The Countdown to Ear Tubes...Can't Come Fast Enough!!

Yes, Mason has had quite the ordeal with those poor little ears of his. We have lost count of how many infections he's had, maybe 7, since he's been home...not even sure if it's separate infections or just the same couple bugs that don't ever get better. We just know it's been a long haul and many restless nights and way too much Advil and antiotics (that don't work). We just finished Biaxin and the state of his ears after it was done sounded even worse than before he started...now we are back to Cefdinir which sort of holds things at bay for a day or two. But both the boys and I are sick again with a cold so with all the congestion it's not looking promising for much improvement by the end of this course either...

BUT we are so so excited to have ear tubes on the schedule, we wish it could be today, but "soonest available" is what we got....

"Hey did somebody say something about ear relief...FINALLY??"

Next Tuesday, we're supposed to be there at 5:30 am. They said they'd call if someone else bailed out earlier (and I highly doubt anyone waiting as long as we have will cancel if their baby is hurting too). Anyway, the other good news is that during the procedure, his cornea specialist wants to come and do a good dilated eye exam (Lord willing, we sure hope so!!), and check his eye pressures to see what his glaucoma is doing. We may even be able to do some labwork while he's under (assuming his veins will cooperate; Micah's didn't during tubes, so we'll see).

"YAHOO!! I can't wait, Mommy!!"

Our biggest prayer request is that he has no complications from anesthesia and that they'll be able to do it with gas as opposed to IV/intubation. Overall it shouldn't take really long ... maybe half an hour? And of course that everything they want to accomplish is a success, especially the tubes giving him some relief and hopefully helping him hear better too :) Pray for that part as well...he is very sensitive to anything "new" because of his low vision he's hypersensitive in other areas ... we imagine if he does hear considerably better, it might be a little traumatic for him after not hearing very well all this time. Pray this transition is not difficult on him and that he is able to quickly enjoy the benefits of having it done. And pray too that the tubes stay in, and function, for a long, looong time :) Thank you all!!

Hmm.. I like the idea of tubes...but not goin' anywhere without Mickey :)

He Loves His "Buzzy Puppy" :)

"A cheerful heart is good medicine..." Prov. 17:22 NLT

Uncle Tim requested a vid of Mason laughing ;) Enjoy!

A Week of Firsts :)

Every day that passes brings us closer to spring...in fact, the boys got so excited about the warm weather that they dressed up in summer clothes ;) We saw the first buds on our tree in the front yard (it's a tradition to look for them) and so we've thoroughly enjoyed finally getting to be outdoors and let Mason experience some of the big, wide world :D
This last couple weeks, for the first time, he...

• Went to the park with Micah (two parks, actually!)

• Ate a restaurant (well, "ate" would be overstating it a little., but he did come with us to Jack in the Box!)
• Shopped at Home Depot, riding in the back of the cart in his car seat
• Strolled around the mall (he especially loved rolling across the fun light pad projector thingy)

He's also doing some fun new things even at home...

• sitting in his high chair, playing with toys

 

• tolerating his bath much better (check out his fresh, clean, curly hair!)

 

• Jumping in the Jumperoo without his Huggabebe support pillow

• trying out his new Child Rite seat (the oversized bumbo for kids with hypotonia and goes to 65 lbs, yahoo!!)

• Meeting his Great Grandma, Great Aunt Donna and Great Uncle Allen (look close, his legs are in the pic!) :D

Learning to laugh (hehhh!!)

Micah had his own share of firsts this week, including, and best of all, trying ICE CREAM (yes, real cow milk!) for the first time since we knew of his allergy at age one! FINALLY, a dessert he loves as much as me :D Hopefully he'll still love it at his birthday in June...

 He even got to get one from DQ later this week :D Can't wait for the custard shops to open on Monday!!

He also got to build a cool Lincoln Log mansion/hotel with Great Uncle Allen :)

Thank You, Lord, for spring!!

Here we go again...

Just a quick update for my blog followers not on facebook..

Mason had his well baby check up Wednesday and his ears were infected so they started an antibiotic. They went ahead and gave him his shots.

By the next day he was wheezing so we went back to the doc. He was tested and positive for RSV. So we were a direct admit to Cardinal Glennon for observation (God was really good to allow this direct admit since the ER was filled with over 50 people, most babies with RSV as well and we would've had to wait all night to be seen).

That next day he started getting diarrhea, bad. Turns out he got Rotavirus too (one of the worst kinds of stomach virus), from the liquid vaccine, and so did I, from getting the vaccine fluid off his chin (he took it by mouth and dribbled). He is way worse off than me though :(

He is doing ok but hurting a lot from cramps so they are keeping him on ibuprofin/tylenol. His breathing from the RSV is alright...he is down to 1/16 liter of oxgen from half a liter, where he started. They have been unable to go any lower yet because he starts working too hard.

Sweet boy finding time for a smile even when he feels so bad...

Prayer requests for today would be that he tolerates his Pedialyte and probiotics today and shows improvement tummy wise so we can add back formula slowly and get him some food in there (he is extremely weak). He is also bradying really low, down into the 50s sometimes (heart rate dropping). If he isn't able to get food soon he will need an IV so pray he can make a rapid improvement once we start the Culturelle. They expect us to be here at least a few more days to get him some strength back up. He had a really rough night last night, and feels puny today; he is losing weight and his button is leaking from it.

Micah has RSV too (it's where Mason must've gotten it).  This stuff is hard on him too (emotionally most of all).

Thank you for your prayers, hopefully the next post will bring better news!

One nice thing about the oxygen...it holds the paci in hands-free ;)

"Pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much..." James 5:16

These Are For You, Aunt Hannah!

 

As you can see, the SMILES have arrived! 

They are few and far between, but when they hit, they hit BIG! :D

And oh so worth the wait :) 

His Aunt Hannah will especially appreciate what it is making him so happy ;)

Thank You Lord for this wonderful boy and his beautiful smile!!

Thank You that he could dole out these even when he was sick with a nasty cold!

And...for good measure, he held up his head by himself for about 10 seconds in his Bumbo on his 6-month birthday two days ago too!! :D Progress...we love it!!!