Want to know what a double ear infection that looks the same after 2 weeks of antibiotics gets you? A trip to the ENT that's what! Woo Hoo!
When Bugger was just a few months old, we saw an ENT for an initial evaluation. The result was, "Yes, like most children with Down Syndrome, she has tiny ear canals, and they are flatter due to the lower locatation of her ears which MAY result in poor drainage and ear infections down the line." And was followed by "I don't need to see her regularly unless she has chronic ear infections".
So, now at almost 3 years old, Bugger has not been back to the ENT.
Now she had an ear infection at the beginning of December which she got antibiotics for.
Then about 2 weeks ago when we were back at the pediatrician's office, she had ear infections in each ear. More antibiotics.
Thought she was doing better until yesterday. Yesterday brought a 6 hour nap, and barely any eating or drinking. This morning she was very clingy and laying around, and wanted nothing to to do with her best playmate, Zilla.
Back to the peds ...
Tonsillitis - most likely viral, which is probably the cause for the minimal eating and drinking, and which in turn is probably leading to some mild dehydration (and her listlessness). Need to get fluids (pedialyte) in to her however possible to avoid an ER trip for IV fluids ... stop at grocery stor on the way home.
Then the ped checks her ears .... "ummm, they still look horribly red and inflamed and painful". And yes, she has been on antibiotics for 2 stinkin weeks already! Told to call the ENT when we get home, and if we need to wait longer than 6 weeks, call back to the peds office and they will see if they can help us get a sooner appointment.
Called the ENT once we got home and ate and filled up on fluids ... booked through March! The nice receptionist said she could leave a message for the nurse to call me if I wanted to talk to her about wha tis going on - Yes! Please!
Nurse calls, and she is sweet as pie! Tell her the back story ... Bugger has had double ear infection for 2 weeks, and 1 ear possibly for over a month, not knowing if it ever cleared in the first place, add in she has Down Syndrome which adds to the complications, and add in that she is starting Preschool in Feb, so this is just swell timing ... then I tell her I would see any of the docs in the practice to get in sooner.
End result ... was able to get Bugger in for a consultation appointment next week! I have to drive about 30 minutes further than I was expecting, but I figure that's a more than fair trade for not waiting 2 months to be seen.
And yes, this is while we are doing the EI to Preschool evaluation process. Today's evaluation has been rescheduled, but now we have all 3 in the next 2 days - awesome!
Off to a fundraiser meeting tonight. Did I mention Bugger is going to be a runway model in her first fashion show in April? We are so excited!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
And so it begins
The transition process from Early Intervention to Preschool is in full swing.
We have evaluations scheduled for next week - 3 exactly! And this is being scheduled in between two mornings of preschool, and 2 EI therapy sessions. Fun times!
And I received the letter that our Eval Review and IEP planning meeting have been scheduled for the first week of February.
And I just got word that there is an opening at the school that Bugger goes to currently, in their 3 year old room. We have been beyond happy with their program and how much Bugger has blossomed since she has been there. They offer an inclusion program. Our district is self-contained for 3 year olds. We will have to wait and see how the evaluations go, and then what the best environment is for her to thrive to her fullest potential.
So, now I am off to read and study and learn everything I can to try to make this process as smooth as possible.
Fun times!
We have evaluations scheduled for next week - 3 exactly! And this is being scheduled in between two mornings of preschool, and 2 EI therapy sessions. Fun times!
And I received the letter that our Eval Review and IEP planning meeting have been scheduled for the first week of February.
And I just got word that there is an opening at the school that Bugger goes to currently, in their 3 year old room. We have been beyond happy with their program and how much Bugger has blossomed since she has been there. They offer an inclusion program. Our district is self-contained for 3 year olds. We will have to wait and see how the evaluations go, and then what the best environment is for her to thrive to her fullest potential.
So, now I am off to read and study and learn everything I can to try to make this process as smooth as possible.
Fun times!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Holiday Blur
And just like that, the holidays are over.
We have survived ... but barely ... all 4 of us are now on antibiotics.
Hubs, sinus infection. Me, sinus infection. Zilla, ear infection. Bugger, sinus infection and double ear infection.
So, I have learned recently that colds that last 2 months can become nasty infections that then require 3 weeks of antibiotics to kick ... well, I will know for sure if it is kicked in another 2 weeks. And that apparently we do not develop full and open sinuses until close to 2 years old, which is why Zilla at 13 months does not have a sinus infection despite having the same symptoms as the rest of us. I have also learned that 3 days of holiday entertaining at home, and 2 days of running around and visiting all adds up to a sick momma.
Other than the sick germs, the holidays were great, a blur, but still great.
The girls were super spoiled. Santa spoiled them. Their grandparents spoiled them. Their aunts and uncles spoiled them. And all the rest of their extended family spoiled them. And it was nice that most of that spoiling was able to be done right here in their house where they can be let loose and play freely.
This year was also magical to watch Bugger's face since she was so much more aware this year. We ventured over to Macy's in Philly to see their cute little light show, and she watched in amazement ... mouth wide opened, eyes fixed on the lights, pointing and moving her hands like she was conducting the whole thing. And then to see her face light up again on Christmas morning was just priceless - she pointed and gasped as we came down the steps and she saw the loot filling the living room, and proceed to go right over to all of the gifts to show us what she saw ... it was just so precious.
Hubby was home with us for 12 days (should have been 11, but there was a sick day added at the end unfortunately), and the girls and I were loving every minute of having him here. And I am sure he was loving the attention of his 2 little adoring fans following him around like shadows.
It was nice and relaxing to spend the time together. We even managed to get in a viewing of our wedding video, and couldn't stop remarking over how young we were ... just 5 years ago.
I am working on reclaiming my house from Christmas, and am finally realizing that Christmas and clutter just seem to go hand in hand, and while I LOVE Christmas, I am not a fan of clutter, so it is bittersweet to put away all of the Christmas hoopla.
I am also gearing up for the next 6 weeks. In just 6 weeks my little Bugger will be 3 years old, and will leaving Early Intervention and venturing in to our public school system for pre-school. Before that day comes though, there are a number of evaluations to be done, and a meeting or two (or more) to take place. In all of this we, along with our school district need to decide on the best placement option for her as well, as in inclusion vs. self-contained. Bugger has had the opportunity to be in an inclusion program for 2 year olds for a couple of months now and is blossoming and thriving in the environment. I am hoping that with her evaluations and meetings, that the school district will see what I see as her parent, and we can all be on the same page as the best learning environment for her.
We have survived ... but barely ... all 4 of us are now on antibiotics.
Hubs, sinus infection. Me, sinus infection. Zilla, ear infection. Bugger, sinus infection and double ear infection.
So, I have learned recently that colds that last 2 months can become nasty infections that then require 3 weeks of antibiotics to kick ... well, I will know for sure if it is kicked in another 2 weeks. And that apparently we do not develop full and open sinuses until close to 2 years old, which is why Zilla at 13 months does not have a sinus infection despite having the same symptoms as the rest of us. I have also learned that 3 days of holiday entertaining at home, and 2 days of running around and visiting all adds up to a sick momma.
Other than the sick germs, the holidays were great, a blur, but still great.
The girls were super spoiled. Santa spoiled them. Their grandparents spoiled them. Their aunts and uncles spoiled them. And all the rest of their extended family spoiled them. And it was nice that most of that spoiling was able to be done right here in their house where they can be let loose and play freely.
This year was also magical to watch Bugger's face since she was so much more aware this year. We ventured over to Macy's in Philly to see their cute little light show, and she watched in amazement ... mouth wide opened, eyes fixed on the lights, pointing and moving her hands like she was conducting the whole thing. And then to see her face light up again on Christmas morning was just priceless - she pointed and gasped as we came down the steps and she saw the loot filling the living room, and proceed to go right over to all of the gifts to show us what she saw ... it was just so precious.
Hubby was home with us for 12 days (should have been 11, but there was a sick day added at the end unfortunately), and the girls and I were loving every minute of having him here. And I am sure he was loving the attention of his 2 little adoring fans following him around like shadows.
It was nice and relaxing to spend the time together. We even managed to get in a viewing of our wedding video, and couldn't stop remarking over how young we were ... just 5 years ago.
I am working on reclaiming my house from Christmas, and am finally realizing that Christmas and clutter just seem to go hand in hand, and while I LOVE Christmas, I am not a fan of clutter, so it is bittersweet to put away all of the Christmas hoopla.
I am also gearing up for the next 6 weeks. In just 6 weeks my little Bugger will be 3 years old, and will leaving Early Intervention and venturing in to our public school system for pre-school. Before that day comes though, there are a number of evaluations to be done, and a meeting or two (or more) to take place. In all of this we, along with our school district need to decide on the best placement option for her as well, as in inclusion vs. self-contained. Bugger has had the opportunity to be in an inclusion program for 2 year olds for a couple of months now and is blossoming and thriving in the environment. I am hoping that with her evaluations and meetings, that the school district will see what I see as her parent, and we can all be on the same page as the best learning environment for her.
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