Cat Therapy

For years, our veterinarian has told us that we need an outdoor cat to keep all the critters away. We live outside of town and we have our share of snakes, rodents, scorpions, spiders, etc. I'm not a fan of cats, however, so it wasn't top priority. I'll take a dog... or two or three... but dealing with a litter box is not my idea of fun.

A few months ago, as my husband and I were chasing a big mouse (him with hoe, me with rake) under the deck in our backyard, I started to consider the idea again. I mean, it's only a matter of time until we find all these varmints inside our house, right?

When we visited my in-laws (a.k.a. "cat lovers") a few weeks ago, it was confirmed: a cat was in our future. Jared loved all the cats we were around (12 total). At his grandpa's house, he found a stray outside and stayed out there with her for hours. I'd find him sitting next to the cat, talking to her. It seemed so therapeutic for him. It was time. It was also nice that one of the cat lovers, my mother-in-law, gave us a ton of cat things, like a carrier, litter box, etc. All we needed was a cat.

It's like the whole word disappeared and it was just him and the cat.

He didn't even see me with the camera.

...and then there were his aunt's kittens oustide.

Grandpa also had a cat inside that Jared loved.

This is where, I believe, God gave us a gift. Not only did we find a great cat, he's almost like a dog. He has to be one of the best cats I've ever seen. He will let kids... ANY kid... carry him around like a sack of potatoes. He is content being around people all the time. He comes when he's called. He hasn't used his claws or teeth on any of these kids carrying him around, upside down, floppily. He can't even be in the same room with someone without purring. The best part is, he makes everyone feel like they are the most loved person on earth. That's why he's a hit with the kids. Usually pets run and hide from crazy kids. This little guy runs to any person, young or old, purring to be picked up. 

As for therapy... Jared will spend hours just loving on and talking with Smudge. He has a new best friend.

Our  "Smudge" kitty

A friend loves at all times.... Proverbs 17:17a (NIV)

The School Program

The meeting with the principal and his teacher went better than anticipated. I knew they would be kind and supportive; that wasn't the issue. I was just confused as to which form of therapy we should use this year. Dr. C? The school? Dr. C. AND the school? I feel as if the sands in the hourglass are pouring into the bottom quicker than we want. This year is critical. I want to utilize his time as effectively as we can. 

Another thing that was causing uneasiness for me was the words "Scottish Rite" in the document for the school intervention program. To be honest, I am not impressed with the Scottish Rite Learning Center. I have heard horror stories about the programs they map out for kids with learning disabilities. I know some parents who have spent lots of time and money and it actually ended up hurting the child in the end because their therapy practices weren't really what the child needed.

As with everything, I'm sure there are tons of great things about them. Unfortunately, I haven't heard those stories. I have only met one of the directors in the local office and I was definitely not impressed. When I tend to know more information about a specific neurological disability than an "expert" in the field, I don't necessarily think that person would be best helping us.

Back to the school meeting -- After I mentioned my concern about Scottish Rite, the principal agreed with me and told me that she wouldn't recommend a child go there either. That was a nice peaceful nugget of information. Also, she explained the processing aspect of this 2-4 year school intervention program. It's nice to hear that it's not just about phonics. I was just honest with her. I haven't seen enough success to know if it's worth it. Sure, it seemed to work last year, but due to his lack of memory, he lost it within a week. When you buy a car, you want to research. And, yes... as I've mentioned before... annual therapy costs are definitely like buying a new car.

So, here's our plan - he will be in the intervention program at the school Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, while the other students do centers and reading groups. I believe that the school staff members love my child and want to help him. I really hope to see more successes this year. I was told there would be. I was hesitant to believe them (remember, sometimes I'm a little "glass half empty"). I asked them to prove me wrong. They said they would. This made me smile.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (NIV)

Seeking Wisdom

Tomorrow I have a meeting with the principal and teacher to map out the school year.  We were given the information for the Intervention Program. If he continues with it, this will be his second of three years. I don't know what isn't settling right in my insides, but I'm not as eager to start him in it as I was last year. I think it was something Dr. C. said to me this summer. She said that we have to get to the root of the matter... his working memory. Just teaching him phonics isn't going to help him. He can't retain the information. I have been told that if he isn't reading by the end of this year, he won't be able to go to 2nd grade. How does one learn to read if they don't have a properly working memory?

He qualifies for the Alphabetic Phonics Intervention Program. This is the phonics program he uses in his classroom, but this program is obviously more intense. You can choose to have him in the program as an individual or be part of a group. The groups have up to 4 children in them and it is less expensive.  Obviously, looking at the fees could be one of the factors of my insides not settling.  Well, that and the fact that Dr. C. might be able to work with him throughout the year. Do we need to do both? If Dr. C. can get over to his school to meet with him during the school day, do we really need the Intervention Program? He would be taken from class a lot, during the week. And, how in the world would we pay for both? We're talking "new car costs".  But, if we don't act now... in this critical time... in this limited time that he has to learn and retain reading skills... he might never be able to attend a school after this year.

These are the concerns on my mind tonight. I know that somehow we will provide for the financial, whether it be adding piano students and cake orders or making my 14 hour days into 16 hour days. And what about my little boy's heart and mind? Yesterday he came home, feeling like his brain was "fried", just from regular school work. When I called Dr. C. to even see if it was a possibility for her to come to our school, she didn't know if her busy student schedule could allow it. Would we do it after school? I have to do whatever I can possibly do to help my child. I must. I just don't quite know what that is. 

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. Proverbs 3:13-14 (NIV)

ADHD or APD? The Results Are In!

He wouldn't stop talking. He kept interrupting the two students who were conducting (under Ms. Stiritz's supervision) his APD tests at Texas State University. I could hear it happening from the other room. Granted, he was saying "yes ma'am" to every question, but I was growing infuriated. I wanted answers. I wanted them to sternly tell him to be quiet and answer all the hearing questions. It wasn't happening. He wasn't on his best behavior.

"Have you ever had him tested for attention problems?" 

Instead of answering Ms. Stiritz with an honest "yes", I said, "I'd really like to know what you think."

He has been tested a few times, since he was three, for ADHD. As recent as last spring, his teacher asked me if he should be tested. I was always told he didn't have it. Since he didn't have autism or ADHD, there didn't seem an appropriate category in which the many testing experts could put him.  But, Ms. Stiritz is a true expert. She's been doing this for years. She's written papers on it. She's given lectures on the ADHD/APD phenomena. She knows ADHD. She knows APD. I wanted her opinion.

It came at the end of the APD testing. She, along with her two students, entered the small room where I was waiting. We sat at a table together and Jared found a book to "read". He sat there, quietly, not moving an inch... just reading. They went over their findings and we discussed what needed to happen next. We talked for a while (a long while). He sat, quietly reading, for a while (a long while). As one student observed, "he didn't even rock or move his feet."

Ms. Stiritz told me that at the beginning of the test, she thought he was classic ADHD. But, when we were sitting there, not only did she say he was definitely not ADHD, but that if we even attempted to put him on ADHD medicine, it would not work. It was nice to hear another expert tell me my son doesn't have ADHD. My favorite part was that she wrote it in her actual written report, that went to his Pediatrician, teacher, principal, etc. Here's what it said:

"Jared showed many behaviors during testing that are indicative of ADHD. There was constant movement and excessive talking and interrupting. However, he displayed no ADHD behaviors outside the testing booth while we were talking with you. This suggests that he does not have ADHD. He shows ADHD-like behaviors when tasks are difficult for him or when he has trouble understanding. It is important to realize that these behaviors are due to his language/learning problems, not ADHD." 

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)

 

1st Day of School Thoughts

It's the first day of school, so I woke up extra early to pray. As you know, I'm constantly praying for a miracle for my child. I'm praying for that "sheath" {in his brain that I keep hearing about} to thicken and for his ears to communicate with certain sides of his brain. I'm praying that he finds confidence... something that I've witnessed his learning disabilities repeatedly break down. I'm praying for peace for him... for our family. I'm praying for his tender heart, not to "crack" as much. {I don't know where that term came from, but he's been saying things like, "That cracked my feelings" or "My feelings are cracked".}

So, I did something I've done a few times in life. I opened my Bible and played "Bible Bingo". This is the name my dear friend, Kizmi, calls it when one opens the Bible and it just falls to a page and you read it. Most of the times I play Bible Bingo, I fall directly onto a gem. This morning was no different. My eyes went directly to a verse talking about Jesus doing miracles among the people, and through God. I've read a great deal about miracles and do believe that God is responsible for them. The best part of the verse... the gem at the end, reads "as you yourself know".

It was so great to get a reminder this morning. I do know that, if it's His will, there will be a miracle. There will be many miracles in our lives. I believe it. I'm walking in that belief this very morning. 

Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. Acts 2:22 NIV

Best Place to Get An APD Assessment in Central Texas

Way back in the beginning, when I first heard that my child might have APD, I researched to find the best available help for him. I kept coming across this name - Lori Stiritz.  She is one of few experts assessing APD in Texas. When I first tried to get in to see her, a year and a half ago, I was told that no one would test a 5 year old.  I also learned you needed a referral.

So, because of my Estes Audiology appointment, I got my referral. My appointment was scheduled for the beginning of July. I was excited. She works at Texas State University, my old Alma Mater.  I was so ready to get a REAL assessment... not some crazy, confusing paperwork, like the previous audiology appointment. 

Ms. Stiritz was great. She was funny and you could tell the students really liked working with her. She was wonderful with Jared. Unfortunately, Jared had fluid in his left, middle ear, so she wasn't able to perform the tests. We were only there for an hour and a half, but I felt immediate peace. She confirmed that if Jared had APD, we were doing exactly what we should for him. After an APD diagnosis, the only thing to do is therapy. Well, I believe the only thing is to PRAY and put him in therapy.

We had to reschedule for later in the month. She said it would actually be good, because she was going to an APD conference at the University of Connecticut in mid July, so she might come back with some new techniques or something.  It was called "Frank Musiek’s 6th Annual CAPD Boot Camp". Mr. Musiek is quite the expert. Just check out his credentials - http://speechlab.uconn.edu/faculty/musiek/publications.html.

I guess the reason I'm writing this brief "pre-assessment" meeting blog entry, is because I want to make sure that if local folks are reading they know where to go. If your child has APD, please try to get into Texas State University for a diagnosis. You need to see Lori Stiritz, M.A., CCC-A, Senior Lecturer and Audiologist. You won't be sorry. Just wait until I write about what happened at the assessment.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.  1 Chronicles 16:34

Finding the Right Brain Work

Have you ever gotten so behind on laundry that you see stacks and stacks of clean laundry, ready to be folded, and you just want to run and hide? That's how I've been feeling about writing lately. So much has happened this summer, regarding Jared. I wish I would have written all the events, meetings, feedback, etc. but it was never just "one thing". It was a big pile of overwhelming "laundry", that I ended up falling to my knees instead of typing here.

Jared has finished another summer with Dr. Champagne. The thing is, however, we need to continue working with her. I have no idea how to make that happen. Jared's brain is like mush at the end of the school day. I can't imagine him being okay with going on to another hour or hour and a half of therapy. But, if we don't get him in therapy with her, will he ever get better? After all the folks I've met on this journey, I'm thinking "no". 

Dr. C. is phenomenal. She knows Jared like no other and I do not believe there is a better advocate, other than myself, for my son. She knows what he needs. She knows what his complex, multifaceted brain needs. She knows that the help that he's getting through the program at the school is not enough. She's even working with us to see if there's anyway to get insurance to help with his therapy. That's huge.

I'm awaiting a callback for a scheduled meeting with Jared's principal and teacher regarding his learning. Dr. C. is willing to come to the school to meet with him. But, how will that work? He is already excused, three times a week, for his "intervention program". I am starting to believe (as Dr. C. already knows) this intervention program may actually not help him as much as many think it will. We MUST work on his working memory! He can learn all he can, in whatever new and exciting ways, but if we don't have his working memory in tact, is it really helping? 

In the past 19 months, we have confirmed that Jared's biggest problems are 2 things: working memory and part to whole. I will go into detail about those, along with many other things we discovered this summer, in future blog entries. Right now, I'm just trying to figure out the next step on our journey. How can I find the right "brain work" for my sweet boy?

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7 (NIV)