Lots of appointments.

Sorry I didn't get to finish my post last week. It was a busy week. I had parent teacher conferences. So on my week off I posted that I visited Madi's preschool. Then on Tuesday I took her to Iowa City for a checkup with Dr. Matthews, her neurologist, and Dr. Starner, her pulmonologist. Things went well. We saw the neurologist first. She was happy with the progress Madi has made physically but she said she should be a little further along in her speech. She suggested more speech therapy and an evaluation by a psychologist to get a good idea of her cognitive age. Then the pulmonary dr. came in and asked about the machines we got and how it was going. I told him I only had to use the pulse oximeter once and not the other two yet. He suggested we start putting the couch assist machine in her face maybe once a day so if she needs it this winter she won't be scared of it. A lot of SMA kids have to have oxygen monitored throughout the night and he said he didn't think Madi would need that anytime soon. So that's good. He thought she looked great and was doing well. Then the MDA representative came in and just talked with us and asked how things were going. She was very nice. I am going to try and sign Madi up to be an MDA ambassador. Then they decided she should get a flu shot. So they only wanted to give her a half dose since she had never had it before and then in six weeks she has to get the other half at home from the pediatrician. Boy was she mad! You should have seen the look on her face. She looked at me like,"How could you have ever let them do that to me mom?" It was awful. Even the nurse said that was the saddest look ever! Then she screamed for about 10 minutes. Poor thing, I can't wait for the next round! I think I am going to get Molly and Morgan one too. That should be a great time! We finally left Iowa City about noon and got something to eat. She charmed everyone in Burger King by smiling and saying hi. She fell asleep on the way home. When we got home it was time for the speech therapist. She said Madi had improved greatly! She thought she was behind but not too significant. She said usually a person can understand about 75% of what a 3 year old says and we can understand Madi about 50% of the time. I suggested more therapy time and she said when she gets in school she will have it once a week. So I guess we have to wait until then. Then immediately after the speech therapist left the physical therapist came. Poor Madi! I never really thought about how exhausted she would be. She was not interested in P.T. at all! So she ended up not staying very long. Miss Madi was a little crabby and had every right to be! The next day was Wednesday and I took all three girls to the dentist. Morgan and Molly did great! They made me send Molly back by herself. It was so sad. She just took Morgan's hand and walked back like a big girl. Then they called me back with Madi and Madi did not want to sit in the dentist chair. I sat with her and she just cried. All he did was check her teeth and gums. It was real quick and painless. She has just seen way too many doctors in her short little life! Then I attended Morgan's Halloween party on Wed. and had her conference. Then on Thurs. was Molly's Halloween party and conference. What a week! Halloween was great! Aunt Brandi spent the day with us and went trick or treating with us in Bettendorf. Morgan was a very cute elegant witch. Molly was an adorable Tigger, and Madi was a little puppy! I will hopefully put some pictures on this post tonight. They got more candy than anyone ever needs. Madi kept eating the candy every time someone handed her a piece. I couldn't get it out of her hand quick enough and she would put it in her mouth wrapper and all. We had to dig the wrapper out of her mouth twice. We are STILL waiting on new of the standing dani and wheelchair. Next Friday we go visit the orthopedic doctor in Iowa City and then on Dec. 4 we go back for the evaluation that the neurologist ordered! I hope everyone had a great weekend! My cheer team got 1st in St. Louis. Yeah! Happy Veteran's Day to all of you military vets out there!
Love, Megan