Children's Hospital - UPDATE

Yesterday, we trekked up to Children's Hospital for the 2nd Craniofacial team visit. It went well, overall, but we did get some not-so-great news too. We went to dentistry and were told that Matthew needs to start using a "real" toothpaste. One with fluride in it. He has one tooth that is literally decaying in his mouth because of a poor start to dental work. (meaning, not having dental help at a young age) We go to a pediatric dentist next week, so we'll see what they want to do about this tooth. It's the tooth that has grown in north to south instead of west to east (like normal teeth). Other than that? He was ok.

Next stop? Hearing and Speech. OH BOY! This is where Matthew had a VERY intensive hearing evaluation. I mean, VERY aggresive/intensive hearing tests. They did everything on him! Matthew comprehended EVERYTHING! *much better than back in May* The one test that totally scared me. Literally, scared me was the one where they measured what his eardrum was doing. In a word? NOTHING! He "flatlined" the test. Meaning, in a normal person, if they make a sound, it will bounce off the eardrum and you will see a rise and a fall on the test. Kinda like a mountain. Matthew? He had one, solid, dark line that did absolutely nothing. No rise, anywhere. My first thought was OH MY GOD, why?! Then the audiologist explained that because Matthew has fluid on BOTH ears and one ear infection, still, it could be because of that. NOT TO PANIC! YEAH OK, SURE! *are you kidding?* The other test Matthew failed twice was the range of high, medium and low ranges of pitch. Matthew cannot hear in the low range. You literally have to raise your voice to him in order for him to hear you. The audiologist demonstrated on Matthew. I tell ya, hearing the low pitch and staring at the speaker where it comes from and Matthew never looked at it. I just wanted to cry. Literally. Just sit there and cry. (It's me, all over again. I had problems with my left ear, hearing when I was smaller. I had two sets of ear tubes. 1st and 3rd grades.)

Ok, on to speech. Again, the speech pathologist tested Matthew. He has no t, k, d, g, s, r, h.......can't remember the rest. So, what does this mean? He needs speech. He needs to start therapy immediately! He is in his first year of pre-k. There are only 2 years of pre-k and then on to kindergarten. So, we are in contact with the Calvert County Public School system, speech department. We will find out more on Monday when Matthew starts this and talk with his speech teacher. This is good. But overall, he failed the speech/hearing evaluation.

Then we had some lunch. And a hour later, we end up at the ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) doctor. We had to wait a bit as there were numerous kids/parents in this area. Once it was our turn, we had the doctor's intern talk with us. He was really nice!!! Loved Matthew, but I don't think Matthew liked him (or the doc). Matthew is very sensitive and feisty when it comes to his ears. Ever since we got him in China, he's been this way. Matthew still has an ear infection in his cleft ear (left) and fluid on his right ear. (didn't know that) Since he's had 5 ear infections in the left ear in 8 months, it was determined to be in Matthew's best interest to get him some tubes in his ears to allow drainage to happen. December 21st, is the tentative appointment for his next surgery for this.

While I was tending to the details of the surgery part of ENT, I told daddy to go take Matthew to Plastic Surgery. It was so late in the day, we weren't sure if they would be open anymore. Well, daddy told the plastic surgeon what I was doing and he suggested Matthew's nose and lip revision be done at the same time as the tubes going in. GREAT!!! *Matthew won't have to be put "under" so many times.* So that is where we are today. Trying to coordinate Matthew's next surgery. Tentatively set for December 21st. It's suppose to be an outpatient surgery (in an OR though), but for Dr. Murthy's part of it, we aren't sure if he will be able to go home right away or what. Again, Matthew has to at least drink before he leaves! Hopefully I will be able to get him to do that so he doesn't have to stay.

What was ODD to me was that a psychologist/sleep therapy person spoke with us. I thought that was very odd. I had to do a doubletake and ask the man "What did you say you were?" He said a psychologist, I said, "yeah, I got that part of it. The first part of your title?" LOL He chuckled a bit. Never heard of something like that. Dad and I asked him where was he when we had Becca 3 years ago!! We could have used him BIGTIME! LOL Anyway, he said Matthew was a typical normal child. We are typical normal parents. Whew..........good thing. TAKE THAT 1st ADOPTION AGENCY! :p

I have mixed emotions about this. I want Matthew to get the care he needs and whatever he needs medically, but at the same time, it's another surgery. It's another "scary" time for him. It's another time of seeing your child slowly zonk out by anesthia. That's scary! I trust Dr. Murthy. I trust Dr. Pena. (Dr. Pena is a lady and really nice! Explained everything to us in great detail about his surgery.) We started scheduling his surgery around Christmas because both dad and I are off then anyway.

Matthew is still on Cefdinir, Xopenex and Pulmicort. Will be for another week. Hopefully this ear infection will clear up and everything will be a GO for the surgery. I want my little guy well and hearing normal. (as well as normal can be for him)

Momma Kooky