Lots of appointments to come!

Soooo, it's been a few days a while a month forever.  We've been okay, hanging in and trying to take things one day at a time.  Things are just so overwhelming right now, and writing about them is sometimes just a little more than I can handle.  But really, we are doing okay, we just have so much on our plates.

We've done some fun things in the past month - the Strides for Safe Kids walk was a good time and Aidan did surprisingly well in the crowd.  After that event, Aidan got to go to a Shopkins trading event - which was *awesome* - he did such a great job talking to the other children and asking if they wanted to trade.  No tears - I was so proud!  We also attended the Autism Awareness event at the zoo a few weekends ago, which has grown into a really nice event with great attendance and helpful networking opportunities.  I love that it's at our local zoo, which Aidan knows so well that it doesn't overwhelm him.

He's also been working hard on feeding skills, and has started feeding therapy.  It's only twice a week, and due to scheduling stupidity, it works out to 3 times every two weeks, which is only slightly better than nothing.  Luckily, he has a great team of people in his life, who continue to work with him and encourage him every day at school, and recently I happened to walk in on him actually nibbling at a rice flour pancake.  Proud mama over here!  He doesn't have much of a bite with his molars, especially on his left side, and getting anything bigger than a crumb in his mouth makes him gag - but he's getting there!  Unfortunately, his swallow is questionable and needs to be more formally evaluated for airway safety later this month, so until then, we're not working on liquids.

October brought us the tiniest bit of drama - an urgent care visit, and eventually an ER visit for a yucky stoma.  I really hate stoma problems, and we're always so lucky that his stoma is so beautiful and infection-free.  But really kind of out of nowhere, it sprouted granulation tissue that got infected and painful, and things were just no fun for a while there.  Right, as you would imagine, when I had no time to spend in the Urgent Care/ER all night long, because of course.  But I'm thanking my lucky stars that's all it was, because as I sit here writing this, I'm watching some of the babies I love from afar go through ten kinds of hell inpatient, and I know how much worse everything could be.  Aidan's been doing pretty well lately, and I don't take that for granted even for a minute.

We've had to stop Karate for now.  Aidan's little body is just too tired.  He just can't do it.  And I can't keep forcing him to do something that's just too much. 

Heis participating in soccer, which is super adorable.  Although I might be using the word "participating" loosely, since he really likes to just sit on his ball and watch once he's tired, and without 1:1 coaching, he forgets what he's doing and wanders off.  Don't care.  Adorable.  After soccer wraps up, he'll be taking a break from sports until we get his energy levels figured out, because I really think there's something awry here.  I'm hopeful that either CHOP or CHP has some ideas for us.

He's the dainty one, seated while everyone else plays.

The rest of the month is coming at us fast and furious - this week we'll see Genetics (this one's kind of a big deal, since we're looking for big answers here, or at least big ideas and a path forward) and the dentist (not a scary one for us, but a rough one for Aidan).  Next week, the Complex Care/Diagnostic Center which is another big deal for us.  I don't even really know what to expect from that visit, I just know that we need help, and we're hoping they can give it.  The following week, Aidan's swallow study, and then he's inpatient for a tube change.  Hopeful that he stays healthy and is discharged and feeling well enough for Halloween fun.

We have forwarded his records along to Pittsburgh and are awaiting word onwhen we'll be traveling.  I'm nervous - not knowing exactly when we'll go, and how I'll handle it with work, and whether it will even give us any answers - all if it makes me sick to my stomach, if I'm being honest.  But these are all the right things to do, and the right steps forward, and I just have to trust that Aidan will find answers down one of these avenues.

We'll keep you posted as appointments happen and travel plans come together.  Wish us luck!

Updates - Complex Care, Rare Care, and Besties

It's been a better week.  I feel like I've accomplished more, anyway.  I've made strides toward getting Aidan where he needs to be.

The Diagnostic and Complex Care Team reviewed Aidan's chart and called to set up his consult with Dr. Magnusson.  I don't know whether this means it's a visit to decide whether they'll take Aidan on, or it's the first step in the process of having Dr. Magnusson on our side.  Either way, it's a step in the direction we so desperately need, and it isn't even that far off (October 23rd).  I've heard truly amazing things about this doctor - that he's amazing to have on your side, that he's smart and he'll fight for you, get you what you need, and put you in your place when need be.  All of that and more - and we need it all so badly.  I'm looking forward to the appointment, but I also know that I need to seriously organize my thoughts before then.  I need to be armed with a clear and concise history and how and where we need his help.

I've also been continuing to talk with Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh's Center for Rare Disease Therapy (Rare Care).  I am working with CHOP to gather Aidan's medical records, and once I have them and can get them to Rare Care, we'll be able to figure out exactly which doctors Aidan needs to see there.  I've faxed the requests over to CHOP's records department, so now I wait.  I have no idea how long it will take for CHOP to gather and mail his records to me.  I'm oddly curious to see them, actually.  But mostly, I'm anxious to get them to Rare Care so we can get the ball rolling.  They have appointments available in November, but think that if we can get his records over quickly, they may be able to squeeze him in sooner.  November would be great.  Sooner would be amazing.

All of this is so much more direction than we had even two weeks ago.

On the home front, sleep has been hard to come by this week. I think Aidan's been sleeping more restlessly than usual - we've had two accidental unhookings overnight, and when we check on him overnight, he seems especially entangled lately.  A few nights ago, we were all awoken at 4:30am to a low blood sugar, high ketone boy.  He was cold and clammy and had been vomiting repeatedly in bed - all because his extension popped out and we fed the bed.  Totally commonplace in the feeding tube world, but very dangerous for a hypoglycemic kiddo.

This has to be a strangulation hazard - right?

On a fun note - Aidan got to spend time with his bestie over the weekend.  It will never stop warming my heart to see him just get to be a little boy.  These boys have so much to teach each other.  I love that T pushes Aidan to try bigger, braver, better things. I love that Aidan shows T that it's okay for everyone to do things in their own time, at their own speed.  I love that they can both learn how to meet a friend where he is, even if that's not where you are.  T is a sweet boy with a sensitive heart who has loved Aidan like a brother since birth.  We are so lucky to know him.

Best Friends go with it when you rename their clubhouse "The Charmed House"

He also (creative boy!) had a great time making a robot that could do all of his smiling for him.  Maybe I've been irritating him too much, asking him to smile for pictures?  He was so proud of his robot's big smile, and said that now HE doesn't have to smile.  Great problem-solving, little Vulcan.  So proud :)

All in all, it's been a better week.  Over the next week, I'm hoping for more communication with Rare Care, a special Mommy/Aidan date on Labor Day, and my first time at a special needs parent support group - something that's been FAR TOO LONG in coming.