8/26: Symptoms Seem Stable

Leo spent most of today at his Grandparents' house. He was generally in a good mood and the symptoms seem to have been stable, meaning not any better or worse. Once he got home, though, he asked to sit on the floor and smiled a lot. We have to support him completely when he's sitting because he's basically like a newborn. Of course he ate and drank, and we're trying to be more careful on the swallowing. Solids are still more or less ok, but thin liquids like water and juice -- which he prefers during drinking binges -- do cause more coughing than before. Coughing isn't the real issue, though. Getting pneumonia from liquid that accumulates in his lungs, even from tiny droplets when he coughs, is the real problem. Maybe we need to whip out that nasty can of ThickIt.

One bright spot happened on the way home. Leo told me where and how to drive. He has a preferred way of getting home and starts pointing at the street as soon as he realizes it's coming. When I respond by saying that yes, of course I'll be taking that street, he grins from ear to ear, but still holds-up his little finger to ensure I don't go the "wrong" way. What a character...