So, yes, Gianluca turned 3 on March 5th. His birthday was celebrated with his first visit to public school. Now that he's 3 we are able to get speech therapy from the school system. It was an enjoyable visit for Gianluca. A little scary for us. As he freely walked up the stairs with Miss Amy, the speech therapist, a line of children were making their way down the stairs. One child came roaring around the corner so fast that had Miss Amy not been there to stop him, he would've knocked Gianluca down the stairs. That just reinforces my idea that when he goes to preschool and kindergarden it better be on the first floor. Those other kids just towered over Gianluca's small 34" frame. Thank goodness it's just 25 minutes, twice a week. Gianluca would love for it to be everyday. He wakes up in the morning asking to go see Sue, the former speech therapist that came to our home for 2 years. And he asks for Jill, the physical therapist that only comes now once a month. Gianluca is so social he asks everyday to " go see Sue, Jill, Enzo, Ito, Chwa Chwa (Babcia-Grandma), and Dza Dza (Grandpa), ok?". All with that beautiful, cute voice of his that still brings tears of joy and comfort.
March 21st, Sabine celebrated one month of age and Gianluca, after almost a year of struggling with doctors, finally had his g-tube removed. I thought the day would never come. He fussed a lot with the tube before it finally came out. After it was gone, it fussed with the absence of the tube. I didn't think he would be phased by it, but he was very sensitive in that area. Even changing the gauze was a huge todo and took the 2-3 of us to hold him down. He's small but mighty.
We had a feeling of such relief when Gianluca's tube was removed. We really felt like this kid is going to overcome anything and we are free and clear of tubes, wires and hospitals. Then came April 3rd. We had a trip planned for Chicago. Since I was still on maternity leave we thought it would be a great time take a trip as a family. We wanted to take Gianluca to Legoland and the Shedd Aquarium. A couple days prior Gianluca came down with what we thought was just a cough like I and Llazar had a couple weeks earlier. I kept denying the fact that he could get really sick and I kept telling Llazar, no, we don't need to go to the doctor. That was me verbalizing what I knew wasn't true in hopes that it could be. By April 3rd, the morning we were going to leave for Chicago, I was up at 7am. I pumped a bottle for Sabine as she slept and Llazar slept. Gianluca still not doing better and a fever still hanging around, it was time to get into urgent care. I refused to go to emergency. By 8am when urgent care opened there was already a 75 minute wait. Thankfully it only took about 15-20 minutes and the nice gentleman who got called before us told us to take his spot because he saw how sick Gianluca looked.
Well, a chest x-ray looked ok and no ear infection. They hooked up the pulse ox to see his oxygen saturations. With readings in the 80's they encouraged us to go the Children's Hospital. There they could test for a virus and give Gianluca faster assistance. I called Llazar, he got Sabine ready and we all went together to Children's Hospital. Gianluca fights anything that they doctors try to do. A blood pressure will never be something they nurses and doctors will retrieve successfully. However, some of the other pokes he relaxed to, which was a sign he wasn't feeling well. His fighting turned tired which meant we needed to do something. He slept as we waiting in the emergency room for pulmonary to come down to see him. From 10am we waited. By later in the afternoon, after a visit from his doctor of Pulmonary Hypertension and finally a doctor from Pulmonary. It was the immediate decision to admit him and medicate. Heartbreaking. We went over 2 years without a hospital stay. I went home to get an overnight bag for Llazar since I had to stay home to nurse Sabine. By 9pm, they finally had a room for Gianluca. A very long day.
When I returned in the morning, Gianluca was his normal energetic self that I remember. He had a great nights, sleep. Llazar, not so much. He spent the night holding oxygen to his face since Gianluca fought putting on the cannula. They gave him antibiotics and tested for viruses. He was doing so well, we took him home that afternoon. So thankful it was just a one night stay. A few days later we got a letter with results of his tests and he did get a virus. One I had never heard of and one the nurses couldn't pronounce. It I could find the paper I would post the name, but maybe another time. My only thought, though, was school. The only change in his life was that he was attended school. It makes me worried that when he starts going more frequently that he will get sick again and again. We are taking as many precautions as we can to prevent him from getting sick but I don't know that we can do enough. For now, once again he is healthy and doing better than ever. Even eating better, which is a blessing.
So the most recent news we have is that Gianluca will be going in for surgery on May 23rd. A couple weeks ago we noticed some stains in his shirt where his tube was. He was leaking from where his tube had been. That means it never really closed up. We thought it had because the pressure bandages were clean. Well, apparently it didn't heal fully and has he plays harder it leaks more. We had a surgical clinic visit last week and scheduled surgery to have it closed. I think it could be an outpatient procedure but it depends how it goes. The last time he had day surgery he was home without problems. I hope the same this time. We just want to make sure the until the 23rd we don't develop any infections and that he will continue to eat well. Ugh, when will it stop.
On a good note, we had Sabine's 2 month doctor's visit. He had her first round of vaccinations, which always makes me nervous. She did very well after a loud spout of crying. Her weight was 8lbs 6oz and 21.5 inches. Good growth from her birth weight of 6lbs 3oz, and losing weight down to 5lbs 9oz. She's nearly grown out of newborn clothing. Only the onsies will fit now. She's too long for any of the newborn sleepers. She even has those chubby thighs that Gianluca never really had. Her hair is getting longer and her eyes are staying strong at blue. We'll see if we have another blue-eyed child. I'm thinking she could have curly hair like Llazar, which would be so much fun to play with. I know, I know. She's not a doll. But, come one. You know all those mommies who love to dress up their babies and do up their hair. I'm not the only one.
Well, we missed our trip to Chicago so now we are heading to Minneapolis. I know, not luxury and I'm hoping by the end of May it won't snow again. I am heading there for a Yoga training and thought it would be great to show Llazar downtown Minneapolis and the weather should be beautiful for some outdoor exploring with the kids. Gotta get away when we get the opportunity.
Happy Mother's Day to all the mama's out there. Mine was pretty special because I have my two perfect babies and my perfect family. We are discussing my dream kitchen that will hopefully come in a home this year. Can't get any better than that...for now.
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| No more tube! |
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| Enjoying a walk in he favorite place. |
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| Big swing! |
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