Update On Andrew
Jan 1997
Andrew had Myelo clinic this month. He was seen by everyone but, we got great news with Ortho. Dr. Emmons said that Andrew didn't need a walker to walk. He based this on the PT's notes (she will see Andrew every other week) and on how Andrew was walking in the office. He hasn't taken any steps alone (unassisted) yet, but can cruise furniture really well. He did this with and without his braces on for the doctor to see, Ortho was very pleased with how well he's doing. Andrew is very strong willed!
Feb 97
Andrew's PT brought over a (metal) walker for him to try. She though maybe it would be better then a push toy. Well, the second day he had it he fell twice with it and then he didn't want it any more. So, now he is using a different push toy from Fisher Price that is lighter for him to move. He does very well, and this allows him to get around better then the first push toy he was using. More baby proofing needed to be done.
Andrew still isn't talking, other then saying "mama" and once in a while "dada". But loves to talk in the mirror and learned to wave bye-bye!
March 97
Nothing much this month either.
April 97
Andrew had a speech evaluation done this month, and he is delayed (Duhh, I could have saved them and, me the time and trouble), but has good oral control. They said since his last hearing report showed he didn't have a hearing loss, and that he watches our mouth closely when we work with him, that he would pick it up with time. I asked about having him learn sign and they thought it was a start but to work more on having him repeat sounds. That since he loves to look at himself (he's such a ham) to work in the mirror as well. So, on Fridays at the parent-child group the speech person will work with him. But if in a few months I don't see any improvement I will get a second opinion on his speech maybe get a hearing test done again. What do you think?
May 97
GOOD NEWS: Andrew has been climbing up the stair to the bedrooms. We had to get a new gate, because he went up them on his own when I forgot to lock it. This new gate locks behind me now. Boy, did he scare the heck out of me. I was only busy for a few minutes when I noticed he was not in the living room. I went looking for him and found him up in his bed room with the door closed, playing with his toys. I was happy to find him okay, but at the same time scared that he could have slipped down the stairs since he didn't have his braces and sneakers on.
Speech therapy will start next month, I hope. He is starting to babble more. I think he is trying to say "up" and "Barney". Plus I'm still working on the basic signing with him which I think is helping also.
At Myelo this month, he had bladder testing he "still" has reflux into his left kidney, but it's not any worse or affecting his right kidney. Dr Bauer says he wants to wait until he is about 5 yr old to have surgery to correct the reflux but that it could correct it's self in time. But if not then he's having the surgery before reflux gets worse. We are still going to cath him every 3 hrs and he will stay on the Ditropan and Bactrum.
With Ortho, he was fitted for new braces, will pick them up in June. Dr Emmons was happy to see Andrew cruise around the office and said his right leg would straighten out with time as his left leg did. Don't you just hate it when they say, "lets wait it out" ?
June 97
Andrew has started to sign the words we use with him like, "all done" or "clean up" and his favorite is "more".
Having a harder time with his eating, Andrew doesn't want what I make for him to eat any more. But sometimes he wants what we are eating, but if I make him a plate he won't eat it unless it's right off my plate!! Which drives me nuts.
Respite care started this month too. Just in time for our 8 yr wedding Anniversary!! We got to go out for a few hours to a nice dinner, alone. But, I missed Andrew, since I am with him 24/7 it seemed a bit strange not to have him with us.
July 97
Andrew is doing well with his second pair of AFO's he still isn't taking any steps on his own but is more daring! He will let go of your hands and stand for a few seconds, he's on his way!
We took him to see our family over the long 4th of July weekend. But he was sick the very next day. I took him to his Pedi to be checked for a UTI. He didn't want to eat but we did push the fluids. No UTI was found.
Speech started this month, finally!!! My husband put up a toddler swing on our back deck because it seems that Andrew does most of his babbling when swinging........ We also just got the news that his Physical Therapy person, Tara is leaving the early intervention center where Andrew is receiving his PT and Speech from, next month. I just hope we will have someone who is as fun, smart, and willing to push Andrew to get him motivated but not to push to hard. Sounds like pretty big shoes to fill!
Aug 97
Andrew is making more sounds now. Not really words but does point to things that he wants. He also, does the "more" sign with me more then he does with his dad. He also, taps me on the leg or arm when he is babbling to get my attention. Mary, his speech person is really great with Andrew and even works on gross motor things as well. Andrew loves the dump and fill game, and also putting pennies into a can. Andrew also has a new PT person, her name is Mary Ellen she is taking over for Tara. She seems nice, she will start with Andrew the first of next month.
Sept 97
Andrew was in Boston's Childrens Hospital for 5 days this month due to a UTI that went to his kidney. Andrew had a lot of bladder and kidney testing done there. Dr Bauer wants to correct the reflux ASAP. The surgery is set for December 4th. The surgery is called reimplantation of the ureters. I'm told that the rate of correction is 99%. We will hold Andrew back from starting his "new" toddler class, until after he has recovered from this surgery sometime in Jan 98.
My husband made some home made parallel bars for us to work on his walking. So far so good, Andrew enjoys walking the bars, and his new PT person, was very impressed with the bars and also wanted me to copy our plans so she could share it with other parents. And if you would like the plans follow the link- parallel bars.
Oct 97
On Saturday Oct 11th, Pat and I took Andrew to Lowell Mass to a religious retreat for the afternoon. There, we meet Maria Esperanza and she held Andrews legs, asked me what he had wrong, then she prayed over Andrew. She was as beautiful in person as she was on tape. While we were there Father Tom Lorenzo and Rev Michael McDonagh from Texas also prayed over Andrew. This made both my M/L and I very happy, what a great day we had!
More GOOD NEWS: Today Oct 16th, I stood Andrew on the kitchen floor and he stood there for a total of 6-7 minutes. This was a first for him. Most of the time, he will stay standing for maybe a total of 8-10 seconds but not minutes. This time he was not scared even though he was not holding onto anything, just standing while holding a cookie then he leaned a bit forward and fed the dog his cookie. After Sheldon took the cookie he looked at his hand and back at the dog, then tried to take a step but he got wobbly and stopped but did not fall he's on his way!!!! Of course Sheldon (the male dog) waiting for more cookies and was as happy as a pig in mud, almost as happy as me, watching Andrew do this. So, I then reached and got the bag of cookies and handed Andrew another cookie --one by one as he fed the dogs. He then fell forward onto Casey (the female dog) because Sheldon got a bit jealous and bumped into Andrew. I was so happy he stood there for that long without holding on to anything that I had to share the news with all! As soon as I could I called my husband who was very happy as well, then my mother, Andrew's Nana, my sister and brother-in-law, (where were you Fatima and Brain???) and Andrew's Auntie Krissy, there all were very excited too!!!
Andrew was a little devil for Halloween, and a cute devil he made, check out the new picture.
Even though Andrew's birthday is the 30th of Oct we have planed his birthday party to be for the first weekend of Nov ....... Can you believe he is 2 already? I sure can't!!!
Nov 97
Andrew has started to give kisses, if asked. I started asking him to kiss items like his Barney, or his truck, even his toes. He thinks it's funny to kiss his toes, he does this then laughs so hard I just like to see him do this. In one afternoon my husband taught Andrew to blow kisses, this is very cute too. He is also, starting to understand a lot more now. I just love it when he asks me for more by signing and pointing!!!! He loves it when we, count or sing the ABC's to him. He tries to count with us too.
Well, we had a birthday party
for Andrew on Nov 1st and it was a big success. He got some really nice gifts. My best friend Paula got Andrew a set of drums...He loves this drum set, and loves to play it as loud as he can when his mom is watching her soaps or the news! Thanks Paula...I will return the favor...someday!!
Andrew had Clinic this month. Urodynamics was done, his bladder pressure is still low. Had a UTI, so the reflux surgery is a must! Dr Bauer also changed Andrew's med, to Furadantin. Ortho had Andrew walk with and without the braces, he was happy with how his feet and ankles looked. I asked him about a metal walker again, but I got the same answer as last time, "he doesn't need one" he wants Andrew to use the toy walker. CT was done, no sedation was needed :-) it looked fine. The next clinic visit will be sometime after this reflux surgery, for a check up.
My M/L wanted to take Andrew to a retreat at a small church in Medway, after mass was held Father Jozozovko, from Medugorje prayed on the people. I took Andrew up, to get blessed, he was so good even though it was hot, crowed, and very noisy in there, with all the prayers this kid gets from all over the world you would think he was a star or something, I take that back.......he is a star, my star!Andrew will not be attending the parent-child class at the center for the month of December, due to his surgery, he will start his toddler class in January. The class is at the early intervention center, two times a week, for two and half hours. Even though I will be lost without him for this short time, I know it will be great for him to be with other kids, his age. I will have a meeting to discuss the latex issue and give them my pager number and a sheet of all his meds, and special information to be given to the hospital if there is an accident, you never know, it's best to be prepared!
11/24: This morning Andrew woke up at 6am (which is not normal for him) then I went into his room to tell him it was still early, and that mommy wanted to go "nite-nite", I laid on the floor next to his bed and closed my eyes. He then said something that sounded like "nite-nite" to me, in a baby kind of way!!!! Of course, at this point I was so happy and much too awake to try to get him to sleep. And because I enjoyed hearing him trying to talk to me, I was egging him on to say "nite-nite" again and again. When he didn't say it again, I took him down stairs and he played. I am happy that he is trying to say words, since he still is so delayed in his speech. Mary, the speech person keeps telling me, that all and any sounds are good practice for him, I just can't wait for him to be able to talk to me. The first of Jan, Andrew will have his evaluation from the early intervention center.
Dec 97
Andrew had his reflux surgery on Dec 4th. He came home from his reimplantation surgery after only two days in the hospital, I couldn't believe how well he did from it. He is doing great!! Thank you all for your well wishes and prayers!
This Christmas was the best, Andrew had a ball opening up all his gifts. At his birthday party only 2 months ago he still was very slow at tearing off the paper. He got the fisher Price Farm House, from his grandma, and it has became his favorite toy!
Andrew has been practicing on his balance, by standing from a seated position. He is doing better with his walking, he can hold our hands and walk pretty well, but lacks the balance and confidence in him self to walk without our help. He also, has started to say what sounds like 'cereal' and is trying hard to form other words. Mostly signs his words.
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