We are on our way to 8 months old and I seriously want to cry!!! It is going by way too fast!
Liam is the sweetest most active baby I have ever known. He is into every thing. That could be a good sign or a very very bad sign...either way he keeps us busy!
I know it has been a really long time so I will try to just do a random update...
Horner's Syndrome / MRI Update:
Liam had his MRI in July and it went well (at first). I was a nervous wreck the whole time, mostly because the poor guy could not eat past 5am and his procedure wasn't until much later in the day. I prayed for God to satisfy his little tummy the whole day, and I believe he did. Liam did great up until about 10 minutes before they took him back. He was calm and playful most of the morning, but just before his surgery he had a royal meltdown! When the doctor came in for pre-op we basically had to yell at each other to be heard over Liam's screaming. by this point he was exhausted and hungry, I'm sure. Luckily, they took him back gave him his medicine and he was asleep in minutes. I, on the other hand, was a mess. I felt terrible, I just handed my screaming (SCREAMING) baby over to complete strangers, when I knew what he wanted was his mama to rock him in her arms with a warm bottle. I cried...and then I was ok. We went to the cafe and had some lunch and tried not to think about it (yeah right). When we returned to the waiting area the very sweet lady at the desk very kindly asked, "You alright, mom?" I cried again.
He was back there for a LONG time. The procedure started at 1:00 and we didn't get to see him until about 3:30 or 4:00 (I can't remember exactly). He was so pitiful when we saw him. He was still asleep from the anesthesia, and was laying in a regular hospital type bed, all wrapped up in a giant warm blanket (there was a nurse there with him the whole time). He looked so tiny and helpless. As he began to wake up he just started smiling and then it faded into a cry, then a smile, then a sob, then a smile, then a laugh, then a cry again...this process went on for about 15 minutes and was quite hysterical to witness.
Liam was back to his old self within about 2 hours. We came home and it was business as usual...until about 2 am. I heard this horrific sound coming from the baby monitor. It sounded like an animal of some sort. I immediately headed for Liam's room and found him just sitting (surprisingly happy) in his crib, but he was breathing as if he had something in his windpipe. He sounded like a seal, or a goose, or a dog...something other than a human infant, that is for sure. He eventually started to get upset and the sound got worse. After a phone call to my sister (who is a nurse) and a review of the hospital discharge papers, we headed to the ER.
By the time we arrived Liam was all smiles again, but Ben was crying hysterically; he cares so much about his baby brother. After the doctors checked the baby out they concluded that he was either having a reaction to the contrast material used in the MRI or maybe it was just coincidence and he had "Croup." They treat both the same way so they gave him an epinephrine breathing treatment and kept him for a few hours. It was miserable! We were finally headed home around 8:30am. After a follow-up to the Pediatrician, we still aren't sure exactly what it was - but he is fine now!
So the MRI came back normal. I knew it would. One of the causes of Horner's Syndrome is a very serious tumor on the spine - that is what they were checking for. We are so thankful that they found nothing! His Horner's Syndrome was most likely caused by trauma during birth. We don't know exactly if there will be any long term effects other than the droopy eyelid, smaller pupil, and eye color so he will be checked out yearly.
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| Liam - being a big boy, waiting to go back for his MRI. |
Monthly Picture Updates
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| 6 months |
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| 7 months |
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| Brothers! |
The picture above is on our last little "vacation." We took Ben to Universal & Islands of Adventure for his 11th birthday. Liam did AWESOME in the parks during the day. He loved strolling around watching all of the activity. He did not, however, do AWESOME in the hotel room at night. He is an excellent sleeper at home (now - thank you , Jesus!!!), but he does not do so well when he is not in his bed! It was fun though...and memories were made!!!
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| The birthday boy! |
