RSV

The test results are in. . . Porter has RSV. Life is so ironic sometimes. When Porter was first born, I took him everywhere, Jazz games, the Mall, etc. Let's just say I wasn't the most cautious new mom. After the first month, Tom and I decided that maybe we needed to be a little more cautious with him so I stopped taking him places. For the past two weeks Porter has hardly left the house. Well it doesn't appear that being cautious did any good. We took Porter to the Pediatrician today and it turns out that he has RSV. Porter must love the doctor because he is so happy every time we take him there even when he is sick. RSV isn't surprising according to him because almost all babies with colds end up having RSV. It can last up to two weeks and since it is a virus, there is basically nothing you can do for it. We need to be on 24 hour watch and monitor his breathing. We also have a standing invitation to the Respiratory Clinic in the new IHC hospital. We can take him in whenever we want to get his nose suctioned. He has a hard time eating because he is worried he will aspirate fluid if he drinks, so he chooses to breath rather than eat. We are supposed to try to feed him an ounce every hour. If we can't get him to eat or he isn't getting enough oxygen, he will have to be admitted to the hospital where they will hook him up to an IV and give him oxygen. Luckily, his oxygen is still at 94% and his lungs look good. He is a big boy (14 pounds!) so he is putting up a good fight. Since we are already into this thing 4 days, we may be at the worst point right now. Let's hope so because it is awful to see your baby cough so hard that he throws up and be powerless to help him.

Poor Porter

On Friday, Porter had the symptoms of a cold, with a stuffy nose and a little bit of a cough, so I took him to the doctor to insure that everything was okay.  Not to brag, but I have such a good baby, its hard to know that he isn't feeling well because he is always happy.  At the doctor, he was flirting with the nurses. This is "Sick" Porter at the Doctor's Office. The doctor said he had a cold, but that was  not RSV.  Saturday brought improved symptoms so I thought we were in the clear.  I kept him home from church on Sunday, and when Tom got home, we checked his temperature which was 100.4.  Since Porter is only two months (a fact I often forget since he is so big), the doctor told us to take him to Kids Kare.  After examining him, they had to suction his nose to test for viruses.  They stick a large tube up his nose and suction out anything in there.  This was horrible to watch as Porter lay on the table screaming.  The doctor then sent us to get a chest x-ray.  I was wondering how they could keep a child still while doing this, but as we walked into the room, I saw this.  Have any of you ever seen Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, well this is the device Augustus Galoop got sucked up into when he ate the chocolate river.  It is actually called a Piggo-Stat Infant Immobilizer, which although looks funny with that child in there, imagine a 2 month old infant.   I thought suctioning his nose was bad, I had no idea because this was the worst thing to watch.  Once they place him in the "tube", they put a black screen in front of his face.  We had to watch through the glass as my poor little boy sat there, his little hands gripping the top, screaming.  Luckily, they found nothing on the X-ray and believe he just has a cold.  Hopefully we are finally in the clear.

Catching Up

I know, I know, it has been a month since my last post.  My life has seemed crazy busy, but in all actuality, not much has happened.  Porter is growing like a weed (which probably accounts for why he sleeps up to 18 hours a day, but I'm not complaining).  His two month appointment is next week, then I will know how big he actually is.  All I know is that he is long out of his 0-3 month clothes, and just about out of his 3-6 month clothes.  Who makes those sizes anyways?  He loves to smile and loves to talk and laughs a lot in his sleep, which is hilarious.  On another note, Tommy managed to break his collar bone while skiing. (no I was not with him, I was home taking care of Porter)  He is almost fully functional again, but right at first I was taking care of two children.  If you ask me, I think it was his way to get out of changing dirty diapers and making me chauffeur him around.  On another note, Tom and I were released as ward missionaries and both have new callings.  I am the Young Women's Personal Progress advisor and Tom is the Young Men's secretary specifically focusing on the flags.  (yes you read right, flags).  So in addition to this new calling, Tom is keeping busy with work and school.  His wednesday night class was changed to Friday nights from 5:30-8:30!  So if any of you are bored on Friday nights, call me cause I'll just be sitting around.  And Happy Birthday yesterday Tommy!                                                  Porter Sucking His Thumb.

What Porter Looks Like 18 Hours a Day

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Porter's Blessing

Our sweet little boy was blessed on Sunday. Tom, surrounded by many family members, gave a wonderful blessing telling Porter he would be a great missionary and would bless the lives of many people.  It's amazing how you all of a sudden feel like a grown up when you do something like that.  We are parents now.  What a scary responsibility it is to raise children and know that they are entrusted into your care.   

One Month Old

Porter is now one month old and is growing fast!  He is well over 10 pounds now, i'm sure, and has grown out of most of his clothes.   He is such a good baby, we are so spoiled.  They say that babies take the disposition of the mother, but this is certainly not the case. He loves being on the go: going to movies, shopping at the mall, and going out to dinner.  It is so fun to watch him grow, I love being a mom!

Here are a few darling pictures of Porter since he's been born:

     

Happy New Year!

Although our New Years was rather uneventful this year, it felt so good to welcome in a New Year.  On New Years Day, we bundled Porter up and braved the cold to participate in the annual English sledding expedition.  Even Miko participated by taking a ride down the hill with my dad.