April 24, 2013
April 23, 2013
Cleft clinic visit
Max had his first visit with all of the doctors at the Johns Hopkins Cleft Clinic yesterday. After wolfing down an early lunch, he napped all the way to Baltimore. He woke up refreshed and ready for a hearing test, which he did great on. Max's hearing is within the normal range, which officially means when we call his name and he does not answer, he is just ignoring us.
Next we met with our favorite, Dr. Redett. He said Max looks great. No kidding! Dr. Redett did think that Max's scar had become hypertrophic, or thicker, which is common. This is something we tried to avoid with nightly scar massage, but David and I agreed that the scar is minimal; we do not want Max to have another surgery just to reduce it. He has had enough surgeries, and there are still a few more in his future. Dr. Redett went over his next two surgeries- nose repair at four and bone graft around nine. Years old. So far away. Thank goodness.
Between long periods spent in waiting rooms, we also met with a speech pathologist, genetic counselor, and dentist. The speech pathologist was impressed by Max's use of baby sign language (thanks to Jen and Sadie). She also explained some ways to help Max make sounds that might not come naturally to him because he was born with a cleft palate. For example, M's are easy for him because it is a nasal sound; he is used to sounds (and food) coming out of his nose. Other consonants, such as H's and B's are more difficult because Max has to direct all of the air flow through his mouth. The speech pathologist suggested that I hold his nose and make him do raspberries. Just when we get permission to stop torturing him with lip massages, we are supposed to hold his nose.
The dental exam was the most exciting and surprising of the day. Exciting because it was Max's first dental exam, and surprising because he remained completely still the entire time. The nugget officially has 11 teeth. It looks like he could be missing two top teeth, where his cleft palate was, but that is what braces and dental implants are for.
Our last visit was with the genetic counselors. It was Max's favorite visit of the day; he very much enjoyed flirting with the two ladies and hearing them gush over how cute and smart he is. Just another day in the life of the general.
Despite only one, short nap in the car, and nearly six hours in a hospital with five doctors appointments, Max was on his best behavior and showed off his smile all day long.
Next we met with our favorite, Dr. Redett. He said Max looks great. No kidding! Dr. Redett did think that Max's scar had become hypertrophic, or thicker, which is common. This is something we tried to avoid with nightly scar massage, but David and I agreed that the scar is minimal; we do not want Max to have another surgery just to reduce it. He has had enough surgeries, and there are still a few more in his future. Dr. Redett went over his next two surgeries- nose repair at four and bone graft around nine. Years old. So far away. Thank goodness.
Between long periods spent in waiting rooms, we also met with a speech pathologist, genetic counselor, and dentist. The speech pathologist was impressed by Max's use of baby sign language (thanks to Jen and Sadie). She also explained some ways to help Max make sounds that might not come naturally to him because he was born with a cleft palate. For example, M's are easy for him because it is a nasal sound; he is used to sounds (and food) coming out of his nose. Other consonants, such as H's and B's are more difficult because Max has to direct all of the air flow through his mouth. The speech pathologist suggested that I hold his nose and make him do raspberries. Just when we get permission to stop torturing him with lip massages, we are supposed to hold his nose.
The dental exam was the most exciting and surprising of the day. Exciting because it was Max's first dental exam, and surprising because he remained completely still the entire time. The nugget officially has 11 teeth. It looks like he could be missing two top teeth, where his cleft palate was, but that is what braces and dental implants are for.
Our last visit was with the genetic counselors. It was Max's favorite visit of the day; he very much enjoyed flirting with the two ladies and hearing them gush over how cute and smart he is. Just another day in the life of the general.
Despite only one, short nap in the car, and nearly six hours in a hospital with five doctors appointments, Max was on his best behavior and showed off his smile all day long.
 |
| Making the most of waiting for doctors (4.22.13) |
 |
| Max's first dental check (4.22.13) |
 |
| Look at this guy (4.21.13) |
 |
| Vanilla or chocolate? Both! (4.21.13) |
 |
| Shady (4.20.13) |
 |
| (4.20.13) |
 |
| Can Timmy come out to play? (4.19.13) |
 |
| (4.19.13) |
 |
| Pinned down Daddy! (4.19.13) |
 |
| Beep, beep! (4.18.13) |
 |
| (4.18.13) |
 |
| Drummer Max (4.17.13) |
 |
| Worked up quite an appetite (4.16.13) |
 |
| Who needs a calculator when they have an abacus at every playground? (4.16.13) |
 |
| Wild man on the playground (4.16.13) |
 |
| Helping out around the house (4.15.13) |
 |
| Bubbles are hilarious! (4.14.13) |
 |
| Slide static (4.13.13) |
 |
| If I scream loud enough daddy will take me on the merry-go-round (4.13.15) |
 |
| Se-saw with William (4.13.13) |
 |
| What an athlete (4.12.13) |
 |
| Swingin' and snackin' (4.11.13) |
 |
| Gardeners-in-training (4.11.13) |
April 11, 2013
Garden party
Max and Sadie had a romantic date at Meadowlark Gardens yesterday afternoon. The sun was scorching, but the flowers were beautiful, especially the cherry blossoms. Max's love for all animals almost got him in trouble when he tried to befriend a goose. A goose who already had enough friends. Luckily, Max was spared and not at all frightened by the creature's enormous open beak and scary, piercing screech that came out of it. But I was!
As you can see from the pictures, Max has been spending a lot of time outside. Practically all of his time, in fact. Every afternoon he spends hours at the playground meeting new kids, leading David and I on walks around the neighborhood, and eating dinner at his new picnic table. The only way to pry Max inside at night is to put him immediately in his second favorite habitat, the bath. And he sure does need his baths these days!
As you can see from the pictures, Max has been spending a lot of time outside. Practically all of his time, in fact. Every afternoon he spends hours at the playground meeting new kids, leading David and I on walks around the neighborhood, and eating dinner at his new picnic table. The only way to pry Max inside at night is to put him immediately in his second favorite habitat, the bath. And he sure does need his baths these days!
 |
| (4.10.13) |
 |
| Cherry blossoms! (4.10.13) |
 |
| "Cat" (4.10.13) |
 |
| That goose doesn't scare Max (4.10.13) |
 |
| Can't catch the general (4.10.13) |
 |
| Yay! We are outside! (4.10.13) |
 |
| Intently watching kids play ball (4.9.13) |
 |
| Max won't even go inside to eat. But he is still hungry! (4.8.13) |
 |
| Weeeee (4.8.13) |
 |
| Max loves to draw on the sidewalk. (4.8.13) |
April 8, 2013
Here comes the sun
Spring has finally landed [again], and hopefully this time it sticks! Yesterday we ventured to DC, but despite the line of traffic headed towards the Tidal Basin, cherry blossom sightings were few and far between. But since Max isn't a huge flower guy, he shed his layers and ran around the capital giggling and chasing strangers.
On Friday, Max and Sadie started 'Music and Friends' class; a far cry from the 'Mom Fit' class they slept through or observed from the comfort of their car seats at two months old. They probably enjoyed it more, too.
 |
| (4.7.13) |
 |
| (4.7.13) |
 |
| Hanging out on the stoop (4.7.13) |
 |
| Max's favorite monument- the snack truck. (4.7.13) |
 |
| What a beautiful day for a daddy-drawn wagon ride (4.7.13) |
 |
| Righty? (4.6.13) |
 |
| Gimme that food, Timmy! (4.6.13) |
 |
| Cheering at the Hughes-Herndon basketball game. After not-so-cheerful behavior during the National Anthem... (4.5.13) |
 |
| Follow that dog. But call it a cat. (4.5.13) |
 |
| Loves to slide his belly (4.5.13) |
 |
| Water is fun! (4.5.13) |
 |
| First day of music class (4.5.13) |
 |
| Cafe Asia's newest roll: The Max (4.4.13) |
 |
| Max wanted to read his bedtime story to himself (4.4.13) |
 |
| Coolest cuties around (4.3.13) |
 |
| Giggles (4.2.13) |
 |
| It's raining dirt! (4.2.13) |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)