RE: Does the emotional roller coaster ever end?

[Guest guest]

Hi, Becky!

Just wanted to let you know that my 9-month old daughter has been slow with

some things, too! She started rolling over at about 7 months and doesn't

pull herself up to sitting, either. She is trying to, though! Right now I'm

not too concerned. At each visit to the ped, we get a leaflet with what

babies might be doing at each month. So far, she's still within range.

I hope this eases your mind a little!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/7/00 8:55:04 AM Pacific Standard Time,

becky@... writes:

<< She prefers using her right arm over her

left, and I think that's because CT said her left neck muscles are

weaker/tighter. >>

Becky - this sounds like mild torticollis. They tend to favor one side of

their body. This should not be at a young age. Torticollis can cause major

muscles to be tight and not just affect the neck. My son was very slow to

roll because he was tight in the chest area and didn't want to cross mid

line. PT was crucial to full ROM and showing no favoritism in left of right.

Also didn't realize how " tight " his body felt. Little things like not being

able to get his feet to his mouth.

We were in the EI program for pt and teacher services. They came right to my

home. They were great people. I learned a lot of cool things and was also

given check lists to keep an eye on progress. They also give great teaching

and stimulating ideas. I realize dealing with tort and plag myself, I was so

sick of other people always so tightly involved in our lives. Really not the

norm until you go through with it. You won't regret it. We only did the ei

program for 3 months and saw great results. Be happy to have these services

and think of others who are not as fortunate!

Tammy & 12/8/99

[Guest guest]

Becky--

I'm so sorry that you are feeling so bad!! I have a few thoughts and

questions, just don't have time right now to be lengthy--got to get

lunch and to school, then to CT for Chandler's check. Will get back with

you tonight. I still think we should get together--even if for coffee and a

short visit. . .keep your chin up--and trust your instincts!

Becky Keck wrote:

> Here we go again. My emotions are in an uproar once again.

>

> Early intervention just did 's assessment. They said she's delayed

> in both gross motor skills AND fine motor skills. She's 6 months old.

> She sits up by herself really strong (has now since about 4 months), but

> she's not rolling over, and she can't get to the sitting position or

> back down flat by herself. She prefers using her right arm over her

> left, and I think that's because CT said her left neck muscles are

> weaker/tighter. We've been working on that, and she's gotten quite a bit

> better at reaching with her left hand.

>

> I was hoping EI would say she wasn't delayed or that she didn't qualify

> for services. Of course, they want to start her in physical therapy.

> Part of me wants her to just stay a baby, and not interfere - let her

> develop " naturally " , without any " help " . So I'm sad again. Am I trying

> to force my little girl to grow up too fast? I'm not interested in

> having " superbaby " , I just want to make sure there's not something she

> " can't " do later on. I'm just so SICK of being so darn emotional and

> undecisive all the time!

>

> Any advice/suggestions/encouragement appreciated!

>

> Becky & (5/4/00)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Becky - I am so sorry you're having to deal with this. This whole process

is so hard. I too have been an emotional wreck about the whole DOC Band

thing to begin with. Cade cries so much at night and cannot get comfortable

to sleep. It is breaking my heart - he's had the band since Thurs but is

not adjusting to sleeping at all. I feel like we are torturing him or

something. Sometimes I just want to take it off and let nature take it's

course. I'll be thinking about you and I know everything will be alright.

P.S. Cade didn't really start rolling over really good till he was 7 months

so I can't believe they think she is delayed - he just now starting getting

up from his stomach position to sitting so don't worry - some babies just

develop later.

> -----Original Message-----

> From: Becky Keck [sMTP:becky@...]

> Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2000 10:40 AM

> Plagiocephalyegroups

> Subject: Does the emotional roller coaster ever end?

>

>

> Here we go again. My emotions are in an uproar once again.

>

> Early intervention just did 's assessment. They said she's delayed

> in both gross motor skills AND fine motor skills. She's 6 months old.

> She sits up by herself really strong (has now since about 4 months), but

> she's not rolling over, and she can't get to the sitting position or

> back down flat by herself. She prefers using her right arm over her

> left, and I think that's because CT said her left neck muscles are

> weaker/tighter. We've been working on that, and she's gotten quite a bit

> better at reaching with her left hand.

>

> I was hoping EI would say she wasn't delayed or that she didn't qualify

> for services. Of course, they want to start her in physical therapy.

> Part of me wants her to just stay a baby, and not interfere - let her

> develop " naturally " , without any " help " . So I'm sad again. Am I trying

> to force my little girl to grow up too fast? I'm not interested in

> having " superbaby " , I just want to make sure there's not something she

> " can't " do later on. I'm just so SICK of being so darn emotional and

> undecisive all the time!

>

> Any advice/suggestions/encouragement appreciated!

>

> Becky & (5/4/00)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/7/2000 10:55:20 AM Central Standard Time,

becky@... writes:

<< I was hoping EI would say she wasn't delayed >>

Becky, I know it's a hard thing to hear someone tell us about our child. I

too was in the same position. My son also has tort and did qualify for EI.

Now, after all these months, I am so glad I went ahead with their

suggestions. He was also several months delayed at one point but has caught

up quite well. When Vince was first DX he did not use his left arm much

either. At that point, I was concerned about his future problems if left

untreated. I do not think you will create a super baby or push along to grow

up any faster than what they do any way. If you don't seek treatment you may

run into more problems in the future because the entire left side would

develop a great deal weaker. Hey, you are in now. I would recommend you go

for it. Besides, you have nothing to lose. Belinda(Indiana)

[Guest guest]

Becky:

I just wanted to let you know about my experiences with EI. My boys were

born 2 1/2 months early and were 2lbs 14oz and 3lbs 7oz. They came home

from the hospital with no meds, just low weights and were considered at risk

for developmental delays. We qualified for EI based on prematurity and

started seeing therapists at 11 weeks of age.

I found the EI personnel to be caring, wonderfully helpful people who helped

me give the boys some additional help where they needed it. had

tort, hated his stomach, has tight heels and calves, was slower to " do "

things than . The EI people showed me techniques to break down

things into smaller steps so the boys could learn them easier.

I have two older daughters, both full term and healthy. They learned

everything in their own time, and I was a bit hesitant to make the boys try

to measure up on someone else's chart. I too wanted them to learn it on

their own and not over-program them. I found it to be just the opposite.

The EI support was just what we needed. They showed how to make the

reaching fun, how to sit and play with them in a way to help strengthen

muscle groups, how to work into tummy time, how to reposition him

off his flat spot, etc. Their handouts and time enriched our life, not

hindered it in any way.

EI services are free. Check to see if home visits are possible (this is

great for you and your child). Try it out. I found the paperwork to be

cumbersome at times - our group was very into goal setting, which is

wonderful. In cases where the delays are more severe, intense goal setting

is critical to chart progress. Thankfully, at their 12 month assessment,

the boys were considered " caught up " and I know EI played a large part in

that for me.

I say give it a try. Use all of the resources available to you and .

You will only be helping her further.

Best of luck,

Sue Luck

mom to (4 1/2), Kayle (2), (DOC band graduate) and

(14 months)

----- Original Message -----

From: Becky Keck <becky@...>

<Plagiocephalyegroups>

Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2000 11:39 AM

Subject: Does the emotional roller coaster ever end?

>

> Here we go again. My emotions are in an uproar once again.

>

> Early intervention just did 's assessment. They said she's delayed

> in both gross motor skills AND fine motor skills. She's 6 months old.

> She sits up by herself really strong (has now since about 4 months), but

> she's not rolling over, and she can't get to the sitting position or

> back down flat by herself. She prefers using her right arm over her

> left, and I think that's because CT said her left neck muscles are

> weaker/tighter. We've been working on that, and she's gotten quite a bit

> better at reaching with her left hand.

>

> I was hoping EI would say she wasn't delayed or that she didn't qualify

> for services. Of course, they want to start her in physical therapy.

> Part of me wants her to just stay a baby, and not interfere - let her

> develop " naturally " , without any " help " . So I'm sad again. Am I trying

> to force my little girl to grow up too fast? I'm not interested in

> having " superbaby " , I just want to make sure there's not something she

> " can't " do later on. I'm just so SICK of being so darn emotional and

> undecisive all the time!

>

> Any advice/suggestions/encouragement appreciated!

>

> Becky & (5/4/00)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Becky--

I don't think I would be too worried just yet. If she is sitting up at 6

months--I think that's great and well within the range of development. I

have a neighbor who's 7 month old isn't rolling over--but I don't think of

that as being developmentally delayed. I don't think he is sitting up on

his own, either. Chandler (who will be 6 months next week) is rolling

everywhere but not very interested in sitting up on her own and is nowhere

near being able to get to a sitting position by herself. If they didn't

give you specific goals, I would ask for them. Was your pediatrician

concerned at all when you went for her 6 mo. visit?? If you feel she is

doing okay, then wait on EI for a little bit and see how she is doing in a

month or two. You have the time--unlike the clock ticking with the DOC

band! It sounds like she may have torticollis--did the ped notice that??

It also sounds like you are doing lots for --and that's all any of us

can do!!

Let me know if you want to get together!

Becky Keck wrote:

> Here we go again. My emotions are in an uproar once again.

>

> Early intervention just did 's assessment. They said she's delayed

> in both gross motor skills AND fine motor skills. She's 6 months old.

> She sits up by herself really strong (has now since about 4 months), but

> she's not rolling over, and she can't get to the sitting position or

> back down flat by herself. She prefers using her right arm over her

> left, and I think that's because CT said her left neck muscles are

> weaker/tighter. We've been working on that, and she's gotten quite a bit

> better at reaching with her left hand.

>

> I was hoping EI would say she wasn't delayed or that she didn't qualify

> for services. Of course, they want to start her in physical therapy.

> Part of me wants her to just stay a baby, and not interfere - let her

> develop " naturally " , without any " help " . So I'm sad again. Am I trying

> to force my little girl to grow up too fast? I'm not interested in

> having " superbaby " , I just want to make sure there's not something she

> " can't " do later on. I'm just so SICK of being so darn emotional and

> undecisive all the time!

>

> Any advice/suggestions/encouragement appreciated!

>

> Becky & (5/4/00)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Becky,

By law and philosophy, early intervention is a FAMILY centered service. You

had the assessment, so you know where your child is functioning in each

developmental area. Now, you have the choice to wait and see or to provide

intervention (which should be fun for you and your baby) to help your child

close the gap. The movement that babies do helps them develop vision (for

distance) and builds brain connections that help with problem solving later

on. Her brain is growing at its most rapid rate now, so there is nothing to

be gained by waiting and the possibility of delays becoming more severe.

The choice is up to you.

If you decide to go ahead, you should know that every enrolled child and

their family needs to have goals that the family and early interventionist

work on together. The FAMILY identifies the goals based on their

priorities. Of course, they get to consider the recommendations from the EI

and therapists, but they ultimately choose what the priorities are.

The services (by law) should be in the child's natural environment. This is

usually the home, but in some communities may be in a social group. That

can help with parent-to-parent support.

If you choose EI, the services should feel comfortable to you and the IFSP

(individual family service plan where the goals and priorities are

documented) can be changed at ANY time to reflect changing needs, growth,

priorities.

You also have the right to terminate enrollment at any time. So, do what

you think will be best for your child.

Good luck,

K-B

----------

>From: Becky Keck <becky@...>

>Plagiocephalyegroups

>Subject: Does the emotional roller coaster ever end?

>Date: Tue, Nov 7, 2000, 7:39 AM

>

>

> Here we go again. My emotions are in an uproar once again.

>

> Early intervention just did 's assessment. They said she's delayed

> in both gross motor skills AND fine motor skills. She's 6 months old.

> She sits up by herself really strong (has now since about 4 months), but

> she's not rolling over, and she can't get to the sitting position or

> back down flat by herself. She prefers using her right arm over her

> left, and I think that's because CT said her left neck muscles are

> weaker/tighter. We've been working on that, and she's gotten quite a bit

> better at reaching with her left hand.

>

> I was hoping EI would say she wasn't delayed or that she didn't qualify

> for services. Of course, they want to start her in physical therapy.

> Part of me wants her to just stay a baby, and not interfere - let her

> develop " naturally " , without any " help " . So I'm sad again. Am I trying

> to force my little girl to grow up too fast? I'm not interested in

> having " superbaby " , I just want to make sure there's not something she

> " can't " do later on. I'm just so SICK of being so darn emotional and

> undecisive all the time!

>

> Any advice/suggestions/encouragement appreciated!

>

> Becky & (5/4/00)

>

>

>