Index nieuws

Nov 2004

Tuesday, 11/30/2004
Opa Karel and oma Anemie visited
Opa Karel and oma Annemie have been with us for some time. It was really nice having them here, for everyone we think. Bram and Vera had the greatest time and this time they both were using "opa" and "oma" appropriately ;-)
Now they've gone home again, they are being missed. Vera regularly asks for them and when we explain to her that opa and oma have gone home, she very wisely says: "opa, oma, airplane, air, bye bye" and then she nods for a minute or so.
Bram notices the difference less, because he is going to school, which is what he had to do while opa and oma were here as well.

Thursday, 11/25/2004
Thanksgiving 2004
This year we celebrated this day with friends around the corner and their russian family. It was just great, not only was there loads to eat, we hung out and chatted. There was also some body from Guinee, so there were many nationalities at the table. This is what made it intersting as well, because even though there were a few language barriers, we all had a great time.

Wednesday, 11/24/2004
Results of the ct scan
Today we had to see Bram's ENT to discuss the ct scan that was made a week or so ago. It shows that Bram indeed has smaller chanels in the sinusses and therefore poor drainage. Also it shows some residu of infection.
To us this was not a surprise and together with the doctor we decided to go ahead with the surgery. We described this a few blogs earlier. It seems to be the only possible solution for Bram right now to decrease the number of sinus infections for the coming winter.
So this we all have to wait and see. The operation has been scheduled for December 9th.

Saturday, 11/20/2004
Wiggles
Today we went to a concert of "the wiggles". It's the most favorite show in the house for Bram and Vera (next to Sesame Street). The concert was in Madison Square Garden (Manhattan) and it was great. Even papa and mama had a good time.
We were in a sold out arena and the atmosphere was great. Bram and Vera immediately recognised the decor on stage and immediately were in "wiggle mood". The afternoon was made when it turned out that the wiggles brought mostly songs they knew from the tv-shows. After one and a half hours Bram and Vera were completely wiped out.
As a perk we got to take Bram's picture with Murray wiggle, one of his hero's.

Thursday, 11/4/2004
ENT
This morning Bram had his scheduled appointment with his ENT. She has been treating him for a while now and she did the operation on adenoids, tonsils and tubes in the ears last December.
In the past month Bram needed 2 courses of antibiotics (10 days each) for 2 ear infections and a suspected sinus infection. He had the last dose of this this morning.
At the doctors it prooved that the tubes have fallen out of both ears, this is normal after about 9 months. In one of his ears he had some fluid and the other one looked fine. His nose was quite ok as well.
Unfortunately Bram still had some signs that the infections have not completely cleared up and the ENT shared our feeling that this is the start of the same vicious circle he ended up in last winter. She also agrees with us that keeping him on antibiotics just about all the time is no solution either, so we now will go a different route.
Bram again got an antibiotic for 10 days and a nose spray. The latter he will need to use for a prolonged period of time. Also a new ct scan will be scheduled (like he had in May).
This scan should provide enough information for a new operation. He will get new tubes in the ears and the doctor will alter the drainage in the nose/sinusses. Hopefully this results in creating a less favourable ground for infections, because the fluids should drain out more easily.
This all is probably going to happen early December, so that the effect can be maximised this winter. The ct scan will be this month.
you'll find more information on the following websites:
http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/sinus/sinus_surgery.cfm
http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/sinus/sinus_front.cfm
http://www.sinusinfocenter.com/sinus_treatment_endoscopic.html

Wednesday, 11/3/2004
Brushing teeth
It looks as if a fight that has been going on for 3 years is over. Bram all of a sudden allows me to brush his teeth. He even seems to enjoy this now a lot too.
Because it is so extra important for his gums to get really clean teeth etc, we use an electric brush. This has the perk of giving an excellent mouth massage, that he needs to help out with his oral development. Eventually it'll hopefully help him to speak (better).
Funny enough Vera all of a sudden declared herself ready for the brushing routine as well. The routine of brushing 2 times daily seems to be easily established this way.
© Wilma & Erik van de Pol, 2000-2008