Trenton Update!!!!!

My baby boy.....my HUGE baby boy.....my MIRACLE baby boy. I haven't updated in a while, and several have been asking. Today was his 9 month well check and this 20.8 lb. ball of fatness is in the 50th percentile for his REAL (not his adjusted) age! Who would have ever thought that this babe.......

....would look like this in only 9 short months????

I must sound like a broken record, but I must say it again. I am in awe of the greatness of our God and the grace that He has bestowed upon our family.

Yesterday the physical therapist spent an hour at our house and I have MORE exercises and stretches to do with him daily. Honestly, it is pretty hard to fit it all in, but she can tell I have been working with him!

He shows tightness on his right side, including his hand and arm. It all seems related to the way he prefers to look over his left shoulder. The shunt is on the right and he does not like the feeling of the shunt tubing going through his muscle....who would? But, his head range has not been affected so we are thrilled! We are doing something now call Rhythmic Muscle Therapy. I have never heard of it, but she seemed to know what she was talking about so why not? He lays in several positions and I shake his whole body in small, rhythmic movements. Apparently it helps to pull all his muscle strength together. I also massage his neck and stretch it out. He is not really a fan! Tummy time is going better, but is still a struggle.......we are also attempting some side lying on his right side which forces him to use his muscle. Also not a fan. In all, though he is really doing amazing!

A representative from the School for the Blind and Visually impaired comes once per month to check his eyes. He has some midline problems. He can definitely see, but the quality of his sight is what we are worried about. Soon he will see the pediatric opthamologist!

We recently got an amazing report from his last head ultrasound. His ventricles are smaller than ever.,.....his shunt is working amazingly well. I cried and cried in relief at this news!!!!!!

He measures about 4-5 months developmentally.....a tad behind as he should be at about 6 months. But, he continues to progress so with therapy we are VERY hopeful for his future!

Does he have cerebral palsey? We do not know. We would not get a diagnosis for that until he is around 2. But, we just keep plugging on.

Several people have asked recently where his problems stem from. Is this what normal preemies go through? No. His problems all relate to the level of his brain bleeding and his shunt. He's complicated to be sure and sometimes its hard to parent him and the other two. But, his early prognosis was relatively dire......and here we are with far less problems than COULD be there.

I honestly HONESTLY thank God in heaven every.single.day for this miracle child. Words can't express the love I hold in my heart for this child. This child is planned for greatness.