I know that I'm not updating as often as I did before. Please take this is a good thing. It just means that Landon is doing great and life is just normal. That's what we strive for! Well, not totally normal but it's not Landon. Poor Jimmy was playing basketball this past Sunday and dislocated his shoulder. He was so excited about starting up a basketball league with his friends and some family members, getting active and two games into it, it's over. The orthopedic surgeon that he went to recommended a surgery to reconstruct his shoulder but as of right now, Jimmy is taking good care of it and hoping that it heals within the next couple of weeks and is swearing off sports. His shoulder is pretty fragile, especially since dislocating it this time, and if he raises his arm up and out, the changes of it happening again are very very good. So that's what's going on in the Hartz household now... Poor guy, right?!
Appointments have slowed down which is soo nice! We go to Nephrology every 3 months now instead of months. Blood work for Nephrology is also every 3 months instead of monthly. Today Jimmy and I took Landon to get blood work for Endocrinology. He has been on the medicine for his thyroid for about a month so they want to see what his levels look like now. Poor kid. He HATES blood work. Who doesn't?! He screams and cries and then quickly says "buh buh" and blows kisses as we leave. And the band aid can't stay on much past the door to head out of the lab so we just hope that he's not bleeding much. Anyway, I'm not sure how often we will have to go to see the Endocrinologist but my guess is that it will be maybe every 3 months. We'll see! We have a break for a little while from Gastroenterology. His GI doctor wants to avoid having him in waiting areas because of flu season and so forth. We really want to avoid having him get sick! A virus for Landon could mean a few days in the hospital and we're not quite ready to go back yet. We still go for monthly weight checks with his pediatrician, but they are quick, close by and we usually leave pretty happy!!
Our little guy really is doing so well!! He is quite a character and is really testing boundaries. He's at such a fun, and exhausting age. You can tell that Jimmy and I are first time parents because we get such a kick out of these little milestones that he is hitting. I am just amazed at how well he follows commands. Now, I will say that sometimes he doesn't, but that's the rebellious Landon. I know this because he does the opposite of what I say wearing a big smile! The other day, the eraser from his chalk board was in our living room. The chalk board is in his play room, so I said, "Landon, can you put this eraser away please?" He took it, went strolling down the hallway (I followed because I assumed it would go in the bathtub or garbage can) and he went right into the playroom and put it back. I was so excited! He's also in a phase of loving to clean up, throw things in the garbage (things that belong and sometimes things that don't!) and put his dishes in the sink. Oh, can't he just stay that way?! He also likes helping me with laundry. If I say, "Landon, want to go downstairs and do laundry with mommy?" He runs to the door, puts his hands up for me to pick him up and squeels all the way down the steps.
On another note, we lost our Occupational Therapist. She took another job in (you won't believe this) Japan! How cool is that? Ms. Sandy will certainly be missed by not only me, but Landon and our dog Rocky. She allowed Landon to write with pen on her papers and allowed Rocky to jump all over her.. =0) We met our new OT this week and she seems warm, friendly and very knowledgabe. Landon actually sat for a moment on her lap (until she attempted to embrace him and then he quickly got up). He is definitely beginning to relax a little bit around people that he doesn't know well. As long as you don't try to hold him or invade his personal space, you're okay in his book! Our former OT and this new one are both very optimistic about him eating at some point and getting off the feeding tube. All agree that we need to take our time and see where he takes it.
Physical therapy is going really well!! Landon really seems to get along well with Ms. Melissa now. She can actually pick him up without him arching his back and screaming in protest. We go to a gymnastic studio every week during their free play. He loves it and is so funny! For as cautious as he is; he certainly has a bit of a daredevil side. He is so not like his mother in that way! He definitely gets that from Jimmy. I have warned Jimmy not to tell Landon about all the stunts that Jimmy and his brother pulled as kids. So, yes Landon walks on trampolines and maintains his balance even as Ms. Melissa bounces behind him. He walks up slanted, squishy mats. He is comfortably stepping up on 1-2 inch steps. There is a lot of good about Landon being in PT, but at this point, a major plus is that I am learning how to encourage and push him a bit. If he wasn't getting PT, I wouldn't think twice about him crawling up steps. But now, I am beginning to work with him on walking up and down our steps. We still have a lot of work to do, but he is moving right along.
I'm not sure if I mentioned this in a previous post, and I am way too lazy to check right now, but we decided to sign Landon up for the 2 year old program at the pre-school he is at. He will start that in the fall and will go two days a week for two hours at a time, by himself. OMG- I am actually going to drop my baby off at school, without staying, in only 8 months. They transition the kids, so I won't have to drop him off on the first day and leave. It will be a process! I hope he's ready! I think a bit of independence will do him good. Yes, he is only 2, but he's had a rough year (pre-diagnosis too) and I want him to learn to trust other people and to feel comfortable when we're not there. He is thriving at school and has learned so much! He is more interactive with his teacher and the other adults as well as the other kids. One funny thing happens at school.. He does great during "gym" (yes, they have gym which is basically play time in a room with a train table, balls, a sliding board etc) and then does really well during music when we are singing and sitting in a circle. But, the moment everyone stands up and the music goes on and we all run around and dance, he gets really upset and cries for me to hold him. And generally, he doesn't recover well from this until we leave the room and go to the class room. Once in the class room, he plays fine. I'm not sure if the noise and commotion is just really overwhelming for him. I struggle with how much to comfort, should I pick him up or should I encourage him to stand up.. I tried to move against the wall when the times comes so that no one is running behind him and around him, but so that he can see what's going on, but it doesn't help. His teacher is so kind, and said that maybe we'll change what we do a little so that we can ease him into it. On that note, I have never felt more unsure of myself as a parent than I do now! I constantly question everything I say and do with him. Should I let him stand on the couch to look out the window or should we be consistent about not standing on furniture, is he old enough to understand time out yet, what should I do when I tell him something multiple times and he still doesn't listen? He's at this weird age that I just don't understand. I get older kids a little more since I worked as a mobile therapist (although it doesn't mean that I won't have the same struggles), but at least I know what they understand.
Well, I think this little book I wrote, makes up for not posting for a little while. I will try to do better from now on, but please know, when I don't post, it probably means that all is well!!!
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