Sunday, January 20, 2013

I can't believe Katie is almost 3

Katie's neurologist appointment was interesting. He sat and looked and looked at Katie's MRI and CT Scan and compared them side by side with the older scans and he found no explanation for her sudden and significant weakness in left arm. He said the only explanation would be a stroke but MRI and CT scan showed no signs. A virus can cause paralysis, but there was no sign or change in the scans. This wonderful, awesome neurologist doctor stated in the midst of our appointment, "Your child confuses me." Not what you want to hear from your daughter's doctor. But he agrees she is special overall. He upped her anti-seizure medication in case her left hand weakness is from continued seizure activity that we don't see. Please pray for the medication! Pray the side effects are temporary to the increase! She has been more groggy, irritable, and clumsy since the increase. Pray that the medication stops any seizure activity and her left side strengthens!
Katie will start school on January 28th in the Arovista special ed preschool program. Her IEP went great and smoothly! It is not finished yet. Eleven total in attendance- different teachers, therapists and psychologist were in attendance and there were 3 that weren't present. We have to meet again to review OT and PT evaluations and agree on her the goals. The most interesting evaluations was the difference between the psychologist's evaluation in December and the teacher's evaluation last week. In December she was scoring below a two year old level, but a month later she was scoring within her age range. She has made great progress in this last month! Her brain has made miraculous progress. She sings so many songs now and makes up her own songs! It is so cute when she puts other peoples names into the songs!
Please pray for her vision, visual processing, comprehension, speech articulation, general memory and repeating back the days activity. Pray for Katie's transition to school and mom's separation from her. Pray for Katie pre-academics and that she will thrive and grow in school. Her pre-academics were her lowest score because we have been so focused on her physical progress and overall stimulation of her brain and vision. I have no doubts in her potential cognitive abilities, but it is something you can pray for.
Thank you for your prayers!!
Thank You God for your blessing and healing! Thank you God for Katie and her miracle!!
Thank you!!!!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Katie working hard at therapy

Some pictures of Katie showing how she is gaining strength in her left hand.
The colorful tape on her hand/arm is called Kinesiology tape. She had it on her left leg before she started walking. It is stretchy and it pulls her fist out of a fisting position and aids in keeping her fingers opened up. It makes a significant visible difference and at therapy she was opening her hand and grasping toys. Continue prayers for improvement and thank God for her progress!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

I Wish I Could See A Day Through Her Eyes

Katie has had more evaluations in the last six months than I can count. I think she has seen more than a dozen different therapists. 
The last evaluation was a speech evaluation and it was really interesting to watch Katie. We began to realize through the evaluation that she was having trouble visually processing the pictures. I just wish I could see through her eyes, I wish I could literally (and figuratively) see what she sees. How is her vision, how does the nystagmus (her eye shaking) affect her vision, does she have voids in her vision, does focusing on books give her headaches or is it hard or require so much effort it exhausts her eyes. I just wish I knew. But I am thankful! I am thankful!

I am amazed by Katie's fortitude and perseverance! She learns more each day! She has not let only one good working hand slow her down or deter her from her goals! She is amazing, she is determined to dress her self. Try putting your pants and underwear on with one hand. She will open her left hand with her right to hold a slinky or hold on a swing or eat snacks. She is so sweet, beautiful, amazing, and wonderful! Katie is simply stated a joyful gift from God! 

Tomorrow we meet with her neurologist to discuss her MRI results. Please pray with me for Katie! Thank God for the small movement in her left thumb and pointer finger! Thank you for her struggles that have made her so strong! Katie will do great things because before the age of three she has impacted hundreds of people! Pray for her vision and vision processing. Pray for her left hand! Pray for no more seizures! Pray for MRI results! Pray for her transition to the school district and my reluctance to separation. It all hurts my heart, but God is taking care of her though I can't always be there. Thank you! I am thankful for her, all that has happened to her, you, and her doctors, nurses and therapists! Thank you!