Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall

It's never ceases to amaze me how fast time goes by. Abby is getting ready to go into senior kindergarten and Lochlan is one year away from starting school. During the past few months, I joined a few support groups for preemie and micro preemies to offer my support for those that are starting out on this emotional, crazy journey. I continue to be reminded just how far Lochlan has come and all that we went through. Not that I forget, but I don't let that define him. I never have. He has proven time and time again his super strength and determination.

These days, Lochlan is a happy, healthy three year old that has surprised so many with what he can do. Not me. He is such a joy to be around. He has the best personality - he's funny, polite, loving, energetic, cute, happy, and just full of life. He also is very particular about his clothes, doesn't like to sleep with a blanket or a sheet on, sticks up for himself when his sister tries to boss him around, loves trucks, tractors and diggers, Spiderman and other superheroes, occasionally has a meltdown, pushes up his pants legs and sleeves, wants to be Superman for Halloween, loves to dance and sing, and go to the park and splash pad, finally mastered his bike with training wheels this summer, and is one of the most amazing boys you'll ever meet.

Now that summer is winding down and fall is fast approaching in and with it - cold and flu season, I am a little nervous about his health.  I want so bad to protect him and keep him healthy. Who doesn't want that for their child?! For him, his immunity still is not like that of other three year olds. We intend to do our best to ward off any sickness so that he doesn't not need to hospitalized this winter. Twice was enough last winter. His doctor mentioned trying to get him qualified for a special shot that would offer extra protection - gives him extra antibodies I believe. It's different from the RSV shot but he still needs to quality for it. Her argument (and ours) is that is costs way more to look after him in the hospital than it would to get him this shot. (He's been hospitalized every year for RSV/Pneumonia) I haven't heard anything yet so I will be calling her this week to followup. We will also be starting his puffer again starting tomorrow to help get through the cold/flu season. My plan is to also begin essential oil treatments. Friends of ours use them and have amazing results. Thieves, Purification, Peppermint Oil, Lemon Oil and a few others will be our best friends!

Loch recently had a followup appointment with the ear, nose, and throat doctor. Everything is great. There is no need to surgery!!! He had been following him because he consistently had fluid in his left ear but I'm happy to report it has finally drained! No ear tubes needed. No need to remove his adenoids or tonsils at this time either. There is no followup appointment scheduled. If we notice anything or concerned about anything, we are to call for an appointment. How amazing is that!?

In November he will return for a routine checkup for his eyes. Which the last time were given a thumbs up. So incredible. 

So that's where we are at in terms of his medical care. Fun wise, we enjoyed our first family camping adventures this summer. It was so awesome to share with one another. It has really been a fantastic summer. Excited for what's to come.

I will leave you with a note I read this morning that was posted to one of the support groups. It comes from the Peek a Boo ICU website. Because I did not write it, please click the link to read it. It brought tears to my eyes.

Lessons from Little Ones

Three years ago

It was this exact moment (9:58pm) three years ago today that I got up my pprom pregnant body from watching American Idol to go to the washroom - only to discover the umbilical cord had prolapsed.

Our already scared, freaking out minds kicked into over-over drive and off we raced to the hospital. I remember that we were already in the car about to pull out of the parking spot when my best friend came to watch Abby. I remember saying and thinking, "I cannot sit down and cut off the blood and oxygen." Then I half hipped it on the what seemed like a long drive to the hospital. (We only lived about 10-15 minutes away)

We got there and it was all sort of a blur. Lots of people coming and going.
Then being whisked to the ER for an emergency c-section.

I don't remember much else. It's all very foggy. I remember being in and out of consciousness in the recovery room. But I didn't really grasp what was happening. I just remember praying.

...I didn't intend to write a post reliving moments from that day but I just started writing.

Lochlan had an amazing birthday today. I'm so very tired right now and will write about it and post pictures soon.

Recovering

Lochlan is on the mend! We are just waiting on some paper work and then we are bustin' outta here!!!! He is feeling much, much better. I saw his chest x-ray and it was crazy!! I can't believe how much of his lung the pneumonia took up. Poor guy was working out of a lung and a half! It was a massive pneumonia.
The right x-ray is from his jan/feb stint with pneumonia. The one on the left is this round.

Yesterday, he still required a whiff of oxygen - his lungs just hadn't recovered. But he was feeling so much better. He was up playing and having a good time and back to his regular chatty self. (still don't know where he gets that from!)

The nurses or maybe child life services found a really cool pirate ship that Loch absolutely loved. I think we have an idea for his birthday present! We had a blast playing with it last night.

Finally he was able to have a bath last night. He was getting pretty rough looking and a bit stinky too! Although who wouldn't really?!  While the nurse was flushing his IV Lochlan complained of it hurting. He ended up having it  taken out after his bath because it was becoming red and puffy. (not good) The team agreed to switch him to oral antibiotics thankfully so he didn't need to have another IV put in. *sigh of BIG relief*



That sort of got the ball rolling. With the IV out he was feeling much better and also after having the bath and being all clean and renewed he was super happy. It took a long time for him to settle for bed. I think he finally got to sleep just after 10pm. We had read stories, brushed teeth and said a prayer just after 9 so it still took him that long to fall asleep. He was pretty wound up. He'd also had a pretty long nap and had only been awake since 4:45pm!

The nurse ended up coming in every 2 hours last night to check on him and finally tried him off of the oxygen around 10 or so. I can't remember. I just remember waking up suddenly and jumping out of bed thinking he wasn't breathing. Once I settled myself and my nerves I realized that nope he was just fine. The nurse came in shortly after and checked his sats and he was doing well. (95% I think)

So he slept all night without the oxygen turned on!!! This morning he woke up nice and early (considering he went to bed so late) at 7am. (normally that's his wake up time but this morning it felt extra early) His nose prongs were half off his nose so I just took it right off. (I double checked to make sure there wasn't any oxygen coming out of it.)

It's been a great morning! We played some more with the pirate ship, he had a great breakfast and looked out the window quite a bit. It was super cute when he first looked out the window - he said "Whoah - it's the world!"

It was so nice to see him so excited and happy and hear him belly laugh and just be silly.

Doctor Moore and the team came in and she made a comment about how I was already packed and ready to go! (yep, I'd started at 8am!!!) She noted that we'd done this so often that I just knew when we would be able to go home.

And I was right! He was discharged!!! His O2 was sat'ing at 97%  Then we had to wait for the doctors to finish rounds and get the paperwork filled out. Lochlan was not too keen on having to wait. He was very ready and anxious to go! (as was mommy!)

Finally we "hit the road,  Jack!" Made a pit stop to drop off his prescription (he'll have to finish his antibiotics for the next 6 days and take his Ventolin as needed) and headed home. He is super happy to be home and is now napping in his bed.

Dr. Moore said that because she saw him in the hospital she won't need to follow up until June. She wants him to remain on the Alvesco puffer (one puff daily) to help with the inflammation of his lungs to help him recover.  Then he'll be off the puffers over the summer and most likely be back on it late fall as the cold/flu season approaches.

It's tough sometimes. He has BPD (Bronchial Pulmonary Dysplasia) His lungs are inflamed and scarred due to his prematurity and having underdeveloped lungs and being on the ventilator for so long.  He has no reserve when he does get sick. A "normal" kid would likely sneeze and cough for a few days. Because he has no reserve he gets pummeled and needs help getting his oxygen saturation up. As he gets older, his lungs will get stronger but it's just something we are going to have be prepared to deal with. We will try everything we can to reduce exposure to germs - wash hands and disinfect toys and our house and vacuum carpets, keep him away from anyone that is super sick, etc. And just pray he gets stronger and doesn't have to be hospitalized again.

And remember how far he has come and what a miracle he is.




Nurse Abby

First meal able to sit up in the chair

Just hanging out.

Snacktime!

Tower building!

Cool ship eh!

 

Abby's card for her brother. This picture is Abby at home with a sad face because she misses Lochlan.

She wrote the message all by herself! "Lochlan, I hope you get better soon. I love you, Abby. xoxo

I put her card at the end of his bed. And some pictures around the message board.

Loch, showing off his stickers and batman Band-Aid where his IV used to be!

Chillin', reading a story!

No more nose prongs!!!!

Stretching out on a different "bed" doing some colouring.

Ready to go! (still had to wait about 45 mins!)