Monday, April 25, 2011

eye surgery postponed

Athan's fine. But Cardio says we'd better do the surgery in a hospital so he can be on a heart monitor during the procedure, and our current doc is only set up to do surgeries at a surgery center that doesn't have heart monitoring capabilities. So he's referring us to a pediatric eye doc in Ft. Worth who does surgeries in a hospital.

I'm glad we're being cautious. No complaints about taking the safest route. I'm a little frustrated that it took so many appointments before we figured out that a referral was needed. Still, everyone was very helpful at both offices in town today, and got my surgical pre-payments refunded quickly and fully.

So we'll meet the new doc soon and start the process over.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

pre-op for eye surgery

We went in for our pre-op appointment for Athan's up-coming eye surgery today. It should be a short, simple out-patient surgery next Wednesday, and they'll kinda loosen the muscles on the inside of both eyes to keep them from turning in.

Now the week of jumping through medi-communication loops begins. We actually already had an appointment with Cardio for this Thursday, during which we have to get them to send all of Athan's info (through the Cardio lens) to the docs at the surgery center for review. Same with Endo, plus stress dose instructions for his IV Steroids (because unlike the saintly Dr. Irene, we haven't gotten a letter yet from our new doc with instructions for surgeries and emergencies - bah!). Then the anesthesiologists convene over his compiled medical history and decide if we're ok to proceed as planned. If they decide Athan would be better served to do the surgery at the hospital instead of the surgery center, we'll have to reschedule.

Barring any red flags, one more surgery for kiddo a week from tomorrow.

Friday, April 8, 2011

some other stuff we do

Blue pants because it's too hot already (yes, we will get him a haircut soon):

Ryan lays sod in the backyard:
Morgan dresses up for 50s Day at school:
And Western Day:
And we hang out with Grammy and Baby Mae:

Vacation

Planes (Dallas to St. Louis to Chicago to D.C, then D.C to Denver to OKC to Dallas):
Trains (into Baltimore and back with the Crisps to visit the science Center):


And automobiles (lots of driving, too. Trip to train station pictured here):


It was really good to see our friends the Crisps! What a great way to vacation! The Wilmore Diaspora better watch out - the Strebecks like planning vacations to intrude on old friends. :) I think the kids had fun:

Monday, March 7, 2011

i know, i know

I haven't been writing. I'm sorry. Among other things, my brain has been swimming with the info in the video below. Meanwhile, the Good Ship Strebeck is sailing along nicely. Specifics soon. (Thanks to Cindy and JD for the link to this vid.)


Tuesday, January 18, 2011

All better now...

Athan recovered from the procedure 2 weeks ago just fine. He probably took the whole thing better than I did! :) I was sickly for a couple days after his ordeal was all over.

Then we went to Clovis for a belated Christmas gathering, and Morgan got sick (as in puking lots and eating almost nothing for a couple days). Then we came home from Clovis, and Athan got sick (also puking, had to give IM shot of cortef).

But we're all better now. Whew!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Well lthis is new...

Athan has his dental work done tomorrow. Just a few fillings, but it has to be done at the hospital to monitor heart and endo stuff.

This has been a new experience for us. In Kentucky, all of his procedures, whatever the specialty, were done either at UK or down the road at Central Baptist. Most of his docs knew each other, and all of his records were in the same computer system. Getting instructions for Athans care before, during, and after surgery seemed pretty easy.

Not this time. The dentist is a local independent practitioner, the pediatrician is part of a local practice, and the local Hospital is host for the day surgery. Meanwhile, Athan needs input from Cardio and Endo which are through Cook's Children's in Ft. Worth. Every doc and nurse and staff member is overbooked and overworked, it seems. We can't get calls (or faxes or e-mails or sing-o-grams) from specialists for pre- and post-op care, and we can't STOP getting calls from people who want the money first and NOW.

Ugh. I think most of the wrinkles have been ironed out, hurdles jumped over, and hoops jumped through. Tomorrow we will head up there at 7, have surgery at 8:30, and hope to be home by noon or 1.