Moving on up

Yesterday, we got some very encouraging news at Cade's neuro appointment. The CT scan looked great and the ventricles were still small. So small still that the pressure setting was increased from 130 to 150. So, the pressure in his brain would have to reach 150 for the shunt to kick in. This will hopefully get a little more "brain juice" into Cade's brain because everyone needs some. This also means that there is a possibility that Cade's body is doing the job of draining the fluid instead of the shunt. Basically, the shunts highest setting is 200 and once that is reached, the body is doing all the work. So, in a year, Cade will get another CT scan to see where he is at and if the ventricles are still small, the setting will be increased to 170. Then, there would be the possibility of setting it to 200 the next year. So, we hope and pray that his brain is healing itself and the shunt will not be needed. However, he will not have it removed. There is more risk (another surgery, possible hemorrhaging, infection) in removing it than leaving it in.

Today, we had an appointment at the NICU follow-up clinic. The appt consisted of an evaluation by an occupational therapist and then a meeting with a developmental pediatrician. The eval went OK but Cade doesn't usually perform when he just met someone. He would rather study the person. So, on his cognitive development he scored at a 8 month level. Some of the stuff, like taking things out of containers, he knows how to do but wasn't interested today. On all the other areas, he scored between a 11 and 12 month old. As soon as he was done being evaluated, we saw the nurse for a weight and length check. Of course, he started talking to her right away while he hadn't talked to the people that were judging him on it. Oh well. Here's his stats:
Weight: 18 lbs 12 oz ; not on the 15 month curve, 5th percentile for 12 months and 40th percentile for preemies
Length: 29 3/4"; 10th percentile for 15 months, 50th percentile for 12 months and 80th percentile for preemies
Head circumference: 45.5 cm; 15th percentile for 15 months; 40th percentile for 12 months; 40th percentile for preemies
I asked if we should be concerned about his weight and the doctor said that they don't get concerned about weight as long as their skeletal growth is on target. Since Cade is on target for length, there are no worries about weight. That was nice to hear from a doc that evaluates preemies all day. He didn't have any other concerns and we will be invited back for a follow up when Cade is 2, 3 and probably 4.

A couple firsts

Cade had spaghetti for the first time and actually liked it. Here's the pictures to prove it.
He also had his first trip to the zoo. Sean and I took him to the MN Zoo on Saturday. I don't think that Cade got that much out of it but we all had a good time. He even had his first ride on my shoulders and got nibbled on by a goat.
His soccer jersey that I bought him for his birthday finally (kind of) fits. Such a cool dude!

Home

Saturday was the anniversary of Cade getting out of the hospital and also he turned 15 months old. Sean and I were reminiscing about the oxygen tanks and the apnea monitor alarms. We are so glad that stress is no longer part of our everyday lives. Cade is still a very busy and determined boy. He crawls really fast and can stand on his own without support for about 5 seconds. From that standing position, he can usually lower himself without falling. Sean even saw him take a step but it hasn't been repeated. He now has 7 teeth (3 top, 4 bottom). The newest 2 both broke through this week so he's been awake at night alot. We think that he says "hi" in response to us. He also seems to be waving on purpose. He likes to open and close anything that has a door or drawer. His favorite face to make is a big pout with both top and bottom lips pushed out. But, I haven't gotten a picture of the pout because he has become a big ham with the camera and just starts smiling. We are so blessed to have such a happy little boy. He even laughs during his bedtime routine and he's half asleep.
We were unable to make it to his 15 month appt due to the fact that Sean's grandpa passed away on July 10th. We spent the majority of last week in Chisholm to attend the funeral and spend time with Phil, Andy, Jill and Phillip. It was nice to have the family time even though it was due to sad circumstances. Grandpa will be missed. Even though Sean has told me that he could be a stern man, he was always a loving man to me. I think Sean was a little surprised by how much he truly liked me. I loved him and will miss him but I know that he is in a better place where there is no pain or fear. Grandma, even with her dementia, has been deeply affected by his death. She is very sad and has not forgotten that her husband is gone. Even though she is going through a tough time, I think it's better that she actually remembers instead of having to relive the death everyday. She really enjoyed having Cade and Phillip around for a few days. She had a hard time remembering who's children they were but loved the fact that there were babies in her house. Sean got to spend some much needed quality time with his dad and brother while they went fishing for a day. They spent the day at grandpa's "spot". I don't think they caught much but that wasn't the point.

Too Good To Pass Up

Watch this. If you haven't seen it already, you won't be disappointed.