November 1997

November 5 PM: Wow, an entire month without any major bad news!!! This is a milestone. As the saying goes, no news is good news. He did GREAT in October. He eats solid foods two to three times a day, is slowly gaining weight, smiles all the time (well, mostly), and is generally developing a friendly personality. His first two bottom teeth are starting to show now as well. He is up to 14 lbs 8 oz now, and is 26". October is a little of a blur for us, he still is NOT sleeping through the night. He wakes up two or three times each night. His solid foods have progressed to oatmeal, green beens, peas, squash, and carrots (his favorite). We're trying to get all the vegetables in first. We tried banana, but the face he made when he had that was priceless. He hated it.

We took him up to the Wild Animal Park for the 'howl-oween' festivities. He was dressed as Superman (a fitting costume we thought). I promise to have pictures shortly. We also took him on the neighborhood trick-or-treat walk. He still loves crowds and people, even nurses ;-).

Unfortunately, the 'no news' theory has been broken here for a reason. Tyler spent the last two nights in the Hospital again. He caught a virus called RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). This is a very common virus that virtually all children have had by the age of three. There is a greater risk for cardiac babies though. It could progress into other more serious infections. He began coughing last Thursday (10/30) and was generally congested over the weekend. We already had a Pediatrician appointment on Monday, she recommended we take him in that afternoon. Once they proved it was RSV, there was no real 'cure,' just watch him and let him fight it on his own. Today (Wednesday) he had been stable long enough so they sent us home!! He has been so happy to be back home, he has slept the entire afternoon!

Recently, we have also heard that he will need another Balloon Angioplasty. The site is still restricting blood flow to the lower half of his body. We are surprisingly relaxed about this one, it seems so trivial compared to what he has been through. This should occur sometime later this month, or early December.

He still does not seem to want to roll over, but he is starting to push himself up when sitting. He also can grab his pacifier and put it in his mouth after he wakes up (a trick we love ;-). He continues to be a talker, spouting off his opinions an any opportunity. He's also growing out of most of his early clothing :(

Donna and I have worked out an interesting day-care plan. Currently, I take off every Wednesday and stay home with Tyler. I work extra hours on the other days and weekends to make up. She is working 50% time - mostly on Wed. We also 'split' one day a week - She works the morning, and I work the afternoon. It's nice for a father to get a day alone with his son..

Speaking of which, he's starting to wake up now, I've got to go.