Sophie Sophie Sophie

Sophie has had an eventful week.

On Monday she had a dentist appointment.  It was time for her first cleaning.  We've been doing dry runs...Happy Visits, as my dentist calls them.  I felt she was ready to take the plunge.

I sat with her, facing her in the exam chair.  I had Mr. Thirsty (suction) which Sophie thinks is pretty cool.  I would put it in different parts of her mouth, wherever the hygienist needed to go to clean.  I think we worked well as a team.  It sometimes takes a team approach with Sophie.  She wasn't able to clean each tooth perfectly but I was happy with what was accomplished.  We started off with the Bubble Gum flavored toothpaste but Sophie really liked the cherry.  It was a pretty purple color and the Hygienist let her hold it (and smell it) while she worked.  After polishing she flossed a little.  Sometimes Sophie will allow me to brush and floss her teeth really well.  Other times she will clamp her lips and jaws tightly together and unless I'm willing to force the issue (I'm not, btw), there will be no tooth brushing on those days.  For the past week we've been in the jaw clenching phase.  Thankfully Sophie will allow me to wipe her teeth though.  The hygienist said overall her teeth looked really good.  We then waited to see the dentist.

While we were waiting I was still playing with Mr. Thirsty to keep Sophie occupied (she's not real good at waiting).  At one point I pushed her tongue over and out popped a large cavity on the inside of her back lower molar.  Her tongue covered it perfectly!  When the hygienist stuck her head in to the room I told her so she came over and confirmed what I had found.  She sat down and took out a small digital camera that looked a little like a wand.  She showed Sophie her picture on TV and then put the wand in her mouth.  The next thing I knew, I heard a very loud SNAP!  My heart sunk and I wished the floor would open and swallow me whole.  Sophie bit, and broke, the camera. o_O

On Tuesday Maddie had a doctor's appointment to check her ears.  She failed the hearing test at school and I had a feeling it was a wax issue.  Sure enough her ears were packed with wax.  After some digging, flushing and crying her ears were clean again and her hearing was much improved.  Matthew wasn't feeling well and went to the same appointment where he was diagnosed with a sinus infection.  Sophie and Noah were there too and with 5 of us together the exam room seemed really small.

Wednesday afternoon I ran to the bathroom and left Matthew in charge.  When I came out he was putting something on the kitchen counter and said, "Sophie broke her bowl."  I thanked him for cleaning it up and stood there a minute wondering how she managed to break a plastic bowl when I started noticing blood on the floor.  "Who is hurt??" I asked and Maddie, Noah and Matthew all said "Not me!"   Sure enough it was Sophie.  She had sliced her heel open on a piece of the broken bowl.  I cleaned her up and saw it was deep so called James to tell him I thought she needed stitches.  Neither one of us like the ER so I thought I would call her pediatrician first.  I explained what happened and was told "take her to the ER."  (sigh)

Off to the ER we went and to our great surprise we were ushered back to a room within half and hour.  We had a nurse give her opinion that nothing would be done, then a PA came back and said it was deep enough for something but they didn't do stitches in that area.  So she glued it shut with Dermabond.  From that moment on I knew our challenge would be to keep Sophie from picking off the Dermabond.

It lasted a little less than 24 hours.  I was at the church cleaning the gym when Matthew said, "I think I see blood.  Sophie might have taken the glue off."  I called her over and sure enough.  She had taken the glue off and her foot was bleeding again.  Another call to the pediatrician.  This time he wanted to see her.

Back in the small exam room, this time with the start of a killer migraine. The ped looked it over real good and gave me two options.  1- re-glue it or 2- keep it sparkly clean with antibiotic ointment on it until it healed.  I chose the 2nd option since I knew Sophie would not leave the glue alone.  He asked if she would leave an ace bandage on, thinking he could wrap her foot to keep her from picking the glue.  I gave him the hairy-eyeball.  "Sophie?  Leave an ace bandage on?  Surely you know her better than that.  She won't even leave her clothes on!"  We both laughed and agreed option 2 was the best.  I'm just concerned about infection setting in.  I told her ped that I couldn't carry her much longer (she weighs 45 lbs now).  She needs both feet!  lol

This week Sophie has discovered the joy of coloring.  Her OT has been working with her on coloring and if you put a crayon in her hand she would scribble for a few seconds.  Now she wants to color though.  I love watching her color on paper that she then carries around for quite a while before it finally ends up shredded.  She has also colored on windows, walls, the floor, her shoes and my office chair.  Don't tell anyone, but I think it's great. 

I hope to soon be able to purchase an iPad for Sophie.  I hope it is another step closer to communication with her.  I would so love to know what thoughts are going around that beautiful head of hers.

As you can see life with Sophie continues to be an adventure.  And really, would I have it any other way?  I don't think so.