So, if you don't know the history of our story you better backtrack and read, "Meeting Dr. Waddington."
So for those [3 or 4] who are interested let me recap today's follow up appointment. Today Dr. Waddington's "real" nurse was there--she was helping family after a car accident last time so we didn't meet her. She was quite lovely and very interested in Natalee's story. I recapped it for her and we waited only a few minutes before Dr. W. came in. He greeted us but immediately began speaking to Natalee. Now, if you know Natalee well you know that when you are trying to carry a conversation with her she usually either (a) repeats snippets of things we've taught her to say, mostly at the right time but a little awkwardly or (b) has to be prompted to respond at all...and not out of shyness by simply for lack of understanding to give and take of a conversation. Last time we met Dr. W Natalee exhibited both a and b conversational skills but mostly b. He might have said, "Natalee, how are you feeling today?" and I probably waited about 5 full seconds and then prompted, "Natalee you should say, I'm feeling okay thank you," or something to that measure. Last time we were there she was what we would have called, "typical Natalee." Quiet, perhaps a little sing-song-y, cheerful, still. This time she walked right up to him, climbed on the exam table [by HERSELF!] and said, "I'm feewing [feeling] pretty good." When he asked, "What have you been doing at home lately?" she processed by herself and responded, "playing kitchen and playing outside!".
He then asked me how we felt she was doing, although I could already tell he was seeing the huge differences we'd been noticing, and asked if I could list specific differences we'd picked up on. CAN I?
- Walking up and down stairs with a handrail instead of crawling up/sliding down on bottom.
- Thinking her own thoughts AND expressing them, including increased defiance (which sounds bad but really isn't; for example, "Natalee it's time for bed." "No, I'm NOT going to bed; I want to ......") It's not that we allow this defiance but it is good that she's expressing her wants and needs.
- Increased decision making ability without being shown tangible items (example: "Can I have orange juice?" instead of saying "Can I have a drink?" and then me having to show choices for her to pick from and encourage her to make the choice. She's even specifying what type of juice she wants or that she wants icy water or milk.
- Increased sentence length
- Less of the rote memorization social skills that we've taught her coming through--more natural thoughts and socialization
- Awareness of her body and it's abilities--2 days ago she climbed on the TV stand. While we were astonished and did make her get down we were also proud b/c that's the first time she's recognized that she is able to do that by herself.
- Sense of humor
- Attention to detail of things
- More consistence bowel movements
- Increased independence
- Increased understanding of pre-academics: rhyming, counting, reading books
- Sleeping ALL night...shortening her 1 daytime nap
- Asking questions about things, including beginning to use the word "why"
In essence, in 2 weeks, Natalee is a "new" child. It's as though she'd been operating with a 40 watt bulb this whole time when her socket was capable of handling 100 watts.
I just have to say, as a mother, knowing your child isn't feeling her best and not being able to help her is heartbreaking. Knowing that to the 'naked eye' of society she appears semi average and feeling like people are scoffing at you and think you are digging for what's not there when you take her to doctor after doctor and try remedy after remedy...that's humbling.
Sitting in a doctor's office today and having the doctor tell you this, "When I first met Natalee 2 weeks ago she appeared to me to have PDD [which is on the autism spectrum]--mild or maybe moderate {insert my jaw drop here}. But now, just 2 weeks later she seems to be on her road to recovery. My conversation with her today was much, much different than last time you were here. Now [with the adjustment and salt treatments] she's able to just be a 2 year old. You've given her all the genetics and tools to be a very bright little girl. Now that she's feeling better I wouldn't be surprised if she soon becomes above average and is top of her class. You have your little girl back."
Back? I didn't know she was gone. But these last 2 weeks have shown me the real true Natalee--the feeling good, take on the world Natalee instead of the never feel great, always need sleep, get through the day little girl whom we loved so dear but wanted better for. Did I suspect she was on the spectrum? Maybe a little in my gut. I know what it means to have to feed kids answers and listen to them spew them out at the wrong times. To see them get upset at transition times. To want to know what's coming. (I also suspect Natalee's mother is on the spectrum...these things all apply to her, too). But to see the change...to know that a month ago I was fully prepared to make a special education referral for her when she turned 3 and now feel like that's not necessary...that's our own little Lancaster, MO God given miracle.
