Monday, March 28, 2011

Refreshed

Last week the girls and I went to the beach for Spring Break with some friends of ours. We had a great time. We relaxed more than I knew was possible, we had a blast playing/fighting in the pool, we built a sand turtle at the beach, I read an entire book, and we just enjoyed being together. It was good for all of us. Of course I missed Jamie and sweet Anderson the entire time, but it was a much-needed break. We are glad to be home and back to the day-to-day routine of this thing called life.


Anderson had some problems with his helmet before I left. Suddenly the shunt swelled up and got really red- meaning the helmet was putting pressure on it- like it's NOT supposed to. So we had to take the helmet off and didn't put it back on until Jamie could get Anderson back up to Nashville to get it adjusted again. However, I think it is right this time. It seems to be fitting much better. He got used to it really fast again this time. I'm not going to post pictures until we get the "bling" for it, so I can show before and after pictures, but let me tell you this little guy looks adorable in his little blue helmet! He is doing great!


We have started physical therapy once a week right now. We're working mostly on gross motor skills- specifically teaching him that he doesn't have to just sit still in one place- we're trying to get him moving. He does really well and is making progress, but he's still not crawling. I'm not too worried, though. I know he will do things in his own time. I love his Physical Therapist-she is awesome. She keeps pushing him to do it even when he is in meltdown mode and wants to quit. She knows just how far to push him and when it's enough. Now we are just trying to continue with that intensity when we work with him here at home.


He is also still seeing his Early Intervention teacher once a month. She comes later this week to work with him and see how well he is doing. Last month he had a great visit and she was really pleased with his cognitive and fine motor skills. We are still trying to do some baby signs. He hasn't really picked up on any yet, but I'm trying not to get discouraged. Thank you to everyone for the comments and emails about your successes with signs. ( Especially to my cousin the Speech Pathologist for her professional view and successes!) We are trying them, but not sure we have been as consistent with them as we need to be. This is a new goal of mine...sometimes we just get so caught up in our daily routines that we forget to sign. (Sigh)


Thanks to all of our continued readers. Thank you also for those of you who are praying for Lucy and her family. We all know that God answers prayers. Our little man is proof of that!

Friday, March 18, 2011

Bad blogger, neuro, helmet, and a special request

You know what I really dislike? When I find a blog to follow and I get so involved in the story that I start checking it everyday for updates....but for some reason the blog author doesn't post near as often as she promised...and everyday that I check, I see the same old blog post from a few weeks ago-

Wait- I think I'm talking about me. Yes, I just realized that I left the last post kind of like I would update it the next day or so....for those of you who have been checking it frequently, I do apologize. I have very good intentions (yes I know the saying about good intentions) but then life happens and I forget about our blog.

So, where shall I start....Ah- our post-op visit with the neurosurgeon. We went back on March 7 for a follow-up. It was awesome! The neurosurgeon actually said "WOW" when he pulled up Anderson's MRI before his Feb. 1 surgery and compared it with the most recent ER visit MRI. I have no idea how to read MRI films...but I can tell you that there is no question that God is working on this little man. The surgeon sat and went over the MRI and explained and pointed and showed me the differences. My mouth was on the floor...the difference is HUGE! And when we were leaving, he said he thinks they finally got the shunt just right. It's obviously working and doing its job. There is definitely brain tissue there- though not as much as there should be. Again they were very impressed with how well Anderson is doing- developmentally. In fact, they continue to be astounded when they see him. He brings a smile to everyone's face that he comes into contact with.

After his neuro visit went so well, I decided to swing by the helmet place to see about getting him rescanned and fitted for another helmet since we had surgery 3 days before we were supposed to pick up the first helmet. They were able to work us in and this past Wednesday we went and picked up the helmet. This kid is a trooper. We were so worried about how he would do while trying to adjust to wearing it. He leaves it alone, doesn't cry, and is even already sleeping all night with it on. I will be posting pictures soon...we are waiting on some "bling" for his band. If you wonder what I am talking about, click here.

The girls are doing well also. They are so excited for warmer weather. They are flip-flops and shorts kind of girls (like their momma). With the time change, they are getting some time to play outside after we get home from school. Kinsley is currently missing all of her front teeth- top and bottom. The bottom ones are trying to come in, but the top ones are completely empty. I would love to post a picture but she refuses to let me take a picture. I will try to catch her off-guard. Karlie has been having some bladder and tummy problems, but she keeps on going. She loves her preschool, but also loves the days she gets to stay in her PJ's and go to the sitter's house. They are both great helpers and still think their brother is pretty special, and his eyes light up when they come into a room.

The girls and I are getting ready to soon head to the beach with some friends for a girls' trip. I know I will miss Anderson (and Jamie) like crazy, but I am looking forward to a relaxing week soaking up the sun, playing with the girls, and maybe even reading an entire book. :)

One last thing tonight- you probably noticed the "Pray for Lucy" picture on the blog. We do not know this family personally, but heard their story through a co-worker of Jamie's. Their family is very similar to ours (3 young children: 2 girls, and a baby boy) Their children are all within 1 year of the same age as our children, and their middle child, Lucy, just recently found out she has cancer. A trip to the pediatrician for what they thought was a stomach virus/dehydration, led them straight into surgery to remove tumors from her spine and brain. She has had so many complications from this surgery, she hasn't even made it to St. Jude to begin her treatments yet. Just today she underwent surgery for a shunt, due to leaking spinal fluid after surgery.

I know the regular readers of this blog are believers in the power of prayer and right now this little girl and her family can use all of them they can get. Can you please join us in praying for Lucy, her mom and dad, and her 2 siblings who have been passed around without their parents at home for almost a month now? Check out her blog for more details.

Thanks for sticking with me. I know I am a bad blogger...I would promise I will do better, but I'm afraid I won't keep up with that promise. :)

Sunday, March 6, 2011

March! I thought you'd never come...

Last week was great! Our entire family has recovered from all of the sicknesses that February had brought.The sun shone brightly, the temperature felt like Spring, and the girls even busted out their flipflops from the attic! I love spring weather. It just makes me feel happy. I am so glad that March is here, and I hope it brings more sunshine than rain....both weather-wise as well as emotionally and physically for us.

Anderson is doing great. We still have no idea what caused his fever or head increase that caused our last ER visit. We pretty much left with no answers. However, he has his follow-up from his past surgery tomorrow with his neurosurgeon. I have A LOT of questions that I hope to get answered.

We have started measuring his head circumference every single day so that they can not pretend like his head size didn't increase due to a mis-measurement. (That's what 2 doctors tried to tell us at this last ER visit). But I know better. I know that it did increase 2 cm overnight, and I wish they had taken that more seriously. Next time I will know for sure when it changes and how much.

I will find out tomorrow if Anderson is still going to do his helmet therapy or not. As a matter of fact, now that he has a shunt that has drained that cyst, his head looks much better- not perfect, but better. Plus I want his neuro doctor to give the okay since the shunt tubing goes from the top of his head down the back of his head- I'm sure they don't want the helmet to put pressure on that tubing, but that side of his head is the one that needs the pressure to be "pushed" in. We will see what we find out.

We will also be going back soon to PT. Now that he is doing so much more, I am anxious to hear what the plan will be in this area. When Anderson's Early Intervention teacher came this month, she was very impressed with how well he is doing. Cognitively he is still advanced. We are working on crawling right now...he wants to so badly, but he just hasn't figured out all of the movements yet. He just gets on all fours and rocks back and forth until he gets tired and then lays down and rolls over onto his back. Maybe movement is coming soon. We are working hard with him on this.

We are also starting some "baby signs" with him. We are starting slowly with only 4 signs (eat, more, night-night, all done). I'm a little skeptical about him using these...so if you have a success story please share it with me. I'm afraid that if he gets used to using the sign, then he will be delayed in his speech...any opinions on this matter?

I hope that March brings many new milestones and continued good health (for all). Hoping to post soon with more updates and success stories! :)