Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Only good things to report (with the exception of Dan's eternal, growing rash)

A few things about today:

Elijah is 15 months old!
We got an outstanding report from Dr. Judy at his 15-mo. well visit.
The cutting of the hair poll is closed and the NO HAIR CUT vote won (more on this in another post).
It has been exactly 5 weeks since Elijah's surgery.
In one week we can finally pick E up underneath the armpits again. Thank God!
You will be able to see a pretty, full moon in the sky tonight.
Dan's rash has officially taken over his entire body.

Elijah's well visit went as good as it possibly could have gone (aside from all of the screaming and tears). He is in the 50th percentile for weight (24 lbs, 3 oz), the 30th percentile for height (30.5 in; sorry Elijah, looks like you got my short genes) and the 70th percentile for head circumference. We were given clearance to totally drop the nebulizer treatments. WOOHHHOoo! We are completely drug-free! His O2 sats were at 95%, which is excellent, heart rate was 125 bpm. His development aside from gross motor is right on track.

Gross motor is a whole different story, but we already knew this. The only thing he can do well is sit on his own. He can roll, but he doesn't do it much. He can't crawl, stand, pull himself up to a stand, get on all fours or get himself into a sit. He basically just sits in one spot and cries if he wants something or wants to move. These milestones will all come with some patience and hard work. We are starting physical therapy again next week, so that should really help. He lived the first 14 months of his life exhausted and not doing anything he didn't need to do. Now he's not exhausted anymore, but he doesn't understand that moving around is an option. We will get there. In the meantime, he can't run away from me as I kiss on that delicious chubby neck.

More on the Hair Poll later. Dan is upset because someone at the grocery store told him that we should enter our beautiful daughter in a beauty pageant because she would definitely win! But then Dr. Judy told us DO NOT CUT THOSE CURLS. So we are negotiating right now. I'll let you know the official compromise once we figure it out.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

I'm glad the doctor visit went so well. I'm sure he will pick up the gross motor stuff soon. The physical therapy will really help him out.

I really appreciate your last message. It helps me tremendously to talk with other moms who truly understand what it's like to have a special needs child.

Hope Dan's rash starts to let up. Do they know what is causing it? Hopefully it isn't too uncomfortable. Poor thing.

Give chubby man some kisses on the neck from me. I could just eat him up!

Lots of love,

Vanessa & Arianna

Anonymous said...

Oh my....DAN...what do we need to do to rid your body of the infectious rash? Maybe you need to go to Belize and be healed by a Mayan medicine man (yes, we've been watching too much SciFi channel lately). I hope you are going to the Doc or getting 2nd opinions...that is no fun! Love the pics and the curls on sweet Elijah. Take care Portas...luv, Kendis

Kathy said...

Ah...Belize...that'll do the trick!!!
Dan..PLEASE don't cut the curls...he's SO DARN CUTE!!!

Glad that Mr. Eli is growing good, it's ok that he'll be short...at least he has a BIG brain and GOOD LOOKS!

Can't wait to hear what the final "hair decision" is!

Lots of love,
Kathy

jencooper said...

Way to go on a great appointment!! Hooray Elijah!

Hang in there with the developmental things. He will catch onto them in "Eli time." And once we figures it out.....watch it!!

Please, please, please don't cut that hair. Those curls are beautiful!

<3,
Jen

Krista said...

It made my day to hear the good report...yeah! Elijah is such the superstar. I'm sure it won't be long before he'll figure out the whole moving thing...and then you'll be sorry you ever wanted it!

Love the pics of the skydiving...my mom and I were talking about it last night! She said: they really do that? Yep...evidently. Just curious...is that how you met?

Anonymous said...

Yay!! So great about the good reports!!! Awedome!

Jane said...

This is good news. I hear you about the PT stuff. Ramona is 17 months and just started walking, a few steps at a time, recently.

I just try to tell myself that there's really no hurry. And that what's normal for other kids isn't going to be normal for her. She's on her own timeline and will reach those milestones in her own way. The best I can do is give her plenty of opportunities to move and develop.

And plus, all that time she's been cooped up by exhaustion has given her a love for books and a head start on her language. And I only have to chase one baby!

Checking in and thinking of you guys...

Tina:0) said...

I agree with Dr. Judy - don't cut those curls!! Glad that he's doing well overall. Don't worry, now that he's able to move around like crazy he'll catch up in no time!

Thanks for all of your encouraging posts! Vaeh is doing well, but now its just formalities holding us in here! Hopefully home by the weekend!

Thanks again, and give that little man a heart hug from us!

XOXOXOX