January 2011 moms spring chat - Page 4

[somamama]

Originally Posted by anjsmama 

My DS had surgery at 3 mo, and I remember how lousy the timing of appointments and hospital trips and fasting and such was.  Hope everything works out okay for you guys!

If you don't mind me asking - what kind of surgery did your son require? My DS is having surgery on the 6th of next month to correct abdominal scrotal hydrocele on both sides. Apparently hydrocele is fairly common and they usually wait a while to see if it corrects itself but the kind DS has is really rare and they're afraid it will get worse if they don't fix it soon. He had to go under anesthesia last month for an MRI and everything went perfectly well so I'm hoping the same for his surgery. Of course as a first time mom, I can't help but worry anytime they take him out of my arms. 

[anjsmama]

My DS had open heart surgery to repair a Ventricular Septum Defect. VSD's are also incredibly common (about 1 in 10) in newborns and typically tissue grows over the hole with time (1-2 years). However, my DS's defect was very large and spilling blood into his lungs, and they did not feel it was going to close on its own at any point. He did have to be put under, obviously, and the surgery was several hours. He was only 11 lbs (at 3.5 months) at the time due to growth problems because of the defect. The whole thing was very scary but the surgery was extremely successful, DS was home, recovered, and on to new things in less than 2 weeks. Babies bounce back so, so quick. I do remember though, it was so hard to let the nurses take him from me to take him back there where I couldn't see him... just know they are going to make things better for him! 
 

Originally Posted by somamama 

If you don't mind me asking - what kind of surgery did your son require? My DS is having surgery on the 6th of next month to correct abdominal scrotal hydrocele on both sides. Apparently hydrocele is fairly common and they usually wait a while to see if it corrects itself but the kind DS has is really rare and they're afraid it will get worse if they don't fix it soon. He had to go under anesthesia last month for an MRI and everything went perfectly well so I'm hoping the same for his surgery. Of course as a first time mom, I can't help but worry anytime they take him out of my arms. 

[somamama]

Thank you for your reply. I'm glad to hear your DS is fine now. Yes, it's a blessing that little babies heal so quickly. I'm kind of worried about the incisions and what kind of scars they will leave but the dr in charge is one of the top laparoscopic pediatric surgeons in the country so I think he wants to be as minimally invasive as possible. It's definitely scary but it kind of helps that I don't have to explain anything to DS and deal with him being scared, too. It also helps knowing there are so many other moms out there who have had to let their little babies go through surgery, and I have yet to hear any of them say anything bad happened (not that I'm out looking for horror stories, just everyone generally seems to have had good luck). Thanks again!

[Aleka333]

Hi January mamas,

So I thought my life was over last weekend when my DS crawled off the bed!  Literally the worst thing that's ever happened to me & I couldn't stop watching it over and over in my mind.  I came this close to throwing up with grief!  he's fine thankfully and I can't tell you how good it is to read that it happens and I'm not a terrible mom.  In my sobbing research afterward, I even came across an old wive's tale that said it used to be considered good luck for a baby to fall off a bed before their first birthday.  LOL    (I still feel horrible though!)

My boy is off the charts almost - over 24 pounds and 29 inches long.  So heavy!!  he takes after my very tall father-in-law and some of my brothers.  I hope his growth slows down a little soon because I'm having trouble keeping him in clothes that fit.   He's crawling and rolling and trying so hard to pull up into a sit.  He sits okay when I put him like that, but topples after a few minutes.  I think it's his long heavy torso!

He successfully flew across the country without too much fuss and survived being passed around multitudes of relatives in the heat.  It kind of made me homesick for living closer to family, seeing how much fun he had.  

We also have surgery scheduled for him.  he was born with a dermoid cyst above his right eyebrow.  It's harmless, but it can interfere with bone growth & perhaps vision, so out it goes in late October.  Tried to get him in earlier but San Diego's children's hospital is a busy one.  I noticed the bump around 5 weeks and hoped it was a clogged sweat gland or something, but then it grew as he grew and all my googling led to the cyst.  Scared about having him go under, but I know they're experts at what they do.  His surgeon says they do this specific procedure about once a week at least.  Makes me feel a little better.  

It's good to check in and see everyone doing well!

[Breathless Wonder]

Just popping in to say hello.  I don't get very much computer time these days, but wanted to see how everyone is.  My DD started crawling a couple of weeks back.  She is also pulling herself up on things all of the time.  I can't believe how fast the time has gone!

What is everyone else up to?

[anjsmama]

Yep this is us too! DD turned 7 months yesterday. She started crawling and pulling to stand this month. She also cut 2 teeth and is starting to really be into solids. She also seems to have decided all of this activity is a lot of fun and sleep is not... 

Originally Posted by Breathless Wonder 

Just popping in to say hello.  I don't get very much computer time these days, but wanted to see how everyone is.  My DD started crawling a couple of weeks back.  She is also pulling herself up on things all of the time.  I can't believe how fast the time has gone!

What is everyone else up to?

[somamama]

Miles can get on his hands and knees but isn't quite crawling yet. Scooting like crazy though! He can get anywhere he wants but only backwards. ;)

He's getting a little better about solids. We're doing a mix of baby led solids and purees. He loves sliced apples and anything bread-like (crackers, rice cakes, soft pretzels). Finally got him to eat some butternut squash the other day, small victory. 

His surgery is scheduled for one week from today and I'm very nervous but know we're in good hands. Diane - you're so lucky your doctor says he does your surgery so frequently. Mine does lots of surgeries but because Miles' condition is so rare he's never actually done this before. He is the leading surgeon for pediatric laparoscopy in LA though so I feel confident he can figure it out while he's in there. He's had an MRI to make a game plan from so I think he knows what he wants to do. I'm just hoping for no complications.

[~Adorkable~]

my babes turned 8 months (7 months adjusted i suppose) this last week, they both have 2 teeth now, though DS's is fully grown out and were fast about it and DD's broke thru one at a time slowly and then pretty much stopped right there and still are just nubs a month later.

DS loves to sit up but is just not that intersted in rolling around, though he can clearly do it, he only cares about siting and is often seen doing "stomach crunches" to some intertaining atempt to sit stright up from laying on his back, he's goign to get a little baby six pack!

DD is a rolling queen and can get across the living room so fast its kinda spooky, she also has mastered the "back arched scoot" with nothing touching sometimes but the heals of her feet and the back of her head, it cracks me up. She is not safe anywhere and the baby proofing is in high gear.

they still sleep swaddled, can you believe it?! she has driven herself crazy trying to fall asleep with her hand free, i think he could take it or leave it but seems to like the snuggly feeling. so we are down to just the much more flexible Woombies, i know i need to ween them out of them fast since they really are moving too much, plus if they could get their own binkie back in their mouth in the middle of the night , they would save me have of my wakings, since that is all they want. i really have no idea how i'm going to transition her, she literally begs to be "tied down" when she is tired. naps without the woombie last 30 minutes and that is if i can get her asleep, with the woobie she is asleep in 3 mins and asleep for upwards of 1.5 - 2 hours, so you can see my reluctance!

i feel like they are behind on the movement stuff since we sort of corralled them a lot more than i realized when the floor was hard (just got a full room thick rug this week) they have got moving so much more this last week then ever before, either it was a growth spurt or it was casue they had the room, probably the later and it makes me sad i didn't get a rug last month.

we are also thinking about starting the move to their cribs either in our room or theirs at least for naps initially, they are really too big for the Arms REach cosleeper and really making it hard for me to sleep at all when they barge in our bed and kick me from both sides. i have had a series of quite bad back and neck issues from sleeping crammed in between them.

as for food? they are still 99.9% at the boob, not sure if i mentioned it but we finally figured out direct boob delivery of the milkies at 6 months! and suddenly went from lots of pumping and bottles and often refusing my boob to having no problem at all, almost overnight on a trip in July. so i think i have just been basking in that glow and fee intimidated by adding another thing to do each day with food. we have played with some avocado and cantaloupe but thats it. we are shopping for highchairs and will take a stab at some finger foods once we get something to contain the two of them so they can focus. its clear that they want to try stuff, the way they watch me eat is hilarious if not a tiny bit sad with their little mouth opening and closing with mine like little mimes pretending to eat. they are growing and eating tons, so i know they are not left to want anything, but their instinct is kicking in and the learning must move to the next step!