Johnathon has been invited to a birthday party for his good friend,and he is
SOOOOOOOOO
excited!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Urologist
Ryan had an appointment with an Urologist today. He was quite mad about them examining his boy parts. When the dr was done with the exam, I nursed Ryan to calm him while the dr explained the needed surgery.
As I was nursing him, I looked down and saw this:
I thought it was so funny that I grabbed my cell phone and took a picture! I'm still pretty entertained by this picture!
As for the surgery, Ryan needs to have a "double orchiopexy surgery with hernia repair." We are waiting to schedule the surgery until we meet with the ENT again and the Gastroenterologist. If they are going to surgically repair Ryan's submucous cleft palate, or if they are going to surgically implant a feeding tube, we may be able to combine the surgeries. We will see both of them later this month. I'll keep you all posted.
As I was nursing him, I looked down and saw this:
I thought it was so funny that I grabbed my cell phone and took a picture! I'm still pretty entertained by this picture!As for the surgery, Ryan needs to have a "double orchiopexy surgery with hernia repair." We are waiting to schedule the surgery until we meet with the ENT again and the Gastroenterologist. If they are going to surgically repair Ryan's submucous cleft palate, or if they are going to surgically implant a feeding tube, we may be able to combine the surgeries. We will see both of them later this month. I'll keep you all posted.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Another dr's appointment
Today we had an appointment with the Developmental Pediatrician. This is my least favorite appointment of all. It seemed that during the past 3 appointments with this Dr that all they really told me were the milestones that Ryan should be reaching ... but hasn't. I'm really very aware of these milestones and don't really need someone to tell them to me. They also push therapy a lot.
We still covered all the milestones today, but I also felt that I received some value from today's appointment. We discussed the growth and feeding issues we've been having. I explained that my Pediatrician had referred us to see a Pediatric Gastroenterologist but that we had not been able to get an appointment scheduled yet. So, she called and we now have an appointment for May 20th. She also ordered a modified barium swallow test with a Speech Pathologist and Radiologist. This is one of the tests that the Ped Gastro specialist will want. Having the test done prior to our appointment with him will hopefully speed that process along.
We also discussed that at our next appointment we're going to discuss the need for a special car seat and probably a wheelchair/stroller combination. Typically you move a child to a forward facing carseat when they are 1 year old and at least 20-22 pounds. However, Ryan will need to stay rear facing until he has better head & neck control. I feel a sense of relief that someone will have information on the available resources to meet those needs. So, I can put that out of my mind until October when we go back.
So, the next dr's appointment will be on Wednesday morning ... the Urologist.
We still covered all the milestones today, but I also felt that I received some value from today's appointment. We discussed the growth and feeding issues we've been having. I explained that my Pediatrician had referred us to see a Pediatric Gastroenterologist but that we had not been able to get an appointment scheduled yet. So, she called and we now have an appointment for May 20th. She also ordered a modified barium swallow test with a Speech Pathologist and Radiologist. This is one of the tests that the Ped Gastro specialist will want. Having the test done prior to our appointment with him will hopefully speed that process along.
We also discussed that at our next appointment we're going to discuss the need for a special car seat and probably a wheelchair/stroller combination. Typically you move a child to a forward facing carseat when they are 1 year old and at least 20-22 pounds. However, Ryan will need to stay rear facing until he has better head & neck control. I feel a sense of relief that someone will have information on the available resources to meet those needs. So, I can put that out of my mind until October when we go back.
So, the next dr's appointment will be on Wednesday morning ... the Urologist.
Bowling
We took the kids bowling today and had a great time! I wish I could have caught on video the fun of watching the kids bowl. 
Johnathon ... well, imagine a director leading an orchestra and that is what Johnathon looked like as he watched his ball roll down the lane. 
Deborah played all of my 2nd frames ... and I still won the first game and gave Dwight a close run for his money on the other game. It was lots of fun.
Sorry the pictures are a little grainy. Hope you enjoy them anyway.
Johnathon ... well, imagine a director leading an orchestra and that is what Johnathon looked like as he watched his ball roll down the lane. 
Deborah played all of my 2nd frames ... and I still won the first game and gave Dwight a close run for his money on the other game. It was lots of fun.
Sorry the pictures are a little grainy. Hope you enjoy them anyway.
Labels:
David,
Deborah,
Johnathon,
My Sweetheart,
pictures
Saturday, May 2, 2009
I should have known better...
My sweetheart took me on a date tonight. When I got out of his truck, I put my diaper bag over my shoulder. (Yes, we had Ryan with us on our date.) Then I noticed that my bag was REALLY hot. So, I said to Dwight, "Something is creating a lot of heat under your dash." I opened the change pocket and noticed that the change was really hot, but the AA batteries were so hot they were warping! Perhaps you can already guess what really happened... I still hadn't clued in though. So I said to Dwight, "It's so hot that it's warping the batteries in my bag." Dwight freaked out a bit. The batteries were so hot I couldn't pick them up. Thankfully my strong, brave sweetheart pulled the batteries out of my bag and threw them down on the ground. I wish I had my camera with me then so that you could see how warped the batteries were.
Yes, I'm generally an intelligent being, but it never occurred to me that putting 2 AA batteries in a pocket with a bunch of quarters, dimes and nickles would be a problem. (Dad and Mom, when you read this you were having flash backs of me wringing water out of the towels onto the floor, huh?)
Yes, I'm generally an intelligent being, but it never occurred to me that putting 2 AA batteries in a pocket with a bunch of quarters, dimes and nickles would be a problem. (Dad and Mom, when you read this you were having flash backs of me wringing water out of the towels onto the floor, huh?)
Labels:
My Sweetheart,
ramblings
Friday, May 1, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
9 Month Well Child Care Check Up
I took Ryan to the Pediatrician's office yesterday for his well-child care check up. A "well-child care check up" with a special needs baby certainly isn't what it sounds like, nor does it even resemble the countless other well-child care check ups I have been to with other children.
Ryan is now weighing 15 pounds and 14 ounces, and he is 26 1/2 inches. The good news is that he has gained weight ... almost a pound in the last 8 weeks. Unfortunately, he's still not even in the bottom 5% of the growth chart for height or weight. Some of you probably remember that this is the case with Deborah as well. However, with Ryan, his curve is starting to get flat, meaning he's falling further from the chart with each visit. So, we now need to see a Pediatric Gastroenterologist.
He is still nursing full-time and we have introduced "solids". He had been doing really well with stage 1 foods so we went to stage 2 foods. That hasn't gone so well. He won't swallow them. Last night was the first night in about a week that I've been able to get him to eat solids at all. The dr suggested we go back to stage 1 foods for now. It could be that the thicker texture of the stage 2 is more than he can handle.
So, we'll see. We need to rule out any physical reasons why he might be struggling with eating and gaining weight. If we can't get his curve up more than we'll need to put a feeding tube into his little tummy.
Additionally, we've been referred back to the Geneticist to discuss the possibility of any additional Syndromes. The new diagnosis of the submucous cleft palate opens back up the possibility that it could be one of numerous syndromes. So, we'll see Dr. Stratton in June.
And... we also need to see the Urologist again to discuss surgery sometime in the next 9 months. I'm waiting to hear back from his office.
So, while we have 3 new specialist appointments, we also have good things ... his iron levels came back in the normal range ... low normal, but normal ... his lead test came back normal, and best yet ... we've now been seizure free for 18 days! I love our Pediatrician!
We had an amazing pediatrician in Dallas but we did not have a good Pediatrician the first 2 years we lived in San Antonio. The kids had to be really, really sick to justify an appointment and then we'd end up spending 4-6 hours waiting for a 5 minute glance by the dr. It was awful. When we had Deborah, Dr Rhame was the pediatrician on call and we've loved him ever since. I can't imagine dealing with this experience with any of the other pediatricians. It would have been really, really much harder.
Okay ... must run ... lots to do still. Thank you all for your love and support, and for all your prayers!
Ryan is now weighing 15 pounds and 14 ounces, and he is 26 1/2 inches. The good news is that he has gained weight ... almost a pound in the last 8 weeks. Unfortunately, he's still not even in the bottom 5% of the growth chart for height or weight. Some of you probably remember that this is the case with Deborah as well. However, with Ryan, his curve is starting to get flat, meaning he's falling further from the chart with each visit. So, we now need to see a Pediatric Gastroenterologist.
He is still nursing full-time and we have introduced "solids". He had been doing really well with stage 1 foods so we went to stage 2 foods. That hasn't gone so well. He won't swallow them. Last night was the first night in about a week that I've been able to get him to eat solids at all. The dr suggested we go back to stage 1 foods for now. It could be that the thicker texture of the stage 2 is more than he can handle.
So, we'll see. We need to rule out any physical reasons why he might be struggling with eating and gaining weight. If we can't get his curve up more than we'll need to put a feeding tube into his little tummy.
Additionally, we've been referred back to the Geneticist to discuss the possibility of any additional Syndromes. The new diagnosis of the submucous cleft palate opens back up the possibility that it could be one of numerous syndromes. So, we'll see Dr. Stratton in June.
And... we also need to see the Urologist again to discuss surgery sometime in the next 9 months. I'm waiting to hear back from his office.
So, while we have 3 new specialist appointments, we also have good things ... his iron levels came back in the normal range ... low normal, but normal ... his lead test came back normal, and best yet ... we've now been seizure free for 18 days! I love our Pediatrician!
We had an amazing pediatrician in Dallas but we did not have a good Pediatrician the first 2 years we lived in San Antonio. The kids had to be really, really sick to justify an appointment and then we'd end up spending 4-6 hours waiting for a 5 minute glance by the dr. It was awful. When we had Deborah, Dr Rhame was the pediatrician on call and we've loved him ever since. I can't imagine dealing with this experience with any of the other pediatricians. It would have been really, really much harder.
Okay ... must run ... lots to do still. Thank you all for your love and support, and for all your prayers!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Jacob's Play at Co-Op
Jacob has been taking a drama class at our co-op. All of the kids seem to be enjoying it a lot! (Thanks, Sis Gottschalk!) They came to the younger group's co-op today and performed a cute play with all kinds of animals. Here are just a few pictures...
Friday, April 24, 2009
Still enjoying the Pinewood Derby...
Today I took these cute pictures of David's car. Notice what the Lego men are doing.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Can we go to the Dentist?
Whenever Deborah is asked what she wants to do, her answer is always one of 2 things: Can we ride on an elevator? or, Can we go to the Dentist? Yes, our dentist is that good!
We go to the Dentist & Orthodontist office about once a month, and have for most of Deborah's 2 1/2 years of life. Dr Bob, Dr Elkins, Dr Childers, and the entire staff are super great with kids. Deborah feels very at home at their office. One of the ladies even calls her "the boss." :)
At our visit today, they had decorated for Fiesta. (For you non-San Antonio people, Fiesta is pretty much a month long celebration with a strong feel of all things hispanic.) Deborah had fun trying on this huge sombrero.
Apparently, Jacob had fun, too. 
PS Deborah is quite traumatized by this duck ride. She won't even go near it! Jacob was on it trying to show Deborah that it wouldn't hurt her, but Deborah still wants nothing to do with it.
We go to the Dentist & Orthodontist office about once a month, and have for most of Deborah's 2 1/2 years of life. Dr Bob, Dr Elkins, Dr Childers, and the entire staff are super great with kids. Deborah feels very at home at their office. One of the ladies even calls her "the boss." :)
At our visit today, they had decorated for Fiesta. (For you non-San Antonio people, Fiesta is pretty much a month long celebration with a strong feel of all things hispanic.) Deborah had fun trying on this huge sombrero.
Apparently, Jacob had fun, too. 
PS Deborah is quite traumatized by this duck ride. She won't even go near it! Jacob was on it trying to show Deborah that it wouldn't hurt her, but Deborah still wants nothing to do with it.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Pinewood Derby 2009
This year's Pinewood Derby was the best yet! Our good friend, Cam Casper, did a fantastic job planning and executing the whole thing. Our boys did a great job on their cars, and Dwight was the best at helping them.
The evening was filled with excitement and the races were all anxiously watched.
Even the siblings had opportunities to watch their cars zoom down the track, and all the boys who participated received ribbons.
In the past, our cars have not been good racers, but as you can see from the picture below, this year David's car excelled!
He placed first in the Webelos division and 2nd overall. Needless-to-say, he was thrilled!
The evening was filled with excitement and the races were all anxiously watched.
Even the siblings had opportunities to watch their cars zoom down the track, and all the boys who participated received ribbons.
In the past, our cars have not been good racers, but as you can see from the picture below, this year David's car excelled!
He placed first in the Webelos division and 2nd overall. Needless-to-say, he was thrilled!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Jessica
Jessica was asked by a member of the Stake Young Women's Presidency to draw a Castle for a program they are doing called The Princess Academy. She was also asked to help paint it. This is a rough draft of the castle that she drew.
On the next draft, she added stained glass windows that represent each of the Young Women values. She did some really neat things.
Then once the draft had been approved, Jessica and a couple of her friends went to Sis Peterson's home to help make the real Castle. They used large sheets of paper and lots of chalk. As you can see from the picture below, they had a lot of fun!
When they finished chalking it, Sis Peterson had each paper laminated, and then they attached it to a large cardboard stand. I wish I could find pictures of the finished project. It was very impressive! I am always amazed at the artistic talent my sweet daughter has. I know she didn't inherit it from her mother.
On the next draft, she added stained glass windows that represent each of the Young Women values. She did some really neat things.
Then once the draft had been approved, Jessica and a couple of her friends went to Sis Peterson's home to help make the real Castle. They used large sheets of paper and lots of chalk. As you can see from the picture below, they had a lot of fun!
When they finished chalking it, Sis Peterson had each paper laminated, and then they attached it to a large cardboard stand. I wish I could find pictures of the finished project. It was very impressive! I am always amazed at the artistic talent my sweet daughter has. I know she didn't inherit it from her mother.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
What is in your MOUTH?
Yes, this is my dear daughter with an ENTIRE EASTER EGG in her MOUTH!
Deborah was quite amazed at her sister's ability to hide easter eggs.
Deborah was quite amazed at her sister's ability to hide easter eggs.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
The Pinewood Derby Craze Begins
Dwight and the boys started converting their blocks of wood into Pinewood Derby cars. They've been busy in the garage most of the day. They seem to be having a great time. 
Dwight got a new toy. I think it's called a drill press. He said he needed it for the corner chairs service project we've been doing, but I'm beginning to suspect he really wanted it for the Pinewood Derby cars. :) I'm just thankful that he's willing to do this with the boys.
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