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!