive for rotovirus. It is a flu that is typically around and can be passed easily from one person to another. After 14days the diarrhea and vomiting went away but Logan still seemed "out of it" Lethargic, uninterested, and removed. The shaking that I once thought was so cute became more vigorous. He could barely walk and stumbled into things. Words he once said and gestures that he once made were just gone. Something was not right but he was just getting over the flu. A week or so later I took him back to the doctor and told her about the shaking episodes and she lined up a EEG to confirm it was not seizures. We were placed on our first of many long wait lists. She also referred us to our pediatrician. Our first appointment with the pediatrician was great. She listened to me and asked a few questions and suggested we be placed on a wait list for Early Intervention. If there was anything wrong with Logan they would find it.
The EEG came back and showed no signs of seizures. Early Intervention called one morning and asked if they could do a prescreen to make sure Logan was referred to the appropriate agency. She asked very simple question but I was surprised by my own answers. Does your son make eye contact? Of course I thought what is she talking about then it hit me....No I responded. Does Logan gesture (wave, point)...No. Does your son come to you when he needs something...No. Does Logan show an interest in people around him.....No. Does he play with other kids....No. Does he play appropriately with his toys.....No. Does he come to you if he needs help, wants something or would like to share with you something he has done......No. Then she told me Logan should be on the PAART wait list but it could be a very long wait. What is PAART I asked it is Preschool Autism Assessment Resource Team. I was shocked but when I started to put the pieces together it was a slap in the face. I went to the library and got Jenny McCarthy's book Louder than Words. I read it cover to cover and was shocked it seemed (minus the health concerns) she had written a book about Logan.
My husband and I decided the wait for PAART at 10+ months was too long. After complaining and appearing on CTV evening news. We decided to pay out of pocket for Logan's assessments. Our neighbour who had a friend that worked for an Autism agency put us in contact with a Speech and Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapist and Psychologist. I went back to my pediatrician and asked if I was to get the assessments done would she read them and write the diagnosis if it was warranted? She agreed and we had the assessments done and once reviewed by our pediatrician we got Logan's diagnosis on August 11, 2009.
There was no time for a mommy pitty party or time to dwell on the diagnosis. I thanked our pediatrician took the diagnosis forwarded it to our case worker at Family Services for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) then applied for Specialized Services. I think it was a fight or flight response. I told myself I cannot change what I don't acknowledge. I came to terms with Logan's diagnosis quickly.
We are currently involved with FSCD and are fighting for Specialized Services for Logan. We have a MDT date in December where the final decision will be made on weather Logan qualifies for Specialized Service and how many hours he is entitled to.
I have created this blog so our friends, family and others can take part in these travels. I also want people to understand the system that can be so frustrating and difficult to navigate. I count my blessings everyday I am so lucky I have a wonderful husband, two great children and a wonderful family.
Stay tuned.......
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