The Post I've Been Avoiding

Ok, here it goes. I have been avoiding blogging because I feel like if I don't put it "in writing", it isn't real. But I know it's real and we need your prayers.

Last Thursday Jenna was sitting up playing with some toys. I was gathering shoes and hats for our daily walk when I noticed her head jerk. It was a quick jerk off to the side which she did 2 or 3 times, then went on playing. I thought to myself, Hmm, that was weird. I thought maybe she was just losing her balance or something. But then she did it again. This time I grabbed the camcorder that just happened to be on the counter in the kitchen. I recorded her for about 2 minutes. She did her "jerk" several more times. She was awake, alert, responsive to her name, etc the whole time. I wasn't sure what to make of it. I'm not a fretful person. I was a little panicky, but she seemed totally fine so I went on with our day.

On our walk, I replayed her "episodes" over and over in my brain. Could it be seizures? Was it muscular? When we got home I watched the video again and while I was watching it, she started doing it again. I had already talked to Brian about it and he had me all calmed down, but when she did it again, I went straight to the phone and called the pedi.

At first they made me an appointment for first thing Friday morning. Then, the receptionist called right back and said she had spoken with the nurse and she thought I should go to the ER. Grrr. I was NOT down with this plan. But I understood where they were coming from. After talking to the receptionist a little bit more about how she was acting, I told her I would call the doctors I work for and if they agreed I would go to the ER. I just wanted a second opinion because she was acting totally normal and I knew what would happen if we went to the ER (it would be test after test after stick after stick etc). As soon as I hung up the phone, they called right back and offered to let me bring her into the office. I agreed and started gathering diaper bags (one for her, one for Jacob). I called a friend (THANKS Marla!) to keep Jacob and off we went.

Jenna was still having episodes, although not as often. The nurse at my pedi's office saw a few. I don't know if my pedi actually saw one or not, but I showed her the video and she was puzzled. She said we needed to see a neurologist within the next week. She thought it could be ticks or it could be seizures or it could be neither but we would need an EEG to find out. By the time I got Jacob and got home it was 5 so I had to wait until the morning to call the neuro offices.

I left messages first thing in the morning for two different pedi neurology groups. By noon, I still hadn't heard back from either. I work for a pedi specialist and I hear all the time how hard it is to get in with these docs. Anyways, I decided I could not sit around all weekend without seeing someone, so I found a pedi certified chiropractor. He was able to get her in that day (Friday).

I showed him the video and he felt her neck and spine. He said he had never treated a child for this before but he would try. Jenna had some tight joints (vertebrae) at the top of her neck that he adjusted. He said we would be "cautiously optimistic" and that he still thought she should see a neurologist but he would continue to treat her and see what happens.

Saturday she was much better. She still had a few episodes but they were much less obvious and much less often. Same for yesterday (Sunday). I don't' know if it's related to the chiropractor or if it's just time/prayers that are helping.

As far as the neurologist goes, on my way home from the chiropractor on Friday, I decided I had waited long enough and it was time to take matters into my own hands. I called our Plano office (where I work)and told my friend who is the "office person" out there what was going on. She agreed to tell Dr. M what was going on and try to get me in to the pedi neuro group that is in the same office building. She called me back a few minutes later and said that she had spoken to their schedule person and the first new patient appointment was in early MAY! She told her that would NOT work and the lady told her to fax them a note with our info and state that how soon we need to be seen. So she faxed in our info and wrote that we needed to be seen within a week.

I still have not heard back from them (this all happened late Friday afternoon) but Friday night while I was bathing the kids, the other neuro group finally called. I talked with the nurse for a while. Initially she told me they had a new patient appointment the week of April 20. After telling her what was going on and that my pedi wanted me seen within a week, she said all her computers were shut down (it was after 6pm) but that she would talk to the doc about it Monday (today) and get back with me. She gave me her direct extension which was encouraging.

So that's where we stand right now. I'm waiting to hear back from both neuro groups. Who ever can get us in the soonest is probably where we will wind up. I hope to get Jenna in this week. She is still having little episode but they are smaller and less frequent than last week.

I am trying not to let my brain wonder. I know it could be something horrible and it could be nothing at all. I have felt a peace about the situation all along. I can't explain it. I just really feel God's presence and know He is in control. So, with that said please keep Jenna in your prayers. I am praying that we wind up with the right doctor and that we are able to get a treatable diagnosis soon. I also pray that whatever testing has to be done is easy on her.

Thank you for your prayers.

Beautiful Week

It has been so beautiful this past week. We have spent tons of time outside. Jenna loves watching her brother run about. Jacob has turned into stripper boy again. I so thought we were past this stage. Well, we were past it but it's back! Anyways, I quit fighting him on it. I just put sunscreen on his white hiney and let him run!

Jenna is now cutting her second tooth. If you look closely you can see tooth #1 in this picture. Tooth #2 seems to be causing her a lot more discomfort. I wish I could grab it and pull it through her gums. She has been working on this one for over a week! It's right under the gums. When she smiles it looks like she has 2 teeth because the gums are so white where the second tooth is coming in.

This is Jacob watching himself pee. Classic! He was sick with a stomach bug all last week. He kept wanting to take off his diaper but obviously that would NOT be a good idea. Now that he is finally better, I occasionally let him be naked. If we're inside and he's bottomless, he will use the toilet almost all the time. But as soon as he has a diaper or pullup on, he pees in it. So I guess I'll let him be naked until he learns how the whole potty training thing works.

And here is Jacob eating a push-up. He would eat a bit, then give Jackson a few licks off his face, then repeat. Boys! Gotta love em!
When daddy got home he decided Jacob had been too naughty and handcuffed him. Jacob thought is was great!

And a pic of me and my girl. We have busted the sling back out. Since teething she has decided she likes to be held again.

Jenna and her daddy....the girl lights up as soon as he walks into the room. It's precious! She smiles and laughs at him until he picks her up. She follows his voice and does not lose focus on him as long as he is around. There is definitely something special there!

Two and a Half

As of today, Jacob is 2 1/2! That means that as of yesterday, Jenna is 7 months! But back to my precious baby boy...I can still remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. I remember seeing his tiny little 6lb body for the first time. His LONG sandy hair and bright blue eyes. The way he calmed immediately as soon as he was in his daddy's arms. It's hard to believe that was 30 months ago!


Here are some funny things he has said recently. Yesterday, after biting into a plum he announced "Sour Cream!" Apparently the plum was a bit tart. The other day we were out running errands and we passed an old pickup truck that was about 20,000 miles past due for an oil change and Jacob said "Pew-ew truck, what'd you eat?!" This is also what he says about himself when he is stinky! He has started saying "I'm sorry. I forgive you." sort of the same way he used to say "Thank you. You're welcome." He frequently says "I didn't like that..." What is it about being 2 and not liking ANYTHING!?

He is not really digging Jenna's mobility. He frequently says "No Jenna. That my toy." We are working on sharing. I usually just ask him to give Jenna another toy if he wants the one she has. She doesn't seem to care YET as long as she has something to play with. He has perfected Jenna's "growl." You see, Jenna rarely cries but when she is tired or hungry, she will start to growl. It starts out as a quiet throaty growl and progresses to a loud, deep, mean, throaty growl. Anyways, Jacob will growl back at her which typically makes her laugh, at least for a second. This is him sporting Jenna's bow.

Jacob loves Dora and Calliou. He still loves Wonder Pets and Jack's Big Music Show. He will watch just about anything on Noggin and is going for longer stretches now. If he likes a show, he will usually watch for 15-20 minute stretches. It's helpful for when I'm feeding Jenna or need to clean up.

Jacob is very innovative. He know what he wants and likes and what he "no like." Yesterday he got the giant package of toilet paper, scooted it over to the counter, and climbed up it to reach the cookies. He has also climbed on top of the love seat, over the bar, and onto the counter to get some fruit. We're still working on the asking...Mr. Independent! Fish Face

He's still my outside boy. I don't think that will ever change. Well, at least until he discovers video games. He still loves his lawn mower and sand box. A new favorite of his is to fill up a bucket with sand, dump it on the bottom of his slide, then slide down into the sand. Needless to say, we will be re-filling the sandbox soon. He loves our walks. He likes to tell me everything he sees..."look ma, a blue truck. another blue truck! pretty flower. oooh! it windy!...." He often talks or sings or mutters non-stop during our walks.

Trucks, especially dump trucks and diggers are his favorite toys. We still read lots of books before bed. Some days he likes to read them during the day, it goes in spurts. He loves his chalkboard and his fishing magnet games.

He loves cookies. He probably uses the word cookie an average of 20 times a day. He also loves macaroni and hot dogs and turkey with tortilla. He is a fruit monster, he passes on the veggies unless it's salad with ranch. The best way to get him to eat is to let him eat off my plate. My food still tastes better for some reason.

My darling baby boy. I love him so much. And yes, he is definitely a mama's boy. And always will be, as far as I'm concerned!

Tooth, Dirt, Crawl, etc

We have been taking full advantage of the beautiful weather. Jacob has been outside for hours and hours every day. This is what he looks like after a day of outside play. Dirt, sand, mud, etc. Isn't he handsome?

Jenna broke her first tooth today. We celebrated by giving her her first bitter biscuit. She enjoyed it very much. I have to say teething seems much easier for her. She had a low grade temp here and there and her naps were a bit abbreviated for a few days but that's about it. In fact, last night we were outside visiting with a neighbor who is pregnant. She was asking Jenna to teach her baby in-utero to be as happy as she is!

This is our crawl tease. Jenna will lean way over and put her hands on the ground, then start shaking her booty. I think she is thinking about crawling. She wants to go after toys but isn't sure how.

Jacob's boo-boo. He hit his head on the brick planter which is his sand box. I know it's not the best idea but it seemed like it at the time. Thank goodness he barely hit - it could have easily been an ER visit.

Gorgeous!

Jacob wanted to push his sister in the swing. It was too funny. He would push her, then take a few steps forward so he would be closer to her so he could push her again. But then he'd get knocked over by her. I kept telling him to just stay put but he was too excited. It was cute.

Our Day

Having a girl is too fun! This was before our walk yesterday.

The wind kept blowing Jenna's blanket up! We finally used some of Jacob's wood blocks to hold it down.

We were just hanging out outside on a blanket. It was rather windy which Jenna use to hate but now she doesn't mind. When a big gust would blow, she would stick out her tongue and try to catch it!

As soon as her blanket blew up, then fell back down in her lap she saw...the grass. She was fascinated. She immediately bent over and started feeling it. She would pick at it, then pull a few pieces out of the ground. She tried to eat it, of course. I had hoped that after a quick taste, she would lose interest but not so much.

After outside play, we came in a put Jenna down for her nap which means it's Jacob & Mommy time! I decided to pull out the poster paints I had bought several weeks ago but have been too chicken to use. We were going to take the easel outside but the wind....I decided it wasn't such a good idea. Jacob did a great job, he pained 2 pictures. Both were "dinosaurs." I was putting away the paints and letting him use up the paint on his brushes when I turned around a found him painting his hair!

After a quick bath, we were looking handsome again. No punk rockers in this house. At least not yet!

Quick Update

Hi friends! Sorry I've been going so long in between posts. It's so hard to find time to get on the computer, especially since it's in our room. One day I'll have a laptop. Dreams, dreams, dreams.

Anyway, the kids are wonderful. I keep forgetting to tell you that Jacob's terrible 2's spell is over, at least for now. It lasted around a month, from mid-January through mid-February. I think it was related to lack of sleep. Now he goes down much earlier (books at 7, bed at 7:15) because he still won't take a nap for me (but of course he still naps for my mom). Today is the 3rd day he went to sleep without us in the room with him. We have been working hard on that for the past few weeks (I have been reading a book...that's where I got the early bedtime idea).

Jenna is loving toys that make noise. She clangs the piano, pushes buttons on anything that will produce a sound, etc. She rolls and wiggles to get what she wants. I'm sure crawling is just around the corner.

Brian was bathing her the other day and was cracking up at this "game" she was playing. She was sitting up in the tub, leaning over and splashing the water with her hands. As she would splash, she would try to catch the water in her mouth! What a nut!

We have been so blessed to have had such a healthy last half of the winter. I know the yucky season isn't over yet, but I'm grateful to have had a healthy 6 or 8 weeks!