New Blog

Mommy has started a new blog for me. She thought there were too many duplicate posts between my and my sister's blog, so she decided to combine our blogs. Please go to www.kaylaandevan.blogspot.com to continue to follow me!

Negative blood culture!!

Mommy heard from the doctor today, finally! My lead blood came back good and my blood culture showed no signs of infection. As the cardiologist said, and she agreed, I seem to be very healthy and they have no clue why my nails have splinter hemorrhages.... This is good, but mommy doesn't like not having an answer! She's just going to keep a very close eye on me!! The doctor wants to see me in a month and make sure I still appear healthy and no new symptoms of endocarditis are showing. I will also have my red blood count retested to see if the diet change (mommy is to pump me full of iron) has bumped me into the normal count range (and I don't have anemia).

BIG DAY!! First TOOTH and STEPS!!!

So that tooth mommy has been waiting for finally made an appearance today!! My top tooth is in!!!

ALSO, I took (maybe a stretch, but mommy is counting it!) my first step!!!

Bluegrass

Tonight daddy wanted to take me to hear live Bluegrass at Caney Fork Fish Camp restaurant. Meermaw and Granddaddy decided to join us. I loved it! Here we are watching them play:

Echocardiogram

As instructed, mommy and daddy took me to the cardiologist to look for any signs of endocarditis or infection. I had my scan done and then saw the cardiologist. He said everything on the scan looked good (or the same as April - hole still there, mis-shaped valve still there) - no sign of infection/inflammation. He did a thorough exam on me - even washed my feet to look for signs (spots) of endocarditis. He couldn't find anything. He said while the thumb nails are a sign of endocarditis, I should have other symptoms. He couldn't explain the nails, but said I appeared to be fine (we are still waiting on the blood culture). He said to keep a close eye on me. And he'd see me in a year, as originally planned.

1 year doctor's appointment

Today is my one year doctor's visit. I wanted to wait in the doctor's chair...

So everything went well at the appointment, except one thing. Remember that post about my discolored thumb nails? Well, mommy called when she saw them back then and the nurse basically blew mommy off, saying with no other symptoms there was nothing to worry about and some babies just have wierd colored nails. So mommy said OK, but decided to make it a point to remember to tell the doctor today. When the doctor looked at my nails, she took back her statement that she was sure they were just normal and I just had wierd colored nails. Once she saw the nails, she said they looked like they had splinter hemorrhages. Splinter hemorrhages occur when a baby is very sick - has a high (105) fever, a long fever, cranky, just a sick baby. I appear to be happy and healthy, so why are my nails showing splinter hemorrhages? The doctor said splinter hemorrhages are a sign of endocarditis (bacterial infection in the heart), which is overly concerning with my heart issues. BUT, they should be in combination with something - high fever, spots on my feet, cranky - something other than a healthy appearing, happy baby. The doctor drilled mommy trying to determine if I had a past illness/fever that this could be the reminants of, but she couldn't think of anything (that the doctor didn't already know about). She then decided maybe she should get a second opinion and grabbed one of the other pediatricians in the office. Dr. Mace came in and confirmed what Dr. Steilgelfest had said, so, blood work was ordered. I went straight down the hall and they drew blood from my arm vein (I did WAY better than mommy....). Shortly thereafter, the doctor had some of the results in. My white blood count and platelet counts are great. My red blood count is borderline low (anemic). She is still waiting on the lead test results and the full blood culture (infection/endocarditis). The doctor also talked to the cardiologist and he wanted to see me ASAP. I go in tomorrow first thing to see him.

Bath time

So tonight during bath time, Kayla got ahold of mommy's phone and starting taking pictures. Here are two that mommy thought were worth sharing (the first makes her laugh every time!):

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