The SB way to measure growth

Forget ticks on the wall, this is how I can see how big my boy is getting!

  

Maple Leafs, Backyardigans, Pirate Mickey, Ninja Turtles (my favorite) and Avengers!

New Braces!!!

It was time for new braces again!

I asked for another orthodics appointment in May because I felt that they just weren't high enough any more. After our appointment in December when they said he still had growth, I wasn't sure if I had to make my case or not. But there wasn't any problem this time.

 

As usual I came all prepared with what design I... I mean Nick, wanted.

He has been on a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle kick lately, especially Michaelangelo ("my favorite colour") so I found a whole bunch of different options and Nick got to pick what he wanted.

 

There was no question about what colour to do the background (after the while background of our backyardigan braces I also specify something)
They came out fantastic!

Nick started showing off as soon as they were on him.
He stood there (bum not touching), and stood there... and stood there....

And he is standing so much straighter!

We have a wearing schedule right now (1 hour on, 1 hour off, then 2 hours on, 2 hours off) for a bit until he gets used to them.

Nick wanted a picture of all of his old braces

I think he has grown a bit!

A growing boy

You know how you don't notice something that is right in front of you ever day.

 

Looking over some pictures from last April something very obvious jumped out at me!

 

April 2012

 

 

April 2013

My little boy is growing  up... literally!

How far we've come...

Our year in review.

1 year ago, at the beginning of 2010 I removed the last of Nickolas' back dressing and let him lay in his back. That was how long ago we were. We were still learning how to do everything. We had not met anyone else with spina bifida and were just waiting for everything. Nick had already had 2 surgeries and 2 hospital stays, we had no idea when the next would be (there is always a next one) and we had barely been home longer than we had been in the hospital.

I won't go through the year, I am sure I would miss so so much. There is a reason I keep a blog and a journal - so I can write everything down and not have to remember everything, especially in order!

It is hard to imagine that one year ago we still had not had our first spina bifida clinic, we were just beginning to learn. I was just at the beginning of my maternity leave and not even thinking about what to do when it was done. I was still working on my masters research project (that seems so far away). Katheryn was just learning about her baby brother (her Nii) and we were still cautious about her being too rough with him. Little did we know how much he could take.

Looking over the pictures I could almost date them by the amount of hair Nick and Katheryn have!

We went from Nickolas who didn't like toys or anything in May (at 6 months when we started weekly physio) to a child who is army crawling and in a standing frame, eating everything in sight, and has his own favorite toys and books. He is a rascal who will do lots as long as he's on his mommy, but doesn't want to do anything when he's on the floor.

We've met moms and babies and children, we've lost family and friends, we've gained family and friends and we've learned patience and the importance of making small steps as long as they are forward.

2010 is behind us, for good or for bad, and 2011 will bring us lots of new joys and challenges and miracles that I am excited to be there and witness. 2011 - we are ready!

We are almost there

Today is the last day I can say that Nickolas is "almost one year old". As of tomorrow, I will have a 1 year old!
Somehow my baby went from this...
seconds old

and this...

minutes old

a day old

A couple days old 

 To this big boy!

I cannot believe how much I have grown in this past year. Yes I said how much I have grown. I went from someone who could not see the future without worrying. I was only able to see until Nickolas was born and not beyond that. I cannot believe all of what I was missing, all of what my fear kept me from seeing.

One year ago I had only fear and maybe's and unknowns. Once Nickolas was born, and once I was able to see him (a time that stretched over 5 days - thanks H1N1), everything fell into place. I did not have a limit of the time I could look in the future. I can think about the child and the teenager and the adult that he will grow into.

So we are almost there. Almost at the one year mark. When my baby stops being a baby and becomes a toddler? (I don't know, I think he's still my baby).

We are having a big party tomorrow, so I should really stop blogging and work more on cleaning the house!

Can't wait for the party tomorrow - pictures will follow!

9 months

Nickolas is 9 months old today.
And another lucky Friday the 13th! I am amazed at how far we have come. How much Nickolas has grown, and how much I have grown. I've heard it before that you learn so much when you have a special needs child. That you look at life a whole new way, take time to appreciate the little things, you appreciate everything instead of taking things for granted.

Nickolas is doing so much. You can hear the wheels in his heading turning, trying to figure out how to do something. Usually it involves trying to get Katheryn's toys, clothes, hair or just Katheryn. He is rolling to get himself places, or just squirming around. I got foam squares that I put him on, it's nice and soft and means he's not picking up dog hair and putting it in his mouth. We have a big hairy dog (Bernese Mountain dog) and there is hair everywhere!! Seconds after I vacuum it is back.




I took his 9 month picture, I take it and you can see how much he has matured over the month. So much more than when he is in front of you every day.

Here is our 7, 8, and 9 month pictures