Our first successful, stress free, peaceful family outing!

Our twelve weeks of ESDM Therapy has come to a close. It’s amazing how far my son has come and how much he has changed in such a short time. This has been a very trying time in our lives as a family and as some of you can relate, having a “special” kid is exhausting and overwhelming but those times when you get a big hug or you truly see a difference in your child’s development, you seem to forget all of the hard times.

During our last week, before the winter break, we met with our doc to go over Killi’s progress with the original objectives and goals he had set for him in the evaluation and what the next step will be. We were so encouraged to hear that Killi has passed every single goal set for him, some faster than others, and all were met by the twelfth week.  I just want to share one goal from each category that my son was not doing in September and now as of December, he is accomplishing/performing with no issues whatsoever.

1. Receptive Language: Responds to voice by turning toward the person. Objective: During circle time, Killian will demonstrate awareness of voice by turning his eyes and head to look at the person in three or more opportunities.
2. Expressive Communication: Points or signals proximally to request desired object. Objective: Killian will signal proximally by way of gaze and hand clapping to request a desired object.  He will request for help using gestures combined with gaze five or more times per day across two or more people.
3. Gross Motor: Walks around the object on floor rather than stepping on them. Objective: Killian will show awareness of body relation to objects by stepping over or walking around objects in 80% of opportunities across at least two environments.
4. Behavior: Tolerates adult proximity and interaction. Objective: Killian will allow or tolerate adult proximity without behavioral problems for 5 minutes in 80% of opportunities.
5. Social Interaction: Responds to greeting by looking, turning, etc.. Objective: Killian will demonstrate awareness of greeting by turning his head and body to look at the adult for 2-3 seconds in 80% of opportunities.
6. Personal Independence: Eats meals and snacks at the table. Objective: Killian will sit at the table through a meal.

We thought after twelve weeks we would be finished or at least I was hoping we would be finished with therapy and my son would be back to “normal” but that didn’t happen. It was an unrealistic dream but most dreams are. Our next step, which I mentioned in the previous post, will be to get my son school ready. He will work through another twelve weeks of ESDM therapy at the Reed Institute.  In addition to ESDM, he will be going through speech and language therapy, his “school” time will be extended until noon and when he is finished “school” for the day he will have lunch, then ride the bus home with the nanny from the institute, who he adores, where I will be waiting for him with open arms!

I give all the glory to God for bringing our family to Bangkok, showing us the problem our son was dealing with, having the strength to admit there is a problem, and the courage to help change the situation. We have been blessed with supportive family, friends, and a top-notch doctor.

Thanks for following our story. I hope for some of you it gave you the strength you need to get through what you might be going through in your own life or maybe this just helped you to know you aren’t alone.  We all have our own issues but it’s how we choose to live with the situation and work through it that set us apart.

I will continue to blog about Killi’s progress and all of the changes I will see in him from home.  Please keep us in your prayers! I am hopeful, 2014 will be the year I hear my little boys voice squeak out “I love you mommy!”

It’s going to be a good year.