Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Head Evaluation Update
We went in for Jaxon's head evaluation at Children's Hospital today. We saw the craniofacial doctor to determine if he had positional plagiocephaly and needed either physical therapy or a helmet. The reason we were going was our pedi had some concerns about Jaxon's head shape (and we did too). He has a very prominent metopic ridge in the center of his forehead. You can probably see it in some of his pics (see the mohawk pic below). We wanted to make sure that his head was developing properly.
I was very nervous as this can be mild to severe and treatments range from PT to a helmet to surgery. When we got there we were treated wonderfully as usual. Children's is AMAZING. We were seen very quickly. They took his measurements and then quickly did an evaluation of him. While he has slight asymmetry (most people do) and a slightly large ridge, she said it was not outside the range of normal and would continue to "seem to disappear" as his other skull bones develop thickness and he gains more weight. She said she was not concerned at all and was surprised we were referred. She said it is always better to be safe than sorry and not to worry about his head. She said he was so handsome and super charming. He was Mr. Flirty as usual. Drew and I thought it would be bad if she came in and saw our baby and recoiled in some way like he was a freak or something. I am sure she says all the babies are cute or handsome to make the parents relax a little. We didn't get too excited when she said he was handsome. We were more complimented by her comments on his personality as they seemed genuine.
So it looks like we can stop worrying about his head shape. My husband still says he looks like a Klingon from Star Trek but he is still my cutie pie. :) He will outgrow it apparently so that is good.
I was very nervous as this can be mild to severe and treatments range from PT to a helmet to surgery. When we got there we were treated wonderfully as usual. Children's is AMAZING. We were seen very quickly. They took his measurements and then quickly did an evaluation of him. While he has slight asymmetry (most people do) and a slightly large ridge, she said it was not outside the range of normal and would continue to "seem to disappear" as his other skull bones develop thickness and he gains more weight. She said she was not concerned at all and was surprised we were referred. She said it is always better to be safe than sorry and not to worry about his head. She said he was so handsome and super charming. He was Mr. Flirty as usual. Drew and I thought it would be bad if she came in and saw our baby and recoiled in some way like he was a freak or something. I am sure she says all the babies are cute or handsome to make the parents relax a little. We didn't get too excited when she said he was handsome. We were more complimented by her comments on his personality as they seemed genuine.
So it looks like we can stop worrying about his head shape. My husband still says he looks like a Klingon from Star Trek but he is still my cutie pie. :) He will outgrow it apparently so that is good.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
My Little Explorer
"Walk upstairs, open the door gently, and look in the crib. What do you see? Most of us see a picture of innocence and helplessness, a clean slate. But, in fact, what we see in the crib is the greatest mind that has ever existed, the most powerful learning machine in the universe. The tiny fingers and mouth are exploration devices that probe the alien world around them with more precision than any Mars rover. The crumpled ears take a buzz of incomprehensible noise and flawlessly turn it into meaningful language. The wide eyes that sometimes seem to peer into your very soul actually do just that, deciphering your deepest feelings. The downy head surrounds a brain that is forming millions of new connections every day." Excerpt from "The Scientist in the Crib"
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Overall Buddies
Today Jaxon and I went over to Kate and Matt's house for a BBQ. When I got there we realized that Mason and Jaxon were dressed alike. They were so cute I took some pictures.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Mystery Solved #2: Roseola
We have had the worst couple of weeks lately. Jaxon first had a UTI and then less than a week after finishing his antibiotics for that he got a really high fever--about 102.7. Funny thing is that there weren't really any other symptoms except lethargy and fussiness. It all started on Saturday. By Sunday he was so lethargic, feverish, and miserable that I took him into the Children's Hospital After Hours Clinic in Bellevue. They tested him for another UTI (negative) and for the Flu virus (negative). He had no signs of an ear infection but had a high fever and just looked horrible. They said he must have some virus and sent us home. He continued to have a fever for two more days. Drew and I were both beside ourselves with worry. The unknown factor and the level at which Jaxon was sick was hard to endure. Finally this morning he woke up for the first time in 5 days without a fever and seemed to be mostly back to normal in terms of his energy and personality. I went to work happy knowing that my little guy was feeling better again.
I came home from work today and went to go pick him up from his crib after his afternoon nap to find him covered from head to toe with a rash. I was immediately concerned and thought to myself "jeesh, how much can this kid go through? Now he has a rash. Ughh." I called his pediatrician and left a message for her to call me back. I looked rashes up on the Dr. Sears website to see if I could figure it out. From the descriptions I determined it was Roseola. A few minutes later his doctor called back and said immediately that it was Roseola before I could even suggest it.
Jaxon's rash
It was such a relief to finally have an explanation for his mystery fever and then rash. Luckily the worst part of it is over and the rash should go away within the next few days.
Hopefully this is it for awhile. We all need to some rest. :)
I came home from work today and went to go pick him up from his crib after his afternoon nap to find him covered from head to toe with a rash. I was immediately concerned and thought to myself "jeesh, how much can this kid go through? Now he has a rash. Ughh." I called his pediatrician and left a message for her to call me back. I looked rashes up on the Dr. Sears website to see if I could figure it out. From the descriptions I determined it was Roseola. A few minutes later his doctor called back and said immediately that it was Roseola before I could even suggest it.
It was such a relief to finally have an explanation for his mystery fever and then rash. Luckily the worst part of it is over and the rash should go away within the next few days.
Hopefully this is it for awhile. We all need to some rest. :)
Monday, May 11, 2009
9 Months Old! Well Baby Check-Up
I can't believe my baby is 9 months old already. He has grown so much and is doing SO much now. Today I took him to the doctor for his 9 month well-baby check up. We discussed his UTI. It turns out that Jaxon had a staph infection in his urinary tract. Even more uncommon. So not only is it rare for babies under one to have UTIs but also it is even more uncommon for them to be male and for it to be the staph bacteria. We think it must have been a fluke (hopefully). The protocol for babies getting UTIs under one is to have special tests done to inspect the entire urinary tract. One is called the VCUG or voiding cystourethrogram. The doctor said it is pretty invasive and traumatic to the baby as a catheter is inserted. Our doctor said that we could not do the test now and commit to doing random urine testing to check for silent bladder infections for a few months, however, if he gets another UTI that we will need to go into Children's Hospital for this test to make sure he has no anatomical deformities or urinary reflux issues. We are keeping our fingers crossed that this infection was just a random thing.
Another thing that was brought up was his head shape. It continues to be a visible problem. She has instructed us to go to Children's Hospital for Cranialfacial evaluation. She believes he may have a mild form of Positional Plagiocephaly. I tend to agree with this diagnosis though I don't know what the "health" indications are or if it is just a "cosmetic" problem. We will be making an appointment to go in and have him evaluated in the next couple of weeks to make sure isn't something more serious. Upon reading the Children's website we are wondering if he may need to wear a helmet for a few months to reshape his head. We are hoping he does not but are preparing ourselves just in case. :(
Needless to say the trip to the doctor was tiring and stressful for me. I am worried about my little guy in multiple ways. On a positive note...she continues to think he is one of the most active and curious infants she has seen. His fine motor skills are above average (he likes to spin things with his thumb) and she said that he WILL be walking within 2-3 weeks based on her observations of him. He is developing well in all areas. He waved at her upon entering and leaving, he pointed at things he wanted to do or see (showing communication skills), and he was of course all over he office crawling and cruising checking it out. He shows affection and is well-tempered and easily entertained. We talked about his diet and breastfeeding. Both are going well. We are going to continue breastfeeding until a year as recommended by the APA. He is ready to move onto more chunky food including meats/beans and some of the food from our plates.
Overall I am proud of my baby boy and how much he has accomplished in such a short time. I think all mommies are. I hope that the issues that we are worrying about turn out to be minor or non-existent. I just want him to be happy and healthy. I think we have the happy part covered and he seems to be healthy but we have a few things to check out first. I will keep the blog updated with information on his evaluations.
Here are his new stats:
Weight: 19 pounds (25th %) He lost some weight on the antibiotics over the week.
Height: 28.5 inches (50th %) He seems so much longer to me.
Head Circumference: 18.5 inches (90th %) Yes, he has a big head like daddy!
Finally he got his Pc and Hib vaccinations. Those went ok. A little crying but he recovered quickly.
There is the 9 month update.
Another thing that was brought up was his head shape. It continues to be a visible problem. She has instructed us to go to Children's Hospital for Cranialfacial evaluation. She believes he may have a mild form of Positional Plagiocephaly. I tend to agree with this diagnosis though I don't know what the "health" indications are or if it is just a "cosmetic" problem. We will be making an appointment to go in and have him evaluated in the next couple of weeks to make sure isn't something more serious. Upon reading the Children's website we are wondering if he may need to wear a helmet for a few months to reshape his head. We are hoping he does not but are preparing ourselves just in case. :(
Needless to say the trip to the doctor was tiring and stressful for me. I am worried about my little guy in multiple ways. On a positive note...she continues to think he is one of the most active and curious infants she has seen. His fine motor skills are above average (he likes to spin things with his thumb) and she said that he WILL be walking within 2-3 weeks based on her observations of him. He is developing well in all areas. He waved at her upon entering and leaving, he pointed at things he wanted to do or see (showing communication skills), and he was of course all over he office crawling and cruising checking it out. He shows affection and is well-tempered and easily entertained. We talked about his diet and breastfeeding. Both are going well. We are going to continue breastfeeding until a year as recommended by the APA. He is ready to move onto more chunky food including meats/beans and some of the food from our plates.
Overall I am proud of my baby boy and how much he has accomplished in such a short time. I think all mommies are. I hope that the issues that we are worrying about turn out to be minor or non-existent. I just want him to be happy and healthy. I think we have the happy part covered and he seems to be healthy but we have a few things to check out first. I will keep the blog updated with information on his evaluations.
Here are his new stats:
Weight: 19 pounds (25th %) He lost some weight on the antibiotics over the week.
Height: 28.5 inches (50th %) He seems so much longer to me.
Head Circumference: 18.5 inches (90th %) Yes, he has a big head like daddy!
Finally he got his Pc and Hib vaccinations. Those went ok. A little crying but he recovered quickly.
There is the 9 month update.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Happy Mother's Day!
Jaxon and I spent a nice day together. We went to Tacoma to visit with both of his grandmas. Here are some pictures from my first Mother's Day. I love being a mommy!
Playing with grandma's balloon.
Look how BIG my little man is!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Mystery Solved: UTI/Bladder Infection. :(
Jaxon has had a fever for the past few days and has been increasingly more fussy during the day, as well as in pain at night. We thought it was teething. Then we took him to the doctor on Thursday thinking it may be an ear infection. It wasn't an ear infection so our doctor thought it was maybe a small virus. Yesterday, he continued to be more fussy. At times he was inconsolable. Last night I put him in the bathtub for his nightly bath. He loves baths. Not last night. As soon as his little butt hit the water he was climbing the wall screaming to get out. He began to pee as he did this and wailed the entire time he was urinating. Then it stopped. The peeing first and then the crying. It was the first clue to what might be wrong (finally). I put Jaxon to sleep pondering this evidence.
Then he awoke an hour later. Crying. I comforted him to sleep. Then he awoke an hour later. Crying. I comforted him to sleep again. This cycle continued the whole night. It was a very long night for us. The only person he wanted was me. So I, again, did not get much sleep. It was pretty easy to get him back to sleep once whatever bothered him enough to wake him ceased. It just kept waking him up. The peeing. :(
This morning he woke up at the crack of dawn (literally-it wasn't even light out yet). I tried to change his diaper but he began to scream in pain as pee sprayed everywhere. He continued to cry until the peeing stopped. It was so bad that Drew got up to come help me. I had my proof. I needed to call the doctor but it was 6:00 a.m. on Saturday so I decided to wait until after his first nap.
After his first nap Drew went in to get him and change his diaper. The same exact thing happened. I called the doctor straight away. We met her down at her office an hour later. Fortunately for us, Jaxon peed everywhere during the examination right after I sterilized him and the doctor was able to catch it in her sterile cup. He cried through that as well. Otherwise we would have had to tape a sterile bag to his you know what. She got enough for two lab tubes to be sent off for testing and for a test strip dipping. That test strip confirmed that Jaxon has some sort of infection in his urinary tract system. Most probable is a bladder infection but we won't know exactly until the lab results are in in a few days. We decided to start him on antibiotics and an analgesic for the pain. He will also be drinking some 100% Blueberry Juice to make his system inhospitable to the bacteria and some Throat Coat Tea for his tummy and throat (the medicine can be upsetting to his tummy--the throat tea has the same ingredients for the tummy but tastes better). Hopefully, tonight he will be able to sleep a little better and my baby will no longer be in pain. It has been so hard not to be able to help him especially with something he has to do and has no control over yet. The worst part was not knowing what was wrong for a couple of days. There was just no way for him to tell us until it was painful enough. So sad.
On a side note...while we were there I was able to weigh him (for dosing information). He weighed 19 pounds 12 ounces give or take an ounce. He moved too much to get an exact reading (as usual). He remains in the 25th-50th percentile for weight. I think he will be around 20 pounds at his 9 month appointment in a week and a half.
Then he awoke an hour later. Crying. I comforted him to sleep. Then he awoke an hour later. Crying. I comforted him to sleep again. This cycle continued the whole night. It was a very long night for us. The only person he wanted was me. So I, again, did not get much sleep. It was pretty easy to get him back to sleep once whatever bothered him enough to wake him ceased. It just kept waking him up. The peeing. :(
This morning he woke up at the crack of dawn (literally-it wasn't even light out yet). I tried to change his diaper but he began to scream in pain as pee sprayed everywhere. He continued to cry until the peeing stopped. It was so bad that Drew got up to come help me. I had my proof. I needed to call the doctor but it was 6:00 a.m. on Saturday so I decided to wait until after his first nap.
After his first nap Drew went in to get him and change his diaper. The same exact thing happened. I called the doctor straight away. We met her down at her office an hour later. Fortunately for us, Jaxon peed everywhere during the examination right after I sterilized him and the doctor was able to catch it in her sterile cup. He cried through that as well. Otherwise we would have had to tape a sterile bag to his you know what. She got enough for two lab tubes to be sent off for testing and for a test strip dipping. That test strip confirmed that Jaxon has some sort of infection in his urinary tract system. Most probable is a bladder infection but we won't know exactly until the lab results are in in a few days. We decided to start him on antibiotics and an analgesic for the pain. He will also be drinking some 100% Blueberry Juice to make his system inhospitable to the bacteria and some Throat Coat Tea for his tummy and throat (the medicine can be upsetting to his tummy--the throat tea has the same ingredients for the tummy but tastes better). Hopefully, tonight he will be able to sleep a little better and my baby will no longer be in pain. It has been so hard not to be able to help him especially with something he has to do and has no control over yet. The worst part was not knowing what was wrong for a couple of days. There was just no way for him to tell us until it was painful enough. So sad.
On a side note...while we were there I was able to weigh him (for dosing information). He weighed 19 pounds 12 ounces give or take an ounce. He moved too much to get an exact reading (as usual). He remains in the 25th-50th percentile for weight. I think he will be around 20 pounds at his 9 month appointment in a week and a half.
Maybe the Best Thing Ever..Baby Kisses
I have a new favorite thing that Jaxon does. It melts my heart every time he does it. My little man has figured out how to kiss. Well sort of. His is more of an open mouth lip press with all the drool to go with it but it is still his way of showing love. He used to do it randomly every now and then but as of this week he does it either when I kiss him or when I ask for it (most of the time). It is the sweetest thing ever. And, every now and then, he just looks at me, grabs my face, and plants one on me of his own free will. It is the best thing ever.
What a little love bug I have. Just had to share
What a little love bug I have. Just had to share
Friday, May 1, 2009
Remembering Baby Maggie
Up until today I have been unable to write about this. Just the mere thought of it was enough to bring me to tears. However, today was the funeral so I thought I should finally have the ability to blog about it without crying. Maybe...
I am a member of an online pregnancy/mommy group. I have been since before I was pregnant with Jaxon. Once I got my BFP (that is Big Frickin' Positive for those of you not in on the Fertility Acronyms) and figured out my due date (August 24th, 2008), I joined a board of other mommies due in August. We have been through a lot together including miscarriages of our members as our pregnancies went on, NICU stays for our little ones who came early (August babies still nonetheless), and all of the births of our babies (Jaxon on 08/11/08). We continued on as August 2008 Moms sharing our milestones, questions, and advice. To this day I check here several times a day. We even have local meet ups around the globe. Our members live around the world and we meet up with those who live in our area or while we are on vacation elsewhere. I was fortunate enough to meet up with two NW moms from my group a couple of months ago in Olympia.
Anyway...this group of women is like a family to me. They are my support and community. You can view many of their blogs in my blog list. We are really very close, especially for an online community. I don't know how I would have made it through my pregnancy and/or my first 9 months with Jaxon without their daily support. This is just a little background to help you understand why this is so hard.
On Tuesday, one of our members, Kelli, found her 8.5 month old daughter Maggie tangled up in her blankets in her crib not breathing. It was a tragic and random occurrence. The news to our board was devastating. What can you say? What can you do? There are no words. Just tears. I have spent the last few days in a somber mood analyzing everything I do as a parent. I have cried in Drew's arms and worried about Jaxon more. I have hugged and kissed my baby boy so much more than I already do. I cuddle him for a little longer in the middle of the night when he wakes in pain from teething. No parent should ever outlive their child. What Kelli and her family (husband Ryan and 5 year old Piper) are going through I cannot begin to imagine. They are in my daily, no hourly, thoughts and prayers. Today must have been so difficult. It just breaks my heart to think about it.
This blog is in honor of Maggie, one of our August 2008 babies. May her family find peace after this tragic accident.
Maggie's Obituary
I am a member of an online pregnancy/mommy group. I have been since before I was pregnant with Jaxon. Once I got my BFP (that is Big Frickin' Positive for those of you not in on the Fertility Acronyms) and figured out my due date (August 24th, 2008), I joined a board of other mommies due in August. We have been through a lot together including miscarriages of our members as our pregnancies went on, NICU stays for our little ones who came early (August babies still nonetheless), and all of the births of our babies (Jaxon on 08/11/08). We continued on as August 2008 Moms sharing our milestones, questions, and advice. To this day I check here several times a day. We even have local meet ups around the globe. Our members live around the world and we meet up with those who live in our area or while we are on vacation elsewhere. I was fortunate enough to meet up with two NW moms from my group a couple of months ago in Olympia.
Anyway...this group of women is like a family to me. They are my support and community. You can view many of their blogs in my blog list. We are really very close, especially for an online community. I don't know how I would have made it through my pregnancy and/or my first 9 months with Jaxon without their daily support. This is just a little background to help you understand why this is so hard.
On Tuesday, one of our members, Kelli, found her 8.5 month old daughter Maggie tangled up in her blankets in her crib not breathing. It was a tragic and random occurrence. The news to our board was devastating. What can you say? What can you do? There are no words. Just tears. I have spent the last few days in a somber mood analyzing everything I do as a parent. I have cried in Drew's arms and worried about Jaxon more. I have hugged and kissed my baby boy so much more than I already do. I cuddle him for a little longer in the middle of the night when he wakes in pain from teething. No parent should ever outlive their child. What Kelli and her family (husband Ryan and 5 year old Piper) are going through I cannot begin to imagine. They are in my daily, no hourly, thoughts and prayers. Today must have been so difficult. It just breaks my heart to think about it.
This blog is in honor of Maggie, one of our August 2008 babies. May her family find peace after this tragic accident.
Maggie's Obituary
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