20 April 2009

I've had several things to post about this last week and it seemed like the week got away from me before I could get anything written!

Liam had his 1 year well baby check up (a bit late since he is now 13 mo corrected) and we got another lovely weight gain so he is now a whopping 16 lbs 10 oz. I know what you're thinking... he is becoming such a chunky monkey, right? That's what I was thinking. But guess what? He isn't even ON the growth chart! Yup. He is so far below it looks like it will be a year before he even gets on it! And so as not to make me feel bad about the fact that Liam is a little lot underweight for his age, the Dr. said it would better for him to be underweight than overweight if he has to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Ahem... WTH? Really?

I didn't say anything when he said that. I didn't really know what to say. But now that I have thought about it. I have a LOT to say about that...

Do you realize what you are saying? Do you realize how we have hopes and dreams and you can just deflate our hopes with one poorly thought out remark? Can you see the future? Do you have a direct line to God about what His plans are? And least of all, what difference does it make if an immobile person is overweight or underweight??? I think that would be the least of anyone's worries!

Ok- I feel better getting that off my chest! Thanks for being my sounding board.

Liam was on the chart for height, although he was only the 3rd percentile. But I really think they weren't using a preemie chart and I didn't even think to ask. Liam is still gaining and growing and that was all that concerned me at the time.

Liam also had his one year evaluation for the early intervention services he receives. It was nice and relaxed and I didn't feel it necessary for Liam to perform. I thought he did fairly well, considering his delays and I could answer many of her questions positively. He will still receive services for the next year, of course, and we are looking at maybe adding speech to his routine. Liam loved this red mirror they had and he would look at it and smile. He also tracked it very well. He tried to grab toys when she put them in front of him. I think his new glasses are really helping him focus better and see farther. Doesn't he look adorable?





Liam got a stander this past week. If I hear my PT right, we aren't using it for "standing" (I know, it is called a stander so you can work on standing) but we are going to use it for head control. He will get the benefit of standing in it and bearing weight on his legs in a proper position but it will hopefully give him the stability and response he needs from his body to lift up and work on his upper torso strength. He's vomited everytime I've put him in it, but thats because he bends over and squishes his belly while I am trying to strap him in. To make it fun for him, I tip him over backwards in it and he thinks it is quite funny. It keeps him laughing while he is in it. I don't know that we get to work on much head control when I do that.... He looks like he's posing here, huh?



My 13 yr old, Rylie, is pretty observant and noticed that Liam didn't look like his legs were the same length when he was in the stander. I just though it was because he prefers his right leg to stand on and he is now standing flat footed with that leg when he used to be on his tippy toes. I noticed it even more after she did and saw that when he stood flat on his right leg, his left foot didn't seem quite right. I mentioned it to the OT doing the eval. today and she said it did seem that his left leg was shorter. But, who knows if it is musculature or skeletal at this point. Just something else to add to Liam's laundry list.




And last but not least, we got into the Chapel Hill feeding clinic for May 18th. I don't know how God worked that one, because when I originally called they didn't have any openings until August! They told me to bring him hungry. It will be interesting to see what they have to say and if they will actually be of any help. We've coasted this far. I'd love to start cruising.





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8 comments:

Tiffany said...

I almost cried when you posted that comment by the doctor. I had a neurosurgeon tell me "he'll never go to a regular school". I didn't say anything, but I definitely rebuke that. I'm not claiming it or believing it. I'm shooting for the stars for my son!

Tiffany said...

Oh....and he is tooooo cute in his glasses.

*super dude and super dog* said...

Oh, I hate insensitive doctors. Just crush us why don't you??!?!

Liam looks so tall in his stander, that's not really a stander. And I really do love the glasses on him. I hope they are making his ability to see much better.

Rebecca told us about a cookout next Sunday--will you be there?

Stephanie said...

We are doing great - Thanks for asking! I have been so busy because I finally decided to quit my job. It finally became to much juggling my job and taking care of Kennedy. My last day was Friday and now I have been spending the last two days trying to get my house back in order.

Liam looks so darn cute with those glasses!!! About the stander....is Liam able to put pressure on his legs when you hold him up? I am just asking because i was curious if that thing would work for Kennedy.

I am glad to see that you are doing well. Talk to you soon :)

Kate said...

People just don't think when they speak. We had the PT and the equipment rep over here a couple of days ago to look at standers (I think probably the same one Liam has -- he looks great in it!) and we were talking about chairs. And the PT made a comment about getting a chair on a school bus 'Not that I can picture Dorrie getting on a school bus.'

Well THANKS.

I hope it comes back to them at night and they writhe over what they said. I know I would!

Shannon said...

Austin was only 4 weeks early and he spent the first 5 years on the "normal" weight charts in the 0%-3% margin. He didn't even hit 20lbs. until 23 months old! Now at 8 yrs. he usually falls in the 5%-10%range, but he's healthy. Kids are definately not cookie cutters!
Isaiah 40:26

Jennifer said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jennifer said...

Shannon! It's so good to see you on here! Thanks for the positive reminder. I bet Austin and Avery are so big!
Jen