The Weaning - at .5

My where has the time gone?  I felt like this blog became sort of a talking space for everything Maura.  Obviously, there is so much more to our lives than Maura....but Maura has certainly added quite a dimension to it.  There are lulls in her medical news and then there are moments of crazy.

Right now we are in the midst of weaning her off Keppra.  We started 4 weeks ago taking a step from 2.5 mls twice a day to 2...and dropping .5ml each dose once a week.  It's been interesting to say the least...

At first, we saw a lot of new language develop out of it.  Maura was starting to come out of her little shell.  She started mimicking us more, and using more signs to convey to us what she wanted.  It was amazing.  She's been struggling so hard with language development, and it's really nice to see her trying so hard now and having some luck with it!  If only food would come as easy...

She's also had a few crazy nights.  Last night, she howled like a beast for nearly an hour around 3 am.  I did go in and nurse her to her content, but she eventually stopped, and wanted to play...I have no tolerance for playing with a 2 year old at 3 am.  I really hope you don't blame me!  I did some googling - something that has played a big part in my understanding of Maura's condition ever since the beginning.  We have no proof because while she's got some words, she can't tell me things like "I'm feeling anxious!" "The room spins!" "I've got a little bit of the shakes going on!"  Yeah...it's called withdrawal...and we think she's got a touch of it.

Hopefully it doesn't last long.  She seems to be more aware of herself, so let's hope the very last step - next week - goes just as smoothly without any seizures.

Five

My baby turns five tomorrow.  Five makes me sad.  I've immensely enjoyed four so much that the very thought of him turning five breaks my heart.  Five is much different than any of the other years.  Five means big things for a little guy!  In a little more than a month, we will begin our daily journey across town by foot where I'll see him off to school.

SCHOOL!  Did you hear that?  He's starting kindergarten!  I really think the second I watch him walk into that building, I'm going to burst into a billion pieces!  My little buddy, who's kept me company and stayed by my side for the last 2 and a half years is going back into someone else's care.  I know he'll be in love with his teacher.  He always is.  He sits up front at library.  At the farm, he was always by Miss. Lidia's side.  Of course he'll be right there by his new teacher too.  I just hope he isn't too overwhelming.

As the summer begins to come to a close, I spend my time reminiscing about the last five years.  I remember the first month of his life like it was yesterday.  It was a cool August very much like the one we are in the middle of.  It seemed that as soon as I'd had him, the beginnings of autumn seemed to be slipping right in.  This year isn't much different, and the very center of my soul is feeling the season change, just as I watch my little man change.  He's putting his preschool years behind him as he turns into a real little boy.  I only hope the time slows down a little bit before it all flashes into memory!