Wow Caleb's 11months!

Well Caleb turns 11 months on Saturday! This year has flown by way too fast.

This winter started off with many trips to the doctors, and has been sick with ear infections (on his 3rd one now) and Bronchiolitis. Since Caleb is still not approved for synigis we are having to be very strict on where we take Caleb and who he is around. Caleb's Pediatrician is concerned about him getting sick again with Bronchiolitis, it is a very serious respiratory virus.

But right now the Doctors main concerns is his weight gain. This past Tuesday he weighed in at 16lb 11oz, he just hit the growth charts for his adjusted age (3% for weight). We are meeting with a nutritionist now concerning upping his caloric intake. Caleb had labwork done 2weeks ago to see if anything was abnormal, and causing the low weight gain, those all came back normal. Caleb has gotten better with solids over the past 2weeks, but is still at about 1/4-1/2 of were he should be. We have a follow-up appt with the GI this coming week.

Since Caleb has had a 3rd ear infection within the past month and half we are going to be going to a ENT by the end of the year.

Caleb's NICU book

Click here to view this photo book larger

Caleb: Upper GI Study

Well lots has gone on over the past few weeks. Last Monday Caleb had a projectile spit-up that contained black-specks (almost like coffee grounds). We notified the Pediatrician and called his GI doctor Tuesday morning. We were told not to worry, and that if it happened again to call ASAP. This was confusing to not worry, but act immediately if it happened again.  Over the next day or so, we just weren't feeling great with what the GI office said and since Caleb had not gained any weight since the end of August (not even an ounce) we were ready for a second opinion. The old GI doctor seemed to be pushing off the fact that his weight-gained had slowed and now stopped, and did not seem to take our concerns serious until we brought it up a few times.

Friday morning we went to see a new GI doctor at a new practice and were very happy with her response. She is the type not to over medicate, so we are dropping two of his medications and increasing the dose of one to match his weight appropriately. She also ordered an Upper GI Study for Caleb. What we like most is that she truly wants to find out whats going on rather than aimlessly medicate until it goes away.

Yesterday we took Caleb to CMC-Northeast (formerly Northeast Medical Center) and he had his Upper GI scanned. The staff kept telling us that he was the most well behaved child they had had for this procedure. He just laid their drinking his barium (radioactive drink) watching the screen that showed his insides. The scan only lasted 30min. From what the radiologist could tell he did not see any abnormal structure in his anatomy or signs of reflux.

Right now we are waiting to hear from the GI Doctor about what to do next. Please be praying that Caleb will start gaining weight again and that the Doctors will have guidance as to what tests or treatments need to be conducted to end his large spit-ups and improve his weight gain.  We believe that God is a healing God and we know he has the power to heal him.

Caleb and the Fish Tank

So, we realized pretty early on that Caleb liked fish.  On our last trip to PetSmart to get dog food, we ended up with a 10 gallon fish tank and 7 fish.  Don't worry, we didn't forget the dog food.  Anyways, the fish tank is set up in his room and often provides more entertainment than a TV would.  Even if you mention to Caleb (only 6 months) about his guppies, he will get all fired up.  Him watching the tank has become our new entertainment.  We posted a video below.  Enjoy!

Now I Understand...

July 11, 2010.  Probably not a date many circled on their calendar.  But it is significant to me.  You know why?  Caleb is 6 months old!  I always here, especially around graduation season, parents saying "I remember like it was yesterday when they were 5 years old.  Man they grow up fast!".  Now I understand.

It really is hard to believe it has already been 6 months since we were introduced to Caleb James Black.  That was a crazy, crazy day!  And we have been trough so much with such a small boy in the span of just 6 months, but we have been so richly blessed in those 6 months!  God has made himself known to us through this time, and all of Caleb's accomplishments are at the credit of no other than the maker of everything, our heavenly father.  Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and support.  It has been quite a ride already.

Update: Last time we posted an update we were really struggling with reflux.  That has since improved!  We are not 100% out of the woods, but it has certainly improved.  Thank you for your prayers.  He weighed in two  weeks ago at 13.5 lbs.  We continue to ask for prayers over Caleb, for healing of his reflux as well as his growth and development as we move into the time period where he really makes strides in development (rolling over, crawling, eating, walking, talking).  We pray for our little boy and we pray that each one who has taken time to petition the Father on our behalf for Caleb be blessed as well.  Thank you!

Blackberry Crumble

Yesterday we went to our favorite Blackberry Farm to pick. Summer Berry Farm in Concord, is very family friendly, and best of all they have thorneless bushes with no pesticides. So we get to sample as we pick :) Caleb did very well and was a cool dude with his sunglasses.

We picked a gallon and froze half of the berries to use in smoothies, a few cups in the fridge for munching and the rest went in a blackberry crumble.

Here is the recipe for Blackberry Crumble, I got this recipe at one of my weight watchers meeting and it was for Mixed Berry Crumble, but since we didn't have Raspberries and blueberries, we used all blackberries.

4 Cups blackberries

3/4 cup all-purpose floor

2/3 cup brown sugar

1 stick butter, melted

Take floor and sugar, and mix in a bowl. Take 3 tablespoons of the floor mixture, and mix in the berries. Next add the butter to the remaining floor mixture. mix well.

Put berries in a glass 8inch pan. Then take flour mixture and crumble on top of berries. Bake at 350 for 35-40min or until berries are bubbly. serves 8.

June 11th, 2010

June 11th, 2010.  More than just the day after my 27th birthday.  Forget all of this conference expansion talk, 5 months ago, the Black family had an expansion.  Caleb is 5 months old today!  Can you believe it?  5 months!  That's a month shy of a half a year!  Time just does not stand still anymore.  I want to thank everyone for prayers for us and Caleb. He has been through so much as such a little guy.

• Born 2lb 12.8oz, 8 weeks premature
• But, the biggest concern was lungs/breathing and he was only on breathing assist for 10hours!
• He kept his body temperature far sooner than he "should have been able to"
• Released from Hospital Feb 16
• Liver function concerns
• Fixed it's self
• 3 hernias
• Had surgery March 26 when only 5lbs
• Surgery went great and all marks are already healed!
• Reflux

This little guy is a fighter and he has clearely been blessed by our Heavenly Father.  The creator of the universe has delicately handled Caleb's growth and development every step of the way.  We are proud to say that Caleb has grown to weigh in last week at a whopping 12lbs 5oz!  We continue to petition your prayer over Caleb as his reflux is VERY bad.  He can at times spit up his entire feeding (3-4oz) just minutes after completing a meal.  This is something that seems to be tied to a immature digestive tract.  We believe in healing though.  All that God has done leaves no question.  So please pray with us in faith that he be healed.  I believe I can update this post and that last bullet point with "reflux healed" in a matter of days.  Pray that it be so.  Also pray for Sarah and I as we cope with this in the mean time.  It is troubling to see you infant child spit up 2-3 times a day 2-4oz each time.  Thank you, each and everyone of you for your support, your calls, your card, emails, flowers, gifts, time, meals, etc....  It has been so wonderful of a reminder of those God has put in our lives and how blessed we are.


Thank you!


5 months down.  A lifetime to go!