Check Up!

      We went to Liam's check up at Children's Hospital of Colorado on Tuesday morning. I was pretty nervous that he hadn't grown to the doctors' hopes because I had measured him and then 4 weeks later measured him again and the result wasn't good. We waited for a few minutes before they called Liam's name and went in to where they get his vitals and put his wrist band on. They did weigh him and he hadn't gained very much-I was bummed. Then the nurse measured his height but it wouldn't tell us much until we saw his curve on the doctors computer. When Dr. Travers came into the room Liam was so excited to see her, she greeted us and then sat down and plugged in all his new measurements. She said "Well...his growth is marvelous!" I was shocked! She moved her computer screen so we could see the chart with his newest dot. He went from the negatives to just about on the growth chart!!! In just 6 months! She told us the average growth velocity (how fast he would grow in one year based on his growth for the 6 month period) for Liam's age was 1.5-2.5 inches but Liam was at 6.4 inches per year! What great, great news! She was very very pleased and she said that confirmed even more that we made the right decision and that his body needed these hormones. He has grown 3.2 inches in just 6 months.
      It brings tears to my eyes to think that almost a year ago we were devastated, confused and scared after being told there was something wrong with him. After months of testing, waiting and praying the diagnosis was a lot to take in but so relieving. I love the way my powerful, comforting and all-knowing God works! I was MORTIFIED after finding out I would have to put Liam through all these tests and anesthesia but God used him mightily in the lives of so many people during that time, including the doctors, nurses, friends and family. Oh how we praised His name when we found out Liam's problem was fixable! Going through this has truly, truly caused my eyes and  Danny's yes to see how much our kids are not our own. They are fully God's and I trust Him with Liam and Oliver's lives. The guidance God gave us from the first inkling we had to push on and not wait was a blessing.
       Liam is doing so well. He seems to like his "pokey" in the skin right above his bum, that seems to bother him the least. Since we can't do the same location two days in a row he usually pics his thigh which he doesn't particularly like, though he usually does fine. He let us do the back of his arm once but did not like it so we have not done it again. We don't use his sticker charts anymore as he just seemed to grow out of that, but we do put a band-aid on it every night (though it very rarely bleeds) and he loves picking them out at the store. We should probably get stock in the Band-Aid Brand. We don't have to go back until July of this year, at which time he will have to get blood work to check his thyroid, growth hormone, and cortisol levels. His doctor explained that sometimes kids that develop GHD will also slowly develop hypothyroid, and then low cortisol levels, so Liam will be tested once per year.
       Thank you to each of you who have been praying for Liam and our family we truly have felt God moving and know he hears your prayers!
     On a side note, at Oliver's 18 month well check in November his pediatrician (same one that Liam sees) was on the verge of wanting to test Oliver for GHD, but we all decided to wait 3 months because depending on what chart he used (WHO or APA) he was either right on the edge of concern or not quite. We will take him in February to check his growth again. I'll keep you all updated!