Saturday

Dr. Petronio (Meghan's NS) came by to visit last night.  He suggested that Meghan would probably benefit more by being home while building strength versus in the hospital where she isn't happy with all of the unfamiliar people working with her.  Jeff and I agreed - we just need the pediatric doctor to agree with this and if they do, it sounds like we'll be able to go home today!  We also discussed the referral to the Endocrinologist.  Dr. Petronio is confident that Meghan's growth issues will resolve now that she's had the decompression surgery.  He wants to wait 3-6 months and evaluate her growth at that time.  If she's growing, we will cancel the referral but if she still isn't growing we will go ahead with the Endo referral.  When Meghan was weighed at pre-op on Monday she weighed 18.5 pounds and was 28.5 inches long.  You can do it, sweet girl!!

SMO's/X-rays of hips, legs and feet
Because little Meggers hasn't been strong enough to walk since surgery, she hasn't been able to be evaluated by the therapists for possibly needing short-term SMO's, or to see if they agree with Meghan's therapists in New Ulm about needing x-rays to look at bone structure of lower extremities.  So, this is on hold until Meghan is strong enough to walk so she can be evaluated by the therapists.  I was hoping we'd have answers regarding these issues before we were discharged, but I am once again reminded that this all takes time and patience.  We'll get answers as soon as Meghan is ready.

The next step will be to resume therapy in New Ulm once a week.   In 1-2 weeks, we'll see Meghan's primary doctor for an incision check.  Then, in 3 months we'll be back here for a full brain MRI and limited spine MRI.  She will need to be sedated but this MRI should only take a half hour to get the needed images.  They will check her ventricles (this is for her hydrocephalus), look at the back of her brain to make sure the surgery worked and to make sure there is adequate CSF flow and they'll look at her syrinxes on her spine to see if they decreased in size since surgery.

Right now, we are just waiting for the pediatric and neuro doctors to round to see if we are able to take our little girl home today.  We can't wait to get her home and back in a familiar environment.  Thanks again to our friends and family for the support, thoughts and prayers!