Emmalee is complaining of headaches. Yesterday she told Carolyn that she often sees flashing lights. She likes them because they're pretty.
We had taken her to the eye doctor and she needs glasses. We took her to the eye doctor because of her headaches. She had complained of headaches and they seemed worse after reading or playing on the computer.
We were hoping to push the eyeglasses into 2007, just for insurance reasons. But I don't want my girl to suffer.
However, the flashing lights complaint doesn't sound like an eyeglasses problem, it sounds like migraines.
The doctor confirmed that children can and often do have migraines.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Shortness Of Breath
John has shortness of breath and dry mouth that we now think is related to his Tenex. Those are listed as potential side effects. The onset of those symptoms coincided with his starting that medicine.
That means we'll probably have to switch meds.
That's a bummer because the medicine seemed to be working well.
That means we'll probably have to switch meds.
That's a bummer because the medicine seemed to be working well.
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Eye Doc
Looks like Emmalee will need to wear glasses for much of the time. Not for playing in the yard, but anything where she'll need to focus near or far away very much - like reading a book or a bulletin board or watching TV. So - most of the time. We picked out some cute frames. They have all the info and I just need to call them in January when the insurance kicks in for her. It'll only be $25 then, as opposed to $160 now.
The doctor needed to dilate her eyes to make sure she wasn't missing any prescription needs since it was obvious Emmalee was having problems both near and far. Emmalee handled it all like a champ. Actually, she was quite amazing. The doctor even commented that she was doing as well as a 10 or 12 year old. She really was, too. She never misunderstood a single instruction. She was incredibly cooperative and helpful. She had no problems reading off letters or determining which prescription was better as the doctor clicked them off. I was impressed. So was the doctor. Pretty cool. She even handled the dilation very well. What a great kid.
The doctor needed to dilate her eyes to make sure she wasn't missing any prescription needs since it was obvious Emmalee was having problems both near and far. Emmalee handled it all like a champ. Actually, she was quite amazing. The doctor even commented that she was doing as well as a 10 or 12 year old. She really was, too. She never misunderstood a single instruction. She was incredibly cooperative and helpful. She had no problems reading off letters or determining which prescription was better as the doctor clicked them off. I was impressed. So was the doctor. Pretty cool. She even handled the dilation very well. What a great kid.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Retroblog
I've been putting old blog entries up on this site, some dating back to before John was born. I've enjoyed the trip down memory lane. You might enjoy it, too.
Click on the links at the lower right, labeled Archives. They start in January 1999 and the excitement and anticipation around the birth of our first child.
Click on the links at the lower right, labeled Archives. They start in January 1999 and the excitement and anticipation around the birth of our first child.
Monday, October 23, 2006
McScruffy
The latest in JohnSpeak (tm)...
John asked if he could have an ice cream cone at McDonalds.
"No, sorry, McDonald's ice cream cones aren't on your diet," replied mom.
"Well, how about a McScruffy?" he asked.
"What?!?"
"That ice cream shake they have with candy swirled in it," he replied.
"Oh, you mean a ... what's the word, not a Blizzard, that's Dairy Queen, .... Oh, right, a McFlurry...you want a McFlurry," said Carolyn.
"No, I think they also have a treat called a McScruffy," he insisted.
"Sorry, the McScruffy isn't on your diet either."
Mom and Dad had to swallow our laughter, he was sooooo serious.
John asked if he could have an ice cream cone at McDonalds.
"No, sorry, McDonald's ice cream cones aren't on your diet," replied mom.
"Well, how about a McScruffy?" he asked.
"What?!?"
"That ice cream shake they have with candy swirled in it," he replied.
"Oh, you mean a ... what's the word, not a Blizzard, that's Dairy Queen, .... Oh, right, a McFlurry...you want a McFlurry," said Carolyn.
"No, I think they also have a treat called a McScruffy," he insisted.
"Sorry, the McScruffy isn't on your diet either."
Mom and Dad had to swallow our laughter, he was sooooo serious.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Saxophone
Emmalee has a homework assignment to bring a bag full of items that begin with the letter "S".
We took a picture of her playing my saxophone. The sax is too big to fit in the bag, so a snapshot will do.
Wireless Networking
This is what I'm thinking of getting:
NETGEAR WGR614 Cable/DSL Wireless 54 Mbps Router
(MPN: WGR614)
NETGEAR USB 2.0 54MBPS ADAPTER 802.11G
(MPN: WG111)
NETGEAR WGR614 Cable/DSL Wireless 54 Mbps Router
(MPN: WGR614)
NETGEAR USB 2.0 54MBPS ADAPTER 802.11G
(MPN: WG111)
Tivo
We got Tivo. We are late comers to the DVR revolution. We got Tivo this past week.
Aunt Carrie swears by it. When I asked my friends at work about it, they were passionate about the benefits of it. They are True Believers.
It was marketed to us by the MOPS organization; marketed as a tool for managing what our kids watch on TV. We are tired of our VCR eating tapes, so we are switching to a digital video recorder that captures the TV shows and saved them electronically, no tapes.
It's pretty cool because you can sign up for your favorite shows and it'll record them automatically, even if the shows are preempted by stupid basketball like they are every other day in the winter in Indiana.
It's the next generation of VCR. Very cool.
tivo.com
Aunt Carrie swears by it. When I asked my friends at work about it, they were passionate about the benefits of it. They are True Believers.
It was marketed to us by the MOPS organization; marketed as a tool for managing what our kids watch on TV. We are tired of our VCR eating tapes, so we are switching to a digital video recorder that captures the TV shows and saved them electronically, no tapes.
It's pretty cool because you can sign up for your favorite shows and it'll record them automatically, even if the shows are preempted by stupid basketball like they are every other day in the winter in Indiana.
It's the next generation of VCR. Very cool.
tivo.com
Monday, October 02, 2006
Father and son time
John rode home with me on the motorcycle. We stopped at Hardees for a milkshake, one of the few fast-food items that are on John's diet.
John's Status
I'm sending this to let you all know before Friday's meeting what we found out at Riley today. We saw Dr. Posey in the autism clinic. After talking with us for almost 3 hours, here's what his thoughts were:
1. John is more toward the autism side of the spectrum than Asperger's. This, primarily because his communication skills are not that fluent (doesn't ask about how other people are doing; often doesn't answer direct questions, etc.)
2. Dr. Posey feels that what we've been seeing behaviorally lately could be better attributed to autism than say, Oppositional Defiance Disorder. He considered that as a diagnosis but felt it doesn't apply well because John doesn't have the prevalent irritability and anger that usually accompany that. He feels that the misbehavior we've been seeing lately at school is more due to autism in that he's testing the boundaries. John has a hard time respecting rules that he thinks he can get around (but we knew that!) And something like yelling at the principal is more of an autistic behavior in that he gets upset but has difficulty drawing the line where he should stop.
3. He didn't feel bipolar was an applicable diagnosis because we don't see obvious frantic energy or lethargy at any particular times.
4. He thinks that Tenex would be a good next medication to try. We need to take him off Strattera for at least a week before we'd start the Tenex. Tenex is known for being better at slowing down hyperactivity and impulsivity and not as good with focus issues. We're not sure which way to go with this. If we do start it, it will be after next Friday's endoscopy in Cincinnati so that we don't confuse our food trials.
5. He's also referring us to an autism and behavioral therapist at the clinic. She may have some different ideas on how to work with him.
Dr. Posey will be contacting Amy and Sharon to get more information from them. I'll let you know what we decide about the medication change and what we find out after meeting with the behavioral therapist at Riley. I don't know when that will be.
I look forward to meeting with you all on Friday. Thank you for all your help.
-Carolyn
1. John is more toward the autism side of the spectrum than Asperger's. This, primarily because his communication skills are not that fluent (doesn't ask about how other people are doing; often doesn't answer direct questions, etc.)
2. Dr. Posey feels that what we've been seeing behaviorally lately could be better attributed to autism than say, Oppositional Defiance Disorder. He considered that as a diagnosis but felt it doesn't apply well because John doesn't have the prevalent irritability and anger that usually accompany that. He feels that the misbehavior we've been seeing lately at school is more due to autism in that he's testing the boundaries. John has a hard time respecting rules that he thinks he can get around (but we knew that!) And something like yelling at the principal is more of an autistic behavior in that he gets upset but has difficulty drawing the line where he should stop.
3. He didn't feel bipolar was an applicable diagnosis because we don't see obvious frantic energy or lethargy at any particular times.
4. He thinks that Tenex would be a good next medication to try. We need to take him off Strattera for at least a week before we'd start the Tenex. Tenex is known for being better at slowing down hyperactivity and impulsivity and not as good with focus issues. We're not sure which way to go with this. If we do start it, it will be after next Friday's endoscopy in Cincinnati so that we don't confuse our food trials.
5. He's also referring us to an autism and behavioral therapist at the clinic. She may have some different ideas on how to work with him.
Dr. Posey will be contacting Amy and Sharon to get more information from them. I'll let you know what we decide about the medication change and what we find out after meeting with the behavioral therapist at Riley. I don't know when that will be.
I look forward to meeting with you all on Friday. Thank you for all your help.
-Carolyn
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
