Update on Katie -- March 17, 2009

Katie had her first appointment for occupational therapy (OT) today. Come to find out that her therapist is the one that Alex's therapist trained. She is so wonderful and is very patient with Katie. Katie will be recieving OT for safety awareness issues and for her need to suck on things (that's why at 3 she still has a pacifier, without it she puts everything in her mouth). Her safety awareness issues are the fact that when walking or running she will walk into walls or things because she is not paying attention. She also doesn't pay attention to others around her (like when we are at the park she will constantly walk by the swings and has been knocked down by people who are swinging, or will just walk into the road without caring if there are cars coming). What I thought were balance issues is actually her brain going so quick that her body can't keep up so she falls. It's the ADHD like symptoms of having FAS. Something we will have to work on in the future. One thing at a time. I have Katie's first appointment with special education next week. I am worried that she won't qualify for the services that she needs because she is very smart but that is hindered by her unattentiveness and forgetfulness. She is where she should be at educationally (after alot of work from her and I) but her behaviors get in the way of her learning. The fact that some things have to be retaught again and again before it sticks in her mind is another area of concern for me. I just worry that once she starts school I will be called to school everyday to come get her and then she will get nothing out of school. I know being around peers in a structured environment will really help her but she will need extra help to stay on task. I can only hope that they see that. With Alex, they offered everything that I thought he should recieve but I am pretty sure that with Katie I am going to have to fight to get her what she needs/deserves. I took Katie to gymnastics yesterday to see if she would like it. She is shy so she really didn't join the group and didn't seem to even want to do what they were doing, so I doubt that we will be persuing gymnastics. Atleast not at this time. She did have fun running around though and swinging from the bars. I don't want to spend that kind of money for something that she isn't that into. I think I am going to look into karate for both of the kids that they offer for 3 years old and up. The instructor has experience working with children with special needs so that is a definate plus. It's something to consider for summer. Alex is so used to being in a structered environment 4 days a week and going from that to absolutely nothing for summer would be a bad thing so I am trying to find classes or something to do for summer.