Some News

The Neurologist called yesterday and told us that Dylan's EEG was NORMAL!!! YEAH!!! I am so excited.  He even had one of the twitches during the testing and it also showed normal brain activity.  I am so thankful for this news.  It's funny but since he had his spinal surgery last week he hasn't had a single twitch.  I have no idea how the two could be related but I am just happy that he has stopped having them.  He has been doing great since the surgery, like his normal, happy self.  I take him next Tuesday for the follow up. 


And we have some other news to share:

Yes it's true, we are expecting baby # 3.  I am 8 weeks pregnant and due December 4th.  We are completely overjoyed and feel very blessed.  Hailey has already put in her request for a baby sister - I told her I would try my best.

Back Home

Dylan's spinal cord "release" surgery went great.  The doctor said it went as well as he expected.  There were no complications and this will give Dylan the best chance for walking and going to the bathroom normally in the future.  The surgery took about 2 hours and once he woke up from the anesthesia he couldn't stop crying for about 4 hours.  He was given adequate pain medication so we think it was just a result of the anesthesia.  When I mean crying I mean hysterical! It was so sad.  Mitch and I just took turns holding him until he finally calmed down and fell asleep.  The next morning he seemed to be acting like his normal self - eating, smiling and moving all around.  I was so glad when the doctor came in and said we could go home.  I am just so happy that everything went so smoothly and without a hitch.  I am also glad to scratch this problem off our list and move on. 

These pictures are from the Ronald McDonald House play room the night before the surgery.  He had such a great time playing with all the cute toys.

Sad baby.

Finally calmed down and asleep.

Happy boy, ready to go home.

This video is from the day before the surgery.  He was just so cute, I couldn't help but capture it.


Ready to go home.

Spinal Surgery Tomorrow

This afternoon we are heading down to San Diego for Dylan's tethered cord surgery.  He has to have all of his pre-op labs drawn today for the surgery tomorrow.  We are going to be able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House which is across the street from the hospital.  They were so generous to be able to give us a room to stay in the night before the surgery and we were told we could stay there for as long as he is in the hospital.  Our check in time is 6a.m. on Wednesday, April 21st.  Keep Dylan in your prayers and wish us luck.  I hope and pray that everything will go smoothly and that Dylan will have minimal pain and a speedy recovery.  I will post once we get home from the hospital. 

EEG and Progress Review

One Year Progress Review:

In case you don't already know Dylan receives services from an in-home therapist once a week.  She is absolutely wonderful.  She works on all aspects of his development and every three months she performes a progress review.  Here are the results:

Outcome # 1:
Dylan will increase his gross motor skills
* Hold head up 90 degrees              - Goal met
* Sit head steady                            - Goal met
* Bear weight on legs                     - Goal in progress
* Chest up and arm support             - Goal in progress (he actually did this for about 30 seconds yesterday)
* Roll both ways                             - Goal met
* Sit supported                                - Goal met

Outcome # 2
Dylan will increase his fine motor skills
* Follows objects                           - Goal met
* Grasp rattle                                 - Goal met
* Bring hands together                   - Goal met

Outcome #3
Dylan will increase his language skills
* Will say ooh, aah                           - Goal in progress
* Laugh                                           - Goal met
* Squeal                                           -Goal met
* Turn to voice                                 - Goal met

Here are the results of his Child Skill Profile (the scoring is based on the skill level in months of age of a typical child)

Cognitive = 7.5 months
Receptive Language = 6 months
Expressive Language = 5 months
Gross Motor = 6.5 months
Fine Motor = 5.5 months
Social-Emotional = 7 months
Self-Help = 7 months

Dylan has made great steady progress throughout his first year.  We are so proud of all he has accomplished.  Way to go little man!!!

Dylan had his EEG today to see if his little twitches are actually seizures or not.  You might remember me posting last month about the Neurology appointment in which the MD thought that it might just be benign myoclonus and not seizure activity.  Since last month these twitches have actually decreased, he still has a few throughout the day but they have been few and far between.   Dylan was scheduled for a non-sedated EEG, however they needed him to be asleep for at least 20 minutes during the test.  So, this was a little tricky especially because we live an hour away from the hospital and he fell asleep in the car on the way there. He then was wide awake and kicking and talking up a storm in the waiting room.  All I thought was how am I going to get him to fall asleep?  It also didn't help that he got even more excited when the tecnicians were applying the electrodes all over his head.  Dylan thought this was great fun and proceeded to become less and less sleepy.  I was then told that if he didn't fall asleep they would have to reschedule it for another time.  ARGGGGGH!  However, lo and behold, my perfect angel child fell blistfully asleep after only 10 minutes of back patting and shushing by me.  Then as soon as he seemed to fall asleep the tecnician came back in and said "great, now wake him up."  OH, poor baby, but of course my angel didn't seem to mind one bit and went right back to smiling and cooing.  Oh my little trooper.  It will take a few days to get the results back but she did tell me that she didn't see anything abnormal on the readings.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Happy boy, he was so good they gave him a teddy bear.

Hailey is 4!!!

Happy Birthday to my beautiful Hailey.  I can't believe that she is 4 years old.  WOW, where has the time gone?  Here are a few pictures of her early years.  Enjoy...

Look at what I can do

Waving.

I can sit up and use my hand as balance.

He is just showing off - sitting, leg grabbing and gloworm.

I can kneel at the side of my crib and not fall over!

Dylan likes to read mind stimulating books like Successful Negotiating (he is a closet nerd just like his dad).

Happy Easter

We had a wonderful Easter with our family.  We were very happy to see my Aunt Susan and her husband Jack who are visiting from N. Carolina.  This was their first time seeing Dylan and he was just as cute as can be.  Hailey had a great time coloring Easter eggs with Auntie Kerri and making very delicious rice crispy eggs.  She was completely covered in chocolate and sprinkles but of course loved every minute of it.  Dylan was just adorable in his little dress shirt - he looked so handsome.  Sadly I didn't take the kids to see the Easter bunny this year mostly because Hailey is still deathly afraid of anyone in costume and the bunny at our mall I will have to admit is a little scary.  So at least I did manage to get some pictures of them with stuffed animal bunnies.  

I had to throw this picture in - it has nothing to do with Easter- but he just looks so big helping me with the laundry.