pneumonia!

Yup. That's why I've felt so lousy for the last four weeks. I finally went to the doctor yesterday. It was confirmed with an x-ray today. This blog is rapidly deteriorating into a medical journal!

As for Jack, he went to the pediatric cardiologist on Monday. He had an EKG and an ultrasound done in the office. The doctor told me that he is very healthy. The VSD is there but is quite small. It won't get bigger and it won't get smaller--we'll just have to keep an eye on it. He will go back again in nine months!

He went to the pediatric surgeon last month about being circumcised. Perhaps this is TMI (too much information), but I learned that this is an elective surgery and therefore not covered by most insurance policies. I have to check on my policy to see if it is covered, and then I will make a decision as to whether it will be done.

Jack also was examined by the cleft lip/palate team at the hospital. The geneticist examined Jack and suggested that he be tested for chromosonal abnormalities. Huh? She said a couple things concerned her (maybe concern is too strong a term...): his ears are "cupped," as she put it, instead of lying flat against the side of his head; and he has one strong line or crease going straight across the palm of his hand, instead of two or three lines that go diagonally across the palm of his hand. These two observations, and the fact that he had two "birth defects (I would have preferred it if she had said "special needs..."), caused her to suggest that he be tested. No idea what the results of that are at this time. I will try to update this entry with photos of his "abnormalities" in a bit. I did notice the other night that Elizabeth has the same strong line going straight across the palms of her hands, so I kinda think this woman had no clue...

Jack also saw the plastic surgeon. She said that the Chinese doctors did an absolutely wonderful job in repairing his cleft lip and that she would recommend doing nothing at all at this time. As he grows and as his face changes, he might want a little reconstruction (nip/tuck) at the base of his nose, but she suspects that even that won't be necessary. She did ask me for any "before" photos that I might have. I told her that the only one I had was the one from his finding ad but that I would be happy to make her a copy. Note: still have to do that...

Those are the medical highlights right now. I will post more frequently when I feel more like myself!