Wednesday Appointments!

Wednesday was a very busy day for us!

We had our weekly music class we attend! The kids LOVE Mainly Music! We have been going for a while! 

After our Music class we went over to Life Force Chiorpractic!  Dr Smart's wife & sons go to Mainly Music as well!

It took a little while for Rhiannon to warm up to Dr. Smart! But, she did eventually let him adjust her! He adjusted her in 4 areas-Left Atlas, Right Sacroiliac Joint, Sacrum on the Right & Decreased Parasympathetic Activity!  These 4 areas just so happened to....have an impact on the "issues" she has been having!  After she was adjusted....you could just see relief on her face! She just seemed so much happier! Shortly after putting her in the car...she fell alseep & slept for at least a GOOD hour!

I am amazed that your spine being slightly out of wack can have effects on your body! The human body is amazing!  After seeing the relief on Rhiannon's face....it made Me want to get checked out! I joked with chris saying maybe if I get adjusted I will begin to gain weight ;) maybe something is wacked out in my body causing mixed signals? You never know ;)

Rhiannon also had her evaluation at Holly Ridge yesterday!  She appears to be a little mature in some areas and a little bit behind in speech but they do not think speech therapy is necessary. But, they would like her to attend a Little Tikes group 2 times a week that focuses on language & speech!  

In the past 2 weeks after contacting holly ridge I have been really focusing on Rhiannon & she is doing much better!  I have heard , "ohh she is still developing, she will catch up, she will be fine!" I may be a young mother but I have been around a lot of kids my entire life, I have worked with children at a very young age myself & am very aware of delays that can occur.  Also there are different learning disabilities that run in my family.   

I am ALL about EARLY PREVENTION!  If I have programs available to help my daughter NOW & to teach me how to help her NOW while she is still developing--you better believe I am going to take advantage of that! And...if you as a parent may think your child is behind in an area..you would be smart too to take advantage of the programs available! I want to help my child NOW while she is still developing. If I am aware of her struggles and get help now before she begins school I can work with her NOW instead of waiting until after she begins school & problems & delays come to the surface that could have a HUGE impact on her. Over Reacting? I don't think so.  I want My children to be the Best they can be & be the Best what God wants them to be without limitations! I want them to thrive & have opportunities! I want to help them grow & be successful...and it all begins NOW....well...at Birth! I will get off my rabbit trail ;)

As far as hearing.........we baffled the 3 specialist in the room during the evaluation! A lady pulled out a wrapper. They use a wrapper to "test" hearing as well as another device.  Rhiannon SAW the wrapper & kept an eye on it. She has awesome peripheral vision! She knew it was behind her! I knew she knew!

I said, "Can I have that wrapper?"

"Sure! Here you go!"

I put the wrapper behind me so Rhiannon couldn't see it. Out of sight out of mind. I waited a few seconds for her to get focused on something else. As soon as she was playing with other toys I grabbed the wrapper. I started crinkling it directly behind her, moving it back behind her left ear, right ear, left ear, right ear, back behind her head.

NO RESPONSE from rhiannon.

It wasn't until I moved the wrapper to her side where it caught her attention & she responded to it.

The 3 specialists in the room....dropped their jaws! It was pretty.........funny?  That we baffled 3 specialists! One lady said..."I strongly recommend she see an Audiologist, I will be putting that in the report!" 

I have been trying to PROVE this to everyone-But I always hear, "She is perfect, she seems to be responding!" Which, she does appear to be hearing. Just...not always responding from behind! Really weird!  They were not able to do the actual hearing test with the device because her ear hold is sooo small! Rhiannon kept saying "Stop!" (i recently switched the baby signing dvd-stop & go was on this new dvd so she has learned STOP!)

FINALLY....I was able to SHOW people!

One of the other ladies at the evaluation stayed a little bit after to talk to me.  She said it may be a certain tone she is unable to hear directly behind her. She also said that her speech isn't too far behind but all that could come to a screeching hault.  She explained it this way:

You tell your husband to do the dishes every single day. He doesn't do them. What will eventually happen? You will stop asking him.  The same thing could happen to rhiannon. Eventually she could stop listening for that one tone & her speech could just become very delayed. That tone will be lost. Then, she would be "lost".  The lady also said for every 1 month of waiting to find out what is going on with her hearing could delay her speech by 6 MONTHS!!! 

She then said I am going to talk to you mom on mom level.  Keep pushing doctors. You have to be pushy!  Don't be afraid to be pushy!  Follow your mom gut!

I am thankful for the encouragement of others who have said keep on it! Keep following your instint! You are the voice of your child! If you don't speak for her...no one else will! Thank you for that.  Honestly, I almost feel like giving up at times! It has been so overwhelming & exhausting!! But, This is my girl! My precious baby girl God blessed me with! I need to keep fighting for her & get the answers!

Rhiannon after her evaluation at Holly Ridge!

This coming up Monday she has an appointment with the Naturpath.  I have heard great things about the doctor I am seeing...but I am just not sure! One again...going back to the Cha-Ching-Ching $$$!  Chris has been teasing me about gas miles & money. I asked him, "Ok, what would you like me to do? Drop eveything & forget about it? Just tell me what you want me to do!" He said, "I do believe something is going on, just fix her. Figure out what is going on!" 

On Tuesday she has an appointment with Audiology for a test! They assured me that they have several ways to test children's hearing.  

Chris still needs to do the second sleep study to determine if she will need adenoid removal surgery. Which, I really don't want her to have surgery! I told chris I do not want to do the second sleep study! I did not like that! I wanted to poke her so many times during those "seconds" of not breathing! Not a good thing to see as a momma! I resisted the urge of poking her each time she did that! And told chris he is doing the next one! lol

ENT Appt

Today (umm..I mean yesterday-YIKES) Rhiannon had an appointment with the ENT Specialist!

Funny story...
As we were waiting to go in the back there was this older man & a much older lady (looked like a son & mother).  The sweet old lady said, "Why are we here?' The man said, "To check your ears!" The lady says, "Huh? WHY ARE WE HERE?" The man said a little bit louder, "To Check Your Ears!" The lady said, "OHHHHH............ok.........."

We saw Dr. Rice!  Very nice man.

On a scale of 0-10 (0 meaning adenoids not at all enlarged) Rhiannon is at a 5.  Her tonsils are normal size. He was not too concerned about her. He said the only time he will do surgery is if she has several periods during sleeping time where she goes 5 seconds without breathing.  If she does this she wants to see her right away to schedule surgery to remove adenoids!

I told chris this info. He said, "She does that! That is why I got No sleep when she was a newborn! I kept checking on her!"

So, my homework for today was to WATCH HER for 30 minutes to see how she does.

There were several times where she went several minutes without "breathing".  She would have a steady breathing rhythm then stop, then either "wake up"/cry/spasm/move. Poor girl! No wonder she is so grouchy! She hasn't been sleeping well!  I will be talking to Chris to see what he wants to do!

I asked about her having some issues in the digestive track would cause adenoids to be enlarged. He said it hardly effects that.  Usually when children have large adenoids its genes.  Well makes since because my brother Zackey had large adenoids & my father has really bad sleep apnea!

Rhiannon continues to get bad rashes. Every road we go down seems to be a dead end.  We may go (I actually have an appointment set up next monday) to a naturopathic to see if she can figure out whats causing rhiannon grief! Poor baby.

I think she will be seeing a chiropractic tomorrow!

Tomorrow is also our appointment at holly ridge for an in-person evaluation! Busy Busy Busy!

(Tomorrow meaning Wednesday). YIKES. I MUST GET TO BED!

Bud looking at the ear model!

He thought it was pretty cool!

ENT

Sweet baby girl! Been sooo pooped!

I got to watch this baby girl sleep for 30min!

ENT

I was able to get in touch with an Ear, Nose & Throat specialist about setting up an appointment for Rhiannon regarding her enlarged adenoids!

Rhiannon has an appointment scheduled this coming up Tuesday with Dr Rice!

real quick

Just a quick update...

Today I received a call from the nurse regarding Rhiannon's xray done on her adenoids.

Her doctor would like her to be seen at an ENT (Ears, Nose & Throat) Specialist!  I was finally able to sit down & check which doctors are covered by our insurance! I have it narrowed down to two! I tried to call today but the office was closed! I plan on calling the office tomorrow morning!  Hoping we can get in soon!

Also, her in-person evaluation at Holly Ridge (get caught up here)

I am so happy that we are finally receiving answers!  I just KNEW something wasn't completely right with our baby girl!  I am so thankful for Early Prevention services!

results!

Results are in from rhiannon's allergy test!!!

EVERYTHING came back NEGATIVE! 

I am thankful for no added allergies but this makes me go...............HUH?!?!?!?!?!?!?  

The doctor wants me to try her on Lactaid. He thinks that she may be Lactose Intolerant!

Differences between Milk Allergy and Lactose

Intolerance Milk allergy should not be confused with lactose intolerance. A food allergy is an overreaction of the immune system a specific food protein.When the food protein is ingested, in can trigger an allergic reaction that may include a range of symptoms from mild symptoms (rashes, hives, itching, swelling, etc.) to severe symptoms (trouble breathing, wheezing,loss of consciousness, etc.). A food allergy can be potentially fatal.

Unlike food allergies, food intolerance do not involve the immune system. People who are lactose intolerant are missing the enzyme lactase, which breaks down lactose, a sugar found in milk and dairy products. As a result, lactose-intolerant patients are unable to digest these foods, and may experience symptoms such as nausea, cramps, gas,bloating and diarrhea. While lactose intolerance can cause great discomfort, it is not life-threatening.

Added information from a friend: "I agree with all except lactose intolerance does involve the immune system... BUT it cannot lead to anaphyletic shock, so not directly life threatening. But it is true... you DO NOT OUTGROW either. The missing enzyme causes the body to insufficiently break down the amino acid strains of the lactose, those insufficiently broken down strains are what can wreak havoc on your immune system. Symptoms vary per person depending on a host of issues including whether your body allows these insufficient strains to "leak" through the stomach wall... symptoms also often change as your body goes through chemical changes as you age (which is why many people feel they "outgrew" their intolerance.)..Lactose intolerance can cause many more symptoms also (it is not just digestive issues for most people) symptoms can include things such as tremors, sleep issues, ear infections, hearing/ speech issues, and memory processing issues, nervous system disorders, increase in a child's ADHD and Autism symptoms, excessive saliva production, excessive sweet and noxious body odor, excessive mucus production and congestion of the sinus cavity, throat, and lungs which can lead to asthma and chronic pneumonia.... and this is just a short list..... not sure where you found that statement about lactose intolerance, but I think we can call it the understatement of the year, lol."


We went and had that X-Ray done of Rhiannon's adenoids (read here to catch up)! Boy was that FUN ;) Ohh my goodness.....Rhiannon did NOT do well with THAT!!! ALL she had to do was SIT there! Nope! Took me & another lady to make her stay still & another lady to take the photo!

a momma's instinct!

"I am sooo frausterated with our doctor's office! The soonest they can get us in with our doctor is next week then he would refer us to an allergist!! And I do not want to see a nurse because they just pushed off the problems! I don't want to wait a full week to figure out what foods Rhiannon can & can not eat! She has snuck so much food in the last day of trying to restrict her on certain foods! Excuse me while I go CRY!"

Was a status update from earlier in the day on Monday!

I decided to call Silverdale Pediatrics, recommended by my friend! As I was waiting to hear back from this office wither or not they were accepting new patients...I was informed that I could call an allergist & get in quicker. I was also told..that it could take up to 6 weeks to get into an Allergist!

As I sat at my computer trying to decide Which Allergist to call..I thought/prayed/said out loud..."Ok Lord, if Silverdale Pediatrics calls me back today we are supposed to go in that route, if they don't then I will pick an allergist & call them myself. Please, help me decide which one to call!!!"  As I was comparing two different allergist....the phone rang! It was Silverdale Pediatrics saying that their doctors would love to see my children!  Long story short...they had an appointment at 2:45pm THAT DAY!!!!!!

{insert happy dance}

I really liked this doctor.  He listened to our long story/experience.

He checked bud again. He was checked at Rhiannon's 15 MO appt! He has been itching really bad & has scratches on his body!  The ARNP we saw said, "He has a skin condition-no further explanation, no creams to use...nothing."  The doctor we saw today said he has dry skin. And asked about his bathing. He said, "take short quick baths-no playing for long period of time! It will dry out your skin"  WELL...Bud LOVES baths...and LOVES to play in the bath for a long time!  He gave us some samples of lotion & body wash to try for dry skin!

As the new doctor was checking Rhiannon out he was asking if her nose ran a lot. I said, not a lot just a lot lately because of the cold weather-as soon as it hits her nose the flood gates open!  He said, "Does she snore loud?" "YES! This was a concern my husband had! She has always snored & been a loud sleeper since she was born! So much so it concerned my husband & he couldn't sleep the first couple of weeks because he was checking to make sure she was still alive!"  The new doctor wants rhiannon to have an x-ray on her adenoids.  He believes they may be enlarged.  He wrote up the referral & I can go on in whenever is convenient for me! (gulp)
                  (side note-I thought of this several hours later---In the previous post I stated that I contacted holly ridge to get an evaluation done on Rhiannon-she seems to be behind on her speech. Well, if Rhiannon has large adenoids, it could very well be effecting her speech!)

This Momma Was Right! Something wasn't right with her baby girl!

We were able to get a blood drawn Allergy test for Rhiannon! She did such an AWESOME job! The needle did not phase her one bit! I was really surprised because bud was freaking out during his allergy test!  The results should be in within 24hrs, but could take longer on certain allergies!  I really liked the new doctor we saw today.  Even though the allergy test was not done in office...we were only right down the road from where the allergy tests are done & am so happy we were able to get this test done Today!!!

Rhiannon after the allergy test! 

15 Months!

Yes...You read that right...Our Baby Girl Rhiannon Renée Is 15 MONTHS OLD!

She is about 20lbs & 31 inches long!
She is in 18 month clothing & 18/24mo/2T dresses!
She is in 3-4 size shoes.
Size 3 in Diapers!

We recently removed dairy from Rhiannon's diet & some issues cleared up. But, I still think there is something else that doesn't sit well with her. I have just been having a hard time figuring out what is causing her issues besides dairy & her having acid reflex!  I just want to figure out what is causing her issues so she can eat food that doesn't cause her problems!!!!  Poor baby girl!

Rhiannon had her doctor appointment on Tuesday. We did not see our normal doctor-which I was pretty sad about!  Chris wanted me to bring up a few different concerns we have with Rhiannon...so I did & they were all pretty much shook off & disregarded.  I didn't want to get into it at the doctors office--I was D.O.N.E.  So I talked to a few clothes friends/family members about my visit & asked what I should do! Deep down I KNOW what I should do...but I feel really bad because I love our doctor & the office we go to!  I was encouraged by one of my friends just last night to stand up & fight for my child(ren), if you feel like I need to do something do it! I am my child's voice, if I don't speak up for them...no one else will.

I contacted Holly Ridge & asked to speak to someone about the infant toddler program.  I received a call back the next day.  I explained about our doctors visit for my 15 mo daughter & felt like I need to seek out help/another set of eyes.  And if she is alright then awesome if she isn't we caught some concerns early & with help we can help her work through it NOW while she is still young instead of shaking it off until she is school age & possible problems come to the forefront. I am ALL about early prevention!

We did an hour-ish evaluation.  Rhiannon appears to be below 25% in the social emotional area (more at a 10 month old child) & also appears to be below 25% in the language communication area  (more at a 10 month old child).  There was one other area she was a little bit behind but wasn't a concern.  Our next step is getting a packet in the mail & someone will call to set up an in person evaluation.  Which will also include a simple hearing test.

We have noticed that when we are directly behind Rhiannon & call her name or clap she has no response. We usually have to tap her on her shoulder or go in front of her to get her attention. Her eyes appear to work great & she is also is very aware of her surroundings.  But, if she does have some type of hearing issues then that can definitely effect her having problems in the speech area.  Which she does appear to be a little behind in that area.

I am working on figuring out what to do as far as getting Rhiannon check for allergies. I was told that "most children grow out of that stage" Well...her 4 year old brother did not! He is ALLERGIC to dairy! He suffered for 4 years! So it is very possible that Rhiannon could be allergic too!  So, if you know of any doctors who will test children for allergies-please let me know! I would really like to find one who our insurance covers!  Our doctor's clinic FINALLY prescribed us some butt paste for Rhiannon! Took them over a year for that!!!!!!!!

Her first time at a Play place! She was so excited!

She had her eye on a lollipop!

They were ALL loving this book!

she LOVES DIRT!

loving her uncle mason

Rhiannon in a big girl bed!

Bud was trying sooo hard to get rhiannon out!

she was helping make muffins!

loving her dairy free snack!

she wanted some enjoy life chocolate chunks

yumm

totally fell asleep right outside her bedroom door!

I think she looks cute in these ninja slippers.
What do you think?