Thursday, July 26, 2007
Where is my lollipop? (object permanence and other tricks)
Wren seems to be developing very quickly at the moment. Yesterday, Michelle came by to help clean the house and Wren took one look at her and burst into tears, quivering lip and clinging hands and all. He looked as if he'd seen a raksasa.
He also plays games by himself. He pushes a ball across the carpet and then crawls after it. He "throws" it again and crawls after it. Just now Granny noticed that he has another game - this one with a small plastic strip that came off my water bottle. He drops it on the carpet and then goes and gets it. He drops it and then picks it up again. We think he may be interested in the fact that it doesn't roll away. He has done this at least 15 times while I am writing. Drop, retrieve, drop retrieve.
Today we went to the playground for a school summer-park date and helped tape lollipops onto cards to promote the school. Wren was playing with a lollipop and sucking on it through the paper. He was very intent on this task. When I took the lollipop away - suspecting he was getting blue food coloring and dye as well as a chew-toy - he was distraught and kept craning his neck this way and that way to see where the lollipop had gone. Later, when I had another lollipop in my mouth he was very demanding and tried to pull it out for himself. He clearly has object permanence along with his stranger anxiety.
Frost had a lovely day too. He ran around with the bigger boys playing tag and chase and squirt guns. "You can't believe how fast Frost runs nowdays compared with his friends who are bigger. He was playing chase and chasing" says Granny. He also had a playdate with Nate and lots of conversations about how to organize a treasure hunt for some gold pirate coins.
I will post some movies of Wren crawling later this evening.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Good news I forgot yesterday
Also from the cardiology visit we had the good news that Wren will not have a fat leg forever!
For those of you late on this story, Wren's left leg is enlarged due to an obstructed ileac vein which was a complication of his initial surgery. This came to light after a vaccination in that leg which resulted in a very swollen and purple leg. It is still moderately enlarged.
Apparently, over time Wren's vein will form more collaterals to the point that the pressures are normal and the leg is a normal size.
We are very happy to hear this news as Josh was working on nicknames like Frankie Fatleg to last him through middle school.
The only downside from the appointment was that Wren has gained weight rather slowly in the past month. He had a pediatrician visit before we went away (after a couple of weeks of sleep training) and he was 90th percentile. A month later he is 75th percentile. I suspect this is due to the fact he no longer eats all night and is very distractible during the day.
For those of you late on this story, Wren's left leg is enlarged due to an obstructed ileac vein which was a complication of his initial surgery. This came to light after a vaccination in that leg which resulted in a very swollen and purple leg. It is still moderately enlarged.
Apparently, over time Wren's vein will form more collaterals to the point that the pressures are normal and the leg is a normal size.
We are very happy to hear this news as Josh was working on nicknames like Frankie Fatleg to last him through middle school.
The only downside from the appointment was that Wren has gained weight rather slowly in the past month. He had a pediatrician visit before we went away (after a couple of weeks of sleep training) and he was 90th percentile. A month later he is 75th percentile. I suspect this is due to the fact he no longer eats all night and is very distractible during the day.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
7 month Cardiology Clinic
Today, Wren had his first cardiology clinic visit in 4 months. It was relatively brief. He was so wriggly and rolly-polly that it was hard to get a good echo tape but the tech (Brian) who has done all the previous studies managed to get enough to reassure Dr Lewin that all is stable.
The turbulence in the LVOT is still "moderate" although the velocity (4.3) was slightly less than last echo (4.5). Dr Lewin suspects that was due to the fact Wren was crying a lot last time rather than it actually improving, still, its good news that it hasn't changed.
His left ventricle is still thickened but no more than last time. That is because its has to push a bit harder through the narrow areas.
The aortic valve is doing well... no regurgitation and only a bit of turbulence (very mild) and the mitral valve is still appearing to behave normally. They got some good shots of the ventricle and valve and the LVOT ridge. It is not close to the valve which is apparently a good thing.
Wren complained a lot before Brian had any descending aorta shots but the arch seems okay too.
So, in general the LVOT is the only area looking moderately bad/good and which would cause Wren to go into OHS. Its our only real worry right now.
As a result of Wren looking "stable" we have the following dramatic news:
1) Next cardiology appointment IN FIVE MONTHS.
2) No echo at the next appointment - only EKG. If the EKG is reassuring...
3) NO ECHO UNTIL 18mths. That would be a sedated echo.
4) No more aspirin therapy.
5) Discontinue Zantac if we want to.
So, although Wren hasn't actually improved he is doing well. He looks robust, is developing normally and his heart seems stable. I thought he looked good but as soon as the echo wand approached and I saw that turbulence on the monitor I started to get anxious again. Nothing like the potential for bad information to freak you out.
Thanks for all the good wishes, prayers and thoughts.
The turbulence in the LVOT is still "moderate" although the velocity (4.3) was slightly less than last echo (4.5). Dr Lewin suspects that was due to the fact Wren was crying a lot last time rather than it actually improving, still, its good news that it hasn't changed.
His left ventricle is still thickened but no more than last time. That is because its has to push a bit harder through the narrow areas.
The aortic valve is doing well... no regurgitation and only a bit of turbulence (very mild) and the mitral valve is still appearing to behave normally. They got some good shots of the ventricle and valve and the LVOT ridge. It is not close to the valve which is apparently a good thing.
Wren complained a lot before Brian had any descending aorta shots but the arch seems okay too.
So, in general the LVOT is the only area looking moderately bad/good and which would cause Wren to go into OHS. Its our only real worry right now.
As a result of Wren looking "stable" we have the following dramatic news:
1) Next cardiology appointment IN FIVE MONTHS.
2) No echo at the next appointment - only EKG. If the EKG is reassuring...
3) NO ECHO UNTIL 18mths. That would be a sedated echo.
4) No more aspirin therapy.
5) Discontinue Zantac if we want to.
So, although Wren hasn't actually improved he is doing well. He looks robust, is developing normally and his heart seems stable. I thought he looked good but as soon as the echo wand approached and I saw that turbulence on the monitor I started to get anxious again. Nothing like the potential for bad information to freak you out.
Thanks for all the good wishes, prayers and thoughts.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Why I paid my child $5 to put his hand in a public toilet
Today we have been unpacking the car and repacking the house with all our toys, wine, children and dirty clothes. I have at least 4 loads of laundry waiting but have done a quick milk and bread and vegie meatballs run to Trader Joes.
The good news is that everything made it home except my pillow. How my pillow was lost is a matter of conjecture. It recall putting it on the roof of the car as I repacked at a rest stop. I don't recall putting it back in. The novel I was reading has also mysteriously vanished. How we could drive off without noticing a bright yellow pillow with blue stars is... well... we were tired. It was a long day. We slept well last night in the usual 3 hour increments of Wren's way.
There was one other rest stop incident that deserves mention. Since I carry Wren about a lot I have taken to leaving my purse in the car and carrying my car keys tucked into my waistband. They have a long leather keyring strip which I tuck in and the keys hang out the back. This is only when I need a hands free moment mind you! At one rest-stop on the way to CA I took Frost to the public bathroom. The automatic flush toilet didn't detect him sitting on it (too short?) and kept flushing loudly which alarmed him so I leant over to hold my hand over the red eye. When he was done I lifted my hand and it flushed VOOOOOOOORM. I heard a clink and looked around on the floor for my keys. They were nowhere to be seen. I looked in the toilet and there they were in the bowl.
Now these rest stop toilets are not the usual delicate variety we have at home. They are stainless steel beasts with narrow gullets and try as I might i could not get my hand down the hole at the bottom to retrieve my keys. Added to the pressure was the fact that I was scared the automatic flusher would go and suck my carkeys down into the sewer so I had to stay at the toilet with my hand over the malevolent red eye. Frost was looking on in consternation. I showed him my keys. I said "I will give you five dollars if you stick your hand down there and get my keys".
He did.
I scoured him with that pink soap for ages afterwards and stopped Wren chewing on my keys. When we got to the motel I washed the keys repeatedly. Frost spent the $5 on chocolate which he has yet to finish. He had some on smores this evening.
10 days have passed and no-one has come down with cholera or giardia or some unknown reststoptoiletitis. Phew.
Today Wren explored the living room with his new crawling skills. He makes little hops, lunges and some steady crawling steps. He travels a remarkable distance and babyproofing is proceeding as fast as I can anticipate danger. He loves to find things on the coffee table and tug and chew wires so those are among the first thigns to be taped down.
Tomorrow is his first cardiology clinic in 4 months. I am hopeful but apprehensive. Wish us luck. I don't know how we will keep him still enough fora good image. All he wants to do is roll and sit and crawl.
The good news is that everything made it home except my pillow. How my pillow was lost is a matter of conjecture. It recall putting it on the roof of the car as I repacked at a rest stop. I don't recall putting it back in. The novel I was reading has also mysteriously vanished. How we could drive off without noticing a bright yellow pillow with blue stars is... well... we were tired. It was a long day. We slept well last night in the usual 3 hour increments of Wren's way.
There was one other rest stop incident that deserves mention. Since I carry Wren about a lot I have taken to leaving my purse in the car and carrying my car keys tucked into my waistband. They have a long leather keyring strip which I tuck in and the keys hang out the back. This is only when I need a hands free moment mind you! At one rest-stop on the way to CA I took Frost to the public bathroom. The automatic flush toilet didn't detect him sitting on it (too short?) and kept flushing loudly which alarmed him so I leant over to hold my hand over the red eye. When he was done I lifted my hand and it flushed VOOOOOOOORM. I heard a clink and looked around on the floor for my keys. They were nowhere to be seen. I looked in the toilet and there they were in the bowl.
Now these rest stop toilets are not the usual delicate variety we have at home. They are stainless steel beasts with narrow gullets and try as I might i could not get my hand down the hole at the bottom to retrieve my keys. Added to the pressure was the fact that I was scared the automatic flusher would go and suck my carkeys down into the sewer so I had to stay at the toilet with my hand over the malevolent red eye. Frost was looking on in consternation. I showed him my keys. I said "I will give you five dollars if you stick your hand down there and get my keys".
He did.
I scoured him with that pink soap for ages afterwards and stopped Wren chewing on my keys. When we got to the motel I washed the keys repeatedly. Frost spent the $5 on chocolate which he has yet to finish. He had some on smores this evening.
10 days have passed and no-one has come down with cholera or giardia or some unknown reststoptoiletitis. Phew.
Today Wren explored the living room with his new crawling skills. He makes little hops, lunges and some steady crawling steps. He travels a remarkable distance and babyproofing is proceeding as fast as I can anticipate danger. He loves to find things on the coffee table and tug and chew wires so those are among the first thigns to be taped down.
Tomorrow is his first cardiology clinic in 4 months. I am hopeful but apprehensive. Wish us luck. I don't know how we will keep him still enough fora good image. All he wants to do is roll and sit and crawl.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
We're home!
We have arrived home from our vacation (I was going to say "fieldtrip") to California. Wren was exhausted by car driving (about 10 hours on the road each day on the way home) and is very happy to being home. He has gone to bed without crying.
While away he:
1) Learned to crawl.
2) Decided to eat mainly at night so he could concentrate on new things during the day.
3) thus... became nocturnal.
4) Started saying RA RA and almost DA DA.
5) Tried to pick up fluff from the carpet.
6) Had to have rocks, pebbles, lego and bark removed from his mouth.
7) ate sand.
He has his next cardiology appointment on Monday 23rd. Echo and all.
I will post tomorrow. We are all tired.
While away he:
1) Learned to crawl.
2) Decided to eat mainly at night so he could concentrate on new things during the day.
3) thus... became nocturnal.
4) Started saying RA RA and almost DA DA.
5) Tried to pick up fluff from the carpet.
6) Had to have rocks, pebbles, lego and bark removed from his mouth.
7) ate sand.
He has his next cardiology appointment on Monday 23rd. Echo and all.
I will post tomorrow. We are all tired.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Its been a busy week. We have been getting ready to go on vacation to California (John will be housesitting to take care of self, cats and garden) and I have had this perenially sore throat (10 days now). Apparently a sore throat is a symptom not a disease but no-one can figure out what my disease is. I am joining Wren (growing those teeth still) with a nightly dedication to Tylenol.
Otherwise, life is good. Wren is growing in agility - still not moving forward with crawling but very able to mvoe around the room by rolling and inching and rocking. Yesterday he worked on moving from sitting to kneeling (that pesky leg had to be moved around). He likes to move into crawling position then straighten one leg and move sideways to sit again.
He is still fascinated by everything around him and loves to insert everything in his mouth - today it was moss, grass, twigs and shelling pea pods. He ate mushy peas but is still waiting for pears which are his favorite.
Anyway, tomorrow we head off for a week or so in California. John is housesitting and keep our cats company. I hope to post lots of happy photos soon.
Otherwise, life is good. Wren is growing in agility - still not moving forward with crawling but very able to mvoe around the room by rolling and inching and rocking. Yesterday he worked on moving from sitting to kneeling (that pesky leg had to be moved around). He likes to move into crawling position then straighten one leg and move sideways to sit again.
He is still fascinated by everything around him and loves to insert everything in his mouth - today it was moss, grass, twigs and shelling pea pods. He ate mushy peas but is still waiting for pears which are his favorite.
Anyway, tomorrow we head off for a week or so in California. John is housesitting and keep our cats company. I hope to post lots of happy photos soon.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
This week at home
Things are going along without major excitement. I've had a nasty sore throat for a week but its "just viral" according to the doctor and apparently I am having trouble getting over it because I am "run down". I am not disputing being run down. Wren has taken to get up around 4.45am and having first nap at 7.45am. Its not pretty.
The past 2 days I have let him cry at 4.45 instead of going to nurse him (after which he was awake) and have made it to 7.30am and 5.45am respectively, which is much better. Still, I am very tired and feeling rather fed up with all the at-home-with-kids time. I really need a break and our upcoming holiday is perfectly timed.
Wren is growing teeth AGAIN. These are number 5 and 6 coming through. He is also working on moving about. He gets up in crawling position and rocks back and forward but most of his motion is on the floor pushing along and rotating and rolling. He covers great distances and can't be left alone with anything small and interesting nearby. He loves to find small bits of paper and dirt on the floor and try and pick them up.
Yesterday, he pulled himself up from sitting to kneeling (holding on the couch) and he is practicing moving from sitting to all fours by leaning forward with one leg folded under him.
He has been swimming (Monday) at Evans pool and to the wading pool twice. I think the wading pool was more fun for him than the big pool which was a bit noisy.
Frost is still very engaged by Wren. He loves to run into the room and say "I LOVE HIM SO MUCH I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH HIM!!!" and try and carry and pickup and move and hug and generally smother him. I feel its a fulltime job to keep Wren safe from Frost's interest.
Wren likes to eat grass and paper and chokes if not stopped. I have had to removed some wads of grass from his mouth and now leave him on a blanket on the lawn to stop him getting hold of grass as easily.
In general, Wren seems to be a content baby. He likes to focus on something interesting and won't complain until he is bored or needs something like food or cuddling.
He is eating well, after a slow start. He now eats pears, chiogga beet, peas, banana, applesauce, a bit of sweet potato, kale and broccoli. I think pear is his most constant favorite but he ate kale without complaint.
"Wren's stinky" Frost says. I must do diaper change as Frost is always right.
The past 2 days I have let him cry at 4.45 instead of going to nurse him (after which he was awake) and have made it to 7.30am and 5.45am respectively, which is much better. Still, I am very tired and feeling rather fed up with all the at-home-with-kids time. I really need a break and our upcoming holiday is perfectly timed.
Wren is growing teeth AGAIN. These are number 5 and 6 coming through. He is also working on moving about. He gets up in crawling position and rocks back and forward but most of his motion is on the floor pushing along and rotating and rolling. He covers great distances and can't be left alone with anything small and interesting nearby. He loves to find small bits of paper and dirt on the floor and try and pick them up.
Yesterday, he pulled himself up from sitting to kneeling (holding on the couch) and he is practicing moving from sitting to all fours by leaning forward with one leg folded under him.
He has been swimming (Monday) at Evans pool and to the wading pool twice. I think the wading pool was more fun for him than the big pool which was a bit noisy.
Frost is still very engaged by Wren. He loves to run into the room and say "I LOVE HIM SO MUCH I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH HIM!!!" and try and carry and pickup and move and hug and generally smother him. I feel its a fulltime job to keep Wren safe from Frost's interest.
Wren likes to eat grass and paper and chokes if not stopped. I have had to removed some wads of grass from his mouth and now leave him on a blanket on the lawn to stop him getting hold of grass as easily.
In general, Wren seems to be a content baby. He likes to focus on something interesting and won't complain until he is bored or needs something like food or cuddling.
He is eating well, after a slow start. He now eats pears, chiogga beet, peas, banana, applesauce, a bit of sweet potato, kale and broccoli. I think pear is his most constant favorite but he ate kale without complaint.
"Wren's stinky" Frost says. I must do diaper change as Frost is always right.
Monday, July 2, 2007
Telepathy?
Frost is playing on the carpet with Wren. I am looking at Craigslist and see an add for Castle Blocks. Its a small set which lets you make small castle layouts with turrets.
I mail the person and ask if its still available.
Next, I open the postal mail. Its a bill from Children's for Wren's cardiology clinic.
Frost says: "I am going to make a block castle then we can knock it over"
He starts to build. As he is building he starts singing. I kid you not, this is what he sings:
"medical surgery, medical surgery
medical surgery, medical surgery"
I listen a while and ask what he is singing.
"I like making up songs" he says. "I need more blocks"
I mail the person and ask if its still available.
Next, I open the postal mail. Its a bill from Children's for Wren's cardiology clinic.
Frost says: "I am going to make a block castle then we can knock it over"
He starts to build. As he is building he starts singing. I kid you not, this is what he sings:
"medical surgery, medical surgery
medical surgery, medical surgery"
I listen a while and ask what he is singing.
"I like making up songs" he says. "I need more blocks"
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Cultures Back - Strep A
The cultures from Frost's nose came back positive for Group A strep. The pediatrician said that they were very high and we should be sure to use all the ointment. I said "ointment"? Turns out we were supposed to be using the antibiotic ointment as well if the sore in his nose hadn't improved by now. So I went out and bought it and now Frost has extra medicine and should improve more quickly.
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