MRI ... again

Well, Micah is going to be having another MRI very soon. This time it will be of his spine... again. He has been having really bad "butt" issues. Sorry, no other way to put it. We've taken him to be checked for hemorrhoids even and there's nothing there. Some days he cannot even sit down to eat breakfast. He cries and is so irritated. Some days are better than others though. He has also been having more sensory issues, (tags and clothing), swallowing/gagging as well as numbness in his right foot. Ok, he cannot explain numbness but I just think that's what's going on. He would not wear a sock or shoe on his right foot today. He had issues with his right foot before surgery but the problems have returned. Ok, so here's the short story. I talked to Dr. Ham's office today and they said he has classic "tethered cord" symptoms. I was like "what?"!!! He had a full spine MRI back in April and everything was fine with his spine. The neurologist a couple of weeks ago mentioned that he wanted a full spine MRI and I said "I know he acts like he's tethered but he's not according to the MRI he already had. It's not possible for someone to just become tethered later is it?" Well, I didn't get a yes or a no answer. So anyways, I guess this sometimes happens after chiari decompression surgery. I feel overwhelmed but at the same time glad for yet another explanation of why Micah is so unhappy sometimes. Yes, he has some wonderful days and is such a sweet kid. I just wish he wasn't always in pain or having to act like he wasn't. IF he really is tethered, it will mean surgery. I have NO CLUE yet what all that involves. I will be researching tonight. We just got him scheduled for an OT evaluation next week but now we are going to cancel because of everything. There is no point in getting yet another person involved when we still have other things physically to figure out. It would be a waste of time. I guess that's all for now. I will update when we know more.

Merry Christmas!

Here are a few pictures of our Christmas day. Kevin and Amanda and Anna came over and so did Grandma Cutler. We had a nice time and ate way too much good food. Amanda made her homemade cinnamon rolls and Grandma Jimmie's breakfast casserole. Maggie is a bit under the weather but is holding her own.

Christmas Time!

We have been so busy around here lately and I've even tried not to be! I've given up on Christmas cards this year... sorry! I only have one more gift to buy and the shopping is DONE! Micah and Maelea went outside the other night for 20 minutes at the most and now Micah has a cold! Maybe it was coming anyways. We did make sugar cookies and I let the kids decorate a couple until I realized that they were licking everything they touched. I just put the frosting up until they went to bed and finished them myself. We made it to church in the gusting winds and were almost on time! Dan has been trying to keep up with the snow blowing but it's practically impossible with all of this wind.



Decorating cookies








Something about this picture just confirms her relation to Grandma Jimmie





Maggie's face says it all.








My brother Kevin, wife Amanda, and daughter Anna.


My brother and me... haven't seen one of these picture in forever!


Snuggles





Goodnight

December Pictures

We have had a busy time here lately. Friday night, Dan and I went to a wedding without Micah and Maelea. They got to spend the night with Grandma and Papa Martin. Sunday, we had the Martin extended family Christmas here at our house. There were 23 total and we set up the dinner tables in the garage. It was a success! We had a little scare tonight when Micah fell and hit his head on the floor. He was standing on a chair looking at our calendar... I have no idea why! Anyways, the chair tipped and he hit the side of his head completely on the floor and it was loud! He has quite the bump there. He rested on the couch for a while but then was up and making sugar cookies like 45 minutes later. I am going to go check on him again before I go to bed. I know it's late but sometimes I just need some quiet :) Also, we have yet to even get a family picture taken, let alone get a card made and send it out to all of you! Maybe we will do a New Year's card this year...





Maelea mocking Mommy taking pictures of Maggie with her cute bow!


Maelea showing off her pig-tails!


Cutting out ornaments








Making ornaments with Grandma Martin








Christmas dinner in the garage.


Maggie all ready for the wedding.

Ped Neuro

Sorry for the delay in an update! We met with the pediatric neurologist yesterday for a LONG appointment. I don't know anything more than I did going in but it was a good appointment. He did say that there is some prominent white matter in Micah's first MRI. He is not going to label Micah with CP yet but wants to see the most recent MRI from Detroit. I had this arranged to be there but it wasn't! He also said that Micah's birth could have caused this. Honestly, I feel a huge relief because I feel in my mind this is what is going on. He wants to see Micah again in 6 months but is going to call me with the results of the other MRI.

Decorating the tree!

Mama Maelea

Ped Neuro

Next week Wednesday, December 10th at 3:00 we will see the Pediatric Neurologist. I am very glad it will be this soon.

Breathing Treatments

Well, Micah is back on breathing treatments. He hates them so much! I made him do it himself today before I would let him go to school. He screams and kicks even if I'm not holding him down. He says it is "hot" I think because it looks like steam or smoke. I still don't have any more information about appointments yet. I can tell you that one of our pediatricians said yesterday that the term cerebral palsy is a "waste basket" diagnosis. I have my own thoughts but I think I will keep them as my own thoughts:) Other than that, we have been slowly getting ready for winter and the Christmas season. Micah now (finally) has his own closet because I emptied it out of my junk. We sent a lot of stuff to Goodwill and a lot of stuff to the dumpster. He really likes his closet because it's HUGE and he can close the door to get away from Maelea. Tonight is the Delton Home Town Christmas. We might just venture out to see Santa.