Today was a sort of hurry up and wait day. We had to be to the clinic at 7AM for a blood draw. NOT Sam's favorite activity. This meant we had to be up at 5AM and out the door at 6AM. Painful! Sam was such a trooper with the needle! And the phlebotomist had a hard time getting the vein. Without trying for too long, she stuck her head out the door and loudly exclaimed "I need some hands in here!" Another phlebotomist came running. Together, without another stick they got it taken care of wrapped up in no time. No tears shed.
Then we headed down to Psychology and Psychiatry.
Sam took a series of psychological tests this morning. We met with Dr. Psychologist. Wonderful Woman! And we could watch Sam in her tests on a closed circuit camera from her office. Awesome! We, the parents, had to fill out no less than eight different psychological questionnaires on Sam. The parent's point of view. I promise you, by the end of the last form, I was seeing double.
Never, Sometimes, Often, Always?
I had to read instructions three or four times to make sure I got it right - and still there is serious room for argument.
When we wrapped up there, we headed to Clinical Neurophysiology for an EEG. Sam does not have an appointment for this until next week (and since Sam does not have a trust fund, we will not be here next week). But we were told to go and check in at the desk and if there are any openings, they will work her in. We sat for about two hours only to be told there were no spots today. That's okay. We will do what we have to do. We are free tomorrow afternoon so we will go wait again.
After the EEG wait, we headed to another building for a speech evaluation. The Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) was a lovely young woman. She interviewed David and me and then gave Sam a few speech related tests.
And then the bad news...
The test results in receptive language (what Sam understands) and expressive language (what Sam says) puts Sam below a six year old level. The words 'severe' and 'profound' are once again attached to my child. That hurts the same no matter how many times you hear it.
But we press on.
Tomorrow we start with Pediatric Neurology. And then off to the Center for Sleep Medicine. I don't know if this means they will do a sleep study tomorrow night or not. If we do, I am volunteering her Daddy to stay with her. I did the last one - it's his turn now. And we all know how this will turn out. He will be watching Pimp Your Ride in our very comfortable hotel room while I am tossing and turning on a fold out recliner trying not to snore.
As I mentioned earlier, we will spend tomorrow afternoon waiting and hoping for a spot for an EEG. Please pray specifically that we can do this before we go home this week. The doctors we have seen so far have implied this is a priority.
Sam is holding up really well. She was very anxious this morning before the blood draw and then again when she thought she would have the EEG. We tried to tell her the worst of it would be that they will mess up her hair. No dice, she did not buy it. Her relief was palpable when we were told there were no spots.
David and I are exhausted. I am quite certain I snored in the lobby today waiting for an appointment. We brought books and magazines to entertain ourselves. They only serve to put us to sleep.
And you know how you hear about Southern Hospitality and all that jazz? Well they are just as hospitable in Minnesota. Everyone - shuttle drivers, hotel people, taxi drivers - not just the folks at Mayo are fantastic. It's like part of the curriculum in the high schools around here. Were it not for the odd accents and COLD, I'd feel right at home.
Checking out for the night. Will be back tomorrow evening with another update. Sleep well, friends.
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