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.