Runs in the family...

There's no getting away from it. It runs in the family. I'm not sure if it is hereditary or genetic but it is a serious problem. But I've discovered I really can't get mad at anyone else anymore because I do it myself. I don't mean to. Really I don't. It really is an innocent problem. I'm not sure about anyone else, but me, I don't mean to leave anyone out of the informational loop of what's going on in my life or the lives of my kids.
We have a serious problem with communication as far as things go with letting others in the family know what is going on medically or otherwise, but especially medically. I guess we don't want to worry anyone else. But HELLO don't you think we need to know! I mean what if it is serious we could be praying about or something. But I guess I'm preaching to myself now too. Oh I'm so bad. Sorry for anyone I've ever gotten mad at for not filling me in on things.

So anyway this is my update for those of you who haven't heard what is going on with Tyler recently.
So he has been receiving services with occupational therapy for over a year now for his right hand. He has never really been able to use it right. But things are getting better.
So we know about the episode in January with the passing out and that he was going to a neurologist to check things out. So we went to the neurologist last week.
Here is what we have discovered...
* It is very likely that Tyler had a stroke before he was born, possibly in the birthing process
when he was stuck for so long
* This is the story that the neurologist is going with right now. And the more people that hear
about it (medical/therapists) think that it is accurate.
It would explain the problems with his right side. His hand use and even some of his right foot. When the doctor did the different tests he had a lack of feeling in his right foot as well. It is his whole right side of his body. So, if he had a stroke in the left side of the brain it would affect his right side as well as his speech.
* We do have a problem with speech as well as many of you know.
He can communicate extremely well for not being able to verbalize everything he means. But since the stroke occurred in the left side of the brain it would explain the delay in speech as well. So they have informally diagnosed him with having acquired oral apraxia. This, to my understanding, is a speech problem where the brain sends a message to the mouth to know how to say it and there is a message delay and he can't figure out how to make his mouth make the sound. Tyler's understanding is perfect, he thinks he is saying what you ask him but it doesn't come out right. I know it is confusing.

The doctor has ordered an MRI as well as an EEG. Tyler's MRI is next Friday, May 1st. He will have to be sedated for that test. Then the EEG is May 15th and he is supposed to be very tired and go to sleep while they are doing the test. Yeah right! I'm really not sure how that will work because if you have every had a super tired toddler things can get real ugly real fast. So anyway pray for those things that we will figure out if there is other damage and that things will go smoothly and Tyler will not be too scared.

Okay so there is more
He was also qualified this morning to go to preschool at Logan next year for speech. He will work with the early childhood special education people. In the classroom, as I understand it, there will be speech pathologists, occupational therapists and lots of focus on speech. The lady who teaches is very nice and very educated. She has a masters in early childhood special education. She probably has other credentials but I'm not sure I just know it made me feel better to meet the people and know that they were well educated and not just the people who couldn't find jobs so they wanted to work with little kids. Because in my experience that is how a lot of places are.

I am a little nervous, I'm not going to lie. I'm nervous about what the tests will say and I'm fearful of the special education stereotype and people making comments about him. I guess I survived being made fun of for my eyes but I would never wish that on anyone else. Because seriously I could 'punk' the best of them! (Hard to believe huh?)

Tyler will go to preschool 4 days a week and it could start as soon as May. I'm really not sure I"m ready for this. But he will for sure start in August when school starts and he will go to Logan where Grandma will be teaching next year. That makes me feel a little better. But can you imagine sending your two year old to school on a bus. I know he'll be almost 3 but seriously, on a bus! They gave me that option and I was thinking they were crazy. I think I can handle taking my toddler to school. I thought you didn't have to think about this 'sad' stuff till they were 5! Geez!

So anyway, my apologies to those of my dear family that I have not let in on the things going on in our life. Now you know. I"m sorry you had to find out on a blog, it's really ridiculous. It really was an innocent mistake and I'll try not to get on you if there is information that I don't receive until after the fact. (Actually, I'll still get on you but you would expect that from me!)
I'll try to keep you updated as we get the results of different tests, or if something else comes up.

(Little bit of a scatterbrained blog, but that's how my brain is operating right now!)