June through December of 2002 updates...
Most recent posts first. Moves backwards in order. 

12-27-02 

Guess What?!!! No infection!!!Othello was able to come off of antibiotics today! Yippee. 

12-25-02 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! 

Yesterday Othello came home from the hospital. He went back in late Friday the 20th. Othello had yet another fever. This time, however, his cultures came back positive. He has a staph infection (spelling?.) So, Othello is on antibiotics for the next 8 days. 
While at the hospital this go round, Othello saw Santa twice. He got two beanie babies and a blanket. Santa’s are so nice. But the best present was being able to come home on Christmas Eve. 

Othello says MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! 

12-18-03 

We went to the EIP meeting today. They tested Othello’s development there. He is chronologically 6 months old. Developmentally he is 2 months old according to his gross motor skills and 4 months by his fine motor skills. More therapy has been prescribed. Hopefully he will get up to speed!! 

Yesterday we celebrated Christmas. A little early, yes, but Big Brother Sebastian is going out of town in a couple of days. Othello did not seem very into the whole thing. He did, however, enjoy his two teething key rings. Gramma Helen, Darlin', Gramma Teri and Aunt Mandy came over to help celebrate. We ate some good food and Othello sat with everyone and was very happy. He received a whole lot of attention. 

Othello has taken to gumming his hands and whatever else he can get to his mouth. It is precious! 

As far as his health goes....His Bilirubin (spelling?) is at 11.6 (still high) and his blood sugar was low on the last labs. So, we have to stick him a couple of times a day to check his blood sugar. He definatly does not like getting the big toe prick. We will be going into the GI clinic on the 23rd to get a check up and such. We will let you guys know more then!!! Have a good day.. 


12-8-12-02 

Guess what all?!! Yes, that is right, Othello wanted to go back to his favorite place on earth. THE HOSPITAL!!!!! Othello spiked a fever, again. Blood cultures, urine samples, etc...and guess what?!! Yup, right again...nothing is found! I am beginning to think that this little boy just likes to see the doctors and nurses. One good thing though, we found out he is still gaining weight!!! 

Over the few days, Othello was visited by Christmas carolers, Jaguar football players, Santa and even Sponge Bob Square Pants (who lives in a pineapple under the sea you know!) Santa brought him a teddy bear that is about 3 times his size!! and he also got a blue teddy bear and another brown teddy bear from his visitors! People can be so generous, nice and sweet to sick kids. It really made the day of a lot of the kids. Othello, of course, just looked at them and went back to sleep. I personally would have screamed my head off if I was a baby and had a BIG yellow sponge with eyes was glaring at me. 

Othello really enjoyed his visit though. He got to flirt with the nurses! Hopefully we will not have to go back for a while. Luckily he got out before Christmas.....=-) 
Bye for now everyone 


12-08-02 

There is not much new to report.....We did put up the Christmas tree this week... Othello's first Christmas. He did not seem all that interested in the lights and such. Sebastian did though. Big brother really enjoyed it. 

In three days, Othello goes for another renal function test. Where they put a dye like substance in him and take x-ray like photos of it going through his system, kidneys, etc.... He does not like this test too much. Last time they put a catheter in him (we all know how uncomfortable that must be.) 

Well, we will let you guys know more when it happens. Bye.... 


12-03-02 

Well, everything is going alright. With the exception of the sniffles and the return of the vomiting, Othello is doing alright. We are just waiting for him to gain a few more pounds. We are all very hopeful. 
I am not sure how many of you out there have experienced the same thing; but this is so overwhelming. I am exhausted, drained, scared and all the while happy that I have a sweet little boy. I know our family is helping out, and our friends are there for us...But, none of them have really experienced this. 
It is hard to hear them say, "I know what you are going through." Sometimes I just want to break down, cry and say..."You have no idea!!!" But, that would not be productive...I have to keep it together, for Othello and Sebastian. 
Well, I will let you guys all know what changes happen as they come along.... 

11-29-02 

The doctors have increased Othello's TPN. It is now running @ 33ml per hour. Maybe this will put on the weight a little faster for him. Hopefully not causing too much damage to his lil liver. 
11-28-2002 
Happy Thanksgiving!!! Othello is celebrating his 1st Thanksgiving today with his Daddy, Mommy, Big Brother Sebastian, Gramma Terri, Grampa Charlie, Gramma Helen, Darlin' and Aunt Mandy!!!Maybe we will give him a lil' taste of the cranberry sauce. 

11-27-02 
Guess who wanted to see the nurses and doctors for Thanksgiving?!! Yep.Lil ol' Othello!!!! He gave me a scare this evening. Around his G-tube (his feeding tube) started to bleed. It bled through a few gauzes. I called GI and they suggested a visit to the ER. So, off we went. This time bags were pre-packed and the time it took to get him there with his things was cut in half!!! Whew! 

Once we arrived, the doctor looked at the lil guy and silver nitrated his scar tissue around the G-tube and sent us home. Instructions were to come back if the blood came back worse or the green oooooze that comes out gets worse. It could be as simple as he is outgrowing his Tube and needs a larger one! 

Some good news...It has been 3 days since Othello vomited!!! Which is great! He used to do this not so fun thing every day, multiple times each day. I am sure he feels a lot better. Yippee!!!! 

Othello has also taken to sticking his tongue out. I think he likes the taste of air. He can lick the bottom of his chin; I wonder if he can touch his nose with his tongue too?!!??....Sebastian can. 

11-22-02 
Othello is doing well. A little fussier than the Othello we are used to. He is just spoiled though!! He does not like to be left alone at all. Not even for a moment. He insists on being held, and being the center of attention! (Typical, hehehe) 
Well, we are getting ready for Bastian's birthday! Just wanted to let everyone know Othello was doing good... 

11-19-02 
More doctor appointments. Today Othello went to the pediatrician and to the GI specialists. He received 4 booster shots (ouch). Othello objected very loudly. 

GI says they will be increasing his TPN. They are doing this because his weight is not keeping up with his height. He is only 11lbs 11oz today, but a whopping 22 inches long! Hopefully his liver will not get too much worse as they up the TPN. 

Othello wanted to let everyone know that his big brother will be turning 5 on Sunday November 24th!!! Othello is looking forward to the birthday party!!! 

11-16-02 to 11-18-02 
Guess who wanted to go visit the nice nurses at the hospital? YUP, Othello. He just cannot seem to get enough of them. He spiked a fever, vomited about 9 times and urinated orange. So, we packed up and moved to the hospital. Blood work, urine tests, x-rays...And the conclusion...NOTHING!!! We stayed for two nights in the comfy (yeah right) short stay floor. 
Good news is: nothing is getting worse, no bacterial infections, no UTI's. 
We will see the doctor tomorrow for our follow up; maybe he will have a better idea of what was the matter. 

11-7-02 
Back home in Jacksonville!! Now we wait, keep getting blood work, upper GI tests, Kidney tests, etc.etc....Hopefully soon!!! 

11-4-02 
Othello's first road trip to Miami (Jackson Memorial). 
Apparently the doctors think Othello is very close to "Go time" for a transplant. Initially we thought he would only need a small intestine. But seeing as that his liver is almost gone he is getting a whole new plumbing system. A stomach, small intestine, large intestine, kidneys and liver. They may have to remove his spleen since it is very enlarged. 
Since he will need all these new insides and his abdomen is not growing well enough to accommodate, Othello will have to receive the organs from a child half his size. 
Othello is now 12 lbs. They want him to be 15 lbs before the transplant. Unless he gets worse that will be "Go Time". We have been told that once it is time, then a donor usually comes within about 3 months... 

10-21-02 
Home again!!!!! 

10-17-02 
High fever!!! Othello went back to the hospital. They could find no reason for the fever. Just pumped him full of antibiotics gave him a room and asked him to stay a few days. 
The doctors have upped his g-tube feedings. 10cc an hour now! And he can have yellow veggies by mouth now!! He only seems to take about 1/4 to 1/2 a jar though. And makes all sorts of silly faces in the process. Trying to fatten him up!!! 

9-6-02 
Othello comes home!!! He is on 17 hours of TPN and 20 hours of 7cc an hour g-tube feeding. 

Othello likes being home!! He has a lot of fun with mommy, daddy and Big brother Sebastian. He also continues to get lots of visitors!!! 
Lots of doctor's appointments, tests... 


9-3-02 
Well, Othello is in for another broviac, this is line # 4 (he pulled it out. He is also getting a G-tube (he doesn’t like the one in his nose. Surgery went a bit long. The night came and he had an apnea episode. But, all is well. 

6-27-02 
Othello has been in the NICU since he was born, already one surgery under his belt. Today he goes for #2. 
The doctors open him back up and find that his bowels were indeed not salvageable. They remove his entire colon and most of his small intestine. He has just enough to stretch (barely) from his stomach to his rectum. They also insert a broviac so that he can receive TPN (his main source of nutrients.) 
Over the couple of months the doctors run the gambit of tests. Poking and prodding, testing the little guys gut. Another Broviac placement, due to a line infection. many antibiotics, etc.etc. He is being fed through a NG tube (down his nose into his tummy) he gets 1 cc of formula an hour, then steps up to 2, 5, 6, 7.... We are told he also has a kidney problem in addition to the short gut!!!! The NICU is "home" for Othello. We hear various estimates. 1 month, 3 months, but we just dont know for sure......................

6-23-02 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Othello. Othello Michael Smith was born at 10:07 p.m. He was 7 weeks early and weighed 5 lbs and 1 oz. and measured in at a whopping 17 and 3/4 inches long. 
Since he was born with gastroshisis (intestines on the outside) he was put into a plastic baggy from the chest down and whisked away to the NICU after just a glance. Within the hour, Othello was in surgery to put all his intestines back inside of his abdomen. After the surgery, the doctors came in and told us everything went well, now it is just wait and see. Wait and see if his intestines are really dead or if they will rejuvenate. 


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