Saturday, January 10, 2004

It's a balmy 12 degrees here - much warmer than the -4 they are predicting for a low, so I'm pleased. The boys' room is the coldest room in the house - I think they are on the windy side.

Morgan and I saw a genetics doctor on Thursday, which Morgan hated every minute of. Actually, he did fine in the waiting room and waiting in the office, he only screamed when the doctor talked to him or tried to touch him (except that while the doctor and I talked Morgan eventually calmed down and sat there laughing to himself for no apparent reason - which was only marginally creepy). Anyway, we didn't end up taking Morgan's blood, but did take mine and if I'm not a Fragile X carrier than Morgan doesn't have it. If I am a carrier he mayor may not have it, but surely it would be a strong indicator in my mind.

The doctor did point out several dysmorphic features that may indicate fragile x or a chromosomal disorder (such as being xxy or xyy). They were interesting. The big head was one, obviously (his head is only 2cm smaller in circumference than mine! Mine is 56cm and his is 54cm. When we got home I measured Timothy at 53cm and Josh at 60cm). Another was that his thumbs look more like fingers than normal people's thumbs (they are closer in, straighter up and down, and more slender than a regular thumb would be). Another was that the palm line on his left hand basically goes straight across instead of there being 2 separate lines, like on his right palm.  It’s called a single palmer crease. However, that was about it, he said his torso and facial features didn't look abnormal. Oh wait, there was one more thing - a widow's peak, which I also have (I think Mandy and Dad do too?), but Timothy and Josh do not. Anyway, these things don't mean there is something wrong either genetically or chromosomally, just that they are the flags looked for. He recommended that Morgan have dna and chromosome analysis done, but that waiting a couple years wouldn't hurt anything. He looked at Morgan's feet but didn't say anything, so I wonder if having a second toe longer is also dysmorphic. If it is, maybe that would explain some things about Uncle Stevie - haha. But none of us have the hideous Stevie-toe here.

Then I had to go get blood drawn, which made Morgan freak out. He sat in the chair with me while the lady took my blood (with me trying to explain she was not going to do the same to him - although I must say it made me totally forget what was happening and I didn't even feel a needle prick!). So he's crying away and she asks him what his name is and he says "Morgan!" and she asked him how old he was and he says "Three!" and I was pretty psyched so I asked her to ask him where he lived (the other question they've taught him at school) and he said "South Windsor!" Pretty cute.