Tanner Update 3/14/09

Tanner is doing so good! He is 3 months old already, weighs 13 1/2 lbs, and is 26 inches long! He is headed to be tall like his Daddy!

He had a hip ultrasound & a ortho appointment Thursday 3/12. His right hip has improved alot. The doc was very pleased. He now only has to wear the hip abduction brace at night! I am so happy about that, as it makes things easier during the day, he fits into his car seat way better, and he can move his legs up and down all he wants! Tanner goes back in for a hip xray in 1 month to see if we can get rid of the brace. There really is a light at the end of the tunnel!

He has had the ponsetti afo's for 1 week now. This is one of those braces with the shoes, and the bar inbetween. His left heel is starting to move down, but the right heel has not moved. The doc is concerned about that. He already had his achilles tendons clipped which should have helped that. The doc is thinking that the muscle in the heel is too tight as well. He advised me to keep stretching his feet, and Tanner's feet will be checked again the same day as the hip xray next month. If his right heel doesn't improve, we may be looking at another outpatient surgery.

Tanner's gets his shunt checked on Monday, 3/16. That appointment will determine if he still needs the shunt or not! I am hoping for not, but know that he may still need it. I just want the very best for him.

Winward Family update 3/7/2009

Wow! Okay, I'm going to start trying to do updates every now and then! It's hard to find time to do much of anything these days! I'm sure you all can relate!

We are in the process of purchasing a new house! It's one level, 3 bedroom, and 2 full bath. It's about 1400 sq feet, and has a big back yard! We are excited about it! It will be a great place for Tanner to grow!

I go back to work next week, something I am totally not looking forward too! I've enjoyed these past weeks getting to know my son! It's been hard and stressful at times, but worth it in the end.

Ray is still working harder than ever. He is always busy. I think he is still a bit overwhelmed about being a Dad. He needs nudging every now and then. But he is getting it slowly but surely.

Tanner is excellent! He is getting so big, almost 3 months old already! Growing like a weed, weighing in at 13 pounds now and 25 inches long! Such a strong little man! He had his 3rd surgery on 2/6, which was to clip and stretch his achilles tendons on his feet, so his toes wouldn't point down so much. He had his 4th surgery this past Tuesday, 3/3. His shunt malfunctioned and it had to be revised. There was also a cyst growing by his shunt which is very rare. His neuro surgeon told me he had never seen anything quite like it, but not to worry. Yeah right!

Basically what they decided to do was remove the shunt from his vents and put it into the cyst to drain it. From the MRI done last week, his vents show to be draining on their own the "normal" way. His surgery went well, and we were in the PICU overnight! I stayed with him, as I breastfeed. Sleeping on that couch was not comfortable! He was a bit groggy and very grumpy, but I would be too! Poor little guy! He is such a tough little trooper!
In 2 weeks, he is supposed to have another MRI as a follow up. If his vents remain low and the cyst has drained completely... there is a chance that he will no longer need the shunt! I am hopeful of this, but also a bit annoyed! I really wish that they would have waited longer in the first place, before putting the shunt in! The shunt was placed when he was 9 days old and his vents measured only 13 mm.
He got his casts off Thursday, 3/5 and has braces now. You know the ones with the bar inbetween his feet! Makes holding him interesting! He smiles now and gabs a lot! He is so cute! & such a joy!

Our little dog, Maple is doing well adjusting to having Tanner in the house! She was a bit leary at first, but now protects him with a vengence! It is too cute!