...silence...

I told all of you that we were having an IEP (Individual Education Plan)meeting this week to discuss both of the twins' development in school. To see if either of them needed to have an IEP in the works or not.

The conclusion, and while I don't talk about Maddy's twin, Maelle, on here too often, was that Maelle definitely needs further testing with the speech coordinator here. She has full cognition, she's just extremely shy and reserved and has pronunciation difficulties. We hoped having her adenoids and tonsils removed last May (though there were more pressing issues of her not sleeping and waking up gasping  for air that brought about this surgery; we hoped it might help in her speech too) but that was not the case. She is doing better every day and she does go to speech weekly but now that they are in school...it's the school's job to help us out on this.

That was no surprise to me. I am Maelle's translator and even on my best days, I don't know sometimes what she is saying.

So we moved on to Maddy.

And I know that both Justin and I were feeling pretty nervous about it. Maddy is a firecracker. She's cute. Adorable. But she is always pressing the limit of what she can or should get away with.

Maddy does not qualify for services. None.

The only concern they had regarding Maddy was that she doesn't sit still. Ever. During circle time, they have given her 4 squares that she can move around on but she must stay within her boundaries. And she does. She is paying full attention, she just cannot sit still long enough. And this is a good start, they gave her limitations and she stuck with them so it's only a matter of time and effort to keep changing those limitations until she can sit still...ABA at its finest.

But really, the main concern is that a 3 year old can't sit still? Academically, we think she is bored. She scribbles all over her papers but she knows what she was supposed to be doing...just filling time. Typical Maddy...the girl who flew through ABA so quickly that 10 trials bored her to death and we had to do 5 just to keep up with her brain. This isn't too concerning either. She's 3.

So we left there thinking...wow. In a few short months, she will be done with speech at the Rehab Center and then....

nothing.

Then she just goes to school like every other kid.

really?!

I know some of you must be thinking...why is this so shocking? The child got an ASD recovery diagnosis this summer. Shouldn't this be expected?

The answer is no.

We could hope that we would get here but there are/were no guarantees. And after over 1.5 years (which is a mere blip in the timeline of most families dealing with autism) of constant appointments and therapies and therapists and meetings and programs...to see the end in sight....

surreal.

We will still have assessments, I'm sure. OT in May and Dr. MAL in June and we'll see when we talk with Jen at Rehab what her thoughts are...but nothing full time. Nothing all encompassing.

....wow...

Tonight, Maddy was extra cuddly with me. She showered me with hugs and kisses and "i love you mommy's" almost like she knew what had happened today. And I hugged, kissed and "I love you"'d back, soaking in every millisecond of it.

Recovery from Autism is so possible.