Results, Blood Tests and Follow Up Plans

James' Griffiths tests report came back this week. He is struggling mostly with motor skills. He has a weak grasp and a "wide based run". He concentrated well, tried incredibly hard and was very good with social interaction.

All in all, with this and that tallied up, James came out with an ability level of 3 years and 10 months. So he's about 1 year and 4 months behind other kids in his age group.

I'm not at all worried about this. He has some really good qualities in other ways. They didn't check his "educational" levels as such, his reading, numbers, recognition of the normal things I'd be concerned about in school but it just seems to be the physical side.

She didn't even mention his speech in the report which was the initial reason all this started off.

So, for the moment, the report shows that James' difficulties are in fact physical ones not necessarily related to school work.

James isn't the most confident kid in the world. He's quiet and thoughtful, thinking before he speaks and acts. I don't see that as a bad quality at all.

I am no good myself at running or jumping so I see where that comes from.

The next stage was for blood tests to check for any muscle weakness and any form of genetic problem as to why he struggles with the things he does.

He was a little trooper. Considering he is only 5, he had blood taken like you would as an adult. No numbing cream or anything, they set up the strap on the upper arm and went directly into his little vein in his arm.  FOUR little test tubey things were taken for sampling. I was surprised how much blood they took from such a little person! Being concerned I asked if he needed to wait before we left as we do in the UK when you Give Blood. Yes, giving blood is an entire pint, but it looked so much from his little body, it must have been in the same region of percentage of blood taken. He got his special plaster and back at school he got a special sticker when he went in for the afternoon.

We now await the results of the blood tests and we should get a follow up appointment in about 2 months. He has also been referred to Occupational Therapy which is a form of physio to help strengthen his muscles. This should be done in school, but if it isn't I am going to contest it. A trip to the Physio is 40 minutes drive and I've already told his teachers I don't want him missing out on too much school time for this. He's already missed one and a half days this month for these appointments that the school has to agree to as it's medical but I don't want time travelling back and forth to have a knock on effect to his school work in which he is doing well.

I'm just pleased we've got that done and have done everything we can to help the little man for now and that the teachers will be off my back for that for the time being at least as I am set to go through it all again with Liam due to his speech difficulties.

The things we do for our kids and their teachers.