Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Endocrinologists Update

Seriously, just trying to spell that word at times just baffles me.  Where I am now compared to where I was over a year ago is just mind boggling.  The terminology that I have learned the specialists I have seen and all the ways my mind and my heart have grown.  I cannot express to you enough how much that little boy has changed my life and all for the better.  He is a bright light in this world and it will not be covered up or dimmed at all.

So, Endocrinologist today.  Well, let's back up.  It was suppose to be Thursday but I didn't have my bearings correct and we didn't get there in time.  It took me about forty minutes from the time I parked my car until the time we checked in at the 'correct' doctor's office.  Granted we had only been to this particular doctor one other time and we do not frequent this area as much as we do the other hospital at Scottish Rite.  I will say as emotional as that day was, it was good for me.  It was good for me in many personal ways that need not to be explained here, but we also were lucky that if we were willing to change doctors we could come today instead of April.  Yes, the next opening with our previous doctor was April. 

Today, we were blessed with a great doctor.  She read our file before we came in. AMAZING!!  She understood our concerns and asked it there was anything in particular that she needed to address.  Once we went over his stats, I was ecstatic!! I he had grown 8 cm since our last visit 9 months ago!!  For his age that is above average which means he did what he was suppose too AND is catching up a bit.  Thank you Lord!! He is still little of course, he is almost four years old and we have finally moved into 2T clothes.  He also only weighs 30 lbs on a good week.  But his BMI is good and he is growing.  Her suggestion at this time is to do nothing.  WooHOO!!  I like nothing.  She did say based on his syndromes and the unknown impact that they may have on him she does recommend him coming in every six months just to be monitored.  (sounds like all of his other specialists)  Her reasoning is if for any reason his growth begins to stall or flat line again we will catch it before it becomes too severe that nothing can be done.  Not promising that something can be done regardless, but at least we would have the best opportunity.   I really felt good with all of this and so we were done.  We go back in six months and will do another bone age test just to make sure that he is still on target.

We left the doctor's office and went straight to the hospital cafe to get my little man some chocolate chip cookies.  As they were well deserved today!!  On a side note, if you are a nurse reading this, please have a manual blood pressure cuff always available for your patients.  Thomas has come to know the standard pre-exam check in and the blood pressure machine gives him the most anxiety.  That it will just hug your arm doesn't fly with my little guy.  He will tell you its too tight and it hurts.

As we were leaving we were accompanied on the elevator with what seemed to me to be a doctor.  We were going to the same floor as he commented on how lucky we were.  He smiled at Thomas in the corner happily finishing up the rest of his cookie who was holding back a grin to the nice man who was talking to him.  The man smiled and comment on how the cookie was probably very well deserved and how it was so blessed to work at such a wonderful place for kids like Thomas.  My heart just beamed as the balance of joy was matched by my own.  His joy to work there and my joy to bring my son there.  It was good, it was very good.  What a contrast experience to the day I had experienced last week. 

I know I haven't been keeping up with my blog as much and for my readers, I truly apologize.  I have been leaning on my Facebook page a little more than I should have been.  I will be sure to keep writing and sharing our journey with you.

Where we are:  ENT follow up next Wednesday to check his hearing and the tubes since his surgery last month.  We have a Cardiologists follow up coming up soon to check on his heart murmur.  Those are the two immediate ones.  I will need to check our list to see where we are with everyone else, but I think most of there appointments will be coming up in the Spring.  Thomas is doing well in 3k and can spell and write his name on his own and is happy to do it for anyone who asks.  We are working on letters and sounds, counting, etc.  He is a bit stubborn in giving me the information at times, but I think its in there and he is just showing me he has control.  As I said in the opening, Thomas is truly a blessing and a shining light to all who have the honor of knowing him.  He attracts people everywhere we go and isn't afraid to talk to them at all.  He is also unfiltered which usually leads to a laugh or a smile and at times a small cringe from me.  He is embraced by others and is prayed for and loved on by so many.  I knew all of my children were not my own but God's, but with Thomas I can feel he is God's child with every part of my being.

Here is my baby Thomas(3 yrs old), 8 cm taller and his sweet pup, Chelsea (10 months old)



Tonight, I want to leave with you with a verse I have been studying this week for my own personal devotional time and now as I focus on Thomas and his little body, it seems only fitting.
 

Psalms 139: 13-18

13 For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.