Fun Stuff!

Carter loves the nebulizer treatments and it's about the only time during the day that he actually sits still. He'll sit on one of our laps and watch TV while the machine runs. I think he likes the cool mist on his face.
I've been afraid to post this for fear of jinxing it. Carter's making GREAT progress eating solids (pureed baby food). We started with bananas for a week, which he thought were ok (he took 8-10 bites at a sitting). This week, the food of choice has been sweet potatoes and he loves them! He's been taking about 20 + small "bites" at a sitting plus he takes the spoon and tries to feed himself. This is a HUGE step in the right direction for Carter since he's still completely refusing the bottle. We're keeping many fingers crossed that he keeps this up.

One tooth is in and the one beside it is about to pop through. Last night, after we put him to bed, Carter was WILD. We went in to check on him and found him chewing on the crib--as you can see from the picture below. I guess he needed some relief on those sore gums!
I've posted a lot over the last few days, so make sure you scroll way down on the page to catch up. Carter's kept us busy this week! :)

Still no results

We still don't have any results from the xrays. We're having the images overnighted to Duke after the local docs are finished with them.

I just thought I'd let you know how Carter feels about having pneumonia. As you can see in the video, he doesn't seem to think he's sick!

Also, since I put you all up to the task of taking pics with Carter's name, I thought I should participate. I've saved every card you have sent to him and us so I took some of them and wrote out his name. (Nurse Casey, I even saved your notes written on that fancy Duke stationery--they are on the C) We've already gotten a few submissions. Don't let us down!

Keep Arms and Hands Inside the Ride at All Times

As many of you already know, Carter has streptococcal pneumonia.
He is OK and we are home.

We noticed a day or two ago that he had developed a cough so we've been trying to keep an eye on him for any changes. I also thought I heard some wheezing, but Brad didn't hear it. When I got home from work this morning, Carter coughed and it sounded really "junky" and Brad said he'd been gagging on lots of mucous (yummy, I know). My Mom (a nurse) stopped by this morning and remarked that she heard him wheezing. That kinda sealed the deal and I called his pediatrician who said to bring him in.

Dr. M listened to his lungs and thought she could hear some decreased breath sounds on the left side and also bowel sounds up near his arm pit on the left side (the side of his hernia) so she ordered a chest x-ray. He had also lost 3 ounces and this was the first time ever that he lost weight, so we knew something was wrong. Aside from being a little whiny, he doesn't really act like he feels badly.

From the chest x-ray Dr. M determined that he has some pneumonia and put him on antibiotics. He did not have a fever so she said we caught it very early. We were sent home with strict instructions to call her tonight if anything changes or he spikes a fever. She was uncertain whether he had reherniated, so she sent the films to the radiologist. I don't know when we'll know those results, but I'm planning to call in the morning.

I immediately called Dr. Wonderful at Duke (I know when she sees my number on her cell phone she thinks "not them again!") and she assured me that there is no reason to panic. She put him on a nebulizer, but the medical supply company didn't have it when I called so hopefully they can hook us up with one in the morning. She told us what to watch for and if he starts to get worse, to call them and he might have to be admitted. It's likely that he lost the 3 ounces because he's working so hard to breathe. For now, we're going back on complete lock-down so we can all get some rest and Carter can save up his energy for healing and not visiting/playing.

I also went to Urgent Care tonight with a sore throat, but my strep test came back negative. Darn Pollen!

Right now, he's hanging out in his crib, singing and screeching and rolling around--avoiding going to sleep! We'd love it if you could say an extra prayer for Carter tonight for a quick recovery and for an intact diaphragm/no reherniation. I can't stand the thought of another surgery, but if he has to have another one, we decided that is God's way of telling us it's time for the G-tube.

Thanks for all the notes and messages we've received so far.

Double The Fun!

Carter has doubled his birth weight and now weighs 6.55 kilos (14 lbs, 7oz). He is 26 inches long, up 4 inches from birth. He's still barely on the growth chart, but he's ON it and gaining each week--that's all that matters. Great job big boy!

Over the last 48 hours, Carter's really been gagging and vomiting more than usual. For example, he threw up FIVE SIX SEVEN times after his 9am feed. He's also not sleeping well, which is very unlike Carter. He's like his mommy and LOVES sleep. He's been vomiting even at times he NEVER yacks. (Shanda: I'll never say that word again w/o thinking of you--in a good way!) Dr. B made a good call and told us to take him to the pediatrician this morning--he has his first cold! :( The "c" word causes great distress to the parents of CDH kids, but his lungs sounded clear this morning. We'll have to keep a close eye on him and do lots of NG feeds, as he can't breathe well through his nose, which makes it hard to drink from a bottle, setting us in backward motion on the feeding issue. Looks like we'll be putting that suction bulb to lots of use (as a side note, Brad thinks if you are a bad person in this life, you are reincarnated as one of these!).

We want to take this moment to remind everyone that we CAN NOT have visitors. We know you are all anxious to see Carter and want so badly to be able to help us, by bringing food and offering to do things around the house. The very best things you can do for us are continue to keep Carter in your prayers (especially right now, that his lungs stay clear) and not visit or send meals to our home. Even sending things through a third party is risky because it still exposes him to outside germs. We do not want to seem ungrateful, because we truly appreciate your thoughtfulness, but we must do what we can to limit his exposure to germs and viruses.

Although the weather is warm, he's still at great risk for becoming deathly ill. The flu has just now become "widespread" across North Carolina and is expected to peak during the month of April.