sparkly band-aids

Last summer I got a letter in the mail, asking if Seth would participate in a developmental research study.  I took the letter to his check-up, and his pediatrician said it was legit and encouraged me to enroll.  The study is sponsored by the CDC, and taking place at six universities (UNC-Chapel Hill being one of them).  The study is trying to find any new autism indicators.  I have filled out half a dozen questionnaires, done two telephone interviews, and Nathan, Seth, and I sent cheek swabs to one of the other research stations.  Wednesday, Seth had an appointment in Chapel Hill.  First he had a developmental exam.  Then he had a physical, but not the ordinary kind.  Yes, they took his height and weight, but they measured his ears, forehead, bridge of his nose, palms, feet...they are collecting all sorts of data because they don't really know what is relevant yet.  And last but not least, we both had labs drawn.  Seth was a champ.  I told him he didn't need that blood and it would help sick kids get better.  We left with matching sparkly band-aids.  I was so proud of him that I drove to the nearest Target and bought him a new Lego truck.  After a nap in the car on the way home, he was ready to build it the minute we got home!  This weekend I have to keep an extensive food diary and then for a week I have to document, for lack of a better term, the byproduct of the food diary, and then we will be done helping with the study.