A clean bill of health

Yesterday Madi had a ct scan and shunt series (x-ray series) to check her ventricle size and shunt positioning.  I HATE taking her in for these because she cries non-stop and it makes my heart so sad for her.  Usually the singing and games don't help, and I never leave her side, but she still cries.  I want to pick her up and run away, but of course, that is not a good plan.  This time, though, we had a great tech who was slow and gentle with her, making sure to tell her all about his big "picture machine".  We played peek-a-boo in it and he did his job quickly and well.  I think I saw one tear, but a round of "twinkle twinkle" and she was all better!  It was such an answer to prayer.  They gave her 2 stuffed animals (a fish and a bear) for being so brave during both of the procedures.  She was very, very proud of earning them.  She decided to give the fish to Conner, but held on to the bear the rest of the day.

Today we headed back to CRS to see Dr. Moss and go over the images.  They normally like to have you do both on the same day to save you a trip, but it just didn't work out this time around.  Madi wanted to show off walking for Dr. Moss and he got a kick out of seeing her hopping around.  Everything looks great, just the same as our last set in October.  This time we get to go a whole year without another scan, YEAH!

I remember about 2 1/2 years ago when we Madi's shunt was having so many problems.  At day 2, she had her first shunt put in.  It was non-programmable and on her right hand side.  Things were looking good so we got to go home after 5 days in the hospital (it was a little longer since they closed up her back too).  Less than two weeks later, though, we found out she had an infection and we were back.  That stay was almost 3 weeks.  During that time they pulled the shunt out of the right side, put in an external drain, changed that out for a new external drain, and put in a new VP shunt on her left side, this time programmable.  We thought we were in the clear until a few weeks later she started acting weird again.  We took her back and, sure enough, her shunt was clogged.  We got lucky and were only in about 3 or 4 days that time around.  A few weeks later, we were back, because we thought it failed again.  The doctor tested it and said it wasn't working.  We scheduled surgery for the next morning.  The next morning came, though, and it was working again!  Praise God, no more surgeries!!!  We left and have not been back since!  I remember feeling so worried and scared, because we couldn't make it out of the hospital for more than a few weeks at a time.  Conner was not even 2 yet, and it was so hard being separated.  I am so thankful that Madi's shunt is working well now, and that we haven't been back for 2 years.  It has been amazing!!!  As crummy as those visits can be, though, I am so thankful we have them, because had Madi been born before the time that shunts were invented (in the 50's), she wouldn't be here with us today, and I cannot imagine life without her.  She is such an amazing little blessing!!

And we are home!

Thanks for all of the prayers (you know how much we covet those :)).  The drive went amazingly well, though the shunt series and cat-scan, not so much.  The results were great, but Madi was NOT happy to have them done.  I held her hand and sang to her as I wiped her tears and told her I promised it wouldn't hurt, but it didn't make a difference.  Big scary machines are just not on her top 10 list this year.  We both survived, though, and Dr. Moss said everything looks great!  There are no blood clots or areas he is concerned about, and though there is more fluid on the right hand side, he is not worried.  It was there the last 2 times they checked too.  I told him next time I was not going to come right before a Disneyland trip we had planned, like we've done the last two times, because I always get nervous we'll have to be admitted in to the hospital and miss the trip.  We always have a plan of how David and Conner will go and we will meet up afterwards if anything isn't right, blah blah blah.  Anyhow, I brought Madi's wheelchair and she had a ton of fun showing off.  She did turns and went forwards and backwards and tried not to smile when everyone said they were amazed at how great she was doing.  She got told she was beautiful about 200 times, and that she was smart about another 200 or so, and she enjoyed every second of it!  When she would wheel past someone new, she would go really slow until they said something to her about how cute she was or how great she was doing.  Then she would smile and zoom off to the next person.  No one believed that she was not going to be two until next month and all the nurses said they have never seen someone so young move around like that.  We already know she is amazing, of course, but it was fun watching how excited she got when someone else told her (she's used to hearing it from us ;)).  I'll be back later with a few photos. 

A quick update and a small call for prayer

Today Madi had her first wheelchair accident.  She was trying to get into the grass/sand area at my parent's house and tipped forward when she was coming off the sidewalk.  Thankfully she was strapped in, but it did scare her a lot.  She got a little egg knot and a little scratch on her head :(.  Poor baby.  She, of course, needed a few mommy kisses and hugs, but then felt as good as new.  She got back up, too, and didn't let her fall keep her from trying again!  Such a little fighter she is!

Tomorrow Madi has an appointment to get a shunt series and a cat scan to see how her shunt is doing.  Afterwards she will see her neurosurgeon, Dr. Moss.  It's about a 40 minute drive, which isn't too big of a deal, but I will be doing it alone with a girl who hates the car, so wish us luck!  I will be packing snacks and signing times dvds for sure!!  Please pray her shunt is looking well and doing it's job.  Madi hasn't been sleeping well at night lately, and of course, I always worry.  She also tells me her head hurts.  Her fontanell feels fine, though.  She could be teething, and also has a small cold, so that could be why too.  In all fairness, she also says her arm, teeth, stomach, and anything else she knows how to name hurts, so it might be nothing.  Anyhow, please keep my little gal in your prayers and I'll update when I can.  Thanks!