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.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Getting Hefty
Anderson went back to his pediatrician for his 1 month check-up today. He has gained 3 pounds since leaving the hospital and has grown 2 inches! He is now up to 10 pounds 6.5 ounces and is 22.25 inches long.
She said he looks great and she is very pleased with how he is doing. His incisions are pretty much healed so we can finally quit doing sponge baths and GET IN A TUB! WooHoo! So, we will finally see whether he is going to like bathtime or not (just when we had made it through a sponge bath with no crying!).
He did have to get a shot today- first time he had been poked since the day we were discharged from the hospital- let's just say he still isn't very fond of needles!
We go next Monday to the neurosurgeon. Looking forward to that visit. Anxious for them to see all of the things he is doing...wondering what they will think about it, and when they will schedule a follow up MRI to see what's going on.
I go back to the dr tomorrow for my 6 week check-up. Looking forward to getting released to get some exercise! Hoping the incision is healed right and that Doogie Howser knew what he was doing. Ha!
She said he looks great and she is very pleased with how he is doing. His incisions are pretty much healed so we can finally quit doing sponge baths and GET IN A TUB! WooHoo! So, we will finally see whether he is going to like bathtime or not (just when we had made it through a sponge bath with no crying!).
He did have to get a shot today- first time he had been poked since the day we were discharged from the hospital- let's just say he still isn't very fond of needles!
We go next Monday to the neurosurgeon. Looking forward to that visit. Anxious for them to see all of the things he is doing...wondering what they will think about it, and when they will schedule a follow up MRI to see what's going on.
I go back to the dr tomorrow for my 6 week check-up. Looking forward to getting released to get some exercise! Hoping the incision is healed right and that Doogie Howser knew what he was doing. Ha!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
A Few Funnies, Part 2
Anderson was 5 days old before his 2 big sisters got to see and hold him. But on the Sunday that we were in the NICU room where we could stay in his room with him, my mom brought the girls up to spend some time with us.
The entire day was both funny and exhausting all at the same time. The girls had already waited 9 months for their brother...now 5 more days- they were tired of waiting. Let's just say they couldn't get enough of him. All of the cords and monitors didn't bother them at all- they were going to hold their baby brother- and weren't planning on sharing him with any one else. Protective doesn't even come close to describing how they felt about him. We would convince Kinsley to let someone else hold him, and in 2 minutes she would inform them that it was her turn again.
The best part came. however, when Karlie was holding him.
She was "rocking" him, rubbing on him, and wouldn't take her eyes off of him. She would ask a lot of questions about him, like she was studying him very intently. While she was holding him, he got hungry. So like all babies do, he started to put his hands up by his mouth.
So she asked, "What is he doing?"
Jamie told her, "He is hungry. He is trying to eat his hands."
Her eyes got as wide as saucers, she thought for a minute, and then said, "Well, then somebody better run downstairs to McDonalds and get him something to eat, FAST!"
The entire day was both funny and exhausting all at the same time. The girls had already waited 9 months for their brother...now 5 more days- they were tired of waiting. Let's just say they couldn't get enough of him. All of the cords and monitors didn't bother them at all- they were going to hold their baby brother- and weren't planning on sharing him with any one else. Protective doesn't even come close to describing how they felt about him. We would convince Kinsley to let someone else hold him, and in 2 minutes she would inform them that it was her turn again.
The best part came. however, when Karlie was holding him.
She was "rocking" him, rubbing on him, and wouldn't take her eyes off of him. She would ask a lot of questions about him, like she was studying him very intently. While she was holding him, he got hungry. So like all babies do, he started to put his hands up by his mouth.
So she asked, "What is he doing?"
Jamie told her, "He is hungry. He is trying to eat his hands."
Her eyes got as wide as saucers, she thought for a minute, and then said, "Well, then somebody better run downstairs to McDonalds and get him something to eat, FAST!"
Friday, July 2, 2010
A Few Funnies, Part 1
Now that things have calmed down a little and Anderson is doing great, I just had to share a few stories from our experience at the hospital that are quite comical.
We will start today with Part 1- The Staples
So, since I had a C-section, I stayed in the hospital for 3 days after delivery. On the day of discharge, the doctors decided that my staples were NOT ready to come out. So, they told me that since the baby was still in the hospital, to come back to Labor and Delivery in 3 days and have my staples removed. Easy enough, right?
Once Anderson had been moved to the Children's Hospital on Monday afternoon, I decided I better go get them out. I walk back over to the regular hospital and go to Labor and Delivery and explain what I need done. The girl looks at me like I have 3 horns growing out of my head and says "We don't do that here."
"Okay...then where do you suggest I go to get this done?"
"Go back over to the nurses station where you recovered and tell them what you need."
I walk over there, tell the same story, while this time about 5 nurses look at me like I'm crazy. They tell me that will call the doctor that discharged me and see what I need to do. Could I please go sit in the waiting room? Sure. I haven't done enough sitting and waiting yet. I would LOVE to do that.
So I sit...for about 30 minutes. While I'm sitting there I remember that these directions for my staples to be removed are actually written in my discharge orders...so I walk back to the nurses desk and tell them that if they will just pull up my orders in the computer they will see that I am not out of my mind. The nurse looks at me and says, " Oh yeah...I forgot you were in the waiting room. I got busy doing something else. I will call for someone to come get those out for you."
I ask, "Do you know how long it will be? My baby has just been moved over to Children's to get ready for surgery tomorrow and I'd rather not spend all night over here waiting to get these taken out..."
She now shows some signs of compassion and picks up the phone and says it will only be a minute. But sends me back to the waiting room.
About 10 minutes later, a nurse comes to get me. We walk back up the hallway, and as we come around the corner she points to the person who has been given the task of removing the staples...I have 2 words for you:
Doogie Howser
Remember that show? Where there is a 16 year old doctor? Well, when she points to the appointed person, I see a 26 year old male standing there.
Well, this is a little uncomfortable...(he has the same look on his face.)
But I decide that these staples MUST come out, so I need to put my comfort aside and let this boy, I mean guy, do his job.
So we walk to a small room that is only big enough for an exam table and a few cabinets full of medical supplies. I decide to try to have conversation to ease the silent tension that is filling the room as he begins to remove the staples.
"So, are you a nurse?"
"No. I'm a medical student." (greeeeaaaat!)
"Really? What year are you?"
"I'm in my third year."
"Going into Obstetrics?"
"No...(are you ready for this?)...Opthamology."
"Opthamology? Really? Like an eye doctor? So what brings you over here to the OB/GYN floor?"
"During your 3rd year of medical school, you have to rotate through many different specialties. I am doing OB right now."
okay, so maybe he's been doing this for a month or so and at least has a clue what he's doing.....
He continues, "I got to see my first C-section this morning. Man, I had no idea that they keep you guys awake for those things. It was pretty awesome."
or maybe he doesn't...
Don't worry...this gets even better.
He gets to the last 3 staples and says, "I'm not sure if these are ready to come out or not." Then he shrugs his shoulders, and says, "Ah, we'll go ahead and take them out and just put some steri-strips on them."
Yeah, no biggie, right? Just my insides might fall out or I may get a serious infection.
So he takes them out. And then says, "Oooh. They are oozing pretty good. Better hold some pressure on this area for awhile." (Awkward? Noooooooo....)
Finally he is ready to cut the steri-strips to put on there, only he can't find any scissors in the room. So he tells me he will be right back, he's going to find some- and he leaves.
I hear him knock like all doctors do before entering a room. This knock is followed by the door handle jiggling, and him pushing against the door- that won't open. Yes, my friends, Doogie Howser has just locked himself out of the room and does not have the key.
I hear other nurses in the hallway cackling as he asks, "Does this door lock automatically?"
Yes, genius. It does.
I'm laying on the exam table wondering if I should get up and open the door for him, but decide to just lay there. So he goes back to the nurses desk to ask someone for a key to let him back in.
When he comes back in, he is even more embarrassed and things are MUCH more awkward. He puts the steri-strips on in record time and sends me on my way.
Wow. Did that just happen? Yes, it did. Jamie seemed to think it was hilarious when I made it back to Anderson's room...at the time, I did NOT think it was that funny. But now that I think back, I realize it actually is quite comical. Seriously, none of this was exaggerated or made up...that is EXACTLY how it happened.
Only me...Only me.
We will start today with Part 1- The Staples
So, since I had a C-section, I stayed in the hospital for 3 days after delivery. On the day of discharge, the doctors decided that my staples were NOT ready to come out. So, they told me that since the baby was still in the hospital, to come back to Labor and Delivery in 3 days and have my staples removed. Easy enough, right?
Once Anderson had been moved to the Children's Hospital on Monday afternoon, I decided I better go get them out. I walk back over to the regular hospital and go to Labor and Delivery and explain what I need done. The girl looks at me like I have 3 horns growing out of my head and says "We don't do that here."
"Okay...then where do you suggest I go to get this done?"
"Go back over to the nurses station where you recovered and tell them what you need."
I walk over there, tell the same story, while this time about 5 nurses look at me like I'm crazy. They tell me that will call the doctor that discharged me and see what I need to do. Could I please go sit in the waiting room? Sure. I haven't done enough sitting and waiting yet. I would LOVE to do that.
So I sit...for about 30 minutes. While I'm sitting there I remember that these directions for my staples to be removed are actually written in my discharge orders...so I walk back to the nurses desk and tell them that if they will just pull up my orders in the computer they will see that I am not out of my mind. The nurse looks at me and says, " Oh yeah...I forgot you were in the waiting room. I got busy doing something else. I will call for someone to come get those out for you."
I ask, "Do you know how long it will be? My baby has just been moved over to Children's to get ready for surgery tomorrow and I'd rather not spend all night over here waiting to get these taken out..."
She now shows some signs of compassion and picks up the phone and says it will only be a minute. But sends me back to the waiting room.
About 10 minutes later, a nurse comes to get me. We walk back up the hallway, and as we come around the corner she points to the person who has been given the task of removing the staples...I have 2 words for you:
Doogie Howser
Remember that show? Where there is a 16 year old doctor? Well, when she points to the appointed person, I see a 26 year old male standing there.
Well, this is a little uncomfortable...(he has the same look on his face.)
But I decide that these staples MUST come out, so I need to put my comfort aside and let this boy, I mean guy, do his job.
So we walk to a small room that is only big enough for an exam table and a few cabinets full of medical supplies. I decide to try to have conversation to ease the silent tension that is filling the room as he begins to remove the staples.
"So, are you a nurse?"
"No. I'm a medical student." (greeeeaaaat!)
"Really? What year are you?"
"I'm in my third year."
"Going into Obstetrics?"
"No...(are you ready for this?)...Opthamology."
"Opthamology? Really? Like an eye doctor? So what brings you over here to the OB/GYN floor?"
"During your 3rd year of medical school, you have to rotate through many different specialties. I am doing OB right now."
okay, so maybe he's been doing this for a month or so and at least has a clue what he's doing.....
He continues, "I got to see my first C-section this morning. Man, I had no idea that they keep you guys awake for those things. It was pretty awesome."
or maybe he doesn't...
Don't worry...this gets even better.
He gets to the last 3 staples and says, "I'm not sure if these are ready to come out or not." Then he shrugs his shoulders, and says, "Ah, we'll go ahead and take them out and just put some steri-strips on them."
Yeah, no biggie, right? Just my insides might fall out or I may get a serious infection.
So he takes them out. And then says, "Oooh. They are oozing pretty good. Better hold some pressure on this area for awhile." (Awkward? Noooooooo....)
Finally he is ready to cut the steri-strips to put on there, only he can't find any scissors in the room. So he tells me he will be right back, he's going to find some- and he leaves.
I hear him knock like all doctors do before entering a room. This knock is followed by the door handle jiggling, and him pushing against the door- that won't open. Yes, my friends, Doogie Howser has just locked himself out of the room and does not have the key.
I hear other nurses in the hallway cackling as he asks, "Does this door lock automatically?"
Yes, genius. It does.
I'm laying on the exam table wondering if I should get up and open the door for him, but decide to just lay there. So he goes back to the nurses desk to ask someone for a key to let him back in.
When he comes back in, he is even more embarrassed and things are MUCH more awkward. He puts the steri-strips on in record time and sends me on my way.
Wow. Did that just happen? Yes, it did. Jamie seemed to think it was hilarious when I made it back to Anderson's room...at the time, I did NOT think it was that funny. But now that I think back, I realize it actually is quite comical. Seriously, none of this was exaggerated or made up...that is EXACTLY how it happened.
Only me...Only me.
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