PLANTING SEEDS

Yesterday, I hung out with some other kids in Portland to plant seeds in the wet and cold.

Here I am with my cup of dirt.

This is my official announcement of my soon-to-be cucumber and squash plants.

Then I walked back to our car in the pouring rain.

OMSI

I had some awesome Daddy and Me time at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry over the weekend. We went specifically to see the USS Blueback because I’ve become really interested in submarines.

Here I am steering this puppy!

The bunks are super small!

After our tour of the USS Blueback, we also saw a LEGO exhibit. And I found out I’m 98 LEGO bricks tall!

G-TUBE SURGERY

I am now the proud owner of a g-tube. We checked in at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital at 6am on Thursday morning. By 9am, I was a tubie.

When I got to my hospital room, I practiced feeding my g-tube baby.

Daddy practiced feeding the g-tube baby, too.

That day and night, I tried to walk around, but it was not so fun. So I hung out on my bed and played with cars and planes.

The next day, I was afraid of walking around. So the nice ladies at the hospital lured me out with the promise of Legos and airplanes. After that, I just wanted to wander around and play in the playroom.

After I was discharged, we rode the tram!

KIDNEY UPDATE

Yesterday, I had a mega day at the hospital doing tests and follow-ups. But good news!

  • Blood work showed my creatinine levels totally normal.
  • My urine test came back completely normal.
  • An ultrasound showed no dilation in my kidneys.
  • And the entry sites of my nephrostomy tubes are healing nicely.

This means I don’t have to see my nephrologist again until the summer, and never have to see my urologist again! (Assuming, of course, that I continue to keep my kidneys healthy.)

AND I PEED IN A CUP. All of the nurses gave me high fives!

(Sorry, no photo. We were running around too much for Mommy to remember to take a picture. Miracles DO happen.)

A DIAGNOSIS

After eight hours of evaluations with a Developmental Pediatrician, Speech Language Pathologist, Psychologist and Occupational Therapist, along with questionnaires from my therapists and teachers, I was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. (Or as we call it at home…Too Charming, Smart, and Handsome For My Own Good Disorder.)

THEN WE RODE ON THE TRAM!

UPPER GI

Yesterday, I went to Doernbecher for an Upper GI x-ray and a consultation with the surgeon who will be placing my gastrostomy tube. During the x-ray, I got to see the pictures of barium going into my stomach. And I told the nurse my favorite airlines and she told me she’s going to Texas on Alaska Airlines!

It was a really icy day, but, of course, we still rode the tram. This was our view:

And here’s a picture I took of the tram from the 7th floor of Doernbecher!

FAMILY FARE

The hospital has been giving me free tickets for the tram. I love giving my ticket to the tram conductor.

My most recent visit was to talk to the gastroenterologist about a g-tube. We’ll most likely be going through with it, but we have one more consultation with the pediatric surgeon. I’ve been feeling so well getting good nutrition and hydration through the NG tube. Everyone wants me to continue getting great nutrition and hydration to see what all I’m capable of!

NOB HILL

We took Grandma and Grandpa to the Portland neighborhood of Nob Hill yesterday. While they and Daddy went into Blue Star Donuts, I had fun talking to people outside. Then I got out my camera for some good street shots.

BIRTHDAY PARTY REDUX

Grandma and Grandpa are here visiting to celebrate my birthday. First, we went to Powell’s book store where I got a book about, duh, airplanes. After going out to lunch and driving the hills of Portland, we came home and I got birthday celebration #2! Grandma and Grandpa got me a cool car puzzle and my very own camera. I was taking pictures all over the place!