Family Update - Isaac

Isaac has become quite the big brother to Elliot. He helps to keep him safe while also being a bit rough at times. I can't believe it but he just started first grade! He's doing really good at reading and is starting to get into math. Right now he's really into legos, especially Star Wars legos. And he's gotten very good at building things on his own. Now that Andrew is working on this side of the lake, closer to Isaac's school, he has been able to start an after school activity - KARATE! He's so excited. It seems like a really good program and is helping with focus and discipline.He's also recently lost two of his teeth, which he was really excited about. Isaac makes us laugh daily. It's funny how observant he is.

On Fourth of July weekend, Isaac had yet another hypoglycemic episode while we were visiting with Tat and Omi. He went to sleep that Saturday night without taking his cornstarch and the next morning, he was seizing. Once again, we found ourselves in an ambulance. This time, spending the night for observation. He followed up with an endocrinologist and nothing was found. Not sure if I shared this but last fall he was diagnosed with a genetic disorder of PTEN sequencing. It's called Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome. Say that 5 times fast :). In a nutshell, it puts him at risk for noncancerous tumors called hamartomas. He has to have a skin check by a dermatologist and a thyroid ultrasound each year. We're planning on the skin check in October and the ultrasound checked out ok. According to the geneticist, the hypoglycemia should NOT be linked to this disorder. He did find ONE research article that may support a connection. We enrolled Isaac into a study for another cause of the hypoglycemia.

Right now, he still has a diagnosis of exclusion - ketotic hypoglycemia.

Here are some pics from Isaac over time since  my last post. We're gearing up for his 6th birthday party in a few weeks!

 Playing in the "snow" during the big freeze

 

 

 Mother's Day (He insisted on wearing a tie for the "fancy" day)

 

First day of First Grade:

Elliot is 9 months old!!

I'm behind so just catching up a bit. My little man is getting so big. At his 9 month  checkup (he was actually about 9 1/2 months), he weighed 20 lbs 9 ounces! He has officially outweighed big brother at the same age. Isaac was 20 lbs 2 ounces when he turned one. haha. Elliot is everywhere now!! He is pulling up and standing while holding on to anything - toys, the sofa, Molly. He has been on the "big boy" side of his daycare and he is having a ball since he is able to really crawl around and play without worrying about the little bitty ones.

Isaac is SO good with his baby brother. He helps me out a lot and loves to show Elliot things. And Elliot loves laughing at his big brother! It definitely warms my heart to see them together <3 .="" nbsp="" p="">

Big Brother Fun

With all that's been going on between the bedrest and Elliot in the NICU, Isaac was acting out a bit. We worked extra hard to do some fun stuff with him to make sure he knows we most certainly did not forget about him :). While Elliot was still in the NICU, daddy and Isaac had a fun day at the park. He also had a fundraiser at Chuck E. Cheese for his school and he spent the evening acting like a wild man with his friends. Then Grandma and I took him to a Christmas Village where we watched the girls from my old dancing school perform their Christmas performance. Isaac loved that because they had fake snow and a clown making balloon animals and other fun stuff-he got a bow and arrow :). He also had a blast when we decorated the house for Christmas before Elliot came home.

Since Elliot has been home, Isaac has been the sweetest most helpful big brother. He is so helpful with getting diapers, giving Elliot his paci, and even rocking his little rocker. He loves to give him hugs and kisses and watch me give him his bath. I can't wait to see them grow up together.