A long overdue update!

Hey everyone! I figured I was pretty overdue for an update on Atticus. He continues to get stronger every day, and is growing like a weed! He's about 3 feet tall, and hovering around 29-30 lbs. He's gotten really good at using his reverse walker. He can almost RUN when he uses it! He's able to maneuver it pretty well, and we've started letting him use it in public (versus using the stroller) since he can control it better and doesn't tire as easily. He's also even started to walk....totally unassisted!!! He's managed to take as many as 10 steps across the living room! Hooray!! He's also learned how to go up and down the stairs using the hand rail. He's doing so well, in fact, that his PT and I agree that she only needs to come once a month! (Yeah, there was a time when I NEVER thought that would happen!). He continues to amaze me!

Atticus is also getting better with his sign language. He's up to about 40 or so signs that he can do himself, and recognizes many more. He's even starting to string 2 signs together like "down please" or "Cookie Monster", etc. He's really bad about making up his own signs when he doesn't know the actual sign for a word. Lol! Learning sign language has also had the added bonus of helping with his OT because he's having to use his hands more.

Other than that, from a health standpoint, we're basically on a countdown until his Fontan in July. We had a check up with his cardiologist, Dr Williams, who said everything continues to look/sound good. We don't have to go back until after the Fontan. We also visited with Dr Brown, his pulmonologist, who said his lungs are sounding great. We've managed to wean him completely off Sildenafil! (Hooray for one less medicine!). We've also managed to completely wean Atticus off of his oxygen at night! He only really needs it occasionally, when he really over does it.

Thank you all for your continued prayers, support, and well wishes. God continues to make Atticus stronger all the time. He's making strides that I was never sure he would reach. As July draws nearer, I'll continue to ask everyone to keep us all in your prayers. I find my mind finding its way back to his impending surgery more and more often. There's just so much that makes my head spin, so much information to process, so many preparations to make, etc. I know that we're rapidly approaching the point where I'll no longer be able to keep this on the mental back burner, and I'll have to think about it in order to get ready to go down to Charleston. But the minute I start to think about his Fontan, the pain I'll be deciding to inflict upon him, the fact that he doesn't really understand what will be happening, what all this surgery mean for Atticus' chances of survival, etc it becomes so overwhelming that I just want to be sick to my stomach. I know that God has a plan for all things, and that He'll take care of all those things I worry about, but it doesn't mean I'm not afraid. I'm afraid that God may decide that these are my last days with Atticus. And the grief at the mere idea brings me to my knees. I don't like to think that way, but it also reminds me to treasure each moment I have right now with him. Even after almost 3 years of knowing that this day would eventually come, I just don't feel ready. Like I said, I'm in need of some extra prayers as well.

Anyone who knows me knows that I always try to find something positive in every situation, so I'll end this post with a little happier note. My mom took Atticus to the local park the other day to have some one-on-one time. They had a great time playing there (The park is brand new and made especially for disabled children.). While they were there, my mom said Atticus noticed a little blond haired girl around his age and signed "I love you" to her! Lol! What a little flirt! Thanks again for checking in on us, and as always, please...

Keep on prayin'!