Tracking for “A-ha” Moments

Many of us can relate to the pit-of-the-stomach feeling Suzanne Nothaus used to have when she observed her young son, Owen. A nagging intuition that something is not quite right. I know I can. For me, the result was a diagnosis of severe farsightedness in my 1-year-old. For Nothaus, it was PDD-NOS, a disorder on the autism spectrum.

In describing how she came to create The Toddler Logger, a wonderful resource for families tracking any heath condition in a child over time, she shared the background that led to Owen’s diagnosis.

“There were a few things that he would do, like stare at ceiling fans for as long as you would let him and flick wire door stoppers continuously,” she said via e-mail. “The older he got, the more I noticed behavior that didn't seem in line with his peers. We went to The Magic House when he was 12 months old and all he wanted to do was stand in the room with the light switches and flick them, off and on, off and on, for almost an hour until I took him away screaming.

“He also had a hard time interacting with his peers,” Nothaus continued. “I remember one day picking him up from parents’ day out and the teacher casually mentioned that all he did was sit in a corner. She said he wasn't bad, just wouldn't interact with other children. So all these ‘uh-oh’ moments started adding up.”

“In March of 2009 I felt the world crumble beneath me. I am not trying to be melodramatic; that is honestly what it felt like. I can mentally go back to that day and still feel my legs shaking and butterflies in my stomach. It was the day my Parents As Teachers [parent educator] confirmed my fears. This woman had been seeing Owen for over a year. On this day, I finally asked ‘Is his behavior normal?’ She had tears in her eyes when she answered, ‘No hun, it is not.’ We talked a lot that day and she asked if autism ran in my family. That was the punch in my gut. I felt like I knew it right then and there. All the ‘signs’ flashed through my head as if in a movie.”

“I got in touch with my best friend, Google, as soon as she left. I was doing a mental ‘check’ next to 75 percent of the signs. After a few days of feeling sorry for myself, I went into action mode. I started meeting with anyone and everyone who would have me: Resources from the school, doctors and therapists. I immediately started a log of these visits because I could not remember everything they were telling me. They also kept asking me the same questions over and over and I would find myself forgetting the details. 

“I decided to keep a log of Owen's behavior and I felt that give me a sense of control over the situation. I researched the gluten-free, casein-free diet, and we decided to try that with Owen. I added meals to my tracking so we would know if it was working. GFCF is expensive and frankly a pain and I wasn't about to keep it up if it didn't do anything. Well, within 30 days we noticed a huge difference. This was also the time he started occupational therapy, so I'm certain that both the diet and therapy led to his improvement.”

As she logged Owen’s diet, activities, sleep and behaviors, Nothaus came up with a simple Word document that helped her track the detailed daily information she needed – and give her an overview of bigger trends in his overall ups and downs. After researching other similar products as well as publishing options, she came out with a no-nonsense, sturdy bound notebook with sections for logging daily routines, prescriptions, health practitioner visits and overall trends.

“The Toddler Logger was launched on April 2, 2010,” Nothaus said. “Coincidentally, this was Autism Awareness Day. I honestly did not plan that, but I found it a good sign. I put a lot of thought and feeling into the creation of this book, down to making sure the cover could hold up being carried around in a mom's purse or diaper bag. I came up with The Plotter section at the back of the book, where you can make a simple notation of how the day is with the kiddo. This part really helps track any downward, but hopefully upward, trends.

“Exactly one year after Owen was officially diagnosed with PDD-NOS, I have a beautiful, spirited little boy and The Toddler Logger to help me continue to chart his journey,” she continued. “Owen has made such wonderful improvements and I am beyond proud of him. He talks up a storm now and I actually said a sentence that I thought for a long time I wouldn't say: ‘Owen, can you please be quiet for one minute?’ He answered politely, ‘No, Mommy, I cannot.’ He enjoys playing and interacting with small groups of children and is able to communicate his needs.  He can still become fixated on some items such as spinning wheels, but is able to move on when asked.”

Nothaus and her family are entering Owen’s second year after being diagnosed with lifted spirits and a delightful sense of optimism. “We continue to work on social development, eye contact, sensory needs, and fine motor skills,” she said. “We also work on his ability to listen and do something the first time we ask. Oh, wait – we'll probably be working on that for many years to come!”

By Amy De La Hunt, Health Blogger for SmartParenting