Coburn Kids

So much to post about but I have to do this one right now as I need to remember all the info -

All right, so Caden’s cleft clinic at Lutheran General Children’s Hospital was exhausting.  It’s an hour drive there and I had to go through 2 hospitals and take 4 elevators to even get to the right place. We’ll do a run through of the doctors:

Plastic Surgeon – Everything looks good. Caden needs to see an orthodontist to see what to do about the lip tissue and if there’s anything we can put in his mouth to straighten the teeth.  Will have bone graft surgeries at probably 8, jaw surgery wouldn’t be until his grown into his skeletal structure around 15, might need some lip/nose revision about preschool age.

Speech Therapist – Gave lots of ideas to try to get Caden comfortable with a cup and liquid.  Gave suggestions for how to encourage movement of the front of his mouth so that he can do the mmm, nnnn, bbbb sounds.

ENT – Tubes are okay for now, thinks his body is trying to push them out right now though (normal).

Pediatric Geneticist – We went over all of Caden’s medical history, got referals for the Cardioligist, Opthamologist, Neo-natal follow-up. Thinks that we may need some further study of some of Caden’s defects. She was supposed to get back with me but we were moved on to the next appt.

Audiologist – *sigh*  A really really big sigh.  Caden’s hearing test is bad.  Again. The ENT wanted to see him in maybe Nov. and that’s now going to be moved up to much sooner. His tympanometry test (measures fluid in the ear) came up a flat line as well. It’s supposed to have a nice tall peak in there. His tubes are still in and the ENT said they weren’t clogged.  So why he’s having so much fluid in his middle ear is odd.  He doesn’t have ear aches, the tubes should be working but they aren’t. Which is sad because this will just set Caden further back with his speech.

Now on to the cute story.  While we were seeing the Pediatric Geneticist, Caden took her stethoscope.  He then started to lift his shirt and try putting it on his belly.  Then would take it and draped it around his neck like the Dr.’s do, and would sit there for a bit.  Then he would take it back off and lift up his shirt and put it on his belly.  It was the cutest thing ever!  And yet so sad.  That my baby, yes my baby!! who’s only at a 12 month old level development wise, knows exactly what to do with a stethoscope. The Dr. got such a kick out of it.  Caden doesn’t pretend play and this was the first time I’ve seen him do that (it’s an 18 month old developmental skill), though maybe he wasn’t pretending at all!  He certainly has seen enough Doctors.