My name is Sydney and my daughter Norah is just over 21 months old. We have been in physical therapy for gross motor delay since shortly after her birthday. She has therapy through Early Access (we are in Iowa) and a private non-profit. Insurance has thus far not paid for anything, so I am happy to have some services through Early Access since we are paying part of her other therapy out of pocket (we did get a grant that pays about half).
She started butt scooting at that age, which is still her preferred mode of transportation. She did start crawling around 17 months, but she doesn't do that much. She will do it now if we ask her too but scooting is much preferred. She did not bear weight until about the the time she started pulling up... She did not start pulling up until 18 months and it was very, very rare until 20 months. She does that all the time now. Norah started crawling stairs around 18 months as well but scoots down them, which makes me nervous since we have hard wood stairs! She has just started crusing on the couch or table, but it is rare and only if she feels like it. Toys out of reach have never been a motivation for her. She is happy as a clam until we make her do something she doesn't want to do, then watch out! We have a walker for her from Early Access but she hates it as well as any push behind toy we can get our hands on. She will walk holding our hands, something she started about a month ago. It HAS to be two hands though. If I take one away, she sits down and starts scooting.
Our regular pediatrician has never been overly concerned about her as she is developing fine in other areas. She talks quite a bit and her fine motor are good, too. He did refer us to a pediatric developmental specialist (I may have messed that up) at our request at her 18 month appointment. When we got the appointment, there was a 6 month wait, but we luckily got in on a cancellation and we able to see him about 2.5 weeks ago. That doctor wasn't overly concerned either, since at that point she was walking while holding hands, pulling up, etc and was also impressed with her other development.
We haven't done MRIs or anything like that as all of her doctors (we actually saw one other specialist too, but it was kind of a disaster... my daughter screamed/cried the whole time so it was just based on what we said and not anything he saw) have been hesitant to put her under general anesthesia since they think she will outgrow this. That's why I have been a little hesitant to come here.
Honestly though, even with her progress, this is still stressful. The most stressful thing I have ever been through. We have spent thousands of dollars since our insurance won't cover developmental delays. I have spent hours and hours on the phone with doctors, therapists, politicians, the insurance commissioner in our state, and the insurance company trying to figure this out. I am thankful we got a grant to pay for part of this anyway. The therapy sessions wear me out to as until recently Norah would scream through those.
It's also quite obvious to others that she "should" be walking by now so I explain her story over and over again and while most a supportive, I get a lot of opinions, too (Do more, do less, call this person or that person) and questions I don't have the answers to, which can be a little exhausting. The worst was at a family get together a few weeks ago when I overheard DH's distant relative asking DH's grandma, "What's wrong with her?" That hurt. My son has been great about this. He comes to therapy with us many times and has behaved quite well considering he is a 4 year old boy who would rather be at the pool or the park.
So, that's Norah's story (and mine, I suppose).


From our WDW vacation- June 3, 2014
DS- Wesley- March 14, 2010
DD- Norah- September 27, 2012
Re: I'm New Here
DS- Wesley- March 14, 2010
DS- Wesley- March 14, 2010