Infection.....

Ian had his first round of life being immunocompromised with an infection. I took him to the pediatrican here last week. The doctor treated him pretty agressively with three forms of antibiotic to cover the areas affected (eye, ear, nose and under arm). I was pretty worried because if the antibiotics Ian was given didn't work that would almost certainly land us in the hospital at CHOA with the need for IV antibiotics.

Ian is doing great a week out from his start of antibiotics. We are so blessed! He learned how to handle the eye drops great! He even reminded me it was time for them at the end of the treatment cycle.

I continue to use germ-x everywhere we go and stock wipes...but somehow something slipped by my watchful eye. So to you germs out there....be afraid as I am stepping up my watch!

Stud Muffin - 5 Months Post Transplant

Ian is full of energy, sassiness and string cheese. He eats about 3 string cheeses a day and could do more if I let him. One of his favorite lines is "what can Ian have?"....repeated throughout the day even after we have just had a meal, snack, or treat.

His prograf has been increased again so we are again dealing with some nighttime dream issues. Since we a) knew to expect them and b) know how to handle them, this time it doesn't seem nearly as bad.

At 5 months out from transplant date, I continue to wipe down shopping carts when we go out--especially the ones that have a steering wheel that kids "drive". I won't describe the amount of grime that comes off when I do wipe them down but lets just say...even if your kids are not immunosuppresed, you want to be wiping down the carts, etc.

Ian is registered for preschool this fall. He already knows all that is on the academic agenda from the paperwork and information I got but the whole point is for him to grow socially at this stage. I am a bit nervous about the germ aspect and will be meeting with his teachers (there are two) in depth in the fall. I met them at registration and they seem like they will be awesome.

Ian is now in a booster chair and loving it. And no suprise as to the color he choose--orange. He wanted us to put in the booster when we bought it but because it was going to take some juggling for his sister, brett maneuvering the stuff, etc. his first ride in it was to church on Sunday.

The last visit to the transplant center (last week) was good. He met with the surgeon and got a glowing report (I stayed home with Ian's sister). Ian is in fact doing so well that we are cleared for a two month interval before needing to go back which is huge for our family. He still needs labs every other week which is very managable for us.

Ian is nicknamed stud muffin and to wrap up this post, here is a picture of our aptly name guy!

Update

Ian is doing very well all things considered post transplant. We are still having some trouble with bad dreams since his prograf level was increased. I keep pushing fluids on him and as the weather gets warmer here in Charleston I carry water with us wherever we go. Ian sweats a lot on top of needing extra water as a transplant kid. His special t scar is starting to look better espeically at the edges. I put mederma on it daily to help. We are hopeful that after his next visit to CHOA (next week) that he will be able to get on an every other month schedule for clinic visits. It would be huge!