Headlamps and Wigglepants

Noah is 3 months old now. In stark contrast to his excellent progress, I am acutley aware I have neglected my blogging duties of late and for that I offer my apologies to the loyal fans of The Muse (I'll buy both of you a pint when I'm next on the ramble in town...).

To detail the last 2 months or so into one post will require a whistle-stop tour at breakneck speed so I hope you're paying attention because, as Henry Kelly used to say, you're playing catch-up*.

Location: Coombe Baby Clinic
No. of Visits: 2
Injections Administered: 4
Outcomes: Initial low thyroid level, subsequently restored to 'normal' level. Umbilical hernia detected (impressive 'outy' belly-button to you and I), to be monitored over the coming months.Good physical display on the Physio's benchClean bill of health so far, hurrah!

Location: Crumlin Children's Hospital
No. of Visits: 1
Examinations: 3
Outcomes:3 holes in his wee heart detected, 1 x ASD at 4mm, 1 x VSD at 2mm, 1 x PDA at 2mm. Nothing major to worry about apparently and not due back in Crumlin until March 2009 so fingers and toes crossed the holes will close naturally.

Location: Local GP
No. of Visits: 2
Injections Administered: 2
Outcomes: No major reactions to the 2 month injections aside from a few wails and tears, a rather impressive plaster on each thigh and a squirt of Calpol to ward off the demons.

Location: Coombe Physio
No. of Visits: 2
Outcomes: An A+ in gym class for Noah, he is quote "defying the odds" with his physical progress. Marvellous news and a new workout regime for him to get busy with.

That about covers it from a medical perspective, it may seem like I have down-played this but to be honest it is not really an area that I want to be focussing solely on. Noah is really thriving and I would prefer just for now to talk about Noah the little boy instead of Noah, the little boy who has Down's Syndrome. I don't want this to read like denial (or any other big rivers in Egypt) about his syndrome, its just that at this moment in time it is not wholly relevant as he seems to be in very good shape. He is very alert and has made some great friends in Billy the Butterfly, Percy the Penguin, Sammy the Snail and a whole posse of rattly toys. Billy, Percy, Sammy and the gang all keep Noah heartily entertained and he is more than able to track their movements through the Fisher Price jungle, stalking their every [mummy and daddy generated] moves and strengthening up his neck muscles.

This brings me nicely to the title of this particular blog. Daddy has a habit of conjuring up nicknames for the little man and the first was Headlamps. When Noah first began to open his eyes, we were enraptured by the saucer-like eyes staring back at us, he wasn't the rabbit caught in the headlamps but rather the headlamps themselves. The defence presents exhibit A in support of this assertion:



A penchant for wiggling and not being able to sit still for more than say 8 seconds at a time lead me to coin the monikor of 'Mr. Wigglepants', or just 'Wigglepants' for familiarity. I have also determined that Mr. Noah is the King of the Wiggles and his adventures as such shall be published in due course. These stories shall document the adventures of Noah as he meets such luminairies as the Sneezy Tishoos, the Wakey-Wakeys and the Sleepy Bye-Byes but all in good time dear reader, all in good time. Back to the Wigglepants. Ever since Noah was born, he was like a jellied eel when you held in your arms and instilled the fear of a thousand warlords in me in the early days that I was going to drop him or he would somehow miraculously leap from my arms across the room like a Russian floor gymnast but without the big hoop and inexplicable ribbon on a stick. This wiggliness (its a word, look it up...) has manifested itself in the most wonderful fashion though and has enable Noah to bulk up impressivley in his quest for glory in the Fisher Price jungle floorshow. The below show Noah at his utmost wiggly and I hope you can share in the enthusiam so audible by his doting parents.










What a legend I think you will agree (bear in mind too that he is only 10 weeks old in the above). Apparently, because he has Down's Syndrome, he will have lower muscle tone and it will take him longer to begin rolling, crawling and walking. Ok Mr. Medicine, you have cast your die and I see your pessimism and raise you a Noah. We shall see my learned friend PhD, we shall see...

The second volume of The Muse Gallery shall follow very shortly as well as an honorary shoutout post to the newest friends of The Muse, Mrs T and Mr. Noah. Again, I bow my head in repose and ask for your redemption for my literary absenteeism of late, it won't happen again Sir, the dog ate my homework...

*A virtual prize and online big-up to the first reader to correctly spot the reference...