GREAT NEWS!!!!

We had our second appt. at the developmental pediatrician yesterday at 10 am.  This was a follow-up/second opinion to last week's diagnostic evaluation by the dr.  A 25 year Child Development Specialist spent 2 hours observing Liam and completing the Autism Observation Checklist.  A child on the spectrum will come out in the range on 12-28.  Our sweet Liam scored a 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Not even CLOSE to on the Autism Spectrum.

Needless to say, this threw us for yet another loop, but I would much rather be in this seat than the one we were last week.  The specialist reiterated over and over that she did not see Liam as autistic AT ALL!  OMG!  What a huge whirlwind this has been.  However, I feel she get a VERY clear picture of the "real Liam"....everything she observed yesterday morning was very true to his typical behavior on a daily basis.

We then met with her AND the dr.  They concluded that he does indeed have a speech/language disability, which we already knew and possibly some anxiety issues (just something to watch) but that many of the behaviors we were seeing were just most likely related to his struggles with communication.  The dr. told us this rarely happens (like one in 50 cases) that the Child Development Specialist finds nothing, when he had found a diagnosis of on the Spectrum.  However, he said it CAN happen, he can admit when he is wrong, and that he holds a lot of weight on yesterday's assessment and that the results are very valid and reliable.

OMG!  We are happy beyond words...we feel as if we have been given a second chance on life.  A second chance at being the best parents we can be.  We have learned so much and appreciate life and the true blessing of a healthy child SOOOO much more than we ever have or could have before.  We feel lucky in a way that I cannot even describe...my heart overflows with love and relief for Liam and his future.  He will continue to receive speech services through ECI and through the school district next year and improves on a daily basis!!!!

Have a great weekend everyone and thank you to all for listening, all of your kind words and support through all of this!!!!  We are blessed in SOOO many ways!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!