Elan's page

What a week it has been! I am writing this from Egleston Hospital in Atlanta, GA where Elan had surgery yesterday. He is doing fine, and all is well--NOW! On Monday night (Sept 25th), we saw a small lump near his testicles but did not think too much about it since he seemed to feel fine and he had a scheduled doctor's visit for Friday. Wednesday afternoon after his feeding he began screaming like never before when I changed his diaper. I took him to the pediatrician that afternoon. I was told he had a hernia and to get him to another specialist who would try to reduce it (manually push the intestines back). That doctor said Elan needed surgery but that he couldn't do it and sent us to the hospital for his partner to do it. That doctor never met us but called on the phone and said he didn't have an anesthesiologist who could work on a baby. So we were sent to Atlanta for the surgery to be done when we arrived. After some confusion in the ER waiting room, we were finally seen. Luckily the hernia had reduced itself (bowel gone out of the scrotum on its own) because he would have been in serious condition after all that time had passed. The little guy did great because he wasn't allowed to eat for hours, and he cried very little. After some discussion with the doctors, we were told he would have surgery Friday morning. We ended up staying in a hotel close by in case the intestines came back out again. Yesterday he had the surgery, and they were able to check the left side as well. No hernia there. Evidently this is a routine surgery for them here, and this is one of the best children's hospitals in the country. The surgeon was great, and we are just glad all is well.
We are very tired and ready to head home. Elan is a happy boy today. We will get a 2 month old picture posted when we can get home and take one. He was supposed to have 2 month shots on Friday, but we will reschedule that. One site told me that his length of 23 inches is in the 90th percentile. He appears to be around the 50th percentile for weight. Maybe he will be tall and skinny like his dad?
More pictures soon...

Elan is growing "like a weed" as his Abuelito (grandfather) puts it. He was weighed twice last week before and after feedings, and on Friday he weighed 9 lbs 8 oz before eating and 9 lbs 13 oz after eating. Maybe by today he weighs 10 lbs!
He is sleeping longer and longer periods at night, though not sleeping through the night yet. He still needs one feeding at night, but that is not so bad. He loves to sleep during the day--IF he is in his car seat. Otherwise, he wants to be awake and looking around.
Here is a photo taken yesterday before church with an outfit from Shane and Michelle, Arp, good friends of ours.

Elan has just enjoyed a week with his Aunt Erika (my sister) from St Louis. We had a good time! He is now 6 weeks old, and he is developing a little personality. Getting older means looking around more, staying awake more (sometimes too much), and making more faces. He enjoys stimulation so much that we are sometimes having trouble getting him to take daytime naps. Thank goodness he sleeps at night! More pictures to share...


Everyone has to have a picture taken of their bare butt!









He has only been in his swing a couple times--not his favorite place but a good one for pictures!








A FAMILY PHOTO--LOOK AT HIS FACE!

BATH TIME!

COMING HOME PICTURES--We were quite glad to get out of the hospital!