Where it all started

My precious baby boy only a few hours old Proud Daddy
Such a proud and sweet Big Sissy
21 months & 7 days apart
April 14, 2009 9:13 A.M.
8lbs 14oz

On August 2, 2008 three days before our 2nd anniversary we found out we were expecting baby #2. We were very excited! I always knew I wanted my children to be close in age. September 9, 2008 I had my first ultrasound and everything went and looked great. When I was 24 weeks pregnant I told the doctor at my check up I felt huge. Sure enough I was measuring 3 week ahead. I had another ultrasound and found out I was polyhydramnios (too much fluid). I was scheduled for an appointment with the maternal fetal specialist and found Adyn also had fluid on his kidneys. At my last appointment with them it had all supposedly resolved on its own. April 13, 2009 I had a regular baby check up and found out I had high blood pressure. I was sent to the hospital (Northside Atlanta) around 4:00 P.M. to start cervidil and petocin was started 6 A.M. on the 14th. At 9:13 A.M. our beautiful baby boy was born and McKenzie was a proud BIG SISSY! While in the hospital everything checked out to be great. April 17th Adyn had his check up with our pediatrician at Gwinnett Pediatrics and she saw he was jaundice. We took him to Gwinnett Medical (which I dreaded doing) to check his biliruben level. It came back a little high so we just put him in the sun and it cleared.

On May 22, 2009 Adyn had his one month check up and the doctor noticed he favored his left side more. He wasn't too concerned and said we will recheck at his 2 month appointment. The 22nd of June Adyn was scheduled for his 2 month check up and the first thing the doctor noticed when he came in the room was his head tilting. I had no idea what he was talking about and my in-laws actually was noticing it too but I just thought it was normal. Sure enough the doctor diagnosed him with torticollis which is shortening and tightening of one side of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. I had never heard of it and having had McKenzie who had no problems beside being breeched I was clueless. I came home and searched the internet over and over. It was amazing how much information was pulling up on "torticollis"!

Adyn had his evaluation at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta on June 29, 2009 for torticollis. Our therapist said it's very common and he will come every week for stretching exercises along with me doing them at home every day. If it's not better by time he's one we would see a plastic surgeon about surgery to correct it. When I heard surgery I was a little upset. Adyn started his physical therapy on July 6 one day before his big sissy's 2nd birthday. He did great and never shed a tear. Our therapist said he's the best baby! The next week the therapist noticed his trunk area on one side turned out a little more than the other. The first thought that came to my mind was scoliosis because I have it. We saw a quack orthopedic doctor who was not even concerned about it and said Adyn's neck muscle wasn't even tight. He was more concerned that he had reflux. We went through the barium swallow and everything was NORMAL.

At Adyn's 4 month check up the pediatrician was concerned that Adyn was hyptonia (low muscle tone). On August 26, 2009 we saw a neurologist who was also concerned about hyptonia and scoliosis. After the appointment we went over to Scottish Rite for an xray of his spine. September 9, 2009 I found out he did not have scoliosis but one of his ribs was very short and did not form all the way. The neurologist told me more than likely having too much fluid caused him to have torticollis because it makes it harder for them to move around (he was always head down & didn't move too much. I probably should've went to have it check so many times but didn't) and probably caused problems with the rib forming. Adyn will see an orthopedic (not the qauck we saw before!) at Children's in March to recheck for scoliosis because it's very hard to detect scoliosis when they are so young. I keep telling myself he doesn't have it but better be safe and follow it since I do have it.

Adyn continued physical therapy every Monday and was doing well. On December 9, 2009 he had his recheck with the neurologist. She was still concerned about Adyn (which I thought he looked a lot better then last time she saw him) and ordered a MRI of his brain and cervical spine to check for any abnormalities that could be causing these issues. December 16, 2009 Adyn had his MRI at the CHOA Webb Bridge location and he did great! He's such a little trooper. He didn't cry! I was so proud of him. The few days I had been waiting for the results I just had a feeling in my heart everything was going to be fine and all results were going to be normal. Until then I'm not going to lie I worried what if they didn't come back normal. All I could do is continue praying and put it all in God's hands. On Friday, December 18, 2009 I called to get the results and they ALL came back NORMAL. Praise the Lord! He's had so many people praying for him and all prayers were answered. It makes me feel so much better knowing everything is related to his weakened neck muscle (just think about having a crick in your neck 24/7).

I do get very overwhelmed with everything but I want to do everything possible to get him better than ever before. I can handle it!