hanging out in car before check-in
taking silly pictures of each other
otter pops are really good
crashed out
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Before & After Ear Tubes
hanging out in car before check-in
taking silly pictures of each other
otter pops are really good
crashed out
Forever & Ever
I am so sorry that it has been so long since I have updated here!! Wow, so much has happened. Here is the Medical stuff...
Emily had her ear tubes put in. Yay! It went fantastic. We got there very early. I had no idea how long it would take us but since I could us the HOV lane it took no time at all. So we checked in about an hour before our appointed check in time. No problem. We got to play for a while & watch a little Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (one of Emily's favorite cartoons). We went back for pre-op, which wasn't really back. There offices were kind of strange. The operation rooms were across the courtyard from the check-in. So anyhow, in pre-op we talked to 2 nurses, the doctor & the anesthesiologist. They all asked me the same questions... Why are you here, what are we having done today, what is her birthday, when was the last time she ate & do you have any questions. I guess now days everyone has to cover their own behinds! We had to wait for a while here. They gave her these adult sized, hideous green socks to wear with no skid soles. She wouldn't keep them on. I probably could have pulled them up to her thighs or beyond. Emily was really getting board in the pre-op room so I let her play with my camera & she took some beautiful pictures of me...NOT! Nothing like pictures taken by someone shorter then you. Since she was so board by the time the nurse came to take her back she was willing to go with just a "bye Mommy". I had to watch a stranger take my baby girl (accompanied by Monkers) by the hand & go through "the door". Oh it was crazy. I was told it would be a quick 5-10 minute procedure & some one would come & get me once she was in recovery. I went out to the courtyard for some air. There was a nice man who's daughter was having her tonsils taken out offer me a paper to read (he had 2). I think I got through one article & started another when the Doctor came out to talk to me. Everything went good. She had lots of really thick fluid in there. He was able to get it all out but had to do a little extra "cleaning". He also said that it usually isn't that thick so the fluid had been there for a long time. We talked about the ear drops, no swimming for 4 weeks & what to do if I think she is getting a ear infection. He said the nurse will be out in a minute to take you back to her. The nurse was out right after the Doctor to take me to my baby. We walk into recovery & she says "Follow the screaming. That ones yours!" Poor Emily was freaked out!! Even once I was there & holding her she was crying for probably 10 minutes. She refused to eat or drink anything(even a grape otter pop)! I am pretty sure that they are supposed make them have something before they release them but since it had been awhile & she was very stubbornly refusing, they sent her home. Once we got to the car I was able to get her to eat the otter pop. By the end of the day she was pretty much back to herself.
We have also seen the Developmental Pediatrician. He supports our ST's diagnosis & wants Emily to have a MRI. Since Apraxia is a Neurological Speech Delay they like to make sure that there are no other issues neurologically speaking. Apraxia will not show up on the MRI (just a little info there for you). They are still unsure of why or where it is. Some research points to a chromosome but it hasn't been officially stated. Anyhow, I haven't set up the MRI yet but it should be soon.
Emily had her ear tubes put in. Yay! It went fantastic. We got there very early. I had no idea how long it would take us but since I could us the HOV lane it took no time at all. So we checked in about an hour before our appointed check in time. No problem. We got to play for a while & watch a little Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (one of Emily's favorite cartoons). We went back for pre-op, which wasn't really back. There offices were kind of strange. The operation rooms were across the courtyard from the check-in. So anyhow, in pre-op we talked to 2 nurses, the doctor & the anesthesiologist. They all asked me the same questions... Why are you here, what are we having done today, what is her birthday, when was the last time she ate & do you have any questions. I guess now days everyone has to cover their own behinds! We had to wait for a while here. They gave her these adult sized, hideous green socks to wear with no skid soles. She wouldn't keep them on. I probably could have pulled them up to her thighs or beyond. Emily was really getting board in the pre-op room so I let her play with my camera & she took some beautiful pictures of me...NOT! Nothing like pictures taken by someone shorter then you. Since she was so board by the time the nurse came to take her back she was willing to go with just a "bye Mommy". I had to watch a stranger take my baby girl (accompanied by Monkers) by the hand & go through "the door". Oh it was crazy. I was told it would be a quick 5-10 minute procedure & some one would come & get me once she was in recovery. I went out to the courtyard for some air. There was a nice man who's daughter was having her tonsils taken out offer me a paper to read (he had 2). I think I got through one article & started another when the Doctor came out to talk to me. Everything went good. She had lots of really thick fluid in there. He was able to get it all out but had to do a little extra "cleaning". He also said that it usually isn't that thick so the fluid had been there for a long time. We talked about the ear drops, no swimming for 4 weeks & what to do if I think she is getting a ear infection. He said the nurse will be out in a minute to take you back to her. The nurse was out right after the Doctor to take me to my baby. We walk into recovery & she says "Follow the screaming. That ones yours!" Poor Emily was freaked out!! Even once I was there & holding her she was crying for probably 10 minutes. She refused to eat or drink anything(even a grape otter pop)! I am pretty sure that they are supposed make them have something before they release them but since it had been awhile & she was very stubbornly refusing, they sent her home. Once we got to the car I was able to get her to eat the otter pop. By the end of the day she was pretty much back to herself.
We have also seen the Developmental Pediatrician. He supports our ST's diagnosis & wants Emily to have a MRI. Since Apraxia is a Neurological Speech Delay they like to make sure that there are no other issues neurologically speaking. Apraxia will not show up on the MRI (just a little info there for you). They are still unsure of why or where it is. Some research points to a chromosome but it hasn't been officially stated. Anyhow, I haven't set up the MRI yet but it should be soon.
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Tomorrow is the BIG day
Emily will be getting ear tubes tomorrow! Wow, I am nervous & excited all at once. We found out yesterday that they wanted to do it on Wednesday... aagggg. Organizing a babysitter for 3 kids at the crack of dawn in 2 days is crazy. But I am lucky to have good friends who are able to help out. Originally the surgery was scheduled for 8:30 but changed at the last minute to 10:15. I thought for a moment that I would be able to get a little more sleep.
No! Now I have to drive in rush hour instead of before rush hour!! So I am leaving our house at 5:45ish, drop the boys off by 6:15ish, be on the road by 6:30 (no later). Yahoo Maps timed the drive to 1 hour 30 minutes (exactly)! That doesn't include traffic so I am hoping 2 hours will do the trick!
I know this is going to be wonderful for her speech! She has been doing so incredibly good & I cant wait to see her continue & progress even more!
Well, I am off to make Emily a snack since she cant have any food after midnight. I am hoping to get something good in her!
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Long time...
Wow, has it really been that long since I posted?! Apparently.
We have gotten Emily GI results back...negative on the Celiacs. For me that is great news but also frustrating news. I am extremely happy that she doesn't have Celiacs, it is a life changing diet. But I also am frustrated because we are back to the "I don't know" whats wrong with her GI system. She is now on a no dairy, no soy diet. She seems to be doing well with it so far. Her stools have firmed up a little but they are still not "normal". I have a call in to find out what the next round of tests will be & when he would like to have them done.
We have been to the ENT as well. Emily will be getting tubes put in her ears to drain the fluid that has been there for who knows how long. The doctor doesn't believe that she has any hearing loss due to the fluid which is wonderful news! She didn't pass the hearing test he gave her but he was confident that it was due to the fluid. He said she is walking around hearing things like you would if you always had your fingers stuck in your ears. That muffled sound. That is probably why we think her speech is dull sounding. Amber our ST said this doesn't change the diagnosis but will more than likely help Emily to hear the right sounds & repeat the right sounds. We are hopeful that is crisp up her speech (not perfectly but maybe more intelligible).
We have a Developmental Pediatric appointment next Friday. We are hoping that they will give us a "Doctor" diagnosis of Apraxia. For some reason beyond my understanding Amber's (who should diagnosis Emily & who did) diagnosis wont be taken by either our insurance or our school district. I don't get it! Anyways we are getting a medical diagnosis so we have all our ducks on a row (just in case).
I guess that is all for now. Emily is on summer break oh yeah...We had a IEP meeting again. Emily has been changed from PLD (Preschool Language Delayed) to PSD (Preschool Sever Delay). They changed her category for two reasons: one they had to observe her in the classroom setting since they didn't do any testing & two it helps her keep her spot in the preschool classroom since they are restructuring the preschool program in the district. So she qualifies for preschool next year & will be getting a whopping 90 minutes of ST a month (really what does that help) in the classroom! Plus we will have our private SLP Amber here at least for 1 hour each week (for now split into 2 sessions per week).
Now I am done!
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