Siblings
When Holly was about two and her big brothers were still at home, we didn't realise that their behaviour was having an adverse impact on her....because we isolated her from them as best we could, during tantrums, etc....and we doubled her daycare and put her into three year old kinder two years in a row to increase her socialisation with normal peers. She was well-adjusted there and showing no signs of stress. So we thought we were out of the woods when the boys were both placed.....but, not long after the last one, Andrew, went, Holly began to regress with her speech and it was apparent that, in every aspect, she had held herself back and now was returning to a younger stage for a short while. Even her drawings and paintings were toddler-like. So she must have repressed things and put her life on hold. I was so relieved when she moved on.
She's excelled herself in every way since.....she loves her big brothers, doesn't understand their autism but who does!!! She is very popular at school and is quite a tomboy. She chose to learn the violin last year after seeing my nanna's violin played at Grandpa's funeral....so, a year down the track, she's doing very well. Practise is a pain...she did a concert for her Grade Ones recently....seven pieces and two encores! Her boyish pursuits are Milo Cricket and Auskick....and she REALLY throws herself into it, mud and all.
Lachie seems fine.....although he is having the most spectacular toddler tantrums....which will pass soon, right Lachie! He's had his daycare doubled to two days per week as he needs that extra socialisation.....also he's dragging the anchor with his eating. I thought that, after Andrew, I was home and hosed, but not so. Lachie isn't starving like Andrew was.....when he isn't having formula in his bottle, the weight drops off and he becomes ribby. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink....so I look forward to the day that he eats meat and vegetables and a normal diet.
June 2004 - Since I wrote the above, Lachie has copped a developmental delay diagnosis associated with a speech problem. Around his fourth birthday in 2005, he was formally diagnosed with PDD-NOS.
December 2007 - Lachie made great progress with three years of early intervention in a local SDS school and he's just completed a year of prep at Holly's primary school with some aide assistance. He's very social. Bossy, in fact! Great verbal skills. Nice nature.
Holly does violin still (six years down the track) and plays well. She plays footy with the boys in a local footy club and has just started playing cricket for the Mighty Rats. Plus scouts and camps. Very independent.
© Debs 2003