We have had a busy few weeks. I'll summarize by person:
1) Greg: taxes, working out, starting the spring grass growing frustration, etc. :)
2) Me: attempting to solve my jaw issues. Great dentist but the new mouthguard/splint is not working. Next step is an MRI to see what's really going on. Of course, insurance won't cover it if it's a generic TMJ diagnosis. So, I'm going to the general practitioner to discuss the pain and what might be wrong. At this point I don't believe I have TMJ anymore. Wait. Okay, I DO think I have TMJ. BUT, I think I have further, deeper issues with the joints, tendons, and the bones. So, we'll see if the GP recommends an MRI or if he wants me to go to an orthopaedist. I would be fine with anything as long as insurance covers the process of solving this. It sounds ridiculous but when your mouth/head hurts when you: sneeze, get kissed, chew, yawn, sing or randomly touch the side of your face...well, that seems to be more than a tooth problem! Anyway, I'm remaining positive and trying to live my life as normally as possible. And only eat soft foods. Blech. Speaking of eating, I was doing SO great on Weight Watchers. Then I got lazy. And busy. So I need to re-commit to my points, etc. I know I can do it, I did it for two months. Then I got hungry! :) We'll get there again.
3) James: I went to his kindergarten orientation. Oh, geez, this is going to be a big transition for me next year. Wait, did I say me? Yes. I think James will do great. There is still debate as to whether it will be 1/2 day or full day Kindergarten. Either way, James will do great and thrive. I'm hoping he has at least 2 friends in his class. Considering the friends in the neighborhood, that should be possible, which will be great. So, we'll know in late May about Kindergarten length. Otherwise, James has started t-ball and loves it. Unfortunately, our weather has been not so good lately so a few practices have been canceled. And this weekend and next is spring break so no games. We are now starting the process of thinking about James's birthday, which he's decreed will be a dinosaur party at home with his friends from playgroup and school. But no girls. And no siblings. Just big boys. :) Since his birthday falls on Memorial Day weekend, I've decided to have the party the following weekend. James is semi-pushing boundaries in his attitude these days, but I would say 85% of the time he is lovely and easy and responsible and helpful and a good listener. We are very lucky with him as our oldest. Considering I thought he would break when he was a baby.
4) Nate: Ah, the child of many hospital visits. :) After failing his second hearing test, the county audiologist suggested we visit an ENT to discuss hearing issues. She said to skip the pediatrician. So, we took her advice and got in with the best doctor in the area. We couldn't get in until early May - this was a two month wait. Then I was running with my friend JT one day, and she offered to call to get us in earlier (she is a pediatric NP). Thankfully, and gratefully, we got in a month early. So we visited Dr. Bahadori -- he cleaned out Nate's ears and then we did a hearing test at their office. When pressure was placed on his ear drum, it didn't move AT ALL. Dr. Bahadori concluded that there was a ton of fluid in his ear blocking his hearing abilities. But since he'd never had an ear infection, we never bothered to consider this was a problem behind his speech delay (GUILT!!!). Anyway, Dr. B was very concerned so he squeezed us in for ear tubes surgery a week later (this past Thursday). It was a very quick surgery, apparnently a ton of gunk "as thick as molasses" came out, and now Nate should hear a lot better. From what I understand, lots of kids with speech delays have this surgery and within the month are speaking a lot more. We are very hopeful! Otherwise, Nate had to go back to the pediatric urologist to check on his right hydrocele surgery from the fall. Well, as suspected, Dr. Gibbons said that his left side DOES need the surgery also. Argh. Apparently 1in 30 boys has to come back for a second surgery. Boo. Anyway, I have that scheduled for late June. We'd discussed combining that surgery with the ear tubes but Dr. B was very concerned and wanted Nate in as quickly as possible. Plus, the anaesthesia for the ear tubes is very minor compared to the hydrocele. So, in one year, Nate will have had two hydrocele sugeries, ear tube surgery, and a visit to the ER for stitches. Plus gotten a baby brother and started speech therapy. I thought about this the other day: Nate has a pediatrician, a urologist, an ENT, a speech therapist, a preschool teacher....lots of special people in his life! Otherwise, he is a happy, jolly, enthuasiastic little boy. Thankfully, he has almost totally stopped biting (hooray!) and has started to settle down a bit with regards to sharing and being nice. Phew!
5) Dylan: baby D turned 5 months old. He started eating solids at dinner time. As suspected, he hated rice cereal. But oatmeal, mixed with breast milk, is a favorite. He also likes sweet potatoes, butternut squash, bananas, pears and apples. He does not like green beans (neither did his brothers). Dylan can now roll over and over. He has surprised me by sleeping through the night almost every third night. I'll take it! This is much earlier than the other two. He loves to laugh at the big boys, enjoys his jumper, and is a nice, big size (but not fat). His first tooth has started to come through and it's sort of bothering him but it's so cute. It's the bottom left front tooth (I'm writing this all here so I will hopefully soon transfer it to his baby book!).
I am trying to think what else is going on but I think those are the major activities. Needless to say, we are busy with playdates, doctor visits, school, activities, etc. Next week is spring break so James has a sports camp each morning, we have a moms club Easter egg hunt, Nate is going to a soccer camp with his friend across the street (same age as Nate, loves to play with him), playgroup, doctor visit, etc. etc. We will be staying home for Easter, which will be a nice change. May will be busy also, with Mother's Day, Dylan's baptism, and James's birthday. Then begins the summer -- camps for James and Nate, swim lessons, the pool, Greg's birthday, Nate's surgery, the beach, and Nate's birthday. Plus this whole time Dylan will just get bigger and bigger (it's going SO FAST, WAH!) and we'll have to get James ready for Kindergarten. My goals for the summer include getting James to swim (hence the lessons), getting Nate potty trained, and getting Dylan to sleep through the night consistently. We'll see how quickly I can achieve all of this.
Signing off for now to go collapse. Or go running. Because I had a piece of baklava for breakfast. Sigh. I really have zero self control!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment