Thursday, January 22, 2009

Birth to 3 Evaluation

Monday, Logan had his birth to 3 evaluation (happens every 6 months). Logan has changed A LOT in the last 6 months! So many milestones met! I got the results back from his physical therapist today, and I was taken back by his developmental age. I was thinking that it would be around 12 months, but it was found to be 8 months. His gross motor skills are at a basal age of 8 months (meaning all skills at the 8 month level are mastered) and a ceiling age of 9 months (meaning all skills are not mastered at the 9 month level). She did mention that he has some skills mastered at 9-11 months and he has two skills that are at a 13 month level, which are standing up in the middle of the room and climbing the stairs, but it was still disappointing. He is 20 months old. That's a whole year already. I often wonder how quickly the gap with grow. Today has brought back some of the feelings that I felt at the beginning when I was given his diagnosis. And now I sit here wondering if I have done everything possible to help him achieve the highest level possible. I feel pressure to do as much as possible for him NOW. I understand how crucial the first 3 years are for his future development, and sometimes this pressure is too great. Raising a child, in general, is challenging and full of pressure to do your best as a parent, but I feel like this is even harder. I feel even more responsible for his future because he is not going to thrive on his own without the best care and encouragement. I guess all I can do is continue to try to do the best I can. I will share his OT and SP results as I get them.

10 comments:

WeeThree said...

***hugs*** This is why I cannot stand going to assessments! Eric gets his only every 6 months, but they seem like such a blow when we are working so hard with him.

Logan is doing AWESOME. Don't forget that! There is nothing more you could be doing to push him along, try not to think about the numbers.

Felecia

Anonymous said...

Melanie-It's such a harsh realization for parents to know that the gap between age and ability will widen. I had Wyatt in a cart shopping & the clerk asked him how old he was?? Of course Wyatt just gave her a stare and a bit of babble. I had to prompt him by counting to four with his fingers. Such basic things just don't always register like they would for a neuro typical 4 yr. old child. But then today, Wyatt and I were looking at his 4k class picture and I asked him to tell me the name of his little classmate. The boy's name is Yurize, pronounced YUDEE. And Wyatt said as clear as a bell-YUDEE!
So (for me) it seems like with every sad disappointment comes a genuine moment of OH WOW HE REALLY DOES GET IT.
Jayne

Brandy said...

Sending you lots of (((hugs))).

Kim said...

Mel - All the emails I write you keep getting bounced back. I want you to know that I did reply to them and I will continue to try to send them. Sorry!

Jeanette said...

I have seen this theme pop up a few times recently. We went through Sydney's eval a few months ago. She was on target with some things, behind on many, and way behind on some. My ECI told me that she is really doing JUST FINE. She was flustered through the process... so was I. It was three hours of questions, testing her abilities, etc. I was so numb afterwards. I know that this is a fact of life, but the things that you talked about, the guilt, wondering, etc. are all things that I have done as well. I watch the neighbor Ethan run around while Syd crawls and cruises. Sigh! One of the Bloggers Finnian's Journey proposed that our kids should be "rated" in a positive manner... like level 1 is X motor skills, level 2 is Y abilities, etc. Instead of "your child is performing at a 12 month level"... it would be "You child is at level 2". Sounds good to me.

Jennie said...

This is definitely the part that I hate. I'm so not looking forward to our one-year evaluation in March (our first meeting with EIS was after he came home from the NICU. We also have a follow-up with the developmental team at Children's the same month). I feel your frustration and share your disappointment with tears in my eyes.

I was just noticing two weeks ago how Logan looks and acts like such a big boy. He's doing great! And so are you!

Amy Flege said...

dont let these get to you!! he is logan and will do things at logan time!! just remember he will achieve those goals.. it will just take him a little bit longer!! hugs!

Unknown said...

You are an awesome mom and Logan is doing just fine! I hate how obsessive the medical field is with trying to pigeon-hole children. Each child goes at his own pace and that is how it should be. He has come so far in his development and that deserves a big hurray for him and his wonderful family that encourages to do his best every day!

Terri said...

I can relate to this so much. I HATE hearing their "functioning age". HUGS!

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for your post. We had our evaluation a few months ago when Tripp was Logan's age (around 20 months), and it was not long into the assessment that I began to bawl ... and continued to bawl. The "chronological age" equivalent is just so hard to take, because I can ordinarily just concentrate on the improvements and slow milestones Tripp is achieving rather than how much he is falling behind.