Kyren CHOPs it up

On friday i took Kyren to a Preemie Pediatric Specialist, who happens to have an office just a few miles away, though her central office is down at CHOP. She was recommended to us by a parent who had a baby in the NICU.

Even though he'd already had his 3 month follow up with the OT, speech therapist and neonatologist at Bryn Mawr, we wanted to make sure all of our bases were covered. And i am SO glad we did! As i sat in the waiting room with my little bundle of chub, i watched many other children come and go. Some were wheelchair bound, some were wearing hearing aids or glasses, and some had visible birth defects. It took me by surprise a little bit, and made me thankful once again for how blessed we were to be sitting there for just a check-up. i watched all of the parents, and thought about how much i love my own kids-- and how for each of them, this is just part of what they do to love their kids. None of them looked sorry for themselves. To each of us, what we're doing is just part of life now. . . . although some appeared to be tired. ha, who isn't? One lady had 6 kids with her of varying ages. at least 3 of them appeared to have hearing problems. while i was definitely overwhelmed at the thought of having more than one child with some issues, it reminded me that we are each given the grace to carry the load we're given. It also made me REALLY thankful for the gift of modern medicine and the access to the finest doctors around. CHOP is no little operation!

Dr. Birnbaum and her team were enthusiastic, thourough and very professional. they made us feel welcome, important, and cared for. After our 6 month well-visit with our regular pediatrician a couple of weeks ago, i wanted some clarification on Kyren's development goals. Dr. Birnbaum confirmed that he is in fact, right where he should be! 11 lbs 5 oz, 22 1/4 in. -- he is in the 20 and 25th percentile for his adjusted age. No, we should not be adding anything other than breastmilk to his diet, and no he does not need to be on a normal growth chart by the end of this year. Thank you!! In fact, she even said that he doesn't need to be on the PolyViSol w/iron (vitamins) anymore. We can switch to just plain Vitamin D drops. he will be so glad to not have to swallow that stuff anymore! it's disgusting.

Her only concerns were his mild head tilt-- he prefers to tilt his head to the left slightly. . . and the extra-deep dimple at the base of his spine. She may have us go for an MRI to be sure his spine is completely normal. She said it's probably nothing to worry about, but the sooner you catch things like that, the easier they are to correct.

So we'll return in a couple of weeks to have a PT look at his head tilt. And we'll do some stretching exercises in the mean time.

All in all, a pretty fabulous visit. The saddest part was having his blood drawn for a CBC count. But he recovered pretty quickly and fell asleep as soon as we got in the car.

When i think about all of the things we could have been in there for, my heart wells up with gratitude. And yet i know that if any of those things were to become our 'lot', there would be just as much grace and love to get through it as there has been for our journey thus far.

This morning we sang a song in church (how NICE to finally be able to go as a family again-- our first time back was on Easter last sunday!) with the line, "if all beneath me falls away, i know that you are God." In other words: You're in charge. You're bigger than my circumstances. You ordain each one of them. And you supply what i need out of your own Character. There really is never anything to fear. . . . and yet in my humanness, i silently prayed, "Lord let that truly be my heart's cry should ALL beneath me literally fall away."

It goes back to what i was feeling before Kyren came along... fearing trial, etc... only to find that when God brings it, He also brings Himself-- full of mercies and even blessings. How quickly i can return to a place of fearing the unknown (or the potential for trial). . . and forget the beauty that God always brings from ashes.
He is truly Good. and His Love endures forever! (psalm 118)
one of my favorite verses has always been:
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. (psalm 34:4-5)