Blood Work Results

Children's Hospital Heme/Onc called this morning with good news! John's hemeglobin is going up for a change! His count is at 12.5 (well within the normal range now) and his hematacrit, which measures how well he's producing red blood cells, is at 35.1 which in on the low side of normal. The folic acid seems to be helping. We've been transfusion free since February 6th which seems like forever when we started this doing transfusions every 9 days.

John heads back to the clinic the first week of June for his 3rd appointment with Dr. Bednarski. If he holds out on needing blood until then we're hopeful that we can send more of his blood off to the Mayo Clinic again for testing. In the meantime, it seems like STL is doing us well and John is on his way to a full recovery!

Go Cards!

What a Day!

My first trip on Metrolink!
My first baseball game!
My first Pujols homerun!
Better yet, my first Pujols GRAND SLAM!
My first Cardinals win....8-2!

Waiting for the Metro with Dad

Checking out Busch Stadium with Grandpa
And looking sharp in my Cardinals gear!

Snotty Little Boy

After our Easter week jaunt to San Antonio little man came home with a runny, stuffy nose and a nasty cough. He held on for about a week, but when his lungs were literally rattling in my hands while I was holding him, we decided to head to the doctor. So after the doc listened to his chest and looked down his throat...she announced...I think you just have a "snotty, little boy." Aaahh, the relief! However, then she took one look in his right ear and gave us a prescription for an ear infection. Darn!

Now, one would think that this is the end of the story. Ten days worth of meds, recheck in 2 weeks, no big deal. But I've always said that John does things his way and this is no different. More of the first dose of medicine was on his face and clothes than in his mouth and resulted in a screaming, crying, mad, gagging on snot, upset son. Yay! Dose 2 came right beefore bedtime. Grandma held him (assistance for this sport is needed) and I attempted to hit the moving target which was John's mouth. Repeat the screaming, crying, mad, gagging on snot, upset baby....add vomitting everything he ate for dinner and all the snot he had sucked down for the past week all over Grandma, Mom, baby, couch, floor, and bathtub! Time for bath #2 of the evening.

After the cleaning frenzy that ensued I decided to let him rest a little in the den before trying to give him anything to put on his stomach---but when the wailing got uncontrollable (and fearing more snot induced vomitting) I gave in and made him 4 oz of formula. Exactly 4 oz later, I had a vomitting baby all over again! This time he hit the bouncer, Mom, baby, floor and bathtub. Time for bath #3, the third set of jammies, and me to break down!

But alas, he finally went down to sleep shortly there after. A 1 am wake up call required an unprecedented 6 oz of formula in the middle of the night (the whole time in which I silently prayed that I'd never see that formula again) but the little man made it through the rest of the night.

Happy Easter!

Easter Morning

This morning we attended Holy Trinity with Grandma & Grandpa Garcia, Great-Grandma & Great Grandpa Warren, Uncle Chris, Aunt Megan, Stephanie (Uncle Chris' girlfriend) and Tia Nubia. As you can tell from the picture...John was by far the most handsome 6 month old in church and received several comments on the black patent leather shoes and pinstripe vest. The afternoon is going to be spent with San Antonio family and friends (with a short break to talk with the Rekowski family on Skype.)

Priests, Godparents, Family, Friends and Water on My Head!

Ready and Waiting in White

Today we were blessed to be surrounded by friends and family for John's baptism at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in San Antonio, TX. Father Charlie and Monsignor Fater presided over the baptism. Uncle Chris and Aunt Lizzy have officially taken on their roles as godparents and seem to be fulfilling it by refusing to set John down and spoiling him with gifts. :)

Monsignor Fater & Father Charlie baptize John

Christian Family Photo

One of Mom's Favorite Pictures from March

Teeth!

Just a quick post to let everyone know that we now officially have 2 teeth poking through on the bottom. I swear they popped through in no time flat because this morning they weren't there and this afternoon....bam! Something sharp hit my finger when he chewed on it!

It's a just a matter of time before our first tooth-filled grin!