Quick Update: Infections and X-rays

After weeks of diligently bleaching all of Beckett's belongings and our Velveteen Rabbit-like clean out, C.diff strikes back!!! Sweet baby is now being treated for the 7th or 8th time (I have actually lost count) for this bacterial infection in his colon. It seems that his body just cannot fight this infection, and we cannot win! It has become a very frustrating battle. Please pray that his little body would have victory over this recurrent c.diff and that the infection would not cause any "scary damage" to his colon.

Friday, we heard from Beckett's nurse practicioner that the endocrinologist is ready to weigh in on Beckett's case. So tomorrow, we return to the hospital yet again for more blood testing. This is NOT fun for anyone involved. Our little man screams and cries as he lays on the table and a nurse works very hard to get blood from his tiny veins. It typically takes at least two people to get the job done. He is not a "good bleeder" so this is typically a difficult task. In addition to the blood test, he will also have an X-ray done of his left hand. This is a special type of X-ray done to check for bone age. The blood tests and x-rays will give the endocrinologist more insight, and he will determine whether or not they need to see Beckett and if they can possibly help with Beckett's health. After these tests, we will also run in for a weight check.

We are glad to have an endocrinologist looking into Beckett's growth. This will be 8th specialist we have had helping us with Beckett's healthcare. His height has not increased in the last five months. Any baby should show growth over a period of months regardless of how "short" or "tall" he might be. It should be an upward trend. Beckett has plateaued. It is definitely concerning that his height is remaining the same. He has put on a little weight, and we are thankful for that, but he remains off the chart. He has a lot of catching up to do! His head continues to grow on its curve holding steady at the 90th percentile! Perhaps this testing will help lead us to more answers or rule particular things out.

Well, that's a quick and simple update on the health side of things around here. Thank you for checking on Beckett and our family. I am very thankful for your prayers as we continue to look for help for out little man! Have a good week!

Whoo Hoo!

After an exhausting year of appointments, tests, and surgical procedures, I am thankful to say that our insurance has approved our request, and our trip to Cincinnati Children's has been declared, "medically necessary." ...A bit ironic to say that something as drastic as traveling across the country for treatment being called "necessary" for your child is a blessing. But oh, what a blessing it is! It means that we have help in looking for answers and some relief for Beckett.

Because of this authorization, our insurance will reimburse us for 2 round-trip coach airplane tickets and a hundred dollars a night for lodging. We are so thankful for this blessing for our family. It takes a load of stress off of our shoulders. Not only will insurance cover this amount for this trip, but they will cover any other trips we make to Cincinnati Children's Hospital over the next year. Yes, we have been approved for travel to this location for a whole year!

Our new insurance with Kyle's new job has been such a blessing. Just feeding Beckett would cost well over $1000 a month without this insurance. We only have to pay co-pays on all of the things necessary for his feeding. Some of the medicines that aid in his digestion are even free to us! It still adds up, but we are so thankful for the coverage our new insurance provides. Insurance is actually doing what we need it to do, and I cannot express how thankful I am for this. We haven't had to jump through many hoops to get coverage for all of his medical needs. Dealing with insurance has not been part of the headache in all of this, and I am so grateful. And we even have our own "insurance nurse" that calls to check on Beckett and if we are satisfied with the care he is receiving. What a blessing!

Please pray for our trip to Cincinnati. We are praying for wisdom and carefulness for the doctors who will be treating Beckett. We are so hopeful for answers and help maintaining his system. His health has a big impact on his days and his development. Our wonderful pediatrician put it so well when she explained that "failure to thrive and recurrent GI symptoms and infections are negatively impacting Beckett's quality of life and making it hard to develop as a normal toddler would." We are not yet certain that Beckett's health issues are the cause for his developmental delays (primarily a moderate to severe speech and language delay) or more pieces to the puzzle, but I couldn't have said it better myself. And that is why we are searching for more answers and support. We have to know. And we have to do everything we can to help him.

Thank you for praying for our family. Thank you for praying that our insurance would authorize our trip. We are so thankful for praying friends and family. Thank you.

We are so thankful that this battle is not ours alone. We are not in Holland alone. Thank you to a God who is bigger, who is with us fighting our battles, and who already knows all of Beckett's (and our) days.

Brant: Mommy, you know when Beckett is at the hospital and he gets lots of shots and he cries and it isn't working? Well, God is always helping. He's working.

Wow. How do you respond to that? When your four year old is reminding you that while yes, it is hard, God is working. When your baby is crying, God is working. When it still hurts, God is working.

Yes, Brant. Our God is working. He always has been and He always will.

Halloween

I am not quite sure when Halloween became such a big ordeal, but this year it turned into a three part event at our house! This included some costume changes as well! It was a tough decision at first, but Brant finally narrowed it down to Finn McMissle (from Cars 2) and his train conductor costume from last year (although it was a bit short and I had to let out the hems). I was quite surprised he chose Finn McMissle over Lightening McQueen! It seemed as though every church in the area was having some kind of fall festival, so there were several opportunities for fun! Brant is still thoroughly enjoying Halloween as he asks me for more candy every five minutes...It has definitely left an impression on him, and he is eager to know when the next halloween is!

Sweet boy dressed as Finn McMissle...with a bit of tootsie roll on his chin. This is post Fall Festival. Note to everyone who wants to get to Brant's heart- fruity candy! He quickly decided that tootsie rolls are NOT for him.

What are you trying to do to me, Mom?

Now for some fun on the swings. The highlight of Beckett's day, I'm sure!

Don't you just LOVE those faces?!? This is before the school Halloween party! And notice Beckett's hair cut!

Trying to get the two of them to take a picture together is next to impossible. Christmas cards should be interesting this year...hmmmm.

Having a blast at his school Halloween party! He definitely enjoyed some pizza!!

Costume, take 2, was a train conductor, more specifically, he was Gordan's conductor. This year, Brant learned the joy of bounce houses! He loved climbing around in this one and making four wheel drive noises all the while!

Beckett...taking it all in. Notice all that hair! My pictures are a little out of sequence!

Our precious fairy cousin! We attended the fall festival with my sister and her family at their church on Saturday. My little niece is taking her turn at the beanbag toss.

And the picture that just melts my heart! I love this boy!

I hope you all enjoyed your Fall Festivities. I am so thankful for these sweet little boys to share special memories with. We are blessed.