Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Guess What????

Guess what my girl did yesterday evening? She went POOP in the potty! Hooray!


I screamed so loud with excitement that she jumped down and ran into the hallway scared to death....LOL! She kept saying I shoo I shoo so I took her to the potty she tried to get down and was fighting against it but with a song from mommy and some praise and telling her to push she finally did it!!!!! I grabbed my camera of course to get some shots and she was very curious to what went in. She said I go PeePee Horray! Go Cami! Mommy is so proud of you!!!! Lets hope it holds....Fingers crossed!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

A new Diagnosis



PDD-NOS http://www.autismspeaks.org/navigating/pdd_nos.php is the new diagnosis for Cameran. She had her 2 hour testing yesterday that wore her out. Literally.....Baby girl fell asleep sitting up right there in the testing room....Drooling and all....LOL!
They had us fill out tons more paper works on top of what had already been done by us and her teacher. He asked us if we thought she would do okay if we stepped out while he tested her and we thought sure. NO was more like it she jumped up out of that testing chair as soon as we opened that door screaming I go ByeBye. So we ended up having to stay that first fit lasted a good 5 minutes. Took lots of coaxing to get her back into the chair. But she warmed back up once we she figured out we were'nt going anywhere.



He started her out on some little blocks asking her if she could do what he could do. He stacked his and she stacked hers. Then he tried to get her to line them up like he did...nope she wanted to stack them again, he never could get her to do the other ways. He asked for his blocks back and she told him No...Mine! So he just let her have them till he got the next thing ready, once that was out she was more willing to give them up.


This next test was just 2 big flat puzzle pieces that she had to put together correctly. It was a basketball cut in half, it took her awhile but she ended up getting it. He tried a few more and by then she was easily frusterated and wanted nothing to do with those puzzels. She then tried to stand up on top of the table to get to the table to get to the toys that he had put away before the testing started. This led into another fit of "I wants"!



So he quickly moved on to the book of pictures. On each page was 4 different pics he on the first page was a ball, a hamburger, a baby and a bug. He asked her what item you could eat and she just could not concentrate past the picture of the ball. She just kept saying a ball a ball. So he moved on. The next page was a butterfly, a plant, a tree and another bug. He asked her Cameran where is the butterfly and have you know that she pointed straight to the butterfly and said "butterfly" me and Jasons jaw both dropped......scoop us up off the floor would ya! That totally blew us away. So once she did that he flipped back to the ball page and asked her again what do you eat and again she kept saying ball.


The third page was of different animals a horse, a cat and 2 others he said Cameran where is the cat and she pointed to the horse and said Dooooo(for a cow), every animal to her is a Doooo. The next one, he asked if she saw a Giraffe and again she pointed straight to it, we where shocked. The next pages where of cars and such and he would run his finger around the 4 pics asking her over and over which one could fly and she would just copy his moves running her finger around the page. And her little mouth was just a rammbling on and on babbling all kinds of stuff that made no sense at all but it was cute listening to her like she was carrying on a conversation with him. By now she was in a hurry and trying to flip to the next page and with him resisting to move on she had another melt down. So he moved on, he left us for 5-10 minutes to let her cool down before the next part started.

When he returned he had a huge tupperware tote and as soon as he walked in Cami lets out a BIG ewwwwwww and immediately ran over to him to see what he had in the box. He first started with a balloon before he opened the box. He blew it up and she shouted its a ball its a ball I want ball! He didnt tie it instead he said watch this Cami and let it go and it blew all over the room. Her face was hilarious, she looked confused but had a grin on her face. He did it again and she then was starting to get into it chasing it. He then blew it up once more and handed it to her once she had it in her hands he let go of it and it started letting out the air and shrinking. I think it freaked her out a little because she turned and looked at us like whats going on. She released it and was ok to be done with it.
He then opened the box and just watched what she did with the things in the box. She 1st pulled out the dump truck and said Truck or I should say Uck. Thats right Cami that is a truck that was a first she usually calls all vehicles a "car". She pushed it around for maybe a minute and then was back into the box. She then pulled out the baby doll and said "Baby" and threw it in the back of the truck gave it a good push and said weeeeee babby.....Teehee...laughed my butt off! She went back to the box pulled out a muisical jack in the box this one struck her intrest the most. She would have us wind it up watch it pop up and then she would go and pull something else out of the box. She found a receiving blanket in the box and he asked her if she could give it to the baby she took it over to where the baby was and said hi baby and then said I go night night layed the blanket out and she curled up on it. She layed there for a few seconds hopped up and went back to the box found another blanket we said cover the baby up she would pick the baby up but would never give the baby the blanket. She would just keep laying the blankets out for her and lay on them and say I go night night. She then went back to the jack in the box wanting more instructions on how to do it. She seemed to be pretty stuck on that one. He finally moved her over to the table again and said lets have a birthday party for baby and set the baby on the table. He got out the playdoh a plate and some forks. He took the playdoh out patted it into a round cake and put one glitter stick into it and let her do insert the other 2 which she did willingly. He then said lets blow out the candles in which she leaned forward and pretended to blow them out. He cut the "cake: into pieces and put her a piece on her plate and one on his. She tried once to take a bite but we quickly stopped her. He then asked her if she could feed the baby a piece she tried to poke it but its playdoh kind of tuff stuff. So Jason leaned over and tore off a small piece and put it on her spoon she headed the spoon towards the baby and just layed the bite in the babys lap she then picked up the whole plate with frusteration of not being able to poke it and dumped the whole thing her lap....LOL! He said good job Cami and was ready to move on.....Well she was not and this lead to the biggest screaming match of all where she tried to pull her clothes off and threw herself down into the floor arched her back up and screamed loudly. It took a while to get her over that one.

(teehee) just had to put this fit picture in there seemed appropriate ;) she didnt wont to sit down...LOL!
He did some bubbles with her which she enjoyed but by now she was tired and was getting easily frusterated. He went out again watched us with he from the 2 way mirror and then came back in after he went over all his notes and papers we had filled out. He said she definetly had some autism behaviors but mildly. He said the main thing that held him back from the actual word of Autism was that she is social. So he then gave her the Diagnosis of PDD-NOS which is a milder form of autism. He also told us that "He thinks" she had a problem before the onset of the seizures which may have brought them on, and not that the seziures caused her these problems. He said shes been seizure free for 2 years she should be further, yes it caused regression but shouldnt be this far back. Who knows its still such an unknown! He said congnitive is very low. Her just all around understanding things is delayed. He said she doesnt register stuff like we do, he said case in point she may touch something hot and say hot but a few minutes later go back and touch it because in her mind it did not register. She has no fears! I was just telling him how she walked out in front of a car and just stood there in our cul-de-sac we tell her she'll get ran over and she doesnt understand that. He was also talking about her reconigtion of objects, everything to her that is round is a ball, every animal is a doo, he said she has difficulty sorting those things out. He thinks she needs more one on one times specially in speech. He said 30 mintues twice a week with other kids is not enough for her. Hopefully school will step up more in that area. We are also looking into options with our insurance. Its says they will cover 20 visits a year but its only for children who were injured in an accident.....What kind of crap is that? What about kids with learning disabilities.....uggghhhh! Thats so frusterating, I've about had enough of there crazy solutions to medical nessecitys.
We are in search of ways around this I know there has to be something out there more for her. That doesnt cost an arm and a leg. Vanderbilt did give us some free behavior classes and potty training classes for special needs that we are definetly going to be attending. SO its a start!


He is also requesting some genetics testing to see if there is anything there that may be causing problems. Will another answer help? I dont know but a little blood draw cant hurt! So we just go from here and help her in anyway we can. He suggests a more structured routine at home to prevent the tantrums, she seems to do well with a routine like at school. So thats what we will shoot for ;)

These where all pics from our camping trip to Gatlinburg! The one below is my favorite of the two of them together!








My favorites of Caleb: Man was he being such a poser for me...totally out of his norm!





Heres the Doos Cami kept showing intrest in! These where at putt-putt!




Our site all set up right on the creek, man was it nice!

They loved the creek!

Time to dry those cute tootsies Caleb!




Sunday, April 19, 2009

Gotta love em'

Oh the things these kids say and do keep life so fun and interesting!
Caleb by far takes the cake with these commercials you know the 19.95 ones? He thinks having all these things will improve our life. The 1st one started out with the purse organizer. He says momma I think you need one of those look how well it works no more mess in your purse and look how easy that girl found her phone. Then next was that lovely lil blanket you know the snuggie the blanket with arms he says momma look you can even wear it out.
His next one was the Proactive he said that would be great it even comes with a bag and stuff that you can take with you when you go on vacation. Whats that stuff for anyhow? I tell him its face wash and that I already have my own facewash. He says but yeah but does yours come with that little bag. Pretty neat huh for like when we go camping since its small it wouldnt take up much room!
Today took the cake topping it was the tomato plant that you can grow upside down. He says well you always wanted a garden but cant because of all the bunnys we have so see this one hangs upside down and the bunnies couldnt jump upside down to get to it.....laughed my butt off!
So glad this boy doesnt have a credit card because he would be sold on it all!

And lil ol Cami with her new favorite word.....WHAT????? You call her name, ask her a question or anything you get the respons What????
Lord you gotta love em'!


Thursday, April 16, 2009

Spring Time Update.....

Ok so whats the latest! Well we are all hanging in there, staying busy busy with school, Drs appts and family outings. Easter was great the kids had a blast hunting for the eggs and we really enjoyed hanging out with the family and surprisingly did not stress the kids just hung out with their cousins. It was a great visit. Missed my family dearly, wished they could have been here with us.

A few Dr. appts that happened this week were for Cami. Sunday evening she started walking kind of funny checked her diaper it was a dirty and unfortunately it burned her bottom. It was so painful for her so I took her to the Dr on Monday where he took a look and said she had what you call an acidic bowel. Causing very painful burn marks all over her bottom areas. It was very red and blistered looking. Diaper changes where a hassel so he prescribed her with a cream called Happy Hiney. When I picked this med up it was a very small tube that was maybe 2/3's full that cost $25. I said my goodness that must be some good cream and the woman said it is the best. I said she better have the happiest hiney around.....LOL! Well turns out that stuff starting working the first application. She went from screaming to diaper changes to now no fight. It is almost all cleared up.
2nd appt this week was at Vanderbilt for her Behavioral observation. We mainly just did paperworks, he asked us lots of questions to see if there had been any changes. Then he went out of the room and watched her play from the window behind us to see how she did. What he saw is that she only wanted to play while sitting on our laps. I tried to encourage her to get down to play where she proceeded to get mad and start a fit. At home she is very dependent wants to be sitting on you or beside you while she plays. She is overly affectionate, such a sweet heart she is. She played with a magnadoodle for most of the time and even tried to sing her ABC's which really just consits of A, B then she hmmmmmmmmmmms the claps its the sweetest. We tried showing her over and over how to clear the screen but she would just keep wiping it with her hands and never caught on to how it worked. She played with a truck and then a musical toy all that she brought to us wanting to sit with us to play with it. The appt was short but she goes back on Monday for her 2hr testing. At this appt they will test her on what she knows. Puzzles, pretend play, cars just seeing if she plays appropriately and to see if she understands how things work. Cant wait to see the results.
He asked us what we thought was going on? Seriously??????? Thats why I was there, hoping he would know. Yes she has Developmental Delays and yes she has Sensory Issues, but what else is going on I dont know. Like why does she not do well out of her norm. She has easy meltdowns and loud outbursts. And why is it taking so long for her to catch up? It was 2 years yesterday since she had a seizure. I thought things would just take off and things didnt really start to open up for her till October last year. Speech is still said to be at 18-20 month old level. She is trying so hard and is making progress but why so slow? Was there lots of damage done during those seizure days. 100's a day for almost 2 years maybe so. I guess we will just never know. He made the comment that he wished we could just open her lid and see whats going on in there. Or just be able to ask her what she feels. Oh the questions I have for my girl....I just want to know when she hurts or if she is hungry and her come to me to tell me these things. What a day it will be........

I'll update next week once we have results. I also have a bun in the oven appt next week at 19 weeks. So tune in soon! Until then here are some of my fav Easter pics from Sunday:

My lil Cami had no idea what to do. I took her over and said look Cami and she ewwwwwww ball. She picked it up gave it a good look over and I told her to put it in her basket and then praised her when she did. She soon caught on and would say ewwwwww ball everytime she came across one.....it was the sweetest! Isnt she the cutest bunny around?




Good Easter egg hunting Caleb!

They couldnt wait to see what was inside.






We've got to get the kids one of these, it was a big hit!



Saturday, April 11, 2009

Bad weather!

Well we survied the tornados here in Murfreesboro but there was much damage done. One big hit the northern part of our town and it was a copmlete wipe out. It was a huge tornado, not sure the size yet. My hubbys firedept is just a mile from where it hit. He had to run out to the damaged areas during the middle of the storm where he said homes and businesses where leveled. Just 20 minutes later another batch came through and it hit out here by our home. I got pictures of it as it was forming in front of us. It ended up tearing up 5-6 homes just down the road from us. I know crazy right me out taking pictures, oh the adrenaline.....Not really I was scared out of my wits! Thankfully we are all ok. They have only accounted 2 deaths so far, 7 critical and 40 that went to the hospital with injuries. Heres the pictures I captured!





Please say prayers for these families on this Easter Weekend!

Friday, April 10, 2009

Happy Easter!



Wishing everyone a gorgeous 3 day weekend and a very Happy Easter!
We are doing great here on our end just got back Sunday from Gatlinurg where we camped at Yogi Bears Jellystone campground for a week and the kids loved it. We picked a site right on the creek and man was the sound beautiful. The kids spent the days throwing rocks and sticks in the creek. We where on the back side where there was a mini trail they would run their dump trucks up and down stopping picking up sticks to throw in the creek....Fun stuff! They had movies going every night and Saturday was packed full of activities that they really enjoyed. 1st was craft where they made cute little foam signs that said Welcome Spring, they really enjoyed putting them together. 2nd was a YooHoo chug Yummo...surprise on us that it had to be chugged with a itty bitty coffee straw...Caleb made the hugest mess. They had a few that we skipped...A pie eating contest and then an Ice Cream scoop gathering. We took a drive up to Clingmans Dome to see the beautiful views then came back just in time to play Candybar bingo where we won twice well Cami's card did she won like 10 candybars because she won the black out card. Come dark we hit a hayride with Yogi bear and Caleb was all giggles and Cami was frozen like a statue. After the hayride they turned on the movie on the evening which was some oldies...nothing better than some Yogi Bear cartoons, talk about make you feel old. Caleb said was this made back in the old days when you where little...LOL!
Wish I could say the trip was relaxing but when you have kids there is no such word....teehee! We had our worries of course with the creek those rocks where enough to put anyone on edge. Cami and her daddy both slipped and fell in a few times so we where on guard at all times. Then of course they had Camerans favortie sport....Basketball, that girl LOVES it! Everytime she heard someone bounicng that ball she went nuts screaming and hollaring wanting to play so we went on a hunt to find her a ball. All we could find was a soccer ball and for her that was not good enough. We got to hear that fuss all week so we will never ever go camping with out her basketball again. Soon as we pulled in our driveway she was out in the circle playing her basketball.....ahhhhhh quite time atlast! She has one in the house and she is for sure gonna be our future star. She bounces the ball cathes it and throws it in the hoop everytime.....Go Cami!
She is also a good car rider but this go round was not the case, she was not having it. Five minutes into any ride she started the whinning wanting out of her seat......STRESS! I'm so buying me some ear plugs next trip...LOL!
We've bought them dual monitors that hang on the seat to keep them entertained but for my Cami its not the case she doesnt care anything for T.V. And a bag of toys she can go through in a matter of minutes so I need some ideas folks. I try holding out toys she hasnt had in a while but this girl you cant keep her attention long, very short attention span!
This week we had belly Dr appts. Hers was on Wednesday they thought her belly felt much softer. But went ahead with another x-ray to see how things are looking. Sure enough girly had a moderate size of bowel backed up again. They said not as much as last time but a pretty good amount. So again we are doing more clean outs she is doing good so far.
I went for my gallbladder, we discussed options. He said if the pain got worse that he would take it out while I'm pregnant said its safe and said he has done many that where pregnant. Cant go through the belly button but would instead go right above where your gallbladder is located and do the laser surgery. I've not had an attack like the first time so right now we are gonna leave things be unless the pain arises again! Said it will have to come out as I have multiple stones and if one got stuck in one of the tubes it can cause major problems being pancrantitis. So he said after the baby comes and things have gone well he will take it out a few weeks after the birth. Yippeee for me....blahhhh!
Baby is doing good lots of movement going on at 17 weeks. We should be having an ultrasound in a few weeks where we have decided not to find out this go round. Oh the suspense...but for me its not so bad I've got one of each so I'm okay not knowing! Caleb wants to know so bad and still wonders what we will name it. We havent even thought about names yet I've got a few in mind but nothing we've discussed. The last Dr appt the woman told me what she thought it was by the heartbeat....I just wanted to scream NOOOOOO after she had already said it. But I'm keeping that all to myself and we shall see if her guess is right come September ;) I rememeber them doing that with Caleb and Cameran but I cant remember if it was right or not.

Things are starting to pick up around here as school is coming to an end. Thats right just 6 more weeks of school I believe. Man where is the time going? Caleb will be a 3rd grader!!!! And Cami she has just 1 more year of Pre-K then she is off to Kindergarden......sniff sniff :(
Next week is the big testing week at his school they have been practicing all week for it. I hope it goes well for him as they tend to stress out about it but the scores are more so for the teachers. To see if what they are teaching is level appropriate and how they took in the information. He seems to be doing great, hes in the top reading group and spelling group....This boy LOVES school. Gets sad every time he has to leave. I'm glad he enjoys learning!
Cami too, every time we pass her school she says I wanna play! She really loves it lots, such a great group of teachers they both have.
Well thats about all I have right now theres a bad storm fixing to brew through so I better get off. I'll post pics later.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Easter!