Meggie's health update

Looking back at the last 9 or ten years, I am very pleased with the fact we are not in the hospital with Meggie at this time. Though we are watching her more closely, especially with all the warnings of the swine flu being so extremely contagious this year. This season always has her body fighting on a daily basis, and a little more obvious than our typical healthier children. We see the seizures increase off and on especially since her hypothalmus is not working so well, and she is very hot/cold sensitive, and on and off her temperature will stay in the 99. something range, or even the low 100.'s for a day or maybe a couple of days, with little and sometimes no other apparent symptoms.

This year has brought on some new challanges with her health, the worsening of her scoliosis over the years has left me wondering at times if it maybe starting to cause any pain or discomfort, as well as the osteoporosis she was diagnosised with after some questionable pain in one foot/ankle and no injury. We later found out that one of the seizure meds could cause the osteoporosis and we changed meds, and increased her calcium a significant amount. Something we will be monitoring closely. We also started using a chiropractor, with some positive results.

It can be difficult to assess her at times because she is mostly non-verbal and has few words or signs she uses to communicate. I guess we get to know our children quite well after a while because we seem to understand them and know what they want or need despite the lack of words. There may be days when I can just look at her and know by her eyes, or the color in her face (or lack of color) that today she may not eat well, and we may have to do some tube feedings, or she may not be up to stretching and the normal days activities, but reading and cuddling may be great. Not to mention there may be more sleep needed then in our nice warm later spring and summer weather.

And then I smile as I think to myself, maybe she would prefer to hibernate like bears do. And then I thank God for this day, and ask for his blessing on Meggie, and all those we love.