Sunday, December 30, 2012

A New Ear Drum for Christmas

Tomorrow, Finn is getting a new ear drum.  I am both excited about what this could mean for his right ear and a nervous wreck.

We have to be at the hospital at 5:15am which means we will have to get Finn up around 4am to start pre-operating procedures including a bath in a prescription antibacterial soap.

Essentially, they are going to take cartilage from behind Finn's ear and make a new ear drum, remove any more tumor(s) that are in the ear, and repair the hearing bones.  All in all, the surgery will take about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.  We expect to leave the hospital the same day and the first stage recovery will take about 2 weeks and then full recovery in about 4 months.  The hardest part for Finn will probably be the no swimming for four months, not even with an ear plug.  

We knew this surgery was coming, but we thought it was going to happen in another couple of years when he at least had one good ear, but the chance of him having another tumor is a risk the doctor doesn't want to take and therefore the surgery is happening tomorrow. 

Finn has been put to sleep at least ten times now and as a mother it doesn't get any easier. Yesterday, I tried to explain in the simplest terms to Finn that he is going to go to sleep and wake up with a big bandage over his ear.  The doctors are going to fix his ear drum and it may be a little scary.  He smiled at me the entire time and said "yeah" each time I paused.  I know he doesn't quite understand and that makes it a little more difficult as a parent.

We do feel very lucky that most of Finn's major issues have resolved on their own or have not yet required surgery like his heart defects and brain abnormalities. 

Please keep Finn in your thoughts and prayers that he has a successful surgery, is comfortable and a speedy recovery. 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Red

I don't know exactly what is going on with my little man's brain, but it is working hard and in places it most likely never worked.  Every day, his is doing something new and doing something new every day is new.  I know this doesn't sound extraordinary to most parents of 4 year old boys, but it is to those who know Finnley. The fact he is talking using more then just a couple of words is in itself amazing.

Finnley used his first adjective this weekend.  He said, "I want red game."  Finn's communication is becoming more and more independent.  At school he got his first check (well, actually it said "some" but close to a check) in the box by "communicated independently with adults."  What progress!!!


It is crazy to think that Finn didn't start walking until nearly 2 1/2.  At this time last year, he was only saying 10-20 words and they were mostly prompted.  We had to teach Finn things that normally come easy to other children...to point, to chew, to swallow, to roll over, to reach, to put in, to keep his hands open, and the list goes on.  These things did not come easily.  It was with every waking hour of working with Finn to make these strides and he hasn't stopped making them. 

We continue to spend our waking hours working with Finn on things most four year old's know.  Colors, the alphabet, eating properly with utensils, potty training and so on.  But, Finn can count to ten, he can ride his tricycle with no hands, he can brush his teeth by himself, and tickle his sister.  We are lucky that Finn can learn, that he wants to learn, and that he is learning.  It takes a ton of practice, patience, and sometimes tears to get there, but we do it together.

In times you really want to throw in the towel and say your child is just not getting it, don't stop.  Think of the word "red."  I have said the word "red" a million and a half times this year, but that millionth and a half time plus one, Finn said it on his own, independently, and correctly.