Thursday, May 10, 2012
And then there was.....
Lucky number 13....sets of casts that is and we hope that is it. Westin's surgery went well, and he is now in his final set of casts!!!!!! We head back to Grand Forks to have them removed and to get him fitted for his AFO's on May 25th. I don't know what part we are more excited about. Being able to dress him without needing two of us to pull his pants on or being able to give him a normal bath. I'm so over these sponge baths. For the 4 months he's been alive he has had only 4 tub baths. First we couldn't give him a normal bath due to his umbilical cord/his stitches in his back. Now of course it was because of the casts. I think we will have to have our own tubby time photo shoot :) Below is a picture of our little trooper before his heel cord lengthening surgery.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Its about time....
that I update everyone!!! I'm sorry for the delay in updating.. its hard enough to find time to even find matching socks to wear to work!!
Just to give you an idea of what we have been up to. Westin is now 3 1/2 months old! I cant even believe it. we are also in our 12th set of casts, and Westin in finally ready for bilateral heel cord lengthening. The surgery is scheduled for tomorrow the 2nd. He was ready this past week but Westin got RSV from daycare and that delayed his surgery because he has to be able to pass his pre-op. So our goal is to be cast free by June 1st. We are excited to be done with those stinky things and get his AFO's. It will be good to get him in those so we can work on teaching him to bear weight on his legs.
Also we has Westin baptized on April 22nd. He was a perfect little angle throughout the whole service until we stood up to bring him to the front of the church... right on cue he started screaming at the top of his lungs and didn't stop until we sat down. :) but other then that it was a beautiful day spent with
family.
Also on Thursday the 3rd we have a head ultrasound scheduled in Fargo. We haven't had one since March 2nd and to me I feel like his soft spot has changed a little bit which is something we are always monitoring because hydrocephalus can develop at anytime. We are praying that everything is the same and that I'm worrying for nothing.. but its better to get it checked.
Please keep Westin in your thoughts and prayers over the next few days as we go through with his surgery and head ultrasound.
God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, or sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Just to give you an idea of what we have been up to. Westin is now 3 1/2 months old! I cant even believe it. we are also in our 12th set of casts, and Westin in finally ready for bilateral heel cord lengthening. The surgery is scheduled for tomorrow the 2nd. He was ready this past week but Westin got RSV from daycare and that delayed his surgery because he has to be able to pass his pre-op. So our goal is to be cast free by June 1st. We are excited to be done with those stinky things and get his AFO's. It will be good to get him in those so we can work on teaching him to bear weight on his legs.
Also we has Westin baptized on April 22nd. He was a perfect little angle throughout the whole service until we stood up to bring him to the front of the church... right on cue he started screaming at the top of his lungs and didn't stop until we sat down. :) but other then that it was a beautiful day spent with
family.
Also on Thursday the 3rd we have a head ultrasound scheduled in Fargo. We haven't had one since March 2nd and to me I feel like his soft spot has changed a little bit which is something we are always monitoring because hydrocephalus can develop at anytime. We are praying that everything is the same and that I'm worrying for nothing.. but its better to get it checked.
Please keep Westin in your thoughts and prayers over the next few days as we go through with his surgery and head ultrasound.
God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, or sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
Love the Wibergs!
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| Happy Family! |
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| Photo Shoot!! |
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| 4 generations |
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| 4 generations |
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| Big Boy!! |
Thursday, March 8, 2012
6 Months Ago Today.....
Six months ago today we found out that our little blessing, Westin would be born with spina bifida. Of course we were crushed after that appointment because nobody can prepare you to hear news like that. We went from having a normal happy pregnancy to worrying about what the outcome would be after 9 months. Over that time Heather was able to learn many things about spina bifida by blogs. She eventually got hooked up with the website called babycenter.com which also was a great tool for us. The things she learned helped us understand what Westin would possibly go through and helped us look to the positive. Westin is an amazing little boy and we are very proud to have him in our lives. We hope that you enjoy the videos!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
I'm reporting with....
SUPER NEWS!!! Our appointment in Minneapolis again couldn't have been any better. Westin's ventricles were still unchanged...hooray!!!! Now...drum roll please, we don't have to go back until June!!!!
Casting is still moving right along. Although we finally got it figured out. When we were in the see the Dr. last week for Westin's cold/rash we mentioned what a pain it's been to soak off the casts... Well I guess we should have said something 4 weeks ago because Dr. Halvorson said.. Well I can cut them off!!!!! I bet the look on our faces was like a kid at Christmas! So Monday morning we headed in to get them cut off. The saw was loud but Westin didn't mind it one bit.
Monday afternoon we were back in Fargo for another set. We are making progress, the Dr thinks we will need two more weeks of casting and then we will be ready for Westin to have his tendon release. But time will tell. Monday night I could tell that something was wrong with the right cast. So we called and sure enough Tuesday we were back in Fargo again........ Puke! But they put a new cast on and he was good as new. Not to mention they gave us a $5.00 voucher for the Sanford Cafateria for our troubles...haha!
So now we are getting the process started for MA, medical assistance. At first we were told that he didn't qualify, which was totally wrong. Now we got to sit down with a lady from Fargo that deals with this. She went over everything and helped us get all of the paperwork completed. Our next step will be for another home visit where a lady from Wahpeton will come look over Westin. Eventually we will have people coming into our home weekly to work with him. That part we are not really excited about, but overall we know that it will be good for us and Westin.
Please keep Westin in your prayers.
Quote of the day: You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 today and we don't know where the hell she is:-)
Casting is still moving right along. Although we finally got it figured out. When we were in the see the Dr. last week for Westin's cold/rash we mentioned what a pain it's been to soak off the casts... Well I guess we should have said something 4 weeks ago because Dr. Halvorson said.. Well I can cut them off!!!!! I bet the look on our faces was like a kid at Christmas! So Monday morning we headed in to get them cut off. The saw was loud but Westin didn't mind it one bit.
Monday afternoon we were back in Fargo for another set. We are making progress, the Dr thinks we will need two more weeks of casting and then we will be ready for Westin to have his tendon release. But time will tell. Monday night I could tell that something was wrong with the right cast. So we called and sure enough Tuesday we were back in Fargo again........ Puke! But they put a new cast on and he was good as new. Not to mention they gave us a $5.00 voucher for the Sanford Cafateria for our troubles...haha!
So now we are getting the process started for MA, medical assistance. At first we were told that he didn't qualify, which was totally wrong. Now we got to sit down with a lady from Fargo that deals with this. She went over everything and helped us get all of the paperwork completed. Our next step will be for another home visit where a lady from Wahpeton will come look over Westin. Eventually we will have people coming into our home weekly to work with him. That part we are not really excited about, but overall we know that it will be good for us and Westin.
Please keep Westin in your prayers.
Quote of the day: You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She's 97 today and we don't know where the hell she is:-)
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Casting.....YUCK
We have met a new enemy.. casting Westins feet. Yuck We all know that this has to be done but oh my what a pain this truly is. I had no idea it was going to be so much work.m From finding clothes that fit over the casts, to diaper changes.. to our weekly cast on session in Fargo to our end of the week soak off session.
The first week we removed them it took just under two hours with scissors, plyers and a razor blade. No babies were harmed in the process!!
3 weeks later we got a pretty good system down, this past week it only took 30 minutes and me, Travis and my mom. Westin developed a pretty bad pressure sore on his left foot so this week we only have one cast.
This past week Westin got his first cold.....talk about no fun, so we brought him into the dr to get that checked out as well as a rash that he developed 2 weeks ago... Turned out to just be baby acne and exema. After a few days of hydrocordozone he looks like a new baby!
We head back to the cities tomorrow for a head ultrasound, as well as a meeting with the Dr. to go over the results.....fingers crossed that his ventricals are unchanged. We feel his soft spot everyday along with measuring his head. From what we can tell things still look good but we will find out for sure tomorrow.
Westin has learned to smile at his mommy and daddy, and also another accomplishment....he slept a 6 hour strech last night!!! Woohoo...let's hope he keeps that up!
Of course im including pictures... They change so fast!
"A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for. ~unknown"
The first week we removed them it took just under two hours with scissors, plyers and a razor blade. No babies were harmed in the process!!
3 weeks later we got a pretty good system down, this past week it only took 30 minutes and me, Travis and my mom. Westin developed a pretty bad pressure sore on his left foot so this week we only have one cast.
This past week Westin got his first cold.....talk about no fun, so we brought him into the dr to get that checked out as well as a rash that he developed 2 weeks ago... Turned out to just be baby acne and exema. After a few days of hydrocordozone he looks like a new baby!
We head back to the cities tomorrow for a head ultrasound, as well as a meeting with the Dr. to go over the results.....fingers crossed that his ventricals are unchanged. We feel his soft spot everyday along with measuring his head. From what we can tell things still look good but we will find out for sure tomorrow.
Westin has learned to smile at his mommy and daddy, and also another accomplishment....he slept a 6 hour strech last night!!! Woohoo...let's hope he keeps that up!
Of course im including pictures... They change so fast!
"A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for. ~unknown"
Thursday, February 2, 2012
January 30th appt update
Well I pulled up the blog the other night and realized the post I wrote a few days back never got posted!!! Sorry for that! Well this past Monday we had our first family adventure and That's exactly what it was! Our first appt was at 1:15. We left the house at 9 am and made it with about 35 seconds to spare!!! It started with a head ultrasound and this was the first one that I was around to see! Talk about nerve wracking.... Once done there we managed to eat some cafeteria food and then we were off to meet with the Neurosurgeons nurse practitioner. The news he gave us could not have been better. I was so happy I could have kissed him!!!! Westins ventricles were unchanged. We know that we are be no means out of the woods with the risk of him developing hydrocephalus, but by him not having it yet is HUGE. From all of the blogs I read from parents of kids with SB dealing with a shunt is there biggest problem. So we are still in the lucky 10%!!! Westin was also able to get his stitches out so as soon as we got home we celebrated by giving him his first real bath!
The original plan was to go back for weekly Check ups but because everything looked so good we dont have to go back for a month!!!!!
This coming Monday we go to Fargo and Westin will get his first set of casts. I hope this process goes smoothly and that Westin corporates... With all of the feet exercises we have all been working on he has really gotten a lot more strength in his legs!!
Here are some pictures of his first bath, and a few others.. Hope you enjoy!
ps. Tuesdaybwas the first time I worked with him on tummy time,so I put him down on his tummy, looked away for 5 seconds... I looked backdown and he was on his back!!!!!!!!!! Talk about one proud mommy!!!! So I tried it again and sure enough he rolled right over!!!!!!!
Also we want to thank everyone that has come to visit, brought meals, and gifts. Everyone is soo thoughtful, and we love you all!!!
The Wibergs
The original plan was to go back for weekly Check ups but because everything looked so good we dont have to go back for a month!!!!!
This coming Monday we go to Fargo and Westin will get his first set of casts. I hope this process goes smoothly and that Westin corporates... With all of the feet exercises we have all been working on he has really gotten a lot more strength in his legs!!
Here are some pictures of his first bath, and a few others.. Hope you enjoy!
ps. Tuesdaybwas the first time I worked with him on tummy time,so I put him down on his tummy, looked away for 5 seconds... I looked backdown and he was on his back!!!!!!!!!! Talk about one proud mommy!!!! So I tried it again and sure enough he rolled right over!!!!!!!
Also we want to thank everyone that has come to visit, brought meals, and gifts. Everyone is soo thoughtful, and we love you all!!!
The Wibergs
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| BATHTIME!!! |
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| All Done! |
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| All tuckerd out from my first bath |
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| Im such a big boy... holding my bottle! |
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| Sucking my thumb! |
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Lots of updates!
Sorry for the delay in updating, once I was discharged from Abbott, the Childens hospital wouldn't allow access to the site so we are a little behind in our updates. I'll start with the most important update of all... WE ARE HOME!!!!! And it feels soooooo good! After not being outside for a week I was more then ready. It was a long ride home because the roads in the cites couldn't have been worse for driving.... And having a brand new bundle it was even more nerve wracking!!!!
All of Westin's tests went great. He had two more head ultrasounds and both showed that the ventricles were still normal! This will be monitored very close as this can change at any time, so for the next 4 weeks we will head back to the cities for check ups and head ultrasounds. After the next month these appts will be monthly. He also passed his hearing test and his carseat evaluation...who knew there was such a thing. He had to sit in his car seat for a hour hooked up to a monitor to check his heart rate and his breathing. We are also working on stretching his feet several times a day to help with his clubbed feet.
I know there is a lot to update on but the past week was pretty much a blur of dr's, nurses, machines, lots of snuggle time, and lack of sleep! The first night home went really well... Last night was not soo good. So we will see how tonight goes! Wish us luck. We are having the time of our life with him. Every day he amazes us more and more. We are so blessed and lucky to have him! I wanted to post some pictures of our new crazy life.
All of Westin's tests went great. He had two more head ultrasounds and both showed that the ventricles were still normal! This will be monitored very close as this can change at any time, so for the next 4 weeks we will head back to the cities for check ups and head ultrasounds. After the next month these appts will be monthly. He also passed his hearing test and his carseat evaluation...who knew there was such a thing. He had to sit in his car seat for a hour hooked up to a monitor to check his heart rate and his breathing. We are also working on stretching his feet several times a day to help with his clubbed feet.
I know there is a lot to update on but the past week was pretty much a blur of dr's, nurses, machines, lots of snuggle time, and lack of sleep! The first night home went really well... Last night was not soo good. So we will see how tonight goes! Wish us luck. We are having the time of our life with him. Every day he amazes us more and more. We are so blessed and lucky to have him! I wanted to post some pictures of our new crazy life.
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| READY OR NOT.... |
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| Hes here!! |
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| Right after birth with his back wrapped up, ready to be transffered to the NICU |
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| This is how he was transported to the NICU |
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| After I was out of recovery and seeing Westin for the first time |
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| His back before surgery. I was smaller then we were told from the ultrasounds. |
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| After surgery. |
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| First family photo! |
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| Go Sioux!! |
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