The Elusive Hernia

Twenty minutes.  That's all it took once they got her back there to shove that perky intestine back in and stitch up the hole.  We first noticed her hernia mid December but it eluded multiple doctors and nurses for months.  My mother-in-law, a nurse, saw it, Brent and I saw it, her preschool teachers had noticed, but no docs.  We'd take her to an appointment and it would not present itself.  She's stand, sit, bear down, strain.  Nothing.  Not even on an ultrasound. Then we'd get home and it would pop out.  Of course. Finally, at an unrelated appointment, a developmental check of her cognitive progress, it presented itself when I took her potty.  I quickly brought Everlee back into the room and showed the doctor, to assure myself I wasn't losing my mind.  She confirmed my suspicions and gave us a surgery referral.  Went to the surgery consult, and the hernia could not be found.  Damn elusive thing.  It's like the LockNess monster.  So many sightings, no confirmation.  Graciously, the surgeon agreed to put her on the books based on our information.  I didn't even have a picture.  In 25 years, only once had he cut a patient open and find nothing.  I did not want to be the 2nd.  Thankfully, he made the cut and found the hernia sac.  The medical team sent her home without any physical limitations other than not submerging in water for two weeks.  So no tubs or pools.  I can handle that.  Brent was out of town for CE during the time of the surgery and urged me to reschedule, but everything went smoothly with helpful neighbors.  Plus, the next available surgery date was in June, and who wants to be out of water for two weeks in the blazing south then?!  I had to laugh when they said she'd set her own limitations.  I replied with, "So, there are no limitations."  According to them, she would walk hunched over for a day and be in extreme pain.  Reality: she was herself within two hours and I didn't give her pain meds except for nighttime the first night.  She was running around with friends, climbing stairs, and jumping on the trampoline that afternoon.

A local women's church group makes scrub caps for each child to keep.  

Our head nurse's scrub cap was the exact fabric of Lu's dress. Even though we'd changed into the hospital gown, I had to hold it up and get a "twin" picture.  

Lulu's big potatoes

Another nickname.  This one she responds to as if it is her name: Lulu.  Another Brent creation and sometimes, he shortens it to Lu.  She likes it.  She points to herself when he says it and flashes that toothy smile.

Speaking of her identity, she says her own name now.  As of about a month ago, if you ask her "Who are you, " she says "Eh-ah-EE."  Three syllables and close enough.  She is not regularly saying any more words than the last post I made, but she certainly makes more attempts.  Yesterday, she formed her first sentence unprompted.  We went swimming with friends because it is already 90+ degrees down here.  I hate heat.  The perk is that we are swimming outside in May!  When it came time to go, I motioned for Beck and Penn to get out of the pool.  Penn came right away.  Beck kept swimming a few more minutes.  Once the littles dried off and dressed, I went back over to the edge solo and hollered for him again, "Beck!  Get out of the pool. We are ready to leave."  Everlee pranced over a moment later as I turned my back and loudly demanded, "Baaa (Beck) Go!"

E has made other strides these past couple months:
- drinks out of a regular cup
- loves to read (Remember when she wouldn't sit for more than 3 seconds!?!)
- is starting to tell me when she needs to potty (She was taught to hold it until you take her.)
- keeps her clothes on when she goes potty (Used to strip down just to sit on it.  That process was long.)
- lays her head on my shoulder unprompted (Would not the first few months... then only when I asked her and counted to 10... progressed to every time I sang to her... now, just a few times, but on her own when she's been tired or just because.)
- graduated to the big kid swing
- pedals/rides a tricycle

I am sure there are more that I'm forgetting.  They may seem small potatoes, but these are mini victories in development and bonding.

This past weekend, we took an overnight trip to Great Wolf Lodge with friends.  The biggest change I've seen in her is she's slowing down.  She is still busy busy, as everyone who knows her says, but the manic behavior that I have felt at a loss over is beginning to level out.  GWL could have been a nightmare if the manic had come out.  For some reason, it didn't.  And I was grateful.  She didn't appear overwhelmed at the crowd or experience.  There was not the sensory overload I was anticipating.  She blended in.  She had a blast.  And that meant, we all had a blast.

Oh, and she's whining in English!  Now, that's a milestone!