T - 7 Days

Until Mason starts group therapy! I'm feeling very optimistic about it. I really feel he's going to do well. Hopefully that's not a naive opinion. We are leaving that afternoon for Michigan, so I'll try and do a quick update before we go. If it goes really bad, Kris and Mich can watch my kids and I'll just get really drunk Friday night at the cottage, LOL (like how I put that on you guys??)

Anyway, he's doing well, I'm going to start talking to him about therapy. Not sure how you explain it to a 3y/o, but I guess I'll tell him he's going to play, and to learn how to play w/other kids. I don't think he'll like it much at first. It's certainly going to force him to step out of his confort zone. I'll be there, at the center, but if he's clinging to me, they have a place I can sit and watch w/o him seeing me. This past weekend, he was playing on the back deck, and Jerime was painting the side door of the garage and Mason asked him "Daddy! What are you doing?!" I know it doesn't sound like a big deal, but the fact that he's expressing intrest in what someone else is doing, is huge!! Autistic children are often only intrested in what they are doing, and what they like, etc, so this is a good sign. Plus his speech and sentance structure was correct. He screws up pronouns ALOT. It's getting better, because we are constantly correcting him, and forcing him to say it the right way every. single. time. He says "Can you sit on my lap, mommy?" When he wants to sit on my lap. I'll say "Can I?" and he'll say "Sure!" and then climb up. He just doesn't get it yet. In fact, I've noticed alot, recently, that he really has a hard time correctly answering questions. He might say yes, when he means no, or just say something completely unrelated to what you ask him. That is NOT a good sign. Hopefully these issues will resolve w/ttherapy, though.

On a good note, the therapy center called, and they have an opening for speech! He'll start in the middle of July. I didn't think we would be able to get in for months, since there were 25 kids ahead of him on the waiting list. They'll evaluate him then, and determine what he needs. He definately has a language delay. Fortunately, the bloodsucking insurance company WILL pay for his speech. The pediatrician will write an apraxia of speech DX so they have to pay for it. I'm fairly certain he doesn't have apraxia, this is just a way of ensuring the insurance will pay for it.

I think that's it! I'll definately try and update before we leave for MI next weekend!