Just a Boy

Max had his two year (and change) developmental clinic visit today (they go by adjusted age for the developmental follow ups). I'm very happy to say that Max has been officially discharged from the program! As per usual, the took all his vitals and his measurements. He weighed in at 30 1/2 pounds and was 35 inches tall (about 60% for weight and 35% for height), so he's still creeping up on the growth charts. They were happy with his development and he was doing everything he should be doing for his adjusted age and almost everything for his actual age (except using pronouns and another similar language skill). The developmental doctors decided it wasn't necessary to run him through the baby psych test again, since he had done so well on the previous one. As it stands now, his only lingering "issue" is some very mild tightness in his hips/legs/ankles, but the doctor said it shouldn't present a problem for him at all, especially as he gets older. Of course, he was being a total ham throughout the whole appointment and put on a good show for his doctors.

Max told his doctors goodbye and we walked right out of the clinic and out of the hospital. While we were there, we saw two of the doctors who had taken care of Max (and Molly) in the NICU. We also found out that this is their last month at the hospital and they're both shipping off to new jobs in different states. I don't know why, but I was sorry to hear that (even though if they weren't leaving we probably wouldn't have reason to see them again anyway). I feel like we're losing our "hospital" family. After all, I can't even fathom the idea of only visiting the (regular) doctor once a year for checkups!

It finally feels like we're closing that chapter of his life (as much as you ever can) -- it makes me happy, but a little sad at the same time. Now, according to some of the best doctors in the field, Max has moved beyond his preemie-ness. Now he's just a boy.