Medicine, Speech and School

I am writing today to update everyone on Carter's progress with his new medicine, Topamax. We just started on week 3 on Monday so there is another 1 1/2 weeks til all he takes is the Topamax. The nuerontin is slowly decreasing. I definitely think that the weaning is going pretty good, although he still has been occasionally having his pain cries. I hope that in a couple weeks time we can be rid of the pain cries altogether but who knows if that will happen. The medicine definitely has helped tho..Its hard to think back at what he was doing and how he was acting before we started on this medicine. I am so thankful that the Neuro-opthamologist is such a wise man to see the brain irritation that the other doctors didnt, or else we could be in the horrific situation still.
Only time will tell if this medicine will help Carter shed a few pounds or atleast stop gaining weight. I hope and pray he can shed a few pounds because that would definitely make it that much easier to walk full time and not resort to hands and knees crawling like he tends to do. I really have been trying to choose healthier snacks too for Carter to assist in the efforts...for example: Grapes, madarin oranges, applesauce, peaches and cream, etc..all in all more fruit.
The other news I want to report is that in November we set a speech goal of 100 new spontaneous sentences spoken by Carter in 1 years time, or this coming November..I am pleased to report that we today are at 98 sentences! He has really been generating some funny things lately and I couldnt be more pleased with this talking and comprehension of what he is saying..Just today we were walking by a house and a man was out in his garage hammering something and Carter says, "What's he doing?"..I Said hes hammering..lol. And then when we got home he went to the backyard and wanted to get in the pool (As always!)- which was empty (bugs!) and so he said, "Where's the water?"..too funny..I just love how the communication lines are opening up for Carter!!
School- I know that a while back I talked about home schooling Carter..well, the decision has been made...I am not going to homeschool him. I have decided that Carter will indeed be attending pre-school this fall for two mornings a week. The decision came after securing an aide for him. That was the big deciding factor, if he could get an aide-his own aide- I would feel much better about him going to preschool. And he will have one, I am so thankful for that.
Please be in prayer for Carter's medicine, his walking, his moods and his temperament towrads his brother. There are times when I feel like I have to keep both eyes on him when him and Cam play together because Carter likes to push and shove..And then the next minute he can be hugging and kissing him...I guess boys will be boys! Thanks for reading!

New medicine.

Monday morning Cody and I and the boys were up @ 4:30 to go to Omaha for a neurology appointment for Carter. His appt was @ 8:30 and so it was an early day! His neurologist, Dr. Pavcovik is a somewhat quiet guy, but very nice.
The medicine that Carter has been on is called Neurontin, which is a medicine that treats seizures, although Carter doesnt have and has never had seizures. He has what they call brain irritation and so it works to 'stabilize' Carter's brain. This medicine we started back in January, and although it has worked great for Carter, it has also caused weight gain for him. Monday I expressed my concern for Carters weight to this doctor only to find out there is another medicine out there he could be put on called Topamax. Topamax goes the other way, and may actually cause weight loss. Carter has gained about another 5 pds since January and I think 5 pds on him is like 20 pds on us. Carter has already faced a gross motor delay and so the weight gain doesnt help him out any. So Monday we started the switch, the doctor gave us a schedule to follow to wean Carter off of Neurontin and on to Topamax.
Since we starte this transition, I have noticed more unsteadiness, more pain cries, and a few more falls. I absolutely dislike that Carter has to go through this but I do know that the end result should be worth it for him..I pray I am right and that this medicine works as good or better than the Neurontin. Pleases pray the same for Carter.
It is so hard as a mom to watch my son go through brain irritation. No parent wants to see their child in pain. The irritation causes such painful headaches for Carter, the only good thing is that they never last too long; thank goodness. I honestly would trade places with Carter if I could. Sometimes I question why my son, why Carter, but then I try and remember that we all face our own battles..Some of them medical as Carter, some of them emotional, some very personal that no one else knows, some public for others to judge/critique, etc etc...I pray that thru Carter's some what public, some what personal medical and physical battles, he will come to rely on God fully when he needs to. I hope that one day he will look back and say- 'I went thru all of this so that God could use me to help others who are facing similar battles'.
I am so thankful for Carter, and also for Cody and Camden. It is very rewarding to have such a wonderful loving family and although times can be and are tough, having them makes it all much better. Thanks to our wonderful friends and family also who have given us support..Your kind words and help mean so much to us.
I will update as we get further into the 4 week weaning of the medicine and how it is working for Carter.

Around the block!

Like sunlight burning at midnight, making my life so beautiful, beautiful! Carter makes my life beautiful.
I am astonished at his will and determination. We have a double stroller and lately Carter has been putting up a fight when I try and put him in it...Do you know why? You probably guessed it, he wants to walk HIMSELF!! And so last night we decided to let him go a long ways...and he did WONDERFUL! What a little miracle he is...He walked around a whole block!! And he only fell a couple of times...He even went up an incline! Cody and I were amazed at Carter's determination. Who would have thought a year ago that our little boy would be able to walk around the whole block!?!
Thank you Lord for all of Carter's accomplishments in this last year!! More to come later, family is calling!

Could I do it?

So, a friend of mine home schools her little boy, whom just turned 5. She has been homeschooling him for the past year and was asking me questions about Carter yesterday. We talked about how Carter will be going to school this fall @ Sioux Central. She asked, "Will he have his own aide?"...my response...I dont think so..she voiced her concern on Carter getting knocked down and/or bullied at school..I myself have wondered about him falling and not getting all the help that he is going to need and also other kids teasing him. As a parent, there are lots of worries...and as Carter being my first born, and him being special..I have a HUGE concern. Becky S if you are reading this, I do wish you lived here or I lived there. I believe that Carter is going to need his own aide and wonder if the school/teachers even realize this. Carter still falls down, he has fluid on his head which I think messes with him..Also, he is not potty trained yet...He doesnt always listen. Which I know that there are other kids with no diagnosis that fall in these categories.
Brings me to the question...Could I/Should I homeschool my Carter? My friend thinks that he would get much more attention (which he needs)...much more help with things, and she also believes that I am more than qualified. Thanks for the boost of confidence, but I am not sure if I believe I am..She said, all parents feel that way at first. So, heavy on my heart is this topic. What is best for my Carter? No one else, just him. Whats best for him? Please pray on this..I want to know what are my rights as his mother on homeschooling. Stay tuned for what happens next! BTW, Carter is still only 3!