Cleft clinic visit

Will's cleft visit was the last week of May and I'm just now posting about it. He got to see the speech pathologist Dr. Riski who he will now work with. It helps he knows where the two toy draws are and that he will get a prize from the treasure box when he finishes! He worked hard to make the speech sounds he was asked to do. Unfortunately since we have added the allergy medication he has very little "nasal secretions" and mucus to limit his hyper nasality. So we are to keep working with him on his sounds having him whisper or close his nose with his fingers pushing the nostrils closed (not his favorite thing to do). He is still making many sounds by slamming his vocal folds together (glottal stops) to be understood. Dr. Riski wants the school speech teacher to work on his speech with him closing his nose or whispering so he doesn't get the bad habits reinforced.



When we meet with Dr. B. he said we need to do a sphincter pharyngoplasty to improve his speech. Surgery is scheduled for October 4th to take advantage of my fall break. We knew he would probably need 4-8 surgeries so we were not surprised, but hate to see him have more surgery. We are only suppose to stay up to 23 hours in extended recovery.

Friday adventures

Tyler has had a cough off and on for about 3 1/2- 4 weeks, when I noticed how long it had been going on as noted on the family calender I called to get him an appointment. He has chronic sinusitis and is raspy. The nurse practitioner was surprised his ears were clear and that he only sounded raspy in front not on his back. I guess I need to listen to both sides when debating to take him to the doctor's.

I have been saying he feels heavier, he was 36.5 pounds at his well child visit an now he ways 39 pounds.

The boys were suppose to have a birthday party at the local park, but it rained hard most of the morning and their was a good chance of evening thunderstorms. So the party got moved to Chuck E Cheese. They had lots of fun, it was very energy draining for us.

Tyler's recent medical visits

Well Tyler finally made it to the podiatrist, as I had to reschedule his first appointment because of a problem with a temporary crown. The toe nail on the left toe may have a fungus that is causing the strange looking nail and to grow straight up. We are to file the nail down and apply a fungus medication preferably twice a day and return August 12th. He has had alot of problem with an ingrown toe nail on the other toe. The doctors answer for this was the growth plate/bed for the toe is arched instead of straight. To fix it involves surgery and trimming the nail bed and treating it with a chemical to not grow back. Since the other toe probably has the same problem surgery won't be scheduled till August or September so we can take care of both toes at the same time. At least we have meet our deductible, at this point we may reach our out of pocket maximum before October. At least their are things we can do about the toes.

Today he went for a physical therapy evaluation he was low in two of the three areas: locomotion and object manipulation. He has at least made progress in the stationary skills, such as standing on one foot, and jumping in place not over things and such. The therapist recommends a "burst" of therapy to get him back on track for his age, hoping he maintains the skills as he has for speech. She also said some of his trouble with object manipulation like throwing and catching a ball have some fine motor components and we have an OT evaluation set up for early June so we hopefully get all of his therapy in this summer and he will be able to keep up with his peers.

The PT was impressed with the Playball program, I brought this weeks newsletter to share. We should get a written report in the next week or two.

Tyler's 3 year old doctor's visit

Tyler went to the doctor for his well child visit April 8th after we came back from Granny's. He has grown again he is 37 inches tall about 55% for height. He know weights 36.5 pounds which puts him in the 80% percentile for weight, an improvement from most of his other visits where he was at 95% for weight. He didn't need any shots, because their is a new combination shot for the one he needed and will get it in the fall when he gets his flu shot.

Before his visit I filled out a developmental rating scale, their were many things he does well in the areas of cognition, communication and social skills. He still has trouble with fine and gross motor skills and self-help skills. He falls a lot, but at least tries to run, skip and hop which he would not do before we started him in Playball. So the doctor gave us a referral for a physical and occupational therapy evaluation and treatment.

I asked about his left big toe that has always been different (only a little bit of nail in places and none in others), since some type of injury or infection when he was one month old. She said to file it down with an emery board or pumice stone. She said we could take him to a podiatrist to see what other options might be available.

I also asked about his allergies as he has been wheezing, coughing and grumpy most of the time. She recommended we change to Zyrtec from Claritin as he Zyrtec was stronger. If this doesn't work then we will have to go a prescription. We are to continue to monitor what triggers his wheezing and use breathing treatments as necessary.

Overall he is very healthy and loves to visit the doctor's office.

Midnight Cry

Will was the provider of the half past midnight cry and would not settle down for almost 25 minutes. So he went to the doctor today. Disclaimer he has had a cold for about 11 days and I was planning to take him tomorrow. He does not have an ear infection but does have a sinus infection. We saw a different physician's assistant then we normally do and she said the bumps on his face are probably caused by a virus and will go away eventually or we can get a cream to put on them that may make them go away faster. For now we will probably leave them alone, unless they are bothering him.

Tyler also has a cold/infection that he has had for a little over two weeks, I will take him tomorrow to the doctor.