Feeling Overwhelmed - Need some advice

[Anonymous]

My DD will be starting Fairfax County pre-school this fall. Right now we have not yet had the IEP but I know she qualifies. So, we don't know how many days a week they will want her to go or what services she'll receive through the county. We were in the Early Intervention program with her and she was receiving Speech and OT in home twice a month. We just had our last appointment with the OT and our last appointment with the ST is this week. As an aside, we also receive weekly PT (out of the home) privately that we'll continue when DD starts school.

The OT today recommended that, regardless of what happens at the IEP, we continue ST and OT outside of the pre-school environment. Until now I hadn't realized this was something we should do. Of course, if it is recommended, I want to do what is best for my daughter. Adding on top of all of this, I am due with a new baby in 6 weeks.

I want DD to receive the course of therapy (and amount of school) that is best for her. I am just worried about how I'll juggle it all and take her to all of her appointments. Luckily I only work part time from home and will take a break from that when the baby is born anyway. The frequency of the appointments of ST and OT will increase because it seems to happen weekly with all in-clinic appointments.

Anyone have any advice on how to deal with all of this without feeling completely overwhelmed? How do I know what's really necessary for her? I know she'll get OT in schools (or I hope she will) but our current OT recommended she receive both? Will there be a point when I don't sit in on all the therapy sessions with her? Is that point soon? I want to participate but am not sure how I can do it with no childcare option for the baby. Should I try to hire someone who can come to my house and watch my soon-to-be born son so I can take her to therapy? We had a plan that involved trading off (DH and I) on taking her to PT because it is at 8 am and DH can swing that. Unfortunately, it looks like at this late date, ST and OT will be in the middle of the work day.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

The OT at school mainly focuses on fine motor so it may be necessary to address other issues outside of school - gross motor, sensory, etc.

I took my baby to my older child's therapy appointments for at least a year.

I was told that the more you do early the more effective that it is. Hopefully the schedule will lighten as you go along.

[Anonymous]

OT, PT, and ST that kids get in school is based on IEP goals. IEP goals have to be educationally-based. In other words, while your child was receiving Early Intervention, it might have been a general goal of OT for him to develop skills commensurate with other kids his age. School-based OT, however, looks to develop skills that are used in the educational process, like holding a pencil. That is part of why it may be important to continue the therapy in a private setting as well if your child needs all around therapy.

It can be very overwhelming and time consuming to get to these appointments. Is it possible to get a baby sitter, or bring along a newborn? I've seen that done.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if this would work for you, but when my DS was receiving therapy, we only went every other week. 50 minutes of the session were spent working with him and the remaining 10 were to train me to work with him.
Also, the PP who mentioned that once your child graduated from EI, the therapy only focuses on those areas that affect or are expected to affect a child's ability to learn. So, although my DS gets therapy in school, we had to supplement privately to address goals that the school would not put in his IEP because they did not meet the criteria.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the PPs who said the focus of school interventions are related to school success and that for optimum results supplementing with private therapy is best. However - and this is a big however - you must do something that is sustainable for you. You cannot overextend yourself emotionally, physically, mentally or financially. You're in it for the long haul so don't burn yourself out trying to do maintain something that's unrealistic. You also need to be kind to yourself and if you have to postpone therapy for a while or go to a bi-weekly schedule, so be it. Be kind to yourself. You're doing all the right things.

[Anonymous]

I have a 20 mo old daughter in private ST and OT and a 5 mo old son. Sometimes I hire a mommy's helper to come with me to appointments to wait in the waiting room with my son while I partcipate in her sessions. Sometimes I bring my son in the room in his car seat and just pray he stays content. Most often I leave my son home with my husband (he works at home). If you and your husband can work out a schedule where you can leave the baby home, I think that is the easiest way to go.

[Anonymous]

We did not go into the outside OT sessions with DS when he was 4.5. He and they did not need us. As for ST, we stayed in some sessions and not in others. It depended on what they were doing. If I needed to learn or I wanted to see where they were, I stayed. Your DD is likely on th cusp of not needing you at therapy. For my DS though, our particiaption was more needed at ST than at OT.

We also switched off taking him. It was exhausting, but the therapy worked. It just all felt like a tradmill though at the time.

[Anonymous]

Some private OTs will come to your home, OP. Post and let us know where you are in FFX.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all of the advice. I live in Burke if that helps suggest anything. I didn't realize that school OT is different than the type of OT we have been receiving (so I appreciate that perspective). My husband and I have decided that we'll try what is recommended and sign her up for everything. If it gets to be too much for me to handle once the baby comes, I plan on cutting something out temporarily OR hiring some help (or both). Thanks to the PP who suggested a helper to come to the appointments. I didn't even think about that option but it makes a lot of sense.

I too believe that the more you do early, the more effective it is...that is why I want to do as much as we can all handle. It can just be exhausting sometimes. Today, at least, I'm feeling a little bit better about it!