Thursday, February 23, 2006

Floundering Flamingos

Someone unsubbed from Levi's group today. It makes me sad. It never bothers me when people unsub from my business groups. And it never REALLY bothered me until earlier this month I sent out a notice we were leaving for Chicago and his next MRI and someone unsubbed. I was like "Wow, harsh". I was on pins and needles and praying and praying for him and praying for others to pray for him and it was like "don't care buh bye". I know I rarely update but that's because no news is good news and I dont' want to clutter your mailboxes and I got sick of being ragged on in the beginning for saying things wrong or doing things wrong or whatever. I was sharing my world, my life, my innermost thoughts and quirks with the whole freaking world and I was not only being edited (the first website I used did that because I was negative about Levi's original doctor) but ridiculed and judged. To me it's simple, if you don't like what I say don't read it but please just pray for my baby. He's done no wrong. Praying is free. Praying might save a life. My baby's life. You might think I'm an awful person but please don't hold that against my baby.

Levi is learning so much so fast! This stage is so amazing. I remember being in awe of Livie with each new concept she learned. It's like WOW she can say MommEEE or she can ride a tricycle. This week she learned to hop on one foot. You might think whooopeee anyone with at least one foot can hop on it. However, if you watched Olivia hopping on one foot you would think she's a flamingo floundering in mud. It's almost painful to watch. I can NOT even mimic her. You'd think that's easy too. Hold a leg up, bent at the knee and hop. But no. That held up in the air bent at the knee leg is swinging wildly like a first grader at T-ball. It's in front of her, behind her, above her, beside her. And she's HOPPING. Madly. And grinning. Broadly. With so much pride that you can't help but grin back just as full of pride. My beautiful not so fat just chubby baby girl. She can hop on one foot. If she can do that she can do ANYTHING!

Levi...hmm he learned to walk backwards recently. Not as exciting to watch as the floundering flamingo princess but exciting all the same. His ARM! That is what I was going to write about. It's very easy to "not notice" that he doesn't use his left arm. You just kind of ignore it and think in the back of your mind that you hope he does eventually. But when he does try to use it...it makes you want to weep. The effort of opening those tiny fingers, of spreading them wide and commanding them to grasp an object...it's amazing. It's like watching God work. We take it for granted that we can do all that we can do. Blink, walk, HOP, talk, feel, hurt, stumble, write and then you watch a two year old ever so slowly and deliberately raise his arm and set his hand in motion towards an object and watch those bent fingers uncurl and sprawl out in the oddest way and fail to grab the object and he tries again! He doesn't give up. Tries one more time....and then grabs the item with his right hand and runs off. Oh well. It was momentous while it was happening.

Chelle said...
((((Hugs to you all April!)))

February 23, 2006 10:27 PM
Barb said...
April,
It sounds like you are busy enjoying both Livvie and Levi. I can just picture Livvie and her hopping. I am praying that all will come together for Levi and the use of his left arm. You are a truky amazing mom and person. I commend all that you are doing. Please keep us posted - even it not much is new. I just love seeing new photos of your little guys.
Love to you all,

February 24, 2006 8:37 AM

Saturday, February 18, 2006

18 months cancer free

Been a long time since I posted! Just wanted to give a little update that Levi is now 20 months old and 18 months cancer free! We just got back from another trip to Chicago and his MRI was clean.

We are concerned about his lack of weight gain. He's gained about 2 lbs since he was 7 months old. He weighs about 21 lbs. And he's not really getting taller. They ran a gamut of blood tests to see if there was any obvious reasons and there wasn't. I only got a voicemail and the nurse said it was all normal except for one test but it was minimal and to call her back if I want to discuss. She was very unconcerned. So I will call her Monday.

We have to go back for about a week sometime in the next few months. He still has a hole in skull that's pretty good size. There is no protection between his brain and the skin. In fact, if the surgeon didn't put in a fake layer of dura matter then the brain is probably stuck to the skin which isn't good. Anyway, they're going to put in a steel mesh and plaster plate to cover the hole. Last time we discussed this they wanted to wait til he was 5 years old. Dh and I are totally not going for that!



Levi has grown so much! He walks, runs, climbs, jumps. He says mama, hi and bye. Oh and eeeyesh but we haven't deciphered that yet. And he says "OH" and makes this funny face.

Time to get to bed.

"OH!"

January 2006

Levi Jan 2006 ADDICTED