Celebrating

We've had a longish journey that I've shared with some, Ruth shares with everyone.... but I've kept quiet mostly until my kids talk about it, or someone asks. Not because it's a secret or even something bad, but because we didn't take the traditional route and many people can have strong feelings about that. A year or two ago I probably would have too. But I've learned a lot, still am. So I made a different choice that when I tell people they either look at me like I'm crazy, or that I believe in witchcraft, or something like that. But here's shortish version. Ruth failed 2 hearing screenings in kindergarten. So I took her to an ENT. Doctor to see what was wrong. They found fluid in her ears, and her hearing was really low. Which was shocking to me because of all my kids her speech developed the clearest. (They said the fluid had been there a long time.) The Doctor recommended that she have tubes put in her ears, and her tonsils and adenoids removed. Don't start showering me with comments on how great the surgery is and all the benefits. ... I've had 3 kids have tubes in their ears, and one who has had the tonsil and adenoids  removed, I know they work great.... BUT I've learned enough to know these are symptoms of something else.  So I did some research. We started with a totally milk free diet. I saw a big difference in her. I took her in after a month and a half of dairy free and they said there was less fluid but there was still fluid. I wasn't sure what to do. Then my amazing friend saw a Natura path doctor for her allergy issues and she was telling me what they were going to do for her. Then she found me one closer to us. I waited a few days,  I prayed about what to do. Then I just knew I needed to call and did. I took Ruth in and she was tested, I can't remember the name of the test I'd have to look it up. But they found a looooong list of things she reacts to. The doctor gave her some drops to take 2x a day to help clear out the toxins, then she did six N.A.E.T treatments (I think that's what is called). It helped desensitize her from all the allergens. When she was all done he tested her again to see if she was reacting to any of them. She was all clear!  So we went out to have ice cream to celebrate.  (Which by the way she so chose sorbet. I guess she lost her love of ice cream.) We also went to swim at the aquatic center in Corvallis. Some of our dietary changes will be permanent. Not because of allergies, but because it's healthier for all of us. Now some of those things can be an occasional food not an all the time food. Now my little girl is doing better and it cost me a fraction of what surgery would have cost (even though my insurance doesn't pay one dime for the treatment! ) AND she didn't take one medication.

Best Doctor Ever!

Ok so I just have to say that I am certain that we have the best family Doctor in the whole world! He is really funny, cracks jokes, and tells funny stories, he is great with my kids (they actually pretend that they are him when the play doctor), but he actually takes time caring for his patients. Last year when we switched to him Amelia was the first one to have an appointment and she needed a well child check up and to get 5 shots so she could go to school. He was so nice to her and he actually helped give some of the shots (we have NEVER had a DR give shots before just their assistants/ nurses!) So then a few days later she gets a postcard in the mail from him, written by him telling her she is the bravest girl he has ever met and all that nice stuff. Then a week or 2 after Ruth was born he removed a bunch of warts off the bottom of my feet. He "entertains" while doing the procedure. He sent me a postcard a few days later and then called to double check that I was doing well. I know that we have never had a doctor do that before. The only other Doctor we have had come close was the one that we had when Ethan was brand new. He did Ethan's "little boy" procedure. There were some small complications and he gave us his home phone number and told us to call if there were any complications. It was a good thing he did because I did end up calling him at 10:30 that night and he opened the back door to the office and took care of him in the middle of the night. He left when Ethan was about 6 months old.... it hasn't ever been the same. This great doctor also has been helping me figure out my heart burn problems that seem to have gotten much worse after Ruth was born (backwards I know!) But he gave me 10 days worth of meds which were about $100 worth of medicine, then after one medication failed and I came back a month later he wouldn't let me pay for my office visit, and after my blood test results came back he called me right away to let me know the results (which were negative so no ulsur.) Only once have I had the actual doctor call and give me test results and that was after my last miscarriage and they did testing and she told me what the results were and what I needed to do to prevent miscarriages. Our new doctor also had a big Christmas party for seniors and invited his patients to come and serve dinner to the seniors, and those of us with to many little kids were invited for pie and visits with Santa at the end of the party. My kids had a blast! We love our new doctor and hope he never gets so busy things change. That is why I won't be publishing his name so that all of you that live anywhere near here won't switch doctors and crowd up his office!