Our Little Walker

Grant took his first steps this week! He can take anywhere between 3 and 5 steps before he wipes out. He is enjoying his new skill and I have a feeling he'll be running by next week! He continues to be very observant and enjoys copying things we do. He likes to grab the bottle of lotion or hand sanitizer and rub his little hands together. He loves to try to open door knobs and climb on anything he can. Recently I caught him pushing a step ladder over to his babygate to try to climb over. Every day is an adventure!

Thank you for your prayers about the bottle. He is back to taking 2-3 bottles a day!

Grant's first haircut

Insurance update

Good news- the insurance problem seems to be resolved. Grant started back up with his therapy this week. Thank you so much for your prayers!

Doctor's visit

We saw the doctor on Friday for Grant to get a flu and RSV shot. It doesn't actually prevent RSV, but it would make it not as serious if he did get it. We continue to carry Lysol spray around the house. :) The good news is that he's finally weighing in at over 20 pounds. The bad news is that he is starting to reject the bottle. It has been such a treat the last few weeks to rock him and feed him in my arms. Not to mention the extra calories that he's been getting! (He's not really into drinking formula from a sippy cup- just water. )We're not sure why he's swatting the bottle away again, but it is discouraging to me. Specific prayer requests:

1. That Grant would continue to eat well and enjoy the bottle
2. That Grant's lungs would be completely healed
3. That I would stay positive and creative being indoors (and isolated) with Grant this winter
4. That my body would be completely healed (still doing PT for ankle and recently started PT for tendinitis in my wrists, thumbs and elbows)

Grant's giggle

No new news

We still don't have answers about Grant's lungs yet. We'll be in for another set of chest x-rays in about a week. Still no progress on all the insurance stuff either. The good news is that whenever I feel discouraged we put on Grant's music and dance. All my worries quickly fade away...

He's Got Moves

Check out this video of Grant dancing!

Million Dollar Baby

We found out from our insurance company today that we have "maxed out" the number of visits Grant can have with therapists. This is a huge bummer because Grant is making so much progress with the help of his PT and OT. He still crawls funny and doesn't really like to put weight on his right leg, but his leg is getting stronger. I very much depend on the work the therapists do and need their support for his development. We have another special insurance through the state that is supposed to cover whatever our insurance doesn't (Grant is officially a million dollar baby), but I am having a hard time getting them to cover these costs. Please pray that this would be an easy fix and Grant could continue his therapy as early as this weekend.

Surprised by Grant

Grant continues to keep us on our toes. Our latest surprise is that he LOVES the bottle. That's right- after refusing the bottle awake for the past 6 months, he has now decided that he likes it. During the past few months Grant has only had one small bottle while he's sleeping at night. But, the other night when I went in to feed him he was awake and grabbed at the bottle. He sucked it down. It has been over one week now and he's still grabbing for the bottle. It is such a treat to give him a bottle in the morning and evening with him awake and snuggling in my arms.

Grant in costume

Grant's favorite things

A few of Grant's favorite things: books, bellybuttons, sinks, hairdryers, water bottles, banging together balls,cooked carrots, pizza, walks outdoors, music and dancing, wastebaskets, looking in the mirror while saying, "yeah, yeah, yeah.." (no joke)

A great day!

The echo today showed that Grant's heart looked good! There was one small part that they were not able to see, but they don't think it is the source of the problem. We are so thankful that he doesn't have to have another heart surgery! So, we are trying to enjoy the good news and focus on the present. Tomorrow we'll talk to the pulmonolgist and find out what the next step is. Thank you so much for your prayers and love during this trying time. A big thank you goes out to grandma for enduring the long day at the hospital with us.

Keep prayin'

Specific prayer requests for tomorrow:
1. That Grant would receive the perfect dose of sedation (noon)
2. That Grant's echo would show no signs of anything wrong with his heart
3. That Grant would stop coughing (if we can go a week without a cough then they won't have to do the brochoscopy)
4. Peace for mom and dad
Thanks!

A surprise trip to U of M

I talked to Grant's cardiologist today and he is concerned about Grant's latest chest x-rays. Sometimes this can be caused by the veins narrowing. This happens to about 10% of the kids after heart surgery, within the first year. If this was the case, it would require another open heart surgery. We'll be back at U of M on Thursday for more tests. Please pray that Grant would be totally healed.

"Good job!"

Grant has recently begun to tell himself "good job." It is the cutest thing. When he accomplishes something (like putting a shape into the right hole), he stops, claps for himself and says, "good gob!" Well, at least we know that he is not lacking in the praise department if it is his first word after "mama" and "dada."

Grant continues to love music. We brought his music radio to the doctor's on Friday and he danced for all of them. They thought he was a hoot. I thought it was even funnier to watch all of his doctors dance with him. :)

I'm still waiting to hear back from the cardiologist regarding Grant's last chest x-rays.

Jim and Shannon's Big Night Out

This is Guest Blogger, Carmel (aka CeCe to Grant), in the absence of Jim and Shannon, as they are out on the town celebrating their wedding anniversary. For those of you keeping count, that's 6 years of love for Jim and Shannon. Hurrah for them!
Grant and I had a great time together and I would like to record here in blog-permanence that I taught Grant to grab his socks when I said "socks".
Besides that exciting achievement, we read together; systematically emptied out every basket, then refilled them; chased each other around the living room; and smiled the night away.
Grant continues to be the happiest kid anywhere and he soaks up information like a sponge. That's it for me! Shannon will be back for the next installment of Life with Grant.

Lung update

We saw the pulmonolgist today and didn't get very good news. Grant's lungs are the worst they've ever been. Basically the doctor said that when looking at Grant's lung x-rays you would expect to see a very sick child. But, in looking at Grant and listening to his chest Grant appears totally healthy. He is puzzled by it, so he wants more chest x-rays done in 4 weeks. He also said that the chest x-rays show some kind of narrowing of the airways. So, current prayer requests are:

1. That Grant's lungs would be totally healed and his next x-rays would show it.
2. That God would protect Grant from the flu and RSV. (We can't get our first RSV shot until November 1.)
3. That God would give us peace in the midst of this tough news.

Rub-a-dub-dub...

Doing better!

We are thanking God for Grant's quick recovery. He went from having a fever, cough and cold to only coughing 5 times today. He's sleeping well and feeling so much better. Thank you for praying. It made all the difference!

Sick Grant

Yuck- Grant has a cold. He saw the doctor today and so far his lungs sound okay. Please pray for a quick recovery and that it would not turn into anything more serious.