Welcome to our journey! Ive never written a PTR, and a month ago couldnt have told you what a PTR is, so you may have to bear with me at times, but here goes.
The Cast:
Piper: my sweet, lovely, giving, caring 8 yo dd who Id occasionally like to chuck out the closest window.
Piper is the reason for this trip, but more about that in a few. I've chosen a sweet picture, and one I love for the irony...
[/IMG]
Gram: my mother, who would do absolutely anything for us (and has), that I admittedly sometimes also want to chuck out the closest window..probably more often than Piper.
Myself: 37 yo divorced nurse, cook, maid, personal entertain .err..ok, that list could go on forever, so lets just say..Mom. Now..Piper isnt quite old or strong enough to chuck me out a window yet, but between she and Gram, Im sure the thought has been there.
The Backstory:
Since were still early in the MAW process, I figured Id use the next few entries to give you all some background, and explain why this trip means so much to us.
Like a lot of women, I always wanted to have children. When the ex and I married I was 27, and we immediately stopped using any form of birth control. When two years rolled by with no bundle of joy, we were sent to a Reproductive Endocrinologist to try to get the show on the road. We were lucky that I had excellent insurance at the time, that would pay for every aspect of AI (artificial insem) except the drugs, up to a limit. After two unsuccessful attempts, we had just enough left for one more try. After that appointment, the Dr told us that the chances of me conceiving from it were less than 1%. When the testing window opened, and I took a home pregnancy test, I was floored. I had completely braced myself to give up any hope of ever getting pregnant. When I went to the Drs office, they were almost as shocked as I was..lol.
So the standard nine months goes by and Piper met the world. At birth, she was taken to be put on oxygen, she was only on it for a few hours, and we were told it was pretty normal. She was 9 lbs, 2 oz..21 in long, full head of hair..perfect little girl. After about six weeks of struggling with breast feeding, and Piper not gaining weight, her Pediatrician (who had been highly recommended to me) says: Well obviously something in your body is just screwed up since youre breastfeeding and she isnt gaining weight. You just have to stop breastfeeding and switch completely to formula. Now, news like this is not something easy to hear to begin with, without being told that its your fault. That cured me of that Pediatrician, and we switched offices. To add the cherry on top, when I didnt make a return appt with him, he called Social Services and had them knocking on my door!
When Piper was three months, she started showing some respiratory symptoms..runny nose, cough, the usual. I took her to the new Ped, he told us she had pneumonia, and put her on the necessary drugs. When there was no improvement after a week, I took her to a follow-up, only to be told I shouldnt expect to see immediate improvement, and that it could take 3 weeks to a month. So, another week goes by..still no improvement..we go back, and the Dr pretty much lectures me that he already told me that there wouldnt be immediate improvement, the drugs are working, etc. So after another 4 days (by this point I was convinced she was getting worse), I call, and her Dr isnt available but we can see a Nurse Practitioner. The NP walked into the room, saw Piper, and immediately went to get a pulse oximeter (measures oxygen in the blood). Pipers sats were down to 85%. A normal number is 100%. Anything below 93 or so is not a good thing, particularly for a baby. I thank God for that NP..she immediately sent us to the Childrens Hospital in Cincinnati. Piper had a partially collapsed left lung. Needless to say, she was admitted, which started another journey altogether.
To be continued....
The Cast:
Piper: my sweet, lovely, giving, caring 8 yo dd who Id occasionally like to chuck out the closest window.
Piper is the reason for this trip, but more about that in a few. I've chosen a sweet picture, and one I love for the irony...
Gram: my mother, who would do absolutely anything for us (and has), that I admittedly sometimes also want to chuck out the closest window..probably more often than Piper.
Myself: 37 yo divorced nurse, cook, maid, personal entertain .err..ok, that list could go on forever, so lets just say..Mom. Now..Piper isnt quite old or strong enough to chuck me out a window yet, but between she and Gram, Im sure the thought has been there.
The Backstory:
Since were still early in the MAW process, I figured Id use the next few entries to give you all some background, and explain why this trip means so much to us.
Like a lot of women, I always wanted to have children. When the ex and I married I was 27, and we immediately stopped using any form of birth control. When two years rolled by with no bundle of joy, we were sent to a Reproductive Endocrinologist to try to get the show on the road. We were lucky that I had excellent insurance at the time, that would pay for every aspect of AI (artificial insem) except the drugs, up to a limit. After two unsuccessful attempts, we had just enough left for one more try. After that appointment, the Dr told us that the chances of me conceiving from it were less than 1%. When the testing window opened, and I took a home pregnancy test, I was floored. I had completely braced myself to give up any hope of ever getting pregnant. When I went to the Drs office, they were almost as shocked as I was..lol.
So the standard nine months goes by and Piper met the world. At birth, she was taken to be put on oxygen, she was only on it for a few hours, and we were told it was pretty normal. She was 9 lbs, 2 oz..21 in long, full head of hair..perfect little girl. After about six weeks of struggling with breast feeding, and Piper not gaining weight, her Pediatrician (who had been highly recommended to me) says: Well obviously something in your body is just screwed up since youre breastfeeding and she isnt gaining weight. You just have to stop breastfeeding and switch completely to formula. Now, news like this is not something easy to hear to begin with, without being told that its your fault. That cured me of that Pediatrician, and we switched offices. To add the cherry on top, when I didnt make a return appt with him, he called Social Services and had them knocking on my door!
When Piper was three months, she started showing some respiratory symptoms..runny nose, cough, the usual. I took her to the new Ped, he told us she had pneumonia, and put her on the necessary drugs. When there was no improvement after a week, I took her to a follow-up, only to be told I shouldnt expect to see immediate improvement, and that it could take 3 weeks to a month. So, another week goes by..still no improvement..we go back, and the Dr pretty much lectures me that he already told me that there wouldnt be immediate improvement, the drugs are working, etc. So after another 4 days (by this point I was convinced she was getting worse), I call, and her Dr isnt available but we can see a Nurse Practitioner. The NP walked into the room, saw Piper, and immediately went to get a pulse oximeter (measures oxygen in the blood). Pipers sats were down to 85%. A normal number is 100%. Anything below 93 or so is not a good thing, particularly for a baby. I thank God for that NP..she immediately sent us to the Childrens Hospital in Cincinnati. Piper had a partially collapsed left lung. Needless to say, she was admitted, which started another journey altogether.
To be continued....
Theres an essay someone gave to me shortly after Piper was diagnosed, which I think describes the journey of a special needs family perfectly
Woo Hoo!!
).
~ sending good wishes that you hear back from them soon! 
Woohoo..I've been keeping up with your ptr anyway, so I'll look forward to reading more 
