Moving way too fast!

There is nothing quite like things moving so quickly and smoothly to hit home a reminder of how much you aren't prepared for the outcome!
Butterfly was referred a month ago, by his gender therapist, to a pediatric endocrinologist.  We were given warning that we shouldn't expect to get an appointment for at least 9 months, up to a year.  Okay, I can accept that this is the way things are, right?

Well, can you imagine my surprise when I am given an appointment for a mere month in the future?  Still, I'm coping well.  We go in for what I assume is a "meet&greet" only to be surprised that Dr. L is happy that I have done my homework, had already seen video of her speaking at a symposium on transgendered children, so she sees no reason not to dive right in.  Depending on the test results, we may be looking at Lupron by the end of the year.  Wow!

Butterfly didn't leave CHEO before getting a hormone stimulating shot, 5 vials of blood drawn and an x-ray to determine bone growth.  We had to go back for a BMD (bone mineral density test).  In a couple of weeks we have another appointment with Dr. L in early October for a review of the test results.


I was so proud of Butterfly!  For a kid who has never had to have shots or be poked and prodded, he was incredibly cooperative and charming with the staff. 


As a side note, the BMD was super cool!  There is now an xray of his full skeleton.  The tech wasn't allowed to give us a copy at the time, but she said that Dr. L could give us a copy when we have our follow-up.  We just might blow it up to life size and use it for a Hallowe'en decoration!

New beginnings

It's been a long time since I've written.  Really, it was neither a good nor bad thing - just not much to write about concerning Dandelion.  We had been coasting comfortably for a while - good feelings, lots of support.    Now things have changed - not for the bad!  Don't worry!  I made a decision that it is better to be early for the party, rather than late so we have started seeing a gender therapist.  I realized that I should start writing again because this part of the journey that is not necessarily about my feeling, more about the actualities of having of a transgendered child.  This is what can help other families and maybe just give other readers have a better understanding of what it is to be transgender.

We've had a couple of appointments with the gender therapist.  She is a lovely lady and quite humorous.  Dandelion was NOT happy about the prospect of having to TALK (funny enough, as I write this, he has been chatting away AT me, non-stop, for the past hour!), but quickly warmed up to Dr. S after she told him that she sees both in her clients..."I have some clients who don't stop talking about being transgender, and I have others who I have to use a fishing rod to pull out the smallest bit of information about them and how they feel...".  He got a kick of the idea of Dr. S having to toss a line and reel in information.

At this point, Dr. S is not telling me anything that I don't already know - Dandelion sees himself, unequivocally, as male.  Apparently, he is emotionally well developed and his interests and maturity are in line with other boys his age.  I'm so glad that I am paying $100+ per visit to be told what I already know!  (I do say this in jest.  I don't begrudge the therapy costs as I know that it is necessary and a stepping stone to the choices we have made to minimize the trauma that puberty could cause to Dandelion.)

Dr. S has let us know that she will be referring Dandelion to her colleague who is an endocrinologist at our local children's hospital.  This will be our next big step on this journey, but it most likely won't be happening until next spring or summer.

Now that we are in the active part of our journey, I promise that I will write regularly.