Nutt's One Week Update

Took the Nutt for his one week check today and he's growing like a weed. He's so far gained over half a pound and grew half an inch (probably because all this little kid wants to do is EAT). The doctor said that's excellent since we weren't sure how well he would pack on the pounds with having trouble sucking (but I should have known...he's his dad's son so he would have found some way or another to eat).

And I talked to his pediatrician about the MRI results that we were given in the hospital. It is cranial nerve VII that is missing, not cranial nerve VI. Apparently the attending that gave us the results at the hospital is a fucking tool and can't read Roman numerals well enough to give us the correct information about our son's condition, not that it's important or anything.

The pediatrician is also questioning why Nutt can close his eye when he sleeps but he can't blink it. She said he shouldn't be able to move it at all if the nerve isn't there. It's incredibly annoying and scary to have so many doctors look at your child and when you ask what is wrong or why this is happening and say, "Hmmmm, I don't know. Maybe it's because (insert any one of the numerous theories here)." These are good doctors but I just feel like they're not good enough for my son. I want answers, not possibilities.

 "The nerve will never grow but MAYBE other muscles will help him blink."
"He MAY need speech therapy when he's older."
"You need to prepare yourself for the POSSIBILITY that your son MAY NEVER SMILE."

Yeah, how cruel of a diagnosis is that? Never getting to see your baby crack a smile. Ever. It's like he'll be wearing a mask...well, half a mask in Nutt's case. So maybe we'll get half a smile? I guess that's a possibility, too. My final thought to all of you is don't take the little things for granted. Enjoy every smile or giggle that you get from your children because there are reasons (as small as one little nerve) that you may never experience it. Cherish it while you can.