apple tree.

Our awesome neighbor had some tree guys over, arborists I guess is the right term, and they happened to have some apple trees on discount. We got one and they planted it for us and also replanted our other tree in the yard. I love trees, a lot, so this is exciting. Not only will this tree be able to grow with Sol, but it was planted one day after our niece was born! The very next day I drug the kids out there to get their pictures taken with the tree. Sol hated this, but I was really proud of May, she held Sol all by herself! Some adults can't do this! She is a great big sister!

On another note...

Some day I would like to write a letter to parents who live in wisconsin and find out their child has a neuromuscular disease, and all the bits of information that we have found on our journey. I know some people have done this, but I believe every person's journey is different and it never hurts to get more information on situations. I think that will require me to have a long time to sit down and really think things through so it is written well and full of all the information we have learned, so that may be coming up, it isn't today, but coming. 

On another another note... (copied from his facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1579362122354190/permalink/1614047012219034/?comment_id=1614062268884175&notif_t=group_comment&notif_id=1465521088722709  )

Sol had his well child check up today. He is now 15lbs 13oz and in the 25% on weight! This the kid they told me would never hit the charts on his weight gain. His height has always been measured from head to rump so they cant get an exact on his length, but for consistently measuring that way he has grown 2 more inches (thats just head to rump!) He is looking good, he does have a butt rash that has been going on for awhile, we found out he cant tolerate the type of cream we have been using :( He also has a little ouchie on his ear that we got looked at. Everything else is going well with his overall health. He did get shots, along with his big sister and they are now both pretty tuckered out. 
Tomorrow we head to madison for another doctor appointment. He is scheduled to have his trach up-sized, we will see what happens.
Another big day of traveling for him, I am hoping it will go well. I am also hoping the up-sizing the trach will be a good thing. If he didn't need the trach for a long term time frame, he wouldn't need to be upsized, so the fact he is getting a bigger one means trach for many more years. But it also, hopefully means, he will be able to move air better and need less suctioning. All we can do is go day by day.

Some days have been very hard and bleak, especially when we started to have to deal with his swallowing difficulties. The last few days, although, have been good. We started the summer with a bang. My niece was born on the 2nd and May and I got to see her before she was 24 hours old! Then Sol got to meet her a few days later! May has been having friends over, and yesterday we went to the zoo with one of her friends. It was a great day for everyone and it was a ton of fun! I am appreciative to have a nurse so we can do these few things. I really wish there wasn't a need for Sol to have a nurse every day, but at least we are going forward. The best thing is how strong Sol is getting. Recently he has been sticking out his tongue a lot, his legs are kicking like crazy and he LOVES to be on his gym. Every day we are doing it now just because he loves it so much. His neck is getting stronger, he also moved his pinkie this last week, and he has been making noise over his trach too. It really gives me hope for all the things that could possibly come. I hope he is able to pick an apple from our apple tree some day!