Weight Check!

We had to get one of Evan's vaccinations done today since he missed getting it back in January. It had been a while since we had a weight check on Evan, so that's one good thing that comes out of visits to the doctor's office.

We put Evan on the scale and it read 19 lbs. 11 oz....still no 20 pounds yet! We didn't check his length but we are very sure he's gained a bit of height. Evan did so well for the shot; he barely cried. We think he's just so used to shots that it doesn't bother him as much. We set up his 2-year old appointment for next month and fingers crossed, no shots at that appointment.

Not Much to Post From the Sick Family!

We've finally experienced the whole-house sickness. It started last Friday night with Evan running a high fever that never broke the whole weekend. The entire weekend he wanted to be held. I had to sleep with him on my chest for three nights (ouch)! I managed to get Evan in to see the doc on Monday and found out he had a blazing ear infection. He got a shot of a high dose antibiotic and I had to bring him back on Tuesday for a second course of the antibiotic. This is only his second major ear infection, so that's not too bad I think. We were able to get Evan back to daycare on Wednesday afternoon.

T took to the sick bed on Sunday and didn't really emerge until Tuesday to go the doctor. I started getting the funk on Sunday and I'm still trying to kick it. T has a sick-pass from the doc for work, and he stayed home all week. I went in to work yesterday feeling miserable and stayed home today and slept most of the day. T's prescription cough medicine worked miracles!

Hope to back to our cheery selves this weekend. ;-)

Synagis Shot #1

Ahhh, the fall weather and the onset of RSV season (again). Since Evan's weight is still low, he has to get the full series of Synagis shots (a shot every 28 days until the spring). It had been a while since he had a shot, and he knew it was coming (poor guy). The nurse also did his flu shot at the same time in the other leg (ouch).

When we weighed him, he was about 16 pounds 12 ounces, so he had a very little weight gain since the last doctor's appointment. I had the nurse do a quick look-over the test results from his blood test and she didn't see anything unusual (his thyroid levels were good); so at first glance it doesn't look like there's a metabolic issue of why he is so small.

7/17/07: 1 Year Check-up With the Doc

Evan had his well-baby check-up today. We knew that he had to get his shots updated, so we gave him baby Tylenol ahead of time to help with the pain. We thought he had gained a bit of weight, but when he got on the scale, he is still a bit shy of 16 pounds. He has gotten longer though, he's about 27 inches now. The doc wasn't too concerned since he is following a nice curve on the preemie growth scale (he is on the bottom arc of the scale).

He had to get 3 separate shots (Chicken Pox, MMR and I can't remember what the other was, Hep maybe)? He cried for just a bit, but with Dad there to comfort him afterward, he was a trooper. Mom got the mean job of holding him while they administered the shots. We anticipate having to continue the Synagis shots in the fall since Evan will probably still be underweight. Since he's in daycare, they suggest we keep getting the shots in the RSV season.

We got the green light to start weaning him off formula and give him whole milk instead. We also got a referral to see a local urologist for his mild hypospadia. We have a feeling he will have to get the circ after all. At least he won't remember the procedure at this age (hopefully).

The doc heard a bit of wheezing in his chest, but nothing to be alarmed about. We have an appointment to see the Tucson Pulmonologist in September anyway. We also have to get Evan's blood drawn for a basic metabolic screen. If that turns out fine, we won't have to see the doc for a while.

5/14/07: Day 303 (Mon.) 10 Months Old!

Today is Evan's 10-month birthday! Time is just flying! He had his last Synagis shot to the season today. He weighed in at 14 lbs. 3 oz...finally over the 14 lbs. mark! We were worried he was going to be 13 pounds forever! He did so good with the shot, he only cried for about 5 seconds and that was it. Next time we see the doc will be for his 1 year old check-up. Hmmm, let me guess, we'll have shots with that visit?

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Chronological age: 43 weeks and 3 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 7 months, 4 weeks and 0 days
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4/13/07: Day 273 (Fri.) Last Synagis Shot (Hopefully)

Evan had his last Synagis shot of the season (fingers crossed). The appointment took a bit longer than we expected since it took a while to get a good pulse oximeter reading on him. The highest reading they could get was 95%...which isn't great, but enough. Evan is still wheezing a bit from that first sickness he had two weeks ago which may be the reason for his oxygen saturation level to be so low. We still have some leftover Albuterol ampules that we use in the nebulizer and have been giving him treatments once a day. The nurse told us to call for an appointment to see Dr. Ettinger on Monday if he is still sounding bad. I have a feeling with Evan's lung issues when he was born, the nebulizer treatments may be a daily thing through the spring allergy season.

**Weight Check: 14lbs. 0oz.** This is sort-of concerning to us since Evan hasn't gained a whole lot of weight in the last 2 months. He's only gained about 1/2 pound in 2 months.

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Chronological age: 39 weeks and 0 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 6 months, 4 week and 0 days
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1/16/07: Day 186 (Tues.) 6 Month Check-up!

Today was Evan's 6-month well-baby exam (and shots, yuck). Dr. Ettinger was happy to see how big and chubby Evan is getting. We filled him in on the info we got from the pulmonologist yesterday, and he suggested we take him completely off the O2. When they were taking his vital signs, they did a pulse oximeter reading on him, and he was registering 97%, which is excellent.

Evan didn't like being poked and prodded, but did well during the shots. He only got 2 injections this time. Funny to find out that Dr. Ettinger is also a U of Florida graduate. He saw T's Gator lanyard and commented on the Florida win last week. The Gator Nation is everywhere!

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Chronological age: 26 weeks and 4 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 4 months, 0 weeks and 0 days
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12/5/06: Day 144 (Tues.) We're in Double Digits!

Evan had his 4-month shots today...and he is finally in the double digits on his weight! He weighed in at 10 pounds, 1 ounce! He had 3 injections today (not fun), but he did fine. He cried for about a minute and then he was fine.
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**Weight Check: 10 lbs. 1 oz.**
Chronological age: 20 weeks and 4 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months, 2 weeks and 5 days
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11/29/06: Day 138 (Wed.) Getting My Shot

Evan had a last minute doctor run to get his Synagis shot. This is that crazy-expensive once-a-month shot he needs to help prevent RSV. He received his first shot back in September, so this is just his second shot. He's supposed to get them monthly during the cold and flu season. He'll get his next one right before Christmas. He did relatively great during the injection. He was all happy until the nurse poked him. He turned bright red...no sound came out like it took his breath away...and then the cry let out. He didn't cry for too long and within a few minutes, it was as if he was back to normal.

We get to do this again next Tuesday at his 4-month well-baby visit with Dr. Ettinger. He'll get his next round of immunizations. Fun!

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**Weight Update: 9 lbs. 15 oz.**
Chronological age: 19 weeks and 5 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months, 1 week and 6 days
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9/7/06 & 9/8/06: Day 55 & 56 (Thurs. & Fri.)*

I'm trying not to slack in my blogging! Honestly, there hasn't been a whole lot to blog about daily since Evan is doing fine. Thursday night we had the chance to talk to Dr. Vedock (she's the D.O. under Dr. Ettinger). She said that around Tuesday they were going to evaluate the possibility of sending Evan home on oxygen.

It matters over a couple of factors...if he shows over the next few days that he isn't making progress coming down on his O2 level and is still eating well, then they'll send him home on oxygen. If he is showing signs of coming down on his O2 levels, then they will keep him in the hospital for another week or so until he is completely weaned off.

So, to bring him home on oxygen and an apnea monitor won't be too technically difficult for us. There is a bit of coordination we have to do with a place in Tucson, but it doesn't sound hard. On Monday, we have to attend an infant CPR class at the hospital. I think they make all preemie parents go through the class before they discharge the babies home.

He got a Hepatitis shot and his first vaccination for RSV. He has to get a shot every month for RSV during the cold and flu season. Shots...how fun!!

Our big milestone for the weekend is to get his car seat installed. His crib and play yard are both set up and ready to go!

We were trying to catch him smiling...this is a long one, over a minute.


He was just zoning out in this one.


Trying to get him with his eyes open.


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SVRHC Charges:
$4,798.31 (9/7)
$1,795.71 (9/8)
Running Total: $349,444.26
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