Let's play catch-up

It's been awhile since I have blogged so be patient while I get my blogger feet under me again.

A lot has happened. Sam still struggles with the apraxia and makes slow painful progress. She is still in speech therapy that is based on co-articulation. It is intensive and requires a lot of family participation. something we have never been real good at.

Last year we were informed that Samantha would not be returning to her private school. It came as quite a shock considering we had sold our home in the country to be closer to her school. They told us that she could not keep up with the work. They allowed her finish the year but it was hell on wheels - as far as behaviour goes.

It was pretty awful at home with behaviour too. Rages. Tantrums. It got to the point that if brother were pestering Sam and I went to discipline brother, Sam would attack me. There was property damage. Hitting, screaming, biting, spitting, cursing - full out nasty. there were threats.

It became apparent very quickly that the combination of meds we were giving her was completely ineffective. In the past, we had done much better with medications. Not so now.

So this summer we decided we'd take Sam off all her meds. We weren't even sure what kind of kid we have under all these meds. What behaviours were Sam and what could be attributed to the meds. And considering the quantity and type of meds - it is something that needed to be done in-patient.

Samantha is mildly mentally handicapped. (I am still getting used to this) And as such, no clinic in Dallas would take her. She needs self help care. They don't do that either. There was one clinic left in Dallas that was questionable. So we took Sam there. And of course as soon as they found out about her MR, they told us she would not be a good fit. But wait, there was a woman who was just there from a clinic in Austin that did take kids JUST LIKE SAM. The intake counselor gave us the Texas Neurorehab Clinic's brochure and it looked perfect for Sam. They cover everything she deals with. And they would do a meds wash.

After a nice polite battle with Insurance, we headed to Austin to leave our daughter in a psychiatric facility. I have to tell you, it felt more like abandonment when we turned our backs on her and walked away. Hardest thing I have ever done as a parent.

We are on Day 11 today. Insurance review in two days and they may kick us to the curb. Down two meds so far. Several more to go. We had Sam off campus today and yesterday. Both, good visits. I am extremely cautiously optimistic.

We have had a new diagnosis here that they tell us is HUGE and want to know how has it been missed all these years. Dyspraxia - on a huge level. This includes deficits in psycohosocial skills, sensory motor skills, sensory processing skills as well as sensory modulation deficits. Yeah, I know. I gave you links. Have fun trying to figure them out too. We have some new therapies and strategies to address these things. We'll have to find an occupational therapist when we get home.

I don't know what we'll have when we get home - what changes we'll actually see. I hope the heartache, expense and pain we have had to experience for this treatment will have been worth it. I hope insurance gives us a few more weeks here.

Not likely. But possible.