It is 9:00 PM and both of my kids are asleep!! I am loving it. They normally don't go to bed until 11:00 PM or so. We can try to get them to bed before but they never fall asleep and it's a huge battle. This is so nice. To have them in bed before 10:00. Ahh... how refreshing. I was actually sick all day and of all days for them to wake up early, Kaitlyn woke up at 7:30 AM. Ever since we had her on the Trileptal she has had horrible sleeping habits. I am hoping that they calm down and she gets back to how she was. When she doesn't sleep, no one sleeps. She used to sleep from 10 to 10 and then would take a 2 hr nap everyday. Now she doesn't take naps anymore and wakes up at odd times and she won't fall asleep on her own.

We went a saw a pediatric GI specialist for Christopher yesterday. It was a very long appointment but I feel like we are getting somewhere with finding out what is wrong with him. The GI doctor said that he is concerned that he is now in failure to thrive, he only gained a whopping 10 ounces in about 6 months. Not good. On top of that, they are thinking possibly Cystic Fibrosis or Celiac Disease. We have already had him tested once from a different doctor for Cystic Fibrosis but this doctor said it was a waste of time because he is too young for the sweat the test and it wouldn't have been accurate anyway. He doesn't cough alot so I don't know. They said that Celiac Disease could be the route of all of the problems but they are certain that something is wrong with him. Next week, next Friday we go to the hospital to have a scope done on him. They will do one in both ends and multiple biopsies to see what they are missing. It's going to be tough to see him go through something like this but I am angry that it's taken me so long to get answers. The doctor also was appalled by the lack of cooperation from our neuro and our ped's. The fact that he has so much going on for so long and no one is referring us to anyone. I am thinking about asking GI to help me get into the neuro sooner. Today was a good day for Christopher though, he was mimcking words that we were saying and it's the first time he has ever really talked!! Yay!! Maybe we can rule out Autism all together, how good would that be!! As horrible as this sounds I would rather Epilepsy than Autism because atleast he will be able to live a completely normal life (well to the best of our ability).

Kaitlyn is so smart and just such a beautiful child. I am truly blessed with how wonderful Kaitlyn and Christopher are. We have behaviors from her and I believe they are from the medicine and lack of medicine if that makes sense. I feel like she has so much potential and that she is going to be someone great. She is going to be such a caring person. Christopher is such a cuddlebug right now. I am really hoping that everything turns out alright. I feel like I have spent so much time lately wallowing in self pity for the fact that we won't have a "normal" family life and that I can't just fix the kids but I am done with this phase. It's life, life isn't fair and I need to be grateful for what I have!! I just want to appreciate my kids, my husband, my family and my life. I think I need to remind myself everyday that things aren't horrible and that it can only get better.

I hope this finds everyone well, for those with E hopefully everyone is having a seizure free day for those caregivers I hope your loved ones are having a seizure free day and that everyone is resting and taking good care of themselves.

Big (((HUGS))) to everyone!!

Emily