Physical Therapy & 15 Month Appointment

Graham started physical therapy the week before Christmas and has had 4 sessions total. The therapist comes to our home once a week, on Thursdays. Graham doesn't want anybody to touch him besides mom these days, so the therapy is a challenge, but the therapist is very patient and gentle. We have been working with him on building the muscles in his neck, shoulders, and core body. I work with him every day on the exercises and I can see him improving and using muscles in ways that he wasn't a couple weeks ago.

Recently Graham started showing more interest in standing and so I have been putting him to stand at the coffee table and this week he grabbed the table and pulled himself up from a chair seated position on my lap!! The therapist really wants him to crawl before walking so she doesn't seem very impressed with his standing, but dad and I are so excited! And he is building the muscles in his arms and shoulders by balancing himself on the table, which is good.

Graham had his 15 month well check this week and it was quite encouraging. He weighs 18 lbs 7oz and is 29.5" long. He is in the 2% for height and weight and in the 98% for head circumference! He sat up on the scale for the first time ever. He was barely starting to sit up at his 12 month appointment. The doctor was really happy with all I reported on his surgery, eating skills, physical therapy, and even his weight gain (although I feel like he hasn't gained any weight in months).

We are really praising the Lord for a healthy boy and are excited to see him making progress in his physical development and with the sippy cup! It looks like Graham has said goodbye to his morning nap but is taking nice long (2-3 hr) afternoon naps. The pediatrician kept referring to Graham as a toddler and I kept thinking, "but he's still a baby" but with all this progress he may be toddling before we know it!

Whew, this makes my heart so happy. I have waited a long time to see this boy standing! So proud.

We bought Graham the exercise ball for physical therapy exercises. He is quite happy to sit on it but doesn't like to be put on stomach on it still.

Bottoms Up!

BREAKING NEWS: Graham is drinking from a sippy cup! Over Christmas vacation Graham started wanting to drink from my cup, so I tried him on the Avent Natural Drinking Cup, which I had gotten him for Christmas, with cow's milk. He took to it instantly, but the cup made a huge mess with milk pouring everywhere. After a few days of drinking from this cup I decided to try a sippy cup, the Take & Toss, that has no valve and he has been drinking from that at all three meals ever since! He is so into the milk that he spends more time drinking milk than eating at most meals. He still is not very efficient so we have to change milk soaked clothes 3 times a day. He chomps at the spout with his teeth and allows the milk to pool in his mouth before gulping, instead of closing his lips around the spout and sucking. But I could not be more thrilled. Graham has never taken bottle or sippy cup in 15 months, and then all of sudden. A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE. Perhaps I will be able to wean him before kindergarten after all! ;)

Here is a video of Graham drinking from the cup.

Here are few pics of the happy drinker.

You would think he would choke like this, but he actually spills less milk and swallows well. And it is working his neck muscles!

Christmas Pictures

We spent a few days with each side of the family for Christmas.
Here are a few pictures of all the fun and family!

Hayes in her snow white dress with her new refrigerator.

Graham excited about his new rocking chair from Grandmama and Grandaddy Laney.

Hayes reading to Graham.

Celebrating Joy's and Matt's birthdays.

Graham's stocking.

Opening a gift from Santa.

Riding his train from Grandma and Grandpa Miller.

Christmas Eve lasagna dinner.

Breakfast Christmas morning.

Graham thrilled about getting Goldfish in his stocking.

My brother, Perry, got us this great carrier. Graham loves it!

So glad to have Perry home for Christmas.

Christmas Letter

This year has been such a journey for our family. We wanted to take a moment to give God the glory for the things He has done and to thank our friends and family for all their love and support.

Graham had open heart surgery at UNC on March 20 to repair his congenital heart defect, Tetralogy of Fallot. The surgery was successful and without complication! A 16 day hospital stay followed with a few critical days in the PICU while Graham’s heart got back in rhythm and then a few days of not wanting to eat. After
Graham’s heart surgery he developed a nystagmus (bouncy eyes) which led to discovering that he had spinal stenosis at the C1 vertebra (the top of his spine was protruding into his spinal cord). So, Graham had surgery on his spine on November 15 at Duke.

We praise God for two successful surgeries this year and a now healthy boy! Graham’s eyes are still bouncing and we are still hopeful that it will clear up as a result of the surgery. Graham has just started physical therapy and we are eager to see him progress developmentally. He started sitting up at one year old but is not crawling or standing yet.

This year has been difficult but the Lord has been faithful and good. He has given us energy, wisdom, strength, and peace that could only come from Him. This year God has been nearer, relationships have been sweeter and priorities have been clearer. We are so thankful for every call, text, message, visit, meal, and prayer from family, friends, and even strangers. Most of all we are thankful that God sent His Son, Jesus, to earth to reconcile us to Himself.
Merry Christmas!

Much Love,
Matthew, Liz, and Graham

P.S. Christmas pictures coming soon!