March 27, 2013
JR, Jack, and I had quite a big day. I woke up at the crack of dawn after fasting over night to get my 2 hour glucose tolerance test. By and large one of my least favorite things to do. After that was complete I headed into Orlando to meet my two favorite gentlemen. JR had taken Jack to Arnold Palmer for his ultra sound. Jack gave the tech no trouble and seems as though he and JR had a spectacular morning. After the ultra sound JR headed off to work as Jack and I killed a little time waiting for our appointment with Dr Knapp.
We headed into APH specialty office and sat waiting for our appt to start. I was thinking about how far Jack, his Dad, and I have come. When we had our first appointment with Dr Knapp jack weighed 6 lbs 4 oz. that day was great because that had meant jack gained 4 oz that week. At the time Jack gaining weight was the problem of the day. In 48 hrs, Jack underwent his first surgery.. A bacteria he contracted from me had invaded his hip and now our little one wasn't just fighting for his ambulation but for his life. Fast forward to today, I have a happy and strong 13 lb 8 oz boy who may not walk normally but he will love life!
"John." The nurse called. My hopes for this appointment was that his hip is healing and we would get a little more freedom. I know he wouldn't be able to tell me of how he would walk etc but good news was possible. We walked back and waited for our team. Dr. Butter field came in first. He took a look at the US with Jack and I. He said its looking great. The numbers are looking good as far as the way the hip is growing and being placed back where it belongs. I played with the little one while we waited for Dr Knapp. In the meantime, the clunk of high heels sounded outside the door. After calling for the person to come in we got a great surprise! Dr Crawford came in to see our guy! We hadn't seen her in so long. She couldn't believe how big he was. She ranged his hips and had nothing but praise. Then the boss came in. He also had great things to say about Jacks range and movement in addition to the US. He gave us the ok to have the brace off most of the day except when he's sleeping. Yay!!! He agreed that things are going in the right direction but we have a long road. Good ol dr knapp not wanting to give you too much hope. We have to follow up in 4 weeks and get an X-ray that day.
Oh, prior to going to the appt we went to the third floor to visit the nurses. It was nice to see them all and show them our guy!
So that's our update, stay tuned. Jacks first Eastee is a few days away :) thank you again for your continued love and prayers!
Our first weekend without the cast was good. JR and Jack spent some quality time together so that I could do my first long run since being 7 months pregnant. I went to the West Orange Trail and ran 7 miles. Slower than I'm used too but the miles got done :)
Jack has the taco cast on, he doesn't seem to like that either. It isn't fitting quite right and is irritating the skin on his thighs. Monday I will call and see if we can get a different brace. I'm sure the ortho docs are tired of this mommy! When I take it off to give him a break, he's giggly and smiles! I can't wait until all this is over! His reflux is already so much better. Now the spit up seems to be where it normally would be. He isn't eating as much, because he's not spitting it all back up!
Jack and I went over to April, and Rafa's last night with a gathering of part of the PRC. It was one of our first social events. Jack did great and got to spend some time with his PRC family, and GP's. He was even in the movie! Rafa made an awesome video of the Disney Marathon weekend which the Logan family missed but for good reason. (Jack was born that week). It was so good to see everyone!
Tuesday March 19th
Yesterday was the dreaded day. I gathered up all my strength and headed back to work but not before dropping him off at daycare. The good news? I made it through the whole day. Bad news, I cried several times. Luckily the daycare owner is a good friend so that makes life so much easier. Even better? She sent me pictured during the day! Jack did well with then morning drive sleeping the whole way, and only cried briefly as we were turning onto our street on way home. I bought a mirror so I can see his face when he's back there, turned on little Einsteins and headed to Ocala.
As much as I hate to admit it I think I could stay home with him, granted I'd need something else to keep my mind sharp but I miss him insanely while I'm at work and its only been two days. JR gets two glorious days with him this week, then the weekend is mommy Jack time.
He visited grandma Stevie on Saturday at her house. And just like all the rest of his grand parents spoiled him with love love love! He's blessed to have so many people who love him!
We have hopefully our last ortho appointment for a while on Wednesday march 27th. Hopefully his cast will be gone and we will get cleared for all activities. We will update you then!
I will add a picture tomorrow phone is still weird.
Happy 2 Month birthday to our Jack Jack! The double Jack is JR's nickname for the little man. It reminds me of Cinderella and how Jack the mouse, called Gus the mouse, Gus Gus...I think it's cute.
In the last two months our little famiy has been through a lifetime it seems. January 7th, I was induced at 7pm, less than 24 hours later JR and I were parents. I still look down at my Jack and can't believe that I get to keep him, he's mine? Weird. It is hard to believe that this person was hanging out on the inside doing my yoga, running those miles, and treating patients with me and now he is a real life person...it baffles my mind. A year ago we were considering adoption because we didn't know if this would happen for us. A decade ago I could have cared less about getting married let alone having kids. And now, a 11 pound little human is all I can think about most days (and nights if I am being honest), he dictates most of my life right now. And I love it! He is our life, and I know I speak for both JR and myself, we would do anything for him. We would have readily taken his place during his struggles. But he took it so strongly, he is my hero. So happy birthday Jack!
Where are we at 2 months? Well, we finally got some legit smiles, to noises, people, and his own bodily functions in between. He is trying to so hard to life his little head. His tummy time is limited because of the cast but he tries! He still doesn't quite move the right foot as much or as well as the left, but we shall see. He does not like to be put down, he seems uncomfortable all the time, from the cast, from the reflux which is most likely worse because of the cast. He has been swollen since we left the hospital, but to what extent varies on the day. The last two days his mood ha been worse, he can't get comfortable at all, he is unable to take a deep breath, or keep most of his meals down...which given his appointment isn't until Monday with Dr. Knapp, this mom decided to check in with ortho before the weekend to spare JR and myself an emergency room bill, and Jack any worsening conditions. We went into the office about 2 pm today. Jack was upset and crying because he is so uncomfortable in the car seat. Come to find out even the next size up was too narrow for him (thanks anyways Ty and Kirsten). Dr. Knapp is out of town, so we had an appointment with Dr. Herrera, and Dr. Peck. When Dr. Peck came in before Dr. Herrera and saw the marks I had been referring to, she gave me the news that I (and most of you) had been waiting for, "That cast has to come off today." What?!? Awesome! Jack had little bruise like marks appear yesterday around his ankle, and today up near his torso (good call mom to bring him in today). We went back, and the tech took three times as long to take it off cause apparently Dr. Knapp made Jack's cast nice and thick. No wonder it was so freaking heavy (come to find out it weighed almost 2 pounds). When it was finally off you could tell Jack was immediately more comfortable. BTW didn't cry at all during the removal. His legs are still "frogged" out, but they are going to be stiff for a while, not to mention we have to keep the original taco brace on until the follow-up in 3 weeks. Dr. Herrera took a look at his x-ray, he is in place and looking awesome. We won't know about his walking status until he starts to move around, we also don't know if the head of the femur (big leg bone that connects to the hip) is rounded like it is suppose to be. Again, we will be following up with ortho for a long time. While we were packing up, guess who runs by the room and happen to see us? Dr. Layham, from infectious disease. He ran in to say hello, noticed the cast, got an update, and immediately called Dr. Jordan (who was in the building) to do his follow-up now instead of having us come on Monday (because we don't have to come anymore until the 3 week). Dr. Jordan did his bedside evaluation, moving Jack's hip around a little, listening, etc...and says there is a very low possibility that the infection will re-occur. We are to keep a look out for fevers (which he has not had this whole time we have been home), and if it were to happen it usually is within 1-2 weeks of being off antibiotics. No follow-up is needed with ID. He is cleared. I did ask Dr. Jordan where he might have picked it up. It is definitely from me, but what I didn't now, was that even though my test came back negative, women can pick it up anywhere, anytime, and in addition to that, they don't test breast tissue. So if you breast feed (which I did), he may have gotten it from the breast milk. Damn. So, I asked him if we were to have any more children should I not breast feed? He said I should absolutely breast feed, it is the best thing for them. What will happen is they will test me like they did the last time, but will most likely automatically put the baby on antibiotics after delivery which is what they do when the mother is GBS +. And then test him/her right away for GBS. But right now, I am concentrating on giving our Jack an awesome start, not even considering other kids right this minute. So calm down!
So that is that, we have an appointment in the next 3 weeks, and will go from there. I will be taking Jack's 2 month pictures tomorrow, I will post them then. Like I said before, we will keep you updated on the life of Jack! Thank you for all of the love and support! You are amazing. Thank you to Aunt Patty, Uncle Will, Grandma Stevie, Carol, Daniel, Carter, Maddie, Linsey, Logan, April, Carter L, Rafa, Bonnie, Anthony, and Ari for the gifts we have received since the last post. We appreciate you all for thinking of us!
Jack and I have had a hard couple days. Poor baby is still dealing with gas/reflux and compression against his stomach. We started him on a probiotic (Biogaia) to regulate him since being on antibiotics for a month. Hopefully it will help for the gas too. He seems more comfortable today. He actually took couple hour naps. So maybe this weekend mom will get some sleep at night.
Today we did more sleeping out of moms arms then in! Yay for progress!!! He did quite a bit of playing, kid is fascinated with the ceiling fan! He is checking things out more and more each day. I know it will be a little slower than normal but seeing him do more everyday makes my year!
Jack finally is starting to enjoy his bouncy chair and swing. The swing actually put him to sleep twice today, long enough for me to do a little yoga! Awesome.
Other than that we had a boring (super fun mom jack day), JR got home early and got to hang with jack for some his awake play time. Going to attempt to put jack immediately into his sleeper and see how long he does at a decent time tonight. Wish is luck!
We headed into APH specialty office and sat waiting for our appt to start. I was thinking about how far Jack, his Dad, and I have come. When we had our first appointment with Dr Knapp jack weighed 6 lbs 4 oz. that day was great because that had meant jack gained 4 oz that week. At the time Jack gaining weight was the problem of the day. In 48 hrs, Jack underwent his first surgery.. A bacteria he contracted from me had invaded his hip and now our little one wasn't just fighting for his ambulation but for his life. Fast forward to today, I have a happy and strong 13 lb 8 oz boy who may not walk normally but he will love life!
