Saturday morning we went to soccer, where I somehow knocked Nate down flat on his face (in astroturf) TWICE! I promise it wasn't on purpose. He still has 3 scratches on his nose. But he did have fun playing a game where they ran down the field, kicked a goal, yelled "GOAL" and then did a little dance. :) I have to say that Nate had the best victory dance of the entire 2 year old class.
That evening we had a little get together for Blake's 30th birthday!! We had some friends over we hadn't seen in awhile and ate some good food and great cake. Nate especially loved the cake. He had a small piece of his own and then said, "cake, cake, cake, cake, cake, cake, cake ..." incessantly until I gave him some of my piece. I think he ate more than I did. I finally had to take it away from him, and he was so upset. When I was putting him to bed, he was still talking about cake, so I told him to dream about cake. The next morning I heard him on the monitor talking about cake as soon as he woke up. :)
Our friends Jenny and Kevin went to church with us Sunday morning, which was nice. When I picked Nate up from Sunday School, the teacher told me that they had a 12 year old boy volunteering in the classroom that morning, and he had made it his personal project to carry Nate all over the room wherever he wanted to go. Ha! I'm sure Nate just ate that up. The boy carried Nate out to us and said, "It was a PLEASURE taking care of Nate today!" I thanked him for taking such good care of him. He asked what happened to Nate's back, and I told him that Nate had surgery on his back because he has something called spina bifida. The boy said, "I will keep Nate in my prayers." How sweet is that! I hope Nate turns out to be such a caring kid.
The fun continued yesterday evening at Nate's friend Brock's birthday party at Chuck E Cheese! Nate had just woken up from a nap when we went, and he was completely overwhelmed by all the kids and games and flashing lights--I was overwhelmed myself, so I don't blame him--but he warmed up to it after a while. I told him that Chucky, a big mouse, would come out and dance after they sang happy birthday ... to warn him because Nate is not a fan of people in big costumes! Well, we didn't even get that far. Nate also freaks a little when anyone sings happy birthday (how weird is that!) so I just had to take him to the other side of the room where he could observe from afar. After we got him playing skee ball and he got to eat more cake, he was having a great time!
Today I took him to his playgroup, and as soon as we pulled into the parking lot, he started saying, "I fell backwards, fell backwards, fell backwards." Aww, that really stuck in his head from last week. After much coaxing, he refused to walk up the sidewalk so I had to carry him in the building. Then we found out because of conferences, his class was meeting in a different classroom, which totally threw off him and his two classmates. He almost wouldn't even go in the room. It's funny how kids get so used to a routine. But he did fine in there.
While I was there, the director of Carriage House (the place where Nate goes for playgroup) was talking to Nate and asked me where he was going for preschool next year. I told her we were looking at all of our options right now. She said they'd love to have him come there--in addition to the developmental playgroups, they have a preschool and a special preschool for autistic children. I told her my concern was that I knew they did 4 half days a week for 3 year olds, and I really only wanted him in school for 2 or 3 half days a week. I just think 4 days will be too much for him and for all of us with a new baby in the house by then. Not to mention, 4 days is way out of our budget. She said for Nate they would make an exception and do 2 days. There will be another kid that goes 2 days also, so they could do the same schedule. She told me they have classes of 14 kids, and four of those kids are special needs (could be physical delays, Down syndrome, speech delays, some highly functioning autistic, etc.), and there are 3 adults in every classroom. I will be taking a tour of one other similar preschool in town in a couple of weeks, and we'll make a decision then. But since we know our insurance will cover therapy, we no longer have to think about sending him to public preschool (they probably wouldn't offer therapy anyway), so we're looking at private ones. I think he'd do great at either, and he will REALLY like it.
Tomorrow Nate will have his first dentist appointment, so keep us in your prayers! It's NOT going to be fun for him, me, or his dentist. :)
Monday, February 16, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Today is going better
We went to hippotherapy today, and I spoke with the billing manager. Turns out our insurance DOES pay for hippotherapy, so we just need to pay off our deductible, then it's only $14 for coinsurance per session! Yay! So he can keep going to hippotherapy and stay with his horse and his great therapist!
This is actually a really good thing, as it turns out. In early intervention, we have a certain number of "units" we can use every 6 months. PT and OT/hippotherapy were taking up all his units. Now that hippotherapy is not under early intervention, that frees up some units for something else! We're hoping to get some aquatic therapy! If we can't get in that (waiting lists and such) then we'll have a traditional OT come to our home.
This also tells us that our insurance does in fact pay for therapy. That's good to know for when Nate can no longer get early intervention. But I'm going to go ahead and try to add some more PT to his schedule, under the insurance. We may go to hippotherapy twice a week--once for PT, once for OT. Or we might do something different. But this gives us lots of options. Yes, I'm trying to willingly sign up for 5 days of therapy. :) The more, the better, in my opinion. Nate gets so much out of it.
And then we came home and there were flowers delivered for me! Blake and Nate got me roses and chocolates for Valentine's Day! I was so surprised. It made my day. :)
This is actually a really good thing, as it turns out. In early intervention, we have a certain number of "units" we can use every 6 months. PT and OT/hippotherapy were taking up all his units. Now that hippotherapy is not under early intervention, that frees up some units for something else! We're hoping to get some aquatic therapy! If we can't get in that (waiting lists and such) then we'll have a traditional OT come to our home.
This also tells us that our insurance does in fact pay for therapy. That's good to know for when Nate can no longer get early intervention. But I'm going to go ahead and try to add some more PT to his schedule, under the insurance. We may go to hippotherapy twice a week--once for PT, once for OT. Or we might do something different. But this gives us lots of options. Yes, I'm trying to willingly sign up for 5 days of therapy. :) The more, the better, in my opinion. Nate gets so much out of it.
And then we came home and there were flowers delivered for me! Blake and Nate got me roses and chocolates for Valentine's Day! I was so surprised. It made my day. :)
Quite a day yesterday
Where to begin...
Well, Nate decided to not take a nap during naptime, so he was a screaming, whining mess during PT. But he ended up doing okay and even stood by himself for about one second. Hey, it's progress.
Nate's early intervention service coordinator was also here, and we talked about what will happen when Nate ages out of early intervention at his next birthday (June 25). The public school system is then supposed to take over and offer therapy as part of preschool. But it's usually not that easy. We are expecting quite a fight to get Nate what he needs. And even IF he qualifies for preschool, we're still going to have to get therapy outside of the school system, and hopefully our insurance pays for that. So my job now is to find out more information about all this stuff.
Then while Nate was napping, his OT (the one who does hippotherapy with him) called and gave us the bad news that early intervention is no longer paying for hippotherapy. :( I almost cried. Our insurance has already said they will only pay for 5 sessions, which we've already exhausted. Today the hippotherapy place is going to help me appeal the insurance company's decision. If that doesn't work, today is Nate's last day on the horse. Whaaaa!!! I'm so upset! I hope it works out.
When Nate woke up we had to run some errands, including going to Target, where Nate wanted to stay in the Thomas the Train aisle indefinitely. When I finally made him leave, he threw one impressive tantrum, and I had to put him in time out in the kitchen aisle. :)
What a day.
Well, Nate decided to not take a nap during naptime, so he was a screaming, whining mess during PT. But he ended up doing okay and even stood by himself for about one second. Hey, it's progress.
Nate's early intervention service coordinator was also here, and we talked about what will happen when Nate ages out of early intervention at his next birthday (June 25). The public school system is then supposed to take over and offer therapy as part of preschool. But it's usually not that easy. We are expecting quite a fight to get Nate what he needs. And even IF he qualifies for preschool, we're still going to have to get therapy outside of the school system, and hopefully our insurance pays for that. So my job now is to find out more information about all this stuff.
Then while Nate was napping, his OT (the one who does hippotherapy with him) called and gave us the bad news that early intervention is no longer paying for hippotherapy. :( I almost cried. Our insurance has already said they will only pay for 5 sessions, which we've already exhausted. Today the hippotherapy place is going to help me appeal the insurance company's decision. If that doesn't work, today is Nate's last day on the horse. Whaaaa!!! I'm so upset! I hope it works out.
When Nate woke up we had to run some errands, including going to Target, where Nate wanted to stay in the Thomas the Train aisle indefinitely. When I finally made him leave, he threw one impressive tantrum, and I had to put him in time out in the kitchen aisle. :)
What a day.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Miraculously, after one day of misery, I'm better! Not sick anymore! Blake is a little jealous that he's still feeling a little under the weather while I got off easy, but I remind him that at least he doesn't have to take care of me!
Yesterday when I picked Nate up from his playgroup, as he was walking down the sidewalk outside, he leaned back in his walker (as he has had a bad habit of doing lately, almost "popping a wheelie") and this time he fell backwards! It was like slow motion watching the walker fall, then him fall on his bottom, then his head hit the ground. He was of course upset but calmed down within a few minutes. But all the way home when I was asking him how school went, all he talked about was "I fell backwards" and "Bumped my head." :( All evening, every now and then he'd stop what he was doing and rub his head saying "I fell backwards." Even today eating lunch, he stopped to remind me he fell backwards and bumped his head. Must have really made an impact on him, right? Except today when we went to the store, he kept leaning back in his walker!
Yesterday when I picked Nate up from his playgroup, as he was walking down the sidewalk outside, he leaned back in his walker (as he has had a bad habit of doing lately, almost "popping a wheelie") and this time he fell backwards! It was like slow motion watching the walker fall, then him fall on his bottom, then his head hit the ground. He was of course upset but calmed down within a few minutes. But all the way home when I was asking him how school went, all he talked about was "I fell backwards" and "Bumped my head." :( All evening, every now and then he'd stop what he was doing and rub his head saying "I fell backwards." Even today eating lunch, he stopped to remind me he fell backwards and bumped his head. Must have really made an impact on him, right? Except today when we went to the store, he kept leaning back in his walker!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Update from the house of sickies
Well, I think Nate is over his illness, whatever it was. Saturday night I put him to bed at 7 pm, and he slept till 10:30 am on Saturday! That's unprecedented! He slept till about 8:30 this morning too. So he's on the mend.
Friday night, Blake started feeling bad, and by Saturday he had the fever, cough, the whole deal, just like Nate. He was really sick this weekend and didn't do much more than sleep. He went back to work around lunch time today.
I thought I was in the clear, but no such luck! I woke up this morning feeling just like both of them started out. Nooooo! If you would, say a prayer that I don't get the fever part. Fevers and pregnancy don't mix well.
The good news is that I had a great OB appointment this morning. I went for a test called the Nuchal Translucency scan, and it looks for indicators of Down Syndrome. Everything look normal! Buster has gotten bigger! And was waving its little arms around so cute. Next month I'll have the blood test and level II ultrasound to look for spina bifida.
I told the doctor and the ultrasound tech that Nate has put his request in multiple times (even this morning) for a "girl baby" so they said they'll see what they can do. ;)
Off to sneeze some more ...
Friday night, Blake started feeling bad, and by Saturday he had the fever, cough, the whole deal, just like Nate. He was really sick this weekend and didn't do much more than sleep. He went back to work around lunch time today.
I thought I was in the clear, but no such luck! I woke up this morning feeling just like both of them started out. Nooooo! If you would, say a prayer that I don't get the fever part. Fevers and pregnancy don't mix well.
The good news is that I had a great OB appointment this morning. I went for a test called the Nuchal Translucency scan, and it looks for indicators of Down Syndrome. Everything look normal! Buster has gotten bigger! And was waving its little arms around so cute. Next month I'll have the blood test and level II ultrasound to look for spina bifida.
I told the doctor and the ultrasound tech that Nate has put his request in multiple times (even this morning) for a "girl baby" so they said they'll see what they can do. ;)
Off to sneeze some more ...
Friday, February 6, 2009
The Baby Conversation
First of all, Nate is feeling better today. He has been in much better spirits, and the fever has seemed to go away. However, I thought he took a nap today, but it is apparent that he didn't actually sleep. We took him to hippotherapy because he had been in such a good mood, but he whined the whole time. He was soooo tired. He's up in his crib right now whimpering. You know when you're so tired you just don't know what to do with yourself? That's him right now.
Anyway, earlier today Nate was sitting in my lap facing me, and I decided to tell him about the new baby. I told him we're having a baby, and it's growing in mama's belly right now! He seemed a little excited! I told him my belly would get bigger and bigger and bigger, and when the baby got *this big* (held up my hands) that it would come out and we could say hi baby! He said, "Hi baby!" All big smiles and curious looks. I asked if he wanted a girl baby or a boy baby, and he said girl baby! He said it several times after that too. I asked what he wanted to name a girl baby, and he said Trains. Sigh. It was a very cute conversation though, and he seemed to understand just a little more than I thought he would. Of course he has no idea what he's in for! haha. (Neither do I!)
Anyway, earlier today Nate was sitting in my lap facing me, and I decided to tell him about the new baby. I told him we're having a baby, and it's growing in mama's belly right now! He seemed a little excited! I told him my belly would get bigger and bigger and bigger, and when the baby got *this big* (held up my hands) that it would come out and we could say hi baby! He said, "Hi baby!" All big smiles and curious looks. I asked if he wanted a girl baby or a boy baby, and he said girl baby! He said it several times after that too. I asked what he wanted to name a girl baby, and he said Trains. Sigh. It was a very cute conversation though, and he seemed to understand just a little more than I thought he would. Of course he has no idea what he's in for! haha. (Neither do I!)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Nate is pitiful
So, after I took him to the doctor a couple days ago, he seemed to start feeling worse and worse. That night we heard him coughing and whining in his crib, so Blake thought he would sleep better in our bed with us. I really don't like when Nate sleeps with us because that means I don't get any sleep, but I agreed. We slept pretty well for awhile, then Nate woke up needing me to clean da nose, and then he wanted covers, then he didn't want covers, and on and on. I thought it was about 6:30 so I was just waiting for the alarm to go off, but after about an hour of this I sat up and looked at the clock, which is beside Blake. It wasn't even 4 am! Blake had been sleeping through all of this, of course, so I woke him up (mean!) and told him to get this child out of our bed because neither Nate or I could sleep at all. Well, Nate thought it was breakfast and was begging to go downstairs for a "snack"--and he probably was hungry because he hadn't eaten much dinner--so Blake had to take him downstairs for a little 4 am snack before putting him back to bed.
Blake stayed home with him for the morning so I could go to my spina bifida committee meeting (it went REALLY well!!!!!), and Blake said while I was gone Nate just laid on the couch and moaned. :( For most of the rest of the day, he laid on the couch with a blanket watching videos. He started getting a little energy in the afternoon and wanted to play a little, but he was back to moaning and whining by bedtime. I checked on him about an hour after he went to bed, and he felt burning hot. So I gave him some tylenol and triaminic. And here's the strangest thing--after we went to bed, I could hear him crying and talking on the monitor, but when I went in to check on him, he was sound asleep! He was crying "choo choo!" It was funny and sad. He didn't feel too warm then though. I had to get up several times last night to attend to him, so now it's been 2 days that I haven't gotten much sleep, and I'm dragging!
I just got a call from the nurse as I was writing this. She was calling to say his strep culture came back negative, but she asked how he was doing. I told her he was feeling bad and all his symptoms. She said it sounds a lot like the flu, even though they haven't seen any flu cases so far this year ... and he had a flu shot. So she gave me a few more ideas and said if he gets worse to bring him back in, but we'd probably just continue what we're doing anyway. Poor guy is laying on the couch right now holding his train. Don't you feel sorry for him?
Monday, February 2, 2009
Doctor visit
Okay, first I want to tell you about picking Nate up from his playgroup yesterday. He walked through the halls telling everyone (including strangers) "Bye, guys!!" Ha! I don't know where he got that, cause I don't think I say "guys." It's super cute though. Then when he got in the car, before I even told him I had picked him up some lunch, he started yelling "fries! fries!" He smelled them! It was actually popcorn chicken, but he knew there was something in there for him. The problem is I thought he was saying "rice" for about 5 minutes and was asking him if he played with rice during school or if he wanted to eat rice ... we were both getting frustrated till I caught on.
Nate has been coughing for a couple days, but I figured it was just a cold that had moved down to his chest. But he had trouble sleeping last night, and Blake got worried so I agreed to call the nurse this morning. Well, the nurse ALWAYS says to come in, and this time was no different. She said strep throat was going around, and I hadn't thought about that. It snowed last night and I knew I couldn't get out of the neighborhood, so Blake came home in the truck and took us. Long story short, he has a little cold, just like I thought.
But Nate always has a hard time with the doctor's office, so this time I decided to try out the play doctor kit Nate got for Christmas before we went. I took Nate's bloodpressure and listened to his belly and back with the stethoscope, and gave him a shot and took his temperature. It was all great fun. We talked all about going to the doctor to feel better. When we got there, Nate was very excited to see the huge fish in their fish tank. "Wook, fish! Ooh, dare scary! Dare swimmin! Dare swimmin in da rocks and trees!" I convinced him the fish were not scary, and they were very nice. So he said, "Dare nice fish. Dare wonderful!" hehe.
When it came time to go back with the nurse, Nate was sooo upset to leave the fish, so that was a battle. He stood on the big scale--yay! Much better than the baby scale that he's way too big for. Then he was delighted to find there was a fish border on the wall in the doctor's office. The nurse took his temperature, and even though he didn't particularly like it, he remembered doing it at home and allowed it. Then she did the strep test (swab the throat), but we did NOT practice that at home, and he was NOT okay with it! He was a little leary of the doctor listening to his chest with the stethoscope, but she was great and told him she heard all kinds of animal noises in there. :) He made it through pretty well. Oh, THEN one of the nurses showed him how to feed the fish! He thought that was very cool.
All afternoon Nate has been talking about the doctor and playing with his doctor kit and talking about his "bwood pwessure." :) Hopefully this little cold passes quickly.
Nate has been coughing for a couple days, but I figured it was just a cold that had moved down to his chest. But he had trouble sleeping last night, and Blake got worried so I agreed to call the nurse this morning. Well, the nurse ALWAYS says to come in, and this time was no different. She said strep throat was going around, and I hadn't thought about that. It snowed last night and I knew I couldn't get out of the neighborhood, so Blake came home in the truck and took us. Long story short, he has a little cold, just like I thought.
But Nate always has a hard time with the doctor's office, so this time I decided to try out the play doctor kit Nate got for Christmas before we went. I took Nate's bloodpressure and listened to his belly and back with the stethoscope, and gave him a shot and took his temperature. It was all great fun. We talked all about going to the doctor to feel better. When we got there, Nate was very excited to see the huge fish in their fish tank. "Wook, fish! Ooh, dare scary! Dare swimmin! Dare swimmin in da rocks and trees!" I convinced him the fish were not scary, and they were very nice. So he said, "Dare nice fish. Dare wonderful!" hehe.
When it came time to go back with the nurse, Nate was sooo upset to leave the fish, so that was a battle. He stood on the big scale--yay! Much better than the baby scale that he's way too big for. Then he was delighted to find there was a fish border on the wall in the doctor's office. The nurse took his temperature, and even though he didn't particularly like it, he remembered doing it at home and allowed it. Then she did the strep test (swab the throat), but we did NOT practice that at home, and he was NOT okay with it! He was a little leary of the doctor listening to his chest with the stethoscope, but she was great and told him she heard all kinds of animal noises in there. :) He made it through pretty well. Oh, THEN one of the nurses showed him how to feed the fish! He thought that was very cool.
All afternoon Nate has been talking about the doctor and playing with his doctor kit and talking about his "bwood pwessure." :) Hopefully this little cold passes quickly.
Ooh, something for the baby book!
I know only parents will appreciate this, but Nate pooped in the potty this morning!! It was so exciting! After his bath, I always sit him on the potty, read him his potty book, then he gets off and we look to see if he did anything. I made a HUGE deal out of the poopy in the potty, and he was so proud of himself. I told him he would need to tell daddy what he did, and he practiced by saying "Daddy, I poopied in the potty!" Then later when I actually called Blake and put Nate on the phone, he clammed up.
We're not all-out potty training yet because Nate is not at all ready, but we're just making him more aware of it. I'm really not sure how successful we'll be with potty training--we'll learn a little more about what Nate is capable of next month when we go back to Vanderbilt for testing--but he's starting to get the idea of it and has had a few accidental successes. Enough about poo. :) Have a good day.
We're not all-out potty training yet because Nate is not at all ready, but we're just making him more aware of it. I'm really not sure how successful we'll be with potty training--we'll learn a little more about what Nate is capable of next month when we go back to Vanderbilt for testing--but he's starting to get the idea of it and has had a few accidental successes. Enough about poo. :) Have a good day.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Weekend
Yesterday, Nate woke up acting like a rabid animal! I barely recognized him. I was trying to give him breakfast, but he was too busy thrashing about and screaming and acting like a maniac. My best guess is a sore throat because he has some sinus issues going on now. Today it sounded like it had moved to his chest. But it doesn't sound too bad, so we're just giving him Tylenol for his throat and riding it out. We chose to NOT go to soccer yesterday morning to avoid the ultimate in public meltdowns.
After a good nap, he was ready to go see Granna, Pop, and Uncle Lucas in Lexington for lunch and shopping. He walked A LOT in his walker. While everyone else was shopping in Dillards, he just headed out the door and into the mall (with Daddy closely behind, of course). I'd say he walked a good half mile (all the way to Sears, for anyone who knows Fayette Mall) before he was whining "take a break!"
He had a much better time at church this morning than he did last time. It's funny--when parents bring their kids in, the childcare workers ask for their names and what rooms they're usually in, and when they pick them up, they ask what room and what the kid is wearing to find them. When we walk up with Nate, they say, "Hi, Nate. We'll put you in your usual room where everyone knows you!" And as soon as I walk up to pick him up, they just turn around and go get him. :) He's a popular guy there. I think the walker helps him stick out a little. And of course his cheery disposition. (Not!)
Nate has a funny little habit going on now. I've mentioned this before, but it's an all-day thing now. Whenever he drops a toy, or bumps his head, or something falls off the table ... pretty much when ANYTHING happens, Nate reassures everyone with "It's okay. It's okay!" Now he's added, "Sorry. It's okay." He apologizes for everything. This morning he bumped his own head, and looked at me and said, "Sorry! It's okay. It's okay." People are going to think I beat him and he's afraid of me or something. :) But he's learning to self-soothe, and that's better than just crying, so I'll take it.
Many of you know that I'm working on a project to complete my master's degree. I'm trying to give obstetricians more information about spina bifida so when they have to give the diagnosis to parents they don't scare the living crap out of them. I hear so many stories of doctors telling parents their baby will not make it to birth, and if it does it will be brain dead or bedridden or, my favorite, a "vegetable." These people have never seen Nate. Anyway, the project is well underway, and I'm meeting with a committee this week to decide what we're going to do. It's exciting!
That's about all that's going on with us right now. Have a good week!
After a good nap, he was ready to go see Granna, Pop, and Uncle Lucas in Lexington for lunch and shopping. He walked A LOT in his walker. While everyone else was shopping in Dillards, he just headed out the door and into the mall (with Daddy closely behind, of course). I'd say he walked a good half mile (all the way to Sears, for anyone who knows Fayette Mall) before he was whining "take a break!"
He had a much better time at church this morning than he did last time. It's funny--when parents bring their kids in, the childcare workers ask for their names and what rooms they're usually in, and when they pick them up, they ask what room and what the kid is wearing to find them. When we walk up with Nate, they say, "Hi, Nate. We'll put you in your usual room where everyone knows you!" And as soon as I walk up to pick him up, they just turn around and go get him. :) He's a popular guy there. I think the walker helps him stick out a little. And of course his cheery disposition. (Not!)
Nate has a funny little habit going on now. I've mentioned this before, but it's an all-day thing now. Whenever he drops a toy, or bumps his head, or something falls off the table ... pretty much when ANYTHING happens, Nate reassures everyone with "It's okay. It's okay!" Now he's added, "Sorry. It's okay." He apologizes for everything. This morning he bumped his own head, and looked at me and said, "Sorry! It's okay. It's okay." People are going to think I beat him and he's afraid of me or something. :) But he's learning to self-soothe, and that's better than just crying, so I'll take it.
Many of you know that I'm working on a project to complete my master's degree. I'm trying to give obstetricians more information about spina bifida so when they have to give the diagnosis to parents they don't scare the living crap out of them. I hear so many stories of doctors telling parents their baby will not make it to birth, and if it does it will be brain dead or bedridden or, my favorite, a "vegetable." These people have never seen Nate. Anyway, the project is well underway, and I'm meeting with a committee this week to decide what we're going to do. It's exciting!
That's about all that's going on with us right now. Have a good week!
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