The good news

It was an overwehelming experience driving to the St. Louis Children's Hosptial from our hotel. It wasn't a bad drive at all and we found it without any problems. We really wern't nervous but I guess a little anxious I guess. We found the parking garage and parked on the floor for the blue elephant. Everything is geard toward kids. Then we got on the elevator and went to teh 2nd floor to the overpass to teh hospital. When we stepped on the elevator you heard a little child's sweet voice say "Welcome to St. Louis Children's Hospital...flooor 2>" Oh my gosh I already wanted to cry and I didn't know why.
Thinking about how huge the hospital was and that it was strictly for children just brought an overwhelming emotion. I was very thankful that it wasn't a life-threatening ordeal that we were thee for, but for so many it was.The overpass had a train running through it for kids to look at and kids stopped on the sides to watch. Tyler was sleeping on Jeff so he had no clue.
We found the office we were supposed to go to but we were an hour early so we ate in the cafeteria. Wow another incredible experience. Who would have known?
Then we went to the office of Dr. Noetzel and checked in. The receptionist was super nice and very understanding of insurance complications and such.
The wait was not long at all. The first doctor came in. Tyler wasn't sure what to think at all because the doctor was a woman. His facial expressions told us that he didn't believe that she was a doctor. Obviously he has never had a female doctor before! But he warmed up to her and did what she asked after a little while.
She did some evaluations and then took the MRI cd and EEG cd that I had brought from Dr. Katz office. She took a little while and had a pediatric radiologist neuro specialist review them with her. Then her and Dr. Noetzel, the president of the of the pediatric neurology board at the hospital, came in to discuss their findings.
He told us that he can understand how someone could think that the scans indicated schitzinsepholy, (sp?) however he doesn't think that that is the case. He is very sure that the scans indicated a stroke that most likely took place in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy. The part of the scan that other doctors thought may be the schitzensepholy indicated scar tissue to the specialists here. The stroke diagnosis not only makes more sense but also gives a sense of peace because it has a better prognosis.
We asked tons of questions and the doctors were patient and answered every one of them with confidence and had excellent bed side manner. The two seizure like episodes that Tyler had were explained. Dr. Noetzel said that the body reacts in weird ways when something is going on inside. The body's way of reacting when the scar tissue was being formed played out in a seizure like episode. He explained seizures and the likelihood of it happening again is very slim but not impossible. Usually when a baby has a stroke like this the first two years as the brain is making new pathways the body reacts in the seizure like episodes. Typically this is only in the first two years of life. Praise God!!!
The stroke also explains the inability for Tyler to use his right side. We noticed this when he was about 6 months and have been trying to figure it out since then. He has had physical therapy, occupational therapy and had tests done. The stroke explains it perfectly. A stroke on the left side of the brain affects the right side of his body. Praise God for technology!
Dr. Noetzel also informed us that several years ago they may not have been able to put all this together but with the advancement of technology and the availability of MRI's and EEG's they have done study after study that indicates the stroke and explains why kids struggle with speech or have problems with one side or another.
We are to continue doing what we have been doing and he should catch up. He has had a huge language explosion since starting preschool and having a speech pathologist who is amazing, and he is even using his right side a ton more. Praise the Lord oh my soul. Praise the Lord!!
So anyway we had great news and I know God sent his angels with us that day. I could feel the people praying. HIS spirit was with us without a doubt. Everything was fabulous from the receptionist to insurance, to the doctors, nurses and oh my gosh every detail!

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME AND ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD!

(details about the rest of the trip will come later)