We transitioned into Parisian life without too many hiccups this week. The girls started school and Penelope LOVES going to the garderie.
Parker was underscheduled to me, and it was refreshing (actually focusing in the girls), yet unsettling (seemingly inefficient).
He had only 3 appointments, and lots of free time to practice his walking and throwing balls. So here's the low-down:
GARCHES:
Appointment scheduled for EEG Friday, the 17th. We'll see how that goes. It could be my least favorite thing in the world (but I had a root canal this summer and THAT is my new least favorite torture). We'll meet with our beloved Dr Q afterwards to show off PJ's new abilities since last seen in June.
NEURO:
We were scheduled to see Dr K at Necker the day BEFORE we got back from vacation (opps!). Luckily she is taking us on her lunch hour (she always does that for us) so we can get into see her after the next EEG reports. She is always a downer, so I'm not that looking forward to it.
ORL:(Oto-Rhino-Laryngology or EARS)
I woke up this morning to Parker already wearing his cochlear implant, but in a new fashion. John had placed it around his ear (as it should be worn), and I actually didn't hate it. This is good news. Great news, actually. It was too big and too mechanical on his little head before. Now I'm just wondering if we should grow out his hair to cover that chic flashing red light. His CI (cochlear implant) has been short-circuiting all summer and I have been exchanging emails with customer service to see if we can rectify the problem. We have also (again) lost the habit of wearing his hearing aid (HA) on his non-implanted ear since he tends to get ear infections on that side. It also makes alot of swamp noises when airflow is obstructed around it (by carseat, stroller, or just him putting his head up against a couch, or the floor). It also frequently ends up in PJ's mouth or thrown into a toybox and the internal part often goes missing, so sometimes we opt out of wearing it (not good patients, but doing our best). This summer I got brave and just used a little bit of super glue to attach the pieces and it has worked like a charm, until after church today when I saw Parker chewing on something in his carseat. It was his hearing aid. Humph.
SPEECH THERAPY:
For the moment, PJ will do one session/week at home organized through the deaf school CEOP. He did surprisingly well Friday. He was quiet, concentrated, and even repeated sounds like "grave" with a low hand motion while playing some low notes on the piano. In english he is now consistently saying "HI" (even sometimes without any hearing aids first thing in the morning), and "OUT" when he wants to get out of the high chair. When I put him in the stroller he does the sign and says, "OUTSIDE". We need to speak more to him, and give him more time to communicate back. When the girls are around, there is alot of background noise & he seems to go more quiet.
PHYSICAL THERAPY:
The physical therapist saw Parker once this week and was very pleased by the increased strength in his back muscles. She said now she can start doing different exercises regarding that. She said she notes no change in his leg strength, and that swimming would be great for him. We will plan on swimming once/week with him to see if we can make his legs stronger at home.
BALANCE:
He seems to be getting more confident to let go of objects & take a few steps towards us. It's scary since he is usually flailing arms & legs and takes no more than 5-10 steps before crashing into our arms or the sofa or whatever. He grabs our hands & tries to walk, pushing a baby stroller or walker or kicking a ball nearly all day long. He loves it.
NEUROSURGERY:
No plans to meet with them for 6 months when we'll do a control CT scan to check the shunt. I'm just always putting that on the back burner thinking if he has serious neuro changes or vomiting, we can do another shunt repair. Its seems frighteningly black and white at this point, whereas neuro or speech/language seems alot more ambiguous and difficult to assess or project.
DEAF SCHOOL:
Apparently there is another little boy Parker's age with the same vestibular problems, as well as 2 little girls in the same age range. Since there are two, they may be willing to make their own class with special seats equipped to keep these balance-challenged boys from falling while learning. They are expecting that the girls are more advanced at the moment, and will likely keep them in a separate class from the boys with the hopes that at some time during this school year, they may be able to combine these 4 little ones into one class. I have to admit, I cried a little when they told me over the phone. I was not expecting this "a la rentrée" (beginning of the school year). They will even arrange for transportation for Parker to and from school eventually.
La rentrée in Paris is a rebirth of sorts. I love to see the cheese shops and boulangeries reopening after summer break. I love to feel the excitement in the air of the children in their new schools and classes. Everyone is happier and nicer, still tanned with a spring in their steps. I like to think of la rentrée as a new start and a new chance. So, here we go again! Back to reality. The rat race is back on. Wish us luck.
