Routine check up 9/13/11: wt. 10th percentile, healthy lung function

Yesterday was our routine check-in/check-up at Children’s Hospital.

I was able to get an appointment at the Fairfax location which is much easier to navigate than the DC site.

The Fairfax location is incredible—the staff redecorated the waiting room to include cartoon characters on the walls, a coloring station, low tables with a variety of games, a large tv with cartoon movies playing and big cushion-y blocks for the kids to tumble around on.

Valentino’s lung function is still 98% and his lungs sounded pretty clear. His voice is a bit hoarse and he has been coughing in the morning and at night at bedtime over the past 3 days. Dr. Sami says it sounds like an upper respiratory issue–nothing has settled into his lungs. Since Romeo started back to school last week, it might be simply a case of bringing home a bug from school.

As for his growth and weight gain, Dr. Sami still would like to see Valentino gaining more weight. His height increased since our last visit enough to put Valentino in the 10th percentile for weight. Yippee.

However, his weight is not increasing as quickly as it should. Valentino’s diet is already very high calorie and “high test” so I am struggling to figure out how to get more calories in. I’m currently adding chocolate syrup and powdered milk to his milk every day and encouraging him to eat ice cream, sausages, bacon and foods cooked with cream and butter.

Because Valentino is having normal, formed bowel movements (not greasy at all) it doesn’t appear that his lack of weight gain is due to malabsorption. I might have to give in on my desire for Valentino to have healthy, organic nutrient rich foods and start incorporating fast food into his diet…….

As of today, with the slight upper respiratory problem, Valentino is doing 20 minutes of vest therapy 2x daily as well as nebulizer with albuterol 3x daily.