Back At It

Connor and Clara at Gramma's

Clara and Connor had a wonderful time at my mom’s house for their two week stint at Camp Gramma.  Clara worked her way through the list of 17 things she wanted to do in North Dakota (I think they got almost all of them done!).  Connor was mostly along for the ride - loving all the attention he got from sissy and Gramma, doing his exercises every day and battling a cold for several days.  Brent and I had an exhausting and amazing week in New Orleans for the ELCA Youth Gathering.  So many memories and God-sightings.

Big changes ahead for us as the woman who has taken care of Connor since my maternity leave is going back to work full time.  Connor adores Molly and she and her family have become dear to us.  We are still trying to figure out what to do with the little man during the day, but have some leads and are confident a loving person will be put in our path.

Connor’s had two major tests since my last post.  On July 9^th he saw a neuro-muscular orthopedist and had x-rays done on his spine to rule out issues that would cause the popping we’ve heard in his neck.  Thankfully the x-rays came back normal and the doctor said he wouldn’t worry about the noises.  Full steam ahead with physical therapy!

The other test was on Friday (we’d been back in the state for 36 hours, so of course it was time to go to CHOP!).  This one was a swallow test because he has been choking and coughing a good bit while swallowing his formula and drool.  They gave him Barium liquid in a bottle and watched on an x-ray video as he drank it.  What they saw is that he is aspirating a little when he swallows.  The speech pathologist that went over things with me seemed a little surprised he hadn’t had respiratory issues but figured he must doing ok.  She said he did better with thicker liquid so now we are thickening his formula with cereal in hopes that will stop some of the choking. 

And so it’s back to the daily grind for the Dean family.  Brent and I got right back to work, Clara is off to YMCA camp next week and Connor is being cute, doing exercises and going to the doctor.  Current prayer requests are for Connor’s eating techniques to improve, for a sitter to be found and for continued progress with his hands’ sensory issues.

P.S.  Had to include this pic from Connor's first time at the beach.  I thought he'd freak out from the texture of the sand, but he seemed to enjoy it!