Weekend

We had a really nice, relaxing weekend at home with not too much going on. On Saturday we went to the local cider mill and it was a blast. There was cheap, delicious local produce and lots and lots of animals for the kids to pet and feed.

Later Sydney and I went to see Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. It was OK. There was this one part about the girl character having once been a nerd wearing her hair in a ponytail and having glasses. I look next to me and my beautiful daughter has her hair in a pony and has glasses. I hate stereotypes and name calling like that! Besides that, the movie was pretty good and Sydney didn't catch the whole nerd/glasses thing anyway. However I'm sure we may have to deal with that at some point.

Yesterday we were disappointed by the Seahawks loss. Hope Hasselbeck is on the mend as well as Tatupu. Sydney put together her own game day outfit. What do you think?

Daycare

Just a quick note before calling it a night. Today Isaac did really well at daycare. He was a little sad when I left but through the window I could see he stopped crying quickly. When we picked him up, we were told that at nap time, Isaac got up after all the kids had laid down and went to each one of them, kissed them and said "night night", then laid down and took a nap. Isaac has been super affectionate since the accident - like he goes up to total strangers and gives them hugs. I'm not exactly sure how to handle these situations...I just apologize because although some think it's sweet, some are a bit grumpy and confused. My dad and I were talking tonight and we think that Isaac knows where he was, how far he's come and he's just grateful to be here.

Baby Nikoletta

On Sunday I was able to spend the day with my good friend Sarah while she labored almost all day with her second baby. It was amazing and she was a rock star! Her epidural ended up taking only on one side so she was feeling a bit of pain. In one push, Nikoletta Jennifer Mollas was born. She is beautiful! 7lb. 10oz. she is perfect and they are both doing awesome. It is the first time I have been int he state for any of my friends' babies. I can't wait for the next one (Olivia!).

Back to Work

One of the reasons I haven't been blogging too much lately is that I returned to work on Tuesday. Just part time for now. The past five weeks have probably been the busiest at my work as we're gearing up for our audit starting this coming Monday. They've been pretty good about my absence but I've been feeling the pressure to return for sure. I have been waiting to return until the doctors give a thumbs up for Isaac to be back in a daycare setting. He will be starting a new daycare (the one where Sydney goes) and he has to be watched a little more closely than the other children. The concern is 1. His fractures. We need to make sure there are no hard falls. The helmet helps with that. 2. He doesn't quite have the stamina to get through a full day of playing. He is still going at max speed and so he runs out fairly quickly. The neuro psychs said he would need to start part time and work up.

So here we are. Actually Tuesday and Wednesday my mom came down and stayed with him so I could go into work. Today he goes to see his pediatrician for a follow up and his 2 year check up where I hope to get the thumbs up for him to return to daycare. If we get the thumbs up, he'll start on Friday. I'm excited our life is returning to normal!

Isaac had an ophthalmologist appointment on Monday. He pointed out that when Isaac looks to either direction he has to tilt his head. He said that this is perhaps because he has some damage to nerve #4 that controls the movement of the eye and he wants to watch him. He said it's good that Isaac is tilting his head because he's compensating for the eye issue.

Tomorrow Isaac goes to speech therapy and we'll be learning how often he'll need this therapy. The reason they want him to have this is because of his facial droop in connection to the facial nerve damage. When he talks, it sounds like half of his mouth is full of marshmallows. So they'll be working on the way he forms his words.

We are looking forward to a relaxing weekend at home.

Quiet

Tonight I am at home....alone. It's eerie. We had planned on going to Oak Harbor to visit Lyndon's parents but one of my best friends is being induced in the morning. I have been far far away for all of my friends' births so I decided to stay and Lyndon took the kids...by himself. Scary! Actually he is a really great father and will be just fine. But for me...it's weird. Especially with all that has gone on, I'm not sure that I was really ready to be away from Isaac. I worry about him and the bond that we've recreated in the last 4+ weeks is very strong and although I know he'll be fine, I still worry. But I am tired, very tired....so I'm looking forward to a good night's sleep and will try to sleep through the night and forget about the rest....just for tonight.

Today we had Isaac's ENT appointment (aka the "nerve guru"). I must say I was quite disappointed. I was anticipating he would be very optimistic because of the hearing test that was done that showed he still had hearing in the ear. I thought the loss was minimal but he said it was pretty significant (no high pitch or quiet noises). So he offered no hope to us that the movement in his face would return. There are no tests they can or will do...only time will tell. And it could take up to a year. At the year mark, we have what we have. We just have to remember where we came from. This is when I should go back to my first posts because it really could be so much worse.

Our appointment on Friday was with the neurological surgeon and all is good there. His brain works perfect. It's still a little "shocked" so some behaviors are a little odd but all in all, he is who he was - which is awesome!

So tonight I will have a glass (or two) of wine, go to bed and wake up in the morning and remember just how blessed we are.

Trucking Along

All has been well here at the Linville household. Isaac continues to amaze me with his humor and speed! He has truly been going 100 MPH lately. We had an appointment yesterday with a neurological psychiatrist. I had no idea what one of those was either until yesterday. Turns out they specialize in the developments after a head injury and focus on how the children are adjusting emotionally and behaviorally.

As I mentioned, Isaac has been going 100 MPH and although he's two and has always been on the go, at times it's been a little over the top compared to where he was before the accident (i.e. running in circles for an hour, no napping). It was reassuring to hear from the neuro psych that this is very common. Why, they don't exactly know but apparently it should subside a little at some point. In addition to the daytime energy, he's also a bear to get down and keep down at night. Like after running on high all day, by 9pm he is still not ready to crash (even after not napping)! Well this too is not uncommon and so they recommended giving him melatonin to help mellow him out at night. I am just hoping and praying that this will give us all a little more rest.

The psych also reassured me that I should not be concerned about the Fragile Child Syndrome that I mentioned in an earlier post. He needs to be watched, I should be concerned and none of that is going over the top at all. I'm so glad she said what she did because although I continued to be on his every move, felt I was obsessing. Four more weeks until we can be fairly confident that the fractures have healed but she also told me Isaac will always be a helmet child. For those Mariners fans it's like John Olerud - he suffered a brain injury and wears a helmet even in the field. Same would be for skiing, snowboarding, white water kayaking, etc. Not that I anticipate Isaac to partake in all that fun during his lifetime - but it's good to know if he wants to, he can - extra protection just would be required.

Later this week we see the neurological surgeon and on Saturday the ENT. I am really anxious about the ENT appointment. He's the nerve guru! I will surely be reporting after these visits!

The rest of our family is doing fabulous!

Thanks to all those who still follow and pray for our family!

Go Seahawks!

Our friends Tim and Olivia invited us to the opening game today. We are so excited! Go Hawks!

Fragile Child Syndrome

We went to see Isaac's pediatrician today as a follow-up and so he's on page with all that has happened in the last three weeks. He has been a source of support for us too while in the hospital, called to check-in and sent a stuffed animal and balloon. He was devastated by the news when he first heard as well.

The follow-up went well. The concern of keeping Isaac's head protected is what we're moving forward with here. And of course the paralysis on the left side of his face. I'm seeing it become more pronounced which is hard.

Anyway, he said one of the big concerns and what we need to be careful of is going forward as parents with Fragile Child Syndrome. I did some research and haven't actually found this to be an actual medical diagnosis but our doctor said it's similar to post traumatic stress disorder. It's just us going forward and working on not treating Isaac like every bump and bruise is the end of the world. Obviously right now we are very over protective. It's just that way. You would be too. But as the fractures heal, the need to be over protective is going to decrease and it might be hard as a parent to let that go. I totally get it and I admit that it may be hard for awhile to let it not affect how we treat Isaac. . . but we'll always try to do what's best for him. And sometimes, as the doctor pointed out, what's best for him may be different from what's best for us. Ya follow?

He recommends I stay home with Isaac for awhile longer to give him the 1:1 attention he needs right now and just take it day by day, week by week. His daycare is working with us and when we drop Sydney off in the mornings, I let him play a little with me supervising so he gets used to it. Actually a nice transition for him!

We have appointments upon appointments for a little while. Followups mostly. We still are not sure if he'll need some rehab. I think a lot depends on what happens with his face. His speech is sometimes difficult to understand. Like he's had some dental work done if that makes sense....

Nap times have been a challenge. I can't leave him alone in his room. I can't or I won't - not sure really. Obviously the best to err on the side of caution in my opinion! So we've changed out his crib and put a mattress on the floor. It's not really working. Nap times and bed times are a pain and he needs good sleep. So I just keep trying. I'm counting on we'll find what works best right before he goes back to daycare and has to acclimate again!

Home Sweet Home

It feels so good to be home!! I could absolutely care less that it's a dreary, rainy weekend. Thank goodness we aren't camping at Lake Wenatchee like were supposed to be!

Being home is perfect. We have been playing and playing and playing. Isaac wears his helmet intermittently. It should take 8 total weeks for the fractures to heal. Slowly life will return to normal. I will go back to work, Isaac will start his new daycare and we will be happy to move forward.

Helmet

Homeward Bound

Thanks to all those who helped me in my "Please don't drip" chant. It worked!!! We are going home today!!!

I can't quite believe what we've gone through in the last 2 1/2 weeks and I don't think anyone thought we would be where we are now. Our child has come out of this with a small hearing loss and paralysis on the left side of his face. No inpatient rehab and possibly no outpatient rehab - at least on the PT side. He is running, jumping and dancing. Just like that. Miracles Happen is right!!! Thank God for answering our prayers!

They are looking into ordering a helmet as it will take 6 more weeks for the fractures to heal. During that time, he'll need to be closely watched. Some rehab will be needed - like speech and possibly some OT (occupational therapy).

I wish I could find my camera cords but again, I can't. I'll have to share pictures later.

Uneventful Update

So now we're waiting...for the drip to stop! It's slowed WAY down - maybe 6 drips today. Tomorrow the neurological surgeon comes to evaluate and actually try to get it to drip. If it drips, we stay all weekend, if it doesn't, we go HOME!!!

Please don't drip. Please don't drip. My friends tonight brought up the idea of sticking something up there so it won't (as a joke of course).

So if it drips, we reevaluate on Monday. If it's still dripping, then they do a ct scan to figure out exactly where the drip is coming from and surgically fix it. This would be a bummer!!! Of course we just want what's best for Isaac. The concern with the leak is not really that it's leaking but that if something is leaking out, then bacteria could get in. Huge infection risk.

It has been determined that he will do outpatient rehab down in Olympia. Wahoo! Not sure what the frequency will be yet. In a way I'm scared to go home. Then his care is all up to me and he's moving a lot. I will need to be on top of his every move. Another bonk on his head would be awful. As time passes, we'll get a better idea of how long 1:1 care will be required...

Hearing Test Results

I was fully prepared to be told that Isaac's hearing was completely lost in his left ear but IT'S NOT!!! He has partial hearing - it's not perfect but we will take it. This is good in more ways than one. It means his hearing nerve was not severed and since the hearing nerve is in very close association with the facial nerve, means the paralysis in his face could recover. Isn't it amazing?? I am so incredibly happy!! Keeping the faith and staying positive works!!

We weren't given specific results of the cat scan yet but we do know that we have four days for this drip to stop or surgery may be required. It has slowed down quite a bit so hopefully it dries up soon!

Also, the rehab doctor came today and saw Isaac walking...yes walking - and he was amazed. I mean truly this boy is a MIRACLE!! Anyway, he said that because of his impressive progress, outpatient rehab could be all that he requires. At first I really wanted inpatient - as it would be so all-encompassing and would definitely propel him in the right direction but looking at Isaac's progress now, I'm not sure he needs it! Outpatient rehab would require a few appointments per week to work on a few issues that do still need a bit of work.

We are definitely looking forward to normality again - however it may be. I picked Sydney up at daycare this afternoon and we went to the end of the summer party, then she came up to the hospital. When I had to say goodbye to her, it was devastating. For both of us. She wants to come home and be with us - it's hard to have to tell your daughter that right now, Isaac needs us more than she does. Very hard. I keep reinforcing that this will all come to an end soon and we miss her very much but every day that goes by makes it tougher. Not quite sure how I'm going to make this up to her.

Not Much To Report Today

No news is good news I guess! It's been a pretty slow day. I had the morning by myself (well with Isaac of course) but no dad to hang out with Isaac while I showered, got coffee, etc. so it was a bit of a challenge. Luckily, I survived!

Isaac wakes up ready to play. He sees his cars and trucks and wants to get going. PT had a good session with him, the challenge is still balance. His muscles are a little weak also - I've noticed his thighs are a little less chunky and his pants a little baggy. Not surprising after being in a coma for five days and being fed by a tube for three.

Medically he's still waiting for the CT scan but they've put that off to tomorrow so they don't have to sedate him twice. So 11am tomorrow is the hearing test and either before or after is the CT scan. Then we are counting on the move to Children's. I honestly could see them putting it off until Thursday but the pediatrician saw no reason to put it off. Time will tell...

This hospital is starting to feel very small....I really just want to go home and get back to our "normal" life.