Happy New Year, very late, haha. 

So Monkey, has finished speech therapy and physical therapy. We can have a doctor write another prescription, and she can go again if we ever feel she needs any more help. The medication has been amazing! We were so against medication at first without the doctor showing us some medical reason for it, but he told us to trust him and try it. We are so glad we did. She can handle social situations so much better. We went to a Halloween event with over 3,000 people, she handled it great!! She would have never been able to in the past, and we would have never tried it. She also was fine during birthday parties, Christmas holidays, and football parties. The best part is her appetite. She is hungry now. She rarely was before the medication. Since the speech therapy helped us with her aversions to food (texture, looks), now she is hungry and is eating foods and also difference foods she normally would not have tried.  (She loves barbecue chicken!) She has even grew a couple of inches in a few months! She was in the same clothes for nearly two years until this medication helped stimulate her appetite. We also noticed she is not licking things anymore. Grocery shopping is easier without being worried what she is going to catch germs by licking! It has seemed to help her OCD behavior. She does not have to touch things so much. Again, we are really happy with her medication.  She has an appointment this month to talk about her results with the medication.

Our eldest is still doing great. She is now testing on tenth grade reading level in school, but she is in fourth grade. Wow, she loves to read. She is very crafty, and is learning to sew by hand this year. I just wish she would clean her room! She would rather sleep on a bunch of stuff than clean it, or just climb over stuff to get to her bed! Unreal. 

I am going to make more time for my blog this year. I am going to actually schedule time to write for it. I think that is how I need to do it. I schedule everything else in my life! Since things are going better for Monkey, I can focus on some other things like recipes, and whatever pops in my head.

Diagnosis

So we spoke with the neurologist last week. He stated her EEG and MRI were normal. He ended up given her the diagnosis of developmental delay. Her IQ is good. She is just going to have to have help when learning new things. Whereas she has autism traits, she does not have enough to meet a diagnosis. She also has OCD tendencies and has sensory issues. She will continue with speech until most likely December (her speech teacher said she is close to dismissing her). We will continue working with her with problem eating. She will also continue with Physical therapy for sensory issues. I am not sure how long she will continue that, but she just started a few weeks ago. We just paid all of our deductible with the EEG and MRI so we will only owe 10% on each visit so that will help money wise. We pay out of pocket for speech. She was put on risperidone to help with her moods and meltdowns. We already see an improvement. She is also less wiggly when trying to learn something with this medication. Now, we go back to trying to get the school to do something for her since she was denied. We are happy with the diagnosis.

PT

Monkey has been to two PT sessions because she is sensory driven. Physical therapist is sure she has sensory processing disorder. She also was put in a compression vest with weights and wore it to speech. She never moved. I have never seen her this still in her lifetime. It was quite incredible. I am looking forward to seeing if she has the same response next week. If so, I think, I am going to take the chance and buy one for her. They are quite expensive. PT thinks it would help her sit and learn her letters since she still struggles with this. 

Next week, she has her EEG, and MRI tests. 

Halloween is coming. Both girls are excited, then we have the local Fair, and all our birthdays. Of course, Thanksgiving, Christmas parties and then Christmas. Love this time of the year. Whereas it is fun, it is more time for Monkey to get upset because of all the sights and noises. I am hoping since we are all trying to figure this out, that this year will be easier for her.

Sorry for the late update. We have been enjoying our summer. My eldest is back in school. We are so happy she still loves school and loves to learn. 

Monkey had all her testing from school. We received the results last week. She did not qualify at this time for special services. Once her neurologist gives her diagnosis, they will reevaluate her. We liked everyone at the school. We see how the process works, and have numbers to contact once she is done being evaluated with her neurologist. We know IQ wise, her IQ is good. Her issues are still behavioral. She scored low in adaptive and personal-social areas, but they said even though she was low average, it was not low enough without a diagnosis to receive services with the school system. We have known a few people that went through the same thing. Once the doctor stated a diagnosis, the school changed their decision.

Speech therapy has been such a blessing. Her speech is much clearer, and her problem eating is easily handled. She is trying new foods, still with resistance, but without all the drama, at least most of the time. She now LOVES barbecue chicken. (Happy dance)

She should start physical therapy soon for controlling her meltdowns. The physical therapist will show her how to help herself when her sensory issues are too much. 

She is scheduled for her first brain scan (EEG) at the end of October. 

Monkey is VERY excited, as is her sister, for all the new fun stuff coming up since it is finally hitting Fall. 

Recently I posted about My Buddy Tag. I am impressed. I put it on Monkey and we went to Chucke Cheese, and then to a Halloween store. The tag worked great especially in the Halloween store where she kept running away while I was helping her sister look for a costume. As soon as she started to go to the back of the store, my phone would go off and show me she was out of range. I could then bring her back. I watched her a few times do this and again, the Buddy Tag immediately showed me she was out of range. My only complaint was it was hard to put on. I bought the silicone one. I should have bought the Velcro one. 

Well, I think that is all on the updates.