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Blue October

It's been another crazy month as we are getting closer to our move!

We've been maintaining our schedule of therapy, which includes twice/week PT, twice/week OT, and once/week Speech. He's been doing so well, and I'm so glad that I switched from ECI to going to Elite Therapy. Beckett is thriving! They help him obviously, but they also help me with resources, and talking about different devices he will need. We were trying to get a stander for him, but when the consultant came to talk through the purchase, I mentioned we were moving. That put a damper on our plan because there would not be enough time for us to order it, have it made, and receive the device since they are only made once they are ordered. That would have been a 3-4 month process and we don't have that kind of time. Luckily, his physical therapist mentioned after the consultant left that they had one at the facility that she would give to us, which is going to be amazing for him. He cannot use typical baby devices because they do not provide him the needed support, and can train his muscles improperly, so that's where these things are necessary. We don't want him to just be laying on the floor all day, so he'll be able to have a new view, and I'm very excited to have that for him! (Picture below of him in stander)

We spend some time in Houston, soaking up all the family time we can! Lincoln had his much anticipated "spooky halloween birthday party", and he had the best day! After leaving my parent's, we got right back into the chaos of appointments!

Beckett had his 9 month check up with the pediatrician. It was his last check up with the pediatrician before we move to Washington and switch pediatricians. He weighed 18 lbs 5 oz, and was 26 inches tall. His head circumference was 20 centimeters. His weight has gone all the way up to the 26th percentile from the 1st percentile at birth, his height is now the 4th percentile from the 1st at birth, and his head circumference has maintained at the 1st percentile since birth. Unfortunately the low percentiles are effects of the congenital CMV. When his doctor walked in to greet us, he asked if there were any concerns, I kind of looked at him strangely because he's not a typical baby, so I'm concerned about most everything surrounding him. Mostly, his global developmental delay, but that is to be expected. He was very pleased to hear that I'm making his food rather than buying it for him. In the stores the foods are Al pretty smooth/watery, but what I'm making at home has quite a variety in terms of texture/thickness. This is good for him because since he can't eat table food, he would have no exposure to different textures in jars of food from the store so I am giving him things that he can practice with before he's to the point where he can eat table food. We aren't there yet, but I'm just so grateful that he is able to swallow what I offer him. I know not everyone who has a child with this diagnosis can say the same, and I don't take that for granted for a second.

Both his pediatrician, and speech therapist have stressed the importance of having a swallow study completed. While to the naked eye he can swallow just fine, its necessary to know if there's any signs of silent aspiration issues happening internally during his eating that would otherwise go undetected. I've been putting off this because I was scared. I guess I didn't know what it was going to entail and I thought there would be tubes involved but it was actually incredibly easy! We showed up and he was hungry, so she made all the concoctions and I fed them to him, while they did the X-rays and then it was done. What is showed is that he has a delayed swallow. Basically there's a flap in your throat that opens and closes as you breath and are swallowing food, and his doesn't always open as quickly as it should. The doctor said its normal with his diagnosis, and while it's a delay in that reaction for the flap to open, he's still opening it and swallowing just fine so that's good news! No signs of anything happening internally that shouldn't be!

Next month will be our last full month at Fort Hood, and we will be quite busy as always!







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