CT Myelogram - 12.23.2010

Isaac was scheduled to have his CT Myelogram on December 23rd. What a way to start the holidays, right?!? Grandma Debbie and Great-Aunt Darleen got the pleasure of spending the day with Eli so Ryan and I could accompany Isaac to Children's Mercy. For the fun of it, Eli decided he didn't want to nap. ALL.DAY.LONG. He was either missing his brother, excited about Christmas, or was having too much fun getting Grandma all to himself. I'll let you decide :).

First, we got instructions that Isaac was to be at CMH at 11:30am. He was to have no formula after 6am. Normally, they would let him have clear liquids after that up until about 9am. However, Isaac needs thickener in any liquids that he takes, that is considered a solid, so he couldn't have anything after 6am. He is such a good-natured little fella and was in a pleasant mood most of our time waiting to get called back (which ended up being after 12pm... so much for that 11:30 prep time!). Once we got called back to the prep area, Isaac got a full physical and check-up by a nurse practitioner, which got him pretty riled up. He was HUNGRY. And he couldn't figure out why we wouldn't feed him. The look on his face was pitiful! I was so ready for them to get the show on the road! We signed the usual paperwork, and then took him down to the room where they would do the Myelogram, which is the part of the test where the radiologist injects contrast media (dye) into the spinal canal's fluid (cerebrospinal fluid or CSF). After the dye is injected, its purpose is to illuminate the spinal canal, cord, and nerve roots during imaging.

Once the dye was injected, they moved Isaac to another room to perform the CT. The dye will show up on the images that are captured during the CT, showing the radiologist a good depiction of Isaac's anatomy of his spine and the nerve structures. This should prove to be a great tool for Isaac's doctors that are overseeing his spinal issues. We have an Orthopedist and Neurosurgeon following him.

After the test was completed, Ryan and I were called back to be with Isaac as he woke up and to feed him something. I think he was happy to see us, or to get a bottle, or both! We asked the nurse if we could speak with the radiologist (Dr. R), since it would be a holiday weekend and we likely would not hear from Isaac's doctors for a couple of weeks (because once they get the results, they will consult with one another before we're brought into the picture). Anyway, the nurse told us that the radiologists don't usually talk to families, and that he wouldn't come talk to us. Lo and behold, who walks through the door next? Dr. R. And he was carrying a picture. He was pretty excited to tell us that somehow, someway, Isaac has spinal fluid everywhere he is supposed to. Dr. R didn't get into specifics about what this does or does not mean, or any of the other issues that are being looked at. We do know that what he saw is a good thing. We were concerned that the spinal fluid wouldn't make it down past the juncture where the spinal cord is compressed. After Dr. R left, our nurse let us know that she'd never seen one of the radiologists bring a picture of the test down to parents. We were so happy to have received some good news.

Ryan and I were ecstatic with what we were told. We know that there is surgery in the future to correct the lordosis in his spine that goes along with the vertebral dislocation, but for now, this bit of positive information is what we hold on to. Every bit of positive information means so much to us. We know Isaac is going to have challenges - we are not dismissing that, but to get best case scenario when we get initial test results back -- we couldn't ask for anything else! Especially after our unscientific research that tells us that under all of the conditions that Isaac has, he shouldn't be able to have any use of his legs. But, Isaac can tell when I tickle his toes, he giggles. When I give him a horsey bite on his thigh, he laughs. And when he gets excited, he kicks his legs. So we know he has feeling and can move them.

So now we are waiting for the Neurologist (Dr. I) and Orthopedist (Dr. S) to chat and get back to us on a game plan.

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Merry Christmas from the Murdocks

Well, we've made it!  Our first Christmas with our dear boys Isaac and Elias.  Now, technically I suppose this isn't their first Christmas as we did know we were having twins last Christmas, but obviously this has been a whole different ballgame for Kristi and I.

It has been a very busy week as we have had the opportunity to hang out with great uncle Dale, great aunt Susan, and 1st cousin Cassie this past Tuesday.  We had a great time with them and I certainly think the boys did too!  On the very next night, the boys got the opportunity to go to Grandma and Grandpa's house for an earlier Christmas.  This year, Kristi and I will be taking the boys to Hesston and spending Christmas Eve and Christmas with Kristi's parents and siblings so we did an early Christmas with my parents.  We had a great time, with awesome food and plenty of presents.  To be sure, there was squawking by both boys as they opened their gifts (and yes, they did pull the paper off some of them!!!).

And then on Thursday, after Isaac had a new CT scan performed (more on that in a later post) we packed up the Rav and headed for Hesston to Pops and Grandma's.  After some perilous moments on the road (we had to drive through a small ice storm the last 40 miles or so) we arrived, unpacked, and were able to get a little rest before all of the festivities on Christmas Eve.  This Christmas was extra special as all of Kristi's family was able to be there.  So, in addition to her parents, her brother Brett and his fiance Katie were there along with her sister Roxanne and her husband John.  We also shared the celebration with Kristi's aunt Lynne and her fiance Mike and her aunt Lisa.  It was a terrific group of people.

So, on Christmas Eve we were able to spend the entire day with family and friends.  We had a day of play, complete with a Christmas Eve church service (which the boys did awesome at!), Christmas meal (yummy!!), and of course the opening of packages.  What a sight!  The boys loved all their new clothes, toys, books, and even some piggy bank money!!  Now, if only I can figure out to pack the car for the trip home with all this stuff.

On Christmas morning, we all got up and did Christmas stockings, these were stuffed with candy, small books, jewelry, and even some more piggy bank money.  It was a truly fantastic Christmas celebration.  We continue to be grateful for all the gifts we have received in 2010.  It has been an extraordinary year to say the least and we look forward to a great 2011.

We hope everyone has had a terrific holiday season!  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Murdocks!

Eli, the Entertainer

6.5 month update :)

Just a 'quick' 6 month update on our little guys!
Right before they turned 6 months old, Eli perfected rolling over as a means of transportation. Isaac watched his peer model, and after spending a couple of weeks beyond frustrated that he couldn't do the same thing as his little brother, he has mastered rolling from his tummy to his back. Isaac can make it to his side from laying on his back, but hasn't flipped the rest of the way over.
They definitely recognize when we are coming and going from a room. We often get great big cheeser grins when we get home from work, and sad faces as we head upstairs to wash off germs and change clothes!
We've started on some cereal and baby foods. Neither Eli nor Isaac are huge fans just yet, but are starting to get the hang of it. It seems that they definitely like their fruits and vegetables more than the bland rice cereal (sorry Great-Aunt Marilyn, they just don't seem to care for it! Maybe you can tell them just how good it is!).

Other things that they are doing: babbling, and more 'talking.' One of the sweetest things is watching the two of them 'talk' to each other. They get really excited when they're put next to each other, whether it is on the floor or in one of their cribs (the don't sleep in the same crib). It's like they realize that their best friend just showed up for the day or something. Isaac and Eli love our dog, Elly. They will reach out for her when she walks by, or try to 'pet' her when she's laying next to them on the floor. Their version of petting the dog includes (but is not limited to): grabbing her ears, tugging on her collar, touching her back, mouth, legs, tummy or anything else they can reach! She loves them back and gives them kisses, often. I think Elly is buttering them up for when they get to eat big people food so they'll share with her! 

Isaac still loves his bouncy chair! We could make video after video of our 'bucking bronco' bouncy chair rider! He is really good at making it bounce, as well as making it stop if there is something he wants to focus on. 

And last, but not least, they are putting EVERYTHING in their mouths! We will regularly find Eli with his foot in his mouth. If it isn't his foot, it's because he's successfully pulled off his sock, and is sucking on it! Issac can't get his feet to his mouth, but Eli has taught him how to pull off his socks too. We have lots of soggy socks around here! All of this has been for a good cause, because Eli's first tooth has broken through on the bottom. I am sure Isaac isn't very far behind!