This guy cracks me up every day. I told him he needed to get dressed because he was seeing the doctor in a few hours and this was the outfit he picked out. I decided to just let him wear it because he was so worried about getting a blood test that it dominated his thoughts all morning and I don’t know how many times he mumbled, “Am I getting a bwood test?” “I don’t want a bwood test.” If wearing a swim outfit made him feel good, than I wasn’t going to argue. He ended up getting jelly all over the front of it so we had to make a last minute wardrobe change before we left for his appointment, but he did wear it to go get his hair cut earlier that morning and the lady who cuts his hair thinks he is a funny little guy:

Lady: “Are you going swimming after this?”
Roman: “NO”
Lady: “Are you hinting around to your mama so she will take you swimming?”
Roman: “NO”
Lady: “Oh, you just like wearing it?”
Roman: “Yeah.”

Anyways, his appointment with the Muscle and Nerve clinic went really well yesterday. I was expecting a 4 hour long appointment like what we had with Chase, but we only ended up seeing Dr. Rinaldi and Andrea, our genetic counselor so it was only 2 hours. Dr. Rinaldi did a few muscle tests and felt like he looked really good and did not feel the need to bring in PT or OT. He said his muscle ton is really good, and despite the toe walking that Roman displays at times, he was not experiencing any shortening of his calf muscles or his Achilles tendons at this time. They went ahead and drew some blood to confirm the diagnosis, which they feel like is probable due to the elevated CK levels, but they want to see the DNA before they make a firm diagnosis. They did not place any restrictions on him right now, as long as he can participate in activities without any pain or muscle fatigue than he can do basically anything he wants. Of course I have to keep my hypersensitivity to any possible new symptoms in check now. I was starting to get concerned because his preschool teacher had reported him getting tired in class on a few occasions, but the doctor reassured me that is pretty typical at his age and he is still just needing an afternoon nap like any other 3 year old. They recommended I enroll him in the same Tae Kwon Do class Chase is doing because that kind of activity is good for maintaining core strength and overall muscle development. I had to explain to them my continuous conversations I have had with Roman regarding enrolling him in this activity.

Me: Roman, would you like to do Tae Kwon Do like your brother?
Roman: Yes. When I’m six.
Me: What about now?
Roman: No, when I’m six.
Me: You would like to do it though?
Roman: Yes
Me: Can I enroll you sooner than six?
Roman: Yes. When I’m four.
Me: Ok. When you are four. You know that is in just a couple months (August). Can we do it now?
Roman: When I’m four.
Me: Ok. When you are four.

He is a very headstrong little fellow so I know if I were to go ahead and enroll him now, he would not participate. I am trying to learn to embrace his headstrong nature because I know this will serve him well in the future. The day to day head knocking we do with this little guy can really test our patience, but he is such a special combination of spirited, but also sweet and cuddly that he can’t help but melt my heart.