Thankfully, it looks like Caleb simply has a big head. No fluid, no obstruction of the ventricles was found in his brain. The CAT scan was compared to the MRI done at birth and there are no changes. So there will be no brain surgery. That's a relief.
Caleb will continue to get a CAT scan of his brain done every year until his head is proportional to the rest of his body.
We are thankful to the doctors at Miami Children's Hospital who are so cooperative and available to us.
Friday, August 18, 2006
CAT Scan Today
At 10:00am today, Caleb will undergo a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan of his brain to determine the cause of the abnormal growth of his head. Of course, we hope his body is just simply growing disproportionately and that everything else will catch up to his head. Worst case scenerio, of course, is brain surgery. We should know today.
He looks and acts great. He did fantastic during physical therapy yesterday. The therapist, who hadn't seen him in about a month, said that Caleb made her day he was doing so good.
He looks and acts great. He did fantastic during physical therapy yesterday. The therapist, who hadn't seen him in about a month, said that Caleb made her day he was doing so good.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Large Head Update
The doctor said that Caleb is not mentally retarded because he makes eye contact, claps his hands, responds to his name, etc. We are a bit relieved. She thinks he just has a large head. She did order an MRI to be done within three days so that should give us more info.
Prayer Request
Well, we are thankful for the little reprieve from doctors, therapists, and hospital stays that we have enjoyed. Things have been heating up lately however.
Caleb hasn't been eating, and when he does he has been throwing up. To make sure nothing was wrong with his heart, Janet took him to the cardiologist recently. Dr. Mas noticed that his head seemed to be larger than it should be and that his fontanel (the soft spot on the top of his skull) has not closed completely. She said this should have happened by the time he turned one. (The GI doctor says it should be closed by the time he's eighteen months.)
So today, Janet took him for his one year checkup. The measurement of his head is off the charts. His weight is in the lower 25th percentile, and his height has decreased to the 75th percentile; it used to be in the 90th percentile. So it seems that something strange is happening with his growth.
We've been trying to make an apointment with a neurologist at Miami Children's. I'm sure we'll be getting an MRI and all of that.
The good news is that he, at least to us, appears to be developing well mentally. He laughs, moves, picks things up, etc.
Well, thanks for your prayers.
Caleb hasn't been eating, and when he does he has been throwing up. To make sure nothing was wrong with his heart, Janet took him to the cardiologist recently. Dr. Mas noticed that his head seemed to be larger than it should be and that his fontanel (the soft spot on the top of his skull) has not closed completely. She said this should have happened by the time he turned one. (The GI doctor says it should be closed by the time he's eighteen months.)
So today, Janet took him for his one year checkup. The measurement of his head is off the charts. His weight is in the lower 25th percentile, and his height has decreased to the 75th percentile; it used to be in the 90th percentile. So it seems that something strange is happening with his growth.
We've been trying to make an apointment with a neurologist at Miami Children's. I'm sure we'll be getting an MRI and all of that.
The good news is that he, at least to us, appears to be developing well mentally. He laughs, moves, picks things up, etc.
Well, thanks for your prayers.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Birthday!
Happy Birthday Caleb!
Today is your birthday. We are thankful to God that you are our son. No doubt your first year of life has had it's ups and downs. Because we love you so much, our hearts have been pained to see you struggle for so long. But nothing can replace the amazing joy filled laughter and smile that you are famous for. We are so blessed to be your parents; it is an honor.
May your second year of life be glorious. We look forward to seeing you walk, talk, love, learn, and grow. We'll always be here for you little buddy.
Happy Birthday!
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Weight Gain
On his last visit to the GI doctor, Caleb weighed in at the same weight he was at six weeks previously. For some of us, it would be an accomplishment to not put any weight on for six weeks. But obviously for an eleven month old, it's not what is best. So we still are working on trying to get this little man to put some weight on. We've been praying for his appetite to increase and for him to gain weight. Please join us.
On other accounts, he's doing great. He's increasingly mobile, working on crawling. He loves to laugh and play.
On other accounts, he's doing great. He's increasingly mobile, working on crawling. He loves to laugh and play.