Two Month Letter

Milo love,

Well buddy you are going to be getting your MRI soon.  We're a little worried about it but I know you'll do just fine.  We had the MRI scheduled and had emotionally prepared ourselves for everything and then we got a call the night before saying that they couldn't do the test because you had had RSV so recently.  RSV is a pretty nasty virus that settles deep in the lungs and they were afraid that you wouldn't handle the anesthesia very well if your lungs were still compromised.  We were all super disappointed but wanted to do the best thing for you. Your MRI is now scheduled for next week.

You really do try to be a happy boy, but it's clear that something is bothering you.  Even when you're not crying your eyebrows are always furrowed and your super tense.  You arch your back all the time and throw your head back.  It's the saddest thing, and it breaks my heart that I can't do anything to take away your pain.  I feel like as your mother I should be able to comfort you and make you feel better, and the fact that I can't makes me feel inadequate.  I wish so badly that I could take your pain away.  Given the fact that you're in a constant state of pain it's surprising that we've gotten you to smile at all! You didn't smile for quite some time, but just recently you starting smiling just a little bit here and there.  One of the first people to get you to smile was your grandpa Jolley. Everyone calls him pop pop...that nickname will grow on you. You really love him and I love watching you two together.

Your favorite place to be is in your bouncer up in the bay window.  You don't handle just hanging out very well - except when you're in the window.  It's strange really, because if I put the bouncer on the floor of the living room or in our room you just scream and scream.  But if I put it back up in the window you just stare out the window and enjoy a few minutes of quiet time.  It's quite sweet.  Every now and then I'll put cooper up there with you and the two of you just have a grand old time.

Your brother loves you so much.  Cooper loves to do tummy time with you, he gets right down at your level and stares you in the eye.  He walks circles around you and gives you so many kisses and hugs that I have to stop him from loving on you too hard.  He's going to be such a big brother to you and I can't wait for the both of you to be old enough to play together.

I can't believe that you're already 2 months old! I feel like you were just born yesterday - you are the most amazing little boy.

Love you to the moon and back...

Mom

2 Month Check Up

2 month appointment - 7/3/2014

10 pounds 14 ounces - 4%

23 inches - 30%

RSV

After being home for only a week and a half poor milo caught a cold.  We tried so hard to protect him from everything we could, but cooper caught a cold just a few days after we brought him home.

The first two days of the cold we watched his breathing closely and did our best to keep his nose clear.  We knew he couldn't breathe well because the hospital was never able to pass a feeding tube through his left nostril.

Eventually milo got too congested for our comfort level and really started struggling to breathe.  And he had a slight fever as well.  Around 8:30PM Dallin took him up to primary children's hospital while I stayed home with Cooper.  I assumed that they would suction him out and they'd be home in a few hours.  I put Cooper to bed and went to bed myself.

The next thing I know it's 1:00AM and they still aren't home.  I call Dallin and he tells him that they've admitted milo and discovered that he has RSV.  His oxygen levels weren't great, so they put him on a nasal cannula to help him breathe better.

We spent the next 3 days taking turns spending our days and nights with milo at the hospital and cooper at home.  Milo was so congested and needed oxygen for the first 1 1/2 days and then after that he was able to keep his oxygen levels up on his own.  His voice and cry were so raspy that it was heartbreaking.  They had to keep suctioning him out every 4 hours or so or else his levels would drop.

With his narrow nostril, the doctors decided to do a CT scan to see if the nose bones in his face were misshapen and if they were then they'd have an ENT come meet with us.  The CT scan showed that his bone structure was normal, but that there was excess cartilage and it was blocking off the airflow. He had zero airflow through his left nostril! We decided that we would follow up with an ENT when we came home and see if there was something that could be done.

A few days later milo was doing much better and we got the green light to take him home.

Again, it was great to be home as a family again but we still were worried about his breathing and spent most of our time watching him closely.