Here's what I thought before the evaluators came: Penny's fine - she's advanced so much the last month or so and I bet we don't qualify for services. [Side note: you have to be 30% behind the norm to "qualify".]
Here's what I am thinking after they were here: Oh, my, God. She's two months behind? And they think it's medical?! Shit. We're never going to figure this out.
Two of the three evaluators are also nurses and they think the reason she's delayed (especially in gross motor and pre-speech) is because she doesn't like to be on her stomach. She's very stiff and is hard to transition her from sitting to standing or vice versa. Penny doesn't actually roll, just flips to get off her stomach. They have recommended we try to figure out a "team" approach with her GI, pediatrician and ENT. In their opinions something is wrong with her medically and it is resulting in her not developing skills normally. Their possible suggestions: adenoids, reflux and delayed gastric emptying. I like the idea of a team approach it is just going to be challenging to get all the doctors and specialists talking to one another.
At the barium swallow study (which she passed with flying colors) the feeding specialist doctor said it was unlikely to be delayed gastric emptying since she eats so much solid food and there is no real way to test for acid reflux.
As I've documented on this blog we've tried a number of meds for acid reflux and nothing helps - if she had acid reflux wouldn't one of them helped?
To summarize: Something is wrong with Penny. No idea what. Sounds familiar.
On the plus side the evaluators were completely amazed how happy and engaging she is. Apparently Penny has a great attention span for playing and is very curious. She definitely brought out the charm. Of course they may leave you with something positive so you don't feel too dejected.
We have another appointment with the GI doctor in a week and a half so I'll be discussing this all with her. Now though I'm wondering whether I get Ned evaluated for early intervention since I know he's not all that much ahead of Penny. Until the GI doctor recommended her evaluation I was going to wait until the kids were at least a year old.
I am trying to keep this in perspective - Penny will probably outgrow whatever is the problem and will catch up eventually in her speech and motor skills - after all my sisters and I were delayed in our motor skills and we caught up (so I can't play video games or most sports that could be more genetic than anything else).
Another side note is that today really drove home how much Husband and I have become co-parents. I was pretty worried when I went back to work that all the kids' appointments would fall to me but since I've been back he's really taken a huge role. I never worry anymore about how he's handling things - I completely trust him and think he's doing a great job even if it is not my way.