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Friday, January 28, 2011

1.28.11 - Progress and Praise

Well this week has been a busy one! And a beautiful one here in Texas, I might add. I am just waiting for Liam to wake up from his nap so we can go play in the park, since it is already 70 degrees outside with lots of sunshine! Love me days like this that sneak up on you in the dead set of winter!

Liam is doing great...GREAT. I think my worries even just a week ago have been trumped by all his progress. His swallowing has improved, as he is able to tolerate more and more solid food options, and his tube feedings are going great - no vomit or coughing/gagging episodes in over a week...SO blessed for that. We had our monthly Synagis shot today and while at the pulmonologist, we had a consultation about his upper airway / reflux issues he had been having. He did say it wouldn't hurt to get a scope done to get things checked out if we were concerned. Since Liam is consistently improving day to day, I am hoping my concerns with his airway were just a little premature (due to the surgery and him just being weak). Dustin and I have agreed to take a wait-and-see approach before we decide to do more testing or visit the ENT. Not that I need to explain why we are choosing to wait, but it is mainly because Liam would need to be under anesthesia for a scope to be performed...we really don't want to take more risk than necessary right now, and since he is improving, we are choosing to wait it out.

Yesterday, we had ECI come out to do an evaluation. I am still undecided if we will go with them for services, but it was great to see where he is at developmentally, socially, cognitively, physically, etc. all in the same appointment. It was a great visit, and Liam is only slightly behind in his social (which makes sense, since we never go anywhere!) and his gross/fine motor skills, which we knew about. He actually tested with NO delay cognitively, as they kept remarking how much of a thinker he was! That made me feel good...I always thought he was pretty smart, but I'm also biased in all my opinions of him!! In summary, it was reassuring to know that he is on the right track and making pretty astounding progress given his past medical history.

Our Speech Therapist also started the Vital Stim therapy this week for his swallowing. He is doing GREAT with it. I was a little worried, as it has electrical pulse nodes that are placed on the neck...but Liam didn't really seem to mind it much. She even worked the strength up to 10 pretty quickly, which is a normal therapy range for his age. I am so glad he is tolerating it so well. The plan is to have his OT and ST both come during the week to do the Vital Stim so he can have 2 sessions a week. Hopefully in another couple months we can repeat the swallow study with a passing grade!

Liam is SO SO SO close to crawling...I have caught him a couple times taking a "shuffle" with his crawl stance, but then his little arms get tired and he ends up face planting himself into the carpet. He is finally starting to try to pull up on things, stand again supported, and even take some supported steps. He had yet to do this since his surgery, so this was encouraging that hopefully his chest is healing and feeling better too. And I am counting down the days where we can finally pick him up under the arms! We have two more weeks! It's funny now because when he wants up, he'll scoot over to me, say "Bop bop" (his version of "up) reach for me, then turn himself backwards to me so I can scoop him up under his bottom! HE even knows what to do to compensate...so cute!

All in all our week has been busy, but wonderful to say the least. We have also seen God answer some big prayers and work some pretty big miracles in our family and circumstances these past few weeks, and He never ceases to gain our utmost adoration and praise...He continues to bring joy, peace and fruit into our lives with His amazing timing and glory. We owe everything to him, for it is ALL His and for His glory alone. Just had to sing my praises to my beloved King!! Hope everyone has a BLESSED weekend!

I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.
Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
One generation will commend your works to another;
they will tell of your mighty acts.
They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
They will celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
The Lord is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
All you have made will praise you, O Lord;
your saints will extol you.
They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
so that all men may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.
The Lord is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made.
The Lord upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.
Psalm 145

3 comments :

  1. Love, love, love reading updates like these! Enjoy that weather :)

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  2. I'm so glad things are going well! Yay for tough little Liam!! We're always praying for you all!

    I'm having spring fever and dying to go to the park! It's supposed to be 60 here all weekend (which is better, but sure isn't 70!) and I can't wait to get out and play! That's what I love about the south! :)

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  3. It's great to hear how Liam is progressing. So jealous of your nice weather! We cannot wait for it to get warm enough to get Max outside. Enjoy!

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