YAY for Fall!

I've probably opened this page and started a post about 5 times this week. There is so much to update everyone on.

First of all, I went ahead and signed off on Noelle's IEP within the county and she started special education preschool on 9/14. She goes Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30am-11:30am. The lead teacher in her class has TONS of experience and a Masters Degree. There is also a Speech Therapist in the classroom each day as well to work with the kids. On top of that, they have an aid and a volunteer. That is 4 adults in the classroom each day. The best part....there are only 3 children...including Noelle. What an AWESOME teacher/child ratio. I could not be more excited and the best part is...she LOVES it. Unfortunately, we did have to give up her home services with Early Intervention. It was one or the other. That was really disappointing because we really loved her home therapists and case worker. Luckily, we found a few of her therapists on Facebook so we are able to keep in touch.

The bad part about her going to school is, after 2 days attending...she was sick. I think she just had a small cold, but of course with Noelle the sky was practically falling. The poor girl couldn't breathe and had to go back on high flow oxygen for several days. A few days of steroids, a few frantic calls to the pulmonologist, an almost ER visit, a little bit of rest and sharing the cold with her brother has made her better and ready to go back to school tomorrow. Andon was able to go back today even though he was a day or so behind Noelle in getting the cold. I'm sure this is going to become a reality with Noelle and Andon both being in school. At least they share one thing...germs.

Noelle finally had her wheelchair delivered today!! It was so exciting! At first, she was very upset by being put in the chair...but when she realized that she could wheel around, she was sooo excited. We did find out that our house is slightly slanted and hard for a toddler to wheel around in. She's going to have so much fun wheeling around school with it!!

Medically for Noelle, we have several appointments coming up. About two weeks ago, Noelle choked on her dinner. It was so bad, I had to flip her upside down and smack her back to get the food out. I finally got her breathing again and set her back in her high chair. I turned around to rinse the chewed up food off my hands and when I turned back around...she was in what appeared to be a full blown seizure. She was shaking and convulsing and her eyes had rolled up in her head. I freaked out and tried to get her out of it...to no avail. She finally came out of it on her own. This episode lasted about 15-20 seconds. I called the pediatrician to see what we should do. After all, she just had a 24 hour EEG which was normal. The pediatrician said to put in a call to the neurologist and come in to the pediatricians office to just make sure she didn't aspirate her food from choking. I called the neurologist (who is not one of my favorite people) and the nurse called me back and said she believed she had a "holding breath episode" and she would be fine. The doc didn't want to see her...nothing! I was put off by this. We have been suspecting silent seizures for over a year and now she has had a full blown shaking seizure and nothing! The neurologist booked an appointment to follow up for January. I, personally, did not find this acceptable. So, I'm taking her to get a second opinion at a different pediatric neurologist on Wednesday. Thursday we see the pulmonologist again for a regular check up and to get results from the CT scan. Friday, we see the Eye Doctor for the first time in a year! I'm anxious about this one. Noelle has recently started to read books very close to her face and insists on getting about 2 inches from the television. We always knew she would probably have glasses...it might be the time.

We did get the results back from her sleep study. She does have mild sleep apnea and basically the pediatric version of Restless Leg Syndrome. They are going to check her levels of iron and hopefully treat with iron. The apnea is not enough to require anything additional. On average, she moved her legs 77 times per hour during sleep. Which apparently is crazy. This could be the reason for her extreme tiredness...her legs probably wake her up at night. The sleep study doc also said that there is some sort of correlation with the restless leg syndrome and developing ADHD. I wasn't surprised about that one either. Seriously, nothing to worry about today at least! Remind me about it before she starts kindergarten! :)

Andon started soccer last weekend and was so excited to see his friends again. Ross is the assistant coach and I think it helps Andon to stay on the field. Compared to his first soccer game last year....this year was no comparison. He knew exactly what to expect and ran out on the field. He has been trying a lot more this season as well. He actually chases the ball rather than just watching the ball! :)

Andon is really enjoying his school. He moved to a new classroom for kids that start Kindergarten in the fall of 2011. They even have little desks to do academic work. We are really lucky to have found this school. The school has led us back to church as well. After Noelle came home, we were told no group gatherings at all...including church. So, we figured if she can go to school now...she can go to church with us. Our new church is fantastic. I have felt so welcome each and every week we go. In addition, have really enjoyed the service. The church I grew up in was very traditional (and boring!) This church is not either. There is a live band, great music and great sermons each week. It is really something we are excited about. Ross and I always knew we wanted to raise our kids in a church and we have never really found the right one. I am excited to say...I think we have!

We leave for the beach next Sunday! Ross, Andon and I could not be more excited!! Noelle doesn't know what is going on...yet! We cannot wait to just be together and relax. I'm not sure we know what that is anymore. Between Ross working, me starting my own business, doctors appointments, therapies, and shuttling the kids back and forth to school...its crazy!

I know I am terribly behind on pictures of the kiddos...but I'll catch up after the beach! Or maybe at the beach...I'll actually have time! Hope everyone is enjoying September!!

xoxo,

Stacie :)