Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Finally Done with the DOC Band!
After 16 weeks and 2 helmets, Little Man is done with his DOC Band(s). This past Sunday, he developed red marks that did not fade after an hour. So Dude and I decided to remove the helmet and be done with it. I called Cranial Technologies on Monday morning and scheduled Little Man's exit appointment for Friday. Once I have the final photo study and measurements, I'll share here for my fellow plagio & brachy parents. But here are photos I took today of his head from top, right and left angles. I think he looks pretty darn good!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Family Vacation
Last Tuesday after Little Man's follow-up visit at the burn unit (did fabulously and is healing nicely and does not need to go back) we headed up to Newport, Rhode Island for our first family vacation to celebrate my 40th birthday. Dude's car was jam-packed with suitcases, baby gear, etc. It is NOT easy to travel with a baby in a Volkswagen Jetta!
But the trip was fun. Rhode Island was the only state on the East Coast that I had not been to, so that's why we chose it. The weather was GORGEOUS. Sunny and in the 70's for much of our trip. Very rare for the first week of April. Heck, it's even snowed on my birthday in the past. But not this year. Yay for me.
Little Man did very well on the trip. He slept in the car for most of the drive and was fine when he was awake. The main issue we had was sleeping at night—and it's continued since our return. The hotels provide a "port-a-crib" (a pack-n-play/playard) and Little Man does NOT sleep well in them. But we managed to put him down each night but then he'd wake up SCREAMING and would not go back to sleep. Finally, out of exhaustion, I put him in bed between Dude and I. That happened each night.
Of course when we got home on Saturday night, he would not sleep.
Dude, out of frustration, said to me: "That's what you get for letting a baby sleep with you!"
I sobbed. I was so hurt and upset and tired. I didn't know what to do and letting Little Man sleep with us allowed ME to sleep for a bit. I cannot function without at least SOME sleep.
The last 3 nights have not been much better. He keeps waking and it's not easy to get him back down. I'm not sure if it's the travel, teething or if he's having nightmares from being burned. But what I do know is that I'm seriously tired and am getting worried about commuting to work now. I'm finding it hard to stay awake in the afternoon.
But, overall, we had a fun vacation and I'm so glad we went away. Little Man was just so good and friendly at all the restaurants—he charmed everyone he met. And he loved the fish and the sea lions at the Mystic Aquarium—we stayed in Mystic on Friday night, yet another place I hadn't been. Plus he adored swimming in the hotel pool in Newport. I can't wait to start swim lessons with him.
Here's the one and only family photo from our trip (there are pics of Dude with Little Man and me with him, but just the one of the 3 of us) that was taken at night by the lighthouse on Goat Island, where we stayed. Self-timers are great things!
But the trip was fun. Rhode Island was the only state on the East Coast that I had not been to, so that's why we chose it. The weather was GORGEOUS. Sunny and in the 70's for much of our trip. Very rare for the first week of April. Heck, it's even snowed on my birthday in the past. But not this year. Yay for me.
Little Man did very well on the trip. He slept in the car for most of the drive and was fine when he was awake. The main issue we had was sleeping at night—and it's continued since our return. The hotels provide a "port-a-crib" (a pack-n-play/playard) and Little Man does NOT sleep well in them. But we managed to put him down each night but then he'd wake up SCREAMING and would not go back to sleep. Finally, out of exhaustion, I put him in bed between Dude and I. That happened each night.
Of course when we got home on Saturday night, he would not sleep.
Dude, out of frustration, said to me: "That's what you get for letting a baby sleep with you!"
I sobbed. I was so hurt and upset and tired. I didn't know what to do and letting Little Man sleep with us allowed ME to sleep for a bit. I cannot function without at least SOME sleep.
The last 3 nights have not been much better. He keeps waking and it's not easy to get him back down. I'm not sure if it's the travel, teething or if he's having nightmares from being burned. But what I do know is that I'm seriously tired and am getting worried about commuting to work now. I'm finding it hard to stay awake in the afternoon.
But, overall, we had a fun vacation and I'm so glad we went away. Little Man was just so good and friendly at all the restaurants—he charmed everyone he met. And he loved the fish and the sea lions at the Mystic Aquarium—we stayed in Mystic on Friday night, yet another place I hadn't been. Plus he adored swimming in the hotel pool in Newport. I can't wait to start swim lessons with him.
Here's the one and only family photo from our trip (there are pics of Dude with Little Man and me with him, but just the one of the 3 of us) that was taken at night by the lighthouse on Goat Island, where we stayed. Self-timers are great things!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Little Man Got Burned
I haven't been feeling up to blogging about this before now. Plus Dude asked me NOT to put this on Facebook—so if you know me IRL and are a FB friend, please do not post about this. Thank you.
First off, Little Man is doing OK and should completely recover. He has a 2nd degree burn on his left foot. Here's how it happened.
Monday night we were at my MIL's home for Passover. The Seder was nice (too long for us, however) and after dinner the family brought out a cake for my birthday, which is next Wednesday. After we had cake (Kosher for Passover, by the way), my MIL was holding Little Man as Dude and I were packing up the diaper bag and gathering items to put in the car.
Then I heard the most AWFUL shrieking. At first I couldn't understand why he was crying so.
Apparently when my MIL wasn't looking, my SIL (Aunt S) put a cup of hot coffee in front of her at the table and Little Man pulled the tablecloth and scalding hot, black coffee poured on his left leg and foot. He was not wearing socks but was wearing pants. My SIL got the pants off and ran him to the kitchen and began to run his leg under cold water.
I took over while SIL called our pediatrician (we go to the same one). As I splashed cold water over his leg and foot, he screamed even louder and was in hysterics. Then his foot began to blister and I asked my MIL to call 911. They arrived within minutes, but it seemed like forever.
The EMTs agreed he needed to go to the hospital (a 2nd degree burn) so Dude loaded Little Man's carseat in the ambulance and I went with him—DH followed. We got to the local hospital (no burn unit) because it was contained to his foot. Little Man was hysterical crying the entire time. It was so awful The EMT kept the oxygen near him (from the tube, the mask scared him) and that helped a bit.
I actually knew one of the medical techs (from his day job) and the ER pedi was so good. But they basically just dressed the burn—put a cream on it and wrapped his foot (2nd degree burn) and leg (bad 1st degree) and gave me a sleeve to cover it. We were given the number of the Burn Center at another hospital and were told to make an appointment for Tuesday.
Before we left the ER, they gave Little Man Motrin and Tylenol with Codeine. He slept for the ride home and when we got into our apt. he was actually awake and pretty cheerful. He slept OK, only waking up once when his pacifier came out and I didn't have to give him more painkillers.
I slept terribly, of course.
On Tuesday morning, I called the burn unit at the other hospital and made an appointment for 2:45 pm. Dude stayed home from work to go with us. The doctor who saw Little Man said the burn was mostly concerning due to Little Man's young age otherwise it would be a minor 2nd degree burn. She basically told us to keep it clean (he can have baths) and to dress the burn daily. The cream that was prescribed is Silvadene Cream (Silver sulfadiazine) and in an odd twist of fate, I may be allergic to it so I have to wear gloves when handling it.
We didn't change the bandage on Tuesday, since the nurse at the burn unit had, but we did the last two nights and Little Man is NOT happy when we do so. It's so pitiful listening to him cry in pain—even more so because he seldom did before. When he cried it was hunger or "pick me up" but never a pained cry. But overall he is doing well and seems to be his normal, cheerful self. Only with a large bandage on his left foot/leg.
We go back for a follow-up visit on Tuesday before we leave for our family vacation (to celebrate my 40th birthday) and the doctor said it would take 2-3 weeks to heal and then 2-3 months for the new skin to lose its redness. She did not think he'd have a raised scar but he may have skin discoloration.
It's been a very stressful week. Beyond our fear for our son, we now have medical bills (ambulance ride, ER visit and burn doctor, even though we're filing a claim) and a baby who is not comfortable. The last week of my 30s aren't ending as I had hoped. But I am so grateful that it wasn't worse.
First off, Little Man is doing OK and should completely recover. He has a 2nd degree burn on his left foot. Here's how it happened.
Monday night we were at my MIL's home for Passover. The Seder was nice (too long for us, however) and after dinner the family brought out a cake for my birthday, which is next Wednesday. After we had cake (Kosher for Passover, by the way), my MIL was holding Little Man as Dude and I were packing up the diaper bag and gathering items to put in the car.
Then I heard the most AWFUL shrieking. At first I couldn't understand why he was crying so.
Apparently when my MIL wasn't looking, my SIL (Aunt S) put a cup of hot coffee in front of her at the table and Little Man pulled the tablecloth and scalding hot, black coffee poured on his left leg and foot. He was not wearing socks but was wearing pants. My SIL got the pants off and ran him to the kitchen and began to run his leg under cold water.
I took over while SIL called our pediatrician (we go to the same one). As I splashed cold water over his leg and foot, he screamed even louder and was in hysterics. Then his foot began to blister and I asked my MIL to call 911. They arrived within minutes, but it seemed like forever.
The EMTs agreed he needed to go to the hospital (a 2nd degree burn) so Dude loaded Little Man's carseat in the ambulance and I went with him—DH followed. We got to the local hospital (no burn unit) because it was contained to his foot. Little Man was hysterical crying the entire time. It was so awful The EMT kept the oxygen near him (from the tube, the mask scared him) and that helped a bit.
I actually knew one of the medical techs (from his day job) and the ER pedi was so good. But they basically just dressed the burn—put a cream on it and wrapped his foot (2nd degree burn) and leg (bad 1st degree) and gave me a sleeve to cover it. We were given the number of the Burn Center at another hospital and were told to make an appointment for Tuesday.
Before we left the ER, they gave Little Man Motrin and Tylenol with Codeine. He slept for the ride home and when we got into our apt. he was actually awake and pretty cheerful. He slept OK, only waking up once when his pacifier came out and I didn't have to give him more painkillers.
I slept terribly, of course.
On Tuesday morning, I called the burn unit at the other hospital and made an appointment for 2:45 pm. Dude stayed home from work to go with us. The doctor who saw Little Man said the burn was mostly concerning due to Little Man's young age otherwise it would be a minor 2nd degree burn. She basically told us to keep it clean (he can have baths) and to dress the burn daily. The cream that was prescribed is Silvadene Cream (Silver sulfadiazine) and in an odd twist of fate, I may be allergic to it so I have to wear gloves when handling it.
We didn't change the bandage on Tuesday, since the nurse at the burn unit had, but we did the last two nights and Little Man is NOT happy when we do so. It's so pitiful listening to him cry in pain—even more so because he seldom did before. When he cried it was hunger or "pick me up" but never a pained cry. But overall he is doing well and seems to be his normal, cheerful self. Only with a large bandage on his left foot/leg.
We go back for a follow-up visit on Tuesday before we leave for our family vacation (to celebrate my 40th birthday) and the doctor said it would take 2-3 weeks to heal and then 2-3 months for the new skin to lose its redness. She did not think he'd have a raised scar but he may have skin discoloration.
It's been a very stressful week. Beyond our fear for our son, we now have medical bills (ambulance ride, ER visit and burn doctor, even though we're filing a claim) and a baby who is not comfortable. The last week of my 30s aren't ending as I had hoped. But I am so grateful that it wasn't worse.
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