January 16, 2009
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Boring Catch Up Information!!!
Well, well, well . . . where do I begin? Yesterday was a busy one! Not necessarily anything interesting – but definitely busy!!! It was the coldest day so far and the day we had to be out traipsing here and there!
We had a 10am appointment for Rissy. The pediatrician is recommending a neurologist see her and some MRI’s and other tests run on her brain and spine. Rissy’s mom delivered her “high” and Rissy was a meth baby and subject to withdrawals. She was on oxygen for 4 days after birth and taken directly into state custody and her mother returned to prison. How her mother got a hold of drugs between prison and delivering a baby is beyond me. Anyway, she has always walked with her right leg turned in, her right hand sometimes draws up when she runs or gets excited, she falls down easily, and has a mild problem pronouncing words or tongue twisters. Everything has become so pronounced, as well as the back pain she complains of daily, that we have grown more and more concerned. When a 7yo asks for a heating pad as a gift, you can figure they are in quite a bit of pain.
The pediatrician said she doesn’t doubt Rissy has mild Cerebral Palsy, but wants the neurologist to make that final determination. She told Rissy she would always have a “special walk and that’s how God made her” (we have a great doctor!) and that they could do things to make her comfortable (lessen the pain) but not “fix” her leg. Orthopedics has said there is nothing wrong with her bone formation. That’s good news! The other good news is that the one thing I was most concerned about, child bearing, shouldn’t cause her problems. She would make an excellent mother and I feared that her pelvis and hips would prevent her from safely carrying and/or delivering a child. The pediatrician saw NO REASON to believe she would have problems with a pregnancy. So, now we wait to hear about WHEN and WHERE we go with Rissy next. The pediatrician’s office will contact and make the appointment with the neurologist and let us know.
After that visit, which was a long time in the waiting room and then 45 minutes with Rissy and us in the exam room, was a trip to the bank. The secretary said the bank officer was out of the office, but she could handle everything for us! Yay for Joyce! I gave her our financial statement and explain the smeary line down the page (printer trying to die on us!) and she said it was fine. We signed our papers for the next year – and left quickly.
It was bitterly cold. 17 and then finally 19 degrees with too much wind to make it feel anything more than single digit temperatures. I carried my coat and held it up in front of my chest and throat when we walked in or out of a building. Can you tell I hate coats? I didn’t used to hate them – just one of those persnickity things that’s cropped up in my old age! AND, the fact my current coat is itchy on my neck doesn’t help! LOL!
We went to Golden Corral (an all you can eat buffet, for those of you who aren’t familiar) and I started feeling achy again. I ate, but can’t say I really enjoyed anything. I took 2 Ibuprofren and Luci took my last one for her throat in the middle of our meal. We got in the car after eating and I told Jesse I really needed to go home. I felt rotten. Really achy and like I needed a heating pad and to get off of my feet.
We immediately went home and I took off my head covering, putting the heating pad on the bed, grabbed my book to finish it, and woke up 2 1/2 hours later on my back with my shoes on, my book folded open on my chest, my bookmark still in my left hand, and Chirper cuddled up on my shoulder! Not one hair in my bun was out of place. I must have not even twitched a muscle: I slept so soundly!
Rissy was a help (again – as always) with home schooling. We had done everything on Wednesday as far as Wednesday’s and Thursday’s lessons. Everyone except Luci. Remember, she was sent to bed with a screaming meany fit? So, I asked Rissy if she felt like she could work with Luci on her 4 pages of math. It’s Kindergarten math and stuff that’s a breeze for Rissy. After I woke up, Rissy said she had helped Luci with some areas that were hard and had used the white board to show her examples. I haven’t checked Luci’s work but Rissy said she only missed two problems from the 4 pages. I’ll review the American history Luci missed the other day, and we’ll do our small amount of Friday school. Friday is usually a review, test, and wrap up day, since we have that standing therapy appointment.
I will go to Wal-Mart after leaving the therapy appointment, but need very little. It’s probably a good idea for me to rest lying down, again, today.
Sushi is doing better being crated. She knows we will let her out and she is also sleeping through the night without crying. She’s VERY smart and God blessed me with a dog for Jesse (she’s really HIS dog!!!) that is easy to train. She stayed by herself yesterday while we were gone and will be alone in her crate again today while we go to therapy and the store. I don’t want to make her be alone too long, she’s like a baby and can’t countrol her bladder or bowels for very long – no matter how hard she tries. Makes for lots of lovely dog bedding to wash! Ick!
I have some darling pictures of Chirper curled up with Sushi and it’s so aggravating to not be able to share them! My new cables for my camera should be here soon. Patience! Patience, Cherylyn!
Tonight JanaLyn will be here. I’ll have to think of something filling that will warm our insides (since it’s still so cold) because there are no leftovers this week. I’m not sure why there aren’t, but there is nothing but bologna and American cheese. We didn’t even have dinner last night. I had a piece of cake before going to my church child raising lesson and Jesse fed the girls Ramen noodles. They’re always so glad when Dad fixes dinner. He feeds them Ramen noodles, cereal, or popcorn. He’s such a cool Dad!!! I’m the monster that makes them eat balanced meals!!!
Speaking of my “Raising Kids God’s Way” class, it was excellent last night. It was a discussion about how important fathers were to their children, especially to little girls. I can’t wait to share everything with Jesse. Last night, I took a ton of notes to remind me what to tell him.
Today’s To Do List:
* Feed Chirper as soon as I get off of here, he’s pawing at my lap continuously!
* My laundry
* Tests in home school
* Therapy appointment
* Grocery store – quick trip
* Sift through the things that have piled up on my desk (well, maybe I’ll get to that!!!)Be blessed ~
Comments (9)
Dear Cherylyn,
I do hope they can find Rissy’s problem and can do something to ease her pain, as I know it is not easy to live with constant pain! Hope you and yours have a blessed day.
Love,
Judy
Where are you taking the child rearing class?
You are such a smart mom to think of those problems for Rissy. I guess we tend to think about what we need to think about but that was not the first thing that sprang to mind with regard to Rissy’s special issues. I hope they can find a way to make things more bearable for her.
Stay warm, my friend, and don’t get sick again!
♥Lori
That’s good news for Rissy!
Looking forward to the pics of Sushi and Chirper–they must be getting along swimmingly for them to be curled up together!
Blessings for your Friday~Dawne
Sorry you are feeling achy again. Maybe it’s because you need to WEAR YOUR COAT in 17 degree weather!
Sorry if I sounded bossy. I am bossy. I’m bossy because I don’t want my friend to be sick. 
Maybe you can find a pretty scarf to put between your neck and your collar.
@DanishDoll -
I have a soft black scarf I keep UNDER the collar of the coat. We run so quickly in and out of places that I immediately need to take the coat off when I’m in the car or indoors. Thus the running with the coat shielding my chest and neck. You’ll be happy to know, today I kept the coat in the car and wrapped the soft black scarf around my neck. It was perfect and better than nothing. I do wear leggings and sleeveless tops under my dresses. Unfortunately, I forgot to wear a slip today. But, FORTUNATELY, my fabric had a slippery inside to it. Pollyanna here!
P.S. Rissy had a tight cough develop at her sister’s therapy session and a new doctor took a quick look at her and said she sounded okay lung-wise, but to start her on 3 days of breathing machine treatments of Albuterol (asthma medicine). She said everyone in town is sniffling, coughing, and achy and there is nothing they can do to help them because it’s all viral. I guess I fall in that category – achy.
Thanks for your concern!
@Immax3 -
I’m taking a class based on a book called, “Growing Kids God’s Way” by Gary & Anne Marie Ezzo. It’s through COC and Glen & Reba (2 of my favorite people) are leading it. Jesse has to babysit while I go to the class, but he DOES manage to get off early on Thursday’s so I can go. It’s nice to spend time with people who can cut their meat without help – not that we eat meals there. But if we did . . .
Sniffly, coughing and achy… let’s see… those aren’t some of the seven dwarfs, are they? Oh, there was Grumpy and Sneezy! That’s how I usually feel when I have a cold!
If there is nothing that the Med Pros can do for Rissy, I’d suggest a good Osteopathic Doc (D.O.) who does Cranial-sacral work. I had a fall as a younster and lived with all kinds of problems . . . .and pain. Doc’s didn’t know what to do . . . and when I was in pregnant, caused problems during labor. . ..turns out that a simple trip to the chiro took care of my pelvis being out of place. . . OH THE RELIEF after years of pain and misery!!
@happymom4 -
Visiting a chiropractor is what started our recent search. Rissy’s insurance won’t pay for chiropractic adjustments, but will pay for the xrays an MD orders. Even the pediatrician uses a chiropractor and said (the other day) that adjustments wouldn’t hurt her, but they won’t cure her either. She said not to give Rissy any pain or anti-inflammatory meds (other than Ibuprofen) and not to take her to a chiropractor until she has been evaluated by a neurologist first. Then the neurologist will see exactly what is going on with her.
I grew up having adjustments and even went to chiropractors with my sore throats or sinus problems.