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May 22, 2003
Jaida Ends OT and A Visit to Dr. Corbier
I took Jaida to OT on Wednesday and when she was finished Debbie said she didn’t need to come back. Jennifer had warned me that she may not qualify for it past June. Because she was referred by the feeding clinic, the primary focus of the therapy was oral skills and motor function. Each time I took whatever food Debbie asked for, Jaida ate happily. I was shocked to hear that she ate all her pink grapefruit one week. She’s never had it before and I thought she would refuse since she often rejects food based on sight or smell only.
Maybe I should send Debbie to her school every day at lunchtime. Lately, her lunchbox has been coming back with the same food in it every day. The hunger and low blood sugar could be contributing to her behavior problems because we’ve noticed that mornings go much better if she eats before doing anything else. I don’t know what else to do. We saw Dr. Corbier on Wednesday as well. He wanted to try a new multivitamin in liquid form that has digestive enzymes, minerals, vitamins and just about everything you can think of in one shot.
We stopped at the health food store on the way home and Jaida was really wound up. She went out the door twice in spite of my protests. The third time she didn’t come back when I called her. Instead, she ran out into the parking lot and kept running in circles while I yelled for her to come back. These are the kinds of dangerous behaviors that scare me to death. How would I explain what she was doing in the middle of the parking lot if a car had accidentally hit her? Sheesh… We had gone to a shoe store before that to get her some sandals and she almost ran out in front of a car. I had a firm grip on her hand but she wanted to try and beat the car across the street. “Let’s run,” she said excitedly. Heaven help me.
Dr. Corbier agreed that it was time to do another EEG. I scheduled that for next week. I didn’t want to wait until July for our CRS clinic visit since it’s so close to the first day of school. If her medication needs to be adjusted, I would rather handle that now so she is used to it by August. I don’t think her current teachers feel she can get much worse so they might not notice any new behaviors.
The Chiropractic Adventure
A few entries back, I complained about my back and Tara from Breastfeed.com encouraged me to see a chiropractor. I have to say it was the best thing I could have ever done! I talked to Dr. D about it first and he thought it was perfectly fine as long as there was no manipulation of my uterus. He didn’t have any suggestions for any particular doctor so I got a list of participating doctors from my insurance company and on Monday I looked through the yellow pages.
One ad I came across really stood out. There was a husband and wife practice and they had the most adorable picture with their son in the ad. I called to make an appointment after I visited their website and was delighted with their philosophy on natural healing methods, attachment parenting and the benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy. The receptionist asked me several questions about my problems and medical history. I fully expected her to say it would be a few weeks. To my surprise, she said I could come that afternoon at 2:45 for my initial visit. I was so grateful since I was in excruciating pain that had persisted all weekend. I’m sure sitting in a movie theater for two and a half hours to watch The Matrix: Reloaded didn’t help. But, I’ll get to that in a minute.
I went in and had several tests performed. Dr. Yolanda, who is also four months pg, took my medical history and even asked about every car accident I had ever had. I did some simple range-of-motion exercises and she tested my flexibility. I had some cervical (upper neck) x-rays done while wearing a protective apron of course and then two types of computer scans. The first measured the tension and stress/pressure level in my spine. The second measured the amount of electrical activity in my muscles. It was the same test that a chiropractor did on his pregnant wife once on Baby Story. I was not so surprised to learn that my numbers were off the charts in most areas along my spine. Also, what I thought was a ‘kink’ in my hip from sitting too long turned out to be a severe muscle spasm. It was similar to what I experienced the time I lifted my leg and got stuck.
They asked if I could come back that night at 6:30 to get my test results and x-ray findings. I said yes and they said I could also have my first adjustment. Woohoo! First, Dr. Tom gave me and four other people a short PowerPoint presentation on the benefits of chiropractic care and then he explained our test results individually. My x-rays showed that the curve in the top part of my spine is completely gone. I have to do exercises with a rolled towel to try and get it back. Dr. Tom’s assistant, Heather, warned me to stop leaning my head to one side to cradle the phone while I talk. I clearly saw for myself that my head is starting to tilt slightly to the left.
Finally, I got my very first adjustment. I was fine with the spinal manipulation but I was a little nervous about the neck-snap thing. In the movies, people usually die when they get their necks snapped. But good old Dr. Tom just kept talking the whole time he was working and he did it so quickly, I never knew what hit me. He raised the table to a standing position when he was done and as they say in those cheesy, fake religious shows, “I was hea-yulled!” I had the smallest ache in the hip that was bothering me but by the time I got home, I was good as new. I didn’t even feel pregnant and that’s saying something since I’ve really blossomed over the last few weeks. I need to add some pics to Lambchop’s site. Anyway, I went back the next day and again today after work. Dr. Tom wants to see me twice next week and then we’ll take it from there.
24 Weeks and Counting
Ladies and Gentlemen: I passed the GTT! I called and got my results on Tuesday and I wanted to jump for joy. The automated system doesn’t give you a number so I will have to wait until my next appointment to see what that was. Dr. D said he wanted it below 140 and I’m sure if it was too close he’ll make me do the three hour test. Due to my blood pressure history and the fact that I’m still on meds for it, I will start my two week visits at 30 weeks instead of 32. Dr. D also wants to do another ultrasound at 32 and 36 weeks to make sure Lambchop is growing properly. I’m guessing he thinks my blood pressure issues will make the baby more susceptible to intra-uterine growth retardation and that may show up before preeclampsia symptoms. I can’t believe that I’m almost at the end of my third pregnancy. It stuns me every day.
In other baby news, my best friend found out that her twins are boys! I can’t wait to meet Taylor and Tyler this fall! She’s almost two months behind me and *her* babies have names already. How sad is that?
Conversations with Jarod
I felt so good after my adjustment that I did a little more nesting this week. I reorganized the drawers in Jarod’s room to make space for Lambchop’s clothes. Then I moved the crib and changing table into their final homes. I had a great time and when I was done I sat on Jarod’s bed and surveyed my work for a while. I looked at the tiny clothes, the little diapers and the blankets. I can’t believe I’m about to have an impossibly tiny newborn again so I daydream a lot. Jarod came into the room and looked around. After I pried him off the side of the changing table he said, “Ooh, piddy!” That’s Jarod’s word for pretty.
Our neighbor’s name is Mr. Pringle (or Mr. Sprinkles as Jaida calls him). He drives a big, white truck to his carpentry jobs. Every time Jarod sees a white truck he says, “Pinkle back!” Translated, that means Mr. Pringle is back. We see him come and go frequently during the day on weekends. Jarod seems capable of fluent conversations now even though we have to keep asking him to repeat most of what he says. For weeks he talked about my FIL fixing his lawnmower but unless you are familiar with Jarod’s language, we would have to interpret. It went something like this.
“Pampaw mawnmower boke.” (Grandpa’s lawnmower broke.)
“He pix it.” (He fixed it.)
He repeated those phrases over and over until we were all nearly batty. At least we know the speech therapy is working! On a funny side note, when we tell him to say ‘thank you’, he says ‘you’re welcome’ too. It makes me laugh every time. There are dozens of other Jarod-isms but I won’t bore you to tears with tales of toddler speak. It’s just so cute to me since Jaida never did it.
Dinner and a Movie
Really, it was more like lunch and a movie. Steve asked my MIL to watch the kids for the afternoon and off we went. Steve got our tickets while I had a sandwich at Atlanta Bread Company and then we went in. Steve is obnoxiously particular about being on time and since this was opening weekend he was even more worrisome than usual. But we did get good seats and had a good laugh about the all people that stumbled in after the lights were lowered and couldn’t find any. Yeah, we’re sick.
I really don’t understand the people that get paid to review movies, especially the ones that write for People magazine. It’s a movie and if you expect more than some delightful entertainment for two hours you need to find another hobby. I thought it was good and I feel like I got my money’s worth. I mean, what’s not to love about Laurence Fishburne? He was deliciously exquisite as always, in that I’m-not-that-good-looking-but-I’m-so-damn-cool-you-don’t-notice kind of way. The voice, the mouth (gap and all), the weathered skin; what more could you ask for? Keanu was cute as ever in that self-deprecating kind of way. He always reminds me of a puppy dog. My only complaint is that I wanted Jada Pinkett Smith to have a meatier role, but she rocked anyway when she was onscreen. I predict there will be dozens of little girls named Niobe soon.
The best laugh came after the movie. As Steve and I were parting the throngs of moviegoers rushing for the next show, we passed a true Matrix fan. This kid looked to be all of 16 or 17, sporting a floor-length, mandarin collar trench coat just like the one Neo wears in the movie. Steve and I nearly fell over from holding in gales of laughter. I was instantly reminded of the time Corinne (BT) witnessed grown people wearing wizard robes when she and Charles went to see Harry Potter. Sigh… only six months until part three. Speaking of movies, Jaida has been singing the song from the Jim Carey movie, Bruce Almighty. We’ll be driving along and from the backseat comes, “I got the power!” This kid and music is a dangerous combination. She still hums the rift from Lady Marmalade from time to time.
On that note, I will have to leave you. My right cankle is so swollen, my foot is going numb. Not to mention sitting in this chair and undoing all of Dr. Tom’s hard work. ;)
Kim, Jaida, Jarod and Lambchop
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