4/16/07: Day 276 (Mon.) Checking In With Dr. E

Since Evan still had that yucky sounding chest congestion, we took him to see Dr. Ettinger as a precaution to make sure it wasn't pnuemonia. Dr E had a medical student helping out in the office and we saw him first. Dr. E cam in later and reassured us that he was fine. We have to keep suctioning his nose out with saline drops and that bulb-sucking-thing. Evan hates when we do it, but I think he is happy afterwards since he can breathe a bit better. We don't get a whole lot of stuff out of his nose, but it must be enough. Dr. E is also not concerned with Evan's slow weight gain, so we'l keep doing what we've been doing. We're still continuing to give him the Dimetapp with Albuterol 3 times a day. Dr. E hopes that will keep asthma from developing. He also thinks that last Synagis shot will be it for this season. It depends on his weight if he will be eligible to get the Synagis shots this fall.

We found out Dr. E is taking a sabbatical to study marine biology down in Mexico. He has another doctor coming in (who used to practice in Gainesville) to cover him while he's gone. He said he isn't retiring...but will continue to work 3 or so days a week and golf the other days when he gets back.

**Weight check: 13 lbs. 15 oz.**
**Height: 24 inches**

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Chronological age: 39 weeks and 3 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 6 months, 4 weeks and 3 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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11/7/06: Day 116 (Tues.) Doctor Visit

Evan had his "well-baby" check-up with Dr. Ettinger today. When they weighed him, he was 9lbs. 4oz., which is less than when I weighed him on our home scale on Friday. I would guess my home scale is off a bit. We had thought Evan would get some shots today, but that has been put off for a few weeks. He is due for his Synagis shot...that is the shot to help prevent RSV that is crazy-expensive (over $2000 a shot). The nurse said they are waiting on word from our insurance to o.k. the shot. Once they get the o.k., we'll bring him in for that shot. He will get his 4 month shots at the start of December. I am anticipating that will not be fun.

The doc said his lungs sounded great (yea)! He predicted Dr. Morgan will take him off the O2 when we see him again on December 15th. When Evan hits the 10 pound mark (which I think will be in about a week and a half), we can stop giving him the Lasix dose. He is still getting the Poly Visol vitamins once a day. During feedings, we have been mixing his formula to equal 24 calories per ounce to give him a bot more calories per day to help boost his weight. Dr. Ettinger says we can back off on that and just mix his formula to be 22 cal/ounce, which will be a bit easier on his digestive tract.

So, he's doing just great...slowly (slowly) catching up to where he needs to be on weight and length. Dr. Ettinger commented on how he is getting baby fat, and that's a good thing. His cheeks, arms and legs are getting chubby! He is starting smile a bit more also.

On a different note...Evan slept AGAIN from midnight until 6am...two nights in a row! Fingers crossed it will last!
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**Weight check: 9 lbs. 4oz.**
Chronological age: 4 months 0 weeks and 4 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 1 month 3 weeks and 3 days
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10/20/06: Day 98 (Fri.) 3 1/2 months old!

Today was just a weight-check at the pediatrician's office. I wasn't expecting a big weight jump from Tuesday's appointment in Tucson. Evan weighed 8 lbs. 3 oz. today, a 2 oz. jump from Tuesday. It's always good to see a steady increase in his weight. We didn't try to test his O2 saturation off the O2 since his original reading wasn't at the usual high percentage. The highest the nurse could get was 96%. He usually registers at 100%...the nurse thinks it was because his hand was so cold. No worries!

His next appointment is November 7th with Dr. Ettinger. Since Dr. Vedock is moving away, Evan will just bump over to him. He will probably get his next Synagis shot at that appointment (another $2,000 shot, ouch). He's also getting close to his next round of shots at 4 months. He also is due for his second Hepatitis B shot. I am anticipating that will not be a very happy appointment for Evan. :-(

I tried getting Evan to nap in his play-yard, but he was not happy about that. Instead, he fell asleep in his swing which doesn't look as comfortable to me, but I guess he likes it!



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Chronological age: 3 months 2 weeks and 0 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 4 weeks and 6 days
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