Happy Halloween...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Dylan celebrated his second Halloween today, and the best news is that we were able to celebrate this year at home! Looking at the pictures, it is amazing how much has changed in a year. From a 1 month old preemie last Halloween to a thriving little man that is now 13 months old. It is crazy how much time seems to have flown by, even though at that time last year it seemed as though time was standing still. Dylan went over and wished his Great Aunt Ellie a very Happy Halloween birthday and had his costume on with his cousins, then was asleep in the car and out for the night by 7:30, typical bedtime for the little man! Next year will be much different I am sure with him actually knowing what candy is and probably wanting to eat some I am sure. Our neighborhood was so crazy with kids, it seriously reminds us of the "Bowman Woods of Springville" we call it!! So our little "pea pod" had a great day and was very festive in his attire besides his costume, we love the Halloween spirit!~

Graduation day, bouncing back from illness...

Dylan had a great couple of checkups today despite his weekend in the hospital.
We had the followup appt with the Odo Doctor, (ear, nose and throat dr) and his appt went great. They were rechecking his left vocal chord for potential paralysis due to his PDA ligation (heart duct closing surgery) and re-checking the size of his trachea/windpipe since last time they checked the opening was inflammed. For the test they have to place a scope with a camera on the end, up his nose and down to the area they want to check. We anticipated a not so happy baby after this procedure as he is much more active then when he previously had the test this past April. So this time they sprayed a decongeatant/numbing solution into his nose whereas before they just put some vaseline on the end of the scope. And the numbing solution must have really worked. We were really nervous when 4 doctors walked into the room to assist with the procedure but they let Brad hold Dylan again and they didn't even need any other assistance, he didn't cry even one bit, or squirm for that matter. We were totally shocked and very happy with our little man. HE once again showed us just how strong he really is. The test went great, there is no vocal chord paralysis and his windpipe looked great. They do not need to followup with Dylan anymore, we have graduated from the Odo Doctor, yea!!!
So then onto the High Risk infant followup with the NICU doctor to recheck him and his stats since he has been off oxygen, and developmentally see how he is measuring up. This appointment also could not have gone any better. His stats were great, they were very impressed especially since he was just discharged from the hospital yesterday. He is growing great still and especially so being he is off the oxygen. Developmentally he is doing exactly what they want him to do and more!!! So Dylan has graduated from the High Risk infant followup with Dr. Seager beings he is off oxygen and doing wonderfully, yea!!!!! He will still followup with the nurse practitioner until the age of 2 for developmental followup but we have been cleared until March for our next appt!!!!
We are so so so happy with Dylan and his will to fight thru everything that comes his way. He never ceases to amaze us, every day we are reminded one way or another of the trials and tribulations he has been thru and how he steps over each one and just keeps thriving! We are very happy that we do not have to take him back to another doctor appt at the University until the beginning of Spring. This winter no trips to Iowa City!!! So we got our flu shots today to try and stay extra healthy this winter. Dylan will have his next week, it got postponed because he got sick. We have the wonderful in home nurse again this winter who will check him out and administer his shots for the Synagis and influenza vaccine. This is very nice especially since we do not have to take him into the doctor which can be germ haven especially this time of year. So this Friday we will take him in so Dr. Collins can recheck him since he had pnemonia and then we should be clear of doctors for awhile, knock on some hard wood with our fingers and toes crossed!!! In the pictures you can see how happy he was, just playing at home this afternoon and in one of the pics you can even see his 2 bottom teeth!! We will be praying like crazy that he stays healthy, growing strong and breathing great!~

In the hospital and home again..........

Dylan has had a great past few weeks. We went away to Lake Red Rock a few weeks ago and had a blast. It was a nice getaway with friends not too far from home but a beautiful cabin on the lake. As you can see from the pics what a nice place it was. Then he got a bug that didn't settle so great with the little guy.

The week before is when Dylan had his 12 month shots. Well about 8 days later he got a fever and had a reaction to his Chicken pox vaccine. So we took him in and were told just to watch him and he could have a reaction for 5-29 days post vaccination. So he also developed a runny nose which can be a side effect of the vaccine also, and a rash on his cheek, leg and back.

The runny nose then turned into a horse voice for about 4 days and fussy baby. That then turned into a cold. We took him into the Ped Dr here last monday for a checkup. No meds were needed they said, just breathing treatments as needed and we tried a oral steriod in the nebulizer as well. They also checked his stats and he was breathing great without the oxygen.

So Friday we were to take him back for a re-check on the breathing etc. all precautionary. So Brad decided he would take him to his first appt by himself and get him all checked out, no problem. Well at the appt they checked his stats and they were definetely lower than they should be. So after several attempts to check him at different places on his body they decided he needed to go to the hospital. Upon arrival his stats were perfect, reading 97 which is normal. But at the doctor they could not get him above 92. RSV test was negative and his Complete Blood Count was within normal limits. The x-rays though did show a couple spots on his lungs of Pnemonia. Bummer deal..... so we were definetly there for the night. They started him on Prednisone and Zithromax with treatments every 4 hours along with the CPT, something they do for kids all of the time this time of year. The RT has a hand held device used to try and loosen the crud up in his lungs. It works great. But during the first night in Dylans' stats dropped considerably during the night requiring him to be put back on oxygen......... But as soon as he woke up his stats were fine and we could take the oxygen off. So this put us in the hospital for another night automatically.

Last night he did great, requiring no oxygen at all while he was asleep or awake. His stats during the day were 97 and even reaching 100 for the first time ever since he has been off oxygen. So this morning we were finally able to come home.

Dylan did great being hooked up to the monitors etc. He didn't ever try and pull anything off himself, he just wanted to chew on everything, not a good idea. The nurses and RT's loved his happiness and a few of the nurses and RT's definetly remembered him from when he was there when he was first born. One of the RT's was assigned to him the night he was transferred to the University. They treated Dylan so good this weekend and thank goodness he is better now. As you can see from the pictures, he didn't even come close to acting like he was sick.

So tomorrow we go back to the University for a couple appts we already had scheduled. One for him to have a scope procedure to check his windpipe, a followup apt from the on he had in May. The other appt is for his normal "high risk infant followup" to see how he is doing and growing without oxygen. So I plan on updating again after those appts.

The lord was definetly with us this weekend, helping Dylan get better and stay strong and fight. We are so lucky to have him with us today and we will do whatever it takes to keep him healthy!!~ p.s Brad already told me he will not attempt taking Dylan to another Dr. appt by himself, I think I can see why....~