Prep work

I'll be honest and admit that I was naive to think the process of getting into the Early Intervention system was going to be quick. Not knocking it at all, but it is a government program after all. Which means there is a lot of procedures, paperwork and meetings that need to happen even before therapy can start.

It has been 21 days since Mya was evaluated by two therapists from Sunny Days, Inc. In the last three weeks, just implementing some of the tips we received, she is already improving her skills. She has started to mimic sounds and words, where before she let us do all of the sound-making. She is standing up from the ground. Her balance has improved and she has started to move her leg position, when sitting on the ground, when we use verbal cues. Oh, and she also became a BIG cousin. (Not completely irrelevant, because you truthfully do not see how far your baby has come until you see her help change another baby's diaper.)

She completed her physical, a requirement from the program, yesterday. The doctor said she is healthy as can be, and very smart. She pointed out the fish decals on the wall and was obsessed with telling me which was the blue, yellow, striped and spotted fish. All without using any words, just her gestures. The doctor agreed that Early Intervention will help her find her language so that all of those thoughts and ideas can be verbalized and shared with the world. She supported me fully and gave me a thumbs up for being in tune with Mya's needs. Which left me smiling. She gave me some things to ask the GI about and put in the referral for Mya to see an Audiologist, just to ensure that she is hearing okay.

Two doctor visits and three weeks later, and we have just one more step before she can start her therapy. Today I met with our Services Coordinator. We spoke about our routines and what I expected of the program. I signed more paperwork. And we found out, that the costs of Early Intervention are based on income and family size. Based on these things, we don't have to pay a single cent for her to get the help that she needs. (Thankfully, since services cost $110/hr!)

The next step is our IFSP meeting, which is on Tuesday. We will sit down with the evaluation team and our services coordinator and we will put together a plan and decide for sure which services Mya would benefit from, how often they will come and how we can better help her when we are home. The thing that stood out, in the synopsis of this meeting, is that we have total control over how much/how little a part this will play in her life. If we think that the recommended therapies, or the amounts of time they propose we spend helping her reach her goals, don't line up with our vision or routine, all we have to do is say so and we will work to make up the difference. It makes me feel a little more in control of the situation, which is something that I need to feel as a parent.

So that's our next step. After Tuesday, they will have 15-30 days to start her first therapy.

Emotions are definitely leveling out some, and dare I say it, I'm actually excited to have her start. I've seen the improvements thus far and I know she is going to catch on quickly. Plus, it is a little free education into Child Development for me, and Lord knows I'd love to improve my knowledge on the subject.