Lauren – Page 18 – The Hannon Family

Finally home

Posted on February 19, 2011October 9, 2011 by Lauren

We made it. We are so happy to finally be home.

Ezra’s head ultrasound on Friday was fine and we got the final clear to get out of there. A few of the nurses we still freaking out about the long trip home and Ezra being in the car seat. We just wanted to get out of there, the doctors had cleared us to go home. There were way too many people involved in getting Ezra out of there and some thought they knew better, but everyone eventually got on the same page and we were outta there!
For the drive home we had to stop every 30 mins and give Ezra’s back a break. To help it heal better he needs lots of blood flow around his wound. It took us 4 hours to get home but we didn’t care, even Atreyu did great in the long car ride.

Once we were home it was a little stressful having to unpack. But most of it is done and we are just so excited to be here. Ezra is doing great at home. Today Atreyu heard Ezra crying and brought him a toy to make him feel better. I think he is getting the idea that Ezra is here to stay.

Day 46

Posted on February 17, 2011October 9, 2011 by Lauren

We are still on the path to head home. Things are looking good to leave tomorrow.

Ezra had his VCUG and things look alright for now. Which mean no cathing and we don’t have to follow up with urology for 3 months. The bladder changes so much so who knows what Ezra bladder will be like in 3 months, but I will enjoy this time where I don’t have to worry about it. Ortho checked out his hips and they look ok also. They are not dislocated but he does have shallow hips. Nothing is being done about it now.
It is so nice not having to worry about this extra stuff and being able to enjoy him just being a baby.

Everyone in the NICU was worried about us taking the long ride home and having Ezra in a car seat for so long, but thankfully the PT here was able to cushion the carseat so there is not as much pressure on the wound. We will have an even longer trip home having to stop every 30 mins, but at least we will be heading in the right direction, no matter how long it takes us to get there.

Tomorrow morning Ezra has an ultrasound to check his head again. If there is a problem then we will have to stay another day or so for them to do a revision on the shunt. I think he is doing great and his head has been feeling less full, so my hopes are high that he should be fine.

I am still waiting for something to go wrong that will cause us to stay here longer. We are so anxious to get home and pray that it will be friday.

God has already done so many amazing things in Ezra’s life. None of the doctors thought he would heal this well, and he has! Please continue to pray that he is well enough to come home!

The Home Stretch

Posted on February 15, 2011May 29, 2011 by Lauren

The big news is that plastics stopped by today and approved Ezra to be discharged! His back is looking so good. It will still take a while to completely heal, probably more than a year. But at least he is able to heal at home instead of in the NICU.

Tomorrow we will be doing some more test to make sure everything else is alright. These test Ezra needed to be able to be on his back to do. We will check his bladder with a VCUG test. They will basically fill his bladder and then watch how he pees. This will check to make sure his bladder is emptying completely and makeing sure everything is working alright, if it is not we may have to catheterize him about every 4 hours to help empty his bladder fully. Bladder and bowel control is connected through the lower spine, around the sacral level, because this part of the spine is damaged we don’t know exactly how it will work.

We will also have ortho come and look at his legs and hips to see if there is anything needed to be done, or any problems we need to know about.
Once these things and a couple other things are done we get to go home. Probably Thursday or Friday. If anyone is heading to Traverse City from Grand Rapids during that time let us know if you can help us bring some stuff back up. We somehow acquired more things living down here for 6 weeks.

Yesterday Ezra had another ultrasound to check his shunt. Right now it is working but might not be working as well as it should. If it stays this way he might need a revision. Just another thing to add to the prayer list. Thank you everyone for your prayers. We cannot wait to get home.

one month old

Posted on February 4, 2011May 29, 2011 by Lauren

Today Ezra turned one month old. When he was born he was 5 lbs 8 oz and 19 in. long. Today he is 8 lbs 8 oz and 20 in. long. He is a little chunker, he is gaining about 3 or 4 oz a day. Which is great. I had some cuddles today, and no one stopped by to tell us anything has changed. We were able to turn his bed off so he can start keeping himself warm. He is so good at that and he looks cute with a little blanket.

another day in the NICU

Posted on February 3, 2011May 29, 2011 by Lauren

Dave keeps saying I need to do a post but I just give him the pouty face and tell him to do it. I feel like if I keep writing post it would be filled with me complaining all the time. It is like a roller coaster of emotions here. Two days ago I was at a point where I couldn’t take it anymore, but yesterday and today I have felt much better and have actually enjoyed being in the NICU. I know it depends on how I am feeling but a lot has to do with who is working with Ezra and how tired I am. Yesterday and today Ezra has had some of his favorite nurses working so that really helps. They are so good with him and such caring people. The night nurse even surprised us with a casting of Ezra’s handprint. It is those small things that make me go “alright… I guess I can hang out here a little longer”.

Ezra is doing so well. The top part of his scar is blistering, which is what they expected would happen. The doctors are just watching that to make sure it doesn’t open. If it does they will probably just have to add a few sutures to keep it closed. Basically just more time for healing while we sit around the NICU.
I spend most of the day just holding Ezra and playing on Dave’s old Iphone. It makes the days go faster. I can’t wait to be home so I can cuddle with Ezra while Atreyu is playing around. If I am with one I miss the other. It is really hard. Atreyu is changing so much here. He is already growing out of his 12 month clothes and has started to climb on everything! (and of course now fall off of everything). I know we will be home soon enough and I will be so happy once we are there.