Dr. Julie

This is Dr. Julie. She specializes in the health and development of children with special needs. Cayman's pediatrician as well as the Early Intervention nurse recommended Cayman to see Dr. Julie. We did not know for sure what Dr. Julie would be doing for Cayman but she was described to us as the Sherlock Holmes of the special needs medical field. If there's something further we could be doing for Cayman Dr. Julie would know.

It was a meaningful appointment for two big reasons:

Reason one:
Dr. Julie was one of my resident doctors when I was 13 years old. I was in an auto accident then and spent a month in the hospital. Dr. Julie was a great support to me and my family. She did not recognize me but she remembered my case.

Reason two:
Dr. Julie was blown away by Cayman's development. Before seeing Cayman she had read her medical history of diagnoses and procedures. Her expectations were to find a baby that was hardly past a one month old's development. Cayman was having a very good day and she worked hard showing off her abilities for Dr. Julie. Mike and I were so proud!! Cayman sat on my lap, while I held a book in front of her and she turned the cardboard pages of this book all by herself, studying each picture. She sat up by herself with only support given at her hips, her eyes tracked every object during a vision screening, her muscle tone was right where it should be, her reflexes were good, Cayman babbled on and on talking to Dr. Julie. It's almost as if Cayman understood she was on display, being tested for her abilities, and she was determined to pass with flying colors. The only thing that popped up as concern was her hearing, which we kind of already knew that. Dr. Julie's opinion is the same as ours as well as the audiologist that Cayman can hear but we're uncertain of the clarity.

I'm not sure right now what kept me from busting outside of my shy self to dance around the room. Cayman amazes us!! It was exciting for Mike and I to watch Dr. Julie marvel over Cayman's development. For months we have been watching Cayman develop and meet milestones that was thought she might not ever do let alone right on schedule. Hearing the good report come from a doctor I highly respect felt so confirming and thrilling. It was a nice change from the many doctor's appointments we've had in the past that delivered bad news, devastating diagnoses, and poor prognoses. We are so blessed!

It was a fun doctor's appointment.

From Dr. Julie's point of view there is nothing else she can suggest we should be doing that we are not already doing for Cayman. She wants to see Cayman in 6 months to reevaluate her development then.

Mike's job hunting update:
No strong leads on a job yet. Mike's been getting a lot of phone calls. Some days the phone won't stop ringing it seems. BUT...and this is a big "but", it's all jobs that require us to move. It's such a difficult decision to make. We are living right where we want to be...near family, near the doctors we have grown to love and trust for Cayman's care...but we have to go where the jobs are. Mike and I were strongly talking just today about relocating....AGAIN...weighing out the pro's, the con's...moving away from family, switching doctors, etc. We have such a strong urge to lay down roots. We have moved 5 times since we got married and are burned out from moving. I don't know what God wants. Mike and I know if we could choose we would stay right where we are. But really it's not about us. Whatever God wants. I'm learning to trust Him more than I ever have before. So I don't know where we'll be in a month or next year. And to be honest, that's very disturbing to me. A place that I can call home and having family around are two very important things to me. I just keep reminding myself that God knows my heart, He knows my desires, He cares...He would not steer us wrong. If He has us make such a big change again, move us away from the place I have longed to be for the past 3 years, then it must be for a pretty big, important reason. I'm still praying and hoping we don't have to move though.