Today before school, I took Payton to see the ENT as a follow up to her sleep study results that we got last week. Speaking from a surgery standpoint, her ENT is very pleased with the results, despite the fact that she still has mild sleep apnea. The number of apneas per hour decreased significantly, so that is good. The flip side is that she still has apnea episodes and there is nothing the ENT can do about it. We were told that we can see a pulmonologist and an allergist to see if they have any recommendations ... if not, we just live with it.
Onto the Periodic Limb Movement Disorder ... we will be getting bloodwork done to see if any of her levels are off. Apparently that is something that can cause this disorder to be worse, although it often times goes hand in hand with sleep apnea.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Payton's 1st Day of School
Today was Payton's first day of school. I had the day off, so Mason and I were able to drop her off and pick her up. Most other days she will be transported by her babysitter, who is a family friend. She did great when we got there ... pulled her little backpack into the school and put her stuff in her cubby, but when she realized Mason and I were leaving, she wasn't too happy. We worked through it though and we have been through these motions before when she attended a daycare facility. Thankfully that made it easy on me too. When we picked her up, she started crying as soon as she saw me. Despite that, they told me she had a great day!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Labor Day Meme
Just for fun, I copied Renee and pulled this meme from Rocks in my Dryer. In honor of Labor Day, it's about...well, labor. And not the kind you get a day off for, either.
How long were your labors?
Mason - my water broke around 3pm, I started pushing just before midnight and had him around 3am ... so that would be 12 hours. To the best of my recollection.
Payton - was sick and having sporadic contractions starting maybe around 9am. Went to the hospital around 3pm and she was born around 10pm after three pushes. I think.
How did you know you were in labor?
Mason - my water broke all over my couch. I stood with my legs crossed yelling for someone to get me a towel. I think that was a sign that labor was imminent.
Payton - I had been sick all day, got really dehydrated {or so they told me ... blood that has the consistency of molasses is not a good thing} and started having contractions. Went to the hospital where they hydrated me and tried to send me home. I said, "Oh nooo ... call my OB now and I want my water broke!" I was like 6cm dilated at that point and they were gonna send me home! Crazy nurses.
Where did you deliver?
Both of my kids were delivered at a birthing center at our local hospital. Best place ever.
Drugs?
Uh ... yeah. I was asking for an epidural when I walked through the door. Didn't feel a thing either time!
C-section?
Yes, with Mason. After pushing for two hours, I couldn't get him out. He was sunny side up and they even tried to pull him out with a vacuum ... no go. So off to the OR I went ... after all of that. He owes me.
Payton - VBAC all the way, baby. If I never have another c-section, life will be good.
Who delivered?
Mason - Dr. Grover delivered him ... she is awesome!
Payton - Dr. Kang delivered her ... just as awesome!
How long were your labors?
Mason - my water broke around 3pm, I started pushing just before midnight and had him around 3am ... so that would be 12 hours. To the best of my recollection.
Payton - was sick and having sporadic contractions starting maybe around 9am. Went to the hospital around 3pm and she was born around 10pm after three pushes. I think.
How did you know you were in labor?
Mason - my water broke all over my couch. I stood with my legs crossed yelling for someone to get me a towel. I think that was a sign that labor was imminent.
Payton - I had been sick all day, got really dehydrated {or so they told me ... blood that has the consistency of molasses is not a good thing} and started having contractions. Went to the hospital where they hydrated me and tried to send me home. I said, "Oh nooo ... call my OB now and I want my water broke!" I was like 6cm dilated at that point and they were gonna send me home! Crazy nurses.
Where did you deliver?
Both of my kids were delivered at a birthing center at our local hospital. Best place ever.
Drugs?
Uh ... yeah. I was asking for an epidural when I walked through the door. Didn't feel a thing either time!
C-section?
Yes, with Mason. After pushing for two hours, I couldn't get him out. He was sunny side up and they even tried to pull him out with a vacuum ... no go. So off to the OR I went ... after all of that. He owes me.
Payton - VBAC all the way, baby. If I never have another c-section, life will be good.
Who delivered?
Mason - Dr. Grover delivered him ... she is awesome!
Payton - Dr. Kang delivered her ... just as awesome!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Sleep Study: The Results
I got the results of Payton's second sleep study the other day ... sigh.
Diagnosis:
1) Mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, with sleep fragmentation, but without significant hypoxemia or carbon dioxide retention. Blah blah blah. Vigorous medical therapy for upper airway obstruction is recommended.
2) Increased leg movements are present during sleep consistent with Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD), and associated with sleep fragmentation. Further evaluation of PLMD is suggested.
After her first sleep study, she had moderate obstructive sleep apnea, so I guess that means taking her tonsils and adenoids out helped bring it down to mild? But now we are throwing in this PLMD, which I probably could have diagnosed myself. Both of my kids are very restless leg sleepers. Sigh again. The treatment for PLMD includes a CBC and iron studies, including serum ferritin, with treatment with iron for 3 months if ferritin level is <50 mg/dl.
I wonder if her iron level is low? Good thing we have a script for bloodwork and I will be making sure that the script includes this iron testing. She had low iron when she was an infant, but the kicker is that kids with Down syndrome tend to have higher iron levels, so how she got a low iron level is beyond me. We will be following up with her ENT this Thursday to see what is next.
Diagnosis:
1) Mild obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, with sleep fragmentation, but without significant hypoxemia or carbon dioxide retention. Blah blah blah. Vigorous medical therapy for upper airway obstruction is recommended.
2) Increased leg movements are present during sleep consistent with Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD), and associated with sleep fragmentation. Further evaluation of PLMD is suggested.
After her first sleep study, she had moderate obstructive sleep apnea, so I guess that means taking her tonsils and adenoids out helped bring it down to mild? But now we are throwing in this PLMD, which I probably could have diagnosed myself. Both of my kids are very restless leg sleepers. Sigh again. The treatment for PLMD includes a CBC and iron studies, including serum ferritin, with treatment with iron for 3 months if ferritin level is <50 mg/dl.
I wonder if her iron level is low? Good thing we have a script for bloodwork and I will be making sure that the script includes this iron testing. She had low iron when she was an infant, but the kicker is that kids with Down syndrome tend to have higher iron levels, so how she got a low iron level is beyond me. We will be following up with her ENT this Thursday to see what is next.
*Ahem* Ms. Payton
Who knew one child could do so much damage in less than a minute?!
Remember that cheeky smile I was telling you about?
Remember that cheeky smile I was telling you about?
The final product {minus all the crayon on the table} ...
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