growth update

here is the latest
at 5 months 10 days Jeffrey weighs 22# 7oz is 26 and3/4inches long and in the 99th percentile on most of the growth charts. he is in 18 to 24 month clothes and a very happy talkative baby. He has 6 follow up appointments with various medical specialists in september as well as another echocardiogram and abdominal ultrasoud. His blood pressure is doing well and he is not having any new complications. He is being curious and loves to play with people, he kind of likes toys too but is just discovering that he can do some of those on his own.
I'll post more if things change and give ocasional growth updates.
Dionna

Jeffrey update

Jeffrey is over 15 lbs, is wearing 6-12 month clothes and Ben is now calling him a little gorilla.
we met with an orthopedic specialist today to check his feet. He does not have clubed feet as some dr's suspected. His extra toes are all prefectly formed, all bones are there and the main foot bone is wide enough for all six toes. this seems to captivate all the Dr's. he likes to curl his feet like you might curl you hand so the dr thinks he may have a few extra muscles in his foot. overall he is doing great. except for the high blood pressure which seems to be controlled he is not having any complications.

Dionna

2 months

Jeffrey is 12 and a half pounds and 23 inches long, very chubby and healthy considering his kidneys and heart. the Dr expects that he will do very well and plans to treat him as he would any healthy child unless complications arise.

baby shower info

May 7, 2011 11am to 1pm @ 322 N Marion st, salt lake city (Debboni Park's house)
Please RSVP to Angela Zielke @ angelazielke@yahoo.com or on facebook

No formula please

Please avoid Lavender and floral scented items

Jeffrey is already more than 10lbs

Registries set up at Target, Walmart, and Babies R Us

1.       Gift cards to Target, Walmart,  Ikea, Babies R Us

2.       Swing

3.       Bottles (gerber first essetials 9 oz)

4.       Diapers

5.       Wipes

6.       Infant play (toys, mats, etc.)

7.       Nursing shawl

8.       Baby tub

9.       Hooded Towels

10.   Bath stuff

11.   Infant/Toddler feeding supplies

12.   Crib sheets (Ikea) European standard sizing

13.   Changing table

14.   Infant carrier (front pack)

status

Jeffrey is doing well. the Cardiologists are happy with his progress and are content to just monitor him with the hope that surgery will not be needed. Nephorology is happy with his labs and his current dose of medication seems to be keeping his blood pressure under control. He is eating every one to two hours during the day but switches to three hours at night. he is over 10 lbs and growing very well.
Dionna

we are well

we did bring Jeffrey home on the 19th. he is doing well, not on any machines or feeding tubes. we do have to fortify his milk to give it extra calories and he is on amlodipine for high blood pressure which the dr assures us is normal for babies with polysistic kidneys. as any new mom I am getting very little sleep and feel like I'm running constantly. Jeffrey was over 8 lbs this morning so he is gaining weight well and I'm hoping he will be able to go off the fortifier when we see the nephorologist on the 14th he is eating 3 to 4 ounces every two to three hours. Ben is back to work and school and Jeffrey misses his dad. he is definatly a daddies boy. I'm not sure how things are going to go with Ben starting a new job next week. we all will have to get used to a new schedule. well so far so good and now we get ready for the marathon of appointments that are starting and run into may.
I'll post again soon.
Dionna

Good news for one, good news for all.

Here's the latest on Little Jeffrey. If everything goes well, which it probably will, he will be coming home tomorrow (3/19/11. The only concerns are his labs and blood pressure. For now the blood pressure is down with medication. He'll most likely have high blood pressure problems his whole life. As far as labs go, were just waiting to make sure nothing comes back weird. Dionna spent the night with him last night, and he actually breast fed, she said he did really well. He's also too used to noise while he sleeps. Dionna said he didn't really settle down until she turned on a movie. Nothing a little soft music can't fix. Right now we're just cleaning, and getting ready for him to come home. Dionna and I plan on going out tonight, since it will be the last one for a while, but this is what we get for having a new baby.

There's nothing really new, other than getting appointments scheduled. He's gained weight, and is eating more and more. He's also on his own time schedule, which is good for him, but not for us. But it's good to have him acting like a normal baby, instead of having to wake him up for feedings. One thing Dionna and I have realized lately is that a normal baby is such a wonderful thing. Every day Jeffrey gets closer and closer to a normal baby, and that's what everyone wants to see. Normally, when a baby cries, most people get annoyed, tired, or just plain sick of it. At the hospital, the nurses shout for joy, because if shows that he's able to act more normally, tell us something wrong, and have the motivation to eat on his own. So far this whole ordeal has made Dionna and I realize how many things we took for granted with Kenny, and have a greater appreciation for the miracle of child birth and babies. The journey isn't over yet, and Jeffrey has a lot of hurdles to pass, but with faith, luck, and love, I think that all will be well, and our little Jeffrey will be around longer than I will, that's my hope anyway. That I'll be able to watch him blossom into wonderful young man, that despite the challenges he's faced and will face, he'll still smile at the challenges given him. Thanks again for all the love and support we have been receiving, and we'll let you know if there are any changes, and when he comes home.