Well, where to begin...
Had my fifteen month check-up with Dr. Sultan. I like her, although I'm not quite sure why she always has to stick that cold piece of metal on my back. And then she moves it around as if sticking it on me once wasn't good enough. I tried reaching back there to grab her hand, thinking she'd get a clue, but no, she kept right on pressing that thing onto me. I'm okay with the ear thing, Mom's always poking a thermometer into my ear, better there than...And why is there a need to pry open my mouth with that giant popsicle stick when I obviously don't want you in there. That I hate the most. Makes me scream.
The doctor's office does have lots of cool stuff in it though, and since I've become quite adept at opening drawers and cabinet doors, I find all kinds of new things to get into. The doctor's chair, the one that spins. that's probably my favorite. I can't help but wonder though, why are the rooms so small? I mean really, I've got these great legs that carry me wherever I want to go with very little effort, and they put me in this tiny little room. I don't get it. But, I suppose it's all about numbers, so this is what Dr. Sultan sees when she looks at my growth chart:
Head: 18.5 inches
Weight: 21 pounds 2 ounces
Height: 32 inches
Can you believe that's all they care about? I can do so much more, like: banging my head on the floor for no apparent reason, recognizing my favorite colors in forms of movies on the DVD shelf (red and yellow), running like the wind, fits of anger that sometimes cause me to bite freakishly hard, and climbing up onto the couch. Just to name a few of my more prevalent talents.
So Dr. Sultan says I am good, look good (I already knew that though, get that from Mom), just need to eat (Is she nutty? Why would I put food in my mouth when there are so many other things to put in there?). Oh, and this nurse came out of the place where they jab pointy things into my legs, shots I think I heard Dad say once, but after a quick chat with the nurse, Dad went the other way and took me with him. I have a sneaky suspicion that we'll be going back though. Shots. Yuck.
A few days later, we were on our way to Fremont, California to talk with Speech Pathologist and Feeding Specialist, Marjorie Palmer. Not sure why she follows every compliment with a question, but Mom sure seems to like her. Her office smells funny, don't know how anyone could go in there and want to eat, but it's big, so I can run.
And Mom always tries to feed me there with Ms. Palmer watching. It's a little unnerving, but I try to amuse her. Ate two Cheetos, with a little difficulty (I think I'm biting off a little more than I can chew and swallow safely), but wasn't having anything to do with the Cheerios. And when she brought out the yogurt, I about lost it. It was 2:40 in the afternoon, people, and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why I wasn't being given my bottle. I mean seriously, I was there to eat so why hold out on me? Finally got my bottle, ate like a champ in my carseat at Ms. Palmer's office in Fremont. Never done that before.
So, Ms. Marjorie Palmer would like Mom and Dad to try and work more foods into my diet. She's always talking about feeding me mayonnaise. Is she serious? Mayonnaise? Am I really that dire of a case that you're going to try and force straight mayonnaise into me? Think I puked when I had the stomach flu? Go ahead and try to feed me that. I dare you.
Luckily, I have a Mom who has a lot more common sense and finds other, more tasteful ways to put the calories in me.
Anyway, I feel good. I sleep well. I eat when I need to (still only liquid stuff from a bottle I won't hold no matter what you do). And life's good. Got some new toys I'm really enjoying: a pair of drumsticks and a Spider-Man/Green Goblin set from the Superhero Squad. There's something about bright colors and banging on things I just can't get enough of.
But the thing I'm really excited about is our vacation that's coming up so quick. We'll be going to Southern California (Disneyland maybe, if Dad has his way) and then to St. George to see Grandma and Grandpa Roberts. Sweet. I bet there's a pool there. I love the water! Not the sun so much, but the water is fantastic!
Chao for now.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
I am Hunter, hear me ROAR!
The first fifteen months of my life have been anything but what you'd expect from a growing little boy, so before we get you to what's going on right now with me, how about a brief recap:
I was born the day I was due on a chilly morning in Decemeber at 6 pounds and 6 ounces, and right away began to cause problems because of my eating. The nurses accused my mother of not accurately recording my feedings because I had lost a little more weight than they thought I should have. Little did they know. After a short five weeks of life, I began to reject every form of food offered to me. It started with the breast and ended six months later on a day I ate less than five ounces of formula and no other baby food. That was when someone finally got a clue. Nine days in a hospital and the diagnosis of GERD, an extreme case of the silent form. The meds came then (Prilosec, Zantac, and Reglan) and after several days on a feeding tube, they yanked the tube from my nose and let me eat from a bottle.
Since then, I have been through several eating regimens (various formulas, Pediasure, and ultimately Nutren Jr.) and have settled down to a baby calorie shake of sorts. Mom and Dad have become quite adept at mixing just about everything I need to survive into the smallest amount of liquid possible so that I eat it all. Ya see, I still don't eat much (on average 10 to 12 ounces of liquid food a day: 700 to 850 calories), but I am growing, slowly (on good days I weigh as much as 21 pounds, but dropping just below 20 pounds on rough days). I eat in a chair, three times a day, watching one of a multitude of Baby Einstein videos and absolutely refuse to hold my own bottle.
A few months ago I ended up back in the hospital for two and a half days when I came down with a stomach flu that kept me from keeping even the tiniest amounts of food in me. That was rough. Both Mom and Dad have been very careful to keep me healthy, but lately, that has been a chore.
So, that brings us current. Now you know the history. Let's get to me right now.
Wednesday March 28th, 2007
I still won't eat solid foods, although I did eat four, that's right, 4, Cheetos just the other day. I think my mother might have shed a tear or two she was so proud of me. I'll eat Cheerios every now and then, and yogurt (the Yoplait Thick and Creamy), but I mostly just stick to the bottle feedings, to which Mom and Dad have most recently been adding various fruit mixtures, my most favorite being the Apples and Cherries.
I've finally kicked my latest cold (the fourth or fifth one I 've had in as many months) which ended in a nasty cough. I ran my head into the leg of one of the dining room chairs the other day and threw up a few hours later, don't know if it was because of the lump on my head or because of the sickness, but Dad stayed home with me because Mom was already at work. It was a little bit of a stressful night. I seem to hit my head a lot. Don't know what that is all about. Mom and Dad joke about getting me a helmet.
I also have a babysitter now. Olivia. She's a professional kid-watcher, but I'm only there once every other week or so for a couple of hours, so I hardly consider myself a regular. My first experience was a bit rough, don't know how I felt about it, but I know I didn't like watching the other kids leave before me. Today is my second time there. Although I don't know what to make of this whole thing yet, it's important for Mom and Dad, so I'll give it another shot (not that I have much say in the matter at this point).
Still on my regular meds (Prilosec, Zantac, and Reglan), but have several doctor's appointments coming up to re-evaluate my progress: 15 Month with Dr. Sultan (my Pedi), Consult with Dr. Finley (my Pedi GI), and a Consult with Marjorie Palmer M.A., LSP (my Pedi Feeding Speciailist). I will also be meeting with my Pediatric Neurologist sometime in the near future as well.
GERD friends: Bailey. OTHER BUDDIES: Hayley and Hannah (my cousins, twins!). I seem to know a lot of girls. Not sure what that is all about. But my two older brothers, Ethan and Caleb (also twins!) keep me grounded in boy things, so I think I'll be okay. And my Dad has provided an assortment of Star Wars Galactic Heros to play with as well.
So long for now.
Since then, I have been through several eating regimens (various formulas, Pediasure, and ultimately Nutren Jr.) and have settled down to a baby calorie shake of sorts. Mom and Dad have become quite adept at mixing just about everything I need to survive into the smallest amount of liquid possible so that I eat it all. Ya see, I still don't eat much (on average 10 to 12 ounces of liquid food a day: 700 to 850 calories), but I am growing, slowly (on good days I weigh as much as 21 pounds, but dropping just below 20 pounds on rough days). I eat in a chair, three times a day, watching one of a multitude of Baby Einstein videos and absolutely refuse to hold my own bottle.
A few months ago I ended up back in the hospital for two and a half days when I came down with a stomach flu that kept me from keeping even the tiniest amounts of food in me. That was rough. Both Mom and Dad have been very careful to keep me healthy, but lately, that has been a chore.
So, that brings us current. Now you know the history. Let's get to me right now.
Wednesday March 28th, 2007
I still won't eat solid foods, although I did eat four, that's right, 4, Cheetos just the other day. I think my mother might have shed a tear or two she was so proud of me. I'll eat Cheerios every now and then, and yogurt (the Yoplait Thick and Creamy), but I mostly just stick to the bottle feedings, to which Mom and Dad have most recently been adding various fruit mixtures, my most favorite being the Apples and Cherries.
I've finally kicked my latest cold (the fourth or fifth one I 've had in as many months) which ended in a nasty cough. I ran my head into the leg of one of the dining room chairs the other day and threw up a few hours later, don't know if it was because of the lump on my head or because of the sickness, but Dad stayed home with me because Mom was already at work. It was a little bit of a stressful night. I seem to hit my head a lot. Don't know what that is all about. Mom and Dad joke about getting me a helmet.
I also have a babysitter now. Olivia. She's a professional kid-watcher, but I'm only there once every other week or so for a couple of hours, so I hardly consider myself a regular. My first experience was a bit rough, don't know how I felt about it, but I know I didn't like watching the other kids leave before me. Today is my second time there. Although I don't know what to make of this whole thing yet, it's important for Mom and Dad, so I'll give it another shot (not that I have much say in the matter at this point).
Still on my regular meds (Prilosec, Zantac, and Reglan), but have several doctor's appointments coming up to re-evaluate my progress: 15 Month with Dr. Sultan (my Pedi), Consult with Dr. Finley (my Pedi GI), and a Consult with Marjorie Palmer M.A., LSP (my Pedi Feeding Speciailist). I will also be meeting with my Pediatric Neurologist sometime in the near future as well.
GERD friends: Bailey. OTHER BUDDIES: Hayley and Hannah (my cousins, twins!). I seem to know a lot of girls. Not sure what that is all about. But my two older brothers, Ethan and Caleb (also twins!) keep me grounded in boy things, so I think I'll be okay. And my Dad has provided an assortment of Star Wars Galactic Heros to play with as well.
So long for now.
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