So Kevin had his 2nd appointment at Landstuhl yesterday. That place still feels uneasy to me, but not as menacing.

The trip consisted of Kevin, Derric and I, just so the older kids at home wouldn’t have to worry too much about watching him, just doing what they were told to do. Before falling asleep, Derric was very fussy on the way up, and woke up fussy. A fussy 6 year old is not very fun, in case you didn’t know that.

So we get to Landstuhl and head to the hospital. I will say, that place needs more parking. For a hospital that size, you would think there would be parking, but alas, there isn’t. We ended up having to park off a dirt road that is kinda being used as over fill parking.

We walked up to the gate that surrounds the hospital (yes, the hospital is surrounded by a gate on post) and show our IDs. Derric has started to shy away from gate guards, not sure why, but upon first seeing them, when we show our IDs, he scrunches into the back of my legs. Upon leaving the hospital and passing by the same guards, he will be all smiles and might even wave to them upon passing.

Of course, this trip to the hospital, I arrive with a totally full bladder, and the one thing I want more then anything… a bathroom. But would you believe there wasn’t a single bathroom along any of the halls we went down as we headed for the Ophthalmology place? Seriously. And it wasn’t just me that had to pee.. No, Derric also, so he was walking slow and kept asking to go to the bathroom. I had to keep urging him forward. Thankfully the Ophthalmology place had a bathroom.

While Derric and I went to the bathroom, Kevin checked in and filled out the paperwork. Ha! He actually had to fill it out himself this time! LOL.

Kevin got called back rather quickly, and of course, he wanted me to come along. Since this was an eye appointment, I wasn’t sure if I could go back. Here at Spang, they kinda don’t like that, especially when I have a young child with me. So I was surprised when they said I sure, and even provided me with a chair! Got his vitals, then sent us back out. We settled in, thinking we would have quiet the wait the second time around, but sure enough, they called us back right away.

And it was one of the best appointments I have ever attended! This guy was good. He asked right up front about Grave’s Disease. So this meant we were dealing with someone who knew what was going on. A good hour or so and we left feeling like we actually managed to accomplish something. And from the sounds of it, we will be seeing this guy pretty regularly for quiet a while. (I think it might be time to look into seeing about fuel recomp!)

So where are we sitting with everything? Kevin has Thyroid Eye Disease. I knew his Grave’s Disease wouldn’t leave things alone. So last night I dusted off his old folder from when we went through everything before, and got it ready for round two.

Today, I called in his appointments.

He needs a referral for an Endocrinologist. A new Thyroid test needs to be done. (And speaking of Thyroid tests… did you know that his last test that he did about two weeks ago came back with a LOW on the results and we were never contacted about it???) And we need to get him in to have a talk about with his PCM about WHY we are not getting a follow up or at least informed on his results.

That was a fun adventure. One I wont bore you with today. But lets say, talking with the appointment line for all that Kevin needed was almost worse then declaring world war three on some country. But I will end with, I THINK I got it sorted out, and we are just waiting to see if we hear back from the nurse on everything we requested…. We shall see…

Kevin had an appointment today. The man I married seems to insist on having some form of medical condition going at all times… I had hoped things would be smooth once we took care of the Grave’s Disease, but I guess that just isn’t in the fates for now. I think the deities of these times are enjoying the fun of putting me through tons of medical for better or worse.

Today’s trip was to Radiology for a CT Orbits scan. Next week it will be with Ophthalmology. Then who knows from there. Oh, and we still don’t have his thyroid meds under control, but until the old PCM PCSes out and the new one takes over, I highly doubt we will even start to get that under control.

Landstuhl was honestly not what I was expected. I think the post was built around the hospital. There wasn’t any real clear sign on where to go. I heard there was a PX, but we couldn’t find it. But there was a section that had the gas station and class six that you had to go through another check point, we didn’t explore that direction. The housing was nice looking, and I really hope I never have to use one of those Fisher houses, even though they looked very comfortable.

The hospital itself was really interesting. From the outside, it didn’t look all that complex, but if it wasn’t for the maps inside and helpful doctors, I highly doubt we would have found where to go. What does one say on an open public form about something militar? How to express the thoughts and feelings of being there, without giving away too much information.

Landstuhl was always the one military base/post, I hoped I would never set foot on, and this year alone, will take me to it’s gates twice, at the very least. Thankfully, for not one of the many reasons I could be there, and thankfully for nothing too serious. But until we get my husband’s eyes taken care of, I have a feeling Landstuhl will become familure.

In other news, Derric’s hyperness is starting to drive me crazy. I need something to focus his mind and energy, but so far, I have no clue what. What could I get him in that would allow him to express himself, but not demand too much on him? But his constent bouncing around the house today has given me quiet the migrain. I really think I am going to go curl up in a dark bedroom….

Due to Derric’s Autism diagnosis, they wanted to do some blood work on him. They had a decent list of things to test on one so small. There was the Fragile X Chromosome, Thyroid, and one other that I don’t remember the name of.

Fragile X Chromisome gives Autistic like systems to kids. Because non of the other kids have these issues, they think I was the carrier, but instead of testing me, they tested little man. There really is nothing they can do about it if he does have it, except keep an eye out on any of his kids when he is older. Females wont have issues, but any male children will basically be like Derric… So this is just something to watch for when he is older and wants to start his own family.

Thyroid…. This is a very big subject in this house. I still need to get the older three in to get tested, should see about getting that set up sometime soon…. But due to Kevin’s mom and Sister having Thyroid problems, then to add in Kevin’s Grtave’s Disease, thyroids are a BIG concern.

For the life of me, I can not remember what the third test was for.

But due to this, they required two viles of blood from little man. Now for anyone, military and civilian alike, this means a quick trip to the lab to get the blood done, and you probably know the results a couple days latter…. Well, lets throw in we are in a completely different country and the clinics on base don’t do 60% of the blood work….

So I was told to just walk to the clinic with him at any time, before noon, Monday throu Thursday. Ok, no problem. So I went to take him yesterday. No go, they changed the format, now you have to call and make an appointment so they can contact the courier to be there, and they come at 11 now instead of noon…. Hmmm.. why was no one told about this change?? So I said fine, I will bring him back tommorrow, and they said  ok. The courier takes the blood to a German testing site, so how long until we hear back? Who knows…

I go in today, they (all three techs working) were going over everything, three, four times… They argued, they triple checked forms, they quadruple checked viles, weight charts, you name it. They were like, “Sorry, for Pediactric cliants, we like to make sure it is a one stop trip, but for THESE kids, we like to Really make sure it is that way” I am like, ok…… So they finally agree on how many viles, the sizes of the viles, and who is going to do what.. Yes folks, all three were going to work with little man…. You had one holding the arm that was going to be pricked, you had one doing the actual work, and one that was taking the seringe and filling the viles with the blood…. Wow!

Little Man did really well, he flinched a little when he first got pricked, then just watched as his blood filled the seringe. No fussing, no crying, no nothing, just silent watching. I was impressed, the techs were impressed. So they bandage him up with dinasours and say have a good day. I got his coat on him and he took fluffly, then we left the lab. As soon as the door closed behind us, he falls into me and does these small little coughs. He leans into me for a bit, then stands up and wanders away, somewhat tripping over his own feet. I ask him if he needs to sit down, but he mumbles no. He wanders on. Now and then yawning or giving these half hearted coughs.

We wander into the waiting room for after hour care and I am trying to get him to sit down so I can take a look at him, but he throws a huge fit about not wanting to sit down. I think that used up what little energy he had left because he calpses in my arms. I pick him up and carry him outside. As I am walking out of the building, I notice he is sweeting up a storm and has gotten really pale. I am not liking this. I did have two people ask if I needed any help with him, but I said no, that he just had his blood drawn and he was a bit weak. One asked if I needed help taking him out to the car, but I had to say no, we walked here…. I am sure he would have helped walk Derric all the way home if I had let them… But once I had gotten Derric outside, he asked to be put down. It took a bit to get his feet under him, but once I did, he managed to walk home, slowly, stumbly, and very weakly.

I fixed him up some more food and now he is curled up watching tv. I sure hope they don’t need any more blood from this little guy, don’t think I could deal with that again…

Me, I think I will go curl up with him, work on some knitting or something, and just enjoy a Mommy and Me day with him…

So, Kauchana went in today to get her headgear put on. It went rather well. She got the two metal bands on her back teeth and they fited the head gear right on. Then the dentist had her stand at a mirror and put it on and take it off alone. He showed her how and then just let her go at it. He was happy to see that she had the confidence to put it on and smile.

On the way home, she told me that the unknown about it is what scared her the most. She said if they had just shown her what it would have looked like in the begining, she would have been fine. But her mind made up so many different, and scarry images of what it would look like, but then found it to be something very simple. She had said before that she wouldn’t have a sleep over due to not wanting anyone to laugh at her, but now, she doesn’t mind.

She actually said she likes how it looks, how it is so simple and easy to do.

The dentist even said, after she gets a bit more comfortable with it, he will work on straightening and aligning her top teeth, since she already has the bands in. He provided her with some wax to help the sorness from the bands rubbing on the inside of her mouth, which, I checked with the nurse, she can have in school. I have some at home incase she needs it here.

And what really made her day, he gave her the ok to chew gum. He even recommends to some of his patients to chew to help settle the casing and bands… So I am off to look for sugar free gum for Miss Kauchana… And other running around I need to do..