Ericksons

Wow. Didn't realize it has been a week since I posted. If you can't tell, I am very busy these days. it is crazy how much work one more child can add. I have a lot to update on....

Last Tuesday Tyler went to Riley per his pediatrician's recommendation to see a Pulmonary Doctor. She felt it was best just to get a second opinion and make sure everything was okay with his lungs. The appointment didn't go so well. The doctor wanted to take charge and change everything his NICU doctor had done. That didnt' sit well with me. He will not be going back.

Last Wednesday, Tyler went to Riley again to see a Pediatric Developmental doctor. Obviously, Tyler is going to be behind for awhile since he was born so early. The doctor was really nice, but I did not like what she had to say. I had mentioned to her that I would eventually like to breastfeed Tyler. Currently I am pumping and mixing the breast milk with Neosure and Simply Thick. He requires a special consistently (VERY THICK) so he can take a bottle. The doctor wanted to do a feeding study so she could tell me when he would be able to breastfeed. After doing the feeding study she preceded to tell me that Tyler was aspirating when just taking breast milk and also when he was on the nectar consistency. He is currently on the honey consistency. She felt simply thick is bad for babies and if he couldn't take a bottle with just breast milk, that he needed a feeding tube. That instantly upset me. That would be a HUGE setback. I listened to what she had to say disagreeing with her the whole time. As soon as I left the hospital, I contacted his NICU doctor. After talking with the Riley doctor and Tyler's pediatircian, Dr. Chua agreed with me. Tyler does not need a feeding tube. He is doing really well...eating well, gaining weight. Why fix something that isn't broken. I don't want you to think that I don't want him to get a feeding tube just b/c it would be a huge pain in the butt. I truely believe that he does not need a feeding tube. If he would get a feeding tube, that would be a huge setback for him. What if he had a feeding tube for a couple of months? Then he would need to learn how to take a bottle all over again. That was not fun the first time. I do not want to go through it again. If something changes and Tyler starts having more alarms or is having breathing problems, then of course this plan will need to be reevaluated. But as of now, the plan is for him to go back to the NICU end of this month (as long as they have room) to have a oxygen check. She will keep him overnight and see if he is ready to get rid of his oxygen. At that time if she feels he needs it, I'm sure Dr. Chua would do another feeding study. I'm sure Riley is a great hospital, but they just aren't for every baby. My sister said it best when she told me that Riley is treating Tyler like an average baby. Tyler is not an average baby. Dr. Chua treats Tyler like the individual baby he is. Tyler has fought so hard to be where he is now, and Dr. Chua was there with him pretty much the whole time. If you can't tell, we really love her. She is an amazing doctor :)

Tyler had a regular checkup with his pediatrician today. He weighed 6 lbs 8 oz. Everything is looking good. He also got his 2 month shots and his second synagis (RSV vaccine) shot. He won't go back to the pediatrician for a month! It is going to kill me not knowing how much he weighs.

Now on to the other two boys......

Jake is going to be FIVE in less than a month! Wow. Where has the time gone? It does not feel like it has been five years already. It makes me sad. My first born cannot be five already. Next year he will be in Kindergarten. :(

Brayden has had a major growth spurt the last couple of weeks. He is getting so tall. Changing every day. Still a major daddy's boy.

Josh is in a wedding this weekend. My mom is going to watch the boys so I can go and enjoy myself. Oh how nice it is going to be. I am really looking forward to it. There will be friends there I don't get to see often. I'm sure after an hour I will be ready to come home to the boys.

I have new pictures, I just need to find time to post them.

I better get to bed, everyone else is sleeping already.