Swallow Study

Today Max had a swallow study. . . if that is what you want to call it!! Over the past six months or so, Max has not been a fan of any of the radiology rooms. As soon has he gets in to the room and looks around, he begins to shake and cry. It is heartbreaking. Especially when you know that they are not going to do anything that will hurt him. I think he would rather go in for surgery than have a chest x-ray taken. Poor guy!

We only were going to give him liquids today since he previously passed for nectar and honey consistency. We got him to take a couple drinks in between cries and when he swallowed it looked good! So our plan is to give him an ounce of liquids each time we feed him by mouth for about a month. If he doesn't get sick, we will increase the amount. I don't like the fact that we are relying on remaining aspiration pneumonia free to see if he passed the swallow study. But we really don't have a choice right now since he will probably never have a good swallow study again unless he gets over his fear of radiology rooms. For the last three or four months we have been giving Max liquids from a baby spoon and he hasn't gotten sick, so that helps ease my mind a bit. Cross your fingers that we can continue to increase liquids by mouth for Max!

Happy 2nd Birthday Max!

A few minutes old. . . Max is One. . . Max is Two! Last weekend, we celebrated Max's 2nd birthday by having family over. Papa Dave made Max an Elmo cake which was as delicious as it was ADORABLE!! Max got to enjoy his birthday cake this year!! I think I enjoyed the fact that he was able to enjoy his birthday cake even more. There was no better feeling that day then to plop a big piece of cake and a scoop of ice cream on his high chair tray and let him go to town! He wasn't too interested in opening his presents, but big sister was more than willing to help out. We gave him a police car rocker that lights up and makes noises. Lights and noise is always a hit for him. Max loved all the attention and being able to show off and he had quite the audience for that. Happy Birthday Max!! We love you!! I have to admit that Max's 2nd birthday was hard on me. I couldn't help but to think about what he is not doing at two. . . things I was expecting when I was expecting. I turned those thoughts around and thought about how encouraged I am by the things he is doing. The things I didn't think he would be doing on his 2nd birthday when he was diagnosed with RTS. On Max's 2nd birthday he can stack rings and blocks, climb the stairs, sign "more", rock and bounce on riding toys, pass a swallow study for everything except for thin liquids, go a day. . . a week. . . even more without throwing up, handle his secretions better than he did six months ago, work really hard at eating textures, can eat cheerios and cheeto puffs like they are going out of style, loves to dance when being sung to, is interested in puzzles, trains, and cell phones, is doing great with his friends at day-care and is moving to a new room on December 1st, can bring you up when you are down by seeing his contagious smile on his face. OK, you get my point. The list can go on and on! And his most recent accomplishment is how good he is doing with trying to walk. He is even initiating walking by himself! Go Max!

More???

Max has one sign down. . . More! I am super happy that he is using the sign for more, BUT he is starting to use the sign for more for everything. Example: Wanting cheetos or cheerios from the pantry, wanting me to pick him up, I even think he uses it when he is done with something. He is getting frustrated and so am I. I am trying to get him to use different signs and point to what he wants, but for now he just finds them entertaining when I show them to him. I don't want him to become frustrated with me not understanding what he wants. Previously, his wants and needs where much easier to determine. But as he is getting older, it is getting harder to figure out what exactly he wants. And if I don't get it right, he signs "more" harder and faster. And if I still don't know what he wants, he makes fists and taps them together. Any suggestions??

Cheeser!

How do you like Max's new smile when I get the camera out?!?!

Warm PJs

Now that Max is in size 18 months sleepers (he has yet to see 18 month clothes for anything else), I can no longer find blanket sleepers with buttons. They all have zippers. And since Max doesn't like to keep blankets on and is still getting an overnight drip through his G-tube, I had to come up with a way to keep him warm at night and feed him at the same time. My mom sewed a big button hole in his sleepers. It works great! Max says "Thanks Grandma Olson. . . I know you like me to be warm!"

Fall

Just last weekend, we were enjoying a couple of beautiful fall days and now it is snowing. I am not ready for winter. Ready or not. . . it is coming!!

Photo Shoot 2008

Here are some pictures of our photo session we had with Rich.
Ava - 5
Max- almost 2







Check out Rich's website. He is located in St Paul, MN

http://www.13twentythree.com

Happy Halloween

I hope everyone had a good Halloween! Ava enjoyed her day that began with trick-or-treating and a party at day-care. I joined her for her party. That night, Papa and Grandma Foley came to our place to see the kids in costume and enjoy the night with us. Dave dresses up every year to scare the kids that come to our door and to take Ava out trick-or-treating. Again this year, Ava was scared of him at first even though she knew it was him. Max just looked at him and laughed and grabbed at his mask. While trick-or-treating, Ava didn't want me to come up to the door with her. She told me to wait by the mailbox while she went to the door. My little girl is growing up! Sniff! She said next year she wants to go out alone! Ya, right!!

Max's day didn't go as well as Ava's. At 10:00, day-care called and said he threw up twice and was running a 101 temp. John picked him up and spent the day with him. He was in good spirts when Ava and I got home. We dressed him up for a few pictures and to take to my Aunt's house to see him. He is feeling much better today! I hope this is a sign that he will handle being sick better this year!!