This morning Phoenix woke up and told me he had to go pee-pee, he got up and came back in underwear (he sleeps in a pull-up then changes in the morning) and new shorts, t-shirt and socks. He curled up next to me in bed and settled in to watch "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood." I laid beside him rubbing his curly hair and inhaling his scens and I started thinking about how far my little boy has come. In July 2010, shortly before his 1st Birthday he went in for Hypospadias Repair Surgery. During the pre-op we were told that Phoenix had "Spina Bifida Occulta." I had never heard that phrase, and I just remember telling the dr, " I don't know what you mean? You must have the wrong file! He doesn't have Spina Bifida!" A few weeks before his surgery, P had some x-rays done to prepare for his surgery, and apparently this spinal malformation was found during those. During his surgery I Googled it, but couldn't find much info. In the weeks that followed I read everything I could get my hands on. I was so angry that no one had told us about it, that we were informed in such a nonchalant way! At that point, we didn't know what Phoenix's life would hold...would he be able to walk, run, play ball, potty-train? I had so many unanswered questions and no one really had any answers for me. Aunt Paula's friend is a Physical Therapist at a wonderful place called Kidsource Therapy, so I took him in to be evaluated. I fully expected Phoenix to qualify only for Physical Therapy, I was shocked when they recommended Speech and Developmental Therapy. In October of 2010 he started Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy and Developmental Therapy. He has been through a Hypospadias Repair, a Hypospadias Fistula Repair, a Frenulectomy (clipping a tied tongue), a set of tubes, a Head-Neck-Upper Spine MRI, and numerous doctor visits. He still has no "official" diagnosis, I don't know if we ever will. He still goes to Speech and Physical Therapy and loves Miss Nicole and Mrs. Katie. He was diagnosed with Speech Apraxia this past year and he has made such amazing progress. I would say we understand him 95% of the time, and what we can't understand he acts out for us! As I lay next to him this morning I couldn't help but tear up as I thanked God for his progress and for how far he has brought my baby boy!
