Kerri Update

Kerri went to the dr for her day two appt. on Monday. She seen a psychologist and a pediatrician who specializes in genetics. There was still no diagnosis given which I am very ok with. The pediatrician explained it the best...."It's not about getting a "diagnosis" for Kerri. Its about getting her the help she needs. Unfortunately to get her some of these services she needs a diagnosis.". This is exactly what I've been feeling this whole time. I couldn't care less what "label" they give Kerri. She's still going to be my Kerri. But that diagnosis is going to help us in getting her the help she needs and help us in understanding how to help her through her life. So even though we didn't get a whole lot of answers coming out of this appointment, I still left feeling like we were on the right road to finding the answers. I love the team of doctors who are working with her.

So anyway, the doctors she seen Monday said basically the same thing as the other doctors. They see definite behavioral issues, signs of OCD, signs of Aspergers, and sensory integration issues. We are in the process of finding some behavioral therapy for her to start. 

They did some blood work for some genetics testing. Those results won't be in for a couple weeks. They are looking for anything in her genetics that may lead them to anything else. From the blood work they did find out she is anemic. So she will go to her primary dr next week to talk about taking care of that. 


She will be going back in 6 months. The doctors want to see how she does over the next 6 months since she will be starting preschool in September. And also she has developed a "strange" obsession with the brain. She wants to learn about it and see it. She's very interested in it. The dr wants to see where this "obsession" goes. Since it could be a sign of Aspergers.


Oh, and the speech pathologist from her last appointment came in and told us that she had forgotten to tell us that Kerri talks with a lisp. So she will need to continue speech therapy (which we were already planning on doing).


I'm sitting here trying to remember everything that the doctors told me. It was a lot of information. Most of it was "this is what we will do if the tests show something..." "blah blah". So really nothing that pertains to right now anyway. It was just a lot of information really fast. So I feel like I'm forgetting something in there. 

But anyway, I was going to write this post yesterday but I've been putting it off. I'm dealing with my own insecurities about all of this. I have a very select few friends/family members who are completely supportive about me taking Kerri to the dr for all of this. I have several friends/family/people who are not so supportive. And I think a lot of them don't even realize that they aren't being supportive. But this is a huge part of our lives right now. And sometimes whether people believe me or want to hear about it or not, I need to talk about it. 


Which brings me to the point.....IT'S NOT ALL IN MY HEAD! There have been several times that I have thought it was. I thought "maybe I'm just crazy. maybe kerri is completely "normal" and I'm just looking for something to be wrong like some people think". But let me tell you this...these are very highly qualified doctors and professionals that are agreeing with me now. So what do I say to that? Tell them they are all crazy??? I'm so tired of telling people about what is going on with Kerri and getting looked at like I'm crazy! There is obviously something. We don't know exactly what yet. But I will find out so that we can help her.
I'm so sick of people saying "she's just a 'normal' 3 year old". It is not normal for a child to pull her hair out and bite herself. It is not normal for a 3 year old to scream and hide in the other room when I vacuum. It is not normal for a 2 YEAR OLD to look at a poster of a heart in the doctor's office and say "look mommy, that's a heart". It is not normal for a 3 year old to not want to play with other kids her age. Yes, it is normal for 3 year olds to have tantrums, but not for an hour to 2 hours straight! (and just because you have never witnessed one does not mean they don't happen. it just means you are lucky).
I'm just so tired of people thinking they "know" Kerri. I am almost to the point where I'm done telling people anything about any of it. But I do know that there are those few people that have been so great listening to me when I need to talk about it. And those giving me advise. And even those going through the same thing. And that's why I keep sharing, for those people who DO believe and who do care. Thank you.