Alex's big day at the Children's Specialty Clinic, revisited

Thanks for all the prayers and support, all! Everyone's been asking about Alexander after his neurosurgery appointment, so I thought I'd put a brief little update here on the blog.

Most of what was said, we already knew: no nerve damage was visible on the MRI, the filium terminale is not thickened, and the cord does not appear to be tethered. This was our big "good news"! Unfortunately, Alex has other "classic signs" of tethered cord, though, so the doctor didn't rule it out entirely and gave us signs to look for as Alex grows. It seems that the risk of tethering remains with us, although where and to what extent I just plain forgot to ask... We'll do another MRI about a year from now, though, to get a good double-take of our little man's spine.

Later this spring, Alex has a surgery scheduled to repair his dimple, and an appointment to meet his orthopedic surgeon (who will follow up on Alex's scoliosis). In the meantime, we are on track for a cranial remoulding helmet, and hope all goes smoothly in that regard!

That's it for our little Smiles and his medical adventures! Other recent adventures include explorations in the taste and texture of carrots, bananas, sweet potatoes, and prunes! (Yes, that many new flavors!) And adventures in rolling tummy-to-back. There's never a dull moment around here! Stay tuned for pictures to come...