I have so many posts to make and so little time/space to do it. I feel like if I post everything I’ll overrun all of you with posts. I think there will seriously be 3 posts today on different subjects. If it’s too much, tell me. I’ll try to narrow posts down on upcoming days! (I’ve been trying in the past, but it’s tough some days!!) Anyway…onto the doctor’s appointment…
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We took K to the Orthopedist. This was on the reccommendation of our Physical Therapist. Currently K is receiving PT for hyoptonia among other issues. She wanted us to go see an Ortho just to make sure that she didn’t need further “Assistance” in overcoming the issues she’s having. (She walks like a chimpanzee, her foot turns in, her left leg is 1/4″ shorter…)
I must say that it was the shortest, most concise appointment I have ever been to out of ANY specialist that I’ve seen. There was no weight taken. No height measurement. We were taken to a room. Five minutes later the doctor came in shook our hands (PAINFULLY strong grip, BTW), and asked us what was going on. He looked over her feet and her legs, asked us to have her walk a bit for him.
After a 5-10 minute appointment he basically said nothing needed to be done. He even came close to saying that PT wasn’t required (HUH?). He said she had Tibial Torsion, and explained how she was compensating for it. He said she’d “probably” outgrow it by the time she was four. If she didn’t outgrow it by then, we’d have to take measures. He also said he believed she’d outgrow her hypotonia.
We can only hope at this point. We were in and out of the appointment in an hour. And while I felt secure that he was knowledgable, I just am not as optomistic after it as I thought I’d be. I still have a gut feeling that her issue goes beyond simple Tibial Torsion…Her hypotonia is truly what worries me…the concern that she won’t ever learn to do things the “right” way…and will spend her whole life compensating. But apparently at this age it’s yet ANOTHER waiting game…wait until she’s four and THEN worry…
*Operation Santa – Stage 1 is complete. If I may say so myself, it was a success! In order to prepare Molly for pictures with Santa, I took her and the other kids today to the Santa’s Snowglobe nearby. We played in the ‘waiting room’ part for a while…crept our way closer to where Santa was. Finally got close. Every time I said Santa Molly would look up at him and smile. She wouldn’t get too close, but we got within a couple of feet. We’ll go again tomorrow. Next week when it’s picture time I may have to have her on my lap, but I think we’ll get close.
*DH’s Christmas List – I’ve asked him to make me a Christmas list because we are actually getting gifts for each other this year. Among those things on his list is…Vomit Bags (he finds the word vomit funny), a 2007 Dodge Charger w/ Hemi engine (yeah, that’ll happen), and sex. Hmmm…maybe I SHOULD get him the Charger *giggle*
*Christmas Cookies – I just may go overboard this year…I printed out quite a few recipes last night…but I still don’t feel I’ve found THE recipe yet. Maybe THAT will be my contest!!
*Shoe Obsession – IT’s gotten worse. I can’t even take off her shoes to change her diaper. If she were potty trained this wouldn’t be an issue…but…um…WTH do I do now?
*ON THE CHARTS!! – Molly and K had their nutritionist appts today! For the first time since she was 8 months old Molly is back on the charts for weight!! She’s only in the 4th%ile…but she’s on the charts!! She didn’t grow in heighth at ALL this time (very strange for her), but her height to weight ratio is still off…but who cares…she’s ON THE CHARTS!!
*A break from PT is NOT allowed – ever again!! Due to illness and Thanksgiving it’s been almost a month since K’s last PT appointment…and let’s just say that today was NOT successful. We aren’t doing THAT again *headdesk*
Overall a good day, despite the crazy way it started!!
Right now while K is sick, this is my life. 3 times a day, 30 minutes a piece – plus 5-10 minutes on the nebulizer (I do not have that on video because I have to pin her down on my lap to do it properly) twice a day.
If you listen closely, you can hear her letting her voice vibrate with it (I know it’s tough over the sound of the machine).
And for an update on her being sick. The pulmonologist put her on antibiotics as a ‘precautionary’ measure. We started them this morning, but we started them too late – she spiked a fever tonight. She’s miserable…red nosed, red-eyes that are tearing, sneezing, coughing, and vomiting…it’s breaking my heart. Her first real illness since the diagnosis, and every cough just makes me tear up.
We have cancelled our entire week this week! This is what my week was supposed to look like (the blue indicates rescheduled, red indicates canceled):
Monday – M Preschool 12-3:30 Meet DH with K and have lunch Tuesday – M Flu Shot 9:10AM K Speech Therapy 1:00 Wednesday – M Preschool 12-3:30 Me Chiropractor 11:45 K Pulmonologist 2:30 Thursday – K Physical Therapy 12:30 K Speech Therapy 1:30 M Nutritionist 2:00 Friday – M Flu Shot 9:10AM (may still be rescheduled)
The only thing NOT cancelled due to illness was Molly’s preschool on Wednesday. I cancelled that because of the doctor’s appointments that I ended up cancelling. Good thing this was a mild week.
One thing I am is a huge supporter of Early Intervention (EI). With EI your child can get all the help he or she needs NOW, and in many cases, free. If your child has a significant delay in one area, a little help now can mean a LOT for their future. If it weren’t for EI, Molly wouldn’t be making the progress she is now…she probably would not be considered high-functioning at all. K might not be walking without the exercises we’ve learned, and her weekly PT sessions.
That being said…one of my biggest pet peeves is people who worry about their child’s development, but then sit back and do nothing. The easiest thing you can EVER do is say to your pediatrician, “Hey…I’m a little concerned, can we call EI and have an evaluation?” The WORST that will happen? EI will say, “He/She needs therapy.” You don’t HAVE to do it, but it’s there and available IN YOUR HOME, or IN THEIR DAYCARE!!!! WOW! The best thing that could happen is the (experienced, mind you) therapists will say, “She/He seems to be developing normally…”
So what is the HARM in just checking if you ARE concerned?!?!?! Instead of sitting there fretting…waiting for soothing words from friends and family…Take the step and get an eval!!! It’s painless, your child gets to play while you answer a couple hundred questions…then the therapists play with your kid!! You can always REFUSE therapy if you want!! But at worst, it will be suggested..at best your mind will be put at ease!!
So get off your butt and ask your ped if you’re concerned…don’t lament delays if you aren’t going to do a damn thing about it!
Seeing all the toys the therapists bring always makes me curious on appropriate play and toys for the girls. So, about once a week I go perusing websites that have sensory play based toys. Usually the equipment is crazy expensive, but sometimes you see some items within reasonable reach. I really go primarily for the ideas. Many common Sensory play items can be recreated. Some basic ideas I’ve come up with….
Tactile play is easy. Set out four bowls. Place four different textures in each. Rice, rotini pasta, sugar/salt, and (this can be messy) jelly. Four varying textures to explore. Rice or beans and rotini pasta are really great for opening the senses.
Get brushes of varying textures/bristle strength, and let your child explore those – but this is something to take slow.
Fabric has wonderful varieties of textures. Satin, wool, felt, cotton…all varying. Make a bin full of different fabrics and let your child explore each one.
Remember feet are as important. Let your child walk barefoot over different textures. Get washtubs and fill them with different outdoor textures…sand, pebbles (smooth is probably better here), mud, a patch of grass, a concrete block, smooth sanded wood. Let their feet get the sensations that their hands do.
Visit some sensory play sites, get some ideas there…you never know what ideas might come! I’ll be posting more ideas as I get them as well. For things from physical therapy to more sensory play, to oral motor play.
Some sensory play sites: http://www.flaghouse.com/default.asp?Category=Sensory%20Solutions http://www.beyondplay.com/index.htm http://www.integrationscatalog.com/index.jsp
