Do You Want To See My Wonderful Day? Part 2

Smiling when walking outside of a doctor's office is always a good feeling. It turns out that Lydia has put on some weight lately! Last December Lydia weighed 24 pounds. That's the last time her medication was increased. She was seen over the summer, but her dosage was still in therapeutic range for her weight, so no changes were made. Today, she weighed 32 pounds. An eight pound difference is pretty significant when you only weigh 32 pounds! 

So needless to say, her medication was increased today. Hopefully it will be as simple a fix as that. There's a tiny chance though that it won't be that simple- the seizures she's having now are a little different than the seizures she had a year and a half ago. In 2011 and 2012, she had blank stares lasting several seconds, and no confusion afterwards. She bypassed a brain MRI because that type of seizure is classic for absence type, plus her EEG at the time pointed to generalized seizure activity. (Basically- there wasn't a worry for brain tumors because the entire brain was seizing at one time. The seizure itself didn't start out in one particular spot. So no brain scans were ordered.) Recently though, she has had a few seconds of confusion following the "longer" seizures, which is not consistent with absence type. If the increased dose doesn't stop the new seizures, she'll have an MRI just as a precaution. I highly doubt that will be the case, but I've been wrong before!

The neurologist is so great at reassuring me. Her attitude is, "Yeah- she has epilepsy. But she takes medication with very little side effects, and she can live a normal life." I know this in my head, but it feels good to have the specialist tell it to me straight like that. Lydia may have epilepsy well into her teen years, or even beyond- but our girl is one of the very fortunate kids living with epilepsy. And we are incredibly thankful.

Another thing the neurologist is awesome at: tough love. Lydia wasn't cooperating during the exam- she refused to walk on her tiptoes, hold out her arms, etc. The neurologist kept warning her that there would be no prize from the treasure box if she didn't cooperate. Lydia called her bluff. Only- it wasn't a bluff. Lydia walked out to the car with no prize, per doctor's orders. Yay for someone brave enough to not reward bad behavior inside her office! Isaac did get a prize, but he was sad for his little sister. He told me in the car that he wished Lydia had listened to the doctor so she could have had a prize too. (Best big brother ever, that boy!) Lydia has already said twice she wants to listen to the doctor and get stickers. I heart tough love!

So once again, thank you all so much for the prayers! God is so faithful!!!