Some Updates, education and lots of photos!

Recently my family has found out some new information that we must all work through. First off, back in February we found out the my 5 year old has a Lazy Eye. He has to wear an eye patch 1-2 times a day for 1-2 hours at a time on the other eye to help his lazy eye improve. He now has glasses as well that he must wear 24/7. He has been pretty good with them so far. The first few days were hard, but we do not have issues now! He still looks like the Jerry McGuire kid! LOL On Thursday (3/21/13) he had a doctors appointment to finish up his immunizations for school, we are waiting now to hear back from the school as to)if he is getting in or not. He had a bad reaction to the immunization the following day (1% of kiddos have this reaction) and now gets to soak in an oatmeal bath and then get his leg wrapped to prevent him from scratching it because he says it is itchy. (see photo below) While at the appointment Thursday I discussed with his doctor the fact that he spits (makes shooting sounds and saliva goes everywhere) all the time and has his hands in his face playing with just his hands or with toys. I discussed this with a different doctor when he was about 18-24 months old and they said that he was fine as long as I could get his attention and make him stop. Well, it has started to be that we can not get his attention and make him stop anymore. At the appointment she counted this as 2 tics (1 for spiting and 2 for the hands). Then as she was talking to him and asked him to do something for her he made a throat grunting sound, I am not sure how to describe it. And that made 3 tics. She asked me if he does a couple other things (I do not remember what now) and the answers to those were yes! Totaling at 5 tics!

The reaction to the shots! 5 cm long!

Here is where the Education part of this blog comes in. My 5 year old son has Tourette Syndrome or rather a form of. I feel so very bad for my small guy. This time last year we were learning how to use his medicines for his severe Asthma and now we will start neurological appointments and treatments. Things just do not seem to be getting any easier for him.

Tourette Syndrome (further referred to as TS) is:

Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Tourette Syndrome Fact Sheet

"Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, stereotyped, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics. The disorder is named for Dr. Georges Gilles de la Tourette, the pioneering French neurologist who in 1885 first described the condition in an 86-year-old French noblewoman.

The early symptoms of TS are typically noticed first in childhood, with the average onset between the ages of 3 and 9 years. TS occurs in people from all ethnic groups; males are affected about three to four times more often than females. It is estimated that 200,000 Americans have the most severe form of TS, and as many as one in 100 exhibit milder and less complex symptoms such as chronic motor or vocal tics. Although TS can be a chronic condition with symptoms lasting a lifetime, most people with the condition experience their worst tic symptoms in their early teens, with improvement occurring in the late teens and continuing into adulthood."

You can use the link above to read more about TS on your time. This little guy has a tough road ahead of him. But at least we now know why he is the way he is. He does some of these things because he can not help it. He is often unaware he is doing them. And now to help his brothers understand him too will be easier. 

Now that this has all been lifted off my chest....

I took my oldest to get a hair cut last week before leaving to his Aunt and Uncles house with Grandma to help is Aunt out with some things that are going on with her. And to have a mini vacation with Grandma! While there, I decided I needed to come back with the baby and get his hair cut too! He had a pretty interesting mullet going on! Now he looks like a little boy again!

BEFORE

AFTER

Little dude here enjoys watching Baby Bach one of the Baby Einstein movies. He gets so distracted and will not pay attention to ANYONE!

Here he is enjoying a new movie I picked up for him yesterday on dad's lap!

Enjoying some Cheerios and Veggie puffs after nursing in the store parking lot yesterday!

He noticed the camera and this is his reaction! LOL

Well, That is all I have for now. I am sure that I will be back with loads more of information since now I am waiting for the nurse to call me back because the 5 year old's reaction to the shots just got worse and we found another spot on his leg! I may be going back to town tonight!

~TTFN!