Wondering along the spectrum for Julia (adopted daughter from Ukraine '09). she is quite quirky to say the least, funky, alot of self stimming behaviors, prefers to be alone most of the time, about 99% oblivious of her surroundings, doesn't care about too many people, except if she can benefit from them, think she would rather be alone for the most part, I did an autism quiz yesterday about her, and answered yes to about 90% of the questions. I realize that she spend her first 6.5 yrs of life in an orphanage so I'm sure alot of the behavior stems from that, the physical and mental negelect. She has adapted to living with us without too much difficulty. She will be seeing the Psych Dr end of the month and I will go into great deal about her "funkiness".
Katie

I will tell you having adopted Devon....... after two years today...... he has been out of the medical foste rhome he had here in us. They took care of him but the tv mounted tot he ceiling above his crib tells me a lot too! He also had a nurse care 40 hours not in school a week to...... but I had the most sensory deprived little guy I had met in a long time!

It has taken two full years to see what I call major progress!!!!! Most people would laugh or scoff....... but he would not touch food....not fingers....not utensil..... if you made him he threw it and chairs and likely tried to smack you!

I know time will improve this...... time for her to know you love her and trust her....... I finally see it in Devon he is more here..... we have not changed his medication in over 20 months....... so I know it is not that (we have even talked about increasing it due to his weight gain)

It took almost as long for Eliza to feel comfortable too and she was younger...... comfortable with all of us.......

But now in two years later I have a guy who is "with us" more than he is in his own place....... he is happy to see his siblings and smiles...... he recognizes and seeks out good attention.......

this has been two really really long years....... and my motto is three steps foward and one back...... but after two years we sure are a lot farther than where se started!

Devon did receive his autim diagnosis five months into his journey with us and started on Risperdal.......... but I knew when I saw his video and when I met him!

I have a link in the photos section to his birthday photos........ this week......

_________________
Jane
mom to
Colin Miguel (11/19/00) DS
Devon Richard(4/13/01) DS & Autism
Melea Isabelle(2/13/02) DS
Adrian Elliott (7/04/03)
Eliza Marisol (5/15/04) DS
Miranda Olivia (2/1/05) DS & Partial Complex Seisure Disorder
Jordan Alexander(3/17/2007)
Emerson James (1/08/2009) 33 week preemie


wife to the best & greatest guy Eric




http://princessgrumpy.blogspot.com/
read about the daily adventures of Princess grumpy and her special siblings and their daily adventures

http://thegrumpyfamily.blogspot.com/
the family blog of our unique & special family

thanks Jane
I E mailed between Julias developmental Dr, and she felt that Julia being on the spectrum is likely. the Psych Dr didn't actually diagnose her, but he did see repeatative behavior, self stimming behavior and one other thing, but I forgot what that was. He did feel that she has autistic tendancies. The Psych and Developmental Dr's feel that she should have ABA therapy, wil get this through school.
Katie

We were hoping to have a neuropsych test on Julia, get a baseline for her mentally. I met with the psychologist, had a long chat about Julia, did some prior intake paremtal survery about your child. After it was done, I asked the Psych Dr, about some answers I had given, he feels that Julia does have autistic tendancies, institutional induced, and her mental age is probabaly that of a 14-18, old. turns out we can't get the test done there, as this Dr has testing for kids 3yrs and up. We're not surprised, she's our little "Funkmaster B"
Katie