S' Doctor's Appointment and Michael's First Father's Day

Yesterday we took S back to Vanderbilt where he saw our IAC doctor (who is also our pediatrician) for his 15 month appointment, which was also a 6 week follow up to his IA appointment. We were anxious to learn his measurements and see how he was progressing. He made progress with his height and his head circumference, but he has not gained weight since his last sick visit about 4 weeks ago. She is keeping in mind that he has been sick twice and that this had affected his weight (at least the first time for sure), but she also feels that his lack of weight gain needs to be explored. We discussed his pickiness with food and lack of a consistent desire for formula/Pediasure. As a result, she is ordering some tests to assess his feeding and swallowing. We are willing to do whatever is needed in order to help him gain weight and want to get him the help he needs in order to do so. As far as his development, he is making good progress, and she felt he was doing well with attachment based on our discussions. At the end of our visit, they gave him three shots. Overall, the visit went well, but we just need to figure out how to put some pounds on our little guy.

Next week is our last week together before I return to work full time, and we have an appointment with the audiologist (not based on concerns, just to check his hearing) and the opthamologist to follow up on his eyes. We look forward to having a fun week together and hope his appointments go well, too.

Michael was asked to write an article for the CHI newsletter related to his first Father's Day. He is a great father, and S smiles whenever he sees him, showing the bond that has been created between father and son in the short 2 months we've had him. As I type this S is playing with him and crawling around with him. They love to play together! Before we got S, Michael had never changed a diaper. (Before our first visit to the orphanage, he was afraid they would "test" his ability to change a diaper!) Now we both work together with changing diapers, making bottles, feeding him, bathing him, and putting him to bed. He is very gentle with him, and I love to see them together. God has truly blessed me with a wonderful and godly husband who is also a loving and committed father! Happy Father's Day to our great dads and to all of the daddies out there!

I'll leave you with a few pictures of S from the past few weeks:

Looking cool in his new outfit

Patiently waiting for his ball popper to be fixed (that's another post for another day!)

In the middle of being tickled by Mommy

Getting into a bathroom drawer...he loves to get into everything!

S helping Daddy with housework