Mission Statement

To provide a place for parents and family members to meet and share experience, strength, give hope and awareness, to other families who have similar experiences raising children with ADD/ADHD, SPD, Anxiety, ASD, mental health diagnosis, developmental and behavioral challenges. Through sharing in this experience of raising these hard to raise kids, we grow stronger and more resilient.

Easy to Love is a 501 (C) (3) Non-Profit Organization

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Where I have been...

I have attempted to post several times over the last couple months and have several drafts floating around that are all unfinished! I am FINALLY sitting down and filling you all in! Emma has had a rough couple months. Lots of ear infections, gtube infections, an unexplained fever that was almost daily for 2 weeks, etc. After 3 ear infections in a month we went to see the ENT, her tubes were no longer working after only 8 months. It was time to replace the tubes, they also decided to look in her sinus' and see if there was infection there that was causing the fevers. 3 days before surgery Emma got tonsillitis and the ENT decided to take out her tonsils as well (she had her adenoids out last year).

Surgery day was September 22, it went pretty well. Her tonsils had infection in them and her sinus' were packed with infection, more than the doctor even expected. The first couple days were alright, a little rough but manageable. By day 3 it was insanity... not sleeping, in pain, so sick and started having serious stomach issues. Day 5 she was still not healing and they put her on a 3 day round of steroids, day 7 after an all night vomiting episode we were back at our pediatrician. with serious weight loss, not eating/drinking and lethargy. We had to use the tube to give her some calories/hydration and they gave Emma some medication to help ease the upset stomach.


Last week was her first week back at school, she struggled and was exhausted by the time she got home. But, she seemed happy to be getting back to her normal. We have follow ups scheduled to monitor her weight and she seems to have healed from surgery. It was a BRUTAL 16 days! Now that she is feeling better, I am really optimistic that this surgery will help her not get sick so often! Fingers crossed.

On some positives, Emma's development was tested and she is right in the average range in speech and cognitive. Her speech has come WAY up. We have had huge milestones at home including getting off the bottle, potty training and sleeping in her own bed. Emma is in a ballet/tap group and LOVES it, she is just in heaven for an hour a day. She listens to the teacher and works hard to understand the dance moves. We will also be getting back to swimming lessons now that she is feeling better.

Emma's anxiety and sensory issues are our struggles right now, but things are evolving. With the growth in Emma's verbal skills she is able to communicate when she needs a break, squeeze or is just "mad". Every day is a new day and things shift and change. Some days are amazing and others feel like we are spinning our wheels until bedtime. We are still working on socialization as Emma prefers to play alone. We are happy we were able to get back in to Julia our OT, weekly OT makes a world of difference for Emma. We are also participating in a 8 week Sensory group through Easter Seals, last week was the first one and it was great!

So there is the update on us and here are a few updates on the group:
We are going to be in this weekends Deseret News! Keep your eye out!
This months meetings are talking about feeding issues/ nutrition. Jen is out of town for the Salt Lake meeting but will be back for the Davis County. We will be bringing books that have been helpful to us, some handouts and ideas. We look forward to hearing your ideas!
Salt Lake Meeting 10/12 @ The Sharing place (1695 East 3300 South) - 7pm
Davis County Meeting 10/26 @ Davis Behavioral Health (934 South Main Street #6 Layton)- 7pm

As always, feel free to contact myself or Jen via email or phone with any questions!!
Lindsay

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