Mother's Day

I had a very nice Mother's Day yesterday. My day began at 5:45 when Brandon decided he was awake to start the day. I walked into his room and was greeted with a huge smile which was so nice. Most mornings Brandon wakes up crying. The huge smile made up for the early hour that we were awake.

Brandon wound up taking an early nap at 7:45, probably because he was up so early. He slept for a little over 3 hours so I knew he wouldn't go back down at 12 which is his usual nap time. It actually worked out well because we were able to go do something as a family. Stu, Brandon, and I went to Atlantic Farms. I posted below about our trip to the farm. It was really nice spending some time as a family.

Last night we went out to dinner with Stu's parents. Brandon was so good at dinner.

I am so blessed to be a mommy to such a wonderful little boy. Brandon has been through so much in his life but he is such a happy boy even after what he has been through. He almost always has a smile on his face and loves laughing. He really just enjoys life. He is such a sweet boy too. He loves giving me kisses and doing "aw" (hugs).

Feeling Better

Brandon is finally feeling better. He only needs his pulmicort now and not the xopenex on the nebulizer and he is done with both his antibiotic and oral steroid. I am so happy that he is doing better.

At speech the other day he said the word apple twice. I wasn't with him at speech, my mom was so I hadn't heard it. Last night we were watching Kai Lan and her grandfather was holding apples so I said, "Look Brandon, there are some apples" and he said, "apple." I finally got to hear it.

Here are some pictures from the week that I didn't get a chance to post.

Video from the farm

Atlantic Farms

Brandon, Stu, and I went to Atlantic Farms today to see and feed the animals. Brandon really enjoyed petting the animals and feeding them carrots, especially the goats. Everytime he fed the goats he would sign more so he could have more carrots. He also enjoyed feeding the sheep but didn't like when they would baa. He fed the cows but didn't like the rough texture of their tongue. He didn't like the llama. I am not sure if it was because the llama took the carrot from his hand before he was ready to give it to him or if the llama's teeth got his hand a little. He cried and when I brought him back to see the llama again he turned his head.

Pneumonia and Asthma

I brought Brandon to the pulminologist today. I called yesterday to see if he could be seen today because he was still wheezing pretty badly in the morning when he woke up. I am glad I brought him. They checked his oxygen levels and he was 92 on his toe which I was surprised about because he seems so much better today. The doctor also checked his levels on his thumbs and on one it was 95 and the other it was 98 so he wasn't concerned. He listened to Brandon's lungs and doesn't hear any wheezing but said his lungs sound wet. I asked if it is pneumonia or asthma and he said both. He thinks the asthma is from being born prematurely and that he can eventually outgrow it. He wants Brandon to stay on xopenex 3 times a day until his cough is gone and pulmicort 2 times a day. Once his cough is gone he wants him to stay on pulmicort 2 times a day for a week and then after a week keep him on pulmicort 1 time a day until he goes back to the pulminologist at the end of June. At that point he will decide if he can come off of the pulmicort or if he needs to stay on it.

Feeling a Little Better

Brandon seems to be doing a little better today. I think adding the pulmicort a third time during the day and oral steroid is helping. He doesn't seem to be retracting as much as he was the past few days when he breathes. He has been playing but every so often comes to me and climbs in my lap to just be held. He has also been having horrible crying fits periodically throughout the day which is not like him but I think it is because he is not feeling well. He is not sleeping well but I am not surprised because whenever he is on the nebulizer he doesn't sleep well. I am hoping once he is feeling better and done with the nebulizer he goes back to sleeping through the night. It was nice the past few weeks to be able to get sleep instead of waking up several times throughout the night. Brandon is not a huge fan on his antibiotic. I feel like I am tutoring him whenever I need to give it to him because he doesn't like taking liquid medicine.

On top of not feeling well Brandon is cutting all 4 of his incisors. One cut through the gum a few days ago and the others are right there about to cut through. His gums are so swollen and he has been biting on his hand because his gums hurt.

Back to the Pediatrician

I brought Brandon back to the pediatrician this morning because his chest seemed to still be retracting and also he seemed to be wheezing. I am glad I brought him back because Dr. Kerensky definitely heard ratting in his lungs. He doesn't know if Brandon has asthma that was triggered by a cold or if he has pneumonia. He isn't sending him for chest x rays because he said he would treat it the same way no matter what it is. He wants me to be more aggressive with the nebulizer and do xopenex and pulmicort 3 times a day. He also put him on an oral steroid and on the z pack for an antibiotic. He said Brandon's throat is red and he thinks that Brandon and I have the same thing. He isn't sure that I did have strept throat because my doctor never did a strept culture. He just told me it was strept from looking at it. If I don't see any improvement in the next 48 hours I need to call the pediatrician.