I had planned to be home today. I had planned to update the blog with some pictures and also get a few more "jobs" done around the house. But no...the weather didn't cooperate. Or, maybe it did, but just not with my plans. We didn't get the ice/sleet/snow the weathermen predicted last night. Oh well.
So, I am back at work today amidst a bunch of people who are trying to cram 2 days of work into 1 day. Oh joy...
I do want to add this tidbit of info...
Kale has a cardiology appt on Feb 5th. I thought it wouldn't be until June. I called the clinic. One of the nurses told me she could see in the notes that it says our next appt would be in one year (which would be June). They plan to investigate and call me back. In the meantime, I hear from the pediatrician that Kale has an appt scheduled with the urologist. I talk to her about the confusion with the cardiology appt. She says that in the notes they sent to her, it says to return in 9 months. I remember the doctor saying one year. Ep remembers hearing 9 months. Oh, who knows at this point. I finally quit fighting the path that God is leading us down and remember that I am not in charge...and know that we must need to go to this appt for some reason. So...to the appt we will go. And I am reminded not to fight God's path and his intentions. I know they are both good and way smarter than mine! Thank you God for that reminder and I got the message. Thanks for not sending a harsher message!
Kale's urology appt is on March 11th.
So...between RSV shots and clinics...wow. Sorry kiddo! My new theory is that we are getting all the "old man" appointments out of the way now and that he won't have to have any of those types of appts as an actual old man. That theory works, right?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
15 months
Ok...I owe everyone an update. Kale had his 15 month shots and check-up. While we were there, he also got his monthly synagis shot (to help fight RSV during the cold/winter months).
Here are his stats:
26 lbs 3.8 oz (73rd percentile)
30.25 inches long (24th percentile)
18.75 inch head (64th percentile)
So, as you can see, his legs have yet to catch on that he is a Fletcher...maybe he got his momma's legs? Still, look at those percentiles! And to think that we weren't even on the shaded part of the chart until 4 months of age! Whooohooo...look at him now!
We do have one minor issue. Its something that Mema Nanna and I were both afraid was going to happen. Kale needs to see a urologist. Now, if you get squeemish about issues with "boy parts" then you need to just skip to the next paragraph. Ok, there was your warning. Kale was circumsized the day we brought him home from his first NICU stay. We were told how to care for him and how to help it all heal properly. We were diligent about doing our part. Then, as everyone knows, Kale decided to have a second NICU stay. I very much remember telling his nurses that his "male parts" were still healing from his circumcision (sp?) and that they needed to be sure to handle that. We weren't allowed to hold Kale or change his diaper for quite a while (1 or 2 days). It was several more days until we were given free reign with him and completely in charge of his diaper changing. Ugh. The damage had been done. His pediatrican has made two attempts to "unstick" what has grown together. I know, ouch, right? There is a portion on the underside of his male part that is grown together in a way that it needs to be surgically repaired. Great. It doesn't hinder him in any way now, but it will be much easier and much less traumatic on him if we go ahead and get everything taken care of now.
Due to his heart condition, our pediatrician doesn't feel comfortable just sending him to any urologist. He wants him to see the urologist at ACH (Arkansas Children's Hospital). They said it will take at least a week for them to get an appt set and that our appt probably won't be for 2-3 months. Our pediatrician says that they will sedate him (anesthesia) and so he wants to make sure that the urologist, cardiologist, and anesthesiologist are all working together on it. We will keep you updated on this. We dread it, so please pray that some of our dread is lifted and that we continue to remember that everything happens for a reason that its all in God's time and reason.
We didn't think we were supposed to see the cardiologist until June. Thats what he said last time we were there last June...see you in a year. So, when I got a letter yesterday from ACH saying we have a cardiology appt on Feb 5th, I was kind of shocked. I plan to call tomorrow and see what its all about. If we need to go, then we will go. There is chance that our pediatrician called in Kale's weight to check about having his dosage checked on his heart medicine...because he did ask about that during the appt. So, we will see.
On a much lighter note. We are going to have to cut Kale's hair. Not once, not twice, not three times, not four times, but FIVE times this weekend he was either called a little girl or we were asked if he was a little girl. Yep, we get the message. Our cute little boy is going to have to lose some of his curls. His Mema Nana and Granddaddy are just going to have to survive. I no longer think a trim on the front of his head is going to get it done...its going to have to be a full hair cut.
There is more everyday stuff to share as well as some pictures...but that will have to come later....
Here are his stats:
26 lbs 3.8 oz (73rd percentile)
30.25 inches long (24th percentile)
18.75 inch head (64th percentile)
So, as you can see, his legs have yet to catch on that he is a Fletcher...maybe he got his momma's legs? Still, look at those percentiles! And to think that we weren't even on the shaded part of the chart until 4 months of age! Whooohooo...look at him now!
We do have one minor issue. Its something that Mema Nanna and I were both afraid was going to happen. Kale needs to see a urologist. Now, if you get squeemish about issues with "boy parts" then you need to just skip to the next paragraph. Ok, there was your warning. Kale was circumsized the day we brought him home from his first NICU stay. We were told how to care for him and how to help it all heal properly. We were diligent about doing our part. Then, as everyone knows, Kale decided to have a second NICU stay. I very much remember telling his nurses that his "male parts" were still healing from his circumcision (sp?) and that they needed to be sure to handle that. We weren't allowed to hold Kale or change his diaper for quite a while (1 or 2 days). It was several more days until we were given free reign with him and completely in charge of his diaper changing. Ugh. The damage had been done. His pediatrican has made two attempts to "unstick" what has grown together. I know, ouch, right? There is a portion on the underside of his male part that is grown together in a way that it needs to be surgically repaired. Great. It doesn't hinder him in any way now, but it will be much easier and much less traumatic on him if we go ahead and get everything taken care of now.
Due to his heart condition, our pediatrician doesn't feel comfortable just sending him to any urologist. He wants him to see the urologist at ACH (Arkansas Children's Hospital). They said it will take at least a week for them to get an appt set and that our appt probably won't be for 2-3 months. Our pediatrician says that they will sedate him (anesthesia) and so he wants to make sure that the urologist, cardiologist, and anesthesiologist are all working together on it. We will keep you updated on this. We dread it, so please pray that some of our dread is lifted and that we continue to remember that everything happens for a reason that its all in God's time and reason.
We didn't think we were supposed to see the cardiologist until June. Thats what he said last time we were there last June...see you in a year. So, when I got a letter yesterday from ACH saying we have a cardiology appt on Feb 5th, I was kind of shocked. I plan to call tomorrow and see what its all about. If we need to go, then we will go. There is chance that our pediatrician called in Kale's weight to check about having his dosage checked on his heart medicine...because he did ask about that during the appt. So, we will see.
On a much lighter note. We are going to have to cut Kale's hair. Not once, not twice, not three times, not four times, but FIVE times this weekend he was either called a little girl or we were asked if he was a little girl. Yep, we get the message. Our cute little boy is going to have to lose some of his curls. His Mema Nana and Granddaddy are just going to have to survive. I no longer think a trim on the front of his head is going to get it done...its going to have to be a full hair cut.
There is more everyday stuff to share as well as some pictures...but that will have to come later....
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
I am so like my mom...
Ok, as all kids do, I swore that I would never be like either of my parents. I have since decided that there are several of their qualities that I am ok with having inherited or learned or adapted along the way.
However, I couldn't help but laugh at myself today. My brother called me. I missed his call (big surprise, as I never seem to know when my phone is ringing lately--thanks iphone!). I called him back and left a message. He returned my call and we chatted for about 2 minutes until he said that he just wanted me to know why he had called but that he had to get back to work. We hung up, and the realization hit me. When my brother goes "back to work", he is wearing a gun and driving/riding in a car with lights and sirens. Wow. This STILL shocks me. It may just be one of those things that my brain refused to believe until I see it in person.
So, you are wondering, how does that connect me to my mom. This is how...just last night she was talking about being in Walmart and him coming to meet her there--in uniform. As she walked along calling him sweetie and honey, she said she had to stop and apologize to him. I guess she realized the uniform wearing strap of a man beside her may not want the whole world to know that he is still her little boy (sweetie, honey, etc). Yet, while mom told the story, you could still see it in her eyes and in her expression...she is still trying to grasp the fact that he is a police officer. It has nothing to do with his ability to be an officer and everything to do with the fact that he is a grown man and no longer just her little boy.
So, lets go back to me hanging up the phone with my brother...as the picture came to my mind of what it "looked" like for him to go back to work, I nearly laughed out loud. He is soooo no longer the little boy playing baseball, riding bikes, and watching Sesame Street. He is Officer George. That realization struck me hard. It makes me grin and want to cry all at once. There was a time when I thought he was MY little boy. Being 8 years older than your brother tends to bring forth the mothering instinct in little girls...and boy was mine ever in full blown gear. So...I too have the hard task of trying to make my brain grasp that he is grown up enough to be a police officer.
I should note....none of this has anything to do with his ability to be a police officer...we fully believe in him. He is happier than he has been in a long time, which is obvious to everyone around him. He is living his dream, and as much as it scares us...we are elated for him.
And on another note. I completely failed to sprinkle my brother with magic dust that keeps little boys from growing up into a strapping big man...which reminds me...I need to go home and sprinkle my little boy with it because I surely don't think I could cope with my little boy turning into a man.... (hey, leave me alone and let me live in my little state of denial...)
However, I couldn't help but laugh at myself today. My brother called me. I missed his call (big surprise, as I never seem to know when my phone is ringing lately--thanks iphone!). I called him back and left a message. He returned my call and we chatted for about 2 minutes until he said that he just wanted me to know why he had called but that he had to get back to work. We hung up, and the realization hit me. When my brother goes "back to work", he is wearing a gun and driving/riding in a car with lights and sirens. Wow. This STILL shocks me. It may just be one of those things that my brain refused to believe until I see it in person.
So, you are wondering, how does that connect me to my mom. This is how...just last night she was talking about being in Walmart and him coming to meet her there--in uniform. As she walked along calling him sweetie and honey, she said she had to stop and apologize to him. I guess she realized the uniform wearing strap of a man beside her may not want the whole world to know that he is still her little boy (sweetie, honey, etc). Yet, while mom told the story, you could still see it in her eyes and in her expression...she is still trying to grasp the fact that he is a police officer. It has nothing to do with his ability to be an officer and everything to do with the fact that he is a grown man and no longer just her little boy.
So, lets go back to me hanging up the phone with my brother...as the picture came to my mind of what it "looked" like for him to go back to work, I nearly laughed out loud. He is soooo no longer the little boy playing baseball, riding bikes, and watching Sesame Street. He is Officer George. That realization struck me hard. It makes me grin and want to cry all at once. There was a time when I thought he was MY little boy. Being 8 years older than your brother tends to bring forth the mothering instinct in little girls...and boy was mine ever in full blown gear. So...I too have the hard task of trying to make my brain grasp that he is grown up enough to be a police officer.
I should note....none of this has anything to do with his ability to be a police officer...we fully believe in him. He is happier than he has been in a long time, which is obvious to everyone around him. He is living his dream, and as much as it scares us...we are elated for him.
And on another note. I completely failed to sprinkle my brother with magic dust that keeps little boys from growing up into a strapping big man...which reminds me...I need to go home and sprinkle my little boy with it because I surely don't think I could cope with my little boy turning into a man.... (hey, leave me alone and let me live in my little state of denial...)
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