Her nose is still broken but, now that the swelling has gone down, her nose looks straight. THis means she does NOT need the operation as there is nothing to straighten, WOOHOO! I'm so glad we didn't have to make the call.
She is not to wear her glasses for the next 10 days and under no circumstances is she to get hit on her nose (CIARA!!). I did ask about Kindergarten but as the ENT said, she is as likely to fall at home as at Kindergarten so we will be sending her back there next week. We've got a doctors note for the rest of this week as the girls are still getting over their tummy bug and the paediatrician (yes we visited him too today- it was a long afternoon in various doctors waiting rooms- more than 3 hours with 2 bored cranky little girls) didn't want them going back yet. Ciara has some kind of rash on her hand which he is ascribing to the same viral infection as their tummy bug and so she is not to go back until that is gone.
So another day of watching Peppa Pig (the girls are addicted) and playing The Big Bobby Car Game or fishing coming up. Maybe we will even get a let up from the persistant rain and get to go ride the striders out on the terrace!
P.S. recently witnessed scene
Enya made a mess while eating breakfast and to try and hide it covered it with her bowl, Ciara witnessing this tattle taled to Z
C: "Enya made a mess"
E: "no I didn't"
C: "you made a mess"
E; "no I didn't"
C (getting a bit upset): "yes you did"
E: "no I didn't"
C (now almost in tears): "You did make a mess"
E (moves the bowl aside): "Did I?... " (peers over at Ciara with her head tilted to one side and smiles sweetly) "Okay"
Poor Ciara doesn't stand a chance
Showing posts with label doctors appointment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label doctors appointment. Show all posts
13 Jan 2011
10 Jan 2011
First broken bone
So broken it is!
I got to spend a fun afternoon at the hospital today with Enya, made even more fun by the fact when we first arrived Enya puked ALL over me. X-ray confirmed her nose is broken and they suspect a mild concussion. They offered to keep her in hospital overnight until she can be seen by the ENT specialist tomorrow (no ENT cover today) because of the puking, but given that she was feverish as well and was fine for the first two days, everyone thinks it is more likely she has picked up a stomach bug, so I brought her home. This of course means we get to have the fun all over again tomorrow when we visit the ENT specialist.
PS the stomach bug diagnosis was pretty much confirmed when we got home and Ciara was carrying her cough cough bucket around. Needless to say dinner wasn't on the agenda and both girls crashed about 2 hours before their normal bedtime.
I got to spend a fun afternoon at the hospital today with Enya, made even more fun by the fact when we first arrived Enya puked ALL over me. X-ray confirmed her nose is broken and they suspect a mild concussion. They offered to keep her in hospital overnight until she can be seen by the ENT specialist tomorrow (no ENT cover today) because of the puking, but given that she was feverish as well and was fine for the first two days, everyone thinks it is more likely she has picked up a stomach bug, so I brought her home. This of course means we get to have the fun all over again tomorrow when we visit the ENT specialist.
PS the stomach bug diagnosis was pretty much confirmed when we got home and Ciara was carrying her cough cough bucket around. Needless to say dinner wasn't on the agenda and both girls crashed about 2 hours before their normal bedtime.
31 Dec 2010
Good bye 2010
I won't be sad to see you go!!
As a fitting end to 2010 Enya woke up this morning with a gummy eye. Now I don't know what it's like in other parts of the world but in my corner of Germany life comes to a stand still between Christmas and New Years. Neither the Paediatricians nor the opthalmologists were open today, I landed up having to go to the emergency service at the local childrens hospital to get a prescription for eye drops (and even their service only started at 9am) which involved an hour and a half wait. Z is at his father's restuarant today so I had 2 bored girls to entertain and the waiting room is just chairs in a corridor- NOT FUN. THe only positive about this was that Enya got a thorough check up- yes, she has started another cold/cough having been sniffle free for about 3 days! At least I go into this weekend knowing her lungs and ears are clear.
Now hoping for a healthy 2011,
Happy new year to you all
As a fitting end to 2010 Enya woke up this morning with a gummy eye. Now I don't know what it's like in other parts of the world but in my corner of Germany life comes to a stand still between Christmas and New Years. Neither the Paediatricians nor the opthalmologists were open today, I landed up having to go to the emergency service at the local childrens hospital to get a prescription for eye drops (and even their service only started at 9am) which involved an hour and a half wait. Z is at his father's restuarant today so I had 2 bored girls to entertain and the waiting room is just chairs in a corridor- NOT FUN. THe only positive about this was that Enya got a thorough check up- yes, she has started another cold/cough having been sniffle free for about 3 days! At least I go into this weekend knowing her lungs and ears are clear.
Now hoping for a healthy 2011,
Happy new year to you all
19 Sept 2010
lots to say today
Most important news first- the girls had another preemie follow up assessment at the Social Paediatric Centre (SPZ) last Friday and ..........
WE'VE BEEN DISCHARGED!! We're going back to see our beloved play therapist once or twice more, just to tie up the last loose ends but the doc says she is happy with how the girls are looking, they are not showing any major delays so get out and enjoy ourselves! We had the 3 year well child assessment on Monday and our paediatrician said exactly the same thing (he ran the SPZ for many years before moving back into general paeds so he's more like a developmental paed really) so we're going with the flow and will be therapy and appointment free for the first time ever. Well, except for the opthalmologist but that is a life long follow up so it doesn't count. Talking about eyes, we were at the orthoptician on Friday as well and I happened to mention to her that Ciara had had a corneal injury a couple of weeks ago, next thing I knew the prof was being hauled out of surgery to come check Ciara's eyes out- everything has healed well but how is that for service? It would never have happened at the Eye Guy's practice!!
Yesterday after a horrendous morning (Ciara decorated our lounge wall with pen, shredded our banking file and scratched Enya's face to ribbons), the sun finally came out so we took the girls out for a walk with their "babies" (the dolls don't have a name, they are both just called baby).
We were hoping to walk some of the beans out of Ciara and it seemed to work, we detoured past the park which for once was quiet so the girls had a ball playing on all the playground equipment the bigger kids are usually occupying.
I know this is a baby swing but it is just so nice to see Enya smiling on a swing especially when it is going high! She goes just as high on the normal swings as well now!!
Today (Sunday) we decided to go into the city as Siegen is hosting the NRW Day (celebrating 65 years of Nord Rhein Westfalen- the state we live in). We'd been warned that there were over 300 000 people expected to visit over the weekend (For comparison about 60 000 people live in Siegen!) and to use public transport, so we did. Busing in this morning was tedious with lots of waiting (thank goodness we had fortified ourselves with delicious choc chip waffles for breakfast ;0) or the meltdowns would have started even earlier) but when we eventually arrived in Siegen we lots to do and see.
On the blue light mile (emergency and military exhibitors)
Army helicopter up close and personal
Safety first
THW (Technische Hilfswerk) Bobby Car race course
After this I stopped taking pictures but there were 16 sound stages scattered around the city centre with free musical or kiddies acts on throughout the day, various free activities (eg. climbing offered by the German alpine club), loads of food and info stalls as well as all the shops being open.
There was so much to look at that the girls couldn't nap so we landed up having to leave around 4pm (we caught the train home- I can't remember the last time I was in such an overfilled train- thankfully the other passengers were all still in really good spirits and no one was drunk or it could have been quite unpleasant). Quick dinner, shower and the girls were fast asleep by just after 6pm and I'm heading for bed too now, sorry can't keep my eyes open anymore :0).
WE'VE BEEN DISCHARGED!! We're going back to see our beloved play therapist once or twice more, just to tie up the last loose ends but the doc says she is happy with how the girls are looking, they are not showing any major delays so get out and enjoy ourselves! We had the 3 year well child assessment on Monday and our paediatrician said exactly the same thing (he ran the SPZ for many years before moving back into general paeds so he's more like a developmental paed really) so we're going with the flow and will be therapy and appointment free for the first time ever. Well, except for the opthalmologist but that is a life long follow up so it doesn't count. Talking about eyes, we were at the orthoptician on Friday as well and I happened to mention to her that Ciara had had a corneal injury a couple of weeks ago, next thing I knew the prof was being hauled out of surgery to come check Ciara's eyes out- everything has healed well but how is that for service? It would never have happened at the Eye Guy's practice!!
Yesterday after a horrendous morning (Ciara decorated our lounge wall with pen, shredded our banking file and scratched Enya's face to ribbons), the sun finally came out so we took the girls out for a walk with their "babies" (the dolls don't have a name, they are both just called baby).
We were hoping to walk some of the beans out of Ciara and it seemed to work, we detoured past the park which for once was quiet so the girls had a ball playing on all the playground equipment the bigger kids are usually occupying.
I know this is a baby swing but it is just so nice to see Enya smiling on a swing especially when it is going high! She goes just as high on the normal swings as well now!!
Today (Sunday) we decided to go into the city as Siegen is hosting the NRW Day (celebrating 65 years of Nord Rhein Westfalen- the state we live in). We'd been warned that there were over 300 000 people expected to visit over the weekend (For comparison about 60 000 people live in Siegen!) and to use public transport, so we did. Busing in this morning was tedious with lots of waiting (thank goodness we had fortified ourselves with delicious choc chip waffles for breakfast ;0) or the meltdowns would have started even earlier) but when we eventually arrived in Siegen we lots to do and see.
On the blue light mile (emergency and military exhibitors)
Army helicopter up close and personal
Safety first
THW (Technische Hilfswerk) Bobby Car race course
After this I stopped taking pictures but there were 16 sound stages scattered around the city centre with free musical or kiddies acts on throughout the day, various free activities (eg. climbing offered by the German alpine club), loads of food and info stalls as well as all the shops being open.
There was so much to look at that the girls couldn't nap so we landed up having to leave around 4pm (we caught the train home- I can't remember the last time I was in such an overfilled train- thankfully the other passengers were all still in really good spirits and no one was drunk or it could have been quite unpleasant). Quick dinner, shower and the girls were fast asleep by just after 6pm and I'm heading for bed too now, sorry can't keep my eyes open anymore :0).
13 Sept 2010
Beds and eyes
2nd post today
Did I mention we had an emergency visit to the opthalmologist last week- Enya hit Ciara in the face with a piece of rolled up paper and injured her eye. Thank goodness although the cornea was injured, Ciara is young enough that it literally healed overnight, she was NOT a happy camper!!
The new big girl beds:
Enya
Ciara
The last photo is a good visual description of how the new beds are working out!!
Did I mention we had an emergency visit to the opthalmologist last week- Enya hit Ciara in the face with a piece of rolled up paper and injured her eye. Thank goodness although the cornea was injured, Ciara is young enough that it literally healed overnight, she was NOT a happy camper!!
The new big girl beds:
Enya
Ciara
The last photo is a good visual description of how the new beds are working out!!
6 Aug 2010
Whew, another bullet dodged
So 9 months later we have finally had our orthopaedic consult just to rule out anything squiffy with Enya's hips. She has incredibily hypermobile (too flexible) hip joints, in part no doubt due to her favorite sleeping position (best description is she looks like a frog with her splayed knees up near her armpits). He was amazed at how normal Enya is, given her long list of diagnoses/problems after birth (balm to this mothers ears). Anyway the upshot of the appointment is she still has a slightly insecure gait pattern but the physical exam was normal and X-rays only showed something that will need to be checked at a later date to see if it resolves (there is no therapy for it as it stands now) in the meantime we are to encourage her to be as active as possible- swimming, gym, and lots of load bearing activities like jumping. We go back for another check up in 2 years time!
I di however while I was already there ask about her feet, as her 2nd toe on the left foot tends to cross over the back of her third toe. His statement is it was purely cosmetic but we could try a shoe insert so that all the toes line up next to each other to remedy the situation. I don't know that I agree that it is purely a cosmetic problem as her toe catches when we put socks on Enya and it has a slight callus on the top of the proximal toe joint as well, which shows it rubs on shoes as well.
Other news, the days of the cots are nearing an end. As I've mentioned in the past the girls have been able to climb into their cots for ages but didn't trust themselves to climb out in the dark (we keep their room pitch black during naps and overnight for this reason), well that all changed this week!! Z eventually had to resort to turning the safety switch for their bedroom light off as they were climbing out of bed and switching the light on to play as soon as he left the room everytime last night. Thank goodness I was out gallivanting in town so I missed the fireworks- apparently they finally went to sleep 2 hours later than usual ! This morning, for the first time ever, Ciara came to our bedroom unaided to wake us up (at 6:15am!), she climbed out of bed in the dark and came to join us in our bed. I've left the gap in the bars on their crib open tonight as I'd rather they crawled out the hole than over the top if they're going to get out anyway. I think we'll be converting their beds this weekend!
I di however while I was already there ask about her feet, as her 2nd toe on the left foot tends to cross over the back of her third toe. His statement is it was purely cosmetic but we could try a shoe insert so that all the toes line up next to each other to remedy the situation. I don't know that I agree that it is purely a cosmetic problem as her toe catches when we put socks on Enya and it has a slight callus on the top of the proximal toe joint as well, which shows it rubs on shoes as well.
Other news, the days of the cots are nearing an end. As I've mentioned in the past the girls have been able to climb into their cots for ages but didn't trust themselves to climb out in the dark (we keep their room pitch black during naps and overnight for this reason), well that all changed this week!! Z eventually had to resort to turning the safety switch for their bedroom light off as they were climbing out of bed and switching the light on to play as soon as he left the room everytime last night. Thank goodness I was out gallivanting in town so I missed the fireworks- apparently they finally went to sleep 2 hours later than usual ! This morning, for the first time ever, Ciara came to our bedroom unaided to wake us up (at 6:15am!), she climbed out of bed in the dark and came to join us in our bed. I've left the gap in the bars on their crib open tonight as I'd rather they crawled out the hole than over the top if they're going to get out anyway. I think we'll be converting their beds this weekend!
21 May 2010
Whew!
After phoning the neurologists practice for the 4th time, they finally admitted to having the results of Enya's blood test. The first 3 times they kept promising they would phone me with the results as soon as they got them, which was in the end a lie (they couldn't find the results the last time I phoned, although everyone there knew that they had come and there was already a medical letter written for our paediatrician so they had obviously been around for a while).
They wanted me to start dosing her up with thyroxine and then recheck her TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) levels in 2 months. I have however learned to be a bit careful about this practice in the past (the doc trying to convince me that Enya had high tone in her legs when in reality she is low tone all over!) so I arranged to get copies of the lab reports and made an appointment with our own Paed.
After picking up the letter this morning before play therapy I was very relieved to see that the TSH levels were the high end of normal (my research on Dr google had informed me kids normal values were 0.7-5.5, adults 0.3-3.0, the normal levels quoted in the letter were the adult values). After play therapy we had our paed appointment and he AGREED with me! So another worry is swept off our plate, Enya doesn't have any thyroid problems YIPPEE!
Why the other practice is using adult values for kids, I don't know. The scariest thing is they also are a paediatrics practice so I hate to think how many of their kids are on unneccessary hormones. As my paed said, once you start on the hormone supplementation path it can be very hard to get off it again. He has had more than one discussion with this particular practice about this issue but as yet no success in getting through to them. Thank goodness we don't need to go back there again.
They wanted me to start dosing her up with thyroxine and then recheck her TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) levels in 2 months. I have however learned to be a bit careful about this practice in the past (the doc trying to convince me that Enya had high tone in her legs when in reality she is low tone all over!) so I arranged to get copies of the lab reports and made an appointment with our own Paed.
After picking up the letter this morning before play therapy I was very relieved to see that the TSH levels were the high end of normal (my research on Dr google had informed me kids normal values were 0.7-5.5, adults 0.3-3.0, the normal levels quoted in the letter were the adult values). After play therapy we had our paed appointment and he AGREED with me! So another worry is swept off our plate, Enya doesn't have any thyroid problems YIPPEE!
Why the other practice is using adult values for kids, I don't know. The scariest thing is they also are a paediatrics practice so I hate to think how many of their kids are on unneccessary hormones. As my paed said, once you start on the hormone supplementation path it can be very hard to get off it again. He has had more than one discussion with this particular practice about this issue but as yet no success in getting through to them. Thank goodness we don't need to go back there again.
15 May 2010
Busy busy
My baby sister is here for a visit and we've been very busy doing nothing much. Baby sister is being called granny and we were asked if she was my twin (she's ten years younger than me!) so I don't think she feels very complimented-medical school obviously drains the life/youth out of one;0).
C and E are being delightful, exhausting and exuberent as befits nearly three year olds. They were discharged from cardiology last week! WOO HOO!! Both of their ASD/PFO's have closed. We're almost rid of all our specialists now!!
Our program for next week involves the first visit to kindergarten for a trial session (with parental accompaniment). I'm intrigued to see what is planned and how everyone (read Enya) copes with the session. I'm really excited about them starting kindergarten as I believe they will gain so much from it. I have already seen how much they pick up from the older kids when we have visitors and I can't wait to see what they learn when they are exposed to other kids everyday.
Gotta take my baby sister to the airport tomorrow very early, this week has really flown by !
C and E are being delightful, exhausting and exuberent as befits nearly three year olds. They were discharged from cardiology last week! WOO HOO!! Both of their ASD/PFO's have closed. We're almost rid of all our specialists now!!
Our program for next week involves the first visit to kindergarten for a trial session (with parental accompaniment). I'm intrigued to see what is planned and how everyone (read Enya) copes with the session. I'm really excited about them starting kindergarten as I believe they will gain so much from it. I have already seen how much they pick up from the older kids when we have visitors and I can't wait to see what they learn when they are exposed to other kids everyday.
Gotta take my baby sister to the airport tomorrow very early, this week has really flown by !
6 May 2010
Babee and a discharge
Early morning this morning as Enya had a 8am appointment at the neurologist and she was DISCHARGED!! From a neurological point of view Enya is doing fine and her EEG was normal so we get to strike another specialist off our list. Unfortunately after our last appointment they gave me the incorrect results for her thyroid blood test (the values WERE abnormal) so we have to get it redone and it looks likely that Enya will be starting medication for her thyroid. Ask me why the neurologist is the one that noticed the signs and is the one leading the testing for this!!
I found Babee at the second shop this morning so that was huge sigh of relief. Ciara was delighted to see it when I gave to back to her after we got home and it is now tucked up next to her for naptime.
I found Babee at the second shop this morning so that was huge sigh of relief. Ciara was delighted to see it when I gave to back to her after we got home and it is now tucked up next to her for naptime.
3 May 2010
Just shoot me!
Remember when I said that I dreaded the girls needing glasses? Well we've just gotten back from an appointment with the Eye Prof (as opposed to the horrible Eye Guy) and BOTH GIRLS need glasses! I could just cry!
They are both long sighted and also both have astigmatism. The only plus about the entire visit was that we were out of there in next to no time as we were the only exam patients there, all the other were surgical.
Now I need to go spectacle shopping again. How the heck am I supposed to get them to wear the glasses and not break them. I've already checked a couple of shops and they only have metal glasses and as both Z and I have seen, the girls delight in bending even the hardiest metal frames.
This is so not FUN!
They are both long sighted and also both have astigmatism. The only plus about the entire visit was that we were out of there in next to no time as we were the only exam patients there, all the other were surgical.
Now I need to go spectacle shopping again. How the heck am I supposed to get them to wear the glasses and not break them. I've already checked a couple of shops and they only have metal glasses and as both Z and I have seen, the girls delight in bending even the hardiest metal frames.
This is so not FUN!
21 Apr 2010
getting old
Having always had perfect eyesight it was with great regret that I had to accept a few weeks ago my eyes were no longer up to scratch. I went to a new opthalmologist (you all know how I disliked the Eye guy, we're now all at a new practice) expecting to just get glasses for reading but instead landed up with glasses to be worn all the time. Needless to say the new glasses have a flex frame as the girls love to play with glasses so my glasses need to be hardy. I dread the day someone says either Ciara or Enya needs glasses, it was mentioned by the orthoptician the last visit we had and we have the next visit to their new opthamologist in 2 weeks so it is geting a bit acute again.
Talking of doctors, I felt like a real Munchhausen by proxy mother ordering 7 doctors referrals for the girls. In the next few weeks we have appointments for opthamologist x2, cardiologist x2 (to check on their Atrial Septal Defects), neurologist (Enya for EEG check) and Preemie clinic x2 (for their play therapy). All important and necessary appointments but considering how healthy Ciara and Enya are, it feels excessive that they need so many medical check ups!
Talking of doctors, I felt like a real Munchhausen by proxy mother ordering 7 doctors referrals for the girls. In the next few weeks we have appointments for opthamologist x2, cardiologist x2 (to check on their Atrial Septal Defects), neurologist (Enya for EEG check) and Preemie clinic x2 (for their play therapy). All important and necessary appointments but considering how healthy Ciara and Enya are, it feels excessive that they need so many medical check ups!
9 Dec 2009
Eyes: good
The title says it all. We had the 2 hour appointment at the Eye Guy today and again nothing needs doing. I had to sit on Ciara so that they could get the eyedrops in and the Eye Guy could only make a guestimate with her eyes as she screamed and flailed around during her eye exam so he couldn't get a really good look (that was with no torture instruments, just shining a light to look in her eye). Enya also protested strongly to the eye drops but cooperated brilliantly with all the other tests and exams.
As we were already in the city we had a lovely wander around the centre and so long as we kept moving the girls were happy. I love walking around the shops at Christmas time, it kick starts the festive feeling seeing all the decorations. Somehow I really need that this year, as I haven't really got the Xmas feeling at all yet. It was especially nice to get out the house again as the last week the weather has been so wet we've only been outside for doctors and therapy visits.
Talking about therapy, we finally had our Speech therapy assessment yesterday. The therapist (Hr H) was really battling to engage with Enya, hopefully that will get better as she gets used to him. Yesterday though she watched him with a very serious suspicious look on her face and kept moving out of his way when he wanted to touch her for exercises. We have another appointment in 6 weeks and in the meantime a load of exercises to do. The theory is that she has reduced sensation/awareness in/of her mouth and this is the reason she stuffs her mouth so full and pockets her food in her cheeks and under her toungue. So the exercises are aimed at increasing her oral awareness. Z's reaction was to laugh so I guess once again the exercises will all just be done by me.
Rainy day entertainment: unpacking the plastic drawer for the 20th time in a day
As we were already in the city we had a lovely wander around the centre and so long as we kept moving the girls were happy. I love walking around the shops at Christmas time, it kick starts the festive feeling seeing all the decorations. Somehow I really need that this year, as I haven't really got the Xmas feeling at all yet. It was especially nice to get out the house again as the last week the weather has been so wet we've only been outside for doctors and therapy visits.
Talking about therapy, we finally had our Speech therapy assessment yesterday. The therapist (Hr H) was really battling to engage with Enya, hopefully that will get better as she gets used to him. Yesterday though she watched him with a very serious suspicious look on her face and kept moving out of his way when he wanted to touch her for exercises. We have another appointment in 6 weeks and in the meantime a load of exercises to do. The theory is that she has reduced sensation/awareness in/of her mouth and this is the reason she stuffs her mouth so full and pockets her food in her cheeks and under her toungue. So the exercises are aimed at increasing her oral awareness. Z's reaction was to laugh so I guess once again the exercises will all just be done by me.
Rainy day entertainment: unpacking the plastic drawer for the 20th time in a day
4 Dec 2009
Preemie follow up
Today we had the big preemie follow up (read the Bayley's test) to check what developmental age the girls are at at age 2.
As I've mentioned before the myth that micropreemies catch up by age 2 is very rarely the case and as expected our girls are not magically caught up to their actual age of 2 and a quarter years. Ciara has amost caught up to her adjusted age of 2 years though. She only needed one point more and she would have been graded as a 24 month old-if she hadn't been so tired she would have managed that point easily as she didn't manage a couple of tasks during the assessment that I've seen her do many times at home. Enya is still a bit behind (22 months) and I think her performance was an accurate reflection of her ability (she was assessed first and was so fresh and eager). I'm not disappointed as even the doctor said her progress since she last saw her in June is amazing. There is no way she could have sat and completed the test with Enya in June. Enya wouldn't have been able to concentrate even to complete one of the tasks, never mind for the whole test in one sitting which is what she did today!
Surprisingly we have to go back again for a redo of this test in about a year, I was told they only followed up to 2 years but they apparently follow up longer in the micropreemies. Next time though I will have the girls appointments on different days so the second child isn't disadvantaged due to the long waiting time.
We also have an appointment at an orthopod now for next year to get Enya's hips looked at. She still has a funny gait ( leg movement comes from swinging her hips) and her hips are extremely hypermobile so just for safety sake we're going for a check up.
Right now I think the GI doctors are the only "common" specialist that we haven't seen in the last 2 years, and God willing we won't need to either!
As I've mentioned before the myth that micropreemies catch up by age 2 is very rarely the case and as expected our girls are not magically caught up to their actual age of 2 and a quarter years. Ciara has amost caught up to her adjusted age of 2 years though. She only needed one point more and she would have been graded as a 24 month old-if she hadn't been so tired she would have managed that point easily as she didn't manage a couple of tasks during the assessment that I've seen her do many times at home. Enya is still a bit behind (22 months) and I think her performance was an accurate reflection of her ability (she was assessed first and was so fresh and eager). I'm not disappointed as even the doctor said her progress since she last saw her in June is amazing. There is no way she could have sat and completed the test with Enya in June. Enya wouldn't have been able to concentrate even to complete one of the tasks, never mind for the whole test in one sitting which is what she did today!
Surprisingly we have to go back again for a redo of this test in about a year, I was told they only followed up to 2 years but they apparently follow up longer in the micropreemies. Next time though I will have the girls appointments on different days so the second child isn't disadvantaged due to the long waiting time.
We also have an appointment at an orthopod now for next year to get Enya's hips looked at. She still has a funny gait ( leg movement comes from swinging her hips) and her hips are extremely hypermobile so just for safety sake we're going for a check up.
Right now I think the GI doctors are the only "common" specialist that we haven't seen in the last 2 years, and God willing we won't need to either!
1 Dec 2009
Neuro update
Normal!!
I was concerned as the neuro wanted to continue seeing Enya although she's discharged Ciara. Yesterday though I found out Enya's EEG is normal and has been for a while (I've asked before but I find the german doctors are really closed mouthed and it's difficult to get answers from them). She is only bringing us back as Enya is still receiving therapies.
For the first time since the girls were released from NICU, I got to hold one while blood was taken. I've mentioned in the past that Enya always has moist feet and the neurologist noticed this yesterday and wanted to check her thyroid levels (I love how the neurologist is the one noticing this and ordering this test!).
Apropro therapies: the speech therapy appointment was a wash out, our appointment was at 11am. We were there early (for once) and at 10 minutes to 11 I saw the therapist (Hr H) take another patient in to his room. I thought oops I obviously had the wrong time in my mind and the appointment must have been half past 11...but then our play therapist came to collect Ciara. We'd arranged for her to see Ciara while Enya and I were with the speech therapist so we wouldn't be distracted. Apparently Hr H was running late and so we all started off at play therapy. Unfortunately by the time Hr H came to pick us up at quarter to 12, the girls were so overtired they had hit the nonsense hyperactive stage (effects of spending 2 hours in variuos waiting rooms) so we had to cancel the speech appointment and have rescheduled it for next week instead.
Today I went to visit my old boss to start the ball rolling about going back to work next year August. Z and I now just need to sit down and calculate how many hours are worth working (the joys of tiered tax systems, I'd really resent working for more hours only to take home less money) as I'm going back part time. I also need to decide if I'd rather work fewer longer days or more shorter days. The good news though is that it looks like I'm going back to the hospital down the road from me so the Kindergarten will be 5 minutes walk from work.
It was great to see my old colleagues, although there is such a high personnal turn over there that not many faces were familiar, and to show Ciara and Enya off to them. I was especially brave today and for both the work visit and play group left the pram in the car- both involved quite a bit of walking but the girls are getting better about holding my hands when we are afield and if not, winter coats are great to grap and hold onto!
I was concerned as the neuro wanted to continue seeing Enya although she's discharged Ciara. Yesterday though I found out Enya's EEG is normal and has been for a while (I've asked before but I find the german doctors are really closed mouthed and it's difficult to get answers from them). She is only bringing us back as Enya is still receiving therapies.
For the first time since the girls were released from NICU, I got to hold one while blood was taken. I've mentioned in the past that Enya always has moist feet and the neurologist noticed this yesterday and wanted to check her thyroid levels (I love how the neurologist is the one noticing this and ordering this test!).
Apropro therapies: the speech therapy appointment was a wash out, our appointment was at 11am. We were there early (for once) and at 10 minutes to 11 I saw the therapist (Hr H) take another patient in to his room. I thought oops I obviously had the wrong time in my mind and the appointment must have been half past 11...but then our play therapist came to collect Ciara. We'd arranged for her to see Ciara while Enya and I were with the speech therapist so we wouldn't be distracted. Apparently Hr H was running late and so we all started off at play therapy. Unfortunately by the time Hr H came to pick us up at quarter to 12, the girls were so overtired they had hit the nonsense hyperactive stage (effects of spending 2 hours in variuos waiting rooms) so we had to cancel the speech appointment and have rescheduled it for next week instead.
Today I went to visit my old boss to start the ball rolling about going back to work next year August. Z and I now just need to sit down and calculate how many hours are worth working (the joys of tiered tax systems, I'd really resent working for more hours only to take home less money) as I'm going back part time. I also need to decide if I'd rather work fewer longer days or more shorter days. The good news though is that it looks like I'm going back to the hospital down the road from me so the Kindergarten will be 5 minutes walk from work.
It was great to see my old colleagues, although there is such a high personnal turn over there that not many faces were familiar, and to show Ciara and Enya off to them. I was especially brave today and for both the work visit and play group left the pram in the car- both involved quite a bit of walking but the girls are getting better about holding my hands when we are afield and if not, winter coats are great to grap and hold onto!
26 Nov 2009
stamping and talking
The encouraging thing about talking to our therapist today was she mentioned Enya's temper tantrums are mostly an age thing. All that I described she seemed to find pretty normal for a 2 year old.
Her advice was to try talk it out with Enya, you know, ".... I know you are angry because the blocks won't go together, take a deep breath and lets try again together..." kind of thing. Another thing she suggested was to get her to stamp her foot rather than hit out or throw things- less destructive!
We've got a big week coming up next week again, all the dreaded 6 monthly appointments. We'll see the Neurologist for Enya's EEG check up (hopefully the last, please please) and the Eye guy (YUCK..please no glasses) for a check up of their retinas which they forgot to do at or last appointment. This time I'm taking the girls sunglasses with as knowing my luck we'll have brilliant sunshine after that appointment (medically dilated pupils and sunshine= very loud unhappy baby/toddler). We've also finally got the speech therapy appointment and our last regularly scheduled visit to the Preemie follow up clinic- any further appointments will require a referral from our paeditrician. This last appointment is a little bit scary as they are doing a LOOOONG test to determine exactly how delayed (if at all) Ciara and Enya are developmentally. I fear Enya might land up getting sent back to physio again as she still has a real beginners running gait but we will see what Dr L has to say.
Did I mention they can now jump with both feet in the air, Enya in paricular delights in jumping around until she falls onto her bottom- in essence jumping with joy. They have to earn points for that skill !?
Her advice was to try talk it out with Enya, you know, ".... I know you are angry because the blocks won't go together, take a deep breath and lets try again together..." kind of thing. Another thing she suggested was to get her to stamp her foot rather than hit out or throw things- less destructive!
We've got a big week coming up next week again, all the dreaded 6 monthly appointments. We'll see the Neurologist for Enya's EEG check up (hopefully the last, please please) and the Eye guy (YUCK..please no glasses) for a check up of their retinas which they forgot to do at or last appointment. This time I'm taking the girls sunglasses with as knowing my luck we'll have brilliant sunshine after that appointment (medically dilated pupils and sunshine= very loud unhappy baby/toddler). We've also finally got the speech therapy appointment and our last regularly scheduled visit to the Preemie follow up clinic- any further appointments will require a referral from our paeditrician. This last appointment is a little bit scary as they are doing a LOOOONG test to determine exactly how delayed (if at all) Ciara and Enya are developmentally. I fear Enya might land up getting sent back to physio again as she still has a real beginners running gait but we will see what Dr L has to say.
Did I mention they can now jump with both feet in the air, Enya in paricular delights in jumping around until she falls onto her bottom- in essence jumping with joy. They have to earn points for that skill !?
4 Sept 2009
300th post....
...never thought I'd have so much to say!
We've had some doctors visits this week again, on Monday was the 2 year routine visit. I sometimes feel these are a waste of time, the doc is not really interested in investigating anything and seems to feel his job is just to reassure me everything is fine, "she fell on her head, don't worry babies bounce" (he did check her over) or "she's only drunk 100ml all day, if she's eating she'll get enough fluid from the purees" are 2 examples that immediately spring to mind. Although this time I mentioned in passing that Ciara only poos every 2-3 days AS SHE HAS BEEN DOING SINCE COMING HOME FROM HOSPITAL (and believe me I've mentioned this in semi hysterical tones to him several times before) and suddenly we need to give her lactalose to get her going once a day (I'll do it for 2-3 weeks and then no more!).
Both girls are smaller than I thought they were with Ciara only 88cm tall and Enya at 82cm- needless to say some of their dresses and trousers from last winter fit again this year! And both girls have tiny heads, Ciara's is 46 cm and Enya's is 42.5cm- their hats from last year will definitely fit again this year!
On Tuesday we had the appointment I've been dreading- the Eye Guy- remember him. I find him incredibly incommunicative and rude besides but he is the best guy in our region for premmie eye follow up. The other reason I so dread this visit is I'm just waiting for him to say our girls need glasses. The other premmies I follow are all getting them one by one, and with Z's family's eye history I know we will too, BUT I would like to delay it as long as possible as our girls don't like things on their faces, especially not glasses!
Anyways Eye Guy was looking quite well kept this time and we were out of there in one and a half hours, he even was reasonably friendly although as usual he didn't give me much info. Thankfully he has a new orthoptician and she explained to me what her findings were so I know a bit more. Both girls clearly saw the 3D images on the cards this time and had good range of eye movement, hopefully by next time they will be able to look more closely at how they are focusing, when the girls are able to point at named articles. Unfortunately we have to go back in 3 months time as they forgot to dilate the pupils for inspection of the retina this time and it needs to be checked every year (the last time they were dilated was Sept 08). SJOT!! Fun and games I tell you.
I have also signed the girls up for a mini club for 1-3 year olds once a week, again to get them out the house and in the company of other kids. I went to the orientation evening on Tuesday and the other moms seem nice, the teacher is very sweet and hopefully it will be fun for us all. The teacher emphasized that this is not a coffee morning where the moms sit and drink coffee while the kids play, we will be interacting and playing with the kids the whole time- she will take on one of my twins when one on one time is required. Ciara will probably be the willing victim again as Enya is still very anti strangers.
We've had some doctors visits this week again, on Monday was the 2 year routine visit. I sometimes feel these are a waste of time, the doc is not really interested in investigating anything and seems to feel his job is just to reassure me everything is fine, "she fell on her head, don't worry babies bounce" (he did check her over) or "she's only drunk 100ml all day, if she's eating she'll get enough fluid from the purees" are 2 examples that immediately spring to mind. Although this time I mentioned in passing that Ciara only poos every 2-3 days AS SHE HAS BEEN DOING SINCE COMING HOME FROM HOSPITAL (and believe me I've mentioned this in semi hysterical tones to him several times before) and suddenly we need to give her lactalose to get her going once a day (I'll do it for 2-3 weeks and then no more!).
Both girls are smaller than I thought they were with Ciara only 88cm tall and Enya at 82cm- needless to say some of their dresses and trousers from last winter fit again this year! And both girls have tiny heads, Ciara's is 46 cm and Enya's is 42.5cm- their hats from last year will definitely fit again this year!
On Tuesday we had the appointment I've been dreading- the Eye Guy- remember him. I find him incredibly incommunicative and rude besides but he is the best guy in our region for premmie eye follow up. The other reason I so dread this visit is I'm just waiting for him to say our girls need glasses. The other premmies I follow are all getting them one by one, and with Z's family's eye history I know we will too, BUT I would like to delay it as long as possible as our girls don't like things on their faces, especially not glasses!
Anyways Eye Guy was looking quite well kept this time and we were out of there in one and a half hours, he even was reasonably friendly although as usual he didn't give me much info. Thankfully he has a new orthoptician and she explained to me what her findings were so I know a bit more. Both girls clearly saw the 3D images on the cards this time and had good range of eye movement, hopefully by next time they will be able to look more closely at how they are focusing, when the girls are able to point at named articles. Unfortunately we have to go back in 3 months time as they forgot to dilate the pupils for inspection of the retina this time and it needs to be checked every year (the last time they were dilated was Sept 08). SJOT!! Fun and games I tell you.
I have also signed the girls up for a mini club for 1-3 year olds once a week, again to get them out the house and in the company of other kids. I went to the orientation evening on Tuesday and the other moms seem nice, the teacher is very sweet and hopefully it will be fun for us all. The teacher emphasized that this is not a coffee morning where the moms sit and drink coffee while the kids play, we will be interacting and playing with the kids the whole time- she will take on one of my twins when one on one time is required. Ciara will probably be the willing victim again as Enya is still very anti strangers.
5 Jun 2009
lose one, gain one
...is a fair summary of our visit to the preemie follow up clinic yesterday.
The Doc was very impressed with the progress Enya has made and agrees with the plans we have in situ for monitoring appointments with the physio. She also agreed to Enya continuing the play therapy (although we are on the waiting list and will now probably only get seen towards the end of the year). Her comment here was that Enya needs it not because she is delayed but more because she is so distractable and all over the place. She has difficulty settling down and concentrating on one toy or task.
While we were already there, I thought I would raise the point of Enya's eating, as she is still pocketing her food and it can take her ages- minutes- to swallow a mouthful of food (not so much purees, they go down as easy as water, which is why they are still on the menu). The doc has referred us back to the speech therapist (ST) for a review at how Enya is eating. I may just use the time before we get our appointment (another waiting list, last time it took us nearly 2 months before Enya was seen)to go to a ST away from the Kinderklinik, as the therapist we had there was less than useless.
Thankfully the doc saw no need for the girls to have any hearing tests or ST for their speech even though they are still very limited in what they actually say.
The Doc was very impressed with the progress Enya has made and agrees with the plans we have in situ for monitoring appointments with the physio. She also agreed to Enya continuing the play therapy (although we are on the waiting list and will now probably only get seen towards the end of the year). Her comment here was that Enya needs it not because she is delayed but more because she is so distractable and all over the place. She has difficulty settling down and concentrating on one toy or task.
While we were already there, I thought I would raise the point of Enya's eating, as she is still pocketing her food and it can take her ages- minutes- to swallow a mouthful of food (not so much purees, they go down as easy as water, which is why they are still on the menu). The doc has referred us back to the speech therapist (ST) for a review at how Enya is eating. I may just use the time before we get our appointment (another waiting list, last time it took us nearly 2 months before Enya was seen)to go to a ST away from the Kinderklinik, as the therapist we had there was less than useless.
Thankfully the doc saw no need for the girls to have any hearing tests or ST for their speech even though they are still very limited in what they actually say.
4 Jun 2009
Enya did it
She did so well at physio yesterday that we're having a summer break! We go back in about 7 weeks for a check up and if she is maintaining the progress she made so far and continuing her development alone we won't need any more physio (although we may keep having check ups at regular intervals)!! I'm obviously delighted and I think Enya will be too, no more fights on top of the washing machine for us over summer (we have our changing mat on the machine and that's where we did physio too, as it is the right height and padded).
In other news they have both learnt to climb a ladder this past week. Our neighbour has a ladder set up for her granddaughter (Anna) to reach her slide and after watching her do it, both my girls decided to give it a try. Enya manages better than Ciara as she is more flexible and has less weight to heave up, but Ciara can do the first 2 rungs as well (then she freezes, I think she may have a little fear of heights as she does the same when she climbs the open metal grate stairs to our overhead neighbours). I want to take the ladder away but C and E also saw Anna running up the actual slide and if the ladder isn't there they try climb up the front of the slide too, Enya has managed halfway up the slide when Ciara distracted me for a second. Twins teamwork I tell you!
For today we have an exciting outing to the Preemie neurodevelopmantal clinic planned, this is the extra appointment Enya got after the last routine check up, where the doc freaked out about Enya's walking. She insisted on a 3 month follow up with a view to involving other specialities if Enya didn't improve- I'm really hoping she is impressed with Enya's progress as we all are. I saw some video from March last night and Enya has a much more stable and normal gait pattern now, even her tummy isn't as protuberent anymore. She will also get weighed and I'm quite intrigued what the scales say (I packed our scales away over a month ago), I doubt she has put on any weight but lets wait (weight ;0)) and see.
PS I bit the bullet and cut out the evening bottles, they are drinking well during the day even if they refuse everything but water. We'll see how things go for the next few days.
In other news they have both learnt to climb a ladder this past week. Our neighbour has a ladder set up for her granddaughter (Anna) to reach her slide and after watching her do it, both my girls decided to give it a try. Enya manages better than Ciara as she is more flexible and has less weight to heave up, but Ciara can do the first 2 rungs as well (then she freezes, I think she may have a little fear of heights as she does the same when she climbs the open metal grate stairs to our overhead neighbours). I want to take the ladder away but C and E also saw Anna running up the actual slide and if the ladder isn't there they try climb up the front of the slide too, Enya has managed halfway up the slide when Ciara distracted me for a second. Twins teamwork I tell you!
For today we have an exciting outing to the Preemie neurodevelopmantal clinic planned, this is the extra appointment Enya got after the last routine check up, where the doc freaked out about Enya's walking. She insisted on a 3 month follow up with a view to involving other specialities if Enya didn't improve- I'm really hoping she is impressed with Enya's progress as we all are. I saw some video from March last night and Enya has a much more stable and normal gait pattern now, even her tummy isn't as protuberent anymore. She will also get weighed and I'm quite intrigued what the scales say (I packed our scales away over a month ago), I doubt she has put on any weight but lets wait (weight ;0)) and see.
PS I bit the bullet and cut out the evening bottles, they are drinking well during the day even if they refuse everything but water. We'll see how things go for the next few days.
2 Jun 2009
Goodbye Neurologist
Ciara has been discharged (finally) from neurology. We had been going back for 6 monthly control EEG's and developmental checks at our local paediatric neurology practice, following both girls being put onto phenoba.rbitol in the weeks after they were born. They were only on it for 6 weeks thank goodness and we have had no signs of any seizures since they came off it, but as they were so preemie and had suspected seizures initially the neurologists wanted to follow them up closely.
The doc still wants to see Enya in December as she still sees "deficits" although she was very surprised to hear Enya was still recieving physio. I'm just really hoping we don't need to do another EEG as the girls are getting harder and harder to contain for the 8 minutes recording time- Ciara had hands like an octopus trying to get at all the wires on her head, Enya was calmer but still not easy.
I'm trying to decide if I should tempt fate and mention how long we've been vomit free (excluding the tummy bug vomits which don't count!) but I think I'll keep quiet, let sleeping dogs lie and all that!! Enya is losing all interest in her bottles (I know I should stop giving them but until last week they were not drinking enough from a sippy during the day for me to feel comfortable doing that, they also only drink water from their sippys). I think I'll try dropping the evening bottle first as Enya shows the least interest in that one, although we may have trouble convincing Ciara of this plan, she will quite happily drink 300ml from her bottle in one sitting.
The doc still wants to see Enya in December as she still sees "deficits" although she was very surprised to hear Enya was still recieving physio. I'm just really hoping we don't need to do another EEG as the girls are getting harder and harder to contain for the 8 minutes recording time- Ciara had hands like an octopus trying to get at all the wires on her head, Enya was calmer but still not easy.
I'm trying to decide if I should tempt fate and mention how long we've been vomit free (excluding the tummy bug vomits which don't count!) but I think I'll keep quiet, let sleeping dogs lie and all that!! Enya is losing all interest in her bottles (I know I should stop giving them but until last week they were not drinking enough from a sippy during the day for me to feel comfortable doing that, they also only drink water from their sippys). I think I'll try dropping the evening bottle first as Enya shows the least interest in that one, although we may have trouble convincing Ciara of this plan, she will quite happily drink 300ml from her bottle in one sitting.
5 Mar 2009
Nice while it lasted
Looks like we are heading back to physio again. We've just got back from the Neurodevelopmental assessment(preemie followup) and while the doc there was very pleased with Ciara, she is a bit concerned about Enya's low truncal and hip tone. Although I did mention a couple of times that Enya has only been walking about 6 weeks she didn't like Enya's posture, foot positioning and that Enya is still so wobbly. So hey ho it's off to fight with Vojta we go!
We even have an extra follow up appointment in June now just for Enya. If the physio is impossible or doesn't improve things, she will consider sending Enya to get her hips checked out by the orthopaedic specialist and perhaps shoe inserts to improve her foot positioning. Please all cross fingers and hold thumbs that it doesn't come to that. I'll be ringing Mrs W. for an appointment tomorrow (she's off sick today otherwise she would have been at the appointment with us).
B@~%$"!!!! I was so hoping we wouldn't need to do this again!
We even have an extra follow up appointment in June now just for Enya. If the physio is impossible or doesn't improve things, she will consider sending Enya to get her hips checked out by the orthopaedic specialist and perhaps shoe inserts to improve her foot positioning. Please all cross fingers and hold thumbs that it doesn't come to that. I'll be ringing Mrs W. for an appointment tomorrow (she's off sick today otherwise she would have been at the appointment with us).
B@~%$"!!!! I was so hoping we wouldn't need to do this again!
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