Doctor, Doctor give me the news...

We have had a very busy week with doctors appointments. Brayden turned 6 months yesterday, so it was check up time with all the doctors. First doctors appointment was with the neurologist. He was evaluating him to see how things are going with him since he has been off the medicine. Last time he saw no physical difference between the sides. This time he saw slight discrepancy with his "tone" between the right and left side. Like he explained it, if you usually see a patient that had a stroke, sometimes their limbs just lay there and are not as strong as the other side. He said it was a very slight difference, but what shocked him was that he saw the weakness on the left, which it should have been on the right. He said it never amazes him what kids do and every case is completely different. Even though he did have a little difference, it wasn't too concerning to him, so we don't have to see him again till he is 12 months old. Though he did tell us that he is still at risk for having seizures, he said he will always have a 10-15 % higher risk than anyone off the street. So we just have to be cautious and watch him.

Round two was at the NICU follow up clinic. Last time he visited them was when he was 2 months old. This time he got evaluated by a physical therapist, a speech therapist, and cognitive specialist. It is amazing how they get him to "play" but really they are evaluating how he plays. He did really well again. Funny thing is he used his right hand the whole time, which he usually prefers his left. I guess physical therapy is paying off. The only thing that he couldn't do was hold two different toys, one in each hand. They were trying to see how symmetrical the two sides are. The doctors were really impressed with his progress and just recommended Brayden staying in therapy until the time he is walking. Which probably isn't too far off here in the future!!

Final stop, the pediatricians. It is so funny, so for the past two times we have gone there we can't figure out why but Brayden is in the best mood ever when he gets in there. We finally figured out why he loves that place so much, it is because he gets to be naked for like an hour!! He could be completely exhausted and ready for bed and you take his clothes off he can go for hours laughing and playing. Anyways, so we got his 6 month stats for you:
Length 27 inches ( 75 %)
Weight 16 lbs. 14 oz. (50%)
Head 42 cm (20%)
She was like oh, Brayden is thinning out. I don't feel like that at all, he could eat all day if you would let him. I guess he is just getting longer and thinning out a little. Still has a small head, but she wasn't concerned. Poor guy had to get 3 shots again. For some reason he didn't mind at all, he cried for about 30 seconds, then realized he was naked so he started screaming for joy again. Pretty funny.

Overall 3 doctors visits and three great reports!! We couldn't be happier.

Things Brayden has been up to lately:

I am learning how to drink water from a sippy cup (I think he gets more on the floor then he gets in his mouth)

He has learned that he can stick his foot in his mouth and suck on his big toe (Gross!!, but the doctors said to keep letting him do it)

I am sitting up all by myself and playing with toys

Ok, so let me give you the background on this picture. Brayden rubs his eyes like crazy when he is tired, so we wrap him up like a "burrito" so that he won't rub his eyes. Well since he has learned to roll, we find him in the crib in the weirdest positions. And they all look very uncomfortable.

I finally captured what he is really like on the swings. I told you he loves them!

Just saying hi!

Brayden giving me the eye. We let him play naked quite a few times this weekend, since he had shots he was not himself. So this usually cheered him up.

Brayden giving me his Mother's Day Card

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. Especially our mom's and grandma's. We love you and appreciate all that you do for us. And a big Happy Birthday to Great Grandma O!!