Doctor's visit for Janica

Last month we took Janica back to her neurosurgeon at Primary Children's hospital for a follow-up on the surgery she had four years ago to untether her spinal cord. The surgery was a success, and we were taking her back because of the difficulties she has had with controlling her bladder. After waiting for an hour in the waiting room, we saw the neurosurgeon for about five minutes, and he told us that he wanted Janica to see a urologist to have some tests done on her bladder. After the urologist, he wanted Janica to have an MRI, to see if her spinal cord has re-tethered.

Today was her visit to see the urologist. We waited a month to get in to see someone and between you and me, I was happy to do so. I feel like our family is very blessed to live so close to a hospital that specializes in taking care of children. I have learned through my research that so many of the doctors at Primary Children's have world-renowned reputations and that they are highly sought after. So if that means we wait a month, well fine by me. We got a call last night from a nurse asking us if we wanted Janica sedated for the test. Once she explained exactly what would happen during the test, we agreed that sedation would be the best option for her. That of course added a few more requirements, such as her not being able to eat anything after 6:30 am and not drink anything after 9:30 am, and us being at the hospital 90 minutes earlier than we had planned, which we carefully wrote down so we could comply with exactness.

If you can believe it, Janica wasn't so keen on the not eating anything requirement this morning. She didn't see at all how it was for her own good. I also learned a valuable lesson in the right and wrong ways to present things to a five year old.

Wrong Way: I thought she would respond well to having all the pertinent information so I explained to her that her doctor was going to give her some special medicine for her visit, and if she ate anything before she had the medicine, it would make her throw-up.
Her response: If you can believe it, after all my hard work using small words and explaining things on her level, all she heard was "medicine" and "throw-up," which got a whole tirade going about how she didn't want any medicine that would make her throw-up. Take it from me, don't try this at home.

Right Way: I then told her that I understood how hard it was for her not to eat anything and because she was being so great, after we were done with the doctor, I would take her to McDonald's for lunch and she could play on the playground.
Her response: The tears instantly turned to smiles and she started telling me about all the fun things she wanted to do on the playground.

What was I thinking? Janica isn't even my first child! This isn't the first time I've had to deal with a five year old! Anyway, off went Tegan to school, Kierra got dropped off at the sitter's, and Janica and I were headed for SLC.

Because of the sedation, I had to take Janica to the surgery department to get her checked in and prepped. That was harder than I thought it would be. I was constantly reminded of that horrible day in 2004 when Jason and I took Janica in for her surgery. I was so worried! She was my baby, and I was leaving her in someone else's hands. It was tough. I almost cried a couple of times, and I really wished that Jason could have been there today with me. That wasn't fun.

The fun came later, after Janica got her medication. The nurse told me it would take 10-15 minutes to kick in and she was right. It was almost like someone flipped a switch! One second, Janica is alert, awake, and irritated with me for not letting her get down and play anymore. The next second, she was giggling at everything, slightly slurring her words, and unable to walk without falling. To be precise, she looked and acted like she was drunk. It was hilarious! She had a doped out look on her face and believe me, she didn't care about anything. You could have kicked her in the head and she just would have smiled at you. Or laughed. I'll tell you, I really wish I had brought my camera! The best I could do was using the camcorder on my cell phone, but that only allowed 30 second snippets and I don't know where my cord is to download to my computer. In one video, I asked her what her name was and she slurred the whole thing! My favorite clip, though, has her leaning over the side of the wagon she was in (pulling a wagon around is much easier than carrying her), trying to look at the wheels. By leaning over I mean flopping over and by trying to look at the wheels, I mean that I have no idea what she was doing! Regardless, it was a hoot.

The visit with the urologist was fine. She had the necessary test and the end result is that she needs to be scheduled for an MRI, which we knew anyway. Once she has had her MRI, it is time for us to hope and pray that her spinal cord hasn't tethered and that more surgery won't be needed. However, we won't know anything until after the MRI. So instead, please content yourself with visions of a five year old who is so loopy, she couldn't walk a straight line and within 30 minutes of her visit couldn't remember the name of the movie she had been watching (it was the Incredibles, for those of you wondering), and it is one of her favorite movies. Once I can find a way to post the video, believe me, I will!

How does it all end? Don't ask Janica. Part of the instructions the nurse gave me for dealing with my drugged up little sweetheart was that she should spend the rest of the day sitting or laying down, since she could still lose her balance. Remember how I promised Janica I would take her to McDonald's so she could play? Oopsie! Turns out we couldn't do it today, but we have definite plans for Monday - that is if all goes well. Ah, life. Don't you love it?