Just found this selfie on my phone and I love it. Today was Penny's last in a series of developmental tests and evaluations we had done to help us figure out how she ticks. After a few hours with the psychologist, we were able to come to a few important conclusions.

1. Pen isn't autistic, but does have a developmental delay. The doctor who did the initial eval thought autism was a possibility but expressed doubt once she actually engaged with Pen. The psychologist today confirmed those doubts and ruled out autism. The delay means she has behaviors that are behind that of her peers which, for her, will likely level out with more school exposure.
2. All of Pen's blood work (i.e. genetic testing for Williams syndrome) came back normal.
3. Pen has some sensory issues, which we knew very well. If you've spent any time with her then you've likely seen the way she wrings her hands and gets intensely excited about, well, everything. Or maybe you've seen how she soothes. Or maybe you've seen her intense interest in music or water. These are some of the ways her sensory quirks show themselves. None of it is very problematic yet, in fact it's pretty endearing.
4. Pen has anxiety. This is the one that surprised me. The psychologist explained that this is why she reacts to pain or discipline with hysterical laughter. Anxiety also lends to her forever frustrating sleepless nights.
5. Pen does better at some important things, like listening and using the potty, when she's away from me.

The plan is basically to get Pen more sleep and more school. We will be working hard on helping her let her little body sleep through the night every night. We are hoping that will help with anxiety; also I'll be a better mom if she and I both can just get a little more sleep. And we will likely enroll her in an another preschool. The thought there is that with more social and educational engagement, and more time away from me, Pen will thrive. To help with her sensory issues she needs to practice boundaries and moderation, and school is a natural environment for that.

So there you have it!