Greetings to everyone.

Well, not exactly Xavier's first trip to the Emergency Room. Our first visit to the hospital after learning we were pregnant was Xavier's first trip to the ER. And, he had us back there several times during the pregnancy. This was his first trip to the ER out of the womb.

It began yesterday after Xavier got up from his nap. He took a longer nap than usual, but he had a busy morning at the zoo, so it seemed natural to think he would nap longer.

When I changed his diaper, his belly was hot. I felt his head; he had a strong fever, the strongest I have ever known him to have. Rebecca and I did not think too much of it; he was in the sun more than he should have been, and he has more teeth coming in (which always has him with a low fever).

After dressing him, I let him run around the house, which he did. However, he was unusually clingy and kept checking in with either Mom or Dad, whomever he found first. He wanted held more than he wanted to run around. That is a yellow flag right there.

We took him to church. He held still in my arms the whole service. Never has he held that still for so long anywhere! His fever grew more warm; during service I estimated at about three degrees warmer than my skin, so in the neighborhood of 101°. We planned to stay after the service for a family fun night, but Xavier's lackluster demeanor counselled us otherwise.

We went home, we got Xavier into a lukewarm (emphasis on the cooler side) bath to help cool his fever, fed him a dose of Acetaminophen, then gave him a bottle. He ate some, but not much—nothing like at breakfast or lunch, which both were extraordinary by his standards. We retired to the cooler basement and turned on "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2".

Xavier sat in Rebecca's lap and watched the movie. Never did he try to gain control of the remote. Both of these were yellow flags to us. Before the movie ended, Xavier threw up much of the bottle he drank an hour prior. Both our home thermometers put his temperature between 101° and 103°. We decided to take him to the ER.

The ER registered his temperature at 101.4°. His ears were not inflamed, nor his throat. Though his nose leaked the occasional snot slug and he was a little congested, he had no cough. His lungs were clear; no inflammation in his lymphatic system. His O₂ saturation was in the mid 90s and his heart rate was within normal ranges.

The PA gave Xavier an anti-nausea pill (apparently, she did not think the saltines he had started eating would do the trick), and a dose of ibuprofen. Anna (the PA) said there is a virus making its rounds; Xavier likely had caught it.

We sat around for two and a half hours for observation. It was to be less than that, but the ER was unusually busy. Xavier's fever dropped to 99° and he felt he needed to run around the ER room or the nurse's stations and open, tug on or slam everything he could get away with. And why not? It was more than two hours past his bed time, he was feeling better and he missed out on all this running around earlier.

The ER eventually released Xavier and we headed home. He has caught some upper respiratory infection. We were told to wait it out, and given instructions on what meds to give him and when to help keep the fever down.

Xavier did not sleep well through the night, and at 2:00 AM was crying. After a bottle, he went back down. At 3:00 AM he woke again, his high fever had returned. We dosed him with more Acetaminophen, but he would not go back down. Screaming both with strong discomfort and hunger, we were able to address the hunger (Rebecca correctly heard the subtle sounds I missed; I was thinking he was not hungry since he ate about an hour prior).

It took longer to calm his physical discomfort (gas). He spent the rest of the night on Daddy's chest, who spent the rest of the night on the couch not sleeping. Finding a relatively comfortable position laying on his side (a very unusual position for Xavier), Xavier took hold of my finger and moved my hand to his back. He started moving my hand up and down, letting me know he wanted his back stroked. From the earliest days in the NICU, this is how we have comforted him. Even today, gently petting his back still calms him.

For Rebecca and me, this was an interesting and educational experience. Xavier has been so healthy, it's been a great blessing to us all. This was our first truly alarming event that was not generated by a doctor or specialist. The ER trip was unnecessary, except (as Rebecca noted on the way to the ER) for our benefit. Though we knew to do and would have done the medicine regimen as prescribed, neither of us would have gotten any sleep had we not taken Xavier in; we would have lain awake listening to him, and going in to check on him all night long. This way, at least Rebecca and Xavier got some sleep last night.

Greetings to everyone.

Our 17 pound alarm clock woke us at 06:00 this morning. He loaded his diaper, which of late has started to wake him up. Rebecca and I are encouraged by this; potty training may be sooner than we first thought.

With the expected temperatures in the low 70's and a sunny day ahead, we made an impromptu decision to make another zoo trip today. This we decided while preparing breakfast. Discussing which option would suit us best, morning or after Xavier's nap, we thought morning.

Boy, did we make the right call! We found parking up close to the gate, the ticket line had only three parties ahead of us, and the gift shop was next to empty. When we left the zoo around twelve thirty, the line to buy tickets stretched long into the parking lot; probably a thousand people in line at least. We have never seen such a line to get into the zoo! In fact, the only time I saw a line that long (or longer) was when the zoo had Klondike and Snow.

We decided to pack as light as possible. That meant snacks and drinks for the three of us, some diapers and wipes, a camera and the zoo hat we bought Xavier last July when we took him. We chose not to bring a stroller or Xavier's wagon; the zoo rents wagons and we thought to try that out. Next time we will bring the wagon; we found the quality of the zoo's rentals lacking. We ran into many people with similar wagons to Xavier's and several useful accessories; some of these folks I engaged in discussions about some of the more interesting accessories.

Last July, when we took Xavier to the zoo, he was still not eating well and too young to really engage with the experience. We thought now he would enjoy the visit more. We judged correctly. The very first thing he got excited about was a zoo golf cart parked near the first exhibit. He ran to it, climbed in and pretended to drive it.

Upon our arrival this year, we chose a divide and conquer technique to alleviate the perceived "crowd problem." As it turned out, the zoo did not have much of a crowd until later in the day.

I went to get tickets and Rebecca popped into the gift shop for a cup of Joe and a "monkey" leash and harness for Xavier. Instead of a monkey backpack, Xavier decided on one with an elephant. Even with the straps cinched as tight as possible, the harness proved too big for Xavier's size. Fortunately, the harness had a strap across his chest which made the harness workable. With its six-foot detachable leash, it's one of the best $20 we have spent on Xavier in weeks!

Shortly after staring our self-paced tour, we came to one of the zoo's interactive exhibits: the lorikeets. The lorikeets were in an outdoor exhibit; entry was gained through a double set of doors. On the way in, for $1.00 you could purchase a cup of nectar and feed the lorikeets. We arrived at a great time as the birds were hungry. Though Xavier did not feed any directly (the birds would have swiped the cup from him and flown off), he did enjoy watching these colorful birds up close (most were tame enough, you could stroke their feathers if you moved gently enough).

Xavier did enjoy the animals more this time. Standing at some exhibits, he watched, sometimes pointing at the animals or squawking happily. At Monkey Island, Xavier thought he might have fun climbing the stone wall. Not to get to the monkies, but because he wanted to climb the stone wall.

As Xavier takes his naps beginning between noon and one o'clock most days, so our time at the zoo came came to an end around 12:30. Before returning the wagon and heading back to the car, we found an "excavation dig site" sponsored by Children's Hospital. This was a large sand-filled pit framed by stamped cement "rocks". The sand pit had pails and shovels and sifters. Hidden under the sand lay plastic dinosaur bones waiting to be discovered. This proved the perfect place to let Xavier run around before strapping him back into his car seat.

When let off his leash, Xavier headed straight for the sand area, and straight for a shovel. He pushed the shovel into the sand like he knew what he was doing, then assisted a little girl about his age in filling her bucket with sand. I was unable to get Xavier to take interest in the sand sifters, but he did unearth a plastic spoon. Throwing aside his big shovel (perhaps so as not to damage any buried archaeological discoveries with it), he proceeded to fill buckets with sand, scooping the sand with the plastic spoon. It was his prize of the dig.

Once home, Xavier ate a unusually sized lunch (for him), then hit the sheets. He slept for more than three hours.

Greetings to everyone.

Yet another milestone today for Rebecca and me as parents: Xavier's first parent-teacher conference. I have looked forward to it since learning about it last week. Rebecca arranged it late in the day so I would be able to attend.

The teachers observe items across several categories: Social-Emotional/Self Help, Cognitive Skills, Fine/Gross Motor Skills, Specials (Physical Education, Music), Artistic Expression and Spiritual Development. Apart from a checklist, the class teacher writes up points which occur to her in each category.

Xavier scored high in some categories, like Social-Emotional, Artistic Expression and Spiritual Development (Glory to God!). Others he scored normal like Fine/Gross Motor Skills.

It was educational to learn how Xavier compares in the Fine/Gross Motor Skills since we have nothing to compare him against. He has problems putting together an inset puzzle; however, this is an age-appropriate difficulty. Over all, his motor skills track normally for his age. Compare that to the assessment given by the Eating Clinic last June. Xavier has caught up nicely.

One of the things we walked away with is that Xavier is social; he is not a loner. He will play with other children, and he lets other children play with him. He doesn't hit or push them away. It was nice to learn this. We don't have many opportunities to observe Xavier with other children; we were concerned he was not developing social skills like he should.

His teachers have also observed much of what we have seen in the home environment. It's nice to have others on the outside confirm your own observations.

His teachers commented on his activity level and like for physical activity. Next year, when Xavier goes two days a week, he will have a gym class. We learned about the gym teacher at the conference; Xavier will love gym class next year!

Xavier loves art time. Often, we were told, he is the first to the art station when that time comes up. He also enjoys exploring different mediums.

Also next year, he will get a music class. His teachers remarked on his like for music and song. It's great to have a place where Xavier will be able to explore the arts and give his parents a peek into who he is.

The school is doing something new this year. Each class is working on an art project. The materials and textures will differ from class to class. The projects will be put out in a common area one night for parents to come and see. A school art exhibit, but each class contributing something different. That is planned for a few weeks from now. It's all very secret; we won't know what the Bumblebees (Xavier's class) are working on until we attend the exhibit.

The most interesting thing Miss Lisa told us today concerned Xavier's play skills. The way Miss Lisa spoke of them and the intonation of her words underscored how out of the ordinary Xavier's skills are. "Most children," she said, "will happen upon a toy and start playing with it. Xavier plays with intent. He goes looking for what he wants."

Sometimes, we were told, Xavier will stand in front of a shelf of toys looking them over with purpose. He doesn't happen upon a toy, he chooses one intentionally. Xavier also notices when new toys are introduced into the room, or toys are removed. He even notices when furniture is moved, finding where the toys have moved to. His teachers find his observation skills above the curve.

Two and a half years ago, Rebecca and I had doctors telling us our baby would not make it into the world. He was defective; something was wrong. Three times doctors counselled us to terminate the pregnancy. Today, we are learning how normal Xavier is in some areas, and how extraordinary he is in others. God is good! So very, very good!

Greetings to all.

As mentioned in a previous post, Xavier picked up a small workbench with tools at a recent MOPS sale. Though not the kind of workbench Dad uses every day—an electronic one providing a desk and tools to manage software—still a nice bench all the same. It lay in its packaging Friday and Saturday. Sunday after breakfast, we headed to Middle Earth to set it up.

When we picked the set up Friday, Xavier did not know what Dad was doing. We were on our way out, walking the aisles one last time. Dad thought "Look at all the aisles with girls' toys. Where are the boys' toys?"

Then Dad thought "I wonder if we can find a tool set?!" Scanning the aisles, one table across the room held promise. With Xavier in tow, we weaved our way through the crowds to get to it.

Two were left. The first we examined had its plastic wrapping broken and appeared to be missing quite a few items. We moved on the next one, which on first glance looked worse off than the first, but that was a deceptive look. Poking around and peeking in through the packaging as much as we could, we determined it was the better of the two. We snatched it up before someone else grabbed it from under our noses.

That, by the way, is not much of an exaggeration. Earlier, Xavier and I were exploring a kitchen console—Xavier unhappy the microwave was nothing more than a facade, a cheesey, non-functional panel that didn't even beep when pushing a number. A woman came right up to it, grabs one of the MOPS workers and asked "Can you put a hold on this item? I need to call to see if it's what we want." All this while Xavier and I were actively looking at it.

Sunday, as we sat on the floor to open the packaging, Xavier realized what treasure it held inside. He helped rip the shrink-wrap away, and grew anxious when Dad had to get up to retrieve a pair of scissors to cut through the packing tape.

Once open and the two doors swung out, Xavier found the large Zip-Lock bag holding all the tools. He opened the bag, dumped out its content and went straight to work. The kit had two hammers, a screwdriver, wrench, a little vise, bolts, hex nuts, clothespin-like "nails", angle brackets, a wooden rule, and several slats of wood.

He took up the screwdriver and a screw, instantly setting the blade into the slot and started turning it. I wondered where he learned that, then I thought "Oh yeah. He has watched Dad do this same thing when replacing batteries in many of his toys." He spent a couple of hours with it Sunday. Today, getting up in the morning and after his nap, he ran for Middle Earth to find his tool set and play.

Greetings to everyone.

With all the recent winter weather, snow and ice we've needed to get Xavier a set of snow boots. Especially true now that he likes going outdoors so much. The problem is, finding snow boots to fit Xavier's non-standard sized feet has proven difficult.

Rebecca, however, persevered, finding a workable pair last week. Today, Xavier took them on their maiden journey around the yard. That is, after Dad managed to get them on his feet!

The boots are heavy, and much larger than Xavier's feet. They rise to just below his knee. He gains an extra inch and a half standing in them. One of the selling points was the cinch strap to get a tight fit around the ankle. We need that feature for his feet.

It took Xavier a few minutes to get the feel of these boots. He practiced a bit in the house, walking stiff-legged like the stereotypical Frankenstein. Once he got the hang of them, we headed outdoors to try them in the snow.

Xavier walked across ice. He trudged through snow. He trod through the thickets. He even helped shovel snow and ice from the north walkways. He even "baptized" one of the boots by stepping on a fresh dog log (the only fresh pile in the yard, and he found it).

Still a little unstable in them, Xavier often needed to hold Dad's finger when the terrain he traversed turned a little uneven.

After an hour, we returned to the house. Xavier gives his new boots a big "thumbs up."

Hello to everyone.

The MOPS group Rebecca belongs to held its annual clothing and toy sale. This is no church rag sale! This event, in its fifteenth year, is organized and executed with military precision. One does not rummage through boxes. Everything is out, neatly arranged in well-numbered rows with signage. Arrows on the floors directed traffic. People helped you out to your car with your purchases. The operation was a machine, expected to bring in $90,000 plus for this MOPS chapter!

And Hi-Tech too. Every item was bar-coded. The cashiers scanned the items. Computer software alerted contributors of sales commissions.

Rebecca, being out of town this weekend, instructed me what to look for (having helped set things up, she had the intel we needed). Our primary goal was one of those orange and yellow domed-shaped "Flintstone" cars, of which three had been set out for sale. Xavier loves this type of car, so we wanted to get him one.

Xavier and I arrived close to 8:00 and were about 40th in line when the doors opened Friday morning. When we pulled into the parking lot, it was half filled. Within minutes of the doors opening, the place was packed with people. When we left an hour later, the only place to park was the spot we vacated.

Prepped with the location of the Flintstone cars, we headed there directly. Alas, we did not get one. Schools and day cares get first crack at the goodies Thursday evening; all three cars got picked up then.

Xavier did not care. He headed straight for the music keyboards. I still don't know how he knew where to find them, much less see them up on the table a foot and a half above his head. We ended up getting one of the electronic keyboards; he wouldn't leave without one in tow. $4 was a great price for all the noise Xavier can now create.

We continued to walked the aisles. Xavier tried out many items. Anything he stuck with or kept going back to play with again and again, we picked up. This includes a Xavier-sized vacuum cleaner; he liked it more than the keyboard. We also scored a workman's tool bench set. Arr-Arr-Arr!

Once home, Xavier got his keyboard. Now, he carries it everywhere in the house (it's nearly as long as he is tall). He carries it in the most difficult way possible: grabbing it by the left and right ends instead of the top and bottom, thus taxing his arm span and unbalancing his walk. Not too much of a problem for him, however; when he tires, he hands it off to Dad to carry for him. If Dad is not paying attention, he screeches a complaint.

Greetings to you all.

For some time Rebecca and I have wanted to get Xavier a little desk and chair, preferably one with some shelving. We've shopped around and kept our eyes open. A month or so ago we found a suitable desk set at Costco. However, several surprise emergency expenditures left our budget raw and bleeding. We were not able to pick the set up. Costco cycles items out quickly, but we thought it would be available on-line later.

We pulled the trigger on getting the desk set last weekend. Xavier's great aunt, Mary Jo, gave him a nice little gift last year. We have been holding on to it, thinking it would go toward an indoor climbing gym. We decided Xavier needed a desk more than the gym. Rebecca hit Costco and found the set on clearance at a savings of $40. The set consists of four pieces: the desk (with shelving built into the leg stretchers), a two person bench and two chairs.

Last night, after dinner, Rebecca headed for church (she would miss Sunday because of Guard Weekend; I stayed home with Xavier as he does not do well away from home after about 6:30 at night, it's too close to his bed time). I cleaned up the kitchen from dinner, grabbed a toolbox, and said "Xavier! Let's go build your desk." (yes, some assembly was required)

Xavier excitedly followed me into Middle Earth, his eyes on my toolbox the whole time. It took an hour to assemble the desk, bench and chairs. Most of that was keeping Xavier away from dangerous items he found in the toolbox.

Why is it fun to dig out six screwdrivers, hold them all at once (the blades and shafts pointing in all directions), then stand up and toddle (or run) to somewhere else in the room? How is it Xavier can skip all of the safe items in the toolbox, and find the one loose razor blade (he had to dig for it)? He also found the tiny wire nuts fun to suck on. Did I mention they were tiny, about half an inch in length? After he discovered the socket wrench set, I picked up sockets all night, or chased Xavier down before he could "store" sockets away in some secret place like a squirrel.

The list goes on. Xavier had a blast. The assembly project might have taken :20 minutes instead of an hour. This is why I don't have pictures of Xavier doing actual helping with the assembly. There wasn't time between his juggling razor-sharp items for me to fetch my camera.

But help he did. He saw Daddy using a ratchet wrench, and he had to get in on that! Together, we tightened many nuts onto many bolts.

We got it set up in his room. Xavier loves it! He sits in the chair playing with toys. The desk has even dampened his determination to push chairs around the kitchen and get into mischief on the counters, stove and sink. But closing one Pandora's Box opens another. Xavier uses his chairs to reach the items on his changing table, the items we want handy, but not within Xavier's reach. The baby monitor; diaper cream; hand lotion (which he pumps and smears all over his dresser); the wipes which he pulls out one after the other like Kleenex.

Greetings to everyone.

A big "Thank You" to all who emailed us asking about Xavier's tongue tie and what the doctors have said.

We would have had an answer sooner, but Xavier's speech therapist (whose opinion we wanted before setting up the exam with a Children's Hospital specialist) had to cancel Xavier's appointment due to a family emergency. We never got around to rescheduling; instead, we decided to wait until Xavier's next appointment.

That appointment was today. Several good things came out of the meeting today. The first being that Xavier's tie is not hindering his speech nor his ability to swallow. Rebecca and I have thought this would be the case as Xavier has been demonstrating recently he can stick his tongue out nearly half an inch and hold it there. Having Robin's input, we decided not to seek the opinion of the specialist. There is no need to subject Xavier to the surgery. Hallelujah!

Another thing emerged from today's session. Xavier chose to be "chatty Xavier" today for a change. As Miss Robin interacted with Xavier, she noted he is making all of his vowels and consonants, and doing so well. He has the ability to make all the sounds. And, Xavier is speaking with complex sentences, though still Xavierese. Robin thinks Xavier's brain is still wiring/learning how to control his mouth and tongue. Rebecca has stated often she will be exceedingly glad when Xavier starts talking so he can tell us his frustrations and desires, rather than throw a tantrum. Looks like we are on track, but Xavier's time schedule.

Miss Robin also mentioned Xavier's understanding of complex speech when others speak to him. This is something we have seen for months, but this is the first time Xavier has demonstrated it significantly for Robin to observe. She was impressed.