Medical Updates

Last month, during Elliott's 2 month well baby visit, Dr. Ginsburg was concerned that he may have a hernia. She referred us to a urologist - same one who did Elliott's circumcision - Dr. Mc Dermott. We had that appointment last week. Dr. McDermott could not get the hernia to "demonstrate" but he explained the whole thing to us. When the testicles drop, the hole is supposed to close back up - when it doesn't a hernia can form when the intestines come through the hole - nice, right? Anyway, he told us what to look for in case of an emergency and wanted to see Elli again in 3 mos.

We also heard from the doctor regarding Elliott's monitor... He continues to be apnea free which is fantastic, however he continues to have episodes of Bradycardia or low heart rate. This is likely caused by his acid reflux so they have increase his prevacid to twice a day. We started this on Saturday, they will come again after Thanksgiving to read the monitor but I have a feeling it will be the new year before he is off of it.

Regarding me... my incision is still not healed. At 10 weeks (Elliott is now 12 weeks) I returned to the OB and we were both so frustrated with the fact that it was still open and draining - gross, I KNOW!!! So anyway, she referred me to the Wound Center at the hospital - what fun that was... they took multiple pictures of my incision, poked and prodded around in there for over an hour... the doctor removed some "granulation" that had formed, with nitrogen - they said that the granulation can interfere with the would closing. They taught me how to wash and dry it and how to apply a silver gel and dressing... i go back in 2 weeks (on the 24th)... we will see... the good thing that is coming from this is that as long as my incision is open, I qualify for time off with pay - otherwise, I would be going unpaid by now.

My return to work is uncertain at this point due to several factors... it was my intention all along to use my sick leave, apply to the sick leave bank, and then to use FMLA (family medical leave act) getting me about 16 weeks off... now that I have had issues with my incision it looks like I could be off more like 20 weeks. If after 20 weeks, Elliott is still on the monitor, I will reapply for FMLA. You see, right now, I am on FMLA for the birth of a child... you can also be on FMLA in order to care for a family member... the FMLA allows me to be off without pay but with continued benefits.

Elliott will be 3 months this Saturday - I can't believe he has been here that long already... Pacey has FINALLY accepted her little brother. Last week, he fell asleep in his swing, she walked by and smiled at him, came over to me, hugged me and said, "isn't he cute? I am glad we got him." I had been waiting 12 weeks to hear that :-)

Here are some recent pics...

Peapod Silver

I must confess, one reason that I have backed off from my blog is my new addiction to Facebook - for those of you unfamiliar, it is a social network... a place to meet new friends and reconnect with old ones. I recently reconnected with a girl who I first met in fourth grade - that was a long time ago... anyway, she has started her own jewlery business and I thought I would share her website with you...

check it out http://www.peapodsilver.com/

Friends

Got this as an e-mail, it is so true -

There comes a point in your life when you realize:
who matters,
who never did,
who won't anymore...
and who always will.
So, don't worry about people from your past,
there's a reason why they didn't make it to your future.
Give these flowers to everyone you don't want to lose in 2009,
including me, if that's what is in your heart.

more pics...

Here are some great pictures... random, but great.

This one is from Pacey's camera - her perspective of my pregnant belly - so funny!

Elliott's first bath...

Me and my babies...

Trying to smile...

My pretty ballarinas...

Me and Miss Leigh at a "Mommy and Me" Stampin' Up workshop...


Halloween Cutie...

"What... is.... that???"


Sweet smile...

October is over???

Wow... its November and I can't even believe it...

Elliott is doing really well and I am doing pretty well too. We heard from the pulminologist several weeks ago, he said that Elliott had not had ANY true apnea episodes - this is great news however the doctor was concerned about some low heart rate episodes and therefore was not ready to take him off of the monitor just yet. Karl, our neighbor care rep came out last week to download the monitor again... this time I gave him a list of what was happening when the low heart rate alarm went off because I do not think it is accurate... it seems to go off when the leads slip down on Elliott's belly or when he is crying really hard, so we will see... hoping to be off of it by Thanksgiving.

Below are several videos of our October pictures.

We took a trip to Dunbar, WV so that Elliott could meet his Mommaw and Poppaw, the Hills came over for the day on Saturday to visit and to meet Elli for the first time too.



The following weekend, Vince, Mel and the kids came to visit... we spent Saturday at the park - it was a lot of fun.



This Halloween video includes pictures from Fox's 3rd Annual Halloween Happy Hour - I dressed up like myself, 2 months ago! Also in this video are pics from our visit to Homestead to get pumpkins with Mom, and Halloween day: carving the pumpkin with Pacey, Pacey's school parade, and of course trick or treating... my crew were the characters from Peter Pan - Lottie was Captain Hook, Jack was Peter Pan, Pacey was Tinker Bell, and Elliott was the Lost Boy Skunk.