Doctor Appointments and more...

Having Ethan home has been wonderful! He seems happy at home and has gotten into a schedule pretty well. I sometimes wonder if he remembers anything about the "hospital life". I know he is young but I just wonder if something will affect him from his life there...for example a certain smell. As his mom, I know things like that seem to affect me and probably will forever.

I knew when we brought Ethan home from the NICU (back in Sept) that he would have a few more doctors appointments than the average baby but I didn't realize how hard it would be to do it with two kiddos in tow. We usually have two to three appointments a week. He is followed by a few specialists on top of his regular pediatrician. Here is a little insight of all the doctor little man has to see :)

First one...When Ethan was in the hospital this last time he ended up with an infection so he is currently followed by someone who deals with infections. He doesn't have the infection anymore and hasn't but they follow their patients for a few months after to make sure it doesn't come back.

Second one...He is also followed by his neurosurgeon and this will be for his whole life. Since he has a shunt, he wants to see him to make sure everything is okay. After the first year it should move to once every 6 months then to once a year.

Third one...GI specialist. Ethan has a slight case of acid reflux and since he is a little behind on his weight GI wants to see him. And speaking of weight, Ethan in now 14pounds 3oz! That it great because in the hospital he wasn't gaining any weight and left there at 9 pounds. Home was where he needed to be!

Fourth one... Physical therapy. Being a preemie automatically qualifies him for PT because they usually start off a little behind. Add the extra months he was in the hospital makes PT alot more important for him.  They said that he is on schedule for his adjusted age but has a little problem with being tight on one side of his neck and that is caused from laying in bed those extra months in the hospital.

Fifth one...His pediatrician. He sees him about once every two weeks...Sometimes once a week.  Add sick season and and ear infections with Brayden...I see that guy as much as my hubby!

Sixth one...I think you can count this as 6. When Ethan had his infection the doctors put him on a antibiotic that cause his liver to be inflamed. Now that he is off of it..they numbers haven't really gotten better. So poor little Ethan has been getting blood drawn like every week. In fact, he has to get some taken tomorrow before PT.

So as you can see life can get a little hectic but I am accompanied by two amazing little boys through all the school drop off/doctors appointments/blood work...they make me smile.

I am in love with these faces...

Oh and this face too!!! :) My wonderful hubby. Side note this a picture from when Ethan first came home this last time. Look how skinny he was...he has a double chin now!!

Is the sick season over yet?

We have been fighting colds in this house for the past few weeks and we can not get rid of it! Last Monday Brayden woke up sick and my efforts of keeping Brayden and Ethan away from eachother did not work cause on Wednesday Ethan woke up with a cold too. Sick season with a preemie is always hard...it is RSV season so anytime he has a cold we have to watch him close! We took them to the doctors on Friday just to make sure and it is just the common cold along with an ear infection for Brayden. We caught Brayden's ear infection at the start so his ear is not bothering him at all...we are hopeful this is our last round of colds...crossing fingers and toes!

Besides trying to fight these never ending colds we have been just enjoying time as a family :)

March for Babies...

Prematurity is a scary and real thing that happens everyday!!! Most of the time it comes out of nowhere, what you may think is the perfect pregnancy comes crashing down when contractions start early or your water breaks. When Ethan was in the Children's Hospital NICU, there were close to 70 other babies in there. 70!!!! 70 babies who are in there fighting for their lives and as we know from experience it doesn't stop once they get discharged from the NICU. It is something that they will have to deal with everyday of their lives, of our lives.

I don't want anyone else to have to live the life we have. That is why March of Dimes- March for Babies walk is extremely important to me, scratch that to my whole family. I started Team Ethan Hunter to help raise money for all the future babies, so they can all be born healthy. I am will be walking for my son but also for all the little preemies I know. Sadly, I need two hands to count those babies.

Now that we have settled at home with Ethan, we are going to start promoting this walk. Its such an important cause to us. ( I am starting to recruit people too :) )The walk is on May 7th at Fashion Island in Newport. I am taking this post to ask my friends, family and the rest of the blog world to help join me in this fight. If you can join our team and walk for Ethan and help us reach our goal of $1000, we would be forever grateful. My boys will be there, in their stroller walking with us. :) Or if you would like to donate in honor of Ethan, you can click on the March of Dimes button I have on the sidebar of this blog(you can click on that as well if you want to join us and walk). All the money that is donated goes directly to the March of Dimes and to their research.

 Here is a picture of our preemie, Ethan, on the 17th day of his life. I am walking in honor of this little man and because of the research of the March of Dimes and his strength he in currently in his crib taking a nap :)

We are so thankful to everyone for all the support, the thoughts and the prayers we have received the past 8 months!!!