No nebs!

Today we went to a pulmo appointment and the verdict is:

No more nebulizer treatments until September!

In spite of the fact that Noah was hit hard by the flu, he didn't need steroids or need to be hospitalized so I guess that's considered a good outcome. Mollie said that based on his history he's doing much better at (almost) 3 then she could've predicted. We'll go back on .25 of Pulmocort once a day in September to strengthen his lungs for preschool germs. In the meantime hopefully Noah can learn to fall asleep without his nightly nebulizer - that would be a huge step for us.

Bedtime Prayers

Sorry this is so dark. It's too sweet not to post!

Noah: I want to say the prayer.
Daddy: Yeah, say the prayer. Ok.
Noah: Now I lay me down to sleep.
…
Now I lay me down to sleep.
This one.
…
Now I lay me down to sleep.
I do this one?
…
Now I lay me down to sleep-away.
Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord. Lord my soul to keep. Thank you God for Mommy and Daddy. Amen.

Burning the Midnight Oil

It's almost midnight. Is your 2 year old still awake?

Mine is.

He went to bed at a really nice time but had a huge vomit in his sleep at 9:30. This involved changing his bed, cleaning the floor, giving another bath, and refeeding dinner, all while he was screaming at the top of his lungs. Noah always falls asleep to his Xoponex but since he didn't need another dose we tried a saline neb. It didn't work. We're still up and he's not acting remotely tired.

Too bad crying-it-out would lead to a repeat of the 9:30 vomit or else I would seriously consider changing my parenting views.

Potty Training

The good news:

• Noah knows when he is going and has a very predictable peeing/pooping schedule
• he doesn't mind sitting on the potty chair a million times a day to "try"

The bad news:

• the predictable schedule involves him going 10 minutes after every meal
• peeing outside of a diaper makes Noah vomit (especially if it lands on his feet)

The conclusion:

• Mommy's not ready for potty training. Ask me again in a year or two.

So Sad

Noah's CI battery died today while we were out of the house. Normally we have a back-up with us, but I forgot this time. He's such a different child without his CI - it makes me sad.
He didn't talk.
Didn't sign.
Didn't smile.
Didn't interact.
We tried to interact with him. He knows a lot of signs now if you do them close to his face so he can see.
He just moped.
When we got home we got him a fresh battery and he went back to singing and smiling and non-stop talking/signing. It's days like today that make me realize the CI was the right choice.

What do people do with themselves?

Free time? What's that?

I haven't had any free time since May 2005 when they stuck my in a hospital bed, hooked me up to the mag, and told me to lay on my left side and not move. Ok, I guess technically that was free time. But I wasn't allowed TV, the phone, visitors, or sitting up, and the triple vision from the mag didn't help if I tried to read a book so it wasn't exactly relaxing.

Recently, (think: yesterday) we received notice that Noah's Medicaid has been reinstated. Wahoo!! We got in through a waiver program for disabled people. In addition to Medicaid we've also qualified for at least 10 hours a week of attendant care for Noah and 720 hours of respite a year to be used however we like. I really can't remember what one does with free time. Grocery shopping? Cutting the lawn? I used to have free time, I know I did. It's just been too long...

Any ideas?

What's the point?

Our OT that we've had since NICU discharge is out on maternity leave (she was due Monday, but no baby yet!). Today we had our first of 3 appointments with our new OT. Only 3? Yup - Noah transitions out of EI next month. I question whether Noah will actually get any benefit of his 3 OT appointments. I mean, he likes the new OT but she doesn't know him.
Today she wanted to work on "proprioceptive" activities. All well and good, until she wants me to squish him with pillows. Ummmm... yeah. Do you want to see what he had for lunch today? And then when he gagged because the piece of playdough he was rolling picked up a cat hair (thus changing the texture) she wondered aloud how it was possible that a kid could be both sensory seeking and sensory aversive. I don't know. He just is. Beverly understood.
Why am I doing this again?!Maybe I should be like Kathie Snow and just cancel all the therapy. Or maybe my therapists shouldn't get pregnant so as to take maternity leave right before my son transitions (Are you listening, Beverly?). That's the ideal solution, really. Oh, and they shouldn't move to Austria, either (I'm talking to you, Jamie Sue!). Seriously - you'd think Noah would be more of a priority in their lives.