Sixty One Weeks

Dearest Joshua David~

Hello cutie pie!  Today you are sixty one weeks old!  Whew!  You are getting on up there little man!  ;-)

This morning, you had your usual breakfast of cereal with apple juice.  Then, a bottle.  Once you finished your bottle, we didn't have a lot of time left until we had to leave.  You had an appointment with a pediatric urologist at 8:30am. 

Dr. Ross was very nice.  The nurse weighed you and took your blood pressure first.  You were 19 lbs and 2.6 ounces, so we need to get you bigger.  ;-)  The nurse used the smallest blood pressure cuff I have ever seen in my life!  You're blood pressure was 112/52, which she said was a little high, but we still had your clothes on too.  I think if you didn't have your sleeve on the reading would have been a little more accurate.  

Dr. Ross went to UNC for medical school, so she liked your TarHeel stroller.  The examination was quick.  You cried, but you were fine once I held you.  ;-)  We were referred to her because your pediatrician, Dr. Medero, thought that your right 'man berry' hadn't descended yet.  Dr. Ross did a full examination and she agreed.  She was able to palpate both sides, and position the left side where it needed to be .... but she wasn't able to fully position your right side.  If left untreated, it could continue to ascend.  So, little man, you need what is called an 'orchiopexy' which is an out patient surgical procedure.  We weren't happy that surgery is needed, but it's minor and out patient.  

The problem then becomes the timing.  It took two months for us to even get this appointment for an examination.  So, the first available dates for your surgery aren't until the middle to late february .... The first appointment is february 17th when we meet with Dr. Ross again to discuss the surgery and to meet with the anesthesiologist .... yes, little man, you'll need to have general anesthesia.  The surgery itself is then scheduled for february 22nd.  Both dates we have to take you to DOOK hospital in Durham.  

So, in case you've forgotten .... you little sister is due february 27th .... five days after your surgery!  That whole time frame is going to be risky for us, but we've already had people tell us that they would be able to help in any way we need them.  Your Gigi, Mimi, and Uncle Brennan can all take off.  Also, daddy is not going to work those two days so he can be at both appointments .... in case I'm in another hospital with Peanut!  One of us needs to be there as a 'legal guardian' .... hopefully we both can, but I just don't know what my condition will be like at that time.  

Once we left the urologist appointment, we did a quick run to the bank to make a deposit.  Then, we went to Dick's Sporting Goods store.  Daddy needed some gun stock oil to help finish the mandolin neck.  So, I'm sure people got a kick out of a pregnant woman strolling in with her baby to the hunting section of the store to ask for some gun stock oil amongst all the guns.  ;-)  Ha!

You then fell asleep on the drive back home.  I ate lunch as you slept and then fed you when your nap was over.  As you were getting ready for lunch, daddy called and the power went out at his office .... so, they were all sent home for security reasons!  Daddy got to work from home the rest of the day.  :-)

As daddy worked, you and I wrapped all the Christmas gifts and I wrote some 'thank you' cards for some birthday gifts.   We then played together as daddy started to work on the mandolin.  He did a lot of staining and sanding.  Daddy screwed in an extra piece of wood where the neck goes so he could hang the body to stain it.  It's already looking really nice and he just started! 

I made a quick dinner for us of breakfast foods.  Afterward, you ate and you picked up the cheerios by yourself, put them in your mouth, and ate them yourself!  Good job little man!  

I gave you an evening bath as daddy did some more with the mandolin.  Then, we set up a bigger play area in the bonus room with your mattress in it.  We're curious if you'll sleep on it by yourself, or cry again and end up in our bed like all the other nights!  :-P

Sleep tight little precious!

I love you!  :-)

~Mommy