So, today was a big appointment day for us. We started out with Ann Marie coming for physical therapy at 8:30am and then meeting Tanner's new teacher for speech therapy. Then, we drove into the city for 2 appointments at CHOP.
Tanner did really well with therapy this week. Usually the therapists have to give Tanner a small break here and there because he gets tired and fussy. Yesterday and today he did great though. He's showing a lot of improvement all around. Especially sitting!! For awhile he would have to be totally hunched over and hands on the floor right in front of him but now he's sitting up really straight. He's even getting brave and bringing one hand up to his mouth at times.
I thought the new teacher was for speech therapy but it seems she's going to be working on a lot more than that. Getting him aware of all of his surroundings and interacting with them. He does this very well with us and his brothers but we need him to become more interested in objects. He has no problem grabbing onto to something that is close to him but if it's out of his reach he doesn't attempt to go for it. I think that will come quickly though because he's really learning how to move around. He's developed a rocking technique that seems to be working well for him. He does this when he sits, on hands and knees, and on his back. It's especially funny when he's in his PT chair and I'm feeding him food. He actually pulls himself to a sit rather than leaning back in the chair and rocks so hard that, if I wasn't right there, he'd be on the floor. I am hoping there is some focus on speech. That is the reason I requested it. Tanner is very interested in sounds. I put my face right in his numerous times a day and very slowly say "ma ma" and "da da". He love it and I do believe he wants to do it. His little mouth just opens really wide like mine....but he doesn't open and close...or say anything but the will is there. He's also very interested in the tongue. Usually right after my "ma ma and da das" I stick my tongue in and out at him. Although he doesn't do it back, I can see his little tongue moving around in his mouth. I know he's trying to figure out how he can do it.
I kind of got off the subject of appointments so I'll redirect myself now.
Tanner's next appointment was at CHOP ophthalmology. The doctor performing his 2 eye surgeries wanted to see him again before the big day to kind of map out which muscles he wanted to work on. There are 6 muscles behind each eye and he's going to tighten 2 of them in each. He warned me not to expect a perfect gaze. He said they can definitely make it A LOT better but perfect is impossible. I was also a little worried about over tightening and then Tanner needing another surgery. He assured me that if anything it wouldn't be corrected enough. Tanner's eyes are not working together when he looks up and the doctor said it's a pretty significant drift so the challenge would be getting them straight. It was relieving hearing that Tanner's eyes most likely are not going to be turning in.....but I'd rather him not have a drift that can't be fixed either. I don't mind if it doesn't look perfect. I just want his eyes functioning properly so that he has that visual connection with his hands to manipulate objects. I really think this surgery is going to help him. The eye doctor assured me that Tanner's recovery is not going to be painful for him. his eyes may be a little irritated but not painful. The whites of his eyes are expected be blood red for a few weeks and possibly black and blue eyes from the clamps that will be holding them open. He's a tough cookie though.
From ophthalmology we went to anesthesia fora presurgery consult. As most of you know, I've been a bit nervous about the seizures not being totally controlled with meds right now. We still have some time to give the Keppra boost a chance to take effect but so far I only see a small decrease in them. The anesthesiologist said ultimately the decision to go ahead with surgery would be up to us unless the morning of they saw something bigger that made them uncomfortable. She assured me that there are many children and adults whose seizures are not controlled with medicine that undergo anesthesia and do great. We'll just have to see how it goes I guess.
Now, on to the good stuff. Tanner was being a little show off tonight so I sprinted for the camera. Tanner has been rolling from back to belly for sometime now but he's figured out a new way to do effectively every time.



Tanner is a very vocal baby and when he gets rambling he gets loud:)



I think Tanner is going to run marathons some day. I can't believe how fast he gets his little legs moving.




Good night my friends. Much Love! XOXOXOXO