Abe’s First Months at Home

Six Months

Sent March 31, 2012

Happy Spring! (Although with a high of 90 forecasted for tomorrow, it feels more like summer.)

It seems like forever ago that I last wrote an update about Abe, but it’s only been 2 months. Abe continues to do well. He had appointments on Monday and we got good reports! He had a chest x-ray and follow-up visit with the surgeon, Dr. Bufo. He was pleased with how Abe is doing and doesn’t need to see him again for 6 months! We also learned that since Abe’s colon makes a couple hairpin turns instead of 90 degree turns, he’ll have a tougher time getting things to move through. As a result, we started prunes on Wednesday. ;) Dr. Bufo recommend that we see a pediatric spine specialist to check out the “butterfly vertebrae” that are visible in Abe’s x-ray. These are vertebrae that didn’t completely close, so instead of a complete ring, there’s a little gap in them. Dr. Bufo is not too concerned, but wanted Abe to see the orthopedist to be sure. What’s one more specialist, right? Our appointment is April 19th. Abe also had his 6 month check-up with his pediatrician. He’s still at the 10th percentile for size, weighing in at 14 lbs, 11 oz. His shots were a little tougher this time around, but he calmed down after a few minutes.

We dedicated Abe to the LORD at church on March 18. (He was 1 of 5 babies dedicated, with 3 more in the near future.) It was certainly a special time – something we weren’t sure we’d get to experience 6 months ago. God is good! Abe has eaten – and liked – every solid food we’ve given him so far, including broccoli, yellow zucchini squash, and avacado. He made some funny faces with the prunes and bananas, but still eats them. He’s so close to rolling over from his back to his tummy....his arm just gets in the way. He still hates tummy time, though, so I have a feeling crawling is a ways off yet. He can sit for a few seconds if we balance him just right, and he’s making new sounds and noises. He loves Daddy’s loud kisses and when Mom tickles him under his chin. Abe is also enamored with Ibu, our cat. He watches her whenever she’s in the room, and starts kicking his legs whenever she comes close. Ibu’s even let him pet her a few times without revealing her claws, so that’s good. Abe is a huge fan of his Johnny Jump Up. And so am I because I can get supper made while he’s in it! Abe has become a great sleeper.....he sleeps straight through the night from 6:30pm to 7am, and he has a couple 1–2 hour naps during the day. Joel and I are very grateful for the “Healthy Sleep Habits” book we received as a gift – thanks, Traci!

We’re headed to North Dakota to spend Easter with my family, so Abe will get to meet whichever members of the Heringer clan will be at Uncle Wayne & Aunt Jude’s. Easter is my favorite holiday. What could be better than celebrating our Risen Savior who conquered death and gives us eternal life? We continue to pray that Abe will someday accept Jesus as his Savior and that he will know, love, and serve Christ Jesus as Lord.

Our updates will probably be fewer and further between, but Joel will continue adding pictures and videos to the website periodically, so feel free to check it out once in a while. We are so thankful for all who have journeyed with us, and we praise the LORD for all that He has done!

In Christ,
Joel, Holly, & Abe

Abe Is Rolling

Rolling Since February 25, 2012

Pita Pit A Tip A Tip

Posted February 8, 2012

EKG Happy Time

Posted February 2, 2012

Four Months

Sent February 2, 2012

Dear Family & Friends,

We had a full day of doctors’ appointments on Tuesday, but Abe checked out well!

We started out with the gastroenterologist who was pleased with the effectiveness of the Prevacid in managing Abe’s reflux. Dr. Nanton is fine with Abe’s weight gain. He anticipates that Abe will have to be on Prevacid for 1-2 years, but if that’s the biggest complication we have it’s nothing to complain about. He also suggested starting Abe on solid foods because he thinks it will help reduce his reflux even more. So rice cereal is in Abe’s near future.

Next we saw the cardiologist. Abe had an EKG done (It took longer to put all the stickies on and connect the wires than to actually run the test) and another echocardiogram. This is the first time his heart has been checked since he was discharged from the hospital. Abe was not very cooperative with the echo, but the ultrasound tech was patient with us and eventually she was able to get what she needed. Dr. Sami said that Abe’s EKG showed a variation of normal, and that his hypertension was within the normal range (that was the big issue at the hospital). Big news: Abe doesn’t have to go back to the cardiologist (unless, of course, there are concerns that develop later)! We’ve graduated from one specialist!

Our last appointment was with our pediatrician. Dr. Sami had mentioned a “vertebral anomaly” noted in the chest x-ray he had in December. We asked Dr. Kooima about it, and he said that whatever caused the diaphragmatic hernia also likely caused a couple of his vertebrae to not completely fuse together - instead of complete rings, there’s a little gap in them. There’s nothing that can be done, but he doesn’t anticipate major problems. We’ll just have to watch him for scoliosis at a younger age. Dr. Kooima is satisfied with Abe’s development and weight gain. This is the first set of appointments where anyone’s given us Abe’s percentiles. He’s about 12th percentile for weight, 25th for height, and 50th for head circumference. He’s on the low end of the curve, but the doctors are okay with that as long as he gains weight steadily.

Our next appointments are in March for his 6-month check and another chest x-ray and follow-up with the surgeon. Thank you for your faithful prayers. Please continue praying that Abe grows healthy and strong and there are no complications. We appreciate you!

In Christ,
Joel, Holly, & Abe

P/S – My mom recently had a check-up at Mayo for her cancer, and her cancer numbers went down again! In fact, there were no measurable cancer protein cells detected! Praise the Lord!

Play Time In Bumbo Seat

Posted January 29, 2012

A New Year: 2012

Posted January 24, 2012

Christmastime

Posted December 29, 2011

Three Months

Sent December 23, 2011

Merry Christmas!

Abe had several check-ups on Wednesday, and they all went well. The surgeon is pleased with his weight gain, and said his chest x-ray (taken earlier that day) showed that his lungs were filling up his chest and his heart is where it should be. Abe will continue to have chest x-rays and follow-ups with the surgeon every 3 months until he’s at least a year old. He gave us orders not to baby him and treat him like a normal baby. We also met with the pediatric gastroenterologist for Abe’s reflux. He recommended trying Prevacid once a day to see if that helps. Reflux is the most common issue for babies with diaphragmatic hernia, so it’s nothing major. We also saw his pediatrician who is also pleased with Abe’s progress. Before our appointments, we stopped by the NICU to say hi, and the nurses and neonatologist were all happy to see us. They were impressed with how much Abe has grown in the last 6 weeks. As of this past week, Abe has lived at home longer than he lived in the NICU! At the end of January, Abe will have a follow-up with the pediatric cardiologist to check his heart, the gastroenterologist to see how the Prevacid is working, and have his 4-month check-up with his pediatrician.

Abe weighs 10 pounds, 12 ounces now. He still just takes cat-naps during the day (with an occasional 45 minute nap or if we’re really lucky a 2-hour one, which is very rare), but he sleeps well at night - just wakes up to eat then goes back to sleep. Abe is smiling and cooing and gurgling. He especially likes silly noises and funny faces. He’s starting to watch his toys more and can entertain himself for a little while, and he does well with tracking objects. We’re trying a few different styles of cloth diapers, and we really like them!

Please continue to pray that Abe keeps gaining weight at a healthy rate (3/4 to 1 oz a day) and that the Prevacid will help with his reflux. We’re excited to spend Christmas in Hendricks with Joel’s family. His sister and her family are here, so Abe got to meet 3 of his cousins. They were eager to see him in person and are already loving on him. We pray that you all have a very Merry Christmas celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus.

In Christ,
Joel & Holly & Abe