Nearing the end of our Journey
Time certainly heals all wounds. We still have a few raw and tender spots but as a whole we are putting this whole episode behind us and beginning to concentrate on the future. For the first time in a long time, Weldon and I are talking about the future. The kids' future and our future as a family. We are just now beginning to allow ourselves to move forward and plan for things.
We still live in fear but that's going away. We still worry that there are problems and issues with Sebastian that we just don't know about yet but we'll deal with those as they come up. For now it's enough to know that our family is together and intact. Sebastian is continuing to improve and blossom. Rachel and Austin are thriving and Tybalt, the dog, is more annoyed than ever because the kids are being kids. It's a good sign.
We've had our last visit from CPS and they are closing out our case. It could be March before we get our official letter stating that the case is closed, nothing the State does ever moves quickly or efficiently. The caseworker all but admitted that this situation was uncalled for and unnecessary. She told us that she never had any worries about us as parents and that all she ever saw was good, positive parenting. The case was weird for her as well. It was good to hear that even she thought this whole thing was a bit bizarre.
I understand that people were just doing their jobs and that they thought they were doing what was best for our kids. I understand that they thought they were protecting the kids, but they did more harm than good. Weldon and I are starting to put the pieces of our lives back together. We're working towards getting back to normal. We're dealing with the emotional and psychological hurts that each of our children have as a result of this whole incident. Things are getting better. The kids will be fine and eventually Weldon and I will stop looking over our shoulders every time one of the kids cries or falls. We are starting to let them be kids and letting them explore and figure things out for themselves....even if it means they fall down.
We will still be dealing with the neurologist for probably a couple of years but that is due to the type of injury Sebastian sustained. He is still at risk for seizures for another 3 years. As the years go by that risk will diminish but until he's about 5 we'll have to keep a close eye on him.
The fluid that was in Sebastian's brain is reducing and is slowly being re-absorbed into his body. He has had a slight increase in fluid on the left side of his brain but nothing that really concerns the doctors at this time, since the overall volume of fluid is greatly reduced. There won't be any surgery to remove the fluid, we'll just let nature take it's course and allow Sebastian's body to heal itself. There won't be any more MRI's to monitor the fluid, unless things take a turn for the worse and he begins showing signs of increasing pressure. I don't think that we'll have that happen but again it's another thing to be vigilant in our observations.
For the first time in 6 months, the neurologist actually looked at Sebastian as a person. He looked at his behavior and his actions and evaluated him on his physical appearance. He stopped looking at the chart and making his diagnosis from the tests and numbers and actually saw Sebastian as he really is, a rambunctious, thriving 15-month old. He actually noticed how strong Sebastian is and how he doesn't show any signs of his injury. It took 6 months but the doctor finally looked at his patient and began treating his patient based on real-life observations and not notes and numbers on a sheet of paper.
We'll continue to have check-ups to make sure Sebastian is continuing to improve and progress in his development and recovery. He won't have to undergo any more surgical procedures or tests. There won't be anymore anesthesia. No more IV's. No more early morning visits to the hospital. No more recovery rooms. No more bad cafeteria food and coffee. For now we get to move forward and start putting our lives back in order.
It's been a long journey. I'm glad that this part is almost at an end. I'm starting to look for the positives and beginning to think about how to get above and beyond this experience so that it doesn't color the rest of our lives in negative energy.
I'll post one more entry when we get our final letter stating that our case is officially closed. Until then, please know that we could not have made it through this ordeal without the love and support of all of you. Thank you for never losing faith in us. We love you all!
We still live in fear but that's going away. We still worry that there are problems and issues with Sebastian that we just don't know about yet but we'll deal with those as they come up. For now it's enough to know that our family is together and intact. Sebastian is continuing to improve and blossom. Rachel and Austin are thriving and Tybalt, the dog, is more annoyed than ever because the kids are being kids. It's a good sign.
We've had our last visit from CPS and they are closing out our case. It could be March before we get our official letter stating that the case is closed, nothing the State does ever moves quickly or efficiently. The caseworker all but admitted that this situation was uncalled for and unnecessary. She told us that she never had any worries about us as parents and that all she ever saw was good, positive parenting. The case was weird for her as well. It was good to hear that even she thought this whole thing was a bit bizarre.
I understand that people were just doing their jobs and that they thought they were doing what was best for our kids. I understand that they thought they were protecting the kids, but they did more harm than good. Weldon and I are starting to put the pieces of our lives back together. We're working towards getting back to normal. We're dealing with the emotional and psychological hurts that each of our children have as a result of this whole incident. Things are getting better. The kids will be fine and eventually Weldon and I will stop looking over our shoulders every time one of the kids cries or falls. We are starting to let them be kids and letting them explore and figure things out for themselves....even if it means they fall down.
We will still be dealing with the neurologist for probably a couple of years but that is due to the type of injury Sebastian sustained. He is still at risk for seizures for another 3 years. As the years go by that risk will diminish but until he's about 5 we'll have to keep a close eye on him.
The fluid that was in Sebastian's brain is reducing and is slowly being re-absorbed into his body. He has had a slight increase in fluid on the left side of his brain but nothing that really concerns the doctors at this time, since the overall volume of fluid is greatly reduced. There won't be any surgery to remove the fluid, we'll just let nature take it's course and allow Sebastian's body to heal itself. There won't be any more MRI's to monitor the fluid, unless things take a turn for the worse and he begins showing signs of increasing pressure. I don't think that we'll have that happen but again it's another thing to be vigilant in our observations.
For the first time in 6 months, the neurologist actually looked at Sebastian as a person. He looked at his behavior and his actions and evaluated him on his physical appearance. He stopped looking at the chart and making his diagnosis from the tests and numbers and actually saw Sebastian as he really is, a rambunctious, thriving 15-month old. He actually noticed how strong Sebastian is and how he doesn't show any signs of his injury. It took 6 months but the doctor finally looked at his patient and began treating his patient based on real-life observations and not notes and numbers on a sheet of paper.
We'll continue to have check-ups to make sure Sebastian is continuing to improve and progress in his development and recovery. He won't have to undergo any more surgical procedures or tests. There won't be anymore anesthesia. No more IV's. No more early morning visits to the hospital. No more recovery rooms. No more bad cafeteria food and coffee. For now we get to move forward and start putting our lives back in order.
It's been a long journey. I'm glad that this part is almost at an end. I'm starting to look for the positives and beginning to think about how to get above and beyond this experience so that it doesn't color the rest of our lives in negative energy.
I'll post one more entry when we get our final letter stating that our case is officially closed. Until then, please know that we could not have made it through this ordeal without the love and support of all of you. Thank you for never losing faith in us. We love you all!
posted by Weldon & Martinique at 9:10 PM
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