You Should See the Other Guy...

THAT got your attention. But, I am misleading you a bit. I have not been in a fight, although I sure look like I have. This morning I woke up and it was noticed that my right eyelid was quite puffy and red. The left eyelid, while not of normal non-puffiness, was not nearly as bad as the right one. Even though I had experienced a nice evening at home, it looked like I had been in a big ol' brawl.

Despite this, I was in high spirits. Mommy gave me a dose of benadryl and took me to school. Grandma said I looked the same at my 11 a.m. feeding, but at 2:00 daycare called Mommy and said that the swelling was also becoming apparent in my left lid and that I needed to be taken to the doctor. Apparently there's a bit of conjunctivitis (pink eye for you lay people) going around school.

Daddy was on his way to feed me, but after some quick calling around, Mommy was able to get me a doctor's appointment that Daddy took me to. Turns out the doctor thinks I have a sinus infection. I also had some fluid in my right ear. So, back on the antibiotics I go and the swelling should start coming down in a couple of days.

You can check out my "shiner" below.

Emerson

I coulda been a contendah

Wet and Wild Days of Summer

While we await my food thickner, I am still finding ways to have fun and excitement in my life. As if I wouldn't be anyway, right?

Well, today was Water Day at school. Each Friday in the summer we go outside for about 30 minutes and play in sprinklers, water tubs, the trikes and bikes and have an all out blast. This was the first one I was able to participate in since transitioning to the big kid room.

I had SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much fun. The water was cool, but the trikes and bikes and cars were much cooler. Miss S. and Miss D. helped me along and I just had the best time! It wiped me out too and I took a super long nap. I really like my new room and all the fun things I get to do. Since you all don't have your own water days, I have included some pics so you can see what it was like. Aren't you jealous???

Have a great weekend everyone!

Emerson

Soaked and uncertain...

Splashin' good time with Miss S.

Drivers Ed 101

Some Potentially Good News!

The speech therapist called mommy back last night and gave us some good news. She went back and looked at my test, and after consulting with my G.I. doc, Dr. S., they are recommending that we try some of the thickening agents to help me start taking my formula orally. Mommy has placed an order for the stuff, called Simply Thick, tonight. Here's how it will work:

Each day, I get fed 7 ounces of formula, 4 times per day. I also get 6 ounces of baby food orally throughout the day. For the first five days, mommy will prepare 1 - 2 ounces of the formula thickened and it will be fed to me orally. The remaining 5-6 ounces will be fed through the tube. This will be done at each feeding. Assuming all goes well, the second five days will consist of me eating 3 - 4 ounces of my formula orally, with the remaining 3 - 4 ounces coming to me via the tube. The plan is to gradually get to the point where all of my formula is being fed orally. This would mean I could remove my ng tube. Once my vital stim therapist returns from vacation, we could resume that therapy to focus on safe liquid consumption.

So, this is a step in the right direction. I hope that I am able to tolerate the oral feedings and not get sick. Please keep me in your thoughts as we embark on this new endeavor. I just want to be able to eat like everyone else.

Emerson

Belated Swallow Test Update

Yesterday was a super long day.

The hosptital was running late (as usual). I was really good though. I just sat patiently and waited. The speech therapist administered my test, while mommy fed me the different foods. Here's a brief lowdown:

• Solids appear to be manageable - we just have to take it slow so that I can learn how to eat them. We have to keep like textures together. So for example, I can have refried beans and a tortilla (torn into pieces) but I can't have a burritto.
  
• Stage 3 baby food will continue to be a big part of my diet.
  
• I still aspirate liquids. The speech therapist is going to spend some more time reviewing my test (it's videotaped) to re-look at one of the consistencies to see if there is a possibility that through thickening agents, I could begin taking my formula orally. This is a Big IF. Without this, we are very likely to look at a g-tube (stomach tube). The therapist was to call Mommy by the end of today the latest.
  
• All of this also ultimately means some meal planning, working with G.I., nutritition, and possibly the surgery docs on getting me a tube.

So, while I have made progress, I am still not where I should be. Thank goodness I am so happy! No tears at the daycare drop off today. In fact, I am doing really well in my new toddler classroom.

That's all for now.

Emerson

What a Week!

This past week has been a biggun' folks. Just check out all the things that happened:

• I graduated from the Infant Room! I am now officially considered a toddler and am in Room 3. My new room is really neat. My teachers, Miss V., Miss S., and Miss D. are all super nice and made me feel welcome. I cried a little bit, but c'mon! This is a big deal you know? On the two daily reports I got last week my teachers all said I am doing just great. We do a lot of big kid things in my new room like story time and learning words and being exposed to all kinds of things. They had a birdie in my classroom on Friday. Unfortunately, I missed it due to my vital stim therapy. But I will be able to participate next time and I just can't wait!

• I had my last Vital Stim therapy session! It was today and I did so well! We went for an hour and 25 minutes. Mommy fed me yogurt, cheerios and ice chips and I did well with all of them. As you all know, the big day is Tuesday. Please send me all of your good thoughts, energy, prayers, meditations, etc. I am an equal opportunity well wishing seeker!

• I played in the sprinkler for the very first time! Okay, I did try to do this before, but it kind of freaked me out. So tonight, after Father's Day dinner, in honor of the big week I just had and the big week I am about to have with my swallow test, mommy let me play in the sprinkler. I wasn't quite sure what to make of it at first, but after I stood in the spray and took it all in, I started to relax and have fun. You can see my pics below. What a great capper to my week.

Well, you can bet the ranch (where do I come up with this stuff??) that there will be some updates this week. So, please check in regularly!

Big hugs and sprinkles to you!

Emerson

Testing the waters...

This is really cool!

I want to go back for more!

Sing Us a Song, You're the Piano Kid...

They say that variety is the spice of life; so today I played around with some different kind of keys - Piano keys!

My Aunt Claudia and Uncle Scott have their very own piano and today, I was quite the master. Banging and clanging the keys, I am not sure I created any music. But I sure made some NOISE!

Happy weekend!

Emerson

Barry may write the songs the whole world sings, but I play the music that makes people scream...STOP, just make it stop! ;)

Just call me The Renaissance Kiddo!

Toddler Tech, Class of 2006

Hi everyone! I am not sure if you know about the newest in educational offerings. I have enrolled in an exciting program at Toddler Tech University. With all the technology skills I will garner in my time there, I will be on the road to Tech Professional in no time. Just take a look at some of the courses I am taking...

Computer Basics - 101

Keyboard Shortcuts - 201

Mice Herding - 301

Telephony and Fax Services - 401

Movin' On Up!

To a deluxe apartment, in the sky-high-high...(mommy said that all you tv junkies will get that reference...)

Well, not really, but to the toddler room at daycare! This is huge, you know. See, at my daycare, you can only graduate from the infant room if you are 12 months old AND walking. As you all know, walking came a bit late to my little legs. Even though I have been walking for about six weeks now my daycare has been pretty hesitant to transition me to either Room 1, 2 or 3 (these are the three rooms for kiddos aged 12 months to 2 years) because of my feeding needs.

It got tense. Over the past two months, mommy and daddy (together and separately) had several meetings with the director and assistant director. The good news is that everyone was concerned about my safety. The bad news was that this seemed to be holding me back - even though the concerns daycare had could be easily addressed (high chair feedings so I won't grab other kiddies food; watching closely so no one pulls on my tube). So, when mommy heard yesterday that ANOTHER child was transitioning at the end of the month and there was no word on my moving, she had had enough! Today, mommy had a meeting with the Assistant Director. Miraculously a spot is open in Room 3. That, or they are tired of hearing from mommy. But you know what? My mommy and daddy are my voice. They have to look out for me because I can't do that just yet.

So...we are having a transition meeting tomorrow (Friday June 10) to meet my new teachers and discuss concerns. I will start transitioning on Monday June 13. I am super excited to be with all of my old friends again and kids my own age. I also found out that one of my teachers in Room 3 used to be in the infant room and she is totally awesome! This is all really good news because, despite this issue, we all really like my school and how well I do there.

In other things Emerson, I had my ear tube follow up with Dr. S. on Wednesday. He said my ears look great! No fluid at all! Yay!

Now, even though I got sent home from school today with a fever, let's hope all of this is the start of some long term good news for me. Only a few more sessions of vital stim to go - eight sessions to be exact!

Picture me giving you a big hug (that's the current thing I just can't do enough of)...

Emerson

Potato Chip, Mint Chip, Chocolate Chip, Toothie Chip!

Which of the chips stands out as being different? It's the last one, toothie chip. What on earth could THAT mean? Well, it means I chipped my first (and hopefully last) tooth on Friday.

The good news is that I am not hurt, I didn't hurt anyone else, and it kind of is my new trademark (because the NG tube wasn't prominent enough!).

The bad news is that daycare has no idea how it happened. See, I was totally in the best mood on Friday. I kept walking all around the room with my hands up in the air, squealing and laughing. My teachers noticed it in the early afternoon, and couldn't figure out how I had done it. I know I fell a few times during the day, but didn't get hurt or cry. Mommy, daddy and Grandma Kathy are all pretty bummed. But I am still pretty cute. Plus, this further builds my status as a rough and tumble guy, you know.

Of course, I have to post some close ups so you can see for yourself.

My vital stim continues to go well. We are half way done with the treatments. The schedule is meaning a lot of extra work for mommy and daddy. Thank goodness they are so strong (if they are exhausted).

Keep your fingers crossed that the next time I encounter a chip, it's the eatin' kind.

Hugs,

Emerson

I will not share my chip with the public!

Someone please tell the authorities I am being held against my will!