Tuesday, June 30, 2009
3rd tooth emerges...
Before the whole KD debacle, I suspected K was teething due to the fever (ahem) and excessive drooling. Sure enough, after a long wait, his upper tooth finally emerged! Phew! Now he can hopefully have 4 little teeth to accompany him for his birthday!
Monday, June 29, 2009
...the road to recovery...
After the IVIG was administered, K's symptoms cleared and he made a miraculous turnaround. Suddenly, he was all hyper and happy again. So much so that he pulled the drip off his hand and ended up having his blood squirt in all directions. Damn scary and disgusting at the same time. Thankfully, the nurse chose to respond quickly to my distress call and rescued us from the pool of blood.Oh, and K was mistaken for a girl again!!! Several times!!!
As of Sunday, K has been discharged from the hospital. We have to give him a daily dose of Aspirin and hope for the best during his heart scan next week. I've also gone abit mad buying baby supplements...I've stocked up on ChildLife products like the Colostrum with Probiotics, Cod Liver Oil, First Defense. They all have similar functions-- to build up the immune system and to protect against viruses.
Update on stats:
On the day he was admitted, at 10mths 24days, K was 8.445kg-- almost the same as 2mths ago!
A couple of days before discharge, at 10mths 27days, K was 9.06kg-- how it happened was a
mystery since he was surviving mainly on the drip.
On the day of discharge, at exactly 11mths, K was 8.9kg and 78cm tall.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Kawasaki
It started off with fever. One morning I woke up and felt Keston feverish. His temperature was over 38 deg. I was reluctant to give him any paracetamol at first cos I've read some articles which discouraged dosing paracetamol. Anyways, after a day or so, I relented as watering and sponging him did not bring down the fever at all. He was slightly cranky but pretty much ate, drank and played as normal.
After a day or 2 of paracetamol, the fever was still high....higher in fact. And he started developing a couple of red rash on his chest and face, which we thought were mozzie bites.
The next day, Keston did not drink much milk for his morning feed and his fever shot up to over 40 degrees. That's when we pressed the panic buton. Rushed down to KKH and being a Tuesday morning, the A&E was virtually deserted. Probably also partly because of his high fever, Keston got to see a doctor immediately. By then, his chest and stomache had developed a full rash and the area above his eyes were red. His hands and feet were also reddish and cold. We did a blood test and collected urine sample. (Interesting point: How on earth do you collect urine samples for a baby? They stick this plastic bag thingumy over his penis inside the diaper and you have to constantly check to see if there's any pee in the bag.) In the time we were waiting for the test results, the rash had spread down his thighs....and his hands became redder still.
The doctor suspected Urinary Tract Infection from the urine test, but that further tests would have to be done to be conclusive. During admission, I even told HW how mafan UTI is and hope it's not UTI. Thankfully we got a 1-bedder immediately, and back in our old ward. By this time Keston was super cranky and whiney. His rashes had gotten worse and his eyes were red and swollen. His face, hands and feet were puffy and did not look like him at all! This time we had to collect 2 fresh urine samples. Fresh meaning he has to pee straight into the collection bottle and not that plastic bag thingy. It was no mean feat but HW stood by opening and closing K's diaper every few seconds, armed with the sample bottle. He got the 2 samples fairly quickly.
Afternoon came and more doctors came. They eliminated the possibility of UTI based on the new urine samples, and suspected Kawasaki Disease instead. That's when I started going "Oh please let it be UTI, not Kawasaki!" I'd heard vaguely of Kawasaki a few months back during one of those random surfings I like to do. I did not know (still don't actually) anything about it, except that it is strange, elusive and dangerous. In comparisson, UTI sounded pretty ok!
Keston would have to be put on drip again as he's gotta have antibiotics and also cos he's refusing ALL food, ALL milk. This is very very painful cos they always have to poke him several times before finding a vein and we have to stand outside the door hearing him scream and cry. With the puffiness of his limbs, this task would be even harder. As expected, the first Dr did not manage to locate a vein.....so a more senior Dr was called upon. The 2nd Dr, took a fairly short time and confidently told me "It's difficult but we manged to locate a vein". Keston emerged with a splint to his foot. Come night time, his foot had swelled into a pig trotter! That's when we realise the plug was not installed properly and all the drip was pumped into dunno what part of his body. They quickly removed it and prepared another insertion. This time the plug was inserted into his right hand. The whole day, Keston had only energy for crying and whining. He hardly moved and never smiled. You could put the rail guards of the cot down and he wouldn't even try to roll, crawl or move. His fever was still consistent in the range of 39-40+ degrees. Sponging him and making him sleep on a coolmat did not help. Even after paracetamol, the fever never went down....well, it did....but to a 38+ range which is still a fever.
Wednesday, we were still waiting for the Culture test and Blood test results to be in. Our senior consultant came in to explain about Kawasaki. See? It's so elusive that after yonks of reading and explanations, I still don't quite get it. Anyway, Keston was to be observed for another 24 hours to see if his fever would go down. He would be given high dosage of Aspirin and if his fever did subside, then it probably isn't Kawasaki. We were not so lucky, his fever was still consistently high despite the regular meds, baths and water parade. Keston's face became so swollen and his eyes were small and bloody. He was almost beyond recognition. On my part, I did read up on the symptoms of Kawasaki and Keston pretty much displayed 90% of the symptoms.
Thursday, the Consultant advised us to start on the Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) treatment. As this is a form of blood transfusion, there were certain risks involved. Although we were assured the risks would be minimal since the blood donors were screened very carefully, I could not help but worry.....especially as I had to sign the bloody consent form! It's like if anything happened, it would be my fault cos I consented to it!!!
The IVIG was administered through the drip along with Aspirin. He was wired up to the Electrocardiography machine to check if he'd have any adverse reaction. The poor baby was wired up everywhere. One hand to the drip, 1 leg to a blood pressure pump, another foot to some other test....and 3 electrodes on his body. He was super uncomfortable to look at. He had only his left hand available and he really didn't have much energy to move it anyway. This was to go on for 12hrs. Thankfully (in a way), he was so weak that he was groggy all the time...so aside from whining and crying, he did fall asleep pretty quickly and pretty often.
By evening time, he really looked much better! Most of the rashes on his face had cleared and the puffiness had cleared abit so his eyes were abit wider. He could smile a little. The fever was still there, which was abit worrying.
The IVIG was completed around 1am and the ECG and stuff were removed an hour later. Keston finally got to sleep at around 2am...but was awakened at 3am by a nurse coming in to take some measurements/readings. After that was done and he fell asleep again...I was awakened at around 4am by his persistent crying...somehow the plug had come loose and the drip was flooding his bed. His hand was swelling up. Sigh~ Back to finding a new vein to insert the plug. Thank God it didn't take too long and I was able to put him back to bed at around 4.30am. Then he was awakened at 7.30am again for aspirin. Sigh~ Not enough sleep (both Keston and I)!
On a positive note, Keston did not have any bad reaction to the IVIG. And his fever went down after the IVIG was completed. As of now, 12 hours later, he still does not have a fever. His fever has to stay down for the next 24 hours, or....I can't remember or what. But let's just pray his fever will not come back for awhile. After which, the dosage of aspirin will be lowered and he should hopefully be discharged on Sunday.
On a negative note, we'll never have an all-clear from the disease. It may relapse anytime. We have to come back in a week's time to do tests on his heart...and another one in 3 months' time. In the meantime he will have to be on aspirin daily...until the cows come home.
Please keep Keston in your prayers. Pray for his full recovery and that he won't develop any heart conditions. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
After a day or 2 of paracetamol, the fever was still high....higher in fact. And he started developing a couple of red rash on his chest and face, which we thought were mozzie bites.
The next day, Keston did not drink much milk for his morning feed and his fever shot up to over 40 degrees. That's when we pressed the panic buton. Rushed down to KKH and being a Tuesday morning, the A&E was virtually deserted. Probably also partly because of his high fever, Keston got to see a doctor immediately. By then, his chest and stomache had developed a full rash and the area above his eyes were red. His hands and feet were also reddish and cold. We did a blood test and collected urine sample. (Interesting point: How on earth do you collect urine samples for a baby? They stick this plastic bag thingumy over his penis inside the diaper and you have to constantly check to see if there's any pee in the bag.) In the time we were waiting for the test results, the rash had spread down his thighs....and his hands became redder still.
The doctor suspected Urinary Tract Infection from the urine test, but that further tests would have to be done to be conclusive. During admission, I even told HW how mafan UTI is and hope it's not UTI. Thankfully we got a 1-bedder immediately, and back in our old ward. By this time Keston was super cranky and whiney. His rashes had gotten worse and his eyes were red and swollen. His face, hands and feet were puffy and did not look like him at all! This time we had to collect 2 fresh urine samples. Fresh meaning he has to pee straight into the collection bottle and not that plastic bag thingy. It was no mean feat but HW stood by opening and closing K's diaper every few seconds, armed with the sample bottle. He got the 2 samples fairly quickly.
Afternoon came and more doctors came. They eliminated the possibility of UTI based on the new urine samples, and suspected Kawasaki Disease instead. That's when I started going "Oh please let it be UTI, not Kawasaki!" I'd heard vaguely of Kawasaki a few months back during one of those random surfings I like to do. I did not know (still don't actually) anything about it, except that it is strange, elusive and dangerous. In comparisson, UTI sounded pretty ok!
Keston would have to be put on drip again as he's gotta have antibiotics and also cos he's refusing ALL food, ALL milk. This is very very painful cos they always have to poke him several times before finding a vein and we have to stand outside the door hearing him scream and cry. With the puffiness of his limbs, this task would be even harder. As expected, the first Dr did not manage to locate a vein.....so a more senior Dr was called upon. The 2nd Dr, took a fairly short time and confidently told me "It's difficult but we manged to locate a vein". Keston emerged with a splint to his foot. Come night time, his foot had swelled into a pig trotter! That's when we realise the plug was not installed properly and all the drip was pumped into dunno what part of his body. They quickly removed it and prepared another insertion. This time the plug was inserted into his right hand. The whole day, Keston had only energy for crying and whining. He hardly moved and never smiled. You could put the rail guards of the cot down and he wouldn't even try to roll, crawl or move. His fever was still consistent in the range of 39-40+ degrees. Sponging him and making him sleep on a coolmat did not help. Even after paracetamol, the fever never went down....well, it did....but to a 38+ range which is still a fever.
Wednesday, we were still waiting for the Culture test and Blood test results to be in. Our senior consultant came in to explain about Kawasaki. See? It's so elusive that after yonks of reading and explanations, I still don't quite get it. Anyway, Keston was to be observed for another 24 hours to see if his fever would go down. He would be given high dosage of Aspirin and if his fever did subside, then it probably isn't Kawasaki. We were not so lucky, his fever was still consistently high despite the regular meds, baths and water parade. Keston's face became so swollen and his eyes were small and bloody. He was almost beyond recognition. On my part, I did read up on the symptoms of Kawasaki and Keston pretty much displayed 90% of the symptoms.
Thursday, the Consultant advised us to start on the Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) treatment. As this is a form of blood transfusion, there were certain risks involved. Although we were assured the risks would be minimal since the blood donors were screened very carefully, I could not help but worry.....especially as I had to sign the bloody consent form! It's like if anything happened, it would be my fault cos I consented to it!!!
The IVIG was administered through the drip along with Aspirin. He was wired up to the Electrocardiography machine to check if he'd have any adverse reaction. The poor baby was wired up everywhere. One hand to the drip, 1 leg to a blood pressure pump, another foot to some other test....and 3 electrodes on his body. He was super uncomfortable to look at. He had only his left hand available and he really didn't have much energy to move it anyway. This was to go on for 12hrs. Thankfully (in a way), he was so weak that he was groggy all the time...so aside from whining and crying, he did fall asleep pretty quickly and pretty often.
By evening time, he really looked much better! Most of the rashes on his face had cleared and the puffiness had cleared abit so his eyes were abit wider. He could smile a little. The fever was still there, which was abit worrying.
The IVIG was completed around 1am and the ECG and stuff were removed an hour later. Keston finally got to sleep at around 2am...but was awakened at 3am by a nurse coming in to take some measurements/readings. After that was done and he fell asleep again...I was awakened at around 4am by his persistent crying...somehow the plug had come loose and the drip was flooding his bed. His hand was swelling up. Sigh~ Back to finding a new vein to insert the plug. Thank God it didn't take too long and I was able to put him back to bed at around 4.30am. Then he was awakened at 7.30am again for aspirin. Sigh~ Not enough sleep (both Keston and I)!
On a positive note, Keston did not have any bad reaction to the IVIG. And his fever went down after the IVIG was completed. As of now, 12 hours later, he still does not have a fever. His fever has to stay down for the next 24 hours, or....I can't remember or what. But let's just pray his fever will not come back for awhile. After which, the dosage of aspirin will be lowered and he should hopefully be discharged on Sunday.
On a negative note, we'll never have an all-clear from the disease. It may relapse anytime. We have to come back in a week's time to do tests on his heart...and another one in 3 months' time. In the meantime he will have to be on aspirin daily...until the cows come home.
Please keep Keston in your prayers. Pray for his full recovery and that he won't develop any heart conditions. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
What fine motor skills?
Keston is now a week short of 11 months. Should I be concerned that he doesn't know how to wave or clap??? Not that I'm not teaching him hor...I clap my hands, his hands, sing song,etc. and he just cannot be bothered to follow! Bleah! I think I have a very lazy boy here. He'd rather be entertained than to entertain. Keston can do the pincer grasp but refuses to feed himself. He's got a problem with holding onto things. He usually grab things and drops/throws them...unless the object in question is his pacifier, then he'd stuff it into his mouth. Anything else, he'd drop in a second. His fine motor skills ah...really cannot make it!
Also, although his first words were Mama (or to be exact MMmmmmmMaMa)....he's stopped saying that for a month or more already. Nowsadays, he only goes 'dadadadada', sometimes ending it with a 'deee' and 'bababababa', which means bao bao (carry). Occasionally he goes 'yayayayaya' as well. HW is secretly proud that Keston identifies him as dada. I would bring Keston to a photo of his daddy (with other people), point at HW and ask "Who is this?" and Keston would smile/chuckle and go "dada", sometimes "daddee". Sometimes I'd try to point at other people in the photo and repeat the same question and he'd give me a blank look. See? He knows that's his dada! But what about Mommy? So jealous siah...I mean, I'm his favourite person in the whole wide world and he doesn't think that calling me would be a nice reward? Pthhh
Gross motors wise, he's developing fine. He moves very fast on all 4s, especially when he thinks we're chasing him. He pulls himself up every chance he gets and cruises, albeit only when he's in the mood. He knows how to crawl up and down steps (head first). Nevermind lah Keston, develop at your own pace. Mommy's just complaining for fun. We still love you anyway!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Top 10 Useless Baby Products
Being a new parent means you are exposed to a whole new shopping sphere. Sometimes we buy things because it's 'oh-so-cute', sometimes 'die-die-must-get' and sometimes just because.
Obviously I've ended up with stuff that just didn't work for us. So here's my list of top 10 useless baby products, in no particular order.
Their slogan's actually "The Pee-pee Teepee for the Sprinkling Wee-wee". With such a cutesy name, who can resist? I came across this before we knew Keston's sex...and I actually hoped to have a boy just so I could buy and use this!
It's basically a cone-shaped flannel cloth with cute designs meant to be placed over the baby's wee-wee when he pee-pees. I was sold on the idea and convinced that if I did not use this, I was gonna get a faceful of pee everytime I change Keston's diapers.
So when we got back from the hospital, I very excitedly placed 1 piece by the bedside. The first time we used it, either by the sheer force of his pee or his squirmy butt motions, the pee-pee teepee did not stay in place. It fell off within 2 seconds. I convinced myself that the next time it would work. But sadly no, and subsequently we were treated to some pee projectile action. In defense, we just grabbed a nearby cloth to cover the offensive area. And whatdya know? The cloth works! The cloth works! A simple, cheap, rag works better and it doesn't cost me US$11 (excluding shipping)! After making a mere cameo appearance of less than 5 times, the pee-pee teepee has been banished to some deep dark corner of the baby cupboard never to be seen again.
2. Cloth Diapers and Liners
When attending antenatal classes, I was convinced that cloth diapering was the ONLY way to go. It is not only greener, but saves a heck lot of money. Plus, it's really easy...or so I thought. Mrs Wong told us not to bother with the likes of Bumwear cos using the cloth napkin is so convenient. And cheap! But when you have a newborn who needs to be changed NOW and you're terrified of the attack of the projectile, who has time to slowly wrap the cloth napkin and pray hard for it to stay in place?! We told everyone we'd start with the cloth diapering when Keston's a little older and not so demanding. But 10mths down the road, the liners are still sealed in the box. The cloth napkins made an early appearance as blankets and bedspreads. But now, even they are banished into that deep dark corner of the cupboard.
3. Baby Monitor
Baby Monitors are an essential on every single baby list out there so of course we just had to get a set. I mean, it's an essential right? So off we went....neglecting the fact that the baby's room is just literally 3 steps from ours! In the beginning we dutifully turned the monitor on all day, all night. Even if I was sitting right beside the cot, the monitor would be on. For what? I really have no idea. Eventually we accepted the fact that we had perfect hearing and could hear baby's cry for help very clearly without having any aided amplification. And after awhile we turned off the monitor. Wasted too much batteries (didn't want to have any electricity near the cot) and we didn't want to be awakened by every little gasp and snore. These babies, however, have not been banished into that deep dark corner yet. They are still dutifully attached-- 1 at the cot, and 1 in our room....pretending to be functioning, although batteries have been removed and no electricity is plugged in.
4. Fisher-price Stack & Roll Cups
Obviously I've ended up with stuff that just didn't work for us. So here's my list of top 10 useless baby products, in no particular order.
Disclaimer: Useless to me, but may be useful to others...
1. Pee-Pee Teepee
Their slogan's actually "The Pee-pee Teepee for the Sprinkling Wee-wee". With such a cutesy name, who can resist? I came across this before we knew Keston's sex...and I actually hoped to have a boy just so I could buy and use this!It's basically a cone-shaped flannel cloth with cute designs meant to be placed over the baby's wee-wee when he pee-pees. I was sold on the idea and convinced that if I did not use this, I was gonna get a faceful of pee everytime I change Keston's diapers.
So when we got back from the hospital, I very excitedly placed 1 piece by the bedside. The first time we used it, either by the sheer force of his pee or his squirmy butt motions, the pee-pee teepee did not stay in place. It fell off within 2 seconds. I convinced myself that the next time it would work. But sadly no, and subsequently we were treated to some pee projectile action. In defense, we just grabbed a nearby cloth to cover the offensive area. And whatdya know? The cloth works! The cloth works! A simple, cheap, rag works better and it doesn't cost me US$11 (excluding shipping)! After making a mere cameo appearance of less than 5 times, the pee-pee teepee has been banished to some deep dark corner of the baby cupboard never to be seen again.
2. Cloth Diapers and Liners
When attending antenatal classes, I was convinced that cloth diapering was the ONLY way to go. It is not only greener, but saves a heck lot of money. Plus, it's really easy...or so I thought. Mrs Wong told us not to bother with the likes of Bumwear cos using the cloth napkin is so convenient. And cheap! But when you have a newborn who needs to be changed NOW and you're terrified of the attack of the projectile, who has time to slowly wrap the cloth napkin and pray hard for it to stay in place?! We told everyone we'd start with the cloth diapering when Keston's a little older and not so demanding. But 10mths down the road, the liners are still sealed in the box. The cloth napkins made an early appearance as blankets and bedspreads. But now, even they are banished into that deep dark corner of the cupboard.
3. Baby Monitor
Baby Monitors are an essential on every single baby list out there so of course we just had to get a set. I mean, it's an essential right? So off we went....neglecting the fact that the baby's room is just literally 3 steps from ours! In the beginning we dutifully turned the monitor on all day, all night. Even if I was sitting right beside the cot, the monitor would be on. For what? I really have no idea. Eventually we accepted the fact that we had perfect hearing and could hear baby's cry for help very clearly without having any aided amplification. And after awhile we turned off the monitor. Wasted too much batteries (didn't want to have any electricity near the cot) and we didn't want to be awakened by every little gasp and snore. These babies, however, have not been banished into that deep dark corner yet. They are still dutifully attached-- 1 at the cot, and 1 in our room....pretending to be functioning, although batteries have been removed and no electricity is plugged in.
4. Fisher-price Stack & Roll Cups
This toy promised great things.
Baby can learn so much through basic play, and these stackable, nestable, fit-together-and-roll-around cups offer endless versatility for lots of enriching discoveries. Includes 10 colorful cups to grasp, stack or nest, with grooved surfaces for a snug fit and easy stacking. Different colors, sizes and numbers help build early identification skills. A smiling jingle ball nests inside any cup, or fits on top of a whole stack!
BUT it just didn't interest Keston. He's not interested in stacking 'em together...and only mildly interested when we form little balls out of them. The only thing he does with it is to topple it over so the biggest red cup falls off. And then he uses the rim of the red cup to scrape across the marble flooring, creating the most skin-prickling screech. I would then snatch it from him and hide it so he would stop scraping it across the floor.
5. Fisher-price Kick n Whirl Carnival gym
See this post http://kestonchan.blogspot.com/2008/12/keston-and-his-gyms.html
In a gist, Keston's so afraid of this gym that he shitted in his pants...it has since been sold away to make way for other toys.
6. FlatOut Bear
I am very very reluctant to list this here. I first heard about this luxurious bear from Shimin. On reading up on it, it seemed like such a wonderful bear and having many celeb fans didn't hurt its credentials.
Unfortunately our little guy has absolutely no time for his new furry friend. He gave it a customary feel the first time I introduced the bear to him and that's about it. He flings it aside when I put it near him when he's falling asleep. Initially, on a couple of occasions, Keston did reach out for the bear when he fell asleep. But after that, he couldn't be bothered with the bear anymore. Sometimes I'd tuck the bear into his arms when he's asleep and somehow he knows cos within minutes he'd fling it aside......It's now a permanent resident on my bed instead.
7. Taggies
Taggies® were created by an early childhood educator & mother of three. Taggies blankets are a lovey security blanket based on the idea that babies and kids love to rub satin edges, clothing labels and tags. Taggies offer babies and kids a generous assortment of tags which are designed to be both tactile and visually stimulating. Every Taggies tag looks or feels different. We call Taggies an "interactive Tagged blanket" because it provides the child with both an exciting activity and at the same time it is their cuddly, soft lovey security blanket. Your little one will love this children's security blanket.
Apparently children are supposed to love their little taggies. So I ordered one for little Keston. It's a lovely piece with pawprints on one side, minky on the other side and adorned with his name as well. It's so cute and I adored the idea of Keston being like Linus (from peanuts), dragging his little taggies blankie with him everywhere. Sod's law. Keston wants nothing to do with it! He tosses it aside everytime I place it in his path. It is nothing but a mere obstruction in his little world.
8. Prince Lionheart BebePod Seat
We didn't have a bumbo seat cos we had this handed down to us. So I dunno if it's due to the difference in structures/functions or Keston's just...different. It didn't help him to sit up at all. Whenever Keston was placed into the seat, he'd just slump forward. Or else he'd pull and throw the knob in between. In short, it did nothing at all and we returned it after a short stint. Keston eventually learned to sit up by himself in his own time.
9. Cot Mobile
Our cot mobile came free with the purchase of the cot. So we didn't get to buy one of those fanciful musical lighting type of cot mobiles. Ours was a simple wind-up and go mobile , much like the picture above. Needless to say, our little friend was not impressed. He barely looked at it and couldn't be bothered to reach out to pull it.
10. Siliskin Silicon Glass Bottle Protector
After the initial BPA scare, we decided to go the glass bottle way. Then of course I read about this product and was convinced that if we didn't get this, we're gonna burn ourselves everytime we hold the bottles because glass is such a great conductor of heat. Right, the glass bottles are indeed hotter than the plastic bottles and yes, the Siliskin did a great job of insulating the heat away. BUT....it's really quite difficult to pull the siliskin on and off and almost impossible to read the markings accurately. So in the end, we just pulled off all the skins and stuck to the naked bottle.
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