September was here...I think?! It's still been great to be home! Bruce is really growing and his body is healing from this oh-so-crazy summer. Yesterday, he had a MRI and it showed the brain abscess is regressing (great news!) but there is some concerning swelling the neurosurgeon is going to keep an eye on (eh) but the vp shunt is working great! Infectious Diseases has ordered another month of his super strong antibiotics (eh) so the feeding tube is staying put til those are finished but he has been eating fairly well lately! We started some cereal last night and that has been a hit so far. GI gave the go-ahead to start solids but he's to remain on the Nutramigen AA and off breastmilk.
Bruce's seizures started acting up again a couple weeks ago and the neurologist placed him on some stronger anti-seizure meds. When the kid started tapping his left leg and left arm and keeping time, I knew something was up because his father and I have no rhythmm, whatsoever. None. Nadda. But, the meds have helped and we haven't seen any new activity since, except for what we thought were seizures the other night. All of the medications Bruce is on are wicked strong and keep his belly upset, hence the feeding tube. Which really is the handiest tool for giving meds when he's sleeping......no fights. Yet, a catch-22.
But these latest 'seizures' are in fact, not. They are episodes consistent with Sandifer's Syndrome which is when the baby is rolling his head and moving his arms repeatedly in attempt to open his esophagus to let the acid out. I called back down the hospital earlier this week and the neurologist said this was reflux activity and to call GI. Luckily, we had an appointment already after the MRI. I was describing the episodes to the GI doc and he started to go off on an intelligent spill about an Englishman named Sandifer and I kinda burst his bubble when I said I found it on the internet the night before....Momma's head got a little inflated for playing doctor but quickly deflated when he said I had to give Bruce a pill twice a day. Yep, to a 4 month old. Chuckle, chuckle, funny man. But, I will say your joke about Bruce's 'Howitzer' antibiotics compared to normal 'pea-shooter' antibiotics was funny...
There are other ways of giving Prevacid but this is the best way to get the medication through the stomach and into the intestines where it needs to be. Bruce doesn't think so and every time I place the little dissolving chunks on his tongue, I go through the CPR steps in my head. I think I get a new gray hair each time! He's been on the suspended version from the pharmacy for a month or so now and it's not working. Babies typically grow out of reflux and it's something we will have to watch, not that we weren't already. When I found the info online on Sandifer's Syndrome the night before the GI appointment, the article mentioned how rare it was for babies to have this. Less than 1% of reflux babies ever show the symptoms but when the article said 'rare', I knew he had it. This kid does rare to a perfection!
Bruce is over 14 lbs and topped 25 inches a couple days ago! Long and skinny, not surprised. His daddy used to be that way....sorry, love, just checking to see if you're reading or not :) Each day I go to get him out of his crib and I see a change in his face. It's amazing how quickly they grow! We have reached the stage of blowouts, though. It's like a light bulb has gone off in his cute little baby head that says, if I lay like this and I grunt like this, I will make it go up my back like this! And to see momma's face is fun! Yay! And I'll wait til when daddy's not home! And I'll do it only when I'm sitting on momma's lap!
Ok, it probably doesn't play out like that in his head but it sure seems like it!
We've been able to get out and enjoy the nice weather some lately. We started what hopefully becomes a new fall tradition of apple picking with great grandma and great grandpa!
I think here is grandpa telling Bruce momma better be careful putting the full bag of apples on the stroller like that....
Because not 10 minutes later I nearly toppled the whole rig, baby and all...
Bruce telling daddy the tale of momma's scary stroller driving later that day...
Still acceptable now, but if this is the case in 30 years, we have to talk, son.
Letting it all hang out during an infusion...notice 'I don't care if you take this picture now but it better not be on the internet later' look on his face....
Learning to smack his tongue like silly momma...you're getting there! Kind of...
Bruce's first visit to the neighbor's dairy when they were chopping silage that day! (More ranch pictures to come in the following posts for those of you who care....we don't just talk baby poop and breastmilk here!
A relaxing day at home with mom sticking her camera in my face...again...
And finally, 'ok, I will smile once more if you would kindly remove yourself so I can watch Monday Night Football....'
And there you have it so far, folks! Later today (because it is after 2 am and OH. SO. PEACEFUL), Bruce and I are heading to the Amish shops at Jamesport, MO with some of the lovely ladies in my family for our annual kickoff to the fall season! Daddy has requested that we bring back some baked goodies and a box of gate handles from the farm store down the road...he seriously knows where to find the good deals when it comes to farm supplies...I know this because I have driven all across the countryside for him...and I love it! Still checking to see if you're reading :)
Happy Fall, y'all!!
GOD BLESS!!
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