Dylan update

Well....no new is good news?? (: We met with Dylan Dr. today and he was glad to report that afor now, there is no evidence of seizures. He wants to do another EEG in a month and if that one shows no activity then we will do a 24 hour EEG were he is hooked up to the EEG monitor for 24 hours. If both of those tests come back clean, then he sadi he would feel comfortable seeing us in a year to do a folowup. And then he showed us all of the MRI "footage". He began by telling me that he was glad that we went to Fontana Kaiser for the MRI..here is how our conversation went:

Dr.: Great thing you wen tot Fontana so they could sedate Dylan for the MRI
Me: Why is that?
Dr.: This MRI is s clear and it is easy to read. It has no fussyspots like it would if he were awake
Me: Well, then I am happy to report that they tried the MRI without sedation and was very pleased that he could sit so still.
Dr.: Did he fall asleep in there?
Me: No
Dr.:He did better than most adults.

Dylan was beaming. And of course very proud of himself...I was proud of him too! The Dr. also told us that he was amazed when he saw Dylan's MRI. He told me that when you have a premature birth, that you have things about your physical appearance sometimes that gives it away...as well as your brain. He mentioned that there are spots on the brain that are typically enlarged...and Dylan's is normal. He said by looking at the MRI alone, he would've never guessed he was born at 27 weeks. He said that was good news as well. So now we wait a month..and try to figure out how to get him to focus in the meantime...

Dylan

This year has been highly interesting. First to start our 2008 school year, we thought that in December we would be on our way to a new adventure in Idaho. That has changed to later this year. I am a believer in things happen for a reason...we might not understand now...but we will later. It is hard to put faith in that...but worth it if you do.
Dylan has a great 4th grade teacher this year...Mrs. Solorio. She loves Dylan and has done so much for him!! I need to back up a minute...every year during teacher/parent conferences, we have been hearing "you might want to hold Dylan back this year. He blanks out alot and doesn't pay attention. He just maybe a little too immature and need to stay in this grade one more year." I have always thought they were crazy and said "No Dylan is bright and smart...there is something else." It hasn't hindered him in school work. other than he has a hard time finishing. This year this sweet teacher began our conference saying "Dylan is a true delight. Never a problem with his behavior. He is incredibly smart..runs cirlces around my gate students. But he has a hard tiem finishing his work. He isn't realyl falling too behind. But I have to physically go up to him and get him to "snap out of it"" She asked for my premission to film him..I said ok. What I saw surprised me. He blacks out and doesn't remember where he was and thinks he had finished his class work like the rest of the class. It goes on all day. He is remorseful when he comes back..he doesn't know what happens....and thinks he will be in trouble. During the video, I noticed that he self stimulates himself..rocks back and forth as he blacks out. I thought..wow he looks like he has autism. But he is too old to be diagnosed with that. Then I thought...seizures. I am not a doctor and do not pretend to be..but these were my thoughts. She began the hard process of testing him through thte school psychologist...for things like ADD, ADHD, his IQ, etc. We were starting at the bottom and working our way up. After seeing the video, the specialists thouth the same thing I did...seizures. We are now meeting with a Neurologist...he is fantastic!! With Dylan's birth history..and the fact that they thought he was having seizures in the NICU, he felt that Dylan needed to be tested...so...we started out with an EEG.....

You have to be sleep deprived..with no caffiene...including the caffiene in chocolate. He was allowed to sleep for no more than 4 hours...and I had to account for driving time. So I got about 2 1/2 hours of sleep. We both were exhausted. I tried to make it a fun night but by the time that 3 am hit..Dylan was in tears begging me to let him sleep. It was a hard night and day the rest of the time...
All of those wires....it is a 20 minute test...so it is hard to sometimes to catch what is going on...

And after the test...Dylan was "marked" for the rest of the day...he thought it was cool. And then he went to sleep! (:

Then we had the MRI...we had to go to Fontana Kaiser because they do not sedate children in Riverside..only in Fontana.

This is what an MRI does...just FYI. And below is the machine you go into..a big loud tunnel.

I was'nt able to take pictures of Dylan in it...they wouldn't let the crazy mother with the camera do it! ): Dylan was very upset and didn't want to do the test because he didn't want the IV. He didn't mind the loud tunnel...but didn't want the IV...when we got there the Dr. sat Dylan down and told him that if he remain still, that he wouldn't put him under. I have never seen Dylan sit so still before! I was so proud of him! So no IV and no hospital stay for the MRI test. The Dr. let Dylan look at the pictures of his brain..Dylan thought it was so cool and asked for copies...we will get them on the 2nd.

We still do not know what is going on if anything...we find out on the 2nd of February. The hard thing is that epilepsy is hard to detect. You can have 10 MRI's done and 2 of them will show the disorder. So we may be starting a long road. I am grateful for Dylan and for his sweetness. I am grateful for how he came into this world. It was hard and trying but in those 4 months in the NICU I learned so much. He is a great brother and is such a leader. He is so special..and has so much to do in this life. I know he is a special spirit. I am grateful for my knowledge of the Gospel and for being taught it in my life. I am grateful for prayer. Without prayer, I would have fallen apart already! When things happen to us in our life we need to look at the good...the positive...there is so much around us!!

I will update on the 2nd...Dylan may be given a clean bill of health..then we will need to figure out why he is blacking out...and get him to focus....hmmmm.....I need Dr. HOUSE!!! (:

Sometimes Dr. Laura gets it right...

I am a partial fan of Dr. Laura...by that I mean one day I listen and the next I can't stand to listen to the program...but today I was listening. This is what I heard...

"I just turned 62. In my life, I have seen blacks go from the back of the bus to the White House. I have seen women gain respect in the workplace.

But I have also seen an explosion in divorces. Abortions. Out-of-wedlock kids…on purpose.

I have seen a collapse of the values that made and can still make America great. I have seen an abdication of personal responsibility in favor of the adoption of victimhood and situational ethics.

There are many things that concern me about our new president. Many policies that frankly, make me nervous. But there are some things that I am impressed by, and hope he will set a tone and become a role model for our society.

I am impressed by President Obama’s work ethic. I am impressed by his clear love for his wife and family.

I am impressed that during the campaign, Michelle Obama made sure she was home with her daughters 5 days a week.

I am impressed that they have invited the children’s grandmother to live with them in the White House.

I am impressed that the first black president got there through his own hard work and not because of affirmative action programs.

I am impressed that President Obama took the time to visit with some of our wounded warriors from Iraq and Afghanistan the day before he took office as Commander-in-Chief.

Now, I hope that through these actions, our new president will serve as a role model for all Americans - to take their vows and responsibilities as seriously as the day they made them.

And that’s my take on today."

I couldn't agree more! I loved how she found all the positive things in this Man's life. So now...lets see what this President will do

History

Harry S. Truman met his successor, Dwight Eisenhower, at the exit of the U.S. Capitol minutes before the president-elect strolled to the stage to take the oath of office. Truman whispered, “There are thousands of folks out here, millions listening on the radio, and yet you’ll never feel more alone and surrounded with quiet as when you walk out here and get the lay of the land.”

I wonder if that is what it is really like. I do not envy the new President and what he is up against. What a job! I preferred a different man for the job, but in the end the people spoke and picked their man. It will be neat to remember this moment in time and to remember what a historic event this really and truely is. I pray for President Obama and his family like I did with the other Presidents of this great nation. I also thought many times today aobut Martin Luther king and what he would have to say about what will be taking place tomorrow...did he think it would ever happen? For that I think it is amazing and a gret time to be alive to see this moment. I was pleased athat Obama said that Martin Luther king day should be a day of giving service to each other...that sparked some interest...what a great thing to do on a day like today. Could you imagine if everyone gave service to each other and then chose to "pay it forward". Wow! that would be a country to live and die for!

I was pleased with President Bush today as he granted Commutes to the two border patrol agents..that was a great way to leave office...too bad he didn't have a certain "someone" in captivity..That would've been awesome!

As i go to bed tonight i pray for the country, my family, and for leadership in a man who will lead this great nation...I guess time will tell...

Sometimes there are no words...

..and you just end up laughing and can't stop! Dylan, Wesley, and I were out running errands one day. Of course Wesley fell asleep...I opened the door to get him out and this is what I saw...


...of course he was put in with his shirt on, the right way I might add! Later he said he was hot..of course! What a simple solution, take your shirt off...or try to! I mean there is no way that Mom could've turned the air conditioner on! We got a good laugh from this one! Thanks Wesley!