Just Another Day with Hydrocephalus

This morning, Emma and I got an early start to her day. We were both up, dressed, and ready to leave the house by 6:15 AM so that we could get to Children's in Dallas by 7:00 AM. Her schedule for the day was as follows:

• 7:30 AM - check in for MRI
• 8:00 AM - MRI (annual check of her ventricles and shunt to make sure everything looks good)
• 10:00 AM - EEG (test to see if she is still at an increased risk for seizures)
• 11:00 AM - appointment with her Pediatric Neurosurgeon to review her MRI

We didn't have to be there until 7:30 AM, but I always prefer to be early. Plus, Emma gets her morning dose of Keppra at 7:00 AM so I like not having to worry about doing that during our drive in.

After she had her medicine and was all set in her stroller, we headed to check in for her MRI. The plan was for her to get to eat her breakfast while we waited for her MRI at 8:00 AM. But since we were there early and they were ready for us, we did her MRI first and were done by 8:00 AM. She was wonderful as always and the staff was so impressed they gave her a gift basket! Then it was time for breakfast since we had a couple hours before her EEG. We still wanted to get there early just in case they could get her started sooner because the EEG was an hour long test this time and we had an appointment that was scheduled directly after that was in a different part of the hospital. Thankfully, they were able to get her started early so she was finished with just over 10 minutes before her next appointment. Again, the lady administering the test was so taken by how good Emma did that she gave her a little backpack full of toys! I think she felt bad for giving her such an impressive hair style...

When we saw her neurosurgeon, it was more good news- her ventricles looked great! They were slightly smaller, if anything, than they were from her last check. He was astounded by all of the development she has had in the last year since he saw her last and beyond thrilled at how much music had impacted her life. He said if she continues to do as well as she has been, we will start to go to check ups every other year after our next annual check when she is five years old. This was music to my ears!