Reflux and St. Pat's

Cabell had quite a day yesterday. Grandma took him to Doctor Ben for what we THOUGHT was an ear infection. Dr. Ben was concerned with how he sounded (he thought Cab may have an obstruction of some sort) and immediately sent him to an ENT. Mom called me and said I should get out there right away (I was at work), so I hauled butt in the pouring rain, just freaking out over what could be going on.

By the time I arrived at ENT associates, they had already performed the endoscopy (when a camera about the thickness of a piece of spaghetti is put down his throat through his nostrils), which Cabell did NOT enjoy). I wish I could have been there to comfort him (though I think seeing that would have been very difficult), but I am SO glad his grandma was with him!

The ENT was very nice (but SO young-looking; I swear he looked like he's my little brother's age!) and said that there was redness around his esophagus and that he has pretty bad reflux (known as GER). He said it's common in babies his age and, with proper treatment, should go away by around 7 or 8 months. He said a lot of the symptoms Cab has shown (spitup, refusing to nurse sometimes, his weak, pitiful cry lately) are all related to the reflux. He said he wanted us to go back to Dr. Ben the next morning (St Pat's) to start an "aggressive" treatment. We then realized that Cab was going to miss his first St Patrick's Day (a big deal here in Savannah), but what mattered most was taking care of our little guy.

We managed to get an early morning appointment with Dr. Ben and started him on his reflux treatment right away- baby Prevacid. We crush up half a pill in the morning, mix it in a dropper with a tablespoon of water, and feed it to Cabell. He took his first dose like a champ and I just pray that it kicks in soon. Dr. Ben said that if he went undiagnosed much longer, he could have aspirated into his lungs. He also said that Cabell's weak crying is a result of strain on his vocal chords AND that reflux can cause heartburn in babies, both of which just broke my heart. Please keep Butterbean in your prayers!

Well, we were done early enough that we made it to the parade. Cabell was a hit and had a good time once we got him out of the sun. Mr. Houston's truck was parked at the site and had dark-tinted windows, so both Hilary (a friend of ours whose son A.J. is just a month older than Cab) and I were able to nurse our babies nearby in privacy, which was great. Cabell hardly napped at ALL at the parade (maybe 10 minutes total), but he seemed to enjoy himself. After the parade, we made it over to the Houston's for the annual post-parade party and a great time was had by all. The highlight was definitely when we laid Cabell and A.J. down together and they seemed to have a GREAT time looking at each other.

Now the part you've been waiting for...PICTURES!

<---Hilary and I with some hot men we picked up at the parade.

The Sims and Stewart families (and a crabby Cabby)

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Snugglin' with Uncle Bubba ------->

<---The future's so bright, we gotta wear shades!

---> Chillin', a little bit of illin'

Best buds -->

This is what it's all about!! Erin go braugh!