The Johnson Family:
The Phillips Grandchildren
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, we did at the Phillips house. Carson was so cute on is 1st Christmas and I have many pics I want to share, I will post them soon. Cory is doing much better, he was very lucky. He will have another check up this week after finishing antibiotics and hopefully is in the clear; the bite did not get as bad as what I have seen on the internet - Thank God. And thank you to everyone who prayed for him, our prayers were answered. Happy New Year everybody!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Positive Outlook
We saw a specialist this morning and as of today, there is no action to be taken for the bite area. The Dr. said the absess didn't feel very big and the tissue felt normal. This is a very good news, however brown recluse bites usually take a week to show the actual damage, the bite is likely to get worse based on what I have read. He is not out of the woods yet, so please continue to pray.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Update on Cory
We were able to see a Doctor today who put him on stronger antibiotics (the antibiotic that Bibb Medical prescribed wasn't strong enough to help his allergic reaction), she also took some blood for testing, put him on steroids and examined the bite. She said the absess wasn't very big yet, she got us an apt tomorrow morning with a specialist to do an ultrasound on the bite area to see just how bad the necrosis is (which could also be ocurring under the skin, not just on top), and from there determine if the bite site needs to be lanced/cut and drained. I was taking comfort in the fact the the bite wasn't changing very much during the first 48 hours, but it has gotten worse since this morning. She did confirm that what bit him was a brown recluse (we still have it in a bag) and that it was a female - and female bites are worse than male bites. Please continue to pray for him, there will be a painful, long healing process if the necrosis gets really bad and it takes a while to know what the damage will be.
I hate that this is happening to him, he is such a sweet, selfless person and doesn't deserve this, why do bad things happen to such good people? I wish it was me.
We were talking earlier today that we wished we could be sick for Carson when he was sick, and I said maybe this is Cory being sick for Carson. We believe that the spider came from a pack n play that we used at his parents' house. It had been sitting in his brother's garage, not sure how long. When we opened the bag to set up the pack n play, we did kill one regular spider and checked the pack n play for others. We think the recluse was still in the bag and came out later, or we didn't see him when we got the pack n play out. However, this spider was in the same room as Carson for about 30 min or an hour. The spider came from the bed onto Cory. I had been changing Carson's diapers on that bed all night, and we sometimes put Carson in the bed with us, what if we had laid him down near or on top of that spider....that bite would have been fatal for a baby. So we are so thankful that it was not Carson who was bitten, it is so scary to think that it could have been Carson.
I hate that this is happening to him, he is such a sweet, selfless person and doesn't deserve this, why do bad things happen to such good people? I wish it was me.
We were talking earlier today that we wished we could be sick for Carson when he was sick, and I said maybe this is Cory being sick for Carson. We believe that the spider came from a pack n play that we used at his parents' house. It had been sitting in his brother's garage, not sure how long. When we opened the bag to set up the pack n play, we did kill one regular spider and checked the pack n play for others. We think the recluse was still in the bag and came out later, or we didn't see him when we got the pack n play out. However, this spider was in the same room as Carson for about 30 min or an hour. The spider came from the bed onto Cory. I had been changing Carson's diapers on that bed all night, and we sometimes put Carson in the bed with us, what if we had laid him down near or on top of that spider....that bite would have been fatal for a baby. So we are so thankful that it was not Carson who was bitten, it is so scary to think that it could have been Carson.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Prayers needed
Please pray for my little family, we can't seem to catch a break. I was in such high spirits getting excited for Christmas last week when I last posted. Since then, Carson got sick again - another ear infection and had to go back on breathing treatments via nebulizer. He is much better. However after that hurdle, we went to AL to celebrate Christmas with our families and Cory was bitten by a brown recluse spider at his parents' house. He is currently having an allergic reaction which is very dangerous. I had my mom call her family Dr. to see if there was anything we could do for him, unfortunately, he just has to wait for his body to push through and we have to hope that his skin won't be greatly affected where he was bitten. He feels terrible as if he has the flu and has a rash all over like a sunburn. It is really hard for me to watch Carson be sick twice in 3 weeks, and now Cory too. I wish I could be sick for them.
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Update:
We have returned from the ER. Cory was not getting better (fever, chills, all over body rash and pain) so I called and asked what to do. They actually suggested we bring him in to get him started on antibiotics to prevent infection. Because of where the bite is located, there can be severe complications and life altering effects. They suggested we see a neurologist within 48 hours and to continue to monitor the bite, if we see signs of necrosis (black and blue spots, or blistering) we are to seek immediate attention. Please pray that he will be ok, this is very serious and we are both very scared.
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Update:
We have returned from the ER. Cory was not getting better (fever, chills, all over body rash and pain) so I called and asked what to do. They actually suggested we bring him in to get him started on antibiotics to prevent infection. Because of where the bite is located, there can be severe complications and life altering effects. They suggested we see a neurologist within 48 hours and to continue to monitor the bite, if we see signs of necrosis (black and blue spots, or blistering) we are to seek immediate attention. Please pray that he will be ok, this is very serious and we are both very scared.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Random
We have been very busy this past week, getting shopping done and getting over our colds. Carson has his 4 month check up today, and I have a TON of questions for the ped. The most important is FOOD. Carson was eating every 4-5 hours, 6 oz. Now he wants to eat every 3 hours again (7 oz, w/ cereal added in) - growth spurt I guess. We have been practicing spoon feeding some banana flavored cereal and he is getter a little better at it. But I noticed a slight rash that looked like excema in a few places, so I am thinking maybe a little allergy, I read that some foods have allergens that can cause slight excema. This baby is ever-changing, everytime we figure him out, he changes.
I ordered Christmas cards today that will feature this picture, he did so good smiling for me. Between being so busy and sick, we didn't get a photo with Santa, and we haven't had any pro pics made, so I just took some myself and it will have to do for this year. But my New Years' resolution for 2010 is to have professional family photos taken.
Speaking of Santa photos, I was so dissapointed when I saw the lines in every place we went, I just couldn't put my family through that. So my new plan for Santa pics is to order Cory a Santa suit and have him dress up every year by the tree with our kids. I even thought maybe Becca and Zach could bring Zoe Jane and their future children over when "Santa" came to visit Carson. We will see. I think this would be a fun tradition (Becca - I forgot to mention this over the phone but let me know what you think, this way we won't have to deal with the awful lines!).
I am looking at yet another busy week. Carson's Dr. Apt is today, I have a work party Thursday night - then I come home to make cookies for the Daycare Teachers, then we pack, and Friday after work we are off to Alabama for the weekend to do the family Christmas tour.
Hope everyone is enjoying the Holiday Season!
I ordered Christmas cards today that will feature this picture, he did so good smiling for me. Between being so busy and sick, we didn't get a photo with Santa, and we haven't had any pro pics made, so I just took some myself and it will have to do for this year. But my New Years' resolution for 2010 is to have professional family photos taken.
Speaking of Santa photos, I was so dissapointed when I saw the lines in every place we went, I just couldn't put my family through that. So my new plan for Santa pics is to order Cory a Santa suit and have him dress up every year by the tree with our kids. I even thought maybe Becca and Zach could bring Zoe Jane and their future children over when "Santa" came to visit Carson. We will see. I think this would be a fun tradition (Becca - I forgot to mention this over the phone but let me know what you think, this way we won't have to deal with the awful lines!).
I am looking at yet another busy week. Carson's Dr. Apt is today, I have a work party Thursday night - then I come home to make cookies for the Daycare Teachers, then we pack, and Friday after work we are off to Alabama for the weekend to do the family Christmas tour.
Hope everyone is enjoying the Holiday Season!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
4 Months
My baby turned 4 months old yesterday, where has the time gone?
He is feeling much better by the way (please see previous post). I am terrified to take him back to daycare. I miss the days when I was complaining about their rules, now I would give anything for that to be my biggest concern.
Anyway, here is what he is doing at 4 months:
Food/eating: Still formula (normally about 6 oz every 4-5 hrs), I'm not trying solids until he gets over the bronchilitis.
Weight: 13 lbs, I thought he was 15+, but he may have lost a bit since he hasn't been eating due to being sick.
Hair color: blonde
Eyes: blue, sometimes look green
Clothing size: 3 months or 3-6 months
Favorite toys: anything he can grab and put in his mouth, TV of course
Funny/cute things he does: oohs and ahhs for minutes at a time; covers his face when he is sleepy, and studies his hands
Milestones: Discovered his voice and is using it! He really wants to roll over but just can't quite seem to tip over while trying. He can lift his upper body like a mini push up when you place him on his belly. He follows people around the room with his eyes.
Favorite Show: still sesame street
Favorite book: any book
Sleeping: currently sleeping with us and waking up once or twice b/c he is sick. Should be really fun breaking him of this habit in the upcoming weeks.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Not Fair
It is not fair for a sweet little baby to be so sick. This is the first chance I have had to blog in a while.
After Thanksgiving Carson started to get congested. We thought is was another cold. Wrong. After he gagged and choked on his mucous a couple of times and it was all we could do to calm him down, we checked his temp (100.3) and then called the ped. Of course the ped on-call was one that I am not fond of. He told me it was just a cold to continue saline and suction, and to hold off on the tylenol to see what the fever would do. In the middle of the night the fever went up to 101.8, so I called again, and he never called me back. We got Carson to sleep so I didn't call back. Since Saturday afternoon Carson couldn't be put down b/c he felt so bad and he also has been sleeping with us.
Sunday morning I called back and this new Dr. on call told me to take him to the ER based on some breathing questions she asked me. We got to Children's and were seen right away. They diagnosed him with bronchilitus, a type of RSV. They did no chest X-ray, did no breathing treatment...just checked his breathing, checked his urine, and gave him pedialyte and tylenol. They instructed us to keep giving him fluids and continue with suction and saline. So we did.
Sunday night, we took him to the nearest ER (not childrens, which was a big mistake), b/c his fever climbed to 103.8. It took about an hour for him to be seen, then we stayed there for a total of 3 hours. They seemed a little unsure of why we brought him in, but I can't sit back and watch my baby have a fever that high, sorry, I will pay the $200 for them to tell me he is ok. They did chest X-rays to make us feel better, gave him more tylenol, checked his oxygen levels which were 99% and told us that high fever was part of this virus. So far...we had paid $250 total to be told to do what we have been doing since the beginning- tylenol, saline, and suction. UGHH.
Mom, Cory and I stayed home with him on Monday because he was so pitiful. He had to be held at all times. And it takes 2 people to get the suction done. He also was refusing his bottle so we had to feed him with the tylenol dropper to get fluids in to prevent dehydration. By this time he was also having runny diapers due to all the mucous he was swallowing, and he had no voice, his cries were whispers. So sad. He was up and down on Monday, and I thought he would be better for sure today, but still no change. His cough has gotten worse and he was still having a low-grade fever. So I made him and apt at his ped., to get gim checked out again and to see if we could get a nebulizer. And sure enough, this Dr. (whom I love) said he was wheezing and needed treatments via nebulizer. She also discovered that both ears are infected, so he is now on antibiotics for that. SO NOW I am hoping that the worst is finally behind us and that the new treatment and meds will help him.
Please pray for my little guy, no baby should have to feel this bad.
After Thanksgiving Carson started to get congested. We thought is was another cold. Wrong. After he gagged and choked on his mucous a couple of times and it was all we could do to calm him down, we checked his temp (100.3) and then called the ped. Of course the ped on-call was one that I am not fond of. He told me it was just a cold to continue saline and suction, and to hold off on the tylenol to see what the fever would do. In the middle of the night the fever went up to 101.8, so I called again, and he never called me back. We got Carson to sleep so I didn't call back. Since Saturday afternoon Carson couldn't be put down b/c he felt so bad and he also has been sleeping with us.
Sunday morning I called back and this new Dr. on call told me to take him to the ER based on some breathing questions she asked me. We got to Children's and were seen right away. They diagnosed him with bronchilitus, a type of RSV. They did no chest X-ray, did no breathing treatment...just checked his breathing, checked his urine, and gave him pedialyte and tylenol. They instructed us to keep giving him fluids and continue with suction and saline. So we did.
Sunday night, we took him to the nearest ER (not childrens, which was a big mistake), b/c his fever climbed to 103.8. It took about an hour for him to be seen, then we stayed there for a total of 3 hours. They seemed a little unsure of why we brought him in, but I can't sit back and watch my baby have a fever that high, sorry, I will pay the $200 for them to tell me he is ok. They did chest X-rays to make us feel better, gave him more tylenol, checked his oxygen levels which were 99% and told us that high fever was part of this virus. So far...we had paid $250 total to be told to do what we have been doing since the beginning- tylenol, saline, and suction. UGHH.
Mom, Cory and I stayed home with him on Monday because he was so pitiful. He had to be held at all times. And it takes 2 people to get the suction done. He also was refusing his bottle so we had to feed him with the tylenol dropper to get fluids in to prevent dehydration. By this time he was also having runny diapers due to all the mucous he was swallowing, and he had no voice, his cries were whispers. So sad. He was up and down on Monday, and I thought he would be better for sure today, but still no change. His cough has gotten worse and he was still having a low-grade fever. So I made him and apt at his ped., to get gim checked out again and to see if we could get a nebulizer. And sure enough, this Dr. (whom I love) said he was wheezing and needed treatments via nebulizer. She also discovered that both ears are infected, so he is now on antibiotics for that. SO NOW I am hoping that the worst is finally behind us and that the new treatment and meds will help him.
Please pray for my little guy, no baby should have to feel this bad.
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