Monday, May 25, 2009

It is well

Benjamin had his six month check up with his neuro pediatric doctor last week. It's just a simple office visit very similar to a well-baby exam, but he sees a specialist instead of a regular pediatrician. The office is inside a hospital, which is a little scary for me to be honest. Every time we go, I'm very aware of the fact that his office is inside of a hospital, which houses sick people. Now there are tons of clinics there as well, but those clinics aren't my concern when I'm taking Benjamin there. All I can think of is that we're required to go to a hospital for my child to see a brain doctor. Some days I forget that Benjamin is different, but not on the days when we go see Dr. Stuart.

The visit was uneventful in terms of a medical perspective. No tests, no bloodwork. Just some questions from the doctor and another scheduled appointment at the end of the year. Dr. Stuart asked us questions about Benjamin's behavior on a day to day basis and it finally dawned on me what a different child he is compared to last November. He has a language delay, but that is probably the only noticeable factor at this point that he is different from any other child his age. Does he have tantrums when he doesn't get his 5th popsicle for the day? Sure. (they're sugar free, by the way.) Is he cranky when he is sleepy? Sure. Does he not like to come inside when he's having so much more fun outside? Sure. The differences: Does he bang his head on the ground repeatedly? No. Does he cry when other children simply enter the room? No. Does he physically push books away from you? No.

Benjamin is leaps and bounds a different child, but it's been so gradual that we didn't notice that he's more normal than abnormal at this point. Sure he still lines up his toys and loves to spin the wheels on his cars, but that isn't going to put him in a special school. Quirky people fill the world and my child is just going to make it a bit fuller.

I have said so many times how profound song lyrics are in my life, and as I was walking out of that hospital, I could not help but to think of this hymn.

It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.