Wait, I have not read Part 1 yet!

When Christopher started first grade, I noticed how much he enjoyed self teaching himself through websites like Yahooligans.  Within days he was able to name and locate all 50 states by location on the map and shape of the state within 3 minutes.  Soon he was moving on the state capitols, continents and then countries.  He also discovered his love of weather at this time and decided he wanted to be a meteorologist when he grew up.  This was the year that he used his Christmas money to buy his first Children’s Alamanac and has been collecting them every year since then.

Christopher was the brightest student in his class, and he knew it, and would tell others.  He also had problems with frustration, especially when he lost a game and would cry in class about 2-3 times a week.  He was also disorganized, rude and interrupted frequently, talked too much in class, and sang and made noises for no reason.  For the most part, except for the frequency in crying, this behavior has all continued into third grade.  He still does cry, but maybe only 2-3 times a month now.  For Halloween in first grade, he insisited on being a Meteorologist for his costume.

Despite how bright he is, Christopher continues to get mediocre grades because he fails to turn in his work, does not work well in groups, needs frequent reminders to stay foccused in class, and is disruptive.  I told myself when his behavior started interfering with school, I would make a doctor’s appointment to find the problem.  And this is where our journey begins….

After the first parent teacher conference of third grade, I called his pediatrician to evaluate him for anything and to see if he could rule out ADD/ADHD, Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID), Aspergers Syndrome, or any other Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD).  After speaking with his pediatrician he immediately decided Christopher’s case was too complex for him and referred him to a Pediatric Neurologist.  The Neurologist said he has some behaviors that he felt fit into the Aspergers spectrum, so he referred us to Neuroconnections for testing and evaluation for an official diagnosis by a team of qualified doctors, to include a Pediatric Neuropsychologist.  This whole thing has taken 6 months and we hope to have a diagnosis soon.  

In hindsight, I wish I had started this when he was in preschool.  Looking back I notice a lot of red flags that I may have brushed off.  He used to line his cars up for hours on end making parking lots.  When he was nervous he would flap his hands and make strange noises (like an uh-uh-uh-uh-uh noise).  He would obsess about certain things and not be able to focus on anything else until the main idea was resolved.  He used to “assume the identity” of inanimate objects, like a motorcycle or a school bus.  He avoided eye contact and preferred to play alone instead of with other kids.  As a baby he did not enjoy being cuddled or held, he was easy going and rarely cried.  He then became over emotional and I noticed he was clumsy and uncoordinated.  He woulds also notice the smallest irregularities about a room… something about Christopher was just different, and you could never quite put your finger on it.

He is truly a gift, and I cherish everything about him.  The lessons he has taught me, the humor he brings to the family, and everything else he brings to the table, good or bad.  He has taught me patience, flexibility, and so much more.  No matter what the doctors say, no matter what the diagnosis, if any, is.  I will still love Christopher, he will still be the same lovable boy.  He will still be the same eccentric old man trapped in the body of a 9 year old boy.