Our Little Chatterboxes

Swimming Lessons - Charlie

It's taking him a little while...but he's warming up to the concept of swimming! And he's quite the little kicker and scooper too!

Swimming Lessons - Ryan

This is Ryan's favorite part of swimming lessons! Being an "elephant!"

Humpty Dumpty Sat on a "WALL"...

Humpty Dumpty had a great FALL.....

(Please don't get my face wet!!!!)

Ryan is having a BLAST in the pool. He is super anxious about getting his face wet or going underwater...but I know it won't be long and he'll be swimming like a fish!

White Onesie

There is just something about a baby in a white onesie.

Something so pure. And innocent.

Tyler's New Highchair

He thinks it's an airplane, and if he flaps hard enough...it might take off and he'd fly away.

Flap, flap, flap...here we go...

Oh yum...I love eating my bib. It's quite the tasty appetizer!

Still flapping!

I LOVE my new highchair!

Someone Feed Me. Please.

Desperate. The kid seems desperate! At the sight of his bowl and spoon, he starts waving his hands up and down with glee.

And then when he is done with his food. He goes to town on his bib.

What. What are you looking at?!?

T-Ball

It's T-Ball Season. Or BASEBALL, as Ryan likes to call it!

And we're #1!

Pre-Game Pep Talk

Waiting patiently for his turn

Hard to believe they're old enough for all this!

Headed to the plate like a pro

Getting his batting plan from his coach ("Smoosh the bug on the ball with your bat!")

Hey Batter, Batter!

Swing Batter!

Now RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (He just stood there and watched as the ball rolled into the field!)

Fielding practice

Watch the ball, move to the ball

Scoop....

Step (or not)

And throw! Great job buddy!

Watching the game from under the umbrella! This is a hard core T-ball league...they play through the rain!!!

We're so excited for this season of baseball! Er, T-ball!

Ryan's MRI results:

No significant changes. His Chiari remains "stable," not causing any blockages, not touching anything it shouldn't be and not causing any CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) flow issues or blockages.

Charlie's MRI results:

The cerebellar tonsils have fallen to the lower part of C1 vertebrae and are completely touching the back part of the CSF space. It does not indicate that he has a CSF blockage...but it's not great news that they are completely touching that space.

Neither of the reports indicates how many millimeters down the tonsils have fallen. I will know that upon seeing the films myself and watching the CSF flow when we see the neurosurgeon.

So in the meantime we wait.

I'm optimistic. Because there is not significant blockage, surgery is likely unnecessary. I hope that he'll just order another scan. Perhaps a standing scan this time?!? Not sure if that's possible with a sedated child?!? But I will ask!

Thank you all for your support and prayers!!!

Unsettling News

This morning I called the pediatrician to find out if they had received the results from the radiologist about the boys' MRIs.

My favorite receptionist answered, but said that they couldn't share the results until we'd seen the specialist who ordered the MRI. (In this case, the neurosurgeon.)

This evening, just after dinner, the pediatrician called. After hours.

Not a good sign.

The only reason she would call is if there was a problem.

"Hi Erin. I wanted to let you know that we got Charlie's results back and they were given to me right away because his Chiari is worse."

Heart drop.

"What? Really? Charlie's? You sure it's not Ryan's?"

"No. It's Charlie's."

"OK. Well. Do you have Ryan's results too?"

"Let me have them check."

"I just don't get it. Ryan is the one with the "worse" symptoms. The one with all the sensory issues and speech/language issues. Charlie seems fine to me, with just subtle signs/symptoms. Not showing any outward signs of worsening. It doesn't make much sense!??! I had this same conversation with Ryan's OT this morning after updating her about the MRIs."

We then go on to have a light-hearted conversation until they figure out that they can't access Ryan's results and will have to call me tomorrow.

Why didn't I think to ask "how much worse"? Why didn't I think to ask "is there a blockage of fluid"? Why didn't I think to ask "how many millimeters"?

I know why. That "worried mommy" brain took over my ability to think. My ability to reason.

All I could do was hear "Charlie's Chiari is worse."

So now we wait. About 2 weeks until we see the neurosurgeon again.

And we pray that it's "not bad enough for surgery."

Because I'm not ready to deal with brain surgery. It has always been my prayer and will continue to be my prayer that surgery will never be necessary.

So now I enter a battlefield. A battlefield in my mind.

Half the time I'm overwhelmed with God's peace, knowing that all will be fine.
Half the time I'm consumed with worry, anxiety and fear of having a zipperhead child

The battle will rage on until we see the neurosurgeon!

Please pray that I would be filled with peace.

Thanks.

Please note: You can look in the sidebars of this blog for a photo of what a Chiari is...as well as some OLD posts that will clue you in on the boys' medical history.