The neurologist appointment

First, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BLAKE!!!

Blake got to spend his 31st birthday doing what he hates most--going to a hospital. Nate's neurology appointment was this morning, and I'm so glad Blake was with us, because these kids were a handful (story to come in a minute). Today we saw the nurse practitioner, and Dr. Farber came in at the end. We liked them both very much, and they were both VERY interested in Nate because of the fetal surgery. In fact, they brought someone else in the room just to look at him. :) They thought he was doing phenomenally well with the spina bifida stuff.

The nurse practitioner said that Nate's EEG was "markedly" abnormal. He didn't have a seizure during the 30-40 minute test, but he did have "sparks" of seizure activity every few SECONDS. That's a lot. She likened it to how sparks, in the right conditions, can turn into a flame (a seizure). So in the right conditions, when Nate is tired or sick or whatever, these sparks are very likely resulting in partial seizures. They are definitely not absence seizures, but sometimes partial seizures can present as staring spells. She did warn us that Nate is more prone to have a full-blown seizure, and though she doesn't think that will happen, she wanted us to know what to do in that situation. Seizures do not cause brain damage (except if they are really often and major and cause swelling of the brain, not what Nate has), and the real problem with them is that he is checking out all of the time, which can cause delays. I think I can see some evidence of this in Nate.

So they thought it was very apparent that Nate needs to be on seizure meds, and I do agree with them. They mentioned two general seizure meds they were considering--Keppra and Trileptil. Keppra can cause tiredness and moodiness--yikes! Nate is moody enough already! Trileptil has the opposite effect--it can make someone more even tempered--BUT it can also cause weight gain. Nate is already stout, and it's not a good idea for him to get too heavy with his mobility challenges, so Keppra it is. They said the side effects often wear off within a month, so we'll pray he won't be too grumpy for too long. He will start at 1ml twice per day for a week then 2 ml twice per day and see how it works. When you start medication, you commit to taking it for 2 years. After that, if he isn't still having staring spells and an EEG looks good, we'll try to start weaning him off the medication. We hope he'll outgrow this!

I asked several times about the possible link to hydrocephalus and not having a shunt. Dr. Farber agrees with Dr. Tulipan (Nate's neurosurgeon) that it is improbably that the hydro is causing the seizures. Whew! That means no one is thinking about brain surgery. Medication should take care of this. In the meantime, he'll have a CT scan every 6 months to keep an eye on those ventricals. The only other instructions were to make sure he is getting enough sleep and on a regular schedule.

So on to that story I promised. I had Georgia in the cutest little outfit that she had never worn before. The nurses at the check in desk were oohing and ahhing over her. We were in the waiting room before the appointment, and I was trying to fill out paperwork while Blake was occupying Nate with some books. Then I heard Georgia let one rip. Ohhh, great timing, thanks. The nurse called us back, and I went with Nate to get his vitals and Blake went with Georgia into the exam room. When Nate and I got back to the exam room, Blake said there was a problem. Georgia had poop EVERYWHERE. It was alllllll over her and her car seat. And there were no diapers or change of clothes in the diaper bag. Oh no!!!! I had cleaned out the diaper bag a couple days ago, and I forgot to put the diapers back in there! So the nurse was able to find a diaper, and I took her to the bathroom to clean her up. There was only one thing to do--leave her naked, in just a diaper. I cleaned up what I could in the car seat and covered her with my nursing cover. I tell ya--this girl and her blow out diapers are killing me!


Nate was just ... Nate.

Oh, I also have some pictures from our trip to Memaw and GrandBob's house on Sunday. Memaw had all kinds of trains for Nate to play with! He was in heaven!

Georgia stole some track to chew on.

Memaw made a great dinner and cake for Blake's birthday, and Nate got to help blow out the candles, and eat the cake of course.

I gave Georgia a little bite of chocolate, and she liked it a little too much!

Nate helped his Daddy open his gift--a blu ray player! Whoohoo!

So anyway, I'm still sort of in disbelief that my little boy is actually having seizures, but I guess that's where we are and are just moving ahead. He'll be okay, I'm sure of it.