News from the Frontlines (homefront that is!)

Well, I haven't been able to upload the storm pictures to my computer (for some reason my bluetooth doesn't want to cooperate). They weren't the best quality due to being taken by my camera phone so it's not really a great loss, although they did depict the destruction of the storm.

As far as Max's team evaluation for his cleft repairs etc, all is going great. The doctor said he is pleased with the outcome of his lip and palate but said we may want to revise the lip repair before Max starts school. It really all depends on if the slight lift on his left side reduces on it's own or if we can bring it down manually by rubbing down on the incision line with our finger.

His right ear that had the tube placement is doing well too. The ear tube itself was coming out, which I had seen a couple of weeks before his appointment (and now has fallen out) and was also plugged, but the good news is that it is functioning like a normal ear should and had no fluid behind it. I'll keep doing what we've been doing though because I want to protect it seeing his other ear is compromised.

The speech pathologist said she thinks he has some speech issues (as if we didn't know) but I ordered a DVD that is put out by the Hospital for Sick Children of Toronto, Canada and she said is an excellent tool for learning techniques to identify and correct any maladaptive speech production and/or patterns. I expect to receive it soon in the mail and will review it with Max's speech pathologist he works with from our home. He is doing really well considering he had his lip/palate repair less than 5 months ago (besides his first palate repair attempt.

All in all a great evaluation.

I also have some news regarding my ongoing medical issues.

As you may have read, I was diagnosed as having Chiari Malformation, a tumor in my thoracic spine and some herniation's to some more discs.... well...I have some more good (sarcastic) news... I have a fracture to my T 12 vertebrae...AND a questionable syrinx.....yippeee

I'm sending my information, along with my MRI to The Chiari Institute (www.chiariinstitute.com), which is the premiere treatment center in the world for Chiari malformation, syringomyelia, tethered spinal cord and other related conditions, and it just happens to be in Great Neck, New York. After sending my info, I should hear from them in about 2-4 weeks. They are already booking for September so it will be a while before they can do further testing. One thing though, is that they can give me their PROFESSIONAL opinion as far as reading my MRI prior to seeing them in person. Very few doctors in the world are true Chiari specialists. Many say they are, but most have limited experience at best.

In the meantime, I'm scheduled for another series of epidural injections, my first of this series being Thursday. Hopefully, I will get some relief from these new symptoms like I have in the past for my others. Keep your fingers crossed for me will ya?!?

In other news.....

Today, Sonja and Max were supposed to go up and take their nap. I could hear Maxie up there playing and chattering along and also Sonja saying "Shhh Maxie! Mommy's going to hear you!" with that, I would say "Please go to sleep" in my best "mother" voice. The whispering and playing went on, and I decided I'd just let them play as long as no blood was drawn.

Dan came home right when they were sneaking down the stairs with the above get-ups on.
Sonja was playing the role of "Supermodel" as you can see. I'm not quite sure what was going on with Max though. He came down with the "Elton John" glasses that Sonja is wearing below, along with the fairy headpiece as a necklace, his shirt and diaper. I'm definitely saving these pictures to show to him someday (or his girlfriend :-)

Sonja strikes a couple of poses.

The Elton John glasses

Bear had his day at the spa. He did have a spa massage bath (he smells great!), nails done (no polish of course), blow dry and brush out along with his first real labradoodle hairdo. Now he looks like a labradoodle instead of a sheep dog. His groomer said he's starting to lose his puppy coat and is getting his adult coat so she didn't cut to much off so he'd have the "labradoodle fluff". You can actually see difference in the adult coat. It's like a small, tight "S" curl. She also said he had no mats!!! While she was clipping his around his eyes he flinched and she took too much in one area so she had to even it up on the other side. I think he still looks cute though. I can't wait to see what he looks like when he gets his full adult coat in.

I'm so happy we adopted him. He's a very good dog. He only barks when a stranger comes or when a stray entered the yard while the kids were playing. He is definitely protective over kids, which is exactly what I wanted.

he's already learned a couple of tricks too! He shakes paws, sits, and lies down when told (well the lying down is sometimes selective depending on other situations), oh... and he's fully house trained!!!!!

He's such a lover!!!

Until next time.....