March for Babies

Our March for Babies to support the March of Dimes was this Sunday. Here are a few pics of the boys. Elias is holding a beanie baby that we used to measure his size in the NICU and Carson is holding one of his first size diapers from his NICU days. They certainly have come a long way and we have to thank the March of Dimes for their research in prematurity for helping them be here. A special thanks to everyone who helped support our walk this year. Research into the causes and effects of prematurity is vital to all of us.

A close-up of Elias' shirt

Elias with his NICU beanie baby bear

Elias today with his NICU beanie

Close-up of Carson's shirt

Carson in the NICU w/ his first diaper

Carson today with the same size diaper

And finally..... a kiss goodbye!

Scootin' Around

Yesterday Al and I surprised the boys with a trip to Target to buy them each a brand new scooter. Target had many different styles on sale for $19 and we thought they would be the perfect thing to take on our camping weekends instead of hauling their bikes along with us. Carson picked out a two wheeler Spiderman scooter because he was "big enough to balance like the cool kids". Eli insisted on following suit with the Spiderman theme and grabbed up a three wheeled webbed design of his very own. Our car couldn't get home fast enough!! The boys [not] so patiently watched us put their new toys together and then hit the pavement. Literally. For both of them.

It was a learning experience and a bandaid and some kisses later, the two of them were out scooting around the sidewalks again. Carson is a pro because he has been practicing at Gigi and Bobpop's house since last summer on their scooters. Eli has a long way to go. Yesterday was more of an "I'll stand on it Daddy and you push me" kind of day for Mr. E. Today the little stinker caught on after watching Carson glide with freedom up and down the block. Jealousy is a wonderful motivator. Thank goodness the weather has been absolutely perfect for outside play the past few days. The boys have come in for bedtime covered from head to toe in dirt and scrapes ready for baths and bedtime stories. How I have longed for the spring to come so our little explorers could get grubby like little boys should. I would strongly suggest picking up a scooter if you have young kiddos for a cheap and fun spring/summer outside toy. They are fantastic! (the bonus core strength and balance PT training Eli will be getting is just a plus!!)

Cheers!

Eli has yet another video swallow study (VSS) this morning. I have lost count on how many this makes for our little man but the number is getting way up there. He did great and Al and I couldn't be more proud of him. Thankfully we do not have to go back to thickening everything again but modifications are necessary to help protect Eli's airway from aspiration. If someone would have told me that almost three years into this micropreemie journey we would STILL be dealing with aspiration and dysphagia, I wouldn't have believed it. We have come a l-o-n-g way though.

This morning Eli was well behaved and cooperative for once and followed directions to the letter. We should have taken the video camera :) With a sippy cup including a valve, Eli was safe on thin liquids!!! Unfortunately he demonstrated extremely large boluses, deep laryngeal penetration, and high risk for aspiration when drinking out of an open cup or sippy with no valve. Eli loves being a big boy and using open cups but everyone agreed that he is no longer allowed to touch the things and must go back to "baby cups" as he calls them. So, Al and I are off to shop for some new sippy cups with valves to replace his super cool big boy cups that match all of his plate sets. After his cyanotic episode last Wednesday from aspirating Starbucks' Apple Spice, we aren't taking any chances. I never want to see Eli trying to imitate a smurf again!!

As for the pocketing of food and choking on solids, the OT and speech therapist recommended Eli start back with feeding therapy at school. They said that because he is hypotonic (low tone) in his mouth and most of his trunk that he doesn't realize there is that much food in his mouth or what to do with it. They also think there may be some sensory issues involved as well. So, back to the drawing table to get Eli eating meats and breads safely. It will all be worth it though. He has already come so far with his tube feeds and therapy. Someday we may just get rid of that MIC-key button after all!

Al and I are so proud of our little man. He is chugging along and taking baby steps to get there the entire time charming the lead vents off the radiologists, therapists, and doctors. Boy are we in trouble....

Finders, Keepers

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