Welcome back dear readers! I apologize for the long delay. Updates should be more frequent now, I promise.
The alarm clock announced the beginning of a very full day for the Hotchners. After getting the boys up and dressed, Aaron fed them both a big bowl of oatmeal and bundled them out to the car and into their car seats. After dropping Jack off to his preschool, the remaining two headed to stop #1-the pediatrician.
The doctor had (thankfully!) read Spencer's transferred medical chart, so she was up to speed on things. Dr. Lunt was pleased to report that the boy had gained 3 pounds and seemed to be healing well from all his various injuries. The cast on his leg was in good shape and an in-office x-ray showed that the bones were knitting well. After advising Hotch to finish the current course of antibiotics, she told him that no further medications would be needed-other than a good children's multivitamin-and his vaccinations were brought up to date. Spencer was not thrilled with this particular procedure, but his tears were stopped with a sucker and a promise of picking 2 more books from his box. The physician discussed with the new dad how to increase the child's calorie intake to encourage growth and healthy weight gain, as well as exercise to promote muscle gain. Aaron discussed with her his hopes that his 5 year old son would teach Spencer normal play behaviors as well as common speech patterns, and she agreed with his plans. After making an appointment to follow up in a week, they traveled on to stop #2-the ophthalmologist.
A standard eye exam showed Spencer to be near-sighted and in need of glasses. Fortunately, the practice was attached with an optician having 1 hour service and they soon left with the boy wearing adorable "Harry Potter" type spectacles. Hotch grinned at the delighted monologue the amazed child shared as he viewed his new sharper, brighter world.
After an early lunch at a well-known sub shop, they trekked onward to stop #3-the child Psychologist, for evaluation and developmental and functional testing. After an hour of conversation, the practitioner set the boy to various tests, personality inventories, and educational placement assays. Several grueling hours later, the tired child emerged, asleep on his feet. After making a follow-up appointment for the results, the concerned father took the boy home for a nap.
An hour later, the intrepid duo found themselves at the office of a well-known child trauma counselor. Spencer was a bit cranky by now, and refused to let go of Hotch's hand. The understanding counselor invited him to stay, as long as he allowed Spencer to be the one to speak. Hotch readily agreed, and encouraged the suddenly very shy boy to answer the questions asked of him. After an exhausting 90 minutes, the counselor promised a written evaluation in 2 days, and advised the concerned Father to continue on as he has so far, as he felt Hotch had been handling things well so far.
"Are we done now Daddy?" queried a tired Spencer. "Let's go get Jack and have Macncheez an' ice cream an' watch a silly movie." He requested.
"Sure Sweetheart" Hotch agreed. "Would that make you feel better?"
"Yes, it would" the boy replied. "It has been a very stressful day-for us both I think. We need to decompress, and I think Jack would enjoy ice cream and a movie as well."
Shaking his head as he suppressed a chuckle, Hotch agreed with his precocious young one, and stopped by the Red Box and picked the silliest movie he could find. After stopping by the local supermarket deli section for chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese, Jack was picked up from preschool and the three went home to enjoy dinner and a movie. As the boys giggled over the latest "Ice Age" offering, Hotch gazed at his family and counted himself among the luckiest people on earth.
The next day, after waking the boys from a wondrously quiet night, Hotch asked Spencer if he would like to try going to preschool with Jack. Always up for a challenge, the boy agreed. When he picked the boys up that evening, Spencer admitted to having been bored silly with the activities available at preschool. "Do you think I could go to real school Daddy?" he asked. "I would love to learn something I don't already know!"
"Ok honey," Hotch responded. "We will know the recommendations tomorrow, and I would like to get you in a class where you will feel challenged. Fair enough?"
"Fair enough" the boy responded with great enthusiasm.
The next day dawned bright and clear, and after breakfast and dropping Jack off at preschool, it was onward and forward to the Child Psychologist's office to discuss the results of Monday's tests.
"Mr. Hotchner, Spencer is a certifiable genius" the psychologist revealed with a bright smile. "His IQ is currently 178, and there is no doubt that this will improve with continued optimal nutrition and a stable home environment. It is amazing what he has managed to learn on his own in what could only be described as the most difficult of circumstances. We can only imagine what his capability will be now that he is in a loving home. His learning is currently measurable as at the high-school level. Emotionally, however, he is still functioning at a 3 or 4 year old level, which is-of course-due to the circumstances in which he was kept. His self-esteem is understandably quite low, and he does test as somewhat autistic, except for an exceptional capacity of empathy for others. His rather stilted and overly adult verbal expression is consistent with Asperger's syndrome, which is a very high functioning disorder on the Autism spectrum. What this all works out to is that there will be situations that Spencer will be able to deal with intellectually at a very high level while being simultaneously unable to process them at an emotional level. This will lead to confusion, an increased incidence of self-blame, and rather fragile self-esteem. Your understanding of these difficulties, and your ability to aid him in processing his emotions, will prove vital in his ability to function in society. It won't be easy at times, and I urge you to seriously consider your own capacities as far as tolerance and patience, as there could well be tantrums and other emotional reactions in Spencer that are at odds with his intellectual abilities."
"What do you recommend for his education? I would like him to be challenged in his learning environment, but it sounds as if school is out of the question. I can't put him in that kind of environment when he is so emotionally vulnerable!" responded Hotch with concern.
"There are special schools for gifted children that may be appropriate for him, even taking his emotional vulnerability into account." Encouraged the practitioner. "I will have my secretary compile a list for you. I also recommend ongoing trauma counseling…you mentioned you were taking him for evaluation?" At Hotch's affirmative nod, he continued "Excellent. You can expect ongoing work with processing his traumatic experiences to result in improved emotional function as well. Please have a release sent to this office to permit us to share his test results. It may help." Continued the doctor encouragingly.
After some further discussion of Spencer's needs and vulnerabilities, the duo left the psychologist's office with a lot to think about, and a list of possible educational programs. It was looking like Godfather Rossi just might need to make good on his promise to pay for private school.