Aug. 25, 2009 - Emma, School and Health Update - August 2009
As I have let it be known in the past, we use a year-round schedule. We arefinishing up our latest six-week session. Emma is doing alright, but I've noticed that her short-term recall is quirky. For example, we started doing some first-grade-type work this session. Emma is telling everyone she is in kindergarten. It's like it's she has never heard that she has advanced before. When Macie finished kindergarten our local homeschool group held graduations for kindergarten, grade 6 and high school. It has become a thing of the past, but maybe that's what I need to do for Emma.
Emma doing well all in all with schoolwork. We're pleased that she is making progress with reading and math. We do feel that maybe she is having a processing issue due to her condition and that might explain some of her emotionalism and keeping up with things we are currently talking about. She will be tested in September for that.
Emma has so many wonderful people that work with her through Arkansas Children's Hospital. They have always been so good to work with my family and help Emma. That was why my NaNa requested funds be established directly at ACH for the Spina Bifida Program when she passed away a few years ago.
Emma had an MRI on Monday that was part of her routine in osberving and treating conditions related to Spina Bifida. She has had well over a dozen of these in her short lifetime. It turned out to be anything but routine yesterday. She has to be sedated for it and this time she woke up during the test. They had to start an IV which is extremely traumatic right now due to the post traumatic stress she is working through.
One thing we found out yesterday is that her urologic system was "extremely" enlarged. She had to undergo a bladder decompression (that's just cathing) and is wearing a foley catheter (not her favorite) until we see the urologist on Friday. Hopefully it's not a major setback and can be remedied with a different cathing schedule or medicinal change.
She also has a swallow study and a doctor's visit on Thursday. Emma lost 9 pounds after her surgery and her appetite has not been steady since. She has gained half of that back but we are struggling to keep that on her. She doesn't like Pediasure but we still are encouraging her to drink as much of it as she can. (Ironically, her sisters love it!)
***Please pray for strength and wisdom.***
