Trip/medical update!

I know, I know, we got back from our trip like 2 weeks ago, and I am just now getting around to posting the update I promised.  I was sorta putting it off because there was so much, and I just haven't had a large chunk of time to just sit and type.  But here goes...

So, as you all know, we went down to Texas to have a bunch of medical stuff taken care of. If you don't know everything, please refer a few posts down...or you can click here. 

First off, I will start with Geoff's surgery.  The day after we arrived, we had our first appt., which was Geoff's pre-op appointment.  It took a lot longer than expected...we had to the surgeon, and then we had to go all over getting paperwork signed off.  We ended up being there about 5 hours.  The following morning, we had to be at the hospital at around 8am.  Thankfully, my awesome friend Sara took the girls ALL DAY.  She was seriously a life saver because they would have gone insane at the hospital for 8 hours (after being there for 5 hours the day before!).  He finally got called back around 11am, and his surgery didn't start til about 1pm.  His surgeon came and spoke with me at about 3pm, saying he was out of surgery and it went well.  They had to cut about a 2 inch circle out of his skin and fatty tissue, and flapped it over...drilled about half way into his skull and placed the screw/holder.  Then they sewed him back up with part of the screw sticking out.  Most of you have seen the photo...it looks like he has a snap on his head now.  He had to go to post-op for about an hour, and then they would call me, and bring me to recovery with him until he was ready to leave.  We went to recovery where they only wanted him to stay about an hour.  I know, it's insane, that an hour before they were drilling into his head.  He was pretty out of it, and then he started feeling really sick.  They gave him pain meds and zofran to help with the sickies.  Not long later he was discharged and we picked up the girls, and then went back to the hotel.  The first 2 days he pretty much just slept and was sick.  We ended up going back to the ER the 2nd day because he was really sick, causing him to puke, which was causing his head to bleed from pressure.  They said it looked okay and to keep an eye on it.  One week after his surgery he had a follow up appointment.  I was shown how to take care of it and he was cleared to go back home, but on convelsant leave for another week.  Everyday, before he showers, he takes the cap off the "snap"  gently sorta washes it off in the shower.  Then we let it air dry for a few hours.  Before bed I apply antibiotic ointment around the "snap" and stiches (which have now fallen out).  Then I cut a small hole in a piece of non stick guaze, and place it over the screw post, and then snap the button cover back on.  He will go back to TX in a few weeks for a check up to see how it's healing.  If all goes well, he will be getting his hearing aid in about 2-3 months.  We are VERY optimistic about this one finally working.  When I am cleaning the post, he said he can "hear" the sounds of rubbing and stuff...which means the bone is conducting sound as it should when the hearing aid is placed. yay!

Next up, we have Jordy.  Jordy was seen by a team of doctors to evaluate if her birth injuries are affecting her learning, behavior, etc.  We were never concerned with the thought of autism with her, but that was the main thing they were check for.  After spending a few hours with her, they said that she showed absolutly ZERO signs of autism, which they said is very rare that they can actually say ZERO in these evaluations.  They could definitely see the things we see as far as her having to be told over and over again before she will actually listen and understand what we tell her.  She is super super super smart, but on the slow side for her learning milestones (counting, abc's, etc)...but not enough to be very concerned at this point.  As they told us at birth, she needs to be followed and then tested once she starts 1st grade to see if there are any learning disabilities that might show up later.  The one thing they did say we NEED to do was enroll her in some sort of preschool.  We told them we were considering a couple of different things for her here, and they strongly agreed with us that she needs to go to the Montesori school just off base.  They teach in a child led way which would be beneficial to her, and sort of jump start her learning process to prepare her for kindergarten the following year.  We started the registration process and she will hopefully begin in early September.

Lastly, we had Abby's appointment with a neurosurgeon a couple of days before Geoff was cleared to leave.  For this, we had to go to Brooks Army Medical Center to see him.  First off, I did not like the communication that was had before hand.  I guess he had agreeed to squeeze us in, for whatever reason...but new abolutly nothing about why he was seeing us.  He hadn't seen her scans, or her medical files....so we had to go over everything.  He agreed on the diagnosis of the cyst on her brain.  They are semi-common, and very rarely anything serious.  He said he starts to worry when they are over 10mm.  Well...Abby's is 11-12mm (depending on who is reading it).  Yet, he seemed not worried at all, even though he had just told us he worries when they are over 10mm.  He basically just wants us to have her scanned again in 6 months and see if there are any changes.  Now, I agree, there is nothign that can really be done until we see if it is changing/growing.  BUT, I also know how fast things CAN go downhill. Not saying I think they will...but we JUST found this thing, and who's to say it might not double in size in 6 months.  I think we need to get a 2nd opinion, and then have her scanned again in about 3 months instead.  Sure, I am probably being over cautious some might say...but this is my daughter's brain we are talking about.  I felt this Doctor lacked the compassion that we are truely concerned. Almost annoyed that we we were worried of what could possibly happen.  Yes, I am sure he sees these everyday...but we do not.  If we are able to see another dr (not sure yet if Tricare covers 2nd opinions) and they say the exact same thing...I will be much less concerned, but still probably want a scan done earlier than 6 months.  At this point, we (mostly me) are just needing prayers for peace and understanding of what is going on inside her smart little brain of hers.

So, as you can see, pretty much all "good" news came out of the trip. It was a LONG 2 weeks.  And it was a LONG 2 day drive each way.  BUT...the girls did AMAZING as usual for car trips.  Hardly any complaints from any of us.  We got a lot of good family time and got to do a few fun things down in TX like see some of our best friends(including getting to go to Abby's best friend's birthday party!), get some sun (too much for some of us), eat some yummy food, and go to Sea World.