Iowa City

Turns out that Zachary and his little cousin Carter will be in Iowa City the same week. Carter's appointment for his heart valve surgery got moved back a week and Zach's got moved up a week. Zachary will have his cleft lip repaired on Sept 4. We go up the day before for a pre-op appointment. Carter will be leaving about the time we arrive. Please keep both of these boys in your prayers.

Dad took Zach for his 2 year check up and shots this week. He gained almost 4 pounds in less than 3 months. He is now 26.7 lbs and 32 inches tall. He can now reach the pedals on his tricycle but is still working on the coordination for pedaling. His feet have grown a lot in the last month, as his little toes now reach the very end of his stinky sandals (yes stinky--that's what happens to shoes when sweaty feet wear them!). Dr. Gavin just laughed when we asked how to get him to stop sucking his thumb. Apparently it is too soon to expect a toddler to give up the thumb, so we will just deal with it after surgery.

Zachary continues to love eating fruit! In fact he spit out the brownies that Aunt Marcia made him and requested grapes instead! He also prefers applesauce over ice cream!

We continue to spend a lot of time outside--in the sandbox, blowing bubbles, picking up sticks or rocks, and taking time to smell the flowers (or maybe blowing on the flowers with his nose).

The Thumb

One more thing about Iowa City--the surgeon suggested that we get Zach to stop sucking his thumb by his surgery. Remember, the surgery is only a month away. We tried taping the thumbs. It worked like a charm--for 4 hours that is. Then he peeled the tape off the right thumb so he could suck his way to sleep! He is working on another tooth right now. After that comes in we may try another attempt at breaking this habit. Any suggestions anyone???

Iowa City Consultation

Zach had his first appointment in Iowa City on July 27. The day before we went to the Children's Museum in the mall. Zachary loved it! He loved playing in the pizza restaurant, grocery store, and farm. Think Godfather's would hire him???? After the museum we met some friends at our hotel and went swimming. Zach is a little fish. He loves getting dunked. He really wants to venture off on his own!

The week before the appointment we practiced opening our mouth and saying "ah" with the doctor's kit Grandma Karen gave him. We also practiced taking our temp, listening to heart and lungs, etc. The practice paid off! Zach was a trooper. He didn't cry when they took his temp and got his weight (now 27 lbs). He didn't like the intern doctor trying to look in his mouth, but he let the surgeon look. He had fun playing with the audiologists too, as he got a hearing test done. He eared an A+ on that test! We also met with a speech-language pathologist who said that Zach is doing very well with his speech and language right now. The surgeon suggested that we go ahead with his surgeries as soon as possible since this is a prime time for developing language. He explained that we don't want Zachary to get in the habit of incorrectly saying sounds, given his cleft lip and palate.

Zachary's lip will be repaired with one surgery now (Sept 10) and then another into adolescence to even out scar tissue. He will have his cleft palate repaired in March. That should be the only surgery needed on the palate. After permanent teeth come in, they will start working on his teeth.

Mom and Dad don't even notice the cleft lip when we see our little Zachary. All we see is his amazing smile. So many people tell us that his eyes even smile! What a gift of joy God has placed in his heart! Although we don't notice the cleft lip, he will still look so different after it is repaired.