2 Month Birthday

Friday, March 8th, 2013

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!