Roughly one year ago we were hit with the scariest moment a parent could ever experience, our little boy stopped breathing. He was only about 2 months old. Addison spent just a little under a week in the hospital being poked, tested and scaned constantly. By the time is was all said and done, the doctors said that ACE has severe reflux and had choked. For almost the first year of his life he had to have a tablespoon of rice cereal for each ounce of formula. Also for the first 6 months he had to sleep on a wedge. We finally had to yank it out of his crib, because he was too mobile and rolling around so much that is became dangerous. Both of these things kept him from choking while his insides strengthened as he grew. We are so grateful for all the prayers we received during this time. Thankfully this all feels like a really bad dream and I can say that we have a happy and healthy fourteen month old now.
The first image of ACE having a tube put down his nose and throat to monitor for reflux for 24 hours. The second image is of ACE wearing lots of electrodes on his head for 24 hours while they monitored his brain activity for seizures. Poor little guy also had an IV in his arm and heart and breathing monitors on as well.
Here is my big boy now, happy and healthy. My we have come a long way I am so thankful for each and every moment I have with him. He is such a blessing and brings a ridiculous amount of joy into my life.
(If you would like to read more about our experience and story you can find it in my archives starting at August 17, 2010: http://babykellogg.tumblr.com/post/966872730/please-pray-for-my-baby-boy-addison)
Addison Update:
So it has been a little over a week since Addison was released from the Hospital. He is doing amazing! The new rice cereal thickened feedings have done wonders for his reflux. He has had only a few minor spit up episodes since we started him on this. He used to eat 5 ounces of formula, but I cut it back to 4 ounces of formula with 4 tablespoons of rice cereal. I wanted to be sure that his belly wasn’t too full. The doctor informed us that less food and more feedings is better for a reflux condition. I think now that he is 3 months I will try to bump it back up to 5 ounces of formula with 5 tablespoons of rice cereal. We have changed his bottles out as well to accompany the thicker feedings. After lots of trial and error and tons of money spent on bottles and nipples I finally have it figured out. The best bottle for thicker feedings is the Born Free and the best nipple is Avent. I found the two nipples that work best: Variable flow and Fast Flow (if I make a small cut on the top side of the nipple, don’t cut near the holes or it will tear right through). These nipples are a lot harder than other nipples and keep the nipple from going concave or collapsing while he is sucking on it. He is sleeping with a wedge in his pack and play at night. I am not sure when I will or if I will ever transition him to his crib. I just can’t bare to have him that far away from me at night.
Although Addison is doing amazing and seems to be back to his old self, I on the other hand am a wreck. I am constantly in fear that something is going to happen again. Every time I hear him cough, or I see saliva bubbles on his lips I freak out. If I hear any sort of beep my heart drops and skips a beat. I have made my hubby and I continue to practice CPR and infant choking on a stuffed animal. I find it impossible to sleep at night. I wake up constantly checking on Addison and watching him breathe. I know that everything will get better in time, but for now I am trying my best to make it through each day without having a panic attack.
