Hi Everyone, well a lot has been going on. We are planning our first TEAM CARTER hydrocephalus association walk to help raise money for research for those of us who are affected with hydrocephalus every day. Our biggest complaint is that no shunt is forever. As you know Carter will need a shunt for the rest of his life. His body will reject some and others will get infected and so on. We have met several children who have had somewhere between 40-80 shunts before they go to Kindergarten. Every time the doc's do surgery on the brain we run a risk of more brain damage. The researchers are working so hard to create smarter shunts that last longer, also shunt alternatives. So we would love you to come out and support Carter on September 20, 2008 at Sugarhouse Park.

Well we broke our first tooth, his bottom front. I tried to get a picture of it but he like to stick his tongue out so we have no picture.

He's cruising around all over. He is still not holding his heavy head up but that hasn't slowed him down. He's rolling and rolling and rolling. He can get across the room this way. He also tries to crawl (with his head still on the ground) he gets his legs just a movin and drags his head moving forward. I guess where there's a will there's a way, right!?!

Blessed

Last Saturday Carter was blessed. Our families came from far and near to support us and it was great. Carter did wonderful, he's such a good boy. He didn't get "sensory overloaded" like we feared with all the new sounds, smells, chaos and people. It was beautiful, Grandpa Shields blessed him and Eric gave an impressive speech in front of everyone. My mom and Tonya did so much work setting it all up, they're so great. Carter missed most of it because he got too sleepy.

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Our BFF Jaxxon (Amy & Brian's baby) came over for a very fun play date, they gave knuckles and started wrestling, how cute!

Seeing

Look at our new cute pictures, Tonya and I had all the kids pictures done, they turned out very cute. I thought it would be hard, but it wasn't a big deal at all. Carter smiled super big. Aren't they gorgeous, I just love them.

Well we went to the eye doctor last week and it went okay, we were there for about 4 hours so he could do a bunch of tests on his eyes. Anyways, he looked deep inside and said that everything looks good. All of his parts are there and appear to be ready to work. He does, however, have CVI (cortical vision impairment) where he has a delay in the process center of his brain. So technically he is legally blind 2200, what ever that means. The doc said that he probably wont have to do surgery or glass him anytime soon, if not ever. He thinks that the pressure is to blame and we just need to give him an extra push. He said that our therapy is doing the greatest good because we just need to teach his eyes how to see and how to process that info. So he prescribed vision therapy, which we've been doing since he was 3 months old, and we'll see him in 6 more months for more extensive tests. But he thinks by then he'll be just fine. So that's more good news.

Our vision therapist, Jen (we love her) came to our visit today and said that it's time to reassess Carter and his "goals". She was going over his goals that she set for him at 3 months old and it said that he needed so much work, she even set unrealistic goals for him, knowing he would never reach them, or maybe reach a few of them in several years. She put in the report that she thought he would be severally delayed in his development, motor and vision forever, never reaching normal milestones. Well today we reassessed him and he's totally on track for everything motor and developmental. He blew right through her goals. He is rolling and trying to get all around, he's reaching and tracking, no texture problems, he's doing everything a 6 month old should be doing (except holding his own head). She almost cried, she's so cute. He has achieved so much and seems to be totally neurologically intact. She said she's worked with several hydro babes and he doesn't seem to be following any of that behavior. How great is he, isn't this wonderful!?! Jordan sat through our therapy session today and decided if the professional soccer career doesn't quite pan out then he now wants to be a vision therapist, how cute.

6 months and so big!

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  Our Carter-bug is doing so well, he is 6 months old now and weighs 16 pounds. The doctor just cleared us to go out of the house and "resume life" Hallelujah! So we've been to 2 restaurants and lots of family parties and just this weekend we went to Jordan's soccer game. It was exciting, he loves to be out, he's very social.
  
  Just lately he's learned to roll all the way over! Just when we thought we could let our guard down, he's now mobile. He doesn't stay in one place long. We also work super hard every day to build those neck muscles, he's almost got the hang of it. We fired our physical therapist because she's lame and so we've just been winging it, I research what to do online and we just do it. Our "therapy" is lots of neck strengthening exercises a bunch of times a day, apparently its pretty funny, we just giggle the whole time. We don't really know what we are doing, but we have fun so whatever.
  
  All of our research and our support groups and our therapists all prepared us for a terrible eater. Most Hydro babes are on feeding tubes for years and have a real gaggy reflexes, they also have problems with textures, so we were going to start texture therapy just to get ready for solids. Judging by the size of those cheeks and don't forget a few chins, we thought we'd just try some oatmeal, and to our surprise, he loves every bite. We're packing on those pounds and loving every minute.
  
  We are going to the ophthalmologist (eye doctor) next Wednesday to check those eyes. He's been receiving vision therapy for several months now, our vision therapist thinks he's got "CVI, cortical visual impairment" which is an impairment that is in the process center of his brain. Basically when your eyes see something, the information travels through your brain and deep in the back is where your brain processes that information and tells your body what it needs to do or know. He has a slight delay in that process. So she thinks he'll need a little surgery on one eye to nick a nerve and a couple of years of vision therapy (and maybe cute little eye glasses) and he'll be able to see just fine. Vision problems are very common in Hydro Babes and I've learned that his team of pros almost expected it. It was no surprise because most of the fluid in Carter's brain is stored right on his optic nerve. We are learning as we go, we'll see what the doc says next week.

Our Miracle

Carter turned 5 months old on the 20th and he's doing great. Early signs show no brain damage and not too many effects of the Hydrocephalus, (well except our head). He has hit every milestone and is completely normal compared to any 5 month old. His vision is improving every day and is now where it should be for his age. In some areas he is doing things well before the average age. He doesn't seem to have any handicaps so far. We are not sure about learning disabilities until he's older but so far he's developing just like a 5 month old should. Just the past few days he's managed to roll his body almost all the way over, I don't think he's going to let it keep him down too much longer. He doesn't stop giggling all through the day, and sometimes into the night. Jordan gets instant smiles and always gets the best belly laughs. We went on a walk the one day it was nice and he loved every minute of it. Hopefully we can get out again soon. Baby massage is our favorite part of the day. Our therapist came in and professionally taught me and Grandma Shields how to give a great massage. Carter loves it but it's suppose to be soothing and calm, Carter however is pretty ticklish and giggles through most of it. Oh and he found his thumb, we know we should take it away but it's just too cute (there's a picture on the side). We absolutely love and enjoy each and every day with our little Miracle Baby!

ERIC & CARTER

Here is Eric at 4 months old

Here is Carter at 4 months old

Rehab

Carter fell asleep during his rehab visit, that sure is hard work.