This past week has been a roller coaster - go figure, who's life isn't?

We found one provider who was recommended by our pediatrician and was covered by our insurance. Luckily, my daughter liked him.

We went in answered questions and discussed a few issues that we were having. The therapist had also spoken with our pediatrician. Based on our discussions and the paperwork and discussions with our pediatrician, our daughter has been diagnosed with Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD), specific phobias and a provisional diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome. After reading up on ODD, I had to agree that she really did have/has it. I guess I didn't realize it was as bad as it was because it had become my normal. We knew that it was bad if we made her go to school or church or do anything she didn't want, so we only pushed the non-negotiables. The phobias were a no-brainer as well, and Aspergers had been in the back of my mind for awhile.

There will be a complete psycho-social workup completed in the next few months - as soon as we can get it cleared through our insurance. Then we should be able to find out the extent of everything. In the meantime, we start behavioral therapy for the phobias and the ODD. These should also help us with the Aspergers. The therapy will include parenting classes for my hubby and me, and some family therapy to help all of us know how to thrive. For the first time in a long time I have some real hope that things can get better for us.

I feel that five and a half years ago we were led to our neighborhood. We didn't know why, we were never planning on moving to the area that we moved to. We went through our house and had decided against it, it was just a little bit above what we had wanted to pay. The current owner called our agent and told her that he felt we should be in this house and was willing to negotiate, so we came back and looked at the house. We put in our offer and it was accepted.

I believe that we were led here, in part, because of what we are now going through. This would have happened no matter where we moved to, but here there is a support network and adults who are not afraid of spectrum disorders in children. In our little neighborhood sub-section of 110 houses, I know of eleven children with spectrum disorders. Most are from the same families, and spectrum disorders do tend to run in families, so that isn't shocking. Many of these families also feel like they were led here as well. I have to believe that there is no coincidence that we were all led here.

I have had the opportunity to associate with the parents of these children, and also with the children for the past five years in various capacities. I have grown to be friends with many of the parents and love the children. I have been able to see some of the strengths that these children have and have nothing but admiration for these parents. That was all before I knew that I would be joining their club. It's not a club I wanted to join, but I can't think of better people to be in a club with. I feel for all of those parents who don't have the benefit of actually personally knowing other people who are in the same boat. I don't think that I would have the hope that I have now, and I know that I would feel very alone. It's impossible for me to feel alone with this here.