Tuesday, April 24, 2012

A Short Update

I am not sure if anyone ever reads my rambling thoughts.  My intention was never to be one of the "popular" bloggers.  My desire was, and still is, to put my thoughts into writing when I am able.  Life gets busy with eight children still living under my roof.  Some days I feel as though I have no thoughts worth putting into writing.

We have had a lot going on.  More medical things.  Nothing as dramatic/traumatic as last summer, praise God.  I am happy with boring and humdrum:)

Joshua, now 7yo, had his 7th surgery on March 27th.  This was another eye muscle surgery, to straighten and fix the v-pattern movement of his right eye.  He is fully recovered, and his eye looks good. But this surgery was longer than his other muscle surgeries, resulting in a lot more post-op pain.  Pain so severe that Tylenol was not making a dent.  Many children cry and scream when in pain.  Josh has always shut down when in pain.  I knew it needed action when he no longer answered my yes and no questions.  Thankfully, he is back to his former self, complaining about daily patching time, and trying to sneak out the door before his school work is completed.

Christopher has had some odd symptoms going on.  Some of which have caused us, and the doctor, enough concern to warrant a trip to the pediatric hematologist.  He has an appointment in mid-May.  One of the symptoms is spontaneous gum bleeding.  Since Ginko can cause gum bleeding we have discontinued that for now.  The episodes have not stopped, but we will not restart the herb until we see the specialist. 
Topher has also been having troubles with his ears again.  He had the tubes that were supposed to last up to 5yrs.  His came out in less than 2yrs.  The audiologist at the Cleft Palate Clinic felt he has developed sensorineuro hearing loss, and recommended hearing aids.  The PA at the ENT office, said one ear already has fluid behind the drum, and the other has a sizable hole, too large to place another tube.  We need to address the fluid before we can get aids.  She said we can go in and put a tube in one ear, and go back later for the other.  We decided to wait, at this point, until after he sees the hematologist.  Hopefully, by then, either his ears will both be clear, or they will both be ready for tubes:(  (Even though I do not want to do tubes again, I want him to be able to hear.)

We are winding down our current school year.  We are in crunch time, where my highschoolers need to knuckle down and get their term papers finished, and tie up any loose ends.  Then the portfolios need put together for our required trip to the evaluator.  Then the kids can sigh a huge sigh of relief, while I gear up for the next school year.