Doctors, Development, and School

I apologize that it's been so long since I've updated. Things around here are a little busy. :)

Let's see...where should I start? Oh yes, updates from the neurologist. Last Monday Anderson went back to see the neurosurgeon. We were thinking they would check lots of different things and tell us how wonderfully he is doing. Wrong. We waited in the waiting room for 2 hours, then when we finally got back to the room, the doctor came in and looked at his shunt- said the incision and the shunt looked great...do we have any quesions. Yes- why did we have to wait 2 hours for you to spend 30 seconds with us? I didn't really ask that, but I did ask a few questions. (Just to make myself feel better about the amount of time we were in the room! HA)

One of the questions that I asked was about a follow-up MRI. I asked when we would do one to see just how much the right side of Anderson's brain has developed now that the fluid is gone and we should be able to see more. The doctor tells me that he wasn't really planning on doing another MRI. His words were, "All we have control over is the shunt, and the fluid. Anything else going on in there is up to God and is nothing we can control. However, if you want an MRI so that you will know what's going on, I would at least like to wait until he is 6 months old so that we can get better pictures." Jamie and I both know that God is in control- He has already proven that by how well Anderson is doing. However, as a teacher, I think I would like to know what is there so that I know as Anderson grows how hard I can push him- I know he can always exceed expectations, but I think it's also good to know what all we are working with. What do you think? I'd love to hear some other opinions...

That same day, a lady from TEIS (TN Early Intervention) came to the house to go over Anderson's developmental screening that they did when he was 1 month old. Basically, he does NOT qualify for their services based on developmental delays- because right now he is doing what he should be doing- no delays!!! We were thrilled to hear this. The best thing is that he can still receive their services based solely on his medical diagnosis of Agenesis of the Corpus Callosum and Hydrocephalus- so once a month, an early intervention teacher will come to our house and she will give us ideas of how to work with Anderson to get him to meet different milestones, both physical, cognitive, social, and adaptive. We are really looking forward to this- having things that we can do with him every day to make sure he does not fall behind on milestones is exciting for us- we want to be proactive, rather than realize he is behind and try to play catch-up.

Also last week, Anderson finally had his circumcision done. It was not a good day, there were some complications. We go back in a month to see if the procedure got the desired result- if it didn't, then Anderson will be scheduled to have it fixed surgically when he is about 8 months old. So while it seems funny, we are praying that "things down under" are like they should be so that he does not have to be put to sleep to "fix" anything.

The last update is more about me than it is Anderson. With the school year getting ready to begin, lots of people want to know if I am returning to work. It's really funny how some people ask- "You AREN'T going back to work, ARE you?"

I realize that in sharing Anderson's story and being completely open and honest, many people feel like they have become a part of our story- and I love that, because you have. If you have followed our story and prayed for us, then you are a really big part of our story. I also realize that if I put information out there, I have to be willing to get opinions from anyoe who reads this blog...good or bad. And that's okay because I have prepared myself for those.

The answer is YES I am returing to school. I am going back August 2. I know that some of you are cringing as you read that- but that's okay because I am confident in my decision to go back to work. Jamie and I prayed a lot about it. At one point in the hospital, I remember looking at Jamie and telling him there was no way I could go back to work. However, Anderson is doing so great right now. He is not going to a daycare- he will be watched by the same lady who kept both of the girls from the time they were 8 weeks old. She isn't a babysitter- she is like family. The girls think she is part of our family. She will be keeping Anderson and Karlie at her house, and when Karlie is at preschool 2 days a week then she will have Anderson all by himself. I realize that in a perfect world every mother would be able to stay home with all of her children until they start school, but that isn't how it always works out. And if I can't be home with them, then at least I know that they are with someone who loves them just as much as I do and takes wonderful care of them. I don't know what we would do without her.

So I realize this is really long- oops. I need to post updates more often so they can be shorter. Sorry. Thanks for reading to the end! Please keep praying for Anderson and that he will continue to do so good. Pray for me as I return to work, as I know things around here will get a little crazy and chaotic for the first few weeks until we get settled into a routine.