{Forty} A better road trip

We went on another road trip and I'm very pleased to report that I had a great time. A zillion stroller rides, fresh air, quality time with my parents and the beach. Much better than my first vacation (you know, when I had projectile liquid coming out both ends of my body for three and a half days). This trip had both sets of grandparents too. It was fun.

And while on our weekend getaway, I practiced scooting along the coffee table so now in addition to my standing abilities, I can also move along something as long as I am holding on. And stairs! I got up on one and mumma freaked. She said they are slippery wood stairs and I don't need any more boo boo's. So fine, I waited until our trip was over and about an hour after we were home, I got up the first 2 steps at our house and played on the landing. It's very cool up there. Like a little fort. My brother plays up there with me and we laugh. And laugh. And laugh. Then mumma laughs. So we laugh harder. Then mumma laughs so hard she can't breath and starts crying. Good times.

I've been eating some new solids... cheerios, toast, bananas. I love to eat. Dada won't give me any juice though and I like juice. He gets mad when I drop my sippy cup and make the floor sticky.

{Thirty-nine} Standing Tall

I am nine months old today. A big giggling eating machine. Now that I know how to pull myself up on things, I only like to stand. Being tall instead of floor level makes my life a lot easier. However, there is a downside to standing all the time because I don't have good balance. I fall. Often, and a lot. A bruise here. Goose egg there. Cut under my eye. My entire head is one big ache. So, due to all my lumps and bruises, mumma didn't do my nine month photoshoot last week. And then I got three new boo boo's over the weekend so no shoot again. We'll see if I can make a few days without injury and heal up all these unsightly injuries (actually, I think I look cool... rough and tough).

{Extra Post} Tracheomalacia

I have been diagnosed with Tracheomalacia. My pulmonary doctor thought that it was the culprit of my breathing problems after he ruled out allergies and/or asthma a couple months back. But I was still too little to diagnose. We waited six weeks and had an x-ray redone which sent up a red flag so we proceeded to make an appointment at the hospital for a mag airway test (Tues 8/16). Which is just another x-ray but a bit fancier.  A physical has to perform this test (usually techs and specialists handle regular radiology tasks) and it takes multiple pictures in a row to be able to see action and comparison. I was not happy with this test. Not... happy. I laid there crying on that hard table on my back for one sequence and then they flipped me on my side for another sequence. One tech had my head, mumma held my arms, the doctor had the death grip on my butt/thigh and the other tech held my legs. I was SCA-reeming. Screaming. Snot. Tears. My head was purple. PUR-ple. And obviously, I was having breathing difficulties. Good times. Mumma has questions but has to wait until next week to talk to the doctor.

Here is the nicest and easiest read we could find on this condition (and in layman's terms):

Acquired Tracheomalacia is a weakness and floppiness of the walls of the windpipe (trachea) that develops after birth. Acquired tracheomalacia is very uncommon. Rarely, babies, infants, and adults may develop the condition. It occurs when normal cartilage in the wall of the windpipe begins to break down.

Congenital Tracheomalacia is a weakness and floppiness of the walls of the windpipe (trachea), which is present at birth. Tracheomalacia in a newborn occurs when the cartilage in the windpipe (trachea) has not developed properly. Instead of being rigid, the walls of the trachea are floppy. Because the windpipe is the main airway, breathing difficulties begin soon after birth. Congenital tracheomalacia is very uncommon.

All types of tracheomalacia are extremely rare; no definite incidence rates are available. The incidence of primary airway malacia was estimated to be at least 1 in 2,100.

Symptoms:  Breathing problems that get worse with coughing, crying, or upper respiratory infections. Breathing noises that may change with position and improve during sleep. High-pitched breathing. Rattling, noisy breaths

Exams and Tests:  A physical examination confirms the symptoms. A chest x-ray may show narrowing of the trachea when breathing out. Even if the x-ray is normal, it is needed to rule out other problems. A procedure called a laryngoscopy is used to diagnose the condition. This procedure allows the otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor, or ENT) to see the structure of the airway and determine how severe the problem is. Other tests that may be performed include:  Airway fluoroscopy, Barium swallow, Bronchoscopy, CT scan, Lung function tests, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Treatment:  [Acquired] The condition may improve without treatment, but persons with tracheomalacia must be monitored closely when they have respiratory infections. [Congenial] Most infants respond well to humidified air, careful feedings, and antibiotics for infections. Babies with tracheomalacia must be closely monitored when they have respiratory infections. Often, the symptoms of tracheomalacia improve as the infant grows. Rarely, surgery is needed.

Possible Complications:  Aspiration pneumonia can occur from breathing in food. Babies born with tracheomalacia may have other congenital abnormalities such as heart defects, developmental delay, or gastroesophageal reflux.

{Thirty-eight} Oma

I met Große Oma (Great Grandma) via video chat this week. It was pretty cool. I talked and giggled and showed her how I crawl. I guess she comes to visit every year but last year I was born after her visit, and this year she’s not going to make it up to Michigan. So, mumma set us up for a video meet. Oma thought that was cool too.

My teeth were still causing me problems early this week and I reported back to PT after my therapists European vacation. I also went back to the hospital clinic for a MAG airway test. With my teething and snot issues lately, I find myself GASPING for air. Like trying to catch my breath. It happens during the day and when I sleep. It’s probably my epiglottis again. I will outgrow those issues hopefully. I will probably have to go see my pulmonary guy again soon. And I have my nine month appt in two weeks. I hope they're not going to give me shots again.

Oh, and I slept at Grandma Judy and Papo's house for the first time. That was fun.

I tried eating toast. I don't like it. I'll stick to my Gerber puffs and baby food. I do freak out for a glass of water though. I keep trying to hold my own glass but mumma won't let me. She said I get too wet.

{Thirty-seven} Knees

It’s official… I got up on all fours and learned to crawl Sunday. I still prefer the scoot though, just because I’m good and fast at it. Mumma also had to lower my mattress in my crib. I finally learned to pull myself up on my knees using the rails, and poof… now I can’t. That was mean. But I can do it on the chair in my room, the chair in Brayden’s room and my wedge.

Sleep hasn’t been going well… I wake up in pain. SCA-reaming. Not cool. Teeth? Ear ache? All of the above?

We went to our first “kid” birthday party. Like we didn’t know anybody and just hung out at their house. His name was Caleb. I guess my brother and him are buddies at school or something. And then Spiderman showed up. I did not like him and he made me cry. But I liked watching the other kids play with him (from afar). I was too little to play on the ginormous blow up slip ‘n slide… but I look forward to that in my future! So, I just hung out in the heat. I like being outside very much.

{Thirty-six} FIVE new teeth

See previous post… and the title of this post explains everything. Ow. Freakin’ ow. How many more do I have to go? A LOT from what I hear.