First Adjustment

Our first adjustments with the Chiropractor went pretty well. Andrew is liking them. He really likes the part where he gets to play with the toys in the waiting room, but he also did very well for Dr. Ky. Andrew actually received two adjustments today. He went early with Daddy for x-rays and was also adjusted. No surprises from the x-rays so that was good.
All of us went back a few hours later for our adjustments. Kathlena was very curious and watched closely as Dr. Ky adjusted E and J first then her. She liked it...especially the Cheeto crunch. Kathlena also showed some severe C1 and C2 misalignment's...not surprising as a result of her head tilt. We are hoping this will help her as well for her nystagmus and to strengthen her neck. She was really excited about her first time to go to the "fire cracker" this is what she calls the Chiropractor.
After their first adjustments I was talking to Dr. Ky and the kids went back over to the play area. I catch Andrew out of the corner of my eye pushing on something on the floor...almost as if administering CPR. I casually walk closer to see Kathlena on the floor with her arms crossed and Andrew pushing on her chest giving her an "adjustment". While I suppose this is the Chiropractic equivalent to playing doctor. I quickly suggested to both of them that we leave the adjusting to Dr. Ky.
I must say from my own adjustment that I have felt really good. Oddly, my nausea is gone. Hmm...I originally thought it to be unrelated except that it happened after my first adjustment too. It lasted for about 2 days then the nausea was back. Thankfully, I was in the next day and now it is gone again. I go back Mon. so we'll see if it holds.
I couldn't let the day go unnoticed. It has been 10 months today since our precious Andrew and Kathlena officially became Shiflets. It seems a lifetime ago since then and yet hard to believe not even a year yet.

Opthamology Report

Our really cool glasses we got to wear after

having our eyes dilated. Andrew has huge

pupils...I have never seen any so large!



Kathlena with her eyes nearly fully dilated. I think it

made her feel a little funny.


Look at those pupils! I can hardly see anything else except

for that adorable Andrew smile!



Beginning patch therapy right away.


What a trooper...this is hard but Andrew is doing so well.



Well today was like letting out a deep breath for me. We have known from the beginning that Andrew has vision issues, but we have only speculated about Kathlena's multiple issues all being related to vision. Today confirmed what we were thinking. PTL!

We had a great visit with Dr. Coats from Texas Children's. He confirmed what we suspected about Andrew that he has Esotropia (eye drift to the middle and up), mild hyperopia or hypermotropia (same thing) and as a result developed amblyopia in his left eye. The great news is that he has 20/20 vision in his right eye and was reading his letters very well in English. He did so well throughout his exam. He didn't seem nervous at all but interested in how everything in the office worked. His left eye is at 20/50. At this time the Dr. would like for us to do patch therapy where he wears a patch over his "good" eye (right in his case) for 2 months to begin strengthening the left eye. He must wear the patch 6-8hrs a day...he is not liking it but he has been persuaded to wear it. ;) Now, the Dr. thinks that surgery is unavoidable and has asked us to go ahead and schedule it for 3 months from now. We are praying that the patching helps strengthen his vision thus correcting the amblyopia, but in order to straighten the muscle (hypertropia), surgery seems to be the only option-we continue to pray for healing without surgery, Lord willing, and if the Lord chooses to heal him through surgery we will trust Him in this also. We go back in 2 months to see the progress with the possibility of pushing back surgery at that point if patching is making improvements along with his weight gain and overall health improvement.

For Kathlena this was a home run day for us to find out what we have suspected all along. All of her issues were related. No CT scan needed nor neuro follow ups. She did so well in her exam. The Dr. was amazed at how she would sit still and allow him to look into her eyes. We have often attributed this to all of her Dr. visits she has had in Russia, but usually kids who see many Dr.'s and have lots of tests done tend to fight it more. I definitely think we are beginning to see the fruit of lap training. She sat in David's lap the entire time. Even when she and Andrew both had to have their eyes dilated they both did well, no screaming or squirming. While we waited for their eyes to dilate they got to watch Monsters Inc., which was so funny since Andrew has not seen it in quite a while, but still loves it all the same.

Kathlena was diagnosed with nystagmus (her eyes bounce, difficulty tracking). Dr. C ruled out the Spasmus Nutans even though she has the head bobbing. His best explanation of how this could be related to the "birth trauma" we were told at the orphanage is that oxygen was restricted during birth to a particular area in the brain that effects vision, including the pigment for the eye color. He also ruled her out as having albinism (ocular or otherwise) even though her eyes are very light. He did not see the other characteristics that usually mark this. He did say that she could be on the spectrum of it though due to the birth trauma. For now, we wait and see how much good food and activity improve her situation. It is expected that eventually she will also have to have surgery, and providentially it would be the same surgery that Andrew will have. Is that not amazing! Two biologically unrelated children placed in the same home who will have the same surgery...the Lord knew and placed together for His glory. It may sound strange, but I am thankful that I have already gone through surgery with J.Michael when he was young (again, providentially when he was 6yrs old just like Andrew will be if we do have surgery). I know it will not be any easier to have Andrew wheeled out to surgery, but the Lord is so good to prepare us and strengthen us through these times. Here is what to expect from the surgery and recovery stage. I have lots of reading up to do and will post more soon. Thank you for your continued prayers.