Saturday, February 28, 2009
Walking!
Noah is finally walking!! I mean real walking...as in he lets go and takes 4-5 steps at a time. Sometimes more! We've been going through this progession over the last month where he was getting more and more daring. He'd pull up and cruise around hanging on to things then he'd gauge his distance between things (like the couch and coffee table) and reach and take 1/2 step or maybe even 1 step between them without holding on. He'd stand alone for a few secs and we'd think he was about to take a few steps, then he'd drop back down and crawl. But finally, last night he did it! Mike was upstairs with him in his bedroom getting him ready for his bath. It was Friday so we'd been off together all day and had been trying to lure him with things like our cell phones, the remote control, etc to walk to us with no success. I'd been convinced he was going to walk before his first birthday, but we only had a week left and I was starting to think he wasn't going to make it. But I guess he finally just made up his mind! They weren't doing anything in particular, but Noah just all of a sudden let go of the foot rest for our glider and took 4-5 steps toward Mike and his bookshelf. And he's been doing it ever since! Little stinker-like everything else, he's just going to do things in his own time on his own terms. I'm already starting to worry about the teenage years!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Hooray for ear tubes!
Noah now has his ear tubes which we are praying will help keep him from continuing to get so many ear infections. His surgery was Feb 13th. All went well and he did great!
It was all quite minor (although you wouldn't think so from the medical bills that resulted). I think we were at the surgical center for all of about 3 hours. We had to wait about 2 hours during which we got checked in and paid, got checked out by the nurses, vitited with the doctor and anesthesiologist, had about a dozen people ask us the same questions over and over, were shown to a room to wait, and Noah put on a cute little baby size hospital gown. We hung out in our surgery waiting room for probably 45 min or an hour before they came to get him for his surgery. He tolerated this amazingly well considering he'd hadn't been able to eat that morning (can't have food in the tummy for general anesthesia) and we wouldn't let him crawl around on the floor (hospital floors are just plain gross and there's no way I was going to let him down on that floor!).
Finally it was his turn. The nurse came to get him and of course he cried initially when she took him from us. Later, she said he stopped crying as soon as we were out of sight and was happy and calm until they put the mask on his face to give him the gas for anesthesia. I knew he would freak at this but luckily after a few quick breaths it puts you to sleep so he didn't have to be upset for long. The procedure litterally took less than 10 minutes and he was away from us for no more than 20 minutes.
He was so funny when they brought him back--all groggy and drunk acting. He seemed so disoriented and out of it. Poor boy. Luckily I was able nurse him right away while he slowly woke back up which helped keep him calm. Before we knew it we were all done and headed back home! Noah was still a little groggy and grumpy the rest of the morning, but by the time he got up from his nap later that afternoon he was back to himself again!
His ears have healed up fine and we can now get them wet again (we were having to put cotton balls in every night for bath time). And during the summer he can swim with no problems as long as he's in clean/chlorinated water (otherwise he just need ear plugs).
Actually, this last week he's had a bit of a cold which would have turned into a full blown ear infection before. He apparently already had some fluid start to build up but this time instead of sitting behind his ear drum and causing him lots of pain it just drained out of his ears. It looks gross, but it's not bothering him at all. We just use ear drops and go on about life. No visit to the doctor. No strong oral antibiotics that cause diarrhea and diaper rash. While we hope that the tubes keep him from getting infections at all, at least they can get the fluid out if it does start so that's better than nothing. So all in all, hooray for ear tubes!
It was all quite minor (although you wouldn't think so from the medical bills that resulted). I think we were at the surgical center for all of about 3 hours. We had to wait about 2 hours during which we got checked in and paid, got checked out by the nurses, vitited with the doctor and anesthesiologist, had about a dozen people ask us the same questions over and over, were shown to a room to wait, and Noah put on a cute little baby size hospital gown. We hung out in our surgery waiting room for probably 45 min or an hour before they came to get him for his surgery. He tolerated this amazingly well considering he'd hadn't been able to eat that morning (can't have food in the tummy for general anesthesia) and we wouldn't let him crawl around on the floor (hospital floors are just plain gross and there's no way I was going to let him down on that floor!).
Waiting for surgery in his cute orange baby size hospital gown
Finally it was his turn. The nurse came to get him and of course he cried initially when she took him from us. Later, she said he stopped crying as soon as we were out of sight and was happy and calm until they put the mask on his face to give him the gas for anesthesia. I knew he would freak at this but luckily after a few quick breaths it puts you to sleep so he didn't have to be upset for long. The procedure litterally took less than 10 minutes and he was away from us for no more than 20 minutes.
He was so funny when they brought him back--all groggy and drunk acting. He seemed so disoriented and out of it. Poor boy. Luckily I was able nurse him right away while he slowly woke back up which helped keep him calm. Before we knew it we were all done and headed back home! Noah was still a little groggy and grumpy the rest of the morning, but by the time he got up from his nap later that afternoon he was back to himself again!
His ears have healed up fine and we can now get them wet again (we were having to put cotton balls in every night for bath time). And during the summer he can swim with no problems as long as he's in clean/chlorinated water (otherwise he just need ear plugs).
Actually, this last week he's had a bit of a cold which would have turned into a full blown ear infection before. He apparently already had some fluid start to build up but this time instead of sitting behind his ear drum and causing him lots of pain it just drained out of his ears. It looks gross, but it's not bothering him at all. We just use ear drops and go on about life. No visit to the doctor. No strong oral antibiotics that cause diarrhea and diaper rash. While we hope that the tubes keep him from getting infections at all, at least they can get the fluid out if it does start so that's better than nothing. So all in all, hooray for ear tubes!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Celebrating Grandmother
My Grandmother turned 95 this Sunday. The whole Tilton clan was in Angleton to celebrate with her this weekend. We had a surprise come and go party for her at my parent's house where other extended family members and various friends and neighbors could stop by and visit with her. It was really cool to see all the people that came out to see her and to know all the lives she's touched in her 95 years of life. We're just so blessed to have had her with us for this long and it brings me so much joy to know that she's been able to know her great grandson.
A few updates on Noah: The little stinker is so close to being able to walk but he just won't do it yet. He cruises around hanging on to anything and everything like crazy. He'll let go and stand independently for several seconds but then when he wants to move he drops down to crawl. We were hoping he'd perform for the family and start walking in honor of Grandmother's birthday this weekend, but no such luck. He did have fun chasing Kristi and Casey's dogs around again though.
He had a great time in Angelton and even did well in the car both there and back. When we got back to Austin late Saturday night we got him out of the car seat and he felt warm. Sure enough he had a 101 fever. Must be the ears again. Grrr. Then the poor baby woke up with a 103.5 fever Sunday morning. He was just miserable!! Thankfully we had a "just in case" prescription for more antibiotics from the ENT last week which we were able to fill. Now, if there was any doubt in our minds that it's time to do something to help his ears, that doubt is gone. Hey doc, can you put his tubes in tomorrow??
A few updates on Noah: The little stinker is so close to being able to walk but he just won't do it yet. He cruises around hanging on to anything and everything like crazy. He'll let go and stand independently for several seconds but then when he wants to move he drops down to crawl. We were hoping he'd perform for the family and start walking in honor of Grandmother's birthday this weekend, but no such luck. He did have fun chasing Kristi and Casey's dogs around again though.
He had a great time in Angelton and even did well in the car both there and back. When we got back to Austin late Saturday night we got him out of the car seat and he felt warm. Sure enough he had a 101 fever. Must be the ears again. Grrr. Then the poor baby woke up with a 103.5 fever Sunday morning. He was just miserable!! Thankfully we had a "just in case" prescription for more antibiotics from the ENT last week which we were able to fill. Now, if there was any doubt in our minds that it's time to do something to help his ears, that doubt is gone. Hey doc, can you put his tubes in tomorrow??
Grandmother and her birthday cake
With her two sisters, Mattie and Georgie. Grandmother is the oldest of the three of them. 
The whole family (minus Noah who was napping. Thomas had to leave early so we couldn't wait for Noah to get up)
The Grandkids 
Now Great Grandmother gets time with her Great Grandson!
Mike's Dad came down from The Woodlands for the party
The guys. Yes, the one making the face is my wonderful husband!
Trying to get Noah to walk. He got close, but still wouldn't quite do it without holding on.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Noah's poor little ears
Noah has had some rough times with ear infections over the last few months. To be specific, he's had 6 rounds of antibiotics for ear infections (either separate occasions or infections that wouldn't clear up and came back as soon as we stopped the original antibiotics) in the last 4 months. His little ears just won't drain the fluid and each time we get him cleared up, the infection just returns. This last time he even needed to get 2 rounds of Rocephin injections which was so not fun.
So, we got to visit the Ear, Nose and Throat doctor yesterday and next week Noah will be getting ear tubes! Even after the Rocephin injections his ears weren't much better. And they tested his hearing and it's just slightly decreased due to the presence of all the fluid. We know it's the right thing to do. Because he has to be completely still for the procedure they'll use some gas for general anesthesia and he'll be asleep for the entire 5 minute procedure. I'm not excited about it, but again we know it's what he needs right now.
This is just another one of those examples with your children that no matter how hard you try, there are just some things you can't control. I've looked at lots of things about preventing ear infections or doing things to decrease your risk for ear infections, and really he doesn't have any risk factors. Breastfeed-yep, still doing it. Don't smoke around him-nope don't do that. Don't put him to bed with a bottle-never have. Large day care centers-well, he's in a home day care with only 2-3 other children so that shouldn't be a big risk factor. Like everything else in his body, he's just got stubborn ears that won't let the fluid drain. Anatomically, this should change as he gets older. Till then, hopefully the tubes will help.
So, we got to visit the Ear, Nose and Throat doctor yesterday and next week Noah will be getting ear tubes! Even after the Rocephin injections his ears weren't much better. And they tested his hearing and it's just slightly decreased due to the presence of all the fluid. We know it's the right thing to do. Because he has to be completely still for the procedure they'll use some gas for general anesthesia and he'll be asleep for the entire 5 minute procedure. I'm not excited about it, but again we know it's what he needs right now.
This is just another one of those examples with your children that no matter how hard you try, there are just some things you can't control. I've looked at lots of things about preventing ear infections or doing things to decrease your risk for ear infections, and really he doesn't have any risk factors. Breastfeed-yep, still doing it. Don't smoke around him-nope don't do that. Don't put him to bed with a bottle-never have. Large day care centers-well, he's in a home day care with only 2-3 other children so that shouldn't be a big risk factor. Like everything else in his body, he's just got stubborn ears that won't let the fluid drain. Anatomically, this should change as he gets older. Till then, hopefully the tubes will help.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)