Today we had our appointment with the Pediatric Surgeon here in Missoula, Montana. She was a really nice lady, older with a wonderful British accent. I had sent her ALL the information and pictures I had been given on B'Elanna's surgery in China, and I had sent her a Bunch of questions before our appointment. She came in and started asking all sorts of questions about how B'Elanna has been doing both physically and socially since I got her. Her nurse was in the room and kept B'Elanna entertained with toys and Bubbles, so I was able to concentrate on talking with the Doctor.... and she was also able to observe how well B'Elanna moved around the room, interacted with the nurse and the toys, listen to her talk (eventually) AND observe how intelligent she is.
She and I discussed the need for a getting a genetic test done to see if there is anything else going on with B'Elanna that we can't see and isn't presenting itself. She said there really isn't a need for that. Cloaca is not a genetic disorder, but an interutero development issue and IF any of her other systems were affected... it would have presented itself already.
She educated me that with Cloaca, we also need to consult with a Urologist for all the tests that B'Elanna is going to need AND she recommended that she be sedated for most of the procedures. I told her that was perfect.... I was going to request that!!
I talked with her about these weird diapers B'Elanna keeps having.... Urine diapers that smell like stool and sometimes have a "sandy-like" substance in them. I told her I am concerned about a fistula or something. I told her (and showed a newly collected sample, hehehehe) about the dry stool diapers B'Elanna has been having... even though I am giving her the Miralax and as much apple juice and water I can get her to drink. She confirmed that she is a bit dehydrated... but that I am doing everything I can be doing. She said to keep up the Sweet Potato/Apple Juice/Water regiment I have had her on. She said I could try increasing the amount of Miralax I am giving her, it won't have any longterm negative effects on her intestinal tract and it isn't addictive... it will just help pull more water into her system.
She did her exam of B'Elanna. She explained how the her surgery would have been performed. She said she thinks she only had one surgery... where they created the Urethral opening and Anus at the same time. She said all of her orifices healed well and are a good/great size. She said there are not any external fistulas and she does not see a need any further surgery to move the anus. (I had thought it had healed to close to the vaginal opening). We discussed what I have been calling a "hemorrhoid"... she confirmed that NO it is not a hemorrhoid, but a part of the intestines that had been brought down to create the opening. She said there is nothing that can be done about it and there is a good possibility that as she grows it will "go away or be pulled back in or stay." Since she had it when I got her in China, she said B'Elanna probably had to strain during a bowel movement and that is how it got started.... just like a regular hemorrhoid.
So.... what can the Doctor do for us. Well, we have a few tests we need to get completed so we can know what is happening INSIDE B'Elanna. They gave me a kit (bag) to collect a Urine Sample... this is going to be interesting. They are scheduling a kidney ultrasound for this week or next... depending on if we need Tricare Authorizations or not. She said needs to consult with the Pediatric Urologist about the tests he would also recommend. The difficulty is he only comes to Missoula every other month and he is full for December, which means we couldn't see him until February. I said I am willing to travel to Seattle, depending on Tricare approval, to get an earlier appointment.
OK... so tests needed:
* Urine Sample
* Anesthetized Kidney/Bladder Ultrasound
* Anesthetized VCUG (Voiding Cystourethrogram)
* Anesthetized Barium Enema
* Anesthetized Spinal MRI - to look for tethered cord
The Doctor wants to try and do most of these at the same time and let me know that she would be in the hospital overnight. Once we get these tests, we will be able to determine what we need to do next.
I asked her if there is a way to test the nerve conduction, she said not really. She emphasized that to not start/push potty training right now. Her body isn't ready and until we get some of these test we can't know IF/WHEN it will be ready. She said most of these patients aren't ready until they are 4-5 years old.... but if she wants to sit on a toilet like all the other kids at the Preschool that is fine.
After the Pediatric Surgeon appointment, we had an appointment with B'Elanna's Pediatrician to get her second round of Immunizations. Poor kid go 5 shots!! Afterwards, we had to go back to the Preschool to drop off some paperwork and let the Director know some of the things the Surgeon had said. By the time we got home, B'Elanna was walking like her poor little legs were killing her. :( :( :( Needless to say, she was a bit cranky tonight and had been a bit restless and crying out tonight while she is sleeping.
UPDATED MEASUREMENTS:
Weight: 25.2 lbs (Gained 2.7 lbs since Sept. 3rd)
Height: 34 inches (Gained 0.5 inches since Sept. 3rd)
Well... off to try and collect a urine sample!!
Monday, November 19, 2012
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Love Letter: 32 Months
November 14, 2012
My Dearest B'Elanna,
This month you had A LOT of changes!! You are so much happier, sillier and more settled this month. You have had significantly LESS temper tantrums. Mostly you have started to challenge eating different foods... some days you will eat something, the next you won't. Typical 2 year old stuff.
You are laughing and giggling SO MUCH!! Life in the house this month has been a Joy. Here is a video of you at NaiNai's house. Over the last 2 months, you have gone from avoiding the Ladybug pillow, to lying on it, to jumping on it, to....
Your vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds. So many people have been commenting on "How well you speak!!".... perfect strangers even!! There are a few sounds we are still working on, mostly anything that involves you putting your tongue on or through your teeth. I am hoping when we meet with the Developmental Assessment Team at the end of November, we can get a few sessions of Speech Therapy to help you beyond what I know how to do.
You are also able to concentrate on projects like putting puzzles together (with less frustration), you can listen to stories for a little bit longer than one month ago (you are starting to like books), and as you can see in this video your fine motor skills are even better than Gotcha Day!!
You had your first Haircut/Trim. You Did Not care for it much. You screamed and cried through most of it. Then as we were leaving... you said a VERY LOUD and Happy "Bye-Bye" and all the Beauticians laughed.
You had your First Halloween!! You were an adorable Lady Bug. You didn't go out trick-o-treating, but you really enjoyed greating people at the door and saying "Hello!! Hap Baleen!!! Bye-Bye!!"
You started a new preschool on November 1st... not by my choice... it is the only one that can receive the Military Child Care substity. They quickly made some of the same observations about you that the Pass It On Learning Preschool did.... you are very affectionate and caring towards the other children. You like to give hugs and if you think someone is upset or if you have hurt someone ... you become upset yourself and start trying to give them hugs and patting them. There are a few things about this new school that I don't like... but the Director is trying to work on getting things fixed. One of the biggest issues is that you are 2.5 years old in a classroom with 4-5 year olds, and the curriculum is SIGNIFICANTLY over your head. I feel that you have been languishing in a Daycare, when you are supposed to be learning in a Preschool. Because of this discrepancy, I have started to augment with things here at home with a YouTube Video called "Apple apple a a a" to learn the phonetic alphabet and some videos on colors and shapes that I received as an Adoption Gift.
November is National Adoption Month. You are the Purest Joy I have every brought into my life! You are so Smart and Beautiful and the lightLIGHT in each and every day and make it a pleasure to wake up every morning. This month you have started to cuddle up to at night and in the mornings you climb on top of me, give me a hug and laughing say "Good Morning!!"
I love you more and more every single day!!!
Love,
Mommy
My Dearest B'Elanna,
This month you had A LOT of changes!! You are so much happier, sillier and more settled this month. You have had significantly LESS temper tantrums. Mostly you have started to challenge eating different foods... some days you will eat something, the next you won't. Typical 2 year old stuff.
You are laughing and giggling SO MUCH!! Life in the house this month has been a Joy. Here is a video of you at NaiNai's house. Over the last 2 months, you have gone from avoiding the Ladybug pillow, to lying on it, to jumping on it, to....
Your vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds. So many people have been commenting on "How well you speak!!".... perfect strangers even!! There are a few sounds we are still working on, mostly anything that involves you putting your tongue on or through your teeth. I am hoping when we meet with the Developmental Assessment Team at the end of November, we can get a few sessions of Speech Therapy to help you beyond what I know how to do.
You are also able to concentrate on projects like putting puzzles together (with less frustration), you can listen to stories for a little bit longer than one month ago (you are starting to like books), and as you can see in this video your fine motor skills are even better than Gotcha Day!!
You had your first Haircut/Trim. You Did Not care for it much. You screamed and cried through most of it. Then as we were leaving... you said a VERY LOUD and Happy "Bye-Bye" and all the Beauticians laughed.
You had your First Halloween!! You were an adorable Lady Bug. You didn't go out trick-o-treating, but you really enjoyed greating people at the door and saying "Hello!! Hap Baleen!!! Bye-Bye!!"
You started a new preschool on November 1st... not by my choice... it is the only one that can receive the Military Child Care substity. They quickly made some of the same observations about you that the Pass It On Learning Preschool did.... you are very affectionate and caring towards the other children. You like to give hugs and if you think someone is upset or if you have hurt someone ... you become upset yourself and start trying to give them hugs and patting them. There are a few things about this new school that I don't like... but the Director is trying to work on getting things fixed. One of the biggest issues is that you are 2.5 years old in a classroom with 4-5 year olds, and the curriculum is SIGNIFICANTLY over your head. I feel that you have been languishing in a Daycare, when you are supposed to be learning in a Preschool. Because of this discrepancy, I have started to augment with things here at home with a YouTube Video called "Apple apple a a a" to learn the phonetic alphabet and some videos on colors and shapes that I received as an Adoption Gift.
November is National Adoption Month. You are the Purest Joy I have every brought into my life! You are so Smart and Beautiful and the lightLIGHT in each and every day and make it a pleasure to wake up every morning. This month you have started to cuddle up to at night and in the mornings you climb on top of me, give me a hug and laughing say "Good Morning!!"
I love you more and more every single day!!!
Love,
Mommy
Sunday, November 4, 2012
First Concert!
Saturday, November 3, 2012
This morning B'Elanna went to her first concert... Sesame Street Live: Elmo's Super Heroes.
I believe she had a good time. Even before we made it to our seats... I was taking photos of B'Elanna on some of the local Mascot statues.
Once we made it to our seats.... little miss had a hard time sitting in the chair. It kept trying to EAT her.
After that, she spent most of the show sitting on my lap. When I was downloading the pictures is when I realized... I hadn't taken ANY pictures of the show, just of B'Elanna!!! This is the one and ONLY picture I took of the show... the empty stage!
This was her reaction when the show first started. As you can she, she wasn't sure what was happening...
Once she understoond what was happening, she started to enjoy it. Smiling, clapping, getting jiggy... even clapping when she was eating a snack.
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During the intermission, we went out and ran the hall to wear off some energy. B'Elanna also enjoyed looking at the Grizzly and the U of Montana Mascot, Monty.
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| You are BIG... |
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| What BIG TEETH you have!! |
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| Ha, Ha... you can't get me! |
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| Checking out her new toys.... |
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| Analyzing the spin!! |
Checking out her new toy at home where it is dark and she can see the lights light-up! FYI... as you can see B'Elanna was REALLY in need of a nap by the time we got home.
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