Doctor, Doctor, Gimme the news.

With much thanks to the late, great Robert Palmer for that one.


So, quick update on yesterday. We love Dr. G. Dr. G has guinea pigs, which completely won over TFYO. Oh, and TFYO is just as we suspected. I was told she is brilliant, incredibly bright, and probably has a very mild autism spectrum disorder, but nothing at the moment that warrants pulling her out of a classroom in which she appears to be thriving. I am relieved. And I now have someone to go to bat for me if the county school system decided to interfere. Dr. G says TFYO has a few quirks, which may need more attention as she gets older, but that compared to other Aspie kids she treats, this is really nothing to get worked up over. I'll have a full written report (with IQ scores, Asperger Diagnostic Scores, etc.) in a couple of weeks. Did y'all hear my big sigh of relief all across the world yesterday?

Also, I have my first OBGYN appointment today. And I'm also scheduled for my first ultrasound. I'm still getting sick several times a day. So far, well meaning people have told me this means: I'm having a boy; I'm having another girl; I'm having twins; or I had too much Mexican food last night.

One of those.

I am a little nervous. The first ultrasound is where you get to see if your little jelly bean is normal. So, of course I've been having bizarre nightmares (which come with being pregnant anyway). I've dreamed the baby has two heads. I've dreamed the baby has my head, staring out at me from the ultrasound. I've dreamed I was pregnant with a cat, which may have been because a cat was standing on me at that moment, trying to get me out of bed to feed it.

So, by the end of the day today, I'll know. And I'll have pictures to prove it's not a cat. Although, those first pictures usually look more like a tadpole.

Mommy's alright, Daddy's alright, they just seem a little weird...

With much thanks to Cheap Trick for the lyric...

It was serendipity yesterday for me when, after a behavioural evaluation from the pediatrician I stumbled across this article at Newsweek/MSNBC online.

It's all about the recent rush to diagnose quirky kids with Pervasive Developmental Disorders or Autism Spectrum Disorders.

We had a long talk with TFYO's doctor yesterday, who I want to say again is the best pediatrician we've ever had. Dr. R is a star in every sense of the word. She's a little tiny woman who puts my child at ease, and I am ever so grateful for her. We talked about what the school psychologist said, how she felt that maybe TFYO needed an hour of "off site special ed class" away from the pre-K she's in now. We also talked about my new discovery that the school psychologist hadn't discussed her belief that TFYO had Asperger's with either of her teachers. I found that out this past week. Dr. R. looked at me like the psychologist was nuts.

The current consensus among TFYO's teachers and her pediatrician: she might, might, have some kind of developmental disorder, but that it doesn't really seem to be a problem. Her teachers all say that she's settled down remarkably, and that there was NO hitting, despite what psychologist woman said after seeing my child for a grand total of seven hours. TFYO doesn't like people in her personal space, and pushes other kids away when they get too close. However, she's four, so it might be tough for her to say "Um, excuse me, get the hell out of my face." Although, when she finally does, I imagine I'll be having another talk with the school psychologist. I can't help it if my child is like me.

The other consensus: TFYO is gifted, possibly a genius. That makes me happy and a little scared at the same time. They all seemed to be salivating at seeing her I.Q. test results.

Dr. R. suggested a local child psychologist who specializes in kids with developmental disorders, but also specializes in highly intelligent children. She said if anyone could tell us what exactly was going on, it was this woman. And that it could help put all of this to rest once and for all.

So, now we're just trying to get in to see herand her battery of tests. And, no, I haven't given my consent for the school psychologist to do an evaluation, yet. I'm just a little ticked off that she didn't discuss any of this with TFYO's teachers, one of whom actually taught special education for seven years, and doesn't think there seems to be too much wrong with my child.

I want to see what's going on in my child's mind, for sure, and if she needs help, that's fine. But, now that I've settled down a bit, I'm wondering if the sudden jump in numbers for kids with Autism is more about an increase in labelling, and less about there being more kids. I can't help but wonder if some kids who are generally fine are being told they have an Autism Spectrum Disorder just because they meet a few of the criteria.

I guess we'll see. Wish us luck.

Friday Five

I really am sorry for not posting yesterday, but it was kind of a rough day. I had every intention of telling you about my cat, the lumberjack, who loves to scale door frames with her massive claws and Popeye-like leg muscles. But I just couldn't. I got to talk to an Effingham County school psychologist yesterday morning. She's been called in to help with my child. Why?


They, and the pediatrician, believe my daughter has Asperger Syndrome.

For those not in the know, Asperbger Syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder, and there's a fairly accurate Wiki write-up here.

Some of the characteristics of Asperger's include inability to grasp social skills, avoiding eye contact, fixation on a specific field or group of things, and a habit of using repetitive motion or language. TFYO meets all of these criteria. Fortunately, she wants to be social, so the army of therapists that are about to become part of our lives have something to work with. We're also told that TFYO is incredibly intelligent, even more than your run-of-the-mill Asperger's patient. The other good thing is that she's being diagnosed early. Many children aren't diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome until they are ten or eleven. Which means early intervention can help TFYO learn coping strategies in social situations.

But she's having trouble dealing with the other kids at school. She has no concept of personal space, and she has a tough time starting conversations, and she really doesn't like looking people in the eye. She also has this hitting thing lately, where when she can 't figure out how to join a group, she just smacks someone on the shoulder.

You probably know an adult with Asperger Syndrome. There are a lot of them working in technology fields, as scientist, or as musicians, or sometimes even professors. Dan Akroyd recently said he was diagnosed with Asperger's as an adult. They probably seem a little quirky, they're a little obsessed with sci-fi, or trains, or...well, any one thing. They have friends, but not large groups of them. And you'll see them at parties, but often in the corner talking to only one or two people. They're normal, but not...quite.

Looking back on my own childhood through the lens of Asperger Syndrome, it makes a lot more sense to me now. My inability to blend in, my obsession with learning, and not always picking up on social cues. I always just thought I was a nerd. Turns out, there was a label for it.

So, today's Friday Five is a bit of a rip off of my new friend Joy T. over at Spot of T. She did a "Thankful Thirteen" last Thursday. So, today's Friday Five is...

Five Things I am Thankful For

1. I am thankful for my child.

Even though she's been given a label that could hold her back, she's bright and funny and smart. And she's mine. I'm thankful I have her to worry about, when so many other people don't have kids or can't have kids.

2. I'm thankful for my husband.

No doubt, like all couples, we've had our ups and downs. But he's always been an awesome father, and he's always tried to be the best husband he can be.

3. I'm thankful for my home.

We moved around a lot when I was a kid. That's nobody's fault, it's just the way it was. I was never so grateful as when I got to own my own home this year. I can paint the walls chartreuse if I want...and TFYO's room is proof of that. I now have a sense of home and belonging.

4. I'm thankful for all the great people I've met so far blogging.

Every single last one of you. Rotten Correspondent, Jo Beaufoix, Mya, WillowTree, Dumdad, JRH, My Two Cents, Bellevelma are the old(er) timers. Mike, Diana, and a few others are recent visitors. And you're all awesome. It's good to know there's a place I can come to regain my sanity, and read about all of your lives.

5. I'm thankful I made that fateful decision to move to Alabama in 1996.

It seemed like madness at the time, and it almost killed me. But if I hadn't, I wouldn't have met Ray, I wouldn't have found my career, and I wouldn't have TFYO. I'm not sure where I would be now, but it can't be better than what I've got.

Okay, there it is. The incredibly maudlin Friday Five. Hopefully you'll forgive the philosophical meanderings, but I just thought it might be nice, on a crappy day, to remember what I'm thankful for. Okay, it's y'alls turn.

What are you thankful for?