Fun Filled Week of Appointments

Just shoved a huge Gus' pretzel in my mouth! (I LOVE Gus' Pretzels)

Home from school after a day of playing with markers

Well this was the week of appointments. Everyday our little man had somewhere to be. So here we go:
Monday: PT with Ellen and then a Follow Up with the ENT. She checked the status of the tubes and they seem to be doing their job. Look great and are still entact. Follow Up in six months.
Report Card Grade - A

Tuesday: NICU Follow Up and Developmental Testing. This was a long day for Ryan and Dad. Spending a good portion of the day at CGCH. The NICU follow up with the neonatologist went well. He is progressing well and doesn't need a return visit for six months. He also met with a psychologist for another Bayley Test. A Bayley test scales infant and toddler development. It rates the Cognitive, Language and Motor skills of a child based on their chronoligical and corrected ages. The psychologist played with him for about an hour and came up with some exciting and promising outcomes. Chronological age now: 26 months. Cogitive scale age equivalent is 20 months. Language scale age equivalent is 19-20 months. Fine Motor scale age equivalent is 15 months and Gross Motor scale age equivalent is 7 months. We knew the gross motor skills were low, because he is not crawling or walking quite yet (affects of the cerebral palsy), but are thrilled with these results. At a previous NICU visit in July,the results of the Bayley test were Extremely Low/Borderline. Now he is Low/Average! This proves early intervention and intense therapy with our little man has improved his outcomes tremendously. I know he is a smart little man and can communicate with us, but it is so reassuring that a professional confirms he is on track with other kids and has great potential. Still working on Gross Motor Skills. He is scooting more. He has issues with his right side, not sure how to get his right arm out from under him to help move and tends to scoot in a circle. His legs are strong and he can hold his own weight. We walk with him and he moves his legs and feet back and forth, like he is walking! This is very encouraging and promising, on our way to crawling and walking. Report Card Grade - A.

Wednesday: Speech Therapy with Ashley. Determined he now can say 50 + words. I know this increases everyday, because Ryan repeats EVERYTHING now! We really have to watch what we say and pronunciate our words. Words starting with B an P are now entering in his vocabulary. Eye Therapy with Jo. Still improving and have a follow up with the pediatric opthalmologist in April. Report Card Grade -A.

Thursday: OT with Adele. Played on his belly more today, didn't want to stand too much. Report Card Grade - B

Friday: Scheduled to get his new AFO's but Barb was out sick today, so we've rescheduled for next week. Went to MorMor Jo's for a fun filled evening and spent the night.

Saturday: Spent most of the day at MorMor Jo's while Tim and I both worked.
Everytime we come back from MorMor Jo's, he increases his vocabulary, now saying purple and poop!(not together). Thanks mom!
Whew...
What a week, now preparing for a relaxing day. Take a walk up to Schnucks, then watch the USA vs Canada Hockey Gold Medal game this afternoon. GO USA!!!

Other exciting news: Aunt Julie and Uncle Trevor are expecting a boy in July! Congrats! Today is Aunt Julie's Birthday too! Happy Birthday and enjoy your day!
Love, Ryan