Easter and Visitors

It's been several weeks since I posted! As always, we've had a lot going on but the last few weeks have been even busier than usual! The week after I had the stomach flu (my last post), Landon came down with a cold (which Gary and I got too, of course) which was later diagnosed as RSV. RSV usually just looks like a cold in adults and kids but in really young babies or other babies who are at high risk (Landon), it can become a serious problem. It was certainly not a fun time for any of us, but luckily Landon made it through without any trips to the hospital. (There were, however, multiple trips to the pediatrician since he wasn't getting better for several days). We put him back on his oxygen during the day for a few weeks to help him get through it- he had it for about 3 weeks. Now he's all better and back to normal pretty much- eating better again and everything. It was certainly a challenge when Gary had to be in Denver for 5 days during the women's final 4 weekend- Landon and I were both sick and pretty miserable.

We had started him on rice cereal a few times but when he was sick we didn't want to push this new thing. He's been back on it for about a week though and does ok with it. He doesn't love it but at least seems to not spit ALL of it out at least. I just gave him carrots for the first time today and it seemed to be a mixed reaction, so we'll see what he ends of liking the most. He's eating very small quantities of course, just getting using to swallowing stuff that's thicker than milk and eating from a spoon.

We got the go ahead from the cardiologist last week to let him sleep at night as long as he wanted to (basically not wake him up to eat if he is sleeping). This is so great because it means sleeping through the night is at the end of the tunnel! The last few nights he has gone 8 hours after his last feed of the day before waking up hungry! Other developments- he smiles more all the time, blows raspberries a lot, and jibber jabbers a good part of the day. He seems to love the sound of his voice, though isn't really saying consonants much yet. He loved to stick out his hand and let me kiss it- I always get a big smile from that. Still not rolling much from back to front- he gets like 80% there but won't flip himself all the way over. He has 2 teeth now but I think more must be ready to pop through soon because he is drooling a lot and chewing on stuff constantly! He loves to smile at mom and dad and watch the action as we move around the room.

Heartwise the cardiologist is very happy with where he is- his function, flow and oxygen saturations all look good. Hopefully at our next visit in about 3 weeks we'll be able to get rid of the oxygen completely and lower one of his meds. He's only on 3 at this point, but 2 of them are twice a day- fewer doses are always a wonderful thing!

This last weekend both of Gary's brothers and their families (including Landon's cousin, Abigail) came in town to visit and meet Landon. We hung out a lot at the house did a few things around town- it was a lot of fun to just spend time with them and celebrate Easter together. He's officially met all of the aunts and uncles (and cousin) now, but we've got much more extended family we're hoping he'll get to meet over the summer. We're so grateful that he is doing so well- his weight gain has been good (we don't even have to get weekly weight checks with home health anymore!) and he is so much better about eating now that a few of his teeth have popped through. He's a good kid and seems to be loving life. I'll try to post some recent pictures in the next few days.

On a different note, Gary and I received some tragic news recently. One of our former students from the youth group we volunteer with at our church died in a climbing accident last weekend. He was a well-loved young man who lived an active and full life and loved Jesus with all his heart. He was an example to so many of the students and leaders alike of what it meant to live a meaningful and adventurous life. I have been blown away by how his family has sought to glorify God in every step of this process and honor the memory of their son. They have strived to do things in a way that represents Ryan and points to Jesus, even if out of the "norm". His funeral was one of the most incredible times of worship I've been a part of in a long time and even though it was sad at times, it truly was a celebration of his life. Please pray for the Wahl family in the weeks and months ahead. I know it will be a difficult journey for them and that the joy of knowing he is in Heaven will sometimes be outweighed by the loss of Ryan's larger than life presence.

2 Month Checkup

Well it's been a few weeks since we've posted anything, not necessarily because we haven't had time, but because there hasn't been much major to report. Landon's eating has continued to get better and better and he's pretty much where they want him now in terms of his daily volume. He's getting more fun to watch every day as he observes and watches the world around him. He loves his little bouncy seat with the toys that hang in front of his face and hits the toys pretty frequently to make them swing back and forth, though I'm not sure he's really doing it on purpose.

We went back to Denver this week and they were pleased with everything- the healing of his incision, his weight, and all of his stats. It's still looking like his next surgery will be when he's about 4-5 months old (end of Jan-Feb). They'll do a cathaterization first which is kind of like an internal xray. They feed a catheter in through on of his veins and measure pressures and stuff inside his heart. The surgery will be about 2 weeks after the cath but may be moved up or back as a result of what they find.

Today was his 2 month checkup. I can't even believe it! Our baby is 2 months old (or he will be on Friday)!! I realized today that I need to get some professional pictures done of him before he's not a little baby anymore! His weight was 9lb 6oz, which puts him in the 5th percentile for his age. So he still has some weight to gain, but considering that he is a heart baby, I don't think that's too bad (I wish they had a separate scale for kids who have been through heart surgery!)

Unfortunately I (Allison) started getting sick yesterday and woke up last night with a fever so I've quarantined myself in the guest room and been staying away from Gary and Landon today so I didn't get to make it to the appointment. It was his first round of vaccines too so he's been pretty fussy tonight and I hate that I can't help take care of him. The doctor said he's already been exposed to whatever I have and would likely start to show symptoms in a few days if he was going to get sick, but he recommended that I stay away from him for at least today. He's getting my antibodies through the breastmilk so hopefully that will keep him from getting sick.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and we're not traveling this year, ironically to try and avoid Landon getting sick. We had planned to go over to a friends house for a Thanksgiving meal but since I'm sick I'm not sure we'll go. Even if we don't celebrate with a big turkey dinner and can't be with our families, Thanksgiving will not go by unnoticed for us. We have SO much to be thankful for , especially this year. Thankful doesn't even sound like an appropriate word for it for some reason- I think of how I'm thankful for the roof over my head, but that is almost on a different scale of how thankful I am to have my son healthy and at home with us. I am thankful for a positive experience in pregnancy and labor, for an amazing army of medical professionals who have cared for Landon so well, for his incredible healing from surgery, and for the beautiful little face I get to see every day. I am thankful that I am an amazing husband who is the most incredible dad and for the tremendous support we have received this year, especially over the past few months, from so many friends and family (and even a few strangers!)

God has so graciously provided for us in every way and for that we are truly thankful!