Sean's GI Appointment

Today I took Sean to see a gastroenterologist (GI) for the first time. This was the next step in finding out if there's a medical reason for him being so small. After our experience with the endo, I was very pleased to find a doctor that was caring, had great bedside manners, and explained things well.

He pointed out that Sean did grow well between 18 and 30 months. He explained that that, along with Sean's lack of other symptoms, was why he wasn't very concerned. Like Sean's ped, he did agree that it's a good idea to look into causes...better now than later. BTW he did not grow but an ounce in the last 3 months, nothing in height. He explained 3 options and then left it to me want I wanted done.

Options from most invasive to least:
Option 1- we will not do for a long time, unless there are signs that show up saying we should. Option 1 would be putting him under general and putting an endoscope down his esophagus. He didn't explain this too much because I decided that we would wait after he described how it was done. Just putting him under general is risky. He himself thought it was too invasive at this point.

Option 2- we are waiting until after Sean's endo appointment in October to decide. Option 2 would be to redo the blood tests they did in May 2009. He says there's always a possibility that something could have changed. We'll wait to see if the endo orders blood tests and maybe have them done at the same time.

Option 3- we are doing. We will collect urine and stool samples.

Urine sample will be tested for sodium, potassium, and chloride. These electrolytes can give insight into how the kidneys are working.

Stool sample will be tested for several things.
Occult blood- blood could be in the stool for several reasons.
Reducing substances- this would point to malabsorption of sugars.
Qualitative fat- this would point to malabsorption of fat
PH- this would be lactose intolerance
Fecal elastase- this would point to problems pancreas or small bowel

The doctor also suggested that we go ahead and give him a pediasure everyday instead of just when he's not eating well. He said that while his calorie counts were good, some kids just need more. He did not say that this was the reason for Sean's size but just merely a suggestion as it can't hurt.

We go back Oct. 15th for a follow up.

Homeschooling

We, as parents, are our children's first teachers. No one questions our ability to teach them to walk, talk or go potty. However, when it comes to schooling, we are all of sudden we are not qualified. As soon as our child is school aged, it's assumed that we will hand them over to someone else to teach them. Shouldn't it be the other way around? Shouldn't it be assumed that a parent will teach their child unless there's a reason that they can't such as both parents that have to work or single parents? Shouldn't home education be the default?

This is how homeschooling came up for my children. I thought "Why send them to school when I'm just as capable of teaching them?" Not only am I capable but I can give them the one-on-one attention. Learning can be individualized for them. Not all kids learn the same way. Our time will be much more efficient. With lower ratios, it takes less time to learn the same things being taught in schools. Which leaves more time to learn other things. Things that schools can't teach because they have to teach to the test. It also makes it not a big deal having to spend more time on something that the child may be struggling with.

Toddlers/preschoolers learn best through playing, reading and exploring. So..we read ALOT...us reading to them and Sean "reading" to us. He likes using the pictures in the book to make up his own story. He also draws and then tells stories about what he draws. I write down his stories onto his picture. We do crafts. We bake. He counts out the eggs, etc. It's also a science lesson. We fit in math during grocery shopping. Counting, colors, shapes... Sean does really enjoys worksheets though! He loves tracing, matching, circling. He easily does 10 or more a week.

My goal is to keep them home as long as they are thriving and I feel comfortable teaching them.

Our homeschooling/playroom in the works:
My area:


The kids area...I still want to get a calendar and a weather chart. Sean's work goes on the fridge first, then the wall, then in binder when we start running out of room on the wall. There's a clock but I didn't get it in the shot. The green outlined areas will be chalkboards:


Action shots:

Wordless Wednesday...because some days, words aren't necessary

Sean's test results from 7/13/10

I just got a call from the ped's nurse. Sweat test came back 100% normal.

Sean during the sweat test:


Bone age is slightly older. The nurse said it's ok but the endo will discuss it more with us. I'm so confused! The ped told me that we wanted his bone age to be younger. Older would indicate a problem. Sean's endo appointment isn't until Oct. 7th . I called to see if I could get an earlier appointment so that we could discuss the results....they don't have any earlier. :(

He makes me proud

This past weekend we went on a trip to Maryland. For those of you that don't know Sean too well, he's a shy boy. At home and around people he knows, he's silly, out going and very talkative but around new people or people he doesn't know well, he's clingy and quiet. This trip was going to be full of new people and people he hadn't seen since he was a little baby. I expected the shy clingy boy. That was far from what happened! We first stopped at a friend's house. It was the first time I even met them. In less than 5 minutes he was his normal class clown self! It was amazing. Once we made it to my aunt's house, it was the same thing. He warmed up to everyone so well. He had a blast playing with his older cousins!

He may only be 2 1/2 but I fully expect please and thank yous from him. He normal remembers when asking for something but what he did when we were about to leave our first stop surprised me but also made me very proud. We were walking to the car and he stopped, turned to my friend and said "thank you dinner". I about melted! I guess I'm doing something right!