Today Was Different

Today was a long, but good day.

I woke up late – thanks to the little ones who let me sleep in this morning! That being the case, every moment between waking up and getting out the door was spent preparing food, diaper bags, nap gear for LittleR and an entertainment bag for LittleM. Somehow we managed to get out the door on time to drop LittleR off at his aunt’s house for the day.

LittleM and I started off on our journey 2 hours away to Drexel Hill, PA (just outside Philly). In my usual manner we showed up about 20 minutes early…oh wait…I am never early – this was a good start!

LittleM has no idea that we were going to see a doctor for her tongue. Usually I prep her for appointment so that she knows what to expect, but the last appointment was so awful that I decided not to let the anxiety build. I didn’t tell her until we were walking back to the exam room. She was not all that impressed, but seemed to breathe easy when I told her that I would go first. “Just like Dr. B.” she said.

**Yesterday, LittleM was adjusted for the first time by our favorite chiropractor, Dr. B….just like mommy!**

About a week ago LittleM saw an ENT to help us figure out why she can’t swallow. Her OT wanted us to rule out a tongue tie. The ENT was very nice, but expected this 2.5 year old to behave like a 25 year old, and when that didn’t work out he just decided he was going to use a tongue depressor an assistant (to hold LittleM down) and look in her mouth whether she liked it or not. When he put his finger in her mouth to feel under her tongue she BIT HIM! GOOD GIRL! Is it really any wonder that he didn’t feel anything!!!??? Although he said there was no tongue tie I certainly didn’t feel confident that we had truly ruled it out.

Six weeks ago LittleM say a maxiofacial surgeon. Even worse…he didn’t even try to feel in her mouth. He didn’t even LOOK in her mouth. Still, he was somehow able to rule out a tongue tie. Ok this was just a colossal waste of our time – and LittleM’s medical patience.

BUT TODAY…Today was different. Dr. Penny Soppas is well known for her work with tongue tie. She is a pediatrician and a lactation consultant. Upon researching tongue tie her name came up in more than one place. It seems that people drive much greater distances than we did for her expertise. The only drawback I could see is that she most often sees and treats infants who are having difficulties feeding and nursing. Well I guess in hindsight we should have been in to see her a LONG time ago.

The Appointment:

Dr. Soppas was patient with LittleM. She gently followed my lead when I told LittleM that mommy would go first. She allowed me to talk LittleM through each step, and didn’t try to force LittleM to cooperate. She didn’t try to act like she had all the answers.

The Verdict:

Yup, I liked her. Dr. S. (as LittleM called her) said that she couldn’t rule out a tongue tie. She told me that she wanted to bring LittleM.’s case to a “council” of tongue tie professionals and brainstorm on where to go next. She talked about a couple of other doctors who we may want to see, but never dismissed us. This was a good day.

The Hope:

For the first time since we started this quest to rule-out a tongue tie, I feel hopeful. I feel like we have someone working alongside us who knows where to go and what to do next. We have had the proverbial door slammed in our faces on this one for a few months and this is progress.

The Follow-up:

This evening after a very long trip home and a very long night trying to get two wired kids to bed I settled in and checked my email:

Hi Mrs G,

The more I think about [LittleM.’s] swallowing dysfunction the more I think that posterior tongue-tie is a major factor. I'm sorry I was not able to view or copy your videos today. I was thinking that it might be hard to send those videos if they are large. There is a free program that allows you to send large attachments called "cutesendit" which you can search for and download. I look forward to viewing those videos and consulting with the doctors and therapists in the International Association of Tongue-tie Professionals.

Thank you,

Penny Soppas MD, IBCLC
Drexel Hill Pediatric Associates

Thank you God for your leading stride. I pray that you lead and direct us. Grant us your wisdom and understanding to navigate this next step for LittleM. She is in your hands Father…Jehovah Rapha.

Manna From Heaven...One Day at a Time

I am sitting here tonight in the beginning stages of planning for a two week trip to Maine. Yikes. The juicer, the Vitamix, soy free eggs, grass fed ghee, raw sauerkraut juice, soy free chicken (heads and feet too!), grass fed meat, bones, organic apples, the list goes on and on.


How am I going to fit this all in a little Saturn Ion?

This is not even to begin planning for our clothes and personal items.

I repeat…YIKES.

What a different place we are in though right? A year ago at this point in time LittleM and LittleR had ZERO foods. That’s right none. They had been getting goat cheese, but after the summer trip to Maine we had to pull it since they began reacting to it. In hindsight we realized that they may not have been reacting, but may have been experiencing die-off from the goat yogurt we has started giving them in Maine.

In any event, we pulled it and they were left with no foods. It wasn’t until late September (2010) that carrots came on the scene, but today – 2011…today we have about 27 foods. TWENTY-SEVEN FOODS!!!!!!!

Thanks to the unmistakable leading of the Lord, we have been introduced to the GAPS protocol. Thanks to this protocol and the grace of God the kids are experiencing healing and are eating! Each time I have become impatient and veered off of the prescribed protocol they have reacted, but as long as we have followed the protocol – they are well – no reaction and eating lots of food! This brings me to the belief that God has impressed upon my heart. As we step out in faith and take each next step of this protocol He has brought to us – HE will prepare the way…one step in front of us. HE will make their little bodies ready. AND HE HAS. In my impatience I have tested this theory, and each time I have seen it to be true. There are times when taking one of these steps in faith has seemed impossible - too scary, but in faith we have taken moved forward through the fear. There have been other times when waiting seems impossible and I have gotten ahead of myself (feeding them raisins even though it is not time). As I realized my misstep and corrected our path, healing and peace has continued to come to their bodies.

Honestly I feel like I am gathering manna from heaven – just enough for the day. If I gather too much – trying to store up what we need – do this in my own strength – it just spoils. For whatever reason, the Lord has us leaning on him daily, and not just for the normal things like faith, grace, love, wisdom, understanding, but the normal everyday thingslike feeding our children. This really is like the manna, isn’t it?

Lord,

Help me to rely on you every day. Help me to give LittleM and LittleR over to you each day. I know that you loved them even before I did (Psalm 139:13).

I know that you have their best interest in your heart (Isaiah 41:10, 13). I know that you have I given them to me as a reward (Psalm 127:3). I know that you have a future and a hope for them (Jeremiah 29:11). I know that things are not always going to be the way I think they should be or the way I want them to be and yet you are still in control (Proverbs 3:5-6). Give me the courage, strength (Philippians 4:13) and faith (Hebrews 12:2) to lay it all at your feet just the same (1 Peter 5:7). Help me to walk in faith (Mark 9:24) and obedience following your prompting (John 14:16-17) to wait (Psalm 27:14) and act (Proverbs 2:6) in the season (Ecclesiastes 3:1) that you appoint. Thank you, that you are not a far-off and distant God (Hebrews 4:16). Thank you, that as I call on you and seek your face with all of my heart, YOU WILL BE FOUND BY ME (Jeremiah 29:13).

Amen.

***Now to pack the car. Ha ha!***