A Doctor a Day...

Brady had his first appointment with his pediatrician last Thursday. I had a couple of things I was concerned about, but instead I was thrown for a loop after she examined him. Seems he very likely has a cleft palate! It is officially called a "submucous cleft palate" because the roof of his mouth does have a lining. His uvula (the thing that hangs in the back of your throat) is in two pieces, which is an indication that the palate did not fully come together. She took one look and made this announcement. I'm baffled at how it is possible that not one of the doctors in Kaz recognized it.

This diagnosis causes several other things to make sense now: his chronic head congestion, irritated throat, and his discomfort when eating lumpier foods. We have an appointment with the cleft palate team at Children's Hospital in Denver next Monday. We'll confirm the diagnosis, then over a period of 1.5 hours, we will meet with a social worker, have a hearing test performed, then run the gamut with the specialists: pediatrician, ear-nose-throat specialist, plastic surgeon, dentist, genetic counselor, occupational therapist, and speech therapist. By the time we leave, we will have a verbal recommendation on treatment, which generally means surgery. Needless to say, my head is still spinning!

Since last Thursday, Brady has also had 7 vials (yes SEVEN) of blood drawn for labwork (all at once -- 20 minutes of screaming while I held him in a vice-grip), first round of vaccines (including flu shots for both of us) Monday, a ninety-minute EEG appointment yesterday (after what might have been a mild seizure last week), and back to the doctor today for more bloodwork and to check the TB test. All these doctor visits are exhausting for both of us! Overall though, he is gaining weight and doing well.

Trying the mesh feeder so he'll learn how to feed himself and to chew. Yum! I have to admit to loving watching that little mouth at work when he eats at this age. I know it won't be so cute for much longer once he learns how to chew.



Other than all this fun, things are going well. In the last couple of days he has decided that screaming like someone is trying to kill him is a ton of fun. He's not in pain, he's just fine, but apparently likes the sound of his own very loud screeching voice! I keep waiting for the police to knock at my door. Anyone have any suggestions how to tone him down? My ears are ringing!

First time in the oh-so-fun playpen.


Every time since in the not-so-fun playpen.



Callie is also tolerating him a bit more. He wouldn't leave her alone while she was eating last night though and she hissed at him then bopped him on the head. I've been trying to keep a close eye on them so no swatting, scratching, or other damage would occur to either of them. Apparently she gets that he is just a baby. She just bopped him on top of the head (no claws out), exactly like she used to do to Merlin when she would get annoyed. It was really rather funny and he was startled, but still very delighted with the whole thing. He giggled and started crawling right after her. Sigh. Poor Callie.

He is destined to be a contortionist, I think. He squeezed under the rung on this chair...


Planned his next move...

Over he goes...

Almost there...

All in an attempt to reach the one that is ignoring him in true cat fashion.