tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79133652244285527242024-03-13T10:35:30.856-04:00The Story of Nicholas' Early Arrivalcmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.comBlogger304125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-37593707577232698632012-04-17T13:10:00.002-04:002012-04-17T13:17:50.570-04:00Take Home and NICU- Two Different WorldsTake Home and NICU – Two Different Worlds<br /><br />I'm borrowing this from another preemie blog. <a href="http://www.coxquads.blogspot.com/">www.coxquads.blogspot.com</a> She wrote it much better than I ever could have.<br /><br />Bringing a new baby into this world is often a long awaited, very exciting time. Most women, from my personal observation at least, are sick of being pregnant towards the end and the last few weeks/days seem like an eternity as they anxiously wait the big “D-day”. The house has been ready, family and friends are on call, and a quiet nursery sits waiting to welcome a new sweet baby into their home. Finally, the day comes. Their water breaks or in many cases nowadays it’s their day and specific time to finally be induced. After a long labor and delivery or a quick cesarean, their sweet baby is here. Visitors come, flowers and endless gifts are delivered and within a few days mom and baby leave for home to start their new life together.<br />That’s what you think of when you think of the birth of a new baby, right? Somewhere near those lines anyway. For so many families the above scenario is a dream that fell short. Their deliveries were unplanned, unexpected and down right terrifying. One second everything is fine and the next they find themselves being told delivery is necessary for whatever reason regardless of how far along they are in their pregnancy. The complete opposite of something you would look forward to. Ready or not, here he/she comes and prematurity is suddenly on your doorstep.<br /><br />Everyday thousands of babies are born too early. There are mothers who deliver and don’t hear a cry from their baby due to severely underdeveloped lungs. Rather than the new infant being placed in mom’s arms or on her chest after delivery, many are whisked away by a team of doctors while having breathing machines pushed down their throats in order to keep them alive before the mother even lays eyes on her baby. Their umbilical cords are not cut by their daddies but immediately taken out and replaced with arterial lines. There are new moms and dads who go days/weeks/months without getting to hold their new baby for the first time. Even worse, some never get to at all.<br /><br />The parents of premature babies don’t get to experience a lot of what the parents of “take home babies” get to experience. While most go home and get to know and bond this new little life in the privacy of their own home, those parents of NICU babies long for the day they finally get one on one time with theirs. Many spend days/weeks/months asking nurses for permission to hold or even touch their baby. They must learn to know their baby and bond with their baby through the windows of incubators, over machines, wires and tubes. Many NICU parents wait weeks just to see their baby’s sweet face, bare, with no feeding or breathing tubes…which often is a sight of bruised, red and irritated skin due to the tape and equipment used on their delicate skin 24 hours a day 7 days a week.<br /><br />Parents of preemies walk away from the hospital hundreds of times without their babies. The long drive to the NICU becomes a part of a daily routine. Eat, sleep, work, NICU. Eat, sleep, work, NICU. Forget to eat, sleep, work, NICU. The cycle continues day after day after day. A preemie parent’s medical vocabulary increases just as fast as their baby came into this world. You quickly learn more abbreviations than the average teenager on any social network… TPN, IVH, BPD, PDA, and ROP are just a few that are now in your everyday lingo. Parents of full term babies are at home celebrating milestones like the first smile, rolling over, and sleeping through the night. In the NICU we celebrate the fact that our baby urinated, that they made it almost a whole 3 hours with their vent settings lowered and that they were able to go from one tubed feeding to the next with little residual.<br /><br />Mark and I are some of the lucky ones who left the NICU with all of our baby. Some parents are not so fortunate. One thing is the same for all parents who spent any significant amount of time in the NICU and that is that it doesn’t end once you and baby come home. I think that’s the biggest misconception about prematurity, actually. Many seem to believe that once a premature baby is discharged, they are a “normal” healthy kid ready to get on with their life. The NICU was a time in the past, something we parents who were there should get over, forget about and move on. It just doesn’t work that way. Many of us see the long term effects that prematurity has on our children daily. I see multiple scars on their bodies each time I change or bathe my babies that remind me of that long NICU journey we were once on. Although I am confident my precious baby will grow up to be happy, healthy, adult, I expect that he will have struggles to face specifically linked to being born nearly 4 months early.<br /><br />I’ve written this post to hopefully give everyone a (small) glimpse into the life of someone who delivered their baby(ies) early. Together we can help make a difference. Each dollar donated to the March of Dimes will help babies have a healthier start and a better chance at beating the odds stacked against them if they are born prematurely. People marched and supported the March for Babies walk long before mine was born which is part of the reason he is here today. I encourage you to give, even if just a few bucks, in honor of the children in your life whether born healthy or premature. This is not about meeting our team goal and has nothing to do with “how much money can Team Nicholas raise”. It’s about every dollar going to support these babies and helping mothers carry to term in their pregnancies. It’s about every person across the US who walks in the March for Babies walk each year to help raise awareness. It’s about making a difference and giving babies a chance to fight who are unable to fight for themselves.<br /><br />To donate click on the link on the upper right of the blog or go to <a href="http://www.marchforbabies.org/teamnicholas">www.marchforbabies.org/teamnicholas</a>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-80152202940626550512012-02-29T14:27:00.005-05:002012-02-29T17:57:20.648-05:00Wow, an Update!<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LQ0S-p9_JdM/T06C1zm18MI/AAAAAAAAB44/PfzJPXdxkd4/s1600/IMG_7637.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714648838077542594" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LQ0S-p9_JdM/T06C1zm18MI/AAAAAAAAB44/PfzJPXdxkd4/s320/IMG_7637.jpg" /></a> Using lefty to hold his AFO.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LdkluLVRvXg/T06C19Y6WjI/AAAAAAAAB4s/B5qV-AW0JKs/s1600/IMG_7493.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714648840703466034" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LdkluLVRvXg/T06C19Y6WjI/AAAAAAAAB4s/B5qV-AW0JKs/s320/IMG_7493.jpg" /></a> Sitting up in a squash.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W2smImVTmco/T06C1Uh7ZEI/AAAAAAAAB4k/TUcsGECCvrQ/s1600/IMG_6242.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714648829735429186" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W2smImVTmco/T06C1Uh7ZEI/AAAAAAAAB4k/TUcsGECCvrQ/s320/IMG_6242.jpg" /></a> Car from Aunt Heather and Uncle John.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XFf2Fk-drF4/T06C0wTmKLI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/W13zU34cjpU/s1600/IMG_2874.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714648820011641010" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XFf2Fk-drF4/T06C0wTmKLI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/W13zU34cjpU/s320/IMG_2874.jpg" /></a> EdVenture Children's Museum field trip.<br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oFRN0BjLIFg/T06C09UFXfI/AAAAAAAAB4M/fKwtBurNVqc/s1600/IMG_2863.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714648823503347186" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oFRN0BjLIFg/T06C09UFXfI/AAAAAAAAB4M/fKwtBurNVqc/s320/IMG_2863.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="left">I have a love/hate relationship with this blog. I love it because it is a record of Nick's life but I hate it because it never works right. I can either write and not post pictures or post pictures but not load what I wrote. Anyway, I feel like we have been busy, busy, busy. Nick is enjoying school and his teacher and therapists have all seen improvement in him physically and mentally. He is paying attention for longer periods of time and seems to really enjoy his time at school. He is also a little stud and likes to hold hands with the girls in class. Unfortunately he has been sick once a month since he started. When he is sick I usually get sick too. We have both had fevers and I can't even remember the last time I was sick with a fever. He currently has an ear infection and a sinus infection. He has been out of school all week but is on the mend. </div><br /><br /><div>He has had his normal check ups with his specialists. GI and surgery are still watching the cyst that was found during his gallbladder removal. He was actually supposed to have an MRCP which is an MRI of the pancreas but we had to cancel it because of his cochlear implant. They didn't' have that in his records so I called after I looked up what an MRCP is and we found out he can't have an MRI. They could do it if they turn the magnet way down in the MRI machine and wrap his head in padding but it could still cause burns where his implant is. We aren't going to do that so plan B is to do and ERCP which is an upper GI with x-rays. His GI doctor is on vacation so when he is back the two doctors will discuss if this test will give the results they need to see the cyst and form a plan of action with it.</div><br /><br /><div>He had appointments with his neurosurgeon and eye doctor. Both of those appointments were fine. His last head CT looked good and his eyes have not changed. He still won't keep his glasses on but his eyes aren't really bad so we aren't forcing them on him. He is still going to the dentist once a month. He has a wonderful dentist who is doing his cleanings pro bono since insurance will only pay every six months. His teeth look so much better than when we started going to the dentist and they were almost black from medications. We also went to a new doctor who is a developmental pediatrician and specializes in CP. It wasn't anything special but it's good to be a patient there since he is so hard to get an appointment with. Nick goes back in six months. He still receives PT and speech outside of school. He has been really bad with his cochlear implant but has been better the past month or so. He definitely isn't at the 1.5 year post implantation stage like he should be. He is more like a 6-8 month old with communication. He has learned that he is supposed to wear it and will keep it on if someone is standing right next to him. As soon as we turn away he takes it off though. </div></div></div></div><br /></div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-57795512342185022622011-12-27T12:37:00.001-05:002011-12-27T12:38:36.572-05:00Gait Trainer<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ef5SOmBE-nw/TvoCehUm7tI/AAAAAAAAB4A/aOVIqZ-81y4/s1600/december%2B2011%2B001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690863802500181714" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ef5SOmBE-nw/TvoCehUm7tI/AAAAAAAAB4A/aOVIqZ-81y4/s320/december%2B2011%2B001.jpg" /></a> Nick in his gait trainer at school. I hope we can get one of these for home soon.<br /><br /><div></div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-39940520416495543952011-12-14T12:15:00.002-05:002011-12-14T12:23:51.395-05:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B8tlwYDotes/Tuja3NZ9RNI/AAAAAAAAB30/JQTtew7uvqs/s1600/005.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686035171581445330" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B8tlwYDotes/Tuja3NZ9RNI/AAAAAAAAB30/JQTtew7uvqs/s320/005.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MBtPVlSZkQw/Tuja2Yf2KmI/AAAAAAAAB3o/AsYGeKgauK8/s1600/004.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686035157379066466" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MBtPVlSZkQw/Tuja2Yf2KmI/AAAAAAAAB3o/AsYGeKgauK8/s320/004.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C_GBK6XJ-jo/Tuja16vWukI/AAAAAAAAB3c/1iR4gnQIjvc/s1600/003.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686035149391051330" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C_GBK6XJ-jo/Tuja16vWukI/AAAAAAAAB3c/1iR4gnQIjvc/s320/003.JPG" /></a><br /><br />I have been such a horrible blogger recently. We are all doing well. Nick had his 3rd birthday on Nov. 8 and started school the next day. He is in a special needs preschool in our local school district. He is receiving PT, OT, and Speech once a week and a teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing sees him once a month. He seems to enjoy school and his attention span has already increased. He is still getting PT and Speech once a week each outside of school too.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-26358185885297878212011-10-18T14:49:00.005-04:002011-10-18T19:37:07.068-04:00Long Overdue Post<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uUJ0YyTWFRI/Tp3PCFGwQGI/AAAAAAAAB1c/tVWaab3cCdw/s1600/IMG_5123.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664911540939145314" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uUJ0YyTWFRI/Tp3PCFGwQGI/AAAAAAAAB1c/tVWaab3cCdw/s320/IMG_5123.jpg" /></a> Before surgery<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BgVa8FkHawc/Tp3PB_n5VVI/AAAAAAAAB1M/9Ir54__9P8k/s1600/IMG_3791.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664911539467539794" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BgVa8FkHawc/Tp3PB_n5VVI/AAAAAAAAB1M/9Ir54__9P8k/s320/IMG_3791.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dl99dpzN5UM/Tp3PB_7vW6I/AAAAAAAAB1E/9RY9FieLAzY/s1600/IMG_0556.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664911539550772130" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dl99dpzN5UM/Tp3PB_7vW6I/AAAAAAAAB1E/9RY9FieLAzY/s320/IMG_0556.jpg" /></a> After surgery<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u3lhqxZ-BtY/Tp3PBf_RqVI/AAAAAAAAB08/0DagQYdBx1A/s1600/IMG_4430.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664911530975668562" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u3lhqxZ-BtY/Tp3PBf_RqVI/AAAAAAAAB08/0DagQYdBx1A/s320/IMG_4430.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F3k3_6b5q0k/Tp3PBItONrI/AAAAAAAAB0s/RWcJ4MkOZZA/s1600/IMG_0911.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664911524725929650" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F3k3_6b5q0k/Tp3PBItONrI/AAAAAAAAB0s/RWcJ4MkOZZA/s320/IMG_0911.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PWig1lsxIAE/Tp3O0Uv8TjI/AAAAAAAAB0c/beH1eiOjLQM/s1600/IMG_5438.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664911304620265010" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PWig1lsxIAE/Tp3O0Uv8TjI/AAAAAAAAB0c/beH1eiOjLQM/s320/IMG_5438.jpg" /></a> Poor belly<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KMpghW1JR1Y/Tp3O0ac3dvI/AAAAAAAAB0U/b8lKhscbZRU/s1600/IMG_6681.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5664911306150868722" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KMpghW1JR1Y/Tp3O0ac3dvI/AAAAAAAAB0U/b8lKhscbZRU/s320/IMG_6681.jpg" /></a> Ready to go home.<br /><br /><br /><div align="left">It has been a few months since my last post. For the most part we have been following our routine of PT twice a week, OT once, AVT once and Feeding therapy once a week. We switched back to Nick's old AVT therapist. She had gone on maternity leave so we had to take him to the USC clinic. Well then she decided to start her own company and work a few days a week. So he is receiving his AVT, hearing therapy, at home again. I'm glad she came back because the USC clinic followed the school's schedule and had breaks between semesters so he would go about a month without therapy. Nick has really made great progress in PT the few months he has been seeing his new therapist. He is almost sitting unsupported. He can do it if he has his hands just right on the floor in front of him or a toy to hold on to. Then he gets excited or tries to play with something and he loses his balance. He is also doing better with eating. He is doing more chunky stage 3 baby foods and not gagging. He also ate a scrambled egg last week.</div><br /><br /><div>The big news with him is he had his gallbladder and port removed in September. The port removal was no problem the the gallbladder was more complicated than expected. The surgeon had to do an open surgery rather than laproscopically because of his previous stomach surgeries. There was a possibility of scar tissue and adhesions connecting the gallbladder to the liver and when the doctor got inside he found this was the case. Once the gallbladder was removed he did a dye study to make sure everything was connected and and flowing properly and he discovered a cyst. He couldn't physically see the cyst, only saw it from the dye study. He is pretty sure it is in the pancreas and said removing it will be very invasive. So right now the surgeon and the GI doctor are going to watch it. It can cause infection but isn't causing any problems right now so we aren't jumping into another surgery.</div><br /><br /><div>We are transitioning from early intervention to the school system. The state's EI program ends at age three so he will start a special needs preschool. We have a PT evaluation with the school this week and his general evaluation next week. The school district has a different preschool program at each school. We don't know where he will go until after his evaluations. </div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-55515127257485550412011-07-31T13:34:00.003-04:002011-07-31T13:56:10.226-04:00Playing Catch UpMy last real post was so long ago there is a lot to catch up on. Nick had an appointment with his GI doctor in early June and he wanted an ultrasound of his gallbadder to check on the stone. The ultrasound showed that the duct connecting the gallbladder to the intestines is dilated now. That probably indicated that he is passing small stones and they are getting stuck. If the duct gets fully blocked the gallbladder could rupture. So he referred us to the surgeons. The surgeon looked at the ultrasound and said he wants to talk to the GI doctor about it before he decides if he wants to operate now or wait. We haven't heard back from them yet. The surgeon also said he will remove his port either with the gallbladder or by itself if the doctors decide to continue to wait and watch the gallstones. His port hasn't been giving blood return for months so it is really useless right now.<br /><br />He had a mapping appointment at MUSC for his cochlear implant. The levels are the same as they were before. That is normal. The level is increased a lot in the beginning but then usually stays the same. He didn't cooperate in the sound booth so we couldn't get a good indication of what he really hears. The audiologist can connect to the implant and test what his brain is responding to so that is how they have been doing his maps. He goes back in six months.<br /><br />He was fitted for AFO's and now has braces for his ankles/feet to help him bear weight. He also got a hand brace to keep his thumb open on his bad hand, an arm brace to keep his bad arm straight, and a Spio. The Spio is similar to his Theratogs but a lot easier to put on.<br /><br />He spent a few days in the hospital in the beginning of July. His appetite had been decreasing for about a week and then on the 4th he didn't want to eat anything all day. He woke up that night with the shunt malfunction screaming. We took him to the ER the next day. The CT and xrays all came back fine. We waited about eight hours for the neurosurgeon to see him. He said that the fourth ventricle shunt looked like it was too short now. He said he was going to reprogram the shunts to drain faster and maybe do surgery the next day. They admitted him and reprogrammed the shunt that night. They had him scheduled for surgery the next day but he seemed to feel better. The neurosurgery department did rounds in the early afternoon and said he was bumped from surgery because of traumas. He was finally able to eat after that. Then that night they made him NPO for surgery the next day again. I didn't sign the permission slip because I wanted to talk to his actual doctor beforehand because he was acting normal again. The doctor agreed he shouldn't go through with surgery at that time because Nick has improved. That was at 7am. They didn't discharge him until 7pm when neurosurgery did rounds. We were so aggravated. I called the office twice before we went to the ER to see if we could make an office appointment. They said no and that we had to go to the ER. He spent three days in the hospital for a shunt reprogram which takes two minutes and can be done in the office. So annoying!<br /><br />We had his transition meeting with the school district last week. The preschool special services director, a special ed teacher, a speech therapist, and an audiologist were all at the meeting. They have a different preschool program at each school tailored to the different needs of the kids. We will go back closer to his birthday and he will be evaluated and placed in the program that best fits his needs. It seems like it is going to be really good for him.cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-21956906441064774212011-07-20T09:15:00.001-04:002011-07-20T09:23:30.030-04:00<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t7T9LpOwJYo/TibWkS6jecI/AAAAAAAAB0M/onUHPnGpMHM/s1600/IMG_8618.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631424303114451394" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t7T9LpOwJYo/TibWkS6jecI/AAAAAAAAB0M/onUHPnGpMHM/s320/IMG_8618.jpg" /></a>Nick did this all on his own. We are so proud of him. Time to move down the mattress. </div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-90052866854674558782011-07-11T09:42:00.005-04:002011-07-11T11:31:06.785-04:00Hippotherapy<div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-coyhqTv4ELo/ThsWvZJqHeI/AAAAAAAAB0E/_Eemkczny5s/s1600/IMG_8494.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628117162790624738" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-coyhqTv4ELo/ThsWvZJqHeI/AAAAAAAAB0E/_Eemkczny5s/s320/IMG_8494.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SJLI0xo8ckA/ThsWuyFE7hI/AAAAAAAABz8/RGfKySedkJc/s1600/IMG_7951.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628117152302427666" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SJLI0xo8ckA/ThsWuyFE7hI/AAAAAAAABz8/RGfKySedkJc/s320/IMG_7951.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Hw4Cjen5yQ/ThsWuu0VphI/AAAAAAAABz0/iAAi8mZvoAQ/s1600/IMG_6342.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628117151426913810" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Hw4Cjen5yQ/ThsWuu0VphI/AAAAAAAABz0/iAAi8mZvoAQ/s320/IMG_6342.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Co1fLlT3OBo/ThsWueU77vI/AAAAAAAABzs/g-wDY7kjCoc/s1600/IMG_6014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628117147000237810" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Co1fLlT3OBo/ThsWueU77vI/AAAAAAAABzs/g-wDY7kjCoc/s320/IMG_6014.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YuFMn1erLGY/ThsWuA8jkUI/AAAAAAAABzk/5rUkSrFwWNA/s1600/IMG_5787.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628117139113349442" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YuFMn1erLGY/ThsWuA8jkUI/AAAAAAAABzk/5rUkSrFwWNA/s320/IMG_5787.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jio8sHGslYQ/ThsWErrisaI/AAAAAAAABzc/EUo0os_XRz4/s1600/IMG_5787.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628116429030207906" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jio8sHGslYQ/ThsWErrisaI/AAAAAAAABzc/EUo0os_XRz4/s320/IMG_5787.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fQROdf90I0w/ThsWEurEmJI/AAAAAAAABzU/vLhOw_OM2eA/s1600/IMG_4939.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628116429833541778" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fQROdf90I0w/ThsWEurEmJI/AAAAAAAABzU/vLhOw_OM2eA/s320/IMG_4939.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9m5h238Fuw/ThsWEdUJqnI/AAAAAAAABzM/SGxgp9HN7pg/s1600/IMG_3108.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628116425174002290" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9m5h238Fuw/ThsWEdUJqnI/AAAAAAAABzM/SGxgp9HN7pg/s320/IMG_3108.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y31dg8w-2n8/ThsWD0W6FsI/AAAAAAAABzE/wiIrGBFEKoE/s1600/IMG_1048.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 240px; height: 320px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5628116414179710658" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y31dg8w-2n8/ThsWD0W6FsI/AAAAAAAABzE/wiIrGBFEKoE/s320/IMG_1048.jpg" /></a></div><div> </div><div>Nicholas got to try Hippotherapy on July 2. There is a horse farm nearby that works with his physical therapist to offer this therapy to her patients. Hippotherapy helps with muscle tone, posture, coordintation and other things. He rode twice and did alright. The first time he seemed to enjoy it, sat up very well and was very vocal. The second time he rode he complained. He took a nap as soon as we got home. They will offer this a few times a month unless the horse farm is booked with horse shows. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-84147550543001137782011-06-26T19:19:00.005-04:002011-06-26T19:32:26.418-04:00Pictures<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_R-VemTf1EM/TgfA5qk7CvI/AAAAAAAAByw/45dUWwc-eZw/s1600/0044.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622674756709583602" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_R-VemTf1EM/TgfA5qk7CvI/AAAAAAAAByw/45dUWwc-eZw/s320/0044.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f5UGV3WKMnM/TgfA5YHOkxI/AAAAAAAAByo/kVmI0jSb538/s1600/0054.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622674751753196306" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f5UGV3WKMnM/TgfA5YHOkxI/AAAAAAAAByo/kVmI0jSb538/s320/0054.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrG44lpBWlQ/TgfA5LdU8LI/AAAAAAAAByg/nbPxoyBY18c/s1600/0042.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622674748356227250" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZrG44lpBWlQ/TgfA5LdU8LI/AAAAAAAAByg/nbPxoyBY18c/s320/0042.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-slDPtyldXtE/TgfA4TF60cI/AAAAAAAAByY/2zUI2neU81g/s1600/0041.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622674733225660866" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-slDPtyldXtE/TgfA4TF60cI/AAAAAAAAByY/2zUI2neU81g/s320/0041.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tB5qWUgDqrM/TgfA4bG3pzI/AAAAAAAAByQ/qXM9ThfqT_w/s1600/0040.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622674735377131314" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tB5qWUgDqrM/TgfA4bG3pzI/AAAAAAAAByQ/qXM9ThfqT_w/s320/0040.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FzL9m2Zkle8/TgfAQODzMhI/AAAAAAAAByI/X-UHbXpcpjU/s1600/0039.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622674044679827986" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FzL9m2Zkle8/TgfAQODzMhI/AAAAAAAAByI/X-UHbXpcpjU/s320/0039.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T8XUuYy7gxQ/TgfAP1M2VlI/AAAAAAAAByA/6iqo9fsl2lc/s1600/0036.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622674038006896210" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T8XUuYy7gxQ/TgfAP1M2VlI/AAAAAAAAByA/6iqo9fsl2lc/s320/0036.jpg" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uDpIP4atVrk/TgfAPfWiWoI/AAAAAAAABx4/PthghtKwIKM/s1600/0029.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622674032141949570" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uDpIP4atVrk/TgfAPfWiWoI/AAAAAAAABx4/PthghtKwIKM/s320/0029.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9OzKlXPo3sQ/TgfAPJHvbiI/AAAAAAAABxw/5OspUZ9FKfE/s1600/0026.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622674026174311970" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9OzKlXPo3sQ/TgfAPJHvbiI/AAAAAAAABxw/5OspUZ9FKfE/s320/0026.jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zIMjbnzgBA0/TgfAPBukNNI/AAAAAAAABxo/foF_lrV1GvU/s1600/0023.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622674024189670610" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zIMjbnzgBA0/TgfAPBukNNI/AAAAAAAABxo/foF_lrV1GvU/s320/0023.jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jgsMgXoJaeY/Tge_jllIRLI/AAAAAAAABxg/xaDHuz3eTsk/s1600/0013.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622673277899523250" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jgsMgXoJaeY/Tge_jllIRLI/AAAAAAAABxg/xaDHuz3eTsk/s320/0013.jpg" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WpmiIKGJeu8/Tge_jJwxklI/AAAAAAAABxY/t-fjjfrkZ2A/s1600/0010.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622673270432174674" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WpmiIKGJeu8/Tge_jJwxklI/AAAAAAAABxY/t-fjjfrkZ2A/s320/0010.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XluT8wwx660/Tge_ixNXYFI/AAAAAAAABxQ/uJag13WqObg/s1600/0008.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622673263841206354" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XluT8wwx660/Tge_ixNXYFI/AAAAAAAABxQ/uJag13WqObg/s320/0008.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yiRE91yuOB0/Tge_iexPeAI/AAAAAAAABxI/eHdGrs9sW4M/s1600/0007.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622673258891409410" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yiRE91yuOB0/Tge_iexPeAI/AAAAAAAABxI/eHdGrs9sW4M/s320/0007.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zGCvUo5vonI/Tge_iPHxQLI/AAAAAAAABxA/yPCvg-tHFQs/s1600/0005.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622673254690930866" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zGCvUo5vonI/Tge_iPHxQLI/AAAAAAAABxA/yPCvg-tHFQs/s320/0005.jpg" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-49782969003543401322011-05-23T09:43:00.007-04:002011-05-23T20:21:06.329-04:00Finally, An Update<div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZZmyBrI_SI/TdptrrkbEXI/AAAAAAAABws/Yhh6cqfaFlU/s1600/226713_10150187464099322_543474321_6554134_6141308_s%255B1%255D.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);" ></span><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 98px; height: 130px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609916883040670066" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZZmyBrI_SI/TdptrrkbEXI/AAAAAAAABws/Yhh6cqfaFlU/s320/226713_10150187464099322_543474321_6554134_6141308_s%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a>A big boy bumbo that I made.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JNn_FlrE2kE/Tdptk2EOTqI/AAAAAAAABwk/lDnzjv9Iz80/s1600/IMG_5257.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609916765599321762" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JNn_FlrE2kE/Tdptk2EOTqI/AAAAAAAABwk/lDnzjv9Iz80/s320/IMG_5257.jpg" /></a>PT. Electrodes to stimulate his weak muscles.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0FnTwbl_ovg/TdptkaTuOZI/AAAAAAAABwc/OlgmS4iG3po/s1600/IMG_8690.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609916758148135314" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0FnTwbl_ovg/TdptkaTuOZI/AAAAAAAABwc/OlgmS4iG3po/s320/IMG_8690.jpg" /></a>Trying out a power chair. It is good for head and trunk control.<br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6FNrL6cwpRk/TdptkHY9quI/AAAAAAAABwU/vo0WAO3QWNw/s1600/IMG_4622.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609916753069845218" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6FNrL6cwpRk/TdptkHY9quI/AAAAAAAABwU/vo0WAO3QWNw/s320/IMG_4622.jpg" /></a>Using a stander at PT.<br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kNo37hGLyDc/Tdptj3OnISI/AAAAAAAABwM/tDwyZDoZ2jA/s1600/IMG_4435.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609916748731457826" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kNo37hGLyDc/Tdptj3OnISI/AAAAAAAABwM/tDwyZDoZ2jA/s320/IMG_4435.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VwfwpV1-j2U/Tdptj94Z_-I/AAAAAAAABwE/OZJ-WY74RYw/s1600/IMG_4172.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609916750517370850" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VwfwpV1-j2U/Tdptj94Z_-I/AAAAAAAABwE/OZJ-WY74RYw/s320/IMG_4172.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cVe2nLE8ZLQ/TdptWFtdUrI/AAAAAAAABv8/HzZ-J5OT0GM/s1600/IMG_1948.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609916512100766386" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cVe2nLE8ZLQ/TdptWFtdUrI/AAAAAAAABv8/HzZ-J5OT0GM/s320/IMG_1948.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r4vkWkdulZM/TdptV1T6u9I/AAAAAAAABv0/nU1idHslC9k/s1600/IMG_0659.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609916507698674642" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r4vkWkdulZM/TdptV1T6u9I/AAAAAAAABv0/nU1idHslC9k/s320/IMG_0659.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NVyub7wXjGo/TdptVo5gPlI/AAAAAAAABvs/AiB66xf9OOw/s1600/228152_1774957692689_1201729446_31640124_7406607_n%255B1%255D.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609916504366661202" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NVyub7wXjGo/TdptVo5gPlI/AAAAAAAABvs/AiB66xf9OOw/s320/228152_1774957692689_1201729446_31640124_7406607_n%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gK234UgMX3U/TdptVb1XK3I/AAAAAAAABvk/AZgVIr0URHc/s1600/225291_1768217044177_1201729446_31629826_3021811_n%255B1%255D.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609916500859628402" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gK234UgMX3U/TdptVb1XK3I/AAAAAAAABvk/AZgVIr0URHc/s320/225291_1768217044177_1201729446_31629826_3021811_n%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MT1yCNF_Mus/TdptVZhVuTI/AAAAAAAABvc/gc3L1lUdQ7I/s1600/222557_1751115896659_1201729446_31609865_1352726_n%255B1%255D.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609916500238776626" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MT1yCNF_Mus/TdptVZhVuTI/AAAAAAAABvc/gc3L1lUdQ7I/s320/222557_1751115896659_1201729446_31609865_1352726_n%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a>OT. He is on a skateboard type thing and has to use his arms to move around.<br /><div align="left">I have been so bad with the blog lately. I just don't time for anything anymore and loading pictures onto this takes forever so I procrastinate with it. Anyways, since the last time I updated Nicholas started with a new physical therapist. We are taking him to a clinic now. She is wonderful! She is very aggressive and has a lot of new ideas and tools we can use since she has everything in the clinic. She also does water therapy and hippotherapy. Hippotherapy is therapy on a horse. It is good for kids with CP because it can work the trunk muscles in a way that you can't do in regular therapy. She will ride with him when we do this. I'm very excited about both the water and hippotherapy. I've read about both of them and wanted to try them but didn't have a therapist that did them. She is seeing him twice a week and already sees an improvement in his trunk and head control. She had a different equipment company come out and look at his stander, which we've had for months but couldn't use because he didn't fit it yet. These guys had the stander fitted to him in no time. He is still a little small for it but it works. She also tapes his bad hand and it stays open! Three pieces of tape is all it takes. It is amazing. She also had him fitted for AFO's. They are ankle, foot, orthotics- braces for his legs. </div><div> </div><div align="left">We applied for extended therapy visits with Medicaid back in March. We still haven't gotten approval for it. His pediatrician's office said she has four patients that haven't been approved yet and Nicholas is one of them. She thinks it might be because we asked for speech twice a week. Both feeding therapy and AVT-his hearing therapy, are both considered speech. So we checked with insurance about therapy. Mark's company said he has 30 visits of PT, OT, and Speech each for the year. Mine covers 60 of each. Mark's company said no to OT with the diagnosis of developmentally delayed so we got a Cerebral Palsy diagnosis. They still said no. We missed a few weeks of OT because of this. Once we get the approval for extended Medicaid visits they will pay retroactively back to April 1st. It is really frustrating because he has five therapies a week. If we don't have Medicaid or insurance coverage that is about $500 out of pocket a week. We can't afford that. The Medicaid cuts are really hurting him right now. </div><div> </div><div align="left">Feeding therapy is going alright. He still isn't eating table food but we've started to mince up fruits and veggies and mix them in with his food. He is doing ok with it. Some days are better than others but it is progress. His therapist has seen improvement in his mouth muscles so that is good. He has a swallow study on Wednesday. They are looking for aspiration. We don't think he is aspirating but we need to have the study done so the therapist can renew him and see him for another 9 weeks.</div><div> </div><div align="left">He has a well visit at the pediatrician, a dentist appointment, a check up with the GI doctor, and a check up with the audiologist coming up. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-40750885812787582022011-05-11T12:37:00.000-04:002011-05-13T16:26:33.172-04:00March for Babies<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9LzL5h9Yneg/Tcq8HellP4I/AAAAAAAABvU/_tpd3N4vRRY/s1600/untitled.bmp"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605499522871803778" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9LzL5h9Yneg/Tcq8HellP4I/AAAAAAAABvU/_tpd3N4vRRY/s320/untitled.bmp" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sT-NKXsxmA0/Tcq8HD6RcpI/AAAAAAAABvM/GX5u8v_oXQU/s1600/223393_10150171651624322_543474321_6425177_1819750_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605499515710829202" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sT-NKXsxmA0/Tcq8HD6RcpI/AAAAAAAABvM/GX5u8v_oXQU/s320/223393_10150171651624322_543474321_6425177_1819750_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-phpxfyT0Qp8/Tcq8HDBFZ9I/AAAAAAAABvE/OPlNOgUSpfA/s1600/223097_10150171650839322_543474321_6425161_1180280_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605499515470964690" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-phpxfyT0Qp8/Tcq8HDBFZ9I/AAAAAAAABvE/OPlNOgUSpfA/s320/223097_10150171650839322_543474321_6425161_1180280_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kRs5tpXm6yw/Tcq8G7J0e5I/AAAAAAAABu8/xBzYMPfcJdI/s1600/221999_10150171649889322_543474321_6425144_7546996_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605499513360120722" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kRs5tpXm6yw/Tcq8G7J0e5I/AAAAAAAABu8/xBzYMPfcJdI/s320/221999_10150171649889322_543474321_6425144_7546996_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>I'm a little behind in my posts but The March for Babies was a success. Thank you to everyone that donated to support us in our walk. And thank you to Pam and Drew for walking with us and raising money. It was a great day for the walk. It was a lot longer than last year. Six miles and tons of hills! Last year it was raining so we turned around before we were even half way done. After the walk we went to the Sparkleberry Country Fair just like we did last year. </div></div></div></div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-82577248429260687142011-04-24T16:53:00.007-04:002011-04-25T13:59:44.366-04:00Happy Easter!<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ypOB7ICglUA/TbWspvlTy4I/AAAAAAAABu0/owMHZkhRGKA/s1600/217140_1732088980998_1201729446_31582959_5404922_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599571544852646786" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ypOB7ICglUA/TbWspvlTy4I/AAAAAAAABu0/owMHZkhRGKA/s320/217140_1732088980998_1201729446_31582959_5404922_n.jpg" /></a> I think we finally found a bowl that is too big.</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-URBAK7nzyPU/TbWspf0LbiI/AAAAAAAABus/V7ssSjMkMv8/s1600/217140_1732088940997_1201729446_31582958_4558631_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599571540620045858" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-URBAK7nzyPU/TbWspf0LbiI/AAAAAAAABus/V7ssSjMkMv8/s320/217140_1732088940997_1201729446_31582958_4558631_n.jpg" /></a> Playing with his new toy.<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K2A99bxK1Xk/TbWspPpkcmI/AAAAAAAABuk/9ZtjBCul1D0/s1600/217140_1732088860995_1201729446_31582957_3476565_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599571536280580706" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K2A99bxK1Xk/TbWspPpkcmI/AAAAAAAABuk/9ZtjBCul1D0/s320/217140_1732088860995_1201729446_31582957_3476565_n.jpg" /></a> Checking out what the Easter Bunny brought.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vj6W46rsUZ8/TbWspLvuYaI/AAAAAAAABuc/56IluX_SFxM/s1600/217140_1732088820994_1201729446_31582956_3666335_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599571535232655778" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vj6W46rsUZ8/TbWspLvuYaI/AAAAAAAABuc/56IluX_SFxM/s320/217140_1732088820994_1201729446_31582956_3666335_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jIh8Cb-6mUs/TbWsecEvvhI/AAAAAAAABuU/IXTuPKqv37Y/s1600/218063_1732071460560_1201729446_31582939_8104058_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599571350637231634" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jIh8Cb-6mUs/TbWsecEvvhI/AAAAAAAABuU/IXTuPKqv37Y/s320/218063_1732071460560_1201729446_31582939_8104058_n.jpg" /></a> The Easter Bunny stopped by.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gyjXnZPcQHk/TbWsdrKR4GI/AAAAAAAABuM/TT9qJYvgsf4/s1600/216487_1732061660315_1201729446_31582927_1303811_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599571337507102818" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gyjXnZPcQHk/TbWsdrKR4GI/AAAAAAAABuM/TT9qJYvgsf4/s320/216487_1732061660315_1201729446_31582927_1303811_n.jpg" /></a>At the Easter Egg hunt. </div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pWKxYBPpyFc/TbWsdqspF-I/AAAAAAAABuE/eJKrl6MMFqE/s1600/218063_1732071380558_1201729446_31582937_1913863_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599571337382795234" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pWKxYBPpyFc/TbWsdqspF-I/AAAAAAAABuE/eJKrl6MMFqE/s320/218063_1732071380558_1201729446_31582937_1913863_n.jpg" /></a> Trying to eat his basket.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d5cwvk2687k/TbWsdbUWvQI/AAAAAAAABt8/NqVpan6AFkY/s1600/218063_1732071340557_1201729446_31582936_663146_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599571333254397186" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d5cwvk2687k/TbWsdbUWvQI/AAAAAAAABt8/NqVpan6AFkY/s320/218063_1732071340557_1201729446_31582936_663146_n.jpg" /></a> Meeting the Easter Bunny at the egg hunt.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7N5z08qFoTk/TbWsdOHDqrI/AAAAAAAABt0/vtJR94_qGao/s1600/218063_1732071420559_1201729446_31582938_7699245_n.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599571329708960434" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7N5z08qFoTk/TbWsdOHDqrI/AAAAAAAABt0/vtJR94_qGao/s320/218063_1732071420559_1201729446_31582938_7699245_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M8jy5xgr_xY/TbWsNTZ8BpI/AAAAAAAABts/McB9qbZSYKQ/s1600/IMG_2162.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599571056252421778" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M8jy5xgr_xY/TbWsNTZ8BpI/AAAAAAAABts/McB9qbZSYKQ/s320/IMG_2162.jpg" /></a> Nicholas got a balloon at Sam's Club and loved it!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EqKwaHRX5J4/TbWr-6aRNBI/AAAAAAAABtk/lvCLgrXYjBU/s1600/IMG_4002.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599570809024754706" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EqKwaHRX5J4/TbWr-6aRNBI/AAAAAAAABtk/lvCLgrXYjBU/s320/IMG_4002.jpg" /></a> High chair insert to help him sit up straight. He isn't thrilled with it.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6RRhEepgeq4/TbWr-l2cYtI/AAAAAAAABtc/BJomV8Mqo7Y/s1600/IMG_6487.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599570803505783506" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6RRhEepgeq4/TbWr-l2cYtI/AAAAAAAABtc/BJomV8Mqo7Y/s320/IMG_6487.jpg" /></a> Tornado boy.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1pBTsaY35p4/TbWr-QmTRgI/AAAAAAAABtU/0BEvf6LBcwM/s1600/IMG_2110.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599570797800932866" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1pBTsaY35p4/TbWr-QmTRgI/AAAAAAAABtU/0BEvf6LBcwM/s320/IMG_2110.jpg" /></a> Eating lunch with his balloon.<br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ybvvfqaAPWY/TbWr-K-9HsI/AAAAAAAABtM/H5Mxsm9v2ss/s1600/IMG_2070.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599570796293725890" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ybvvfqaAPWY/TbWr-K-9HsI/AAAAAAAABtM/H5Mxsm9v2ss/s320/IMG_2070.jpg" /></a> </div><br /><div align="left">Not a whole lot has been going on. Last week Nicholas only had AVT, his hearing therapy. He did well. Now he is on break from that for a month. It is part of USC so they follow the students' schedules. He will have a new student when we start up again. Feeding therapy and OT were both canceled last week. PT is still on hold until we start at the new clinic on Friday. </div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Last Friday Nicholas saw the Easter Bunny. Grandma met us at the mall and was a big help because it was pouring when we got there. She met me at the door and took Nick inside while I parked. Of course I was drenched along with the stroller. So we took turns holding him while we waited in line. He wasn't too impressed with the bunny and we didn't get a good picture. He was more interested in looking at the big egg behind him than at the camera. Then I went to Belk to buy a towel so he could go in his stroller. </div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">On Saturday we went to the Easter Egg hunt our home owners association does. Poor Nick didn't get any eggs. They had the 18mo to 3 year olds go in the playground area. You have to go through a fence to get in. By the time I maneuvered the wheelchair in there and over tree roots and a step all the eggs were gone. It was the first time he missed out on something because of his disabilities. It really upset me because if he was a normal 2 and a half year old he would have been able to run and get some eggs. I guess the reality of his developmental delays really hit me. Daddy found a box and took 3 eggs so he did end up with some. </div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Yesterday the Easter bunny stopped by and brought him some new toys, puzzles, and books. Then Grandma and Grandpa came over for a late lunch. </div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">This week he has a dentist appointment. That should be interesting. Feeding him has gotten harder lately. He inspects his food looking for chunks. Then he covers his lower lip with his top and blow out so you can't get any food in. </div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">We only have a few more days to raise money for the March for Babies. The effects of his prematurity really hit us this weekend at the egg hunt. The March of Dimes is working to end prematurity. Here is the link to donate. <a href="http://www.marchforbabies.com/teamnicholas">www.marchforbabies.com/teamnicholas</a></div><br /><div align="left"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div align="left"><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-60668710674102674402011-04-19T13:16:00.002-04:002011-04-19T13:26:04.889-04:00Two Years!Today is the two year anniversary of Nicholas' NICU discharge. It is hard to believe it has already been two years. April 19 will always be a special day to us.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m1mC25nRYa0/Ta3EWBQFMLI/AAAAAAAABsM/DGfxvtlc-DI/s1600/IMG_2099%255B1%255D.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597345794463445170" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m1mC25nRYa0/Ta3EWBQFMLI/AAAAAAAABsM/DGfxvtlc-DI/s320/IMG_2099%255B1%255D.JPG" /></a> The day he came home. We sure don't miss the oxygen and apnea monitor.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-58756780927133323302011-04-09T19:29:00.003-04:002011-04-09T19:48:36.846-04:00<p></p><br /><p><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzI5UJ7kJWQ4nh2ye9_sbJDLakPxq2FxaQpKUY2dj69H1XFz1YFrIcpPuLwitD0MSkGr3sE_7HX4OescXJN0g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><br /><p>This is Nicholas playing with rice during occupational therapy.</p><br /><p>Don't forget to help us reach our goal for the March for Babies. The March of Dimes is trying to end premature birth. We can't do it without your help. <a href="http://www.marchforbabies.com/teamnicholas">www.marchforbabies.com/teamnicholas</a></p><br /><p></p>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-40512980402673848872011-03-31T16:00:00.007-04:002011-04-07T14:15:37.922-04:00We Have Been Busy<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hvz7sVrlgd8/TZ3-Hs5G7nI/AAAAAAAABsE/ONWnt9PQzN4/s1600/IMG_7619.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592905720527253106" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hvz7sVrlgd8/TZ3-Hs5G7nI/AAAAAAAABsE/ONWnt9PQzN4/s320/IMG_7619.jpg" /></a> <br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hbTfIfM5m7I/TZ3-HUnwSZI/AAAAAAAABr8/m2LME8S2gY0/s1600/IMG_1153.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592905714012014994" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hbTfIfM5m7I/TZ3-HUnwSZI/AAAAAAAABr8/m2LME8S2gY0/s320/IMG_1153.jpg" /></a> <br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oMXdmcpmMOE/TZ3-HIRnvoI/AAAAAAAABr0/i3_T9YyIhY4/s1600/IMG_3522.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592905710697954946" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oMXdmcpmMOE/TZ3-HIRnvoI/AAAAAAAABr0/i3_T9YyIhY4/s320/IMG_3522.jpg" /></a> <br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CGfrqFYca60/TZ3-Gx2O_fI/AAAAAAAABrs/uOBattDYmpo/s1600/IMG_3418.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592905704677506546" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CGfrqFYca60/TZ3-Gx2O_fI/AAAAAAAABrs/uOBattDYmpo/s320/IMG_3418.jpg" /></a> Getting into trouble at work. He knocked over his pod, took a lid off a box and pulled a basket off a shelf. </div><br /><div align="center"><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--6IURjp6ZVg/TZ3-GjcPAwI/AAAAAAAABrk/8U8g3Gvzhe4/s1600/IMG_1520.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592905700810359554" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--6IURjp6ZVg/TZ3-GjcPAwI/AAAAAAAABrk/8U8g3Gvzhe4/s320/IMG_1520.jpg" /></a> He is all ove the house with his walker now!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="left">I can't believe it is the last day of March already! Since my last post a lot has been going on. I left off with Nicholas going to the allergy doctor. Well we were wrong about peaches and mangoes. We thought he was allergic to pitted fruits because he was getting a rash around his mouth whenever he ate them. He isn't allergic. I brought peaches, mangoes, prunes, and peas to be tested. He was fine with everything except peas! How weird is that? I asked if we should stay away from anything else and the doctor said beans and nuts since they are all legumes. He is already allergic to milk so he has a lot of soy products. I asked about that since soy comes from a bean. So he went a head and retested him for soy and peanuts. He was negative for both. Thank goodness. It would be really hard to avoid both milk and soy. He said that peaches and mangoes can cause a skin reaction similar to posion ivy. We are still avoiding them even if he isn't allergic.</div><br /><div align="left">Nicholas got his last Synagis shot ever this month. He won't need them next year. </div><br /><div align="left">He also had a double ear infection. He kept pulling his CI off so I emailed his audiologist so see if she had any suggestions. She said a lot of times kids will do that when they have ear infections. So I took him to the doctor and sure enough, double ear infection. That was on a Monday and he still had a low fever on Friday so I took him to the weekend clinic on Saturday. One ear was still infected so he was given a stronger antibiotic. He actually went back to the doctor today. He has been crabby and had a low fever again. I wanted to make sure his ears were ok. They are but he is cutting three molars right now. It is so hard to look in his mouth we couldn't tell. </div><br /><div align="left">Glad it isn't his ears. Nicholas lost his early interventionist this month. We also learned this week that he is losing his physical therapist. They have someone in mind as her replacement but he don't know anything yet. If that doesn't work out we will probably have to find a clinic. They both will really be missed. </div><br /><div align="left">Yesterday Nicholas was fitted for his arm brace. His occupational therapist wants him to wear it to keep his hand open. He keeps his left hand in a fist and it gets really tight. It is going to be a challenge to keep it on him. He slipped his hand out of it in just a few minutes. We are going to try it while he is sleeping.</div><br /><div align="left">Grandma and Grandpa came down from Chicago for spring break. It was a nice visit and we had perfect weather. It was in the 80's the whole week. </div><br /><div align="left">The March of Dimes called us last week to see if we would tell our story at Blue Cross Blue Shield. They were having the kick off for their company team and wanted a local family to share with them. It was an honor to be asked to do this. Nicholas was adorable and showed off his tricks. I could tell our story really touched some people. There were tears in the audience and one lady came up to talk to me and gave me a hug. It was a great experience. Don't forget to help us raise money for the March for Babies. You can click in the box on the top right of the page or use this link. <a href="http://www.marchforbabies.com/teamnicholas">www.marchforbabies.com/teamnicholas</a> I will add pictures later and try to update more often!</div></div></div></div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-12090316589829392022011-03-08T11:18:00.006-05:002011-03-08T12:46:41.730-05:00Finally, An Update!<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dSU2JW3o0sM/TXZq4Raq4uI/AAAAAAAABrc/qWhQZxpijEg/s1600/IMG_0986.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581766303152792290" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dSU2JW3o0sM/TXZq4Raq4uI/AAAAAAAABrc/qWhQZxpijEg/s320/IMG_0986.jpg" /></a> Such a happy boy!</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pP1UiN6-fB8/TXZq4bor3rI/AAAAAAAABrU/XDBdSgnFBQs/s1600/IMG_4973.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581766305895931570" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pP1UiN6-fB8/TXZq4bor3rI/AAAAAAAABrU/XDBdSgnFBQs/s320/IMG_4973.jpg" /></a> Goofball.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YJy6PB7N2eU/TXZq4CQKLXI/AAAAAAAABrM/T05MsHpEf7U/s1600/IMG_6812.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581766299082173810" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YJy6PB7N2eU/TXZq4CQKLXI/AAAAAAAABrM/T05MsHpEf7U/s320/IMG_6812.jpg" /></a> Practicing for his glasses.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iUuN4G0IoT0/TXZqj_weQPI/AAAAAAAABrE/QNpa_GqmI9g/s1600/IMG_4738.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581765954815017202" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iUuN4G0IoT0/TXZqj_weQPI/AAAAAAAABrE/QNpa_GqmI9g/s320/IMG_4738.jpg" /></a> Picking out glasses. They should be ready this week.</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SvW5vr4SqRA/TXZqjwMhtaI/AAAAAAAABq8/X3u3uK0i5Lg/s1600/IMG_8223.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581765950637716898" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SvW5vr4SqRA/TXZqjwMhtaI/AAAAAAAABq8/X3u3uK0i5Lg/s320/IMG_8223.jpg" /></a> Not happy about the glasses.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FVK0nHifOJI/TXZqTAHrE6I/AAAAAAAABq0/USahEOzU4dk/s1600/IMG_4222.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581765662854550434" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FVK0nHifOJI/TXZqTAHrE6I/AAAAAAAABq0/USahEOzU4dk/s320/IMG_4222.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Dinner turned into food play!</div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tj0qXYSDeSk/TXZqSuXOQTI/AAAAAAAABqs/NOo2i9buQgY/s1600/IMG_7071.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581765658087932210" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tj0qXYSDeSk/TXZqSuXOQTI/AAAAAAAABqs/NOo2i9buQgY/s320/IMG_7071.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a-qr6MVmnvU/TXZqST9eYlI/AAAAAAAABqk/hTh48B4lvY0/s1600/IMG_2451.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581765651000615506" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a-qr6MVmnvU/TXZqST9eYlI/AAAAAAAABqk/hTh48B4lvY0/s320/IMG_2451.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nb0T4MQ-Qls/TXZqSLHkXLI/AAAAAAAABqc/tBxb9vLFDEo/s1600/IMG_2799.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581765648627031218" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nb0T4MQ-Qls/TXZqSLHkXLI/AAAAAAAABqc/tBxb9vLFDEo/s320/IMG_2799.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qSr53ViBvpw/TXZqR7UtWgI/AAAAAAAABqU/jXQEOyOEXL4/s1600/IMG_8859.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581765644387179010" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qSr53ViBvpw/TXZqR7UtWgI/AAAAAAAABqU/jXQEOyOEXL4/s320/IMG_8859.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Nf8C0Pdehs/TXZqBtfRekI/AAAAAAAABqM/4y5FXEmh4MY/s1600/IMG_7273.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581765365795486274" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Nf8C0Pdehs/TXZqBtfRekI/AAAAAAAABqM/4y5FXEmh4MY/s320/IMG_7273.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fWOxrqAy4OQ/TXZqBXJMmnI/AAAAAAAABqE/PeHmEH5VnZI/s1600/IMG_6561.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581765359797312114" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fWOxrqAy4OQ/TXZqBXJMmnI/AAAAAAAABqE/PeHmEH5VnZI/s320/IMG_6561.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wSinK1w5rDo/TXZqBM0buiI/AAAAAAAABp8/chsIOeNSnzU/s1600/IMG_6334.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581765357025868322" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wSinK1w5rDo/TXZqBM0buiI/AAAAAAAABp8/chsIOeNSnzU/s320/IMG_6334.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fxqJqhFgtjU/TXZqA-yOsmI/AAAAAAAABp0/bIJiRKQw_HQ/s1600/IMG_2217.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581765353258529378" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fxqJqhFgtjU/TXZqA-yOsmI/AAAAAAAABp0/bIJiRKQw_HQ/s320/IMG_2217.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BR3f4BEkiMM/TXZqAMLPeCI/AAAAAAAABps/LBxtkRyHdoU/s1600/IMG_7785.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581765339673229346" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BR3f4BEkiMM/TXZqAMLPeCI/AAAAAAAABps/LBxtkRyHdoU/s320/IMG_7785.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3xo3awHJVaA/TXZpoRb-D9I/AAAAAAAABpk/CCZB6DGq5AM/s1600/IMG_6871.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581764928768708562" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3xo3awHJVaA/TXZpoRb-D9I/AAAAAAAABpk/CCZB6DGq5AM/s320/IMG_6871.jpg" /></a> Playing with food is fun!<br /></div><div align="center"><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RWOOv5XeihI/TXZpoIzXzVI/AAAAAAAABpU/dLWqtSfPPfk/s1600/IMG_9155.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581764926450945362" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RWOOv5XeihI/TXZpoIzXzVI/AAAAAAAABpU/dLWqtSfPPfk/s320/IMG_9155.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="left">We actually haven't had any doctor appointments since my last post. Nicholas does have an appointment with the allergy doctor today. They asked us to bring in a peach so they can test him for that. We are also bringing mangoes because he got red after he ate those too. It seems like all pitted fruits cause a skin reaction. Very strange and it will be nice to see what the doctor has to say about that.<br /><br />He has had three weeks of feeding therapy and his therapist thinks he is doing well. We are doing food play with him but it is hard to find things to play with that don't have milk. I found soy whip last weekend and he actually touched it on his own. He wasn't thrilled to have it on his hand and shook it off but he touched it. He tasted it too and seemed to like the flavor. In therapy we are working on conditioning with puffs right now. We break up a little puff into six pieces and mix it in with his food. Yesterday, after about 20 pieces he got to the point where he didn't gag on it. It seems like a lot of pieces to go through but it is progress. He will get to the point where there won't be any gagging at all and we can move to regular food. It it really nice that his therapist wants to feed him and since the puffs are dissolvable she wants us to feed them to him. He can't choke on them since they dissolve. Before, we were told not to give him anything if he gags. She said she has seen kids that won't even let anything touch their mouths so there is hope for him. Since I'm talking about eating, I want to add that he has learned how to drink from the sippy cup on his own. After showing him once or twice we leave the cup on his tray and he can pick it up whenever he wants a drink. He actually brings it to his mouth and knows to lift it up to let the juice out. He will hold it up there a little too long sometimes so we have to take it away so he doesn't choke. I'm very proud of him!<br /><br />PT, OT, and AVT have all been the same. He is making little improvements each week. He is trying so hard to sit up on his own but can't quite get there. He does well in AVT each week but he still doesn't like his implant. We went to the monthly meeting at USC Speech and Hearing, where he has his AVT, and met other families with kids with CI's. None of their kids disliked the implant so we didn't get any suggestions on things to do to help. They have a different speaker each month. They had a lady from the School for the Deaf and Blind talking about the program the state has for phones and alarm clocks for the deaf. They are free of charge to people with hearing loss but you have to be 5 to get them. The fire department also provide smoke detectors for the deaf. The speaker had a cochlear implant so it was nice to talk to an adult about it who could answer questions about learning to hear. Next month they are having someone from the schools system. We are going to try to go each month.<br /><br />Nicholas learned how to do high five. It is so cute. If you put your hand up he will touch his to yours. Next we are going to work on waving.<br /><br />Well it is that time of year again. We are walking in the March for Babies again this year. It is April 30 at the state fairgrounds. Research by the March of Dimes found artificial Surfactant. Nicholas received that right after he was born to develop his lungs. His body hadn't produced it yet since he was born so early. Without the artificial Surfactant his lungs wouldn't have developed and he wouldn't be here today. We are very grateful to the March of Dimes and their research for saving his life. Please sign up to walk with us or sponsor us by making a donation to the March of Dimes. There is a link on the top right of the page, the purple rectangle with Nick's picture, or you can click the link here. <a href="http://www.marchforbabies.com/teamnicholas">www.marchforbabies.com/teamnicholas</a>. Thank you to everyone that has donated already!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-59181103953924446692011-02-17T13:19:00.008-05:002011-02-17T13:58:00.914-05:00Oh My, A Blog Post!<div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-li6l64deOcA/TV1uvquviXI/AAAAAAAABpM/UMyYWgRU7gA/s1600/IMG_2675.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574733678957791602" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-li6l64deOcA/TV1uvquviXI/AAAAAAAABpM/UMyYWgRU7gA/s320/IMG_2675.jpg" /></a> He even does his trick with mixing bowls. </div><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uxr90P25gl4/TV1uvRnm-XI/AAAAAAAABpE/R6_BO7NdYN8/s1600/IMG_3468.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574733672216983922" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uxr90P25gl4/TV1uvRnm-XI/AAAAAAAABpE/R6_BO7NdYN8/s320/IMG_3468.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XGaeZ8NNQuY/TV1uvOdi5xI/AAAAAAAABo8/_IgRq9V4aTE/s1600/IMG_2353.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574733671369467666" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XGaeZ8NNQuY/TV1uvOdi5xI/AAAAAAAABo8/_IgRq9V4aTE/s320/IMG_2353.jpg" /></a> Playing with an M&M bag.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yQLOP1HcwiQ/TV1uvFIuyTI/AAAAAAAABo0/1lDe4_1T4Gc/s1600/IMG_6032.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574733668866246962" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yQLOP1HcwiQ/TV1uvFIuyTI/AAAAAAAABo0/1lDe4_1T4Gc/s320/IMG_6032.jpg" /></a> Enjoying Home Depot.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_WmwqA4f4OI/TV1uu-12gcI/AAAAAAAABos/xQ3egwckZes/s1600/IMG_4476.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574733667176448450" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_WmwqA4f4OI/TV1uu-12gcI/AAAAAAAABos/xQ3egwckZes/s320/IMG_4476.jpg" /></a> He likes to take things off the table and and drop them over the side of his high chair.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nx2UlfSBGXU/TV1uS-eWAjI/AAAAAAAABok/z-EEaiMA50o/s1600/IMG_8072.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574733186041512498" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nx2UlfSBGXU/TV1uS-eWAjI/AAAAAAAABok/z-EEaiMA50o/s320/IMG_8072.jpg" /></a> Sitting in a big boy chair.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nXYfCnKyj7Y/TV1uSs2w04I/AAAAAAAABoc/CCkfEARDSwE/s1600/IMG_1181.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574733181312095106" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nXYfCnKyj7Y/TV1uSs2w04I/AAAAAAAABoc/CCkfEARDSwE/s320/IMG_1181.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SEiLc00giXI/TV1uDCV-wcI/AAAAAAAABoU/FI4J_Dow5As/s1600/IMG_9402.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574732912202269122" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SEiLc00giXI/TV1uDCV-wcI/AAAAAAAABoU/FI4J_Dow5As/s320/IMG_9402.jpg" /></a> Still enjoys the diaper dance.<br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ujn_tefFuN0/TV1uC20TvQI/AAAAAAAABoM/WRE2AG93PUU/s1600/IMG_4640.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574732909108247810" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ujn_tefFuN0/TV1uC20TvQI/AAAAAAAABoM/WRE2AG93PUU/s320/IMG_4640.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RNwVFgeTR4E/TV1tfLCDohI/AAAAAAAABoE/X3xMMmRKjuE/s1600/IMG_9039.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574732296059331090" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RNwVFgeTR4E/TV1tfLCDohI/AAAAAAAABoE/X3xMMmRKjuE/s320/IMG_9039.jpg" /></a> Look at his arm. He got it out from under the strap. Trying to escape the stroller. </div><div><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dEohBnjGfiE/TV1tetmHY6I/AAAAAAAABn8/i_9p9Aq2XJI/s1600/IMG_4652.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574732288157508514" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dEohBnjGfiE/TV1tetmHY6I/AAAAAAAABn8/i_9p9Aq2XJI/s320/IMG_4652.jpg" /></a> Here he is taking the stroller apart. He figured out how to undo the Velcro holding the shade on.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HG1dcdSRklg/TV1tepvBM2I/AAAAAAAABn0/1y8rNHfWV44/s1600/IMG_9464.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574732287121109858" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HG1dcdSRklg/TV1tepvBM2I/AAAAAAAABn0/1y8rNHfWV44/s320/IMG_9464.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HylJnZmUVhk/TV1tec6lGTI/AAAAAAAABns/jM6_f_FcK5g/s1600/IMG_5827.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574732283679938866" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HylJnZmUVhk/TV1tec6lGTI/AAAAAAAABns/jM6_f_FcK5g/s320/IMG_5827.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YbZ9oPHadBM/TV1s40gxXyI/AAAAAAAABnk/jyqpnt32Ob0/s1600/IMG_7374.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574731637179113250" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YbZ9oPHadBM/TV1s40gxXyI/AAAAAAAABnk/jyqpnt32Ob0/s320/IMG_7374.jpg" /></a> Nick's new wheels.</div><div align="center"><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JSviezaocz8/TV1s4qfUA_I/AAAAAAAABnc/VGustcJUSIY/s1600/IMG_5905.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574731634488640498" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JSviezaocz8/TV1s4qfUA_I/AAAAAAAABnc/VGustcJUSIY/s320/IMG_5905.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SJXGfNTh9uY/TV1s37mtLKI/AAAAAAAABnU/QjBD8Nw8MEo/s1600/IMG_9426.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574731621903183010" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SJXGfNTh9uY/TV1s37mtLKI/AAAAAAAABnU/QjBD8Nw8MEo/s320/IMG_9426.jpg" /></a> Yes, I know it is blurry, but he was so excited about his new wheelchair.<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QolDTYJugw0/TV1sK7lK8XI/AAAAAAAABnM/NrlrJuN1D1I/s1600/IMG_5639.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574730848802632050" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QolDTYJugw0/TV1sK7lK8XI/AAAAAAAABnM/NrlrJuN1D1I/s320/IMG_5639.jpg" /></a> The wheelchair is awesome. He sits up so well in it.</div><br /><div><br /></div><div align="left">I have been slack with the blog posts. We just aren't very exciting people. We have our routine and that is about it. We went to a few eyeglass places to try and get Nick's glasses. They only had designer glasses for older kids. We aren't going to buy Ralph Lauren glasses so he can roll over them and break them the first day. One of our friends said she gets her daughter's glasses at the eye doctor's office. I called and they do have an optical center. The lady there said they have one brand that she has never seen anyone break but they aren't covered by Medicaid. We don't have vision insurance so we will have to pay for them out of pocket. The price isn't bad so we are going to go see what they are like and probably order the free Medicaid pair too so we have a backup.<br /></div><div align="left">Last week Nick had a GI scope done. The Eosinophilic Esophagitis is back so he probably has another food allergy. We noticed that when he ate peaches he would gag more and sometimes vomit. He also would get red on his face where the food touched. We aren't giving him peaches anymore and have also stopped apricots and cherries since they all have pits. He has an appointment with the allergist next month. We have to bring a peach in so he can be tested for an allergy. He has actually started eating better since we cut out all pitted fruits. He still enjoys his mix of tuna, olive oil, and protein powder and is drinking so much better. Our friends from the NICU gave us some Neocate Splash which is like EleCare but flavored. He likes it and it is high calorie so hopefully it will help him gain some weight. I already ordered another case of it. Thanks Wicker Family!<br /></div><div align="left">He had a feeding therapy evaluation this week. The therapist seems to have some good ideas and seems interested in working with him. She said he is going to do a lot of food playing and it is going to get messy. Now he has therapy four days a week! </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-28287937024455521692011-02-07T09:15:00.003-05:002011-02-07T09:24:53.003-05:00GlassesNicholas had his annual checkup with the eye doctor last week. He determined he is nearsighted and wrote him a prescription for glasses. They put lenses up to his eyes and look with a light and see a reflection when the right prescription is held up. He is -1.5 in each eye which the doctor said isn't bad. He even put letters on the wall and the lenses up to my eyes so I could see how Nick does. I couldn't read the letters so glasses will definitely help. The doctor said if we don't think he will tolerate them we don't need to get them yet. If Medicaid will pay for them we may as well get them now. We haven't gone to the eye glass store yet but will get there one of these days.<br /><br />His early interventionist is going to try to get him an evaluation with a different feeding therapist. We didn't think the one who saw him was very helpful so we are going to get a second opinion. He is still eating stage 2 baby food and gags on anything that has texture. It only has to touch his tongue and he gags, he isn't choking on it. He has been doing well in PT and even showed off his commando crawling. Speech has been getting better but we are still having a hard time with his ear. He doesn't want to wear it at all. OT hasn't been going very well. It is right after Speech so we are going to move it to Thursdays to see if that helps. We think having Speech and OT back to back is too much for him. Now he will have his 3 therapies on 3 different days.cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-37950792201979423512011-01-26T11:29:00.007-05:002011-01-26T11:58:26.062-05:00Long Needed Update<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TUBSJbotwsI/AAAAAAAABnA/GuOSw5qwlvs/s1600/IMG_6862.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566539461420761794" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TUBSJbotwsI/AAAAAAAABnA/GuOSw5qwlvs/s320/IMG_6862.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TUBSJcNTdoI/AAAAAAAABm4/gVixz9NDQ2M/s1600/IMG_7369.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566539461574227586" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TUBSJcNTdoI/AAAAAAAABm4/gVixz9NDQ2M/s320/IMG_7369.jpg" /></a> Little Boy Got His First Real Haircut.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TUBRpwLtcdI/AAAAAAAABmw/fI56HMQhBKA/s1600/IMG_8841.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566538917180436946" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TUBRpwLtcdI/AAAAAAAABmw/fI56HMQhBKA/s320/IMG_8841.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TUBRpTRDl6I/AAAAAAAABmo/GD5l-dSh4CA/s1600/IMG_6879.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566538909418231714" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TUBRpTRDl6I/AAAAAAAABmo/GD5l-dSh4CA/s320/IMG_6879.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TUBRQ2qo0cI/AAAAAAAABmY/KhiqRTKzMo0/s1600/IMG_8841.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566538489424040386" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TUBRQ2qo0cI/AAAAAAAABmY/KhiqRTKzMo0/s320/IMG_8841.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TUBRQk8PCLI/AAAAAAAABmQ/5crF_BbNCVc/s1600/IMG_4551.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566538484666009778" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TUBRQk8PCLI/AAAAAAAABmQ/5crF_BbNCVc/s320/IMG_4551.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TUBRQiOFZZI/AAAAAAAABmI/9skAXIVU4Dw/s1600/IMG_5061.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566538483935569298" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TUBRQiOFZZI/AAAAAAAABmI/9skAXIVU4Dw/s320/IMG_5061.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TUBRQautgFI/AAAAAAAABmA/YPiIfTc0KMc/s1600/IMG_0313.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566538481924931666" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TUBRQautgFI/AAAAAAAABmA/YPiIfTc0KMc/s320/IMG_0313.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="left">Not much has been going on with us. Nicholas had another dentist appointment. She wasn't able to do much because he wasn't cooperating. She said the stain on his teeth is deep but it should lighten up over time. She was able to scrap a little and put fluoride on his teeth. He also had his second Synagis shot. Mark and I caught our colds from Nick and we had it way worse. The Synagis shot really helped. Maybe he gave us RSV. He also had a port flush. They finally got blood return this month. They haven't gotten any blood the past few months and had to give him a medication last month to try to break up any clots that might be in the line. It must have worked because they got blood this time. He also had a check up with the Neurosurgeon. He is happy with him and happy that the big golf ball size lump on his head went down. The CT looked that same as before he adjusted the shunt in November. He goes back in six months. Next week he has his annual check up with the eye doctor. </div><br /><div>One thing that is really awesome is that Nick has started to do an inch worm/army crawl thing on his tummy to get to toys. He is also standing straight up in his pod while he holds on to the front of it for balance. He looks so tall when he does that! He also moves backwards around the kitchen in his walker. All very good things for his development. His physical therapist said his wheel chair and stander are in so we are waiting on a call from the medical equipment company to set up delivery. He hasn't been doing very good with his ear lately. He keeps taking the coil off his head. It is pretty frustrating because it is so hard to keep it on him and this isn't helping his learning to hear. We are supposed to get a replacement part for his original processor today. The wire connecting the coil on his head to the sound processor was broken. Maybe going back to his beat up old one will help. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-77569675188833353232011-01-07T13:48:00.002-05:002011-01-07T13:53:41.239-05:00More Christmas Pictures<div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSdg10D2EqI/AAAAAAAABl4/QDICxxMFr6k/s1600/Go%2BPod%2B%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559518742636270242" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSdg10D2EqI/AAAAAAAABl4/QDICxxMFr6k/s320/Go%2BPod%2B%25282%2529.JPG" /></a> Go Pod</div><div align="center">+<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSdg1l2ra8I/AAAAAAAABlw/8XtS7CRB3S0/s1600/Tree%2B%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559518738822949826" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSdg1l2ra8I/AAAAAAAABlw/8XtS7CRB3S0/s320/Tree%2B%25282%2529.JPG" /></a>Under the Tree<br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSdg1T-qinI/AAAAAAAABlo/9xRqs41duLQ/s1600/Stan%2B%2BNick%2B%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559518734024608370" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSdg1T-qinI/AAAAAAAABlo/9xRqs41duLQ/s320/Stan%2B%2BNick%2B%25282%2529.JPG" /></a> Nick and Grandpa Stan<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSdg1GdEiBI/AAAAAAAABlg/vc9FEY9D4_4/s1600/New%2BToy%2B%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559518730394044434" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSdg1GdEiBI/AAAAAAAABlg/vc9FEY9D4_4/s320/New%2BToy%2B%25282%2529.JPG" /></a> New toy<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSdg0yYqOwI/AAAAAAAABlY/UpDI_pGiyv0/s1600/Pam%2B%2BNick%2B%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559518725006834434" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSdg0yYqOwI/AAAAAAAABlY/UpDI_pGiyv0/s320/Pam%2B%2BNick%2B%25282%2529.JPG" /></a> Nick and Great Aunt Pam<br /><div> </div></div></div></div><br /></div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-64285001131042447622011-01-06T16:56:00.002-05:002011-01-06T17:15:03.012-05:00<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyIsYNOaEp4NXuyI3VEjVMkmYnEK7TG_9bYsS5bRNM1RW8Wyh1ac20aFZ3Od06O4KTXMzpNz0p0lrtAGFcsLw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-37317984823725643532011-01-06T11:23:00.007-05:002011-01-06T12:49:34.600-05:00A Much Needed Update<div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSX_QznN4zI/AAAAAAAABlQ/NZPFld7sIWw/s1600/Peek.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559129979256431410" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSX_QznN4zI/AAAAAAAABlQ/NZPFld7sIWw/s320/Peek.JPG" /></a> Wearing Daddy's Bears hat in the Go Pod</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSX_QgYHxgI/AAAAAAAABlI/Q7GWX12dHYQ/s1600/Jim%2B%2526%2BNick.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559129974092842498" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSX_QgYHxgI/AAAAAAAABlI/Q7GWX12dHYQ/s320/Jim%2B%2526%2BNick.JPG" /></a> Nick and Great Uncle Jim<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSX-o6f9M6I/AAAAAAAABlA/g2X7o6oF5iU/s1600/4%2Bgenerations.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559129293910258594" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSX-o6f9M6I/AAAAAAAABlA/g2X7o6oF5iU/s320/4%2Bgenerations.JPG" /></a> Four Generations<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSX923WyhDI/AAAAAAAABk4/uhIOmVOeK5Y/s1600/Mark%2B%2526%2BNick.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559128434073044018" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSX923WyhDI/AAAAAAAABk4/uhIOmVOeK5Y/s320/Mark%2B%2526%2BNick.JPG" /></a> Nick and Daddy<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSX92IwVUUI/AAAAAAAABkw/YYLAOZihutU/s1600/Heather%2B%2526%2BNick.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559128421563715906" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSX92IwVUUI/AAAAAAAABkw/YYLAOZihutU/s320/Heather%2B%2526%2BNick.JPG" /></a> Nick and Aunt Heather<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSX91xh_hFI/AAAAAAAABko/gwoS3gy0fN0/s1600/Grandma%2B%2526%2BNick.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559128415329551442" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSX91xh_hFI/AAAAAAAABko/gwoS3gy0fN0/s320/Grandma%2B%2526%2BNick.JPG" /></a> Nick and Great Grandma<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSX91jw_2AI/AAAAAAAABkg/dCpimTBo9AQ/s1600/Rin%2B%2526%2BNick.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559128411634391042" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSX91jw_2AI/AAAAAAAABkg/dCpimTBo9AQ/s320/Rin%2B%2526%2BNick.JPG" /></a> Nick and Mommy<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSX91ZN5tOI/AAAAAAAABkY/okF0jKZqE6E/s1600/Under%2Bthe%2Btree%2B%25282%2529.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559128408802833634" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TSX91ZN5tOI/AAAAAAAABkY/okF0jKZqE6E/s320/Under%2Bthe%2Btree%2B%25282%2529.JPG" /></a> Under the Tree<br /><br /><div align="left">I have been a bad blogger lately. It just seems like there is no time anymore. Let's start with Christmas. We had a small get together with Grandma and Grandpa Matthews before Christmas. Then Grandma T flew down to SC so she could drive back to Chicago with Nick and me. Mark couldn't request his vacation until Dec. 26 so he flew to Chicago on Christmas and drove home with us. The drive up there was not bad. It took us 14 hours which included 2 stops of an hour each. Nick did pretty well. He was getting bored so whoever wasn't driving was on their knees in the front passenger seat trying to entertain him. His favorite thing to do was play with a toy then throw it between the seat and the door. About 2 hours from home he got really mad. He was so upset I had to take him out of the car seat. I felt horrible doing that but it made him stop screaming. When we got there we put him in his play area and he was so happy. </div><br /><div align="left">The first few days we did some shopping and baking. He does not like his winter coat at all. We found him a less bulky winter coat that he accepted more but he spent most of the time in the house. On the 23rd something went wrong with the processor for his cochlear implant. I called Cochlear and they said it was something with the programming and the audiologist would have to fix it. Of course we didn't bring his backup processor with us and the audiologist was about 900 miles away so he was earless until Mark got there with the backup on Christmas morning. On Christmas we spent time with the family and opened presents. Nicholas was having a hard time with all the noise so we had to take his CI off. He was in silence for a few days and there were more people there than he is used to so that is understandable. Once we turned it off he was happy. He kept scooting under the tree pretending to be a present. He also enjoyed playing with Uncle Tim's pants. </div><br /><div align="left">We found this chair called a Go Pod while we were up there. We bought a new walker to take with us but the seat was so shallow he was flopping over and could fall out so we couldn't use it. The pod has a low seat and he can stand up in it. It is really neat. I have to post a video of him in it. It was next to a chair that had a blanket hanging over the top. He kept sticking his head in the folds of the blanket and jumped up and down. He thought it was great! It was really funny.<br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">The day after Christmas my mom's family came over. It was great that they agreed to change the normal Christmas plans so they could see us and meet Nicholas. The next day a bunch of friends came over to meet him. We also had Mark's cousin, his wife and son, and his aunt over for dinner. It was nice to see them too. </div><br /><div align="left">It was a great trip and really flew by. The drive home was not fun at all. We were making good time until we got to the Kentucky/Tennessee state line. There was an overturned semi which caused the interstate to stop. Then there were a bunch of fender benders from the stop and go. Heather and John were nice enough to look online to see if they could figure out what was going on. They found the department of transportation site and told us what to expect. It was right and very helpful. That mess took 3 hours to get through and we only drove 40 miles. Nicholas was getting mad by that point so we stopped for dinner. We brought the pod in so he could stretch his legs out. We were probably the talk of the servers at Cracker Barrel that night. Right when they were serving our food Nick threw up. He just ate too much. I caught the first one in the bib and Mark caught round 2 in his hands. I would have been so grossed out if I was the server. Then about 20 minutes after we got back on the road Nick started screaming. We were going to have to stop for the night or I was going to have to take him out of the car seat. I really didn't' want to do that because we were at the beginning of the mountains and that is the most dangerous part of the drive plus it was nighttime and there was ice on the side of the road. Then I caught a whiff of his diaper and knew it was a bad one. We stopped at a gas station and they didn't have a changing table so we went to the next one and they didn't have one either. So annoying. We had to change him in the front seat of the car in the parking lot. Poor guy had poop all over his clothes and down his legs. It was bad. To top it off it was about 20 degrees outside. He was shivering and crying. We got him in his PJ's and back in the car and he was asleep in no time. So we continued driving. This all happened in Tennessee so we still had about 5 hours of driving. We finally made it home at about 1am after 19 hours of traveling. </div><br /><div align="left">The next day Nick had a low fever of 100.5 and was a little congested. We canceled OT and his GI scope. He had whatever it was for a few days. Thankfully it never got bad and he did really well with it. Now Mark is sick and I'm trying not to get it. Therapy was back to normal this week. He did really well in both PT and OT. Both his therapists approved the pod too. You never know, something that we think is great could be really bad to a therapist. His physical therapist had him sitting for 10 seconds. She thinks he is really, really close to sitting on his own. He has really taken to the sippy cup the past few weeks. He looks at it in amazement. When you give him a drink he smiles then grabs for it. He will bring it to his mouth and chew on it. It is so funny how he thinks it is just the greatest thing. This is a big improvement from about a month ago when he would push it away.</div></div><br /></div></div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-35454489994237042632010-12-20T10:10:00.004-05:002010-12-20T10:28:32.043-05:00Where Does the Time Go<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TQ90yt-wVEI/AAAAAAAABkM/RDNIFVWrRoY/s1600/002.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 255px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552785280256201794" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TQ90yt-wVEI/AAAAAAAABkM/RDNIFVWrRoY/s320/002.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TQ90yUOhs1I/AAAAAAAABkE/WQHa65_RvRI/s1600/001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 258px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552785273343030098" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TQ90yUOhs1I/AAAAAAAABkE/WQHa65_RvRI/s320/001.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TQ90yL5eMAI/AAAAAAAABj8/lUfmudol5OU/s1600/Christmas%2B002.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 254px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552785271107235842" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TQ90yL5eMAI/AAAAAAAABj8/lUfmudol5OU/s320/Christmas%2B002.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div>I can't believe Christmas is this week! We are headed to Chicago on Wednesday. Nicholas, Grandma T, and I are driving. Mark is going to fly up there and drive back home with me. Hopefully Nicholas will do well during the long car ride.</div><br /><div>He went to the Audiologist last Monday for a hearing check up. His implant is at 80% volume right now. He goes back in six months. She changed the settings on his processor and now it doesn't turn off on its own. If we took the coil off his head the processor used to turn off after about a minute to save the batteries. I thought something was wrong with it so I called Cochlear and they were going to send us a new one. We put his back up one on and it was doing the same thing. I called Cochlear again and they had me sync the processor with the remote and were able to see what was going on with it. His audiologist accidentally put it on advanced settings instead of simple. It works fine we just have to turn it off on our own. No big deal but i think we will go through batteries faster since Nick likes to rip it off his head and if we don't see him do it it will still be turned on draining the batteries. </div><br /><div>We heard back from the GI doctor about his stool sample. There was no blood in his stool but it was very acidic. He said that means he isn't absorbing something. He wants to do another GI scope to see if something is going on with the small bowel. That is scheduled for Dec. 30. He will have to be sedated for it. </div><br /><div>He finally got his first Synagis shot last Friday. His appointment was Oct. 22 but it took two months for the doctor's office to get someone at the insurance company to agree to let them use the medicine in the office rather than ship it just for him. This avoided us having to pay for 50% of the cost of the shot. The shots are over $2,000 each and he is supposed to get six of them. He will only get four because it took so long to get the first one. He was 22lb 2 oz at the Pulmonologist's office when he got the shot. He has never been over 22 pounds on any scale so he gained some weight. The tuna salad and olive oil must be packing on the pounds. </div></div></div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-36612128127637151702010-12-08T10:01:00.005-05:002010-12-08T10:25:34.147-05:00Equipement and FTT<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TP-jNKVR6GI/AAAAAAAABj0/9S_I8gD8mFM/s1600/IMG_0094.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548332712450975842" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TP-jNKVR6GI/AAAAAAAABj0/9S_I8gD8mFM/s320/IMG_0094.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TP-jMrjIVJI/AAAAAAAABjs/ZxzsuDoLilM/s1600/IMG_1608.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548332704187569298" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TP-jMrjIVJI/AAAAAAAABjs/ZxzsuDoLilM/s320/IMG_1608.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TP-jMOeX0SI/AAAAAAAABjk/RJeZRYScEK0/s1600/IMG_8517.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548332696382984482" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TP-jMOeX0SI/AAAAAAAABjk/RJeZRYScEK0/s320/IMG_8517.jpg" /></a> Not a fan of winter gear.<br /><br /><br /><div align="left">Last week Nicholas had an appointment with the GI doctor. He isn't gaining weight and growing like he should be so he diagnosed him Failure to Thrive. He said to give him fish and add olive oil to his food. He also said to add protein powder to his food. Of course most protein powder has milk in it so I wasn't able to find any. Grandma T got some at Whole Foods that is milk free. I can't wait to go to Whole Foods later this month. It is going to be a dairy free wonderland! He has been doing well with the tuna. We are adding Miracle Whip so it is like tuna salad baby food. Looks gross but Mark said it doesn't taste bad. </div><br /><div align="left">His feeding therapist came by to go over his swallow study. He has a safe swallow meaning he isn't aspirating into his lungs but it is very uncoordinated. He has residue left in his mouth that takes several swallows to get rid of. He also has premature spillage into his throat. That means the food is going down by gravity rather than him forming a bolus and making a swallow. We really didn't get any new news. He is uncoordinated and has texture issues. So no feeding therapy and we are to work on de-sensitising his mouth. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Nicholas did really well at AV therapy today. It is affiliated with USC so they are going on winter break for 4 weeks. Since they like Nick, the instuctor said she will try to come in to see him while they are on break. </div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TP-fhPurrDI/AAAAAAAABjc/xd4t7WVNhfE/s1600/snuggiraffe-1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548328659450571826" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TP-fhPurrDI/AAAAAAAABjc/xd4t7WVNhfE/s320/snuggiraffe-1.jpg" /></a> The Giraffe Stander<br /><div> </div><div align="left">Yesterday during PT, a rep from an equipment company came out to measure Nicholas for his wheel chair and stander. He has to start getting his therapy through the school system as soon as he turns 3 so his therapist wanted to go ahead and order the wheel chair since it can take forever to come in sometimes. It looks like a stroller so that is pretty cool. The stander on the other hand, looks like a torture device.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TP-eI7PXW3I/AAAAAAAABjM/tYALK5HHkY4/s1600/file_69_5_1_1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548327142122019698" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TP-eI7PXW3I/AAAAAAAABjM/tYALK5HHkY4/s320/file_69_5_1_1.jpg" /></a> The Stingray Wheel Chair </div></div></div></div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913365224428552724.post-53267964929003443172010-11-30T13:28:00.005-05:002010-11-30T13:57:09.287-05:00Updates<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TPVImkpeJ_I/AAAAAAAABjE/RsP6fv5cr3c/s1600/IMG_2534.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545418343686481906" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TPVImkpeJ_I/AAAAAAAABjE/RsP6fv5cr3c/s320/IMG_2534.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TPVImFxLvsI/AAAAAAAABi8/PJFy0v6f54Q/s1600/IMG_1361.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545418335397330626" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TPVImFxLvsI/AAAAAAAABi8/PJFy0v6f54Q/s320/IMG_1361.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TPVIlUuJ0DI/AAAAAAAABi0/cXEinJB6VME/s1600/IMG_5968.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545418322231283762" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TPVIlUuJ0DI/AAAAAAAABi0/cXEinJB6VME/s320/IMG_5968.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TPVIlMTYXoI/AAAAAAAABis/aVrxETj1v38/s1600/IMG_4713.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545418319971507842" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TPVIlMTYXoI/AAAAAAAABis/aVrxETj1v38/s320/IMG_4713.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TPVIkXD_GAI/AAAAAAAABik/tV0SUgp8TeE/s1600/IMG_0322.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545418305679857666" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TPVIkXD_GAI/AAAAAAAABik/tV0SUgp8TeE/s320/IMG_0322.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TPVHY83WEwI/AAAAAAAABic/Z0Mqd-bpJqc/s1600/IMG_5180.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545417010157327106" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qZK1ZY0DFlI/TPVHY83WEwI/AAAAAAAABic/Z0Mqd-bpJqc/s320/IMG_5180.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>I have been such a bag blogger lately. I have to go back through my appointment book to do all Nicholas' updates. We have also been bad about taking pictures so I'm using phone pics. Lets see, going back to the beginning of November, Nicholas had an ultrasound of his gall bladder. The gallstone is the same size. He sees the GI doctor this Friday so we will find out what his plan is. He had his 2 year well visit on the 11th. He was 21.5 pounds and 30 inches. He gained good weight since his last visit but his length is concerning. If he still isn't growing much at his next well visit in 6 months he will have to see an Endocrinologist. Besides that his doctor was very pleased with him. He had another swallow study on the 22nd as requested by the feeding therapist. The therapist doing the study said that he has a texture/sensory issue with his mouth. He is swallowing fine, so that is good. His feeding therapist wants to go over it with both of us and decide what to do. She thinks he is going to need about 2 hours of feeding therapy a week. We made an appointment with the Neurosurgeon because he had some swelling on the valve of his shunt. The doctor decided to adjust his shunt to drain faster and do a follow up CT in a month. He has had a big bulge of fluid where an old burr hole is every since they moved the shunts to the other side of his head. The bulge went down to about half the size it was and no shunt malfunction so hopefully that did the trick. I thought they should have done that like 6+ months ago but whatever. Logically to me, it seemed like the fluid wasn't draining fast enough so it was going out any path it could take, hence going out the old burr hole. We'll see what he says after the follow up CT and office visit. Nicholas still hasn't gotten his Synagis shot. That has been a huge mess. His insurance is based out of Florida and they have to ship the medicine to the doctor's office rather than letting the doctor use what they already have in stock. The insurance will only pay 50% of the expense and the shots are about $2500 each. He needs 6 of them so that would be $7,500 we would have to pay for the remainder. He has SC Tefra Medicaid and they would normally pay the remainder but since the medicine has to be sent from a pharmacy in Florida, SC Medicaid won't pay for it. So I don't know what is going to happen with Synagis. That's about it in updates. </div></div></div></div></div></div>cmm1210http://www.blogger.com/profile/09457235403138555364noreply@blogger.com0