So close I can almost taste it!

I never thought we would hear the words "that may explain Josephine’s symptoms." After years of false hope, I had basically resigned myself to the fact that we may never our explanation. Today was really no different. I went into Josie's MRI thinking "this will be another test that leaves us with more questions than answers" and wondering why I was putting either of us through it.

Because Josie had to fast before the blood work, we left early for the procedure so she didn't have to watch as the other two kids ate. We went to an indoor play area and spent a few hours laughing and playing. There is something about a water pump and pretty rocks that takes her mind off being hungry.

The MRI went very smoothly. I went with as she went under anesthesia. In the past, she has gone under swinging, today it was peaceful. That peace carried through the long wait for her to be done and into her waking up. Everything when smoothy until Josie started yelling at her nurse for shooting her while she slept. I kept trying to tell her that giving her an IV is not the same as shooting her, but there was no changing Josie's mind. She continued to complain about being shot even as we were leaving the hospital.

I was prepared to have to wait over the weekend for the results, but as we were pulling in to get our customary donut I got an email from Dr. Randy. The MRI showed a Chiari Malformation. Basically, the the area where Josie's skull meets her spine isn't wide enough and puts pressure in places where there shouldn't be pressure. A Chiari Malformation would explain all the symptoms, BUT because of how common it is, it may just be that she has this plus something else. If that is the case, you will be able to find me completely drunk in my back yard.

The next week weeks will be crazy. Dr. Randy wants Josie to meet with a neurosurgeon and wants Teague and Hailey to get in for an MRI. The one good thing is that Hailey and Teague get to bypass all the other tests and go straight to the MRI.