Heather R.'s Diary Entries Diary Navigation: Choose A Diary Entry -------------------- Latest Entry: 11/30/01 -------------------- 10/25/01 6/21/01 5/10/01 4/8/01 3/30/01 3/23/01 3/15/01 3/7/01 2/27/01 2/20/01 2/12/01 1/29/01 1/17/01 1/1/01 12/27/00 12/19/00 12/1/00 11/13/00 -------------------- Heather R.'s Introduction

March 7, 2001

“Heather, you are going to be the death of me.”

That’s one of the phrases my Mom used quite frequently when I was growing up. Typically it meant that I was doing something a little on the risky side – like staying out too late, or getting caught sneaking out, or running around with people that were not necessarily of the highest ilk. I’m sure I deserved it, more times than not. But it wasn’t until I had kids of my own that I understood exactly what my Mom meant when she uttered those infamous words. The stress of wondering about the well being of your child is more emotionally and physically draining than running a marathon in the Sahara desert.

Ivan, dear sweet Ivan, is the master of illusion. I am sure of this. How, might you ask? Because as of this last week, it appears that he hears everything perfectly! AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Now, of course, I WANT him to hear, I WANT him to be healthy, but I also don’t want to entertain the idea that I am neurotic. I’m pretty sure I’m well on the road to become a phobia-a-holic anyway, but this just pushes it over the edge.

I’m certain that my mothering instincts aren’t so far off that I don’t know when something is wrong with my child. And what I have felt in the past few months is that lingering, below-the-surface suspicion that something is just plain wrong. So after Ivan “mysteriously” started hearing again, I decided to investigate. I went online straight away and found two possible causes.

1. Ivan may be experiencing swollen tonsils and adenoids which in turn would put pressure on his inner ear, cutting off his ear drum. Result: Temporary loss of hearing.

2. Ivan may have a food allergy that would cause fluid to build up in his inner ear. Result: Temporary hearing loss.

A few other things that I have forgotten to mention in my last few posts is that Ivan routinely starts “babbling”, even saying a food words, and then stops. Whenever he stops “babbling”, he stops eating as well. This last time was the worst case, but all the other times were mild in comparison, and we just attributed those to teething pain. I’m thinking, though, that perhaps he was experiencing swollen adenoids and tonsils, perhaps a severe sore throat. That would explain a lot of this, I think.

This is all I have time for today, but I promise to post more later this week.

Thanks again to everyone who has posted or sent me emails…having a support system has been a great help during all of this…

heather