* I am drowning in doctor's appointments, medications, laundry, dishes, diapers, tantrums and spit up over here.
* Right now, d is in his room crying because he is so tired and doesn't want to take a nap. (I told him he could get up, and he's still crying, so that = he needs to sleep)
* I am rocking the baby with my foot while trying to drown out the crying from d and type this post. On the plus side, o & c are actually sleeping (at least until d's crying wakes them up...) AND o didn't get out of bed 5+ times today or yesterday, or for about a week even. Which... maybe that phase is over? Please!
* Yesterday I went through 3 different pharmacies to get the prescription Miss L needed and I was in the car for over an hour by the time I finally got home last night, after the different pharmacies and a meeting I went to. Thank goodness I got to talk with some girl friends or that would have been a pretty crappy trip.
* Right before I left I walked into the kitchen and c had pulled down two, half full, boxes of girl scout cookies off the counter, and had eaten a bite out of most of them. The kicker? D was standing not ONE foot from him, while reading the mail, and hadn't even noticed. (and later complained that the kids ate all the GS cookies. Um...)
Seriously? I wish I had that kind of focus. I can't seem to finish one task because I have a million things going at once. Oh well, I didn't need those cookies anyway.
* Monday Miss L had an appointment. Wednesday d had a dentist appointment. Tomorrow L has another appointment, but the pediatrician is not "sure" if they can take a 3 month old's blood pressure. I hope they can, because where will I go if they can't? The specialist can do it, but I would rather not drive an hour and a half (one way) to do that tomorrow AND Monday.
Maybe the hospital? That should be fun.
* D is gone a lot. He is SO super helpful when I need him to stay with some kids so I can take other kids to some place or he will take one to the dr, etc. But, man, I just wish he were here more. He must feel like me, except with a different laundry list of things that are weighing him down and just wanting life to slow down a little bit.
* Can you believe d is still throwing a fit in his room? *sigh* I cannot go in there or things will not go well. Frustration! Level! Rising!
* Miss L has spit up on me twice since I stopped rocking her with my foot and started trying to type with her on my chest.
* Eye patch + baby = suckage
* Miss L is now taking 4 meds in the morning, one at noon and 2 at night. She takes every opportunity to spit out as much as she can; she is such a stinker about swallowing them. (different tactics, flavorings, hiding in milk, all have been unsuccessful) Between that and all her spitting up, it's a wonder she keeps any meds down at all. Who knew one little pesky birth mark could take so much care?
* I lost 5 lbs last week. I think I've lost 2 this week so far. Go me.
Weight Watchers + Stress = apparently successful weight loss plan
* My kids haven't played with other kids since Miss L started steroids over 2 weeks ago. I'm so scared to take the kids places for fear they will get sick and pass it on to her.(Doesn't help that they just got over colds and now *I* have it.)
My anxiety levels are through the roof lately. No PPD, but heightened anxiety. Worse than when I was pregnant. Lovely.
* The ulcer on Miss L's eye is already starting to scar and she is missing some eye lashes. There's a good chance they will be missing permanently, but let's just hope for the best there.
* I am just oh-so-positive lately, aren't I? Do I really have to do the disclaimer here? Just know the complaining doesn't mean I don't acknowledge my luckiness.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Dr's Appointment and Parental Torture
So, Miss L had a follow up visit yesterday for her hemangioma.
Short version:
She gained a pound, is healthy and the hemangioma shrunk, but they had hoped it would shrink more in 2 weeks on steroids. We will stay on steroids and also add propranolol when they get the EKG report back. We go back in 2ish weeks again.
Longer version:
D wanted to take the boys with us (last time we got a babysitter) and take them to the science museum. However, D then had to work and didn't get home until 1, which put us at not having enough time to do anything but the doctor visit. He kept the boys and went to a park, I went to the doctor with L. Short wait, but long visit. There was a scheduling mess up with scheduling the follow up and a lot of screaming during a finger prick for a blood sugar test. We had to do an EKG - which you apparently have to hold still for. Try telling a two and a half month old that. *sigh* The nurses and staff there are WONDERFUL, but it just took forever.
OK, fast forward, appointment done, dinner at a drive thru, etc. First 30 minutes of the car ride home were fine. The kids were eating and watching a movie. The last hour of the trip? Not so much.
There were, at any given time, at least 1, or more likely 2, kids screaming, crying, whining and/or fighting.
There were:
3 potty breaks. For one child.
Thrown, and lost, paci's.
Dropped shoes.
Movie demands that made me finally turn the damn DVD player off.
Pleas that "I can't sit here anymore!"
Tears
When we got home O had The Meltdown to end all meltdowns. I have never seen him like this. He was beyond tired and screaming and completely out of it. We had one goal - get him in a pull up and pj's and in bed. It took both of us adults to accomplish this. Did you ever notice how kids are freakishly strong when they are having a huge meltdown?
We finally did it, but it took us over 10 minutes to do something that usually takes 1. I still can't forget the way he looked, like he was possessed. It was a sight to behold. Flailing, screaming, running, undressing, redressing, wrestling, crying... hysterical laughter.
That last one was me. I had just had it and I was so done. All I wanted to do was sleep, and not have to deal with the kids for a few minutes. I guess me collapsing in a hysterically laughing heap next to screaming O was my version of The Meltdown.
If that's what an hour and a half trip does to us, can you imagine the 8+ and 16+ hour trips we have in our future? I'm scared.
Short version:
She gained a pound, is healthy and the hemangioma shrunk, but they had hoped it would shrink more in 2 weeks on steroids. We will stay on steroids and also add propranolol when they get the EKG report back. We go back in 2ish weeks again.
Longer version:
D wanted to take the boys with us (last time we got a babysitter) and take them to the science museum. However, D then had to work and didn't get home until 1, which put us at not having enough time to do anything but the doctor visit. He kept the boys and went to a park, I went to the doctor with L. Short wait, but long visit. There was a scheduling mess up with scheduling the follow up and a lot of screaming during a finger prick for a blood sugar test. We had to do an EKG - which you apparently have to hold still for. Try telling a two and a half month old that. *sigh* The nurses and staff there are WONDERFUL, but it just took forever.
OK, fast forward, appointment done, dinner at a drive thru, etc. First 30 minutes of the car ride home were fine. The kids were eating and watching a movie. The last hour of the trip? Not so much.
There were, at any given time, at least 1, or more likely 2, kids screaming, crying, whining and/or fighting.
There were:
3 potty breaks. For one child.
Thrown, and lost, paci's.
Dropped shoes.
Movie demands that made me finally turn the damn DVD player off.
Pleas that "I can't sit here anymore!"
Tears
When we got home O had The Meltdown to end all meltdowns. I have never seen him like this. He was beyond tired and screaming and completely out of it. We had one goal - get him in a pull up and pj's and in bed. It took both of us adults to accomplish this. Did you ever notice how kids are freakishly strong when they are having a huge meltdown?
We finally did it, but it took us over 10 minutes to do something that usually takes 1. I still can't forget the way he looked, like he was possessed. It was a sight to behold. Flailing, screaming, running, undressing, redressing, wrestling, crying... hysterical laughter.
That last one was me. I had just had it and I was so done. All I wanted to do was sleep, and not have to deal with the kids for a few minutes. I guess me collapsing in a hysterically laughing heap next to screaming O was my version of The Meltdown.
If that's what an hour and a half trip does to us, can you imagine the 8+ and 16+ hour trips we have in our future? I'm scared.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Random Thursday
Wow, it's already Thursday and I haven't posted since Monday. Let's see... this calls for a list, no?
* D is working overtime. A lot. I do not like this. Yes, he's a hard worker. Yes, I appreciate that - greatly. But I'd rather have him around than a little extra money.
*I'm getting sick of people who act like you can't complain about anything. Examples:
Person: My husband is working too much, and we all miss him.
Reply: Well, at least he works and you have a roof over your head and you don't live in a war-torn, poverty stricken country. Be grateful he's not a bum. Who cares that he works all the time, he supports YOU!
Person: Man, I hate this weather!
Reply: Well, WE have 2 feet of snow! We haven't been out in weeks! Our roof will probably cave in!! You don't know how good you have it!
Person: These kids are driving me crazy today!
Reply: You know what causes that! Why did you have so many then?! At least they're healthy and not lying in a hospital bed somewhere! Be grateful, they grow up so fast! Soon you'll WISH they were at home bugging you.
(even if true, still not helpful)
OK - yes, things could always be worse. Yes, we should practice being grateful, but come on! Sheesh.
*The sun has come out. 2 days IN A ROW.
* I started Weight Watchers this week. I've almost lost 5 lbs already, if the scale this morning is right!
* For the first time ever, I forgot to make a credit card payment. Or, rather, the CC companys SAYS I forgot to make a payment - which I have never, ever, ever done. Since I pay my bills online I think I must have submitted it and had a computer error or something to that effect. It was around the time our router was messing up, so it could have been something like that.
Regardless, we did not make that payment somehow. The CC company -- who we have used for YEARS and knows that we have NEVER been late, EVER -- put a hold on our account so when D went to pay for something this morning he could not. They had temporarily closed our account. After ONE late payment - and only a few days late I might add. (**insert rant**)
We only have 2 cc's and one of those was a type that they don't accept. He didn't have enough cash since it was $100, and I had the check book with me. At the doctor's office.
And he didn't find out until he had unpacked the 3 boys from the car + diaper bag + double stroller and gone to pay for the membership at the children's museum. So, then he couldn't pay, and then the ATM card didn't work because it's expired since we never use it. So... do you see where this is going?
3 hyper little boys who are excited to go to a museum and now they can't get in + they already paid the meter and now he has to reload the children and buckle them in the carseats and load the stroller and diaper bag and drive back over to me, at the Dr's office and get a check and then drive BACK to the museum and park again, unload the kids, etc, etc.
All I can say is... glad it wasn't me. hee
* On that note, L update: We saw a pediatric ophthalmologist today. I was not impressed but that's a rant for another day. The good news is that there is nothing wrong with her actual eye, and she's attempting to use both eyes equally! The dr wants her to wear a little eye patch 2 waking hours a day - 5x a week.
Right now she's on oral steriods, Zantac and an antibiotic for the ulcer ON the hemangioma so I'm happy for no more meds or any invasive procedures.
Monday we go back to the Dermatologist again and they want to switch her to Propranolol. It's got less side effects, and will also help the ulcer heal faster, BUT we'll have to go into the regular 3x weekly for bp checks. I KNOW it's all for the best, but I'm really getting sick of all these dr appts, between well visits, sick visits, eye visits, dentists, etc - we've had 10 visits in the last 3 weeks!
And we have 2 more next week and then the boys all have their yearly visits coming up, plus all the upcoming b/p visits. Sheesh.
* D is working overtime. A lot. I do not like this. Yes, he's a hard worker. Yes, I appreciate that - greatly. But I'd rather have him around than a little extra money.
*I'm getting sick of people who act like you can't complain about anything. Examples:
Person: My husband is working too much, and we all miss him.
Reply: Well, at least he works and you have a roof over your head and you don't live in a war-torn, poverty stricken country. Be grateful he's not a bum. Who cares that he works all the time, he supports YOU!
Person: Man, I hate this weather!
Reply: Well, WE have 2 feet of snow! We haven't been out in weeks! Our roof will probably cave in!! You don't know how good you have it!
Person: These kids are driving me crazy today!
Reply: You know what causes that! Why did you have so many then?! At least they're healthy and not lying in a hospital bed somewhere! Be grateful, they grow up so fast! Soon you'll WISH they were at home bugging you.
(even if true, still not helpful)
OK - yes, things could always be worse. Yes, we should practice being grateful, but come on! Sheesh.
*The sun has come out. 2 days IN A ROW.
* I started Weight Watchers this week. I've almost lost 5 lbs already, if the scale this morning is right!
* For the first time ever, I forgot to make a credit card payment. Or, rather, the CC companys SAYS I forgot to make a payment - which I have never, ever, ever done. Since I pay my bills online I think I must have submitted it and had a computer error or something to that effect. It was around the time our router was messing up, so it could have been something like that.
Regardless, we did not make that payment somehow. The CC company -- who we have used for YEARS and knows that we have NEVER been late, EVER -- put a hold on our account so when D went to pay for something this morning he could not. They had temporarily closed our account. After ONE late payment - and only a few days late I might add. (**insert rant**)
We only have 2 cc's and one of those was a type that they don't accept. He didn't have enough cash since it was $100, and I had the check book with me. At the doctor's office.
And he didn't find out until he had unpacked the 3 boys from the car + diaper bag + double stroller and gone to pay for the membership at the children's museum. So, then he couldn't pay, and then the ATM card didn't work because it's expired since we never use it. So... do you see where this is going?
3 hyper little boys who are excited to go to a museum and now they can't get in + they already paid the meter and now he has to reload the children and buckle them in the carseats and load the stroller and diaper bag and drive back over to me, at the Dr's office and get a check and then drive BACK to the museum and park again, unload the kids, etc, etc.
All I can say is... glad it wasn't me. hee
* On that note, L update: We saw a pediatric ophthalmologist today. I was not impressed but that's a rant for another day. The good news is that there is nothing wrong with her actual eye, and she's attempting to use both eyes equally! The dr wants her to wear a little eye patch 2 waking hours a day - 5x a week.
Right now she's on oral steriods, Zantac and an antibiotic for the ulcer ON the hemangioma so I'm happy for no more meds or any invasive procedures.
Monday we go back to the Dermatologist again and they want to switch her to Propranolol. It's got less side effects, and will also help the ulcer heal faster, BUT we'll have to go into the regular 3x weekly for bp checks. I KNOW it's all for the best, but I'm really getting sick of all these dr appts, between well visits, sick visits, eye visits, dentists, etc - we've had 10 visits in the last 3 weeks!
And we have 2 more next week and then the boys all have their yearly visits coming up, plus all the upcoming b/p visits. Sheesh.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Dear...
Dear Body,
Don't you know that we just had a baby and the LAST thing we need right now is a return to fertility?
Thanks a lot.
~ Hmph
_________________
Dear Dentist,
I got your 2 texts, 4 phone calls, 2 voice mails and 2 cards in the mail. I understand we have dentist appointments today, as evidenced by my TWO returned confirmation texts. Do you recall that we have never once missed an appointment? You are worse than telemarketers at this point.
Love,
Irritated but still coming to my appointment
_________________
Dear O,
Since you've been potty trained since June I would love for you to actually remember to use the potty.
Seriously.
Love,
Mama
_________________
Dear Cat,
Next time you throw your bowl of food behind the dryer because it's not "fresh" - I'm going to leave it there.
Next time you try to trip me while I'm carrying the baby, I might *accidently* step on your tail instead of nearly falling over to avoid you.
Next time you wake up the kids from a nap, you will find yourself sleeping in the laundry room during nap time.
Love,
I realize you are a teenager now, but please stop being an a-hole.
________________
Dear Miss L,
This medicine is not poison, please stop gagging like I'm trying to kill you. Swallowing would be helpful too.
Love,
It's for your own good.
_________________
Dear Husband,
Nice save. I love you too.
Love,
Me
__________________
Dear W*lMart,
I hate that you never have enough cashiers, but you are close to my house and today you will have Valentine's candy on sale. I will be coming to visit even though I don't like you.
Love,
Needs chocolate
_________________
Dear abs,
Where did you go? Please come back to me!
Love,
Weak & Flabby
_________________
Dear Lots of Random People,
Is it really that hard to answer an email? Sheesh.
Sincerely,
UrRude
Don't you know that we just had a baby and the LAST thing we need right now is a return to fertility?
Thanks a lot.
~ Hmph
_________________
Dear Dentist,
I got your 2 texts, 4 phone calls, 2 voice mails and 2 cards in the mail. I understand we have dentist appointments today, as evidenced by my TWO returned confirmation texts. Do you recall that we have never once missed an appointment? You are worse than telemarketers at this point.
Love,
Irritated but still coming to my appointment
_________________
Dear O,
Since you've been potty trained since June I would love for you to actually remember to use the potty.
Seriously.
Love,
Mama
_________________
Dear Cat,
Next time you throw your bowl of food behind the dryer because it's not "fresh" - I'm going to leave it there.
Next time you try to trip me while I'm carrying the baby, I might *accidently* step on your tail instead of nearly falling over to avoid you.
Next time you wake up the kids from a nap, you will find yourself sleeping in the laundry room during nap time.
Love,
I realize you are a teenager now, but please stop being an a-hole.
________________
Dear Miss L,
This medicine is not poison, please stop gagging like I'm trying to kill you. Swallowing would be helpful too.
Love,
It's for your own good.
_________________
Dear Husband,
Nice save. I love you too.
Love,
Me
__________________
Dear W*lMart,
I hate that you never have enough cashiers, but you are close to my house and today you will have Valentine's candy on sale. I will be coming to visit even though I don't like you.
Love,
Needs chocolate
_________________
Dear abs,
Where did you go? Please come back to me!
Love,
Weak & Flabby
_________________
Dear Lots of Random People,
Is it really that hard to answer an email? Sheesh.
Sincerely,
UrRude
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Vday
D wrote me a sweet little love note for Valentine's Day. He could obviously tell I was feeling under appreciated yesterday and I could tell he felt bad. This morning he retreated to our room for a few minutes and then handed me a very sweet love letter. His note was the perfect gift. That's the kind of stuff that makes my heart flutter.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Back Burner
The back burner seems to be my permanent home.
Let's see... we (I) hired a babysitter last night and we went out to dinner, even though D really didn't feel like it. I tried not to have my feelings hurt. We waited 45 minutes, and had nothing much to talk about. (i.e. me jabbering about this and that and him saying "uh huh") We both agreed that we are fairly lame and have no time or energy for stuff like this. Still, I tried. I wanted it to be fun and romantic... but it wasn't.
We actually went to the GROCERY STORE after dinner. For real. I'm not kidding.
He went to bed as soon as we got home and by the time I was done feeding the baby, he was snoring.
I got D a charging station for our cell phones, with a drawer for his wallet and keys. He's always complaining about the kids taking them and the clutter on the night stand.
I took pictures of the kids holding the letters L-O-V-E and framed it for his desk at work. That was his gift "from the kids."
We (I) got the kids each a cute little valentine's gift bag with some fruit snacks, a little chocolate heart and a marshmallow lollipop.
We (I) sent each niece a cute little bag with valentine socks, a cute pony tail holder, tiny little pots of strawberries, a candy necklace and a chocolate heart and some super cute kid's plates from Target.
We (I) sent each grandparent a collage of the same pictures I gave D.
I got... nothing. So far. Technically V day isn't until tomorrow but let's just say I'm not holding my breath.
Oh wait, I did get a LOT of "I'm so busy." and "I've been working so much." and "I don't have time."
(He has been working a lot, and I know he's busy. But, PS - you make time for things and people that are important.)
D worked (at home) right up until the very second we left last night. D is working (at home) right now. I have a cold and so do the boys. D has rugby today, from about 11 - 4ish.
On the other hand, he just stopped working for a few minutes to go dance to the radio with the boys.
Let's see... we (I) hired a babysitter last night and we went out to dinner, even though D really didn't feel like it. I tried not to have my feelings hurt. We waited 45 minutes, and had nothing much to talk about. (i.e. me jabbering about this and that and him saying "uh huh") We both agreed that we are fairly lame and have no time or energy for stuff like this. Still, I tried. I wanted it to be fun and romantic... but it wasn't.
We actually went to the GROCERY STORE after dinner. For real. I'm not kidding.
He went to bed as soon as we got home and by the time I was done feeding the baby, he was snoring.
I got D a charging station for our cell phones, with a drawer for his wallet and keys. He's always complaining about the kids taking them and the clutter on the night stand.
I took pictures of the kids holding the letters L-O-V-E and framed it for his desk at work. That was his gift "from the kids."
We (I) got the kids each a cute little valentine's gift bag with some fruit snacks, a little chocolate heart and a marshmallow lollipop.
We (I) sent each niece a cute little bag with valentine socks, a cute pony tail holder, tiny little pots of strawberries, a candy necklace and a chocolate heart and some super cute kid's plates from Target.
We (I) sent each grandparent a collage of the same pictures I gave D.
I got... nothing. So far. Technically V day isn't until tomorrow but let's just say I'm not holding my breath.
Oh wait, I did get a LOT of "I'm so busy." and "I've been working so much." and "I don't have time."
(He has been working a lot, and I know he's busy. But, PS - you make time for things and people that are important.)
D worked (at home) right up until the very second we left last night. D is working (at home) right now. I have a cold and so do the boys. D has rugby today, from about 11 - 4ish.
On the other hand, he just stopped working for a few minutes to go dance to the radio with the boys.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Random Thursday
* I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and D had to make dinner. He looked in the freezer and came up with the following menu: cheese pizza, bacon, hot dogs, baked french fries.
How's that for a balanced dinner?
* Miss L's eye is already starting to look a little bit better! The steroids seem to be inflicting only minimal side effects - so yay!
* This is the time of year that everyone proclaims that they hate Valentine's Day. It's become very uncool to actually like it, apparently. Well, I'm not cool anyway so I'll just say it. I LOVE Valentine's Day.
I love making little gifts for the kids, I love finding a little something for D and I might as well just admit that I also love flowers and candy. (Whether I will get any or not is something else entirely.) Yes, I am a romantic. I would prefer it be normal in our house to have some romance slash thoughtfulness EVERY day, but when you're married to someone who is just not like that... well... Valentine's Day is kind of nice.
Call me lame if you must.
* We're only on day 3 of our hermit-ness and all the boys have colds and we're already getting a little stir crazy. It's going to be a long month. February is probably not a good time to have a suppressed immune system but I'm just hoping that Miss L will be spared getting sick. *sigh*
* It took me 35 minutes this morning to get L to swallow 1tsp of her medicine. The child is a drama queen already. You'd think I was trying to poison her! I guess I shouldn't be surprised since she gags on pacifiers, gas drops and baby tylenol.
* I saw a VERY pregnant lady at the dr's yesterday and, for just a split second, I felt nostalgic. Then she pushed the baby's feet out of her ribs and I remembered that I was so over that.
How's that for a balanced dinner?
* Miss L's eye is already starting to look a little bit better! The steroids seem to be inflicting only minimal side effects - so yay!
* This is the time of year that everyone proclaims that they hate Valentine's Day. It's become very uncool to actually like it, apparently. Well, I'm not cool anyway so I'll just say it. I LOVE Valentine's Day.
I love making little gifts for the kids, I love finding a little something for D and I might as well just admit that I also love flowers and candy. (Whether I will get any or not is something else entirely.) Yes, I am a romantic. I would prefer it be normal in our house to have some romance slash thoughtfulness EVERY day, but when you're married to someone who is just not like that... well... Valentine's Day is kind of nice.
Call me lame if you must.
* We're only on day 3 of our hermit-ness and all the boys have colds and we're already getting a little stir crazy. It's going to be a long month. February is probably not a good time to have a suppressed immune system but I'm just hoping that Miss L will be spared getting sick. *sigh*
* It took me 35 minutes this morning to get L to swallow 1tsp of her medicine. The child is a drama queen already. You'd think I was trying to poison her! I guess I shouldn't be surprised since she gags on pacifiers, gas drops and baby tylenol.
* I saw a VERY pregnant lady at the dr's yesterday and, for just a split second, I felt nostalgic. Then she pushed the baby's feet out of her ribs and I remembered that I was so over that.
Monday, February 08, 2010
Update on Miss L's hemangioma
We took L to Birmingham today, to see the Pediatric Dermatologist. The doctor was great. We talked about our options and she felt strongly that we should treat L's since it's in a such a critical area.
She prescribed some oral steriods for a couple weeks, to shrink the hemangioma rapidly. After we've seen a pediatric ophthalmologist, to make sure there's nothing wrong with her eye itself - we're going to switch to Propranolol. (a B/P med)
She feels it's safer, with fewer side effects than the steroids, although there are still some. It shrinks the hemangioma more slowly though, so we're doing steroids first to shrink it a bit as it's really affecting her vision.
So, I'm satisfied with it for now. The problem with steroids is that it really supresses the immune system so we have to be really careful - I guess we'll be staying home even more and trying not to expose ourselves to any extra germs.
The other side effects are a puffy face (D said, "How will be able to tell?" haha) increased irritability and increased spitting up, and babies often fall off their growth curve.
We're already having problems with the first two, and she went ahead and prescribed Zantac as well, to hopefully help with the spitting up. I feel a little sick at my stomach at the thought of giving her steriods, but I'm trying to tell myself that it's in her best interest and it will be OK.
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Friday, February 05, 2010
h - update
Well, our appointment went pretty well. I could tell right away that the doctor was concerned about the hemangioma, but not overly so. It's not really his area so he told me that he would get L an appointment with a pediatric dermatologist. He checked out her eye and said that it seemed to be isolated to her eyelid and not growing ON her eye - which is a HUGE relief. He didn't think that she would need to see a pediatric ophthalmologist, but said that the dermatologist would tell me if she thought she did.
In other news, Miss L weighs 14lbs 10oz and was 23.5 inches long. Her head circ and length are in the 90th percentile and her weight, well... she's off the chart. ha!
I talked to him about the amount she spits up and he said he could prescribe something, but given her weight he thinks she's over eating to compensate for any tummy troubles (we discussed her dairy sensitivity) so the meds probably wouldn't help that much. We opted to just grow out of it and stay off dairy.
So, that's the update. Our appointment with the specialist is on Monday. He was able to get us an appointment very soon, which I'm grateful for!
I'm hopeful that she will give us some options for treatment, or something to go on. I plan to ask her about the drug I talked about previously, propranolol, and see what she thinks of it. I have concerns about every treatment option I know of, so I'm just hoping to gain some kind of clarity.
Also, thank you, for the kind words on my last post. I've been so stressed over this and your positive thoughts really calmed me.
In other news, Miss L weighs 14lbs 10oz and was 23.5 inches long. Her head circ and length are in the 90th percentile and her weight, well... she's off the chart. ha!
I talked to him about the amount she spits up and he said he could prescribe something, but given her weight he thinks she's over eating to compensate for any tummy troubles (we discussed her dairy sensitivity) so the meds probably wouldn't help that much. We opted to just grow out of it and stay off dairy.
So, that's the update. Our appointment with the specialist is on Monday. He was able to get us an appointment very soon, which I'm grateful for!
I'm hopeful that she will give us some options for treatment, or something to go on. I plan to ask her about the drug I talked about previously, propranolol, and see what she thinks of it. I have concerns about every treatment option I know of, so I'm just hoping to gain some kind of clarity.
Also, thank you, for the kind words on my last post. I've been so stressed over this and your positive thoughts really calmed me.
Thursday, February 04, 2010
hemangioma
I'm sure some of you have noticed that Miss L seems to have something on her left eyelid. Here are a few pictures for comparison:
1 week old
9 weeks old
If you've never heard of a hemangioma, it's basically a birthmark. It appears a few weeks after birth, generally, and can grow quite large. It usually grows rapidly and continues to grow for the first 9 mo to 1 year. 90% are gone by the time a child is 10 years old, but many disappear before 5 years old. If this H wasn't on her eye, I would probably not be doing anything. As it is, I'm worried. I don't want it to compromise her vision. If you can't tell from the picture, she cannot open that eye all the way anymore. Her eye lid is very fat and red and chances are that it will continue to get bigger.
Therefore, I've been doing a lot of research on our options. Steriod injections and surgery are both scary options to me, and until yesterday, I thought they might be our only options. I posted about this in a couple of different places and, I've since had 3 people contact me about a drug called Propranolol, which is a blood pressure medication. There are few side effects and it sounds like a very promising option for infants with H's. I have an appointment with our regular pediatrician tomorrow, and I'm very hopeful that he will have heard of this treatment. (If he hasn't I am armed with a couple articles, including one from the New England Journal of Medicine.) I am expecting to at least get a referral to a specialist.
Therefore, I've been doing a lot of research on our options. Steriod injections and surgery are both scary options to me, and until yesterday, I thought they might be our only options. I posted about this in a couple of different places and, I've since had 3 people contact me about a drug called Propranolol, which is a blood pressure medication. There are few side effects and it sounds like a very promising option for infants with H's. I have an appointment with our regular pediatrician tomorrow, and I'm very hopeful that he will have heard of this treatment. (If he hasn't I am armed with a couple articles, including one from the New England Journal of Medicine.) I am expecting to at least get a referral to a specialist.
I'm writing all this to say that any positive thoughts or prayers would be very appreciated. I know it's not a huge issue, but I'm nervous and worried. I want the best and safest option for my sweet baby and I don't want her vision or overall health to be compromised. And if you have any experiences to share, please do.
I'll keep you updated after our doctor's appointment tomorrow.
I'll keep you updated after our doctor's appointment tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Not to complain... again...
All of you bloggers with the embedded comment form? I can't comment. I can see that OTHER people can comment but I can't. EVERY SINGLE blog with an embedded form just eats my comment. I'm signed in. It doesn't redirect me to another page, it just eats my comment.
We're talking a lot of blogs here people. I swear I am not ignoring you, I just.can't.comment. Ugh.
Somebody help me! Am I the only one who is having this problem? HELP!
We're talking a lot of blogs here people. I swear I am not ignoring you, I just.can't.comment. Ugh.
Somebody help me! Am I the only one who is having this problem? HELP!
Monday, February 01, 2010
Don't ask me how I know...
Did you know that if you use a certain doctor and your partner wants a certain "procedure" to render him unable to have any more babies, you will have to go with him and sign a permission slip?
A PERMISSION SLIP.
I get it; I do. I know WHY the doctor does that and I definitely think that a couple should absolutely, positively, discuss these things before making permanent decisions.
But.
This rubs me the wrong way.
For goodness sake, I could have an abortion without my husband's permission. I'm pretty sure I could get my tubes tied without asking him as well, although I haven't looked into it. Would that be right? No, not in my opinion.
But it could be done.
In our state, it's not a law that the wife sign a permission slip. It just happens to be this doctor's office. From what I've read on Google, it is perfectly legal for individual doc's to choose this. It seems that it would violate the HIPA laws, but apparently it does not. While it's not a concern for us, it is confusing to me. Either you have the rights to your body, or you don't.
I don't mean this to be controversial, and I realize I said the "A" word, and that can be dangerous - but I just truly don't understand it!
A PERMISSION SLIP.
I get it; I do. I know WHY the doctor does that and I definitely think that a couple should absolutely, positively, discuss these things before making permanent decisions.
But.
This rubs me the wrong way.
For goodness sake, I could have an abortion without my husband's permission. I'm pretty sure I could get my tubes tied without asking him as well, although I haven't looked into it. Would that be right? No, not in my opinion.
But it could be done.
In our state, it's not a law that the wife sign a permission slip. It just happens to be this doctor's office. From what I've read on Google, it is perfectly legal for individual doc's to choose this. It seems that it would violate the HIPA laws, but apparently it does not. While it's not a concern for us, it is confusing to me. Either you have the rights to your body, or you don't.
I don't mean this to be controversial, and I realize I said the "A" word, and that can be dangerous - but I just truly don't understand it!
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