For our friends and family who have been asking, here is your update on Reagan.
At the time of our last post, we were working on getting her through a urinary tract infection with oral antibiotics and waiting for appointments for further testing. Her ultrasound yesterday revealed that her kidneys are growing normally, but that she does have what is known as a "Duplicated (or Duplex) Collecting System" on her right side, where there is an extra ureter attached to the kidney. This puts children at higher risk for urinary reflux (Vesicoureteral Reflux is the fancy term) and for dilation in the kidneys or ureters, which is bad. During the second procedure, the VCUG, we watched as her kidneys filled up with urine, indicating that she does in fact have urine running backwards up the ureters (urinary reflux). The reflux is not so much something to be worried about in itself, as urine inside of the body is considered sterile. However, if bacteria enters through the urethra (as with her urinary tract infection), gets into the bladder, and works its way up the ureters into the kidneys, it can cause scarring. At this point in time, we are waiting to hear whether there is any dilation as well as how severe her reflux is. The good news is that often times the reflux resolves itself somewhere between 1 and 2 years of age, so we may be just looking at giving her daily oral antibiotics to prevent infection until she has outgrown the condition. Worst case scenario involves surgery to correct the abnormality by removing the extra ureter.
Our doctor is fabulous and has reassured us over and over that even in the event of surgery, Reagan is going to be fine. She has referred us to a urologist here in Grand Rapids, and we will know more after that appointment. Reagan is in great spirits and is otherwise doing very well. We are anxious, but optimistic, but welcoming prayers!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
We're back! Seems it has been a while since we last updated. As it turns out, time flies when you're having fun, and extra time doesn't exist when you have a child!
Sweet Reagan Reese is now 5 months old (5 months old!!), growing like a weed, and smart as a whip. She's now a whopping 15 lbs. in weight and remains in the 90th percentile for height ... I mean, her parents are two of the tallest people you know, I'm sure. (Right!) She is doing some pretty incredible things developmentally. Well, we think they're pretty incredible; she's right on track, and even advanced about many things, according to good old Dr. Jayne! Parents get very excited about that sort of thing, while everyone else no doubt thinks they're annoying for constantly bragging about it. It is so hard not to once it's your own kid, though! She sits up alone in her Bumbo seat, she stands to play in her fabulously fun Exersaucer, and she is developing the dexterity she needs to put EVERYTHING into her mouth (toys, binkies, blankies, Tucker's ears, our fingers and her own), as well as a slew of other things my brain isn't acknowledging at this sleepy moment...
We began feeding solid foods to Reagan shortly before she turned 5 months old, however, her appetite has since tanked and we are pumping her full of all the formula we can at this point to get adequate calories in her. So we have laid off the solids for a minute to give her a chance to regain her appetite and to ensure she's getting a sufficient amount to eat for the time being. I anticipate it won't be long before we're back to solids.
Perhaps one of the most exciting developments is that she has cut her first tooth! It's a tiny little guy poking through her bottom gum, and it is so, so cute, but it is certainly causing her a bit of a headache. She has been in a good deal of pain throughout today. I will be okay with it when we are through this difficult piece of her growth!
We had a scary little evening last weekend on Saturday as Joe and I were preparing to go out for the night. Aunt Erin arrived to babysit and I was waking Reagan from her nap, and at first she was bubbly and smiling and all was well. Within a matter of minutes, however, we noticed that her lips looked blue and her skin was pale, she began to shake and her mouth was chattering, and she went limp in my arms - just totally unresponsive. My child, you see, is not a still nor quiet child, so this was frightening for us, especially once we got her temperature and discovered it was at 101.7. Even worse still, once we arrived to the pediatric clinic here in Grand Rapids known as Grapes, her fever had spiked to 104.2. We got through that night anyway (needless to say, we did not go out!) and saw her doctor just yesterday, at which point she was given an antibiotic shot to finally bring her fever down for at least the next 48 hours. So far, so good, which puts me at ease some, as her fever had been running between 100.5 and 103 for around 6 days. Additionally, she is being treated by oral antibiotics for the urinary tract infection that is responsible for this recurring fever. In two weeks she will have an ultrasound on her kidneys to monitor size and growth, then she will be catheterized and prepared for a "VCUG," whereby they dye the contents of her bladder and take x-rays of her bladder and kidneys to check for urinary reflux. My gut tells me all will be well once her infection has cleared up, but we are nonetheless praying that it is so.
On a brighter note, it sounds like Joe is itching to bring her highchair up from the basement, so she may be moving into her big girl chair for meals once she is back to eating solid foods. By the way, it amazes me that eating is something you have to learn to do. She does very well though swallowing the meals that come in the jar, so I am excited to begin making our own jars of food once we are back to that point.
She is pretty much a peach and we are absolutely nuts about her.
Sweet Reagan Reese is now 5 months old (5 months old!!), growing like a weed, and smart as a whip. She's now a whopping 15 lbs. in weight and remains in the 90th percentile for height ... I mean, her parents are two of the tallest people you know, I'm sure. (Right!) She is doing some pretty incredible things developmentally. Well, we think they're pretty incredible; she's right on track, and even advanced about many things, according to good old Dr. Jayne! Parents get very excited about that sort of thing, while everyone else no doubt thinks they're annoying for constantly bragging about it. It is so hard not to once it's your own kid, though! She sits up alone in her Bumbo seat, she stands to play in her fabulously fun Exersaucer, and she is developing the dexterity she needs to put EVERYTHING into her mouth (toys, binkies, blankies, Tucker's ears, our fingers and her own), as well as a slew of other things my brain isn't acknowledging at this sleepy moment...
We began feeding solid foods to Reagan shortly before she turned 5 months old, however, her appetite has since tanked and we are pumping her full of all the formula we can at this point to get adequate calories in her. So we have laid off the solids for a minute to give her a chance to regain her appetite and to ensure she's getting a sufficient amount to eat for the time being. I anticipate it won't be long before we're back to solids.
Perhaps one of the most exciting developments is that she has cut her first tooth! It's a tiny little guy poking through her bottom gum, and it is so, so cute, but it is certainly causing her a bit of a headache. She has been in a good deal of pain throughout today. I will be okay with it when we are through this difficult piece of her growth!
We had a scary little evening last weekend on Saturday as Joe and I were preparing to go out for the night. Aunt Erin arrived to babysit and I was waking Reagan from her nap, and at first she was bubbly and smiling and all was well. Within a matter of minutes, however, we noticed that her lips looked blue and her skin was pale, she began to shake and her mouth was chattering, and she went limp in my arms - just totally unresponsive. My child, you see, is not a still nor quiet child, so this was frightening for us, especially once we got her temperature and discovered it was at 101.7. Even worse still, once we arrived to the pediatric clinic here in Grand Rapids known as Grapes, her fever had spiked to 104.2. We got through that night anyway (needless to say, we did not go out!) and saw her doctor just yesterday, at which point she was given an antibiotic shot to finally bring her fever down for at least the next 48 hours. So far, so good, which puts me at ease some, as her fever had been running between 100.5 and 103 for around 6 days. Additionally, she is being treated by oral antibiotics for the urinary tract infection that is responsible for this recurring fever. In two weeks she will have an ultrasound on her kidneys to monitor size and growth, then she will be catheterized and prepared for a "VCUG," whereby they dye the contents of her bladder and take x-rays of her bladder and kidneys to check for urinary reflux. My gut tells me all will be well once her infection has cleared up, but we are nonetheless praying that it is so.
On a brighter note, it sounds like Joe is itching to bring her highchair up from the basement, so she may be moving into her big girl chair for meals once she is back to eating solid foods. By the way, it amazes me that eating is something you have to learn to do. She does very well though swallowing the meals that come in the jar, so I am excited to begin making our own jars of food once we are back to that point.
She is pretty much a peach and we are absolutely nuts about her.
Friday, October 9, 2009
My, how time seems to be flying! Reagan is one month old as of Wednesday, and I am in disbelief as to how this can be. Joe and I used to joke about getting ready for our lives to flash before our eyes once kids came along, and it seems there is more truth to that than we ever could have realized!
We are learning so much about this little person we brought into the world. For example, when she is upset, saying "Shhhh..." calms her better than any pacifier could ever do. She poops a lot (I mean a LOT!) and this is always accompanied by the only fussiness we really get out of her (thank goodness). And, she LOVES bath time! I'm not sure if it's the sound of the running water or the warmth of the bath, or the sense of being pampered (she is proving to be one of those girls!), or all of those things combined that makes her so content. It sure is sweet to see, though:
I was told all throughout my pregnancy to prepare to get zero sleep once the baby arrived, so I was a little terrified of that, but Reagan has been a peach in this regard. At present time, she is sleeping five-hour stretches in the night! That has been a welcomed surprise! I think we are finally settling into some semblance of a routine. It is so nice for me that Joe wakes with her in the morning before he heads off to work to change her and get her ready to be fed - it's a little extra sleep in my bank!
That's all we've got for now. More photos to come - we can't seem to stop snapping them. Oh, parenthood...
-h
We are learning so much about this little person we brought into the world. For example, when she is upset, saying "Shhhh..." calms her better than any pacifier could ever do. She poops a lot (I mean a LOT!) and this is always accompanied by the only fussiness we really get out of her (thank goodness). And, she LOVES bath time! I'm not sure if it's the sound of the running water or the warmth of the bath, or the sense of being pampered (she is proving to be one of those girls!), or all of those things combined that makes her so content. It sure is sweet to see, though:
I was told all throughout my pregnancy to prepare to get zero sleep once the baby arrived, so I was a little terrified of that, but Reagan has been a peach in this regard. At present time, she is sleeping five-hour stretches in the night! That has been a welcomed surprise! I think we are finally settling into some semblance of a routine. It is so nice for me that Joe wakes with her in the morning before he heads off to work to change her and get her ready to be fed - it's a little extra sleep in my bank!
That's all we've got for now. More photos to come - we can't seem to stop snapping them. Oh, parenthood...
-h
Friday, September 11, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
So we're finally home with little Reagan, and so far so good. We've gotten settled, Grandma Cisler came and cooked an amazing little seafood boil that puts any high end restaurant to shame (spoiled...we know...), and Reagan is eating, sleeping, and pooping just like she should be (proud pappa...). Heather and I are already laughing at ourselves for the fact that we never thought we would be those parents that would jump up to check on the baby every two or three seconds for fear that the worst has happened, but we are definitely those parents right now. In the end, aside from being a nervous wreck every time we put her down to sleep, it's been amazing. What an unbelievable experience, and this is just the start of it all. Here's a little video from our last night in the hospital.
-j
-j
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
She's here! Reagan Reese Cisler was born yesterday - 9.07.2007 - at 11:37 a.m. She clocked in at a healthy 8 lbs., 15 oz. and was 20.5 inches in length. Joe, Reagan and I are all healthy and well, and I know Joe agrees when I remark on my shock at how smoothly this whole process has gone for us. Example: this is just prior to delivery. Notice Joe sound asleep on the cot in the corner as I giggle and chat with his mom. Most of the delivery was spent laughing and cracking jokes, which was not at all what we had anticipated.
Next is dad and his girl approximately one hour after delivery. This is the first time Joe has gotten to hold her, thanks to routine tests and such. I speak for both of us when I say we are over the moon to finally have her here!
And finally, this photo was taken today with one of the bows I couldn't wait to put on her head! She always wants to be sucking on something, especially her hands. This is not surprising to us as her hands are near her mouth in every ultrasound photo we have, so we had some indication that this would be the case.
More photos to come. She continues to get more gorgeous each day, especially as her swelling goes down, so you can be sure the pictures will border on excessive.
-h
Next is dad and his girl approximately one hour after delivery. This is the first time Joe has gotten to hold her, thanks to routine tests and such. I speak for both of us when I say we are over the moon to finally have her here!
And finally, this photo was taken today with one of the bows I couldn't wait to put on her head! She always wants to be sucking on something, especially her hands. This is not surprising to us as her hands are near her mouth in every ultrasound photo we have, so we had some indication that this would be the case.
More photos to come. She continues to get more gorgeous each day, especially as her swelling goes down, so you can be sure the pictures will border on excessive.
-h
Thursday, September 3, 2009
I was incorrect the other night in stating that I was five days out from my due date; I was in fact six days out and am currently four days from it. Boy, did that goof me up, thinking I was one day closer than I am in actuality!
Still, I cannot complain too much. I have been told all along that the third trimester, particularly this close to delivery, is a rough time, and I am really just not experiencing that. Aside from some general aches and pains (knees, hip flexors, etc.) and the dash to the bathroom a few times per night, I am sleeping really quite well. All things considered, I am more comfortable at 40 weeks pregnant than I ever imagined I might be. The bigger anxiety, I think, is for friends and family who can't wait to meet this little person!
I just can't wait to see my husband in action being the best dad on this side of the Mississippi, guaranteed! What a wonderful person I get to do this with; I couldn't have it any better. He is incredible. I feel like a pretty lucky little duck.
Waiting "patiently" for hopefully not too much longer...
-h
Still, I cannot complain too much. I have been told all along that the third trimester, particularly this close to delivery, is a rough time, and I am really just not experiencing that. Aside from some general aches and pains (knees, hip flexors, etc.) and the dash to the bathroom a few times per night, I am sleeping really quite well. All things considered, I am more comfortable at 40 weeks pregnant than I ever imagined I might be. The bigger anxiety, I think, is for friends and family who can't wait to meet this little person!
I just can't wait to see my husband in action being the best dad on this side of the Mississippi, guaranteed! What a wonderful person I get to do this with; I couldn't have it any better. He is incredible. I feel like a pretty lucky little duck.
Waiting "patiently" for hopefully not too much longer...
-h
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