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maybebaby
LIF Adult
Member since 11/05 6870 total posts
Name:
Maureen
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I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
He is now 4 years old, in a 4 year old pre-k typical class (we transitioned him out of early intervention).
His teacher went over all areas of development, from social skills, to attention span, to cognitive skills.
My little boy, diagnosed pdd-nos at 2 years old (diagnosis dropped this past may) has made amazing strides, i just have to share. I don't write these updates on him with any intention than to show the huge impact early intervention as well as his own maturity and hard work have resulted in...
He can write his name as well as most letter of alphabet. He knows all his letters, colors, shapes and numbers 1-20 (all they test up to). He answers questions asked in circle time, happily raising his hand and volunteering answers. The teacher said he will attend patiently the entire time she is teaching without getting distracted or fooling around.
He is able to be read a story and then retell parts of it to the teacher with correct memory of sequence...
And it sounds silly, but what really made my day was hearing that he has two best buddies in the class that he plays with every day-she said that and his friends will talk and talk and talk to one another sometime to the point of having to be separated
She told me that he is a leader in class, and comforts kids if they get upset...and i, like a baby, have tears rolling down my face as she is talking.
I remember Johnnys very first teacher pulling me aside when he was not even 2 years old and telling me she felt it was in johnnys best interest to be in a small autism only classroom and start learning pecs/sign language because he had basically no expressive speech and some stims.
We got through that time, i pushed forward with getting him what i thought he needed while of course listening to the advice of professionals as well. I prayed he would talk. I prayed he would have friends. Just be HAPPY.
I've written this before, and i'm sorry if i sound like a broken record. But I feel like my prayers for him were answered. It gives me so much hope and hope for all children diagnosed with a form of autism.
It's only pre-k. I know that. I know we may face diff. issues that may crop up as he gets older. But for now, i am just so happy and feeling truly blessed. I love my little guy so much, and i told him how very proud i was. He got embarrassed and had his tongue in his cheek. Too cute.
Thanks for reading if you got this far!
Message edited 1/25/2011 9:32:45 PM.
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Posted 1/25/11 9:29 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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cloddy
Holiday 2011 photo
Member since 8/05 8088 total posts
Name:
Kristen
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
that's amazing progress. so happy for you!
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| Posted 1/25/11 9:32 PM |
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saraH
happy birthday sweet kate!
Member since 5/05 16555 total posts
Name:
I know that God exsists, I held her in my arms...
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
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| Posted 1/25/11 9:33 PM |
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TaraHutch
True beauty
Member since 10/07 9888 total posts
Name:
Tara
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
What a beautiful story!!! So happy for you and your sweet little boy!!  Way to go Mom!
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| Posted 1/25/11 9:35 PM |
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Celt
~~~~~~~~~~
Member since 4/08 7758 total posts
Name:
colette
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
OK #1, don't EVER apologize for being your son's #1 fan, and #1 advocate. EVER!!!!!!!!!! You deserve that moment of glory, no matter WHAT, and who in all honesty would begrudge you that???? Because as much as he worked to get where he is, you were driving that train, mama, so WELL DONE YOU
I've got my DS in EI for speech and OT, and i see improvements daily/weekly, but part of me still wonders, hmmmmm, will he be talking fully at 3? At 4??? I just want to HELP him so much I can't help but worry!!
And I very nearly teared up when you wrote that he comforts other kids when they are upset, for some reason that sense of empathy, in such a young little boy,really strikes me as HUGELY important, and such an insight into who Johnny really is 
Congratulations to you both, and always always share the good news with us, you never know who else you're helping along the way 
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| Posted 1/25/11 9:36 PM |
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Lola
LIF Adult
Member since 1/07 1854 total posts
Name:
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
What a great update! I'm an ABA therapist and love hearing stories like this. So many of these little guys go on to make such wonderful improvements.
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| Posted 1/25/11 10:16 PM |
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annienyc
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 1347 total posts
Name:
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
What AMAZING news!!! 
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| Posted 1/25/11 10:36 PM |
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nyteacher13
Three Under Four!!! :-)
Member since 8/06 6405 total posts
Name:
~ THERESA ~
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
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| Posted 1/25/11 10:42 PM |
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MST9106
My life:)
Member since 6/06 9589 total posts
Name:
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
Awwwww a great round of applause for Johnny and YOU mommy
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| Posted 1/25/11 10:47 PM |
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mrswask
Pookie Love
Member since 5/05 20229 total posts
Name:
Michal
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
Congratulations and what an adorable picture!
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| Posted 1/25/11 11:02 PM |
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mommy2devin
2 Boys, I need calgon!
Member since 10/07 1572 total posts
Name:
Shannon
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
I know I don't know you, and maybe it's pregnancy hormones, but I now have to fix my make-up at work! CONGRATULATIONS to your beautiful boy and to you for being the mommy that you are. His #1 fan! What an inspiration!!!!
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| Posted 1/26/11 8:41 AM |
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skinny
3 boys and a princess!
Member since 11/08 8178 total posts
Name:
Momma
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
Don't apologize! I love reading posts like this!
YAY Johnny!
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| Posted 1/26/11 8:47 AM |
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maybebaby
LIF Adult
Member since 11/05 6870 total posts
Name:
Maureen
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
Posted by colette
OK #1, don't EVER apologize for being your son's #1 fan, and #1 advocate. EVER!!!!!!!!!! You deserve that moment of glory, no matter WHAT, and who in all honesty would begrudge you that???? Because as much as he worked to get where he is, you were driving that train, mama, so WELL DONE YOU
I've got my DS in EI for speech and OT, and i see improvements daily/weekly, but part of me still wonders, hmmmmm, will he be talking fully at 3? At 4??? I just want to HELP him so much I can't help but worry!!
And I very nearly teared up when you wrote that he comforts other kids when they are upset, for some reason that sense of empathy, in such a young little boy,really strikes me as HUGELY important, and such an insight into who Johnny really is
Congratulations to you both, and always always share the good news with us, you never know who else you're helping along the way
Thanks for your words
I sometimes feel hesitant to post about updates b/c I feel like we are one of few families to see such dramatic improvements with this situation.
A mom that i thought was my friend (her son has autism and was a classmate of johnnys) wrote me out of her life b/c I guess she was getting annoyed with my updates.
I would never talk about him in a way that made it sound like he was "issue free" or that his old autism diagnosis was something to shudder at or be embarrassed of. When i first heard johnny was dealing with pdd-nos i of course was devestated and sad. What mom wouldn't be?? But i, like every other mom tried to keep faith and just get him the help he needed. In his situation, things really really turned completely around. This mom friend would counter every bit of progress i'd mention with "Yeah well you show me a child once diagnosed with autism and tell me how that just "goes away".
It was so upsetting. Seriously. I don't think all his issues miraculously "went away". I think it may not have truly been a spectrum disorder to begin with. I think he was possibly misdiagnosed at an early age OR he has gained enough skills since then to not have the diagnosis on paper. Who knows. All I know is that things are very different now than they were and i was just happy to share my news here.
Thanks everyone for reading/responding and for the sweet comments. It means a lot!!!
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| Posted 1/26/11 8:50 AM |
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lvdolphins
My Loves!
Member since 5/05 46292 total posts
Name:
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
That is a GREAT conference day! Johnny is doing amazing!
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| Posted 1/26/11 8:57 AM |
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maybebaby
LIF Adult
Member since 11/05 6870 total posts
Name:
Maureen
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
Oh-and needed to add..
When my former friend found out about his diagnosis changing from pdd-nos to maybe ADHD back in may, she goes "Oh wow. Well thats nice that they said its not autism. But be warned...these ADHD kids are likely to develop pretty bad depression as they get to the teen years...no picnic at all..".
Who says that?? That was the point I realized she wasn't a friend, she was someone who was very bitter.
And she has a healthy daughter and a son with pdd-nos who is making good strides as well. I was always so so happy for her when she shared strides that her son made, but she almost speaks of him as if everything is a horrible issues. Kinda weird. I tried to be there for her, but always ended up feeling awful after we spoke...
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| Posted 1/26/11 8:58 AM |
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Janice
Sweet Jessie Quinn
Member since 5/05 27567 total posts
Name:
Janice
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
this is a great read!!!
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| Posted 1/26/11 9:02 AM |
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Linda1003
love my 2 boys
Member since 8/08 10923 total posts
Name:
Linda
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
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| Posted 1/26/11 9:07 AM |
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nbc188
Best friends!
Member since 12/06 23090 total posts
Name:
C
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
AMAZING!!!! You have every tight to be proud of that wonderful little boy!!!
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| Posted 1/26/11 9:07 AM |
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MrsSpring
I'm a lucky mama
Member since 1/10 7585 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
sooo happy !!!!!!
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| Posted 1/26/11 9:09 AM |
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lbelle821
Arghhhhh
Member since 2/06 5285 total posts
Name:
Lisa
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
your posts about Johnny always make me cry
I'm so happy for him at what amazing strides he's made. Nothing short of amazing!!!!
Be proud
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| Posted 1/26/11 9:20 AM |
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Celt
~~~~~~~~~~
Member since 4/08 7758 total posts
Name:
colette
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
Posted by maybebaby
Oh-and needed to add..
When my former friend found out about his diagnosis changing from pdd-nos to maybe ADHD back in may, she goes "Oh wow. Well thats nice that they said its not autism. But be warned...these ADHD kids are likely to develop pretty bad depression as they get to the teen years...no picnic at all..".
Who says that?? That was the point I realized she wasn't a friend, she was someone who was very bitter.
And she has a healthy daughter and a son with pdd-nos who is making good strides as well. I was always so so happy for her when she shared strides that her son made, but she almost speaks of him as if everything is a horrible issues. Kinda weird. I tried to be there for her, but always ended up feeling awful after we spoke...
This is so sad to me I mean I know getting a diagnosis for *anything* for our kids changes us somehow, it really does... I'm sure any mom would feel "Hey, what about MY KID??" upon hearing of progress in another child with a similar diagnosis... but still, she handled it wrong. You have so much information, and so much understanding about the issue - I hope she comes around for her own sake and that of her child .
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| Posted 1/26/11 9:22 AM |
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maybebaby
LIF Adult
Member since 11/05 6870 total posts
Name:
Maureen
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
Posted by colette
Posted by maybebaby
Oh-and needed to add..
When my former friend found out about his diagnosis changing from pdd-nos to maybe ADHD back in may, she goes "Oh wow. Well thats nice that they said its not autism. But be warned...these ADHD kids are likely to develop pretty bad depression as they get to the teen years...no picnic at all..".
Who says that?? That was the point I realized she wasn't a friend, she was someone who was very bitter.
And she has a healthy daughter and a son with pdd-nos who is making good strides as well. I was always so so happy for her when she shared strides that her son made, but she almost speaks of him as if everything is a horrible issues. Kinda weird. I tried to be there for her, but always ended up feeling awful after we spoke...
This is so sad to me I mean I know getting a diagnosis for *anything* for our kids changes us somehow, it really does... I'm sure any mom would feel "Hey, what about MY KID??" upon hearing of progress in another child with a similar diagnosis... but still, she handled it wrong. You have so much information, and so much understanding about the issue - I hope she comes around for her own sake and that of her child .
It certainly does change a person. Even today, will all the progress, i know i am a changed person. I don't take a thing for granted. When your first baby is diagnosed with a lifelong neurological disorder, your world comes to a halt. You don't sleep. You don't have the same outlook on life. Everything seems dismal. It's the truth. You eventually pick yourself up and get through it (regardless of outcome) but it isn't easy. I will ALWAYS be a part of autism. It became my world for 2 years. And i will always be fighting and praying for a cure.
I hope she too comes around. She is a good person who i believe may be dealing with some depression...I will always think about her and her son, but for now i can't deal with it. If i walk away always feeling badly it can't be good for me..
Message edited 1/26/2011 9:28:28 AM.
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| Posted 1/26/11 9:27 AM |
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cjik
Welcome 2010!
Member since 2/06 8879 total posts
Name:
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
Thanks for posting about his amazing progress!!!! I am so happy to hear he is doing well, and has a couple friends.
Congratulations to him for his hard work, and especially to you for getting him services and the help he needs.
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| Posted 1/26/11 10:12 AM |
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dpli
Daylight savings :)
Member since 5/05 13973 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
I am so happy to read this, because it gives me great hope and encouragement for my DS. My biggest concern is that he will have friends he will play with, so that part really made me happy.
I was sad to read this.....
Posted by maybebaby
Oh-and needed to add..
When my former friend found out about his diagnosis changing from pdd-nos to maybe ADHD back in may, she goes "Oh wow. Well thats nice that they said its not autism. But be warned...these ADHD kids are likely to develop pretty bad depression as they get to the teen years...no picnic at all..".
Who says that?? That was the point I realized she wasn't a friend, she was someone who was very bitter.
And she has a healthy daughter and a son with pdd-nos who is making good strides as well. I was always so so happy for her when she shared strides that her son made, but she almost speaks of him as if everything is a horrible issues. Kinda weird. I tried to be there for her, but always ended up feeling awful after we spoke...
It's sad how isolating these diagnoses can be. You feel isolated at first from those who have "typical" kids because they don't really understand. Then, some can feel isolated sometimes from other parents of special needs kids because they don't all progress at the same rate. It has to be difficult to cheer progress of other kids if you aren't seeing it in your own. Then, you are sort of sucked into the habit of downplaying the sucesses because you don't want to lose services you think they need.
I am truly glad to hear how well Johnny is doing !!! Keep up the good work, because a lot of it has to do with what YOU do too!
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| Posted 1/26/11 10:53 AM |
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maybebaby
LIF Adult
Member since 11/05 6870 total posts
Name:
Maureen
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Re: I had johnnys pre-k conference today..
Posted by dpli
I am so happy to read this, because it gives me great hope and encouragement for my DS. My biggest concern is that he will have friends he will play with, so that part really made me happy.
I was sad to read this.....
Posted by maybebaby
Oh-and needed to add..
When my former friend found out about his diagnosis changing from pdd-nos to maybe ADHD back in may, she goes "Oh wow. Well thats nice that they said its not autism. But be warned...these ADHD kids are likely to develop pretty bad depression as they get to the teen years...no picnic at all..".
Who says that?? That was the point I realized she wasn't a friend, she was someone who was very bitter.
And she has a healthy daughter and a son with pdd-nos who is making good strides as well. I was always so so happy for her when she shared strides that her son made, but she almost speaks of him as if everything is a horrible issues. Kinda weird. I tried to be there for her, but always ended up feeling awful after we spoke...
It's sad how isolating these diagnoses can be. You feel isolated at first from those who have "typical" kids because they don't really understand. Then, some can feel isolated sometimes from other parents of special needs kids because they don't all progress at the same rate. It has to be difficult to cheer progress of other kids if you aren't seeing it in your own. Then, you are sort of sucked into the habit of downplaying the sucesses because you don't want to lose services you think they need.
I am truly glad to hear how well Johnny is doing !!! Keep up the good work, because a lot of it has to do with what YOU do too!
I completely agree.
No one will ever understand the isolation that comes with this diagnosis. I didn't talk to many friends b/c I was so upset all the time. I couldn't bear to hear how well their children were doing, how many words they were saying, how the biggest problems seemed to be that sometimes they napped poorly..I would have given a year of straight insomnia to know he'd be ok.
And i know all too well about downplaying successes. Even as positive as i come across on this site, my DH will have to remind me at times not to downplay the good he is doing. Even after the conference, i was sitting on the couch talking to DH. I expressed my concern to him that things couldn't possibly be going this well...I'm just always waiting for the other shoe to drop (meaning to see his regress for some reason).
I just wish this friend could be more of a friend despite her own feelings of possible sadness instead of challenging everything I've ever said about johnnys progress. I have a friend who is going through getting her son diagnosed and i am pretty sure they are heading towards an autism diagnosis. I am just trying to be there for her and offering stories of hope...I would never challege anything positive that came her way, i just think its not being a friend.
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| Posted 1/26/11 11:37 AM |
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