On the way to your 6 month checkup~12/10/12
You are already half a year old. The past 6 months have passed in the blink of an eye. You are growing bigger & stronger every day. You had a rough month this past month, though. It seemed as though you would never get well.
It started with an aggravating little cough. You never ran any fever, but it continued for almost three weeks, so I took you to see your pediatrician. He diagnosed you, without any tests, with Bronchiolitis. We were sent home with a nebulizer, instructed to give you breathing treatments 4 times a day, and an antibiotic since the cough had been so persistent. You only seemed to get worse.
On Thanksgiving day, I wasn't sure we would be able to go to each place we were expected for the holiday festivities. You were so sick, coughing so hard that you would vomit. I felt so bad for you. We did end up making it everywhere we needed to be, with you sleeping through the majority of it. I told your daddy that if you weren't better Friday, I was taking you to the ER, and that's exactly what I did.
You were coughing so hard, having trouble breathing, vomiting, and running fever so I took you to the emergency room since your pediatrician's office was closed for the holiday. I told the ER doctor about the visit to your pediatrician's office on Monday and about the diagnosis. He asked if a RSV test had been done and I told him it had not. They proceeded to give you a nose swab test for RSV, which came back negative. They then performed chest x-rays. The ER doctor (a family practitioner) diagnosed Asthma and prescribed a steroid to be given with your breathing treatment and an oral steroid, as well.
You seemed to improve over the following week, but just as soon as you started feeling some better, you broke out in a rash. We took you back to your pediatrician, explained everything that had gone on, and Mrs. Patty verified it was Roseola, caused from the fever you had run. As for the Asthma, she and Dr. Rao both said that you could not diagnose Asthma in a child under 2 years old. They were both certain it was Bronchiolitis, but were okay with the ER's doctor prescribing the steroids.
I'm just glad you are now back to your smiley, happy little self again. It took an entire month to get you back. You wouldn't eat because you always thought everything was more medicine, bless your heart. You lost 9 ounces during the sickness, going from 18 lbs. 14.5 ozs., down to 18 lbs 5.5 ozs. When we took you back again this past Monday for your 6 months well check/shots appointment, you were up to 18 lbs. 6.5 ozs., which is right on time for your age. You're in the 50th percentile for weight now, no longer considered "chubby". HA! ;)
You are 27 1/2 inches tall, which puts you in the 70th percentile, slightly on the taller side. I hope you remain tall. I think your brother is going to be shorter, like your daddy. You'll hopefully take after my side of the family. Your Uncle Bobby was 6'5" and was always slim until he married Aunt Nannaw. Your Pappaw was 6'4, and so was your great-grandpa, J.E.
You have started eating baby food. We haven't found anything you have any allergies to. You really like peas and bananas, but you hate carrots. We have tried several times to get you to eat more than a couple of bites, but you just make the ugliest face and refuse to eat anymore. So far, so good on all fruits. We haven't tried peaches yet, though.
You drink 4-4oz. bottles during the day and 1-6oz. bottle at bedtime. Your pediatrician wants you to only be drinking 20 oz. in a 24 hour period now, though, since you are eating food, too. Looks like we're going to have to cut back 2 ozs. on your bedtime bottle, kiddo. Sorry!
You are wearing all 6-9 month clothes. Mostly 9 month so that it fits you in length. We have to roll the sleeves up, though. You're still in size 3 diapers.
Your hair is growing thicker every day. You also have a "Who hair" just like your brother did. It's one of your original hairs that you were born with that is a lot longer than your other hair. It's so cute!
I love to hear you giggle and babble. You are amazed by your big brother and watch him intently. You love for your daddy to "goose" you. Your laughter is one of the sweetest sounds. You have the most heartbreaking cry. So pitiful! Thankfully, you don't do much of that, though, unless you're sleepy.
I love you, sweet boy. You and your brother, along with your daddy, are my world. Everything I do, I do for the three of you. I could rock you in my arms and stare into your deep blue eyes forever. The way you look at me, I know that you know how much you are loved. I hope you always know how much I love you. Happy Half-A-Year!!!!
Forever & Always,
Mama
