Yesterday was my first day at my new job; Not a whole day, just a couple of hours for paperwork and things. Shortly after 8am I received a call from the Children's Hospital and there was an opening at the sleep clinic for Monday afternoon, the same time I was supposed to work. If you remember how difficult it is to get into the sleep clinic, you know why I rearranged our whole day to make it work. I went into the office a couple of hours early, Ryan brought Chelsea to me after work and the two of us headed up to the hospital. I think her appointment left me wondering why in the world we need all of these appointments to tell us what we already know ...
The sleep doctor (I'm not sure of his actual title) asked a ton of questions, and checked Chelsea out. He said he was sure she'll need her tonsils and adenoids out, but that she needs a sleep study first so that we have a baseline of her sleep. I guess we'll have another study after the surgery. He said her tonsils were very big and he noted the dark circles under her eyes. I reminded him that she was missing her afternoon nap, but he said those dark spots aren't from missing a little bit of sleep, they're from a prolonged period of sleep deprivation. Yes. Yes. Yes. I liked him because he, like me, is concerned about how irregular sleep can effect a childs' ability to learn. We all know Chelsea was born with a disadvantage cognitively and I am determined to maximize her learning. Her little brain is soaking up so much right now and developing rapidly, it makes me sick to think about what she could be losing during this six months it takes for us to get her sleeping well. She just can't afford to lose this precious time.
We set up a sleep study which has to be done before even scheduling the tonsil and adenoid surgery and the first available date is May 5. That is the same date we are scheduled to be at the hospital for the dermatology clinic, you know, for that rash she has had since September ... I think we need another children's hospital, or more pediatric specialists, there just aren't enough. If they happen to have a cancellation, which they were confident they would (due to kids getting sick etc.), we will get in sooner. A cancellation may be difficult to orchestrate as they only do sleep studies on Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays, and Ryan has class from 5-10 two of those nights. But I think as I proved yesterday, I will move heaven and Earth to get the ball rolling on this kiddo's sleep issues, and we will find a way. Even if it means calling your boss to reschedule your first day of work. ;) Thanks goodness they're flexible!
Hello world!
3 years ago
