One Step Forward, Ten Steps Back

It was approximately six months ago, around the middle of October, when we learned that Asher had some motor skills delays. The Occupational Therapist evaluated him and put his skill level at the age of a 38 month old (he was 49 months old at the time).

We started occupational therapy, physical therapy, gymnastics, swimming, and we worked with him at home. In all, we made sure he had an hour of strenous activity five days a week. We also worked his hands with Theraputty to strengthen his hands/grip/ability to hold a pencil.

On Wednesday, the Occupational Therapist re-evaluated him. The result: his skill level is that of a 39 month old. He is now 54 months old. All that work and it hasn't helped him. Not one single bit.

It reminds me of when Asher was a baby - before we got the EE diagnosis. He wouldn't eat solid food. Actually, he tried to eat solid food, but it hurt so he'd stop. We took him to feeding therapy every week for months. The therapist said he had "x" disorder, he had "y" disorder. I continually said, "I think it hurts him. I think it's something physical." Finally, after many months of this insane feeding therapy, I said, "what Asher has is physical. He won't eat until we fix the pain." That led us to the ee diagnosis, the flovent, and then Asher quickly started eating solid foods.

I can't help but think there's something physical going on now, too, with Asher, to make it hard for his muscles to work. It's hard for him to get out of bed in the morning. It's hard for him to get moving. As much as he wants to do it, he just can't.

It's not lost on me that he's stuck at the 38/39 month old timeframe. That's about how old he was when we started the elemental diet.

I may be wrong; but I remember Asher being quite the athletic little monkey before his third birthday. I have photos of his second and third birthday parties at The Little Gym to prove it. So...what happened around 38 months to cause him to stop progressing?

We're off to find what else is wrong with Asher.