4 month checkup!

Ethan is 4 months old today! In recognition, I did the not-so-pleasant task of taking him for his vaccines and checkup at the pediatrician. We've seen a different doctor every time we've gone, which I guess is ok for now so that we get to test all the docs out to see who we like best. Today we saw Dr. Burroughs and he seemed to be really nice. He's also had heart surgery so the first thing he said when he saw Ethan was, "hey, we've got the same scars, although yours are a lot newer than mine!". He asked if we were being treated at UNC and told us to say hi to his friends over there! Dr. Burroughs also mentioned that his grandson also has a CHD, although not HLHS but nonetheless, he's still VERY familiar with HLHS! This was encouraging to hear, I've really only seen one other doctor in this pediatrician office that was familiar and comfortable with Ethan's condition so I think I'm getting it narrowed down as to who I will try to see from now on. Also, based on my conversations with Dr. Burroughs, it sounds like he may be a Christian so that's another bonus!

Ethan's checkup went well, he's growing well and looking good! According to today's weight, he's actually down 2 ounces (14 instead of 14 lb. 2oz. at UNC last week) but I'll weigh him on our home scale tomorrow just to double check since that's what I'm used to him being weighed on. Dr. Burroughs said it's ok to start trying to give Ethan some solid foods, but since he's already getting rice cereal in his bottle to thicken it, he said it's ok to just stick with that for a little longer. We may wait until after the 2nd heart surgey next month to start the solids.

In other news...Dan's foot pain has been acting up again. Last time it happened was Thanksgiving and it lasted nearly 2 weeks, with Dan not seeing a doctor - just trying to stay off it and keep it wrapped in an ace bandage. This time, I finally convinced him to go back to the orthopedist to have it re-examined. Since it's Dan's right foot (driving foot), he stayed home from work and I had to take him to his doctor visit. He was told he basically has a very flat foot and a loose ankle that makes his foot move more side to side than up and down like it should. The doc told him about some stretches to do and also prescribed him some prescription-strength Aleve. So that's been my day, running all over town for doctors appointments for my 2 boys!

Also, my grandpa in Nashville, TN (my dad's dad) is not doing so well so that has been weighing heavy on my heart this week. My grandpa has cheated death so many times in his life, from being a prisoner of war in WWII, to getting run over by a farm tractor, and many other near-death experiences but this time he's got pneumonia and a staph infection and has landed himself in the hospital for the past week, on oxygen and scaring us all that he may go into a coma and not wake up. Even when he cracked some ribs a few years ago, he was so tough that it took him days to even mention it, and even then, he just said his side was a little sore. So when I talked to him on Sunday and he said he's not doing very well, I knew that this time, it was something serious. With the infection, he's had to stay in isolation and anyone who enters has to wear gloves and a mask. We were all afraid we were going to lose him so Dad and my sister Jessica and her husband Brandon all packed up Sunday afternoon and made the 10 hour drive to see him. I wanted to go, but with Ethan's surgery only a month away, I know I can't risk getting sick or passing it on to him. But God performed a miracle today and Papa Joe is doing a whole lot better and is getting healed from the pneumonia! He has cheated death once again and won! Praise the Lord for answering all our family's prayers in bringing him through this sickness!

Prayer Requests/Praises
- continued good health for Ethan, as well as Dan and I as we await surgery
- pain relief for Dan's foot
- continued healing of Papa Joe (my grandpa) from his life-threatening pneumonia