We received wonderful news about Sophie today. The latest VCUG shows no kidney reflux, which means Sophie doesn't need kidney surgery!! Her urologist said back in December that she would probably need the surgery this summer. She still has a small dilation in her right kidney, and still has a duplicated kidney, but without the reflux those aren't problems and just need to be monitored. This is fantastic news!! I was not ready to deal with another surgery; even if all went perfectly well during the surgery and recovery, it would set her back on some of her development, which I would hate to see. Sophie still has her developmental issues to deal with, but this means that she currently has no major medical problems that need treatment (her liver will always need to be monitored, but for now is working fine). This is a huge relief!
I said "major" medical problems because Sophie has not outgrown her GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease). We were trying to wean her off her medication, but last week she started vomiting after almost every feeding. After 4 days of taking the medication every day (we were doing every other day), she is doing much better. I was hoping to get rid of the medication soon, but alas.
Not to be completely outdone by his sister, Owen required a trip to the eye doctor a few weeks ago. His teacher noticed one of his eyes had trouble focusing. The doctor confirmed that one of his eyes did wander when looking at far objects (called exotropia). Fortunately it is not bad enough to require glasses or any other treatment, and he may outgrow it. We go back to the doctor in 6 months to make sure it doesn't get worse.
If (really just "when" considering Keith and I both got glasses in grade school) Owen gets glasses, it will fit his personality to a T. Owen has shown a big interest in spelling lately. Short words he can figure out the spelling himself, and larger words he asks us to help him with. We generally just have to sound out the word and he can figure it out. (Although, boy, the English language is tricky!) It's interesting to note how he always relates letters in new words to words he already knows, such as "P, like after the O in Sophie".
And now Owen has shown an interest in addition! He'll use his fingers (and Mommy or Daddy's fingers if it's more than ten) to count up the total ("4 plus 5 equals...1,2,3,4...5,6,7,8,9!"). We haven't been able to get him to start counting from the first number being added instead of 1 ("4 plus 5 equals...4...5,6,7,8,9"), but he'll probably catch on soon. I started him on subtraction a couple of days ago. When he asked what 9 minus 10 was I wasn't sure how to answer! (Obviously I know what the correct answer is, but he's too young to understand negative numbers, right?) Sophie's speech therapist commented that a public school is probably not going to give Owen what he needs. I'm not sure what we'll do with his schooling, but for now it's fun to come up with new spelling and number games!
May has been a fun month so far with a Derby party, Mother's Day and Sophie's baptism. Below are a few pics, and more can be found on our
Picasa site.
Friday Night at the Movies in the park (that's what Owen does when you tell him to smile):
Mommy and Sophie in their Derby hats:
Mother's Day:
Celebrating Grandma's birthday:
Sophie's Baptism (the gown she is wearing was Nana's baptismal gown!)
My parents and brother and his family:
Sophie with Daddy's hat:
Owen playing with the backhoe that Toolman restored (was Uncle Charles's as a kid):
