New Year's Diet

Evan decided to start off the new year with the clear diet. Between pink eye, a runny nose, vomiting, and diarrhea, we've had fluids of all kinds coming out of all places at all times and with all kinds of smells and we've had to take it easy with his food intake. Our sick little trooper barely slowed down through it all. He's improving a lot with his feet and legs. When he climbs the stairs and pulls to stand he's started bringing his foot up underneath and pushing up on the bottom of his foot rather than pushing on the tops of his feet like before. It shows me how strong his legs really are. They need a little extra time and training  but he's getting there! He's also signing "more" semi-intentionally now which is very helpful at mealtime.

Apparently Isaiah and I thought Evan's clears looked so tasty that we decided to get sick too so we could try them out. The 24-hour flu came and went through us two too but now we're all back to work and therapy and walks in the wagon. I slightly pity all of you people in the frozen 2/3 of the United States while we're taking walks in the 65-degree weather with short sleeve shirts and baseball hats to block the sun.

Today marks 1 year from Evan's shunt surgery. According to the Spina Bifida Association, "About 40 percent of shunts will fail and need changing (or revision) within one year, 60 percent within five years and 80-85 percent within 10 years. About 20 percent of people with Spina Bifida will need more than one shunt revision."

We're prepared if Evan's shunt ever chooses to have problems, which it likely will, but we definitely consider ourselves fortunate that he hasn't had any shunt concerns through this first year. I personally believe, from what I've seen, that a lot of kiddos with fetal surgery have less-severe hydrocephalus which results in less pressure on the shunt and less need for revisions.