"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place,
or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break."
--An ancient Chinese belief




Important dates:

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Another addition to the "Aren't we cute?" category

I'm not kidding. Just look at these two.


Daddy Crazy

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Update on Matthew's CAT scan results............

Well, Dr. Pena called me at work yesterday and left 2 messages saying that "she needed to speak with Mrs. Iversen please". Now mind you, she didn't say immediately, or ASAP, or it's a matter of life and death or anything like that, but trust me when I say, when you get not one, but TWO messages like that? Within an hour of one another.........um, yeah, something deep down within your MOMMA's HEART should tell you that you need to call the doctor back NOW! *which I did*

And don't you know it? She went to lunch! Ha! Like she should eat! *smiling* (yes she should.)

Anyway.........she called me back after 1:30pm and we talked about Matthew's results of his CAT scans.........they were ok, but not good. Meaning.....does he have abnormalities in the development of his ears from being a cleft child? YES! Is it bad? Not really, but enough to discourage the doctor from ruling it out as being a possible culprit into why he is losing his hearing.

His tubes are fine. Nothing wrong there. No scarring. No extra skin, nothing like that........so that was a relief on her part as some tubes can do that to children and it can be a MAJOR setback to them hearing properly.

Now, to the good stuff. Most of his ears are developed enough for him to hear. Not like you and me mind you (if you have perfect hearing), but good enough. The nerves that Dr. Pena could see, one didn't look right. She didn't know why.....just that it didn't look right. Everything is suspect to Matthew's hearing loss so she is writing down anything and everything it COULD be.

Here's the BIG thing........We are still holding to our August 7th, 9:15am doctor appt. at Children's for Dr. Pena to see Matthew again. She wants to give him ONE last hearing test and look into his ears. IF, and I say, IF, he fails this hearing test (as he has the past 2), she will aggressively start reacting to EVERYTHING that was found in the CAT scans. Meaning, more testing. There is some test they can do that will literally show every nerve within your head and how it works and what it's doing. It's some long name, but he'll have that. *God knows it sounds expensive* OH, and he will be fitted with hearing aids.

His speech has improved TREMENDOUSLY, but Daddy still has to yell at him to get him to hear him. (I don't.....Momma Kooky) I'm actually afraid he won't hear alarms, or cars coming, or people who have lower voices to say excuse me.........or worse, he may lose his hearing totally.

Trust me, I'm praying. Just trying to tell Crazy Daddy about what the doctor said, I just broke down in tears. Matthew's been through SOOOO MUCH already! And now more? God knows I had hearing problems when I was little. I'd go through all that again just so Matthew could hear the very best he can!

PRAY, please PRAY that his hearing will be BETTER this next test! I'm holding out for a total miracle with Matthew. I love my boy. I love him so much. Ok, I need to go. Getting sappy again.

Momma Kooky

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Oooooooooooo, we have something to celebrate!

Rebecca has been dry at night for 3 nights now! MOMMA is MEGA happy! So is Daddy! She is trying........I'll give her that. But boy, her Jiangxi attitude needs a little adjusting. She's 4 going on 5, physically, but mentally? Geez, she's 4 going on 24! She's smart, she's pretty, she's full of rhetoric! She knows how to fix things, she KNOWS how to boss her little brother around. Oy! I wasn't even that bad with one older brother and one older sister! (and vice versa)

We will post pixs soon, but both of the kids have bicycles now. Helmets and all. They are funny! Summer is half over already. Come September, Rebecca will be in the advanced Pre-K class. March 2009, we will enroll her in school! *gulp* (Oh Lord, please prepare her teachers! They are going to need it. Amen.) LOL

We still don't know the results of Matthew's CAT scans yet. We are trying to get the doctor to see us before August. (the first available appointment) We are holding fast that he's ok. Or that whatever needs to be revealed, will be!

Other than that, Daddy is doing well. Mommy is doing well. Loving all the thunderstorms we've had as part of our daily routine.

OH..............our new furniture will be delivered Thursday! A HUGE U shaped sectional sofa w/chaise in it. (color is deep sage) It's going in the basement! I can't wait. I can't wait. Our FIRST piece of new furniture! Woo hoo!

Ok, other than that.........doing well. How about you?!?

Friday, June 20, 2008

Updates amongst other things............

Well, we went to Children's Hospital on Tuesday and had Matthew's tests done. NO SEDATION! Did you hear me? NO SEDATION! The lady was quite impressed with Matthew and how well he listened and what not. So.....they tried him in the machine to see if he would keep still. They packed his head tightly with gauze and pads, wound him in a cocoon type of lead lining (because they only needed his head for pixs) and started doing the tests. Matthew did GREAT for the first test. NO PROBLEMS! He laid on his stomach for that one. Then? He had to shift onto his back.

He was good for quite a while. But....maybe the last 10 minutes of the second test, he could see the machine turning and shifting and see the "fastness" of the spinning part of it and he started to cry and get scared. Hey, it was 30 minutes by then! HE DID GREAT! He's only 3!!! I was worried they didn't get what they needed on the second test, but they did. They called in a radiologist to make sure the pictures were good and we waited in the waiting room. About 5 minutes later, the technician came out and said everything was ok. OH YEAH............Matthew got a new blanket and beanie baby before we left! The technician gave it to him for being so good. It's a handmade blanket, full of Nemo type of turtles on it and a beanie baby crab. He was really surprised (as was mom and dad).

Other than that......Rebecca has moved up into the last year of preschool. She's showing signs of "boredom", which isn't really good in my eyes. She's smart. TOO smart! I can't tell you how many people tell me she speaks very well and eloquent for a 4 year old. She does. Now mind you, she lacks in some other areas, like listening skills, but it's getting better. I cannot believe that next March we will have to sign her up for kindergarten!!! Matthew has moved into the 1st year preschool class at their daycare. They do so many projects, so many outings, so many christian oriented things. I like that. Rebecca has been prayer leader so many times. She gets mad at herself if she doesn't listen and they take that away from her (it's a priviledge thing.....). OH does she sulk!!

I have to admit....we got her yearbook from daycare and she is THEE shortest person in her class. Matthew is taller than her. She knows she's short. But the cognitive realization of it isn't there just yet. I'm kinda glad though. We'll tackle that when it happens.

Both kids have bikes now. Both can ride. I need to post pictures now. I know. They will come.

Crazy daddy and Momma Kooky are ready for another vacation! Need money, will travel! :o)

Well, that's enough for now. Keep us in your prayers. Especially Matthew. We will know his results of his CAT scans (done in 3D) soon. We'll let you know soon.

Momma Kooky

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Update on Matthew

Well, we got the call from Children's Hospital. Matthew goes in for his CAT scans on Tuesday morning EARLY! (As Crazy Daddy says, "before the birds are farting".) :o)

He will be put under anethesia. The whole procedure will take between 15 to 30 minutes, but they will keep him until he wakes up and his vitals are normal to go home (appx. 2 to 3 hours later).

We've explained to Matthew what will happen and he thinks he's going to see Dr. Murthy, so I hope he is down there in the sedation area for surgeries. *fingers crossed* Matthew truly likes Dr. Murthy. They are best buds to Matthew.

Other than that, we wait. We have to wait about 7 to 10 days after the CAT scans are done and we have to see Dr. Pena in the Upper Marlboro office to go over all his scans. The good, the bad and the ugly, if there are any! We are praying that Matthew is just a ok! We know his eustationary (sp?) tubes are messed up, especially on the cleft affected side, but other than that, we have no clue!!!

I'm writing to you as one massive thunderstorm just went by, hail and all, and now, it looks like another one is on it's way! (hail was as big as marbles) Boy did that hail sound wicked on the house! And the lightning?! Good grief. Still have power though! YEAH SMECO! Awesome! YEAH DISHNETWORK! You go guys!

Please pray with us for Matthew's scans to be ok.....pray that whatever is causing his hearing loss, we can get it fixed! Somehow.....someway! AMEN!

Momma Kooky

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

HOT! HOT!! HOT!!!!!!!!!

It's dang HOT over here in our neck of the woods!! Too hot to even blog! It is 95 degrees and it FEELS LIKE 105! Did you read that right?! YES YOU DID! 105 degrees! ENOUGH ALREADY! *just venting*

Momma Kooky

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Update............. Children's Hospital

Well, today, Matthew had his 6 month check-up at Children's Hospital. We prayed that there would be NO MORE SURGERY anytime soon. So far, so good. Except for one disappointing thing (at least to mom). We were told by audiology that Matthew is losing more of his lower/mid frequencies in his left ear. (Both actually, but more so in his left ear.) Audiology informed ENT and then we went from audiology to ENT. Well, Matthew has to have an intricate CAT scan done to figure out if his ears are ok. (Definition = Meaning, his ears/ear canals are not deformed in any way or anything is "wrong" in there.)

When will the CAT scan be done? Have no clue! They will get back with us because Matthew has to be "put under" in order to get what they need. Can you imagine a 3 year old holding still for up to 30 minutes???? Matthew is good, but not THAT good. He did really well today at Children's. ALOT of waiting, they were sooooooooooooo backed up!!! I've never seen so many children waiting who were CL/CP, burns, disfigured, etc. God knows my heart went out to every single one of them.

Dental checkup was good. Matthew has one less tooth.......DUH! It was taken out last surgery, February 1st. Other than that? That went well.

You know about audiology already. Speech went well. They are impressed that Matthew is in speech already and is learning so well and so fast!!!

ENT, you know about that too. OH yeah, they pulled 2 wads of "gunk" (wax) from Matthew's ears and the tool that they used Matthew bearly felt anything whatsoever! It was great. No screaming! No fighting! Everyone in ENT was surprised at Matthew. They love him! Everyone said how "cute" he is! (OF COURSE!);o)

After that? The plastic/reconstructive surgery. We saw Dr. Byojian? (spelling). Matthew was SO VERY, VERY, VERY disappointed. He asked the doctor where Dr. Murthy was! Where's Murty? Momma? Where's Murty!? hehehehehhee....*s* Dr. Ananth Murthy and Matthew have such a good relationship! Matthew loves him!!!!! He looks for him every single time we go to Children's!!! (Mom and Dad like him too.):o)

Then came Genetics............nice lady. Asked us as many questions as we couldn't answer! LOL (because we don't know alot about Matthew's background/family once he was born) We were told that he has a 3 to 5 percent chance of giving his children a cleft palate/cleft lip. Not bad, but still.........it was nice to know about that.

Psychology saw us. Weird little man. Asked weird questions. Then found out that Crazy Daddy snores and that was the end of poor Matthew!!!! Can you say, HUH?!?!?! What in the world?!?! Anyway, I was glad to be over with him! Just weird.

After all that............all my mommy brain could comprehend was that Matthew was losing his hearing! Yes, we don't know if it's permanant. Yes, we don't know if it's conductive. Yes, we don't know if it's a thing he was "born" with, or just happening. We don't know if he will need a hearing aid. We don't know if a hearing aid will work. We don't know if he'll need surgery. We have no idea! That's the scary part at the moment.

He hears me, Momma Kooky, just fine. Crazy Daddy? Not so fine. Daddy has a lower voice than Mom. So, what does this mean? We wait. Wait for the scan. See what we are dealing with and proceed from there.

God knows, please, please pray for Matthew! I just don't want him to lose his hearing! He's had 3 audiology tests performed on him and all of them are worse and worse. *not good* His right ear is ok. It's his left that is the problem.

Until we know, all I can say is stay tuned and please keep him in your prayers. Please.

Momma Kooky