"V-word"

After my "Completely Unreal" post on Wednesday, Sam's throwing up really got out of control. Everything he ate/drank from about 12pm on Thursday came up, he even vomitted in his sleep on Thursday evening after I put him to sleep and again on Friday morning while I was holding him, in an upright position, after falling asleep while having a bottle. We decided to take him to see his paed, who managed to fit us in at 1pm on Friday afternoon. So Dr B thinks there are two possibilities - Sam either has a bit of a viral infection/tummy bug or Sam's sensory issues are still even more severe than we thought - or it's a combination of those two. As I posted a few days ago, I had decided to put Sam back on Nestargel, right smack bang in the middle of his SID (Sensory Integration Defensiveness) peaking. I know - you must be thinking "What on Earth could Nestargel have to do with SID?" Even when Sam's new OT mentioned on Wed that severe SID can be THAT brutal that it can effect one's gastrointestinal system, I wasn't quite certain what she possibly meant - now I do though!! But, then on the other hand, the return of Sam's snoring and stuffy nose could be related to a viral infection and not reflux at all. So Dr B suggested I stop the Nestargel again, straight away, which I did....and?? No more vomiting, other than a tiny bit this afternoon but Sam also happened to be in the throw of a particularly vigorous bout of flapping when it happened. (And of course we all know by now that, with near certainty,  Samuel will vomit within the next hour just because I have dared to blog again that he hasn't).

We can't completely rule a viral infection out but it would be quite a coincidence that most of his excessive vomitting started again when I re-introduced the Nestargel and stoppped again when I withdrew it. (As I am typing this, Samuel has just woken up and started moaning - Chris is with him now, but if he does throw up I will have to accept that somehow me posting on this blog is jinxing Sam's health and just call it quits. Please! Please! Don't throw up Sam.)

Let's do a quick change of subject - I totally expected Sam to have lost a significant amount of weight by now and, although he hasn't picked up much, he does now weigh 9.75kg which is not too bad considering the "V-word".  I have been so thrown over by the "V-word" lately that I don't know if I've mentioned Sam's crawling progress yet! Sam can crawl about five or six "steps" at a time now, albeit it only in places where he feels safe and secure, eg. on the bed and far away from any "larger" items of furniture, like tv units, cupboards, etc which play on his depth perception sensitivity. Oh..and did I mentioned that he can wave "Ta Ta"?? Again, like with the clapping, he can now follow a verbal instruction to wave as opposed to just copying someone else doing it. He understands most of what we say to him and responds by making his Sam-style grunts or hand gestures...which is most certainly not the ideal form of communication, but a form of communication nevertheless.

For me, the whole sensory thing has really knocked me into a daze of uncertainty and frustration. Sam's RTS seems to pale in light of the debilitating effect this is having on us and, more importantly, Sam. But as always we push ahead because there's little else we can do, other than shed the occasional tear of sorrow. On a more positive note - we have decided to chance the trip to Stilbaai tomorrow so here's holding thumbs for a "v-word" free drive, both tomorrow and on Tuesday. And, still on the positive, it is my birthday tomorrow and although, as with everything we do lately, it has been pretty low-key I did get some lovely gifts from Brampies, Cammy & Damien, Joe & Meg and, of course, Chris. Chris and I are contemplating going out for a quick breakie tomorrow morning before we leave for Stilbaai but will first have to assess both Sam's and Brampies' frame of mind in the morning.

In closing I have to add that I am super thrilled with Meg's report for the term, obtaining all 4's (out of a possible 1-4 grade, with 1 being the lowest) and an awesome 100% for Technology, 94% for EMS and 92% for History! Well done, Megs!!! What a huge relief after the year started off with a rather dodgy beginning :) Luke only gets his report next trimester, which only starts 11 May but, if his test/assessment results so far are anything to go by, his grades should follow the same suit.

GRACE SUFFICIENT

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Cor. 12:9

His hand is on you still,

As you seek and do His will.

Don't give in to despair,

Rest in your Father's care.

For when you think you can't take it,

He will give you grace to make it.

Gene Griffin