Worst Appointment

Dearest Angels~

Grace, you poor little thing.  You were congested all night and crying.  I gave you some Tylenol and you eventually slept, but not without waking everyone else in the house.  :-P

We got ready quickly this morning and were in the car by 8am.  We headed to the 'Child Development Services Agency' for Joshua's hearing test and for another speech evaluation.  The appointment was at 9am, but it was across town and I wasn't sure where I was going.  We ended up getting there a little early, but I'd rather be early than late. 

The hearing test was pretty quick .... I think we were done in about 15 minutes.  I held Joshua on my lap in a sound booth as he had to turn his head either right or left when he heard the sounds.  Then, the audiologist tested the fluid and pressure inside his ears.  He passed everything and the audiologist has no concerns about his hearing.  Woo hoo!

The speech evaluation was a different story.  It lasted for an hour and the scores were as excepted.  Your cognitive language score (what you understand when people talk) was a 95 .... which scored in the average range.  You ranked right at where you should be age-wise at around 2 years 7 months.  Your expressive language score (how you communicate with others) was a 70 .... which scored in the severely delayed range.  You ranked closer to someone of the age 1 year and 5 months.

So, now daddy and I have to make some decisions.  We can keep going along with the same appointments we've been doing and change nothing, or we can try to change therapists, or companies, if we think we're not seeing the results we should be seeing.  It's a hard call since you've been with Kim for so long.  

We were home by 11am for a quick lunch.  However, Joshua made it exciting by throwing up everywhere at the end.  Ugh. 

By 12pm we were back in the car again and on our way to the Children's Hospital at UNC.  Joshua, you had a follow up appointment with Dr. Freeman (the GI doctor) at 1pm.  The fact that I had to circle the parking deck several times should have been an omen that his appointment was not going to turn out ok.  :-P

I guess the clinics were running behind.  I forget what time the first nurse took us back to get Joshua's measurements.  You're 34.5 inches tall and weigh 26.5 pounds.  As a side note, I tried to weigh Grace at home this morning and she weighs 19.5 pounds. 

Anyway, we had to go back out into the waiting room since they had to wait for an exam room to open.  At this point Grace was getting a tad fussy in the stroller.  We finally got a room around 2:20pm.  Then, a second nurse came in and asked me a bunch of questions about what Joshua's been eating since the GI endoscope and how the medications have been working.  At this point, you two were screaming and completely misbehaving.  I had Grace out of the stroller so she could wander around and you two were throwing your sippy cups everywhere.  Joshua kept trying to go out of the exam room and pull on everything.  Grace ended up hitting her head on a counter.  It wasn't fun at all.

By 2:45pm, we still had not seen the doctor for our 1pm appointment.  Now, you two were in full force with your crying and screaming.  My nerves were up the wall and I could barely take it any longer.  I honestly just wanted to run out of there and scream myself.

Long story short, Dr. Freeman changed one of your medications and wants you to see the pulmonary specialist.  I made the appointments (she also wanted a follow up appointment) and had you two back in the car at 4pm.  I sat in the parking deck and called Gigi .... I was so frazzled.  Daddy wouldn't be home until 10pm, so I drove from the parking deck straight to Gigi's house.  You two finally napped in the car!

We got to Gigi's house by 5pm and had dinner there.  We also saw Grandpa Jim, Uncle James, and Lois.  You two had fun playing inside with blocks and drawing.  Then, Grandpa Jim and Uncle James took you two on a walk outside. 

By 8pm we were home.  I put you two in pajamas and brushed your teeth.  I gave Grace some tylenol since she's been congested.  We were in bed by 8:45pm.  I read you both two books (you each choose one) and then I put the ladybug nightlight on by 9pm.  I stayed with you two until you fell asleep.  I then took my shower and got into bed.  I think we were all three tired from the day.  Daddy was home by 10pm.

Sleep tight little ones!

I love you both so much!

~Mommy