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Mom on the Run
Member Since: September 10, 2007 Last Signed In: July 21, 2008 Blog Views: 2663 Send To A Friend Sign Guestbook Add as a Friend
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So, Bee saw Dr. Chez on Thursday; on Friday, Lee and I were off to Davis to visit Dr. O for a 2-year checkup. Dr. O is both boys' pediatrician. He's the reason we were referred to Dr. Chez in the first place. So, if I heart Dr. Chez, I heart-heart Dr. O.
This visit was no different. He knows that we are uncomfortable with immunizations, and doesn't pressure us at all. He gave Lee high-fives and "knuckles", and loved the fact that he says "otay" instead of "okay". Lee had fun with Dr. O - he did everything the doctor asked with no tears (first time). He's still a very big boy - off the chart for weight, in the 75th for height, and 70th for head-size. When we lived in Canada, I dreaded going to the doctor with the boys. It was a 10-minute visit, always running 30-45 minutes late, and a whirl-wind in and out. The doctor would do the requisite measurements, as if you had any questions, and then he/she was gone. I remember asking about Bee's language delay, when he was 18 months old, and being totally brushed off. At 3 years old, a doctor mentioned that he might have Selective Mutism. This was two minutes after meeting Bee for the first time. It was not a pleasant experience. So having a doctor that listens to you is a welcome change. A doctor who truly cares about your children. Who notices that they've gotten haircuts (and even that Mom has changed her hairstyle). A doctor who shakes their hands and gives them stickers. Let's them play with the stethoscope. And most of all, makes them want to come back again. Thank you, Dr. O! (If you're interested, it's Dr. Oberholtzer - Sutter Davis pediatrics)
As you may know, April is Autism Awareness Month. Any parent/caregiver of someone on the spectrum will tell you that every month is Autism Awareness Month (rimshot). If you've read the newspaper or watched TV lately, you may have seen my son's neurologist, Dr. Chez, talking about autism and his treatment methods.
When Bee's pediatrician referred him to Dr. Chez, we didn't know what to expect. We had met with specialists before, and the visits were less than inspiring. Bee had had a spectacular meltdown at his yearly physical which prompted Dr. O referring us in the first place; we grateful for the referral (at that time, we were desperate for any help) but sad that we needed it in the first place. Plus, we didn't know what a neurologist could do for Bee. Dr. Chez is the kindest man. First off, he gets down at talks with Bee. Engages with him. Talks with us - really talks with us. Takes the time to explain why he does what he does. Gives us literature to back up his claims. Whenever we visit him, I know that Bee is getting the best care possible. So we had a follow-up appointment yesterday. Dr. Chez is happy with the progress Bee is making on his current medication. We're probably going to start another one in a few months. He explained why he was recommending we stay on the current meds, and why we should consider the new one. He asked us if we had any questions, and then took the time to answer each one. He gave the boys toys to keep them occupied. He listened to our concerns about starting the new meds and ABA at the same time, and recommended that we wait a couple of months to start the medication. All in all, he's a great doctor. If any of you reading this have a child on the spectrum, get your doctor to make a referral to a pediatric neurologist. Better yet - get a referral to Dr. Chez! (He's with Sutter.)
So it's been a month since I started working. I thought I was busy before - wow. I had no idea.
My days are now a whirlwind of activity. I guess it's because I do all the same things I did before, plus I go to work in the mornings. Don't get me wrong - I love it. My goodness, do I love it. The place where I work is so terrific - I work with a great group of people. We have fun, but work hard too. I already got a raise (my second week there - woohoo!) and I just found out that we're going on retreat to Tahoe in June. I am consistently being pushed to be creative, to carve my own way... I'm also being praised for my hard work at every turn. It is honestly a dream job. I'm not going to lie - I get totally overwhelmed at times. I'm doing things that I've never done before. But I know that I can do it, and my bosses are always open to me asking questions. My kids are easily adjusting to the changes as well. Lee's life really hasn't changed - he just goes to the dayhome a bit earlier each day. Bee gets picked up from school by my mom, which he loves. Probably because she always has a cookie for him. :) So, no complaints. I don't live under the illusion that it's all wine and roses, but it is more than I hoped for. And I'm so, so grateful. |