Updates on number 4 and number 5

My youngest has been in the hospital for two weeks. When he was born he had a difficult time breathing. He would breath but he had a pronounced strider. Then later he lost energy and started losing weight. This was due to serious reflux which caused him to avoid eating. While his conditions are serious, it is fixable with common medical procedures. What is more, he had two of the best pediatric surgeons in the country perform these procedures.

The second operation was done last Monday and took about five hours. It is call a jaw distraction.

They cut his lower mandible on both sides (7) and attach a flat metal devise (1) which can extend or retract. Each day the space is extended on both sides by a millimeter and bone matrix begins to fill in the gap. Once the jaw is extended to the appropriate length they allow it to settle permanently then remove the devices from both sides. This procedure along with the first should let my son breath easy and reduce his reflux from here on out.

Both operations were successful. He has been recovering well. He is gaining weight, energy and the zest for life that every three month old should have.

My second youngest was born with bilateral hip displacia, the leg bones aren't connected to hip bones. Just this last Tuesday she went in for a bilateral hip arthrogram. This procedure was also performed by one of the chief specialists in this field. As it turn out, the doctor was able to maneuver them into place manually and my little girl only required a minor incision to release a tendon. Then they put her in a body cast for the next three months.

It was universally expressed by the doctors, nurses, and hospital staff that she was the most well adjusted and cutest patient they had ever seen.

. . . and that's the update.