Thursday, May 20, 2010

CDSA Evaluation

(Side Note: I'm trying my hand at basic blog design. I've been playing around with Photoshop for a few days and have managed to create my entire blog, by myself! I am justalittle proud, and I'm surprised by how much fun I have doing it. There are still a few things I would like to add but, so far, I'm pleased with how everything has turned out. What do y'all think? Any suggestions/feedback?)

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On Monday afternoon, the Children's Developmental Services Agency came out to our house to perform an extensive assessment on Ethan. They are the group of people who coordinate early intervention services here in North Carolina. We've had a very positive experience with our caseworker, as well as Ethan's therapist, so I had high hopes that this evaluation would go well, too.

I won't bore you with all of the details that the special education teacher in me thrives on, but the gist of the results is that Ethan is a developmentally-appropriate 14 month old boy!! Take a second to think about that....

The same boy who spent the first 2 and 1/2 months of his life laying in a hospital bed, with very little opportunities to reach crucial developmental milestones...

The same boy who's heart eventually just gave up after having to work so hard...

The same boy who has learned to cope with 1 functional hand, while the other has been casted or braced for the better part of his life...

The same boy who has received sedation more times in his first year than you and I probably have in our lives...

THAT boy is considered developmentally on-track, and I really don't think I could be more proud!

He did lose points in a few areas. The first was in his ability to take 2-3 steps at a time. Although, had the evaluation team come out the following day, he would have earned them! Ethan is getting more and more confident on his feet and will take 3-5 steps at once towards me or Jeramie. It is SO exciting, and he realizes that he's doing something good. Once he falls on his bottom, he grins so big and starts to clap his hands. It might be the cutest thing I've ever seen.

Ethan was also "docked" because he isn't able to get on his hands and knees. The evaluators felt this was a very unfair part of the test for him, given his orthopedic defect and his amazing ability to compensate for it, but the test is the test. So, he lost a big chunk of points there.

Lastly, they would like for us to monitor his language development. They feel as though his receptive language (understanding what others say) is right on track, if not above average, but they would like to see his expressive language develop a little more. They are happy with the amount of words he has in his vocabulary, but they would like for him to use more of that "baby Chinese" style of talking. He isn't considered "language delayed" by any means; they just gave us something to keep an eye on.

All-in-all, it was a very encouraging assessment! I am so in awe of how far God has brought Ethan. He has so many things stacked against him, yet he continues to soar. I really hope that, one day, he can stand in awe of his story, too.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

YAY - How AMAZING! I'm so thrilled for all of you!

Anonymous said...

Made me a little teary eyed, Joye. I have been reading your blog since you first started writing after his birth. I have cried over some of your pics, seeing the love in your eyes for your beautiful boy as he lay in the hospital. I have cheered and prayed for him thru it all. You and Jeremie are blessed, TRULY TRULY blessed. --Lois

The Chappell Family said...

PRAISE GOD! PRAISE GOD! Such exciting news...

Jenn said...

First of all, I LOVE the blog layout. You are so talented!

But the star of the show is Ethan! I am just so, SO proud of him. I am just amazed that he did so well given all his little body has been through. This is just so great! God is just too good.

Jen said...

I love your new layout! :) Looks awesome! So glad Ethan did so well at his eval! He is a rock star!

Jen
www.thehuegelfamily.blogspot.com

Jenny Benny said...

Yay, Ethan!!!!!

Joye, the blog looks great and loads way faster.

Mandy said...

So excite for him and so awesome that he scored so high!! YAY

Yes when you are done with school you are going to give me a Bog 101 class. I really want to use our blog more and want it to look better but no clue how! ;) Then I can give you Couponing 101 in exchange!! love ya

Anonymous said...

Ethan is absolutely amazing! He is a little entertainer is what he is. I was amazed on Mother's Day how much that little man is doing.

And to see him mock us cracked me up. When I think about that little sneeze to date, I still laugh out loud.

I am so very proud of Ethan and you and Jeramie for the fine job you guys are doing at raising him.

I cannot wait for each day I get to see him and hear of the wonderful things he has accomplished.

Love Grandma A.

Derek Hill said...

So inspirational! Keep up the amazing work with your beautiful boy!

Stefenie said...

Your blog looks great! I am so glad that the assessment went well!

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