Three

I can't Believe I'm participating in this!!!! But I've been Tagged...so for the sake of good sportsmanship, here it goes:)


Three Joys


my faith - without this....I would be nothing.

laughter - laughing has always been such a big part of my life....thanks to my mother. I LOVE practical jokes and am a total prankster (when I have time). I have a quirky sense of humor, and I'm KNOWN for laughing at inappropriate times (yes...I'm a am a former childhood church laugher). In fact, NOBODY ever wants to sit next to me at church to this day, because THEY start laughing...when I'm being totally serious (especially these days *LOL*).


my family - I really just love down time with my family, especially the kids. Those random days where we're all hanging out or playing, are totally priceless. It's just....what life's all about. What did I ever do that was important before I had children!! I also look forward to those lazy days with the cousins and parents just laughing and chilling out.

Making Memories................

Three Fears


Absolutely, hands down, number one fear

Not fulfilling my purpose in this life

**no explanation necessary**


failure - of any kind. This fear has held me back from many, many missed opportunities, but taught me some invaluable lessons in life.

making mistakes as a mother - the most important thing I've ever done with my life is creating (with some help...) three lives. Three unique, beautiful human beings. I know I can never be perfect, and mistakes will be made.....but I want all my children to be genuinely good, caring, intelligent, successful human beings. I want them to grow up feeling loved and safe, treated equally, and fully equipped with all the tools they will ever need to make a valuable contribution to this world.



Three Obsessions


Coffee...Coffee...Coffee.... I've tried to give it up three times...

a really good glass of red wine! .....nothing else needs to be said!

keeping it real - anyone who knows me knows this already. I'm a stickler on this subject. I absolutely cringe around people who constantly put up a front. I'm as real as they come.

Three Interesting Facts

I have a motorcycle and LOVE to ride (especially with the kids).

I'm terrified of horror movies, and can't REMEMBER the last time I watched one. (I want to say high school!)

I 've been to Africa...three times!

Words of Wisdom

This one experience I had this past February keeps resonating in my mind......and has been for months. It comes to my mind most often when I'm going through a hard time. Whether it be Ava struggling physically, or me struggling emotionally to wrap my heart and mind around what has....and is.....happening to every person in this family because of Ava's disability. When I'm struggling to try and accept what her future may.....or may not hold.

When I'm feeling sorry for myself..........because NOBODY could possibly understand what we go through. The sleepless nights, the YEARS of no sleep.

The crying.

in my car.......on the phone to my husband......and as I lay down to sleep......with my 2 year old next to me because she can't sleep alone......because she might die in her sleep.....from a prolonged seizure.

The guilt....that I'm not doing enough.....that I haven't done EVERYTHING THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE DONE for my daughter, to help her live a normal life. That I'm not smart enough to understand all the in depth medical terminology tossed around me on a daily basis.

God....why couldn't you have picked a Harvard Grad. to take on this job *LOL*

Nobody mentions.......the guilt.

So I've gotten totally off track from the story I wanted to tell so here it goes:)

: and how cool would it be if the people involved in this story actually read this and freak out thinking how such a thoughtless statement.....affected someone else right down to their core:

When Ava was in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit this past February with Flu/Pneumonia (caused by aspirating due to a 45 minute status seizure), then a case of life threatning sepsis, we ran into another family in the ICU lounge. Their son was in critical condition after suffering a bowel obstruction, and emergency surgery. Their son had Cystic Fibrosis.

We had seen each other for over two weeks...here and there....and we shared bits of information with one another while we were passing through. On our last day in PICU, after 21 days in Intensive Care, I ran into them that morning.

We exchanged e-mails (of course, I lost the teeny, tiny, piece of paper I shoved in my bag) so I was never able to contact them, although maybe they still have my e-mail:) We got to talking about friends and family, and I said "I struggle so much because nobody in my life REALLY understands what we are going through, and how hard this is....day in and day out".

He turned to me and said....so simply "I would never want any of my friends or family to ever understand what this life is like. I would never wish them to even live one day like this."

It just hit me like a brick.

This man, as his son was fighting for his life, still, never coveted the one thing I can never get off my mind. The reason I'd just rather walk around angry and bitter, because nobody understands. Whatever they say, do, or don't do (my major complaint) is just always wrong. All wrong.

So when I get in this mode, my heart takes me back to the PICU lounge. Over, and over again. Until one day..I'll finally just get it.

It will be one of those moments that I get an overwhelming peace, and know in my heart.....I can just let this go.

By the way......how is Ava doing???

You don't know how many times I hear that question. From acquaintances, friends, even people that don't even know us very well. I wonder at times if anyone REALLY wants to know the answer.

Both Matt and I have found that many who ask.......don't really want to hear the answer if it's anything other than "great, wonderful, better than EVER"

So warning to all....if your one of those people......... don't read any further. This won't be an easy read & won't have you feeling all warm and fuzzy at the end.

People just ask to be nice, as a polite gesture.....and I get that.....I'm guilty of it myself in my "before it happened to me" days. But quite honestly, these days, it really gets the best of me. Don't ask if you don't want to hear the truth. And when I tell you exactly how she is doing....don't cut me off, pretend you have a phone call, or say "awwwww...that's too bad" & go back to living your perfect life and never give us a thought or a prayer. Just don't ask.

Maybe I shouldn't be posting tonight............................

Ava has been having clusters of "new" seizures lately which consist of her eyes deviating upward and blinking constantly. We've had to use her rescue med (Diastat) many times these past few weeks to break these clusters. Strange enough, the myoclonics we've tried so hard to nix, have all but gone (maybe 3 or so a day) We've also noticed some absence seizures rearing. It seems as though ALL her major seizure activity has shifted to sleep time. She's been having horrible myoclonic clusters almost every night. I upped her nighttime Clobazam dose hoping it would help, but nothing.

We've had to rouse her nightly to either give her Diazapam or Lorazepam to take the edge off & help her sleep.

My poor baby. She can't even sleep anymore. The diet, however, is in question.

Again.

It will all come to our 3 day digitrace EEG we will be getting done this Thursday. I'll have a lot to think about next week. So until next week, we'll sit tight. My heart is so heavy tonight. I'm very physically exhausted from the nighttime seizures, but mostly, I'm scared.

Scared of what the EEG might say. Things have shifted seizure wise, and I don't like the way things are going. I'm scared of what is going on inside her brain, and that it could mean Ava may loose all the progress she's made. Yet, even with what I'm seeing on the outside.

I still believe.

I believe that God is in control of this situation. I believe that I can give all this pain, heartache and worry and he will turn it into peace beyond understanding. I believe that one day we will overcome this monster that has stolen our happiness, our sleep, and our precious family time that is all but a distant memory sometimes.

So to those of you who do care, and pray...for real.

We need it. Especially this week and next.

As Good As It Gets????

Sooooooo....I've been totally slacking with this blog. I can't believe it's been over a month since I've updated. There is so much to tell I don't even know where to start. This is going to be a long one.

Ironic as it is, Ava's been doing wonderfully since a few days before our consultation at Mass General. Go Figure. So, that's about 2 months or so. She's been averaging about 10-20 myoclonics per day, with maybe one or two causing a fall. She's been feeling good, and her speech is continuing to get better every day. Her physical therapist is highly impressed with the progress she's made, and she's almost "up to snuff" with her peers. Our speech is still quite behind.

She really is such a tool!!! Her new obsession is carrying around pocketbooks all day (and night) long. We've all learned to stop searching the house & car for our lost possessions....because their usually....in her purse(s)!

July consisted of : A 24hr EEG study, a complete eye examination, bloodwork for her Genetic Test (SCN1A mutation). lots and lots of meetings with CEDARR, vaccination talk, and lets not forget the phone calls......tons...and tons....of phone calls. We completed our process with the CEDARR program (to help us with Ava's transition out of Early Intervention, and also to get her some respite care, so I can safely leave her with someone that's not US!!). We set up an appointment for a Neuro Psych. evaluation. We had Dr. Neuro write letters, letters, and more letters about why Ava needs a nurse on staff at school whenever she will be there, (and also authorizing her astronomical dose of diastat - rectal Valium (about 3x her normal dose) to break a status epilepcitus episode.

This month, I've clocked in quite a bit of time with phone conversations with our Neuro. About the EEG.......about vaccinations......and most importantly, about.........Is this as good as it gets????

I've actually been feeling great about Ava. She's happy, feeling well physically, and coming along so nicely in every area......but she's still having up to 20 seizures a day with numerous other generalized spikes that we don't see. Dr. Neuro says her seizures are only 1/2 a second long...which wouldn't even add up to 20 seconds per day. But in my mind, a seizures, is a seizure, is a seizure. And none of them are good. Especially for Ava's little brain trying to process information.

The pedi opthomoligist noted a distinct eye droop on the left side. This is something I've insisted on for 2 years. I've brought it up to EVERY neuro we've ever seen......with just the poo poo response of......oh...let me write that down.

Well, write this downs boys....IT IS REAL! Dr. Neuro, upon a quick initial report of the study managed to "slip" and say he saw more on the left side (which may explain the left eye droop she's had for 2 years, and her favoring her right side slightly) but after a full review of the study, he still insists her seizures start equally from both sides and generalize. He's maintained they are coming from deep within the thalamus, although he did say some were originating in the occipital area. Still, the same end result I've heard from every neuro "GENERALIZED EPILEPSY". I'm more confused then ever, and am waiting for the written report to understand it better. Our phone conversation was so loooong and we were dealing with soooo many issues (vaccines in particular), that I'm not sure I ended the call fully understanding exactly what he was saying about the EEG.

Although I did understand one thing.......

Crystal Clear..........

It looks better.........

A LOT better...........

"We're heading in the right direction"............





After all the crying, fighting, stressing, and EVERY twist and turns we've been on with this diet......we're all pleased at how well she's doing despite the few seizures a day we're still seeing.

Although, I'd like to being seeing NONE.

The clobazam has helped her soo much and we're only at 15mg. per day.....(Dr. T says she could go up to as much as 40) and for right now...it's enough. The only side effect we've seen is a bit of sleeplessness, but that's IT. Clobazam is on the list of one of my "good" AED's. Along with Keppra, which gave us 3 SF months around her 1st birthday.

I'm pushing for the 3T MRI. I just NEED it. It will close the door, and put my "left eye" suspicions to rest. Dr. Neuro said if the SCN1A test comes back negative.....he'll set it up. He even said he'll give me a BEAM study, yet he keeps insisting he feels her "answer" will turn up either genetic or some metabolic issue we'll never be able to solve. All 3 neuro's I've consulted have insisted a PET would not yield us any useful information for Ava. But I'm now at the phase that I just need to know, so I can move forward.

As weird as this sounds.......I've always been soooo grateful that, given her initial diagnosis of IS (Infantile Spasms), she is walking, somewhat talking, and happy for the most part.

I thank God every day for pouring his mercy upon our daughter. Most people might wake up in the morning angry, and bitter being dealt a "bad hand", but even as I'm making all her messy Keto meals (while we're still seeing seizures daily), and chasing her around for meds.....I'm grateful.....so very grateful for what we DO have, instead of dwelling on what we don't, or.....may never have. I've moved on from that place, and I hope I've finally come over the hump.

So somewhere in the middle of all this mayhem we managed to escape away with Madison and Christian (and 2 other friends) to Water Country for the day....thanks to Auntie Beth & Uncle Julio. Well I'll admit that it wasn't my first choice of an outing, but it still felt good....having a break from thinking!!!!

The Cancellation List

Soooo...we've been on "the cancellation list" for a consulation with Dr. Thiele and the nutritionist at the at Massachusetts General Hospital. We are approaching month 6 on the Ketogenic Diet, and our seizure control has slipped out of our hands,.

Before totally giving up on all the diet did for us, we just didn't feel right about taking Ava off it until we had a second set of eyes look at her to see if any changes could be made to help us regain the control we saw in the beginning. It appeared, last week, that "the cancellation list" really translates to the "never going to call you...ever...list"! We were NOT expecting anything to come of our MassGeneral hopes, and we were patiently waiting for our July 29th appointment with Dr. Bergin at Boston Children's Hospital.

Surprisingly we got a call 4:59 Friday afternoon to see if we could make it in Monday. Of course, we jumped at the opportunity. Both Matt and I really liked Dr. Thiele, and their super cool waiting room & blood lab in the next room! We talked a lot about meds, not giving up on the diet, and....the VNS.....gulp.

I had been pondering the possibility of the VNS for a few weeks now. My thoughts were.....why waste a year or longer on drug trials that most likely won't work and dope her up and hamper her ability to think and learn. All though both neuros understand our thinking.....they (our local one and Dr. T) both feel it wouldn't provide the control we are looking for, and think with some adjustments to the diet and playing with the meds, we can be in a better place.

I'm willing to give it a try. I'm still waiting for the nutritionist to give me her recommendations, and see how I can make it work. We're raising her Clobazam a bit, which I'm not too keen on (as it makes her VERY hyper). So that puts us at 20mg per day...it seems like a lot. But it IS helping.

I also found out yesterday that we FINALLY got our insurance approval to get our SCN1A genetic testing. What a long wait! We waited almost 4 weeks for our insurance company to decide whether or not it would be "worth it" for her to get the test done. It really blows me away sometimes. Ava has been suffering having seizures for over 2 years, with no cause determined, what is there to decide on???

So, since it's been so long since I've posted I'll fill everyone in on some family news (yes...there are actually other people in our family other than AVA *LOL*) Christian finished his baseball season with a great last game, and not after puking a few times afterwards because of the heat **that's my boy**! Both kids had end of the year performances at their school, and we are sooo proud of how well both of them did this year in school (despite all our drama around here sometimes).

They found an injured bird in the yard yesterday, and drove me nuts for hours. So, yes, I'll admit that I did put a make shift splint on it's leg (hoping it would fly, fly, away so my 3 kids would STOP touching it) to no avail. So after lots of tears, our neighbor made a little house for it to spend it's last hours in.

Is it wrong that I'm laughing about this right now????

Anyway, the following morning Ava cried for approximately 1 full hour because she wanted to hold the bird (who was out on the deck in the "penthouse suite). After seeing the look on my face, Madison & Christian had a "quickie funeral" for little Tweeter and we called it a day.

On a side note, this past Saturday we ran (or rather...trotted) the Matthew Siravo 5K road race. The kids did a race as well, and really got a kick out of it. So in hopes to redeem myself, a friend and I will be running another 5K race this upcoming Wednesday.

Coffee...Coffee...Coffee....

So it's no secret that I've really been pretty down the past few weeks. I know, like always, I'll roll out of the gutter and get back to being myself...but right now....I"m just having a really hard time bouncing back.

That being said....I just couldn't resist sharing this with everyone.

Today, after 1 meeting with the school liasion (which didn't exactly go well), 1 speech therapy session, and 1 two hour Early Intervtion playgroup....I was feeling pretty drained, and really needed a pick-me-up. I decided to head to Starbucks (and order a very large iced coffee with lots of sugar!) before going home and finishing the day.

So we're waiting in line, and as I'm telling the barista my order....Ava screams "GET MOMMY'S COFFEE". I just couldn 't stop laughing! I guess it was obvious even to my 2 year old who had been examined and in therapy literally all day....that I was the one who needed something.....RIGHT NOW!!!

As stressful, and heart breaking as things can be sometimes....I sure do love having another little one. She might not be perfect, but at times, I just have that overwhelmeing feeling that she's exactly who she's supposed be. I don't know what the future holds for her, but something tells me.....she'll handle it just fine.

With a little coffee....I might just be o.k. too.

Breaking Records

I know it's been awhile since I've updated, but I've just been having such a hard time dealing with things.

So let's start with the good news. We've made it passed our dreaded 8 week milestone. We've never made it longer than 8 weeks withough a major status seizure and hospital trip. This week will be 10 weeks...no staus epilepctus.

It's been so hard to see Ava struggling with the drop seizures again, after almost 4 months of "freedom". I've just been so sad to see this happening to her. She just wants to be a "normal" two year old sooo badly, and absolutely HATES when we have to make her take a break from the sun, or physical activity when she's having a bad cluster of seizures. My heart has been very, very heavy these past few weeks.

I'm really having some serious reservations about putting any more time into the diet, as what we are seeing daily is telling us.....it's not working. We've had discussions back and forth. Neuro, me, Matt, neuro again. We weren't able to see the out-of-state (Mass.) Dr. we had our hearts set on, and will have to wait to for our 2nd choice to squeeze us in the end of July.....which right now...seems like forever. I'm just not feeling 100% about terminating the diet until I feel like we've exhausted every possible option with it. I need a good, experienced set of eyes to look at our menus, mealtimes, every little thing we're doing....and see if there is anything different that would help us get better control.

There really isn't any other anti-epileptic medication that is on the table for us right now. All the choices we have left....aren't good ones. Somehow....something just has to give for Ava. The Clobazam seems to help a bit. Especially the first few hours after she takes it. I called neuro yesterday to see if we could add a small afternoon dose, and see where that takes us.

Madison and Christian have been soooo busy with sports, school plays, and end of the year stuff. It's been a lot of running around to baseball games, softball practice, school play rehearsals, performances...etc.

I wish the sun and heat didn't irritate Ava so much, as it makes it really difficult for us to have "fun in the sun" so to speak. We signed the kids up for a 1/2 day camp and 15 field trips over the summer. They are totally psyched to start (after the summer we had last year)! Most of their school friends will be there, and it will give me a few hours to get organized in the morning.

I've been swamped with appointments trying to get Ava ready to transition all her therapies from Early Intervention into the school system (on top of all our regular appointments)! Lots of "seizure" talk....which I've had up to my ears of these past few weeks! I'm soo worried about how she's going to do in school physically. Heat, loud noises, and sunlight are major triggers for her. We're still working out the details, but I can already tell...it's going to be a fight for us to get what she needs to be safe at school next year.

Well off to make some more Ketogenic meals!