Emerson is Five Months Old!

The last month has been a difficult one for Emerson. It first started with an ear infection which meant antibiotics. Two days later it moved into his lungs which meant breathing treatments and steroids. In hind sight it was most likely RSV. He started to show improvement and then was hit hard again. We went back to the doctor and it was a sinus infection and double ear infection, so we started another antibiotic. It was too soon to start another round of steroids. He was still having difficulty breathing. He was really struggling! So we had an appointment to recheck on Monday. He was worse and really struggling, so I rushed him in. His oxygen levels were low. They gave him a double dosage of steroids and a breathing treatment in the office, and his levels still did not come up. So it was looking like he would be admitted. We went over to St. Luke's Hospital. In time his levels came back up and he showed improvement in his breathing. The chest xray showed inflammation consistent with a respiratory virus, but fortunately no pneumonia. But then the doctors informed us he had something called layrngomalacia. We were able to go home, but would have to return for tests the following day. We had an upper GI scheduled for 10:30 the next morning. That morning, I called our ENT. With that diagnosis they wanted us to be seen, so they scheduled us with another ENT the following day. On my way to the hospital for the GI, our ENT called and said they would see us that day for a laryngoscopy. We first went to Memorial Hermann hospital for the upper GI. Everything looked normal, there were no abnormalities or obstructions, and the Prevacid was working and the reflux was minimal. Good news! So on to St. Luke's Hospital to meet with the ENT. Our ENT did a larngoscopy. There was no sign of laryngomalacia. Thank goodness! She found by looking through the scope there was inflammation consistent with croup. So thru this all, the outcome appears to be he has reactive airway disease. This is no surprise since each of our boys have this. It's basically "asthma" in children under the age of five. He contracted a nasty respiratory virus, most likely RSV, and before getting over the virus was hit with Croup. Poor guy has had a terrible time! We are so grateful to have avoided being admitted into the hospital. His breathing is improving a little each day, and we are hoping we finally have this under control! Now we are just trying to survive this round of steroids in which he is eating around the clock and never sleeping! 

 We are hoping and praying that Emerson will be happier and healthier very soon!!

 What Emerson has been up to:

• rolling around
• sitting up
• giggling
• playing with toys
• army crawling
• eating solids 3 times a day
• crying a lot and not sleeping EVER (hoping this improves as he starts feeling better)          

 His smiles have been few and far between so we treasure each and every one!!

 Emerson weighs 19 pounds! He gained 3 pounds on the first round of steroids! Who knows what he will weigh after this round! He is a big ole boy, and we love every ounce of him!

He adores Sawyer! In fact, the giggles I have heard have been directed at his big brother! Sawyer brought Emerson all these books and toys to play with, and Emerson was loving it!