Sometimes you never know what good friends you have until you need them.
Some good news that I got from a wonderful friend was what a good experience she had at Vanderbilt when her daughter had to have a fairly emergent surgery. She also dealt with Vanderbilt when her daughter later had to go through a battery of testing. She is one of the most calm and collected people I know. We went through 2 1/2 years together in PA school and I'm not sure anything ever rattled her. I, on the other hand, am not wired that way! (This is for those of you reading this that don't know this already!) Just hearing her be so calm about all of the things that her daughter went through and is still going through is truly an inspiration. She is an awesome Christian and I have to thank God that she is in my life.
It's just amazing to see why and when God puts certain people into our lives. I would have never made it through PA school without her. I also probably wouldn't make it through this trial in our lives without her!!!
Actually, we have really good friends these days. We were just talking about it before we even found out that Emalinn was going to have surgery. Friends that we know we can count on no matter what or when we need them. There have been people in both of our lives that have come and gone...it's kind of like we've loved and lost. That's always ok, ya know!
Anyways, just continue to keep us in your prayers. I just got over what we think was the H1N1 flu...That was lots of fun. Pray that no one else in our house gets it!!
More to come...
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Trip to Vanderbilt
Well, we went to Vanderbilt yesterday. Unfortunately, our news was not any better than what we were told at UAB.
The new doctor was pretty nice. He actually had a much better personality and a lot more patience with us than the other doctor did. That was a good thing. I had two pages of questions to ask, and he sat through and answered all of them.
He reviewed Emalinn's CT scans and was optimistic about them until he compared them and realized that even though the fluid in her ventricles is in excess, it is only in the mild to moderate range. The problem is that the fluid has increased quite a bit in the three months since she was born. He, Dr. Tulipan, also said that he would not wait the three months that Dr. Oakes in Birmingham was willing to wait. He did tell us that the surgery (shunt placement) will "fix the problem." We found out that, while it is a good sign that she is meeting all of her developmental milestones, we will not be able to see what disabilities she may or may not have until she's around a year old. Our pediatrician (whom we love, by the way!) said she was extremely optimistic about how she is developing right now. (She had her four month well-baby check-up on Friday and is doing all that she should be and some. She's been rolling over since she was a little over three months old, and it's not a milestone until their six month check-ups).
So, we got a phone call from Dr. Tulipan's surgery scheduler while we were on our way home from Vanderbilt and she gave us a date to be thinking about for surgery. Hunter and I talked for a long time on Monday evening. We feel that it is going to be in her best interest, before she does start to develop significant side effects from this abnormality, to have the surgery. It is so unimaginable to have your tiny little baby to have surgery, but I want her to live as normal a life as possible. It seems that surgery is the only way for her to do this. She will actually be able to do all of the things that her little body will allow her to do when she gets older, after having the shunt placed (i.e. cheerleading or softball - bet you can't tell which parent asked about which "sport).
I say all of this to tell everyone...Emalinn, unfortunately, is having surgery at Vanderbilt on October 7. We have to be there at 6:30 that morning and the surgery will be at 8:30. It's a 30 minute procedure (so routine to everyone except those of us who are enduring that 30 minutes). We will be in the hospital overnight and as long as there are no complications, we will go home on the 8th. Thankfully, she will only be put to sleep for a very short period of time. That's about all I can say about that. I don't want her to have to be put to sleep at all!
Our pediatrician explained to us that the first 6 months are the most crucial when a baby has a shunt. The risk for infection is extremely high. She will likely have to have scheduled revisions approximately twice in her childhood. That is as long as there are no problems with the shunt. She explained that we will have a very low threshold for any problems.
It's going to be a really long road. I just ask that everyone will pray for Emalinn. She has so many people praying for her now, and every single person that is praying matters. We truly appreciate everyone's thoughtfulness and prayers during this really hard time in our family's lives.
The new doctor was pretty nice. He actually had a much better personality and a lot more patience with us than the other doctor did. That was a good thing. I had two pages of questions to ask, and he sat through and answered all of them.
He reviewed Emalinn's CT scans and was optimistic about them until he compared them and realized that even though the fluid in her ventricles is in excess, it is only in the mild to moderate range. The problem is that the fluid has increased quite a bit in the three months since she was born. He, Dr. Tulipan, also said that he would not wait the three months that Dr. Oakes in Birmingham was willing to wait. He did tell us that the surgery (shunt placement) will "fix the problem." We found out that, while it is a good sign that she is meeting all of her developmental milestones, we will not be able to see what disabilities she may or may not have until she's around a year old. Our pediatrician (whom we love, by the way!) said she was extremely optimistic about how she is developing right now. (She had her four month well-baby check-up on Friday and is doing all that she should be and some. She's been rolling over since she was a little over three months old, and it's not a milestone until their six month check-ups).
So, we got a phone call from Dr. Tulipan's surgery scheduler while we were on our way home from Vanderbilt and she gave us a date to be thinking about for surgery. Hunter and I talked for a long time on Monday evening. We feel that it is going to be in her best interest, before she does start to develop significant side effects from this abnormality, to have the surgery. It is so unimaginable to have your tiny little baby to have surgery, but I want her to live as normal a life as possible. It seems that surgery is the only way for her to do this. She will actually be able to do all of the things that her little body will allow her to do when she gets older, after having the shunt placed (i.e. cheerleading or softball - bet you can't tell which parent asked about which "sport).
I say all of this to tell everyone...Emalinn, unfortunately, is having surgery at Vanderbilt on October 7. We have to be there at 6:30 that morning and the surgery will be at 8:30. It's a 30 minute procedure (so routine to everyone except those of us who are enduring that 30 minutes). We will be in the hospital overnight and as long as there are no complications, we will go home on the 8th. Thankfully, she will only be put to sleep for a very short period of time. That's about all I can say about that. I don't want her to have to be put to sleep at all!
Our pediatrician explained to us that the first 6 months are the most crucial when a baby has a shunt. The risk for infection is extremely high. She will likely have to have scheduled revisions approximately twice in her childhood. That is as long as there are no problems with the shunt. She explained that we will have a very low threshold for any problems.
It's going to be a really long road. I just ask that everyone will pray for Emalinn. She has so many people praying for her now, and every single person that is praying matters. We truly appreciate everyone's thoughtfulness and prayers during this really hard time in our family's lives.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Emalinn's Dedication
For those of you that were there....THANK YOU!!
Emalinn was dedicated at church yesterday, and it was such a special day for us. We now have all of the prayers and support of the entire church which means so much.
We were so busy this weekend...Friday was lunch with friends and I cooked dinner for our friends. Saturday was Touch a Truck at the Riverpark, which our boys absolutely loved, then a birthday/swimming party.
Yesterday was awesome! First we had the actual dedication at church. Our family came for that! We then headed home to a house full of people. All total, I counted 52 people that I could remember being there...WOW! I never knew I'd have enough room for that many people in my house, but apparently I do! There were a lot of children there which I love to see. Our kids played really well with everyone. Really well enough that they took a four hour nap! The last visitor finally left around 9:30 last night!
It was a wonderful day. Again for any of you that read this and were there...Thank you for making Emalinn's day so special!
Emalinn was dedicated at church yesterday, and it was such a special day for us. We now have all of the prayers and support of the entire church which means so much.
We were so busy this weekend...Friday was lunch with friends and I cooked dinner for our friends. Saturday was Touch a Truck at the Riverpark, which our boys absolutely loved, then a birthday/swimming party.
Yesterday was awesome! First we had the actual dedication at church. Our family came for that! We then headed home to a house full of people. All total, I counted 52 people that I could remember being there...WOW! I never knew I'd have enough room for that many people in my house, but apparently I do! There were a lot of children there which I love to see. Our kids played really well with everyone. Really well enough that they took a four hour nap! The last visitor finally left around 9:30 last night!
It was a wonderful day. Again for any of you that read this and were there...Thank you for making Emalinn's day so special!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
What a Weekend!!
We spent the holiday weekend with Hunter's family. (By we I mean, me, Ethan, Cooper & Ema). If you didn't catch that, there was no Hunter in that. He had to referee all weekend. I have to give him a hard time when really, we had a great time.
I love to hang out with his brother and sister-in-law. God love her for spoiling our children!! She held Emalinn basically the entire weekend! That's right, she held her from Friday until Sunday. Trust me it's not an exageration...Ema had to be held Sunday when we got home until she fell asleep and she's never done that, so when Jane reads this she'll be sure to know that she has spoiled my children!!!
Ema goes for her 4 month well-baby check-up next week. I can't believe that. She's continuing to do really well. Hunter and I have continued to do fairly well, too. I finally had my meltdown after we got all of her records from UAB. It's really tough to actually see all of the stuff in print about your child. The Dr. seemed to be worried about her developing trouble with upgaze. Problem #1 with that...He didn't bother telling us that when we were there for her check-up. I had to read it in her progress notes. We haven't really noticed anything about her that seems different, so maybe since the man has never actually laid hands on my daughter, just thought he was noticing something.
I've never in my short 5 years of practicing been told it's ok not to actually touch the patient when your doing an exam on them. Maybe he's just so smart he doesn't have to! OK, I've vented and am moving on.
I'll update you all soon!
I love to hang out with his brother and sister-in-law. God love her for spoiling our children!! She held Emalinn basically the entire weekend! That's right, she held her from Friday until Sunday. Trust me it's not an exageration...Ema had to be held Sunday when we got home until she fell asleep and she's never done that, so when Jane reads this she'll be sure to know that she has spoiled my children!!!
Ema goes for her 4 month well-baby check-up next week. I can't believe that. She's continuing to do really well. Hunter and I have continued to do fairly well, too. I finally had my meltdown after we got all of her records from UAB. It's really tough to actually see all of the stuff in print about your child. The Dr. seemed to be worried about her developing trouble with upgaze. Problem #1 with that...He didn't bother telling us that when we were there for her check-up. I had to read it in her progress notes. We haven't really noticed anything about her that seems different, so maybe since the man has never actually laid hands on my daughter, just thought he was noticing something.
I've never in my short 5 years of practicing been told it's ok not to actually touch the patient when your doing an exam on them. Maybe he's just so smart he doesn't have to! OK, I've vented and am moving on.
I'll update you all soon!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
My babies are growing up
Well, it finally happened. I couldn't understand why I didn't cry last week when the boys went to preschool. Orientation kinda got me, but the first day of school they did so well. I guess that's why it didn't bother me too bad to leave them somewhere they didn't mind being.
So, today, I didn't get to go with them to school. I think I cried the entire way to school. All I can say is...At least I'm not the mom in their classroom that can't leave her daughter. Hunter told me she kept saying I'm not sure why she's not doing well. This is all while she is not actually leaving her daughter in the room when she is perfectly content. I'm thinking there is some letting go issues there!!!
The boys fell asleep last night around 8:40 and stayed in their own big boy beds until 7:30 when Hunter and I went to wake them up this morning! Hallelujah!
I'm so excited that Ema's dedication is coming up soon. More prayers is what we need for her!
So, today, I didn't get to go with them to school. I think I cried the entire way to school. All I can say is...At least I'm not the mom in their classroom that can't leave her daughter. Hunter told me she kept saying I'm not sure why she's not doing well. This is all while she is not actually leaving her daughter in the room when she is perfectly content. I'm thinking there is some letting go issues there!!!
The boys fell asleep last night around 8:40 and stayed in their own big boy beds until 7:30 when Hunter and I went to wake them up this morning! Hallelujah!
I'm so excited that Ema's dedication is coming up soon. More prayers is what we need for her!
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