No Joking, It’s April Fool’s Day

April 1 has come with some very important steps in Milo's world. April 1, 2007 Milo was flown to Denver for what would become a very challenging year. April 1, 2008 Milo finally came home from the hospital for good. It's now April 1, 2009 and Milo has been home for one whole year!! It has gone by so fast, he has grown so much & life has changed in innumerable ways.

This afternoon we took some treats to the hospital to celebrate this "Milostone". Everyone was amazed that it has already been a year and we all reflected on his time in the hospital and how much he has changed in the past year. We saw one of the physical therapists who visited Milo once in a while and she was amazed that he was unattached so he proceeded to show off and run down the hallway. One of the nurses on the floor was a nursing assistant in the PICU when he first was admitted (2 years ago today) and she reminded me how tiny he was and how medically fragile he was. Poor Susie freely admitted that he terrified. Look at him today and you would never guess :0) In January The Children's Hospital opened up a new Pulmonary Unit on the 9^th floor. This is where all of the trach/vent kids go now and most all of Milo's regular nurses moved up to this floor as well. Today one the nurses gave Milo a new t-shirt that features the Pulmonary Unit.

It is so funny how much Milo feels at home in the hospital. I am so glad he doesn't have a fear of doctors or hospitals, lots of complicated kids like him are terrified of all medically related things. The Child Life person came by, she had toys in her hands and he weaseled them out of her. It didn't take much really, just a smile and some cute noises. She had an Elmo toy and a barn, of course the barn won out because it came equipped with a pig. His little delighted noise made every one laugh when he finally got his hands on the pig.

Here are a few of the changes that have occurred over the last year. Then being April 1, 2008 and Now being April 1, 2009.

Then: 16 pounds 12 ounces

Now: 21 pounds 2 ounces

Then: 28 inches

Now: 32.75 inches

Then: Not much hair

Now: Oodles of curls

Then: Crawling

Now: Walking, running, climbing like a monkey

Then: Ventilator dependant 24/7

Now: Breathes all by himself

Then: Oxygen dependant 24/7

Now: Oxygen only while sleeping

Then: Hooked to lots of tubes and cords 24/7

Now: Only at night and only a few

Then: Took us at least 30 minutes to get out the door

Now: Takes less than 3 minutes

Then: Trach tie had to be changed every day or his skin would break down

Now: Can go a week without a change

Then: Horrible eczema

Now: Under control

Then: Communicated with a few noises

Now: Communicates with lots of sign language, noises and a few word approximations

Then: Tolerated his carseat for 10 minutes maximum

Now: Likes to ride in the car and look out the windows

I'm sure there are many more changes that I just can't think of right now :0)

Enjoy the slide show of Milo's First Year On The Outside (it may take awhile to load)

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