Check Julie's Blog

Be sure to click on Julie and Ryan Persson's blog on the right column. She has just updated her blog with total history of Michael and some really cute pictures.

Two Cousins

On Sunday we got together for Blake's Birthday. This is the first time that Ellie and Bryson have been together for awhile. Remember Blake only weighed 6 lbs when born, and he is 2 months younger than Ellie. (Blake is Tami's and Ellie is Stephanie's--although you could probably tell that since they look like their Fathers!)

Michael at 2 Months

Look how chubby his little cheeks are getting. We see smiles now. He is so cute!





Look how chubby his little cheeks are getting. We see smiles now. He is so cute!

Last Michael Update

Michael is doing great! Since he has been home it is like having a normal baby. He does spit up some when burping, but loves being able to drink from a bottle. Today he went on a trip to his aunt Tami's house. On Wednesday he weighed 8 lbs 6 oz - he was just 8lbs on Sunday. Still small, but making gains.

Again, a thank-you for many prayers for Michael. We feel it was the result of prayers and blessings that he is alive and doing very well.

Best Monday Ever!!!

So much good news today. Michael is coming home, His feeding tube is OUT!!!! Dr. says treat him like a newborn. Let him sleep 4 hours at night if he wants to, let him feed more often in the day if he wants to!! Michael is doing so good.

Also, Ryan got a new job today. It is an internship with a company that produces Accounting software. It is in Provo.

Lots of good news today!

Michael dong well

Yesterday they started him on bottles again to see how much he would drink, and then the rest of the feeding goes down the tube. He did very well. One feeding he drank all 66ml of his feeding in a bottle over 1/2 an hour. His belly did not get bloated and he tolerated it very well. This is very good news!

So today they are upping the quantity - 75ml per feeding, but the formula will be the normal 20 calorie, not the enriched 22 calorie.

It is possible that he will be coming home tomorrow (Monday)

Up to 100% formula and 19ml per hour

Today they let Michael drink 2 bottles, but then they decided that was too much too quickly, so no more bottles until at least tomorrow.

Good news is that he is tolerating the hyperallergenic formula well and is up to 100% strength and 19 ml per hour. the 19 ml per hour is the minimum that he needs to gain weight. He has lost a little weight. His belly measures just 33cm today, so that is a good sign. So all things are encouraging right now. He has slept much of the day today.

Dr. Durham says that in all his years working with NEC babies, he has never had one that has needed to go home on this hypo formula, so Michael is a rare case.

He sure is a sweet boy!

Michael Dong Gook, Julie Sick

And I am delirous!! (not much sleep with AnnaBelle last night.) That title was supposed to be: Michael Doing Good, Julie Sick

So Julie came home last night with a fever and throwing up!!! This will never end.. On the bright side, Michael is getting 50% pediolyte and 50% hypor allergenic formula and is doing great (except for starving since he is only getting 13ml per hour) This morning they let him take it by bottle - took 13 ml in 2 min and does not have a tummy ache. His girth is down to 32cm - it was over 37. Yesterday he got rid of lots of gas. They will soon have him on 25% 75% mixture nad will have increased amount per hour. Yeah!!!

Kenneth George Kemp - or Kenneth George Keup - Is this your Baby Picture?

Hello Everyone-

This is a random post. Many many years ago I bought a picture at a second hand store for 10 cents. I bought it because it had to be of some value to someone and it was sad to see it for sale for 10 cents. I think it was in Santa Rosa California where I was living at the time.

Anyway, I think that Google does index blogs. So, hopefully someday Kenneth George Kemp or a relative will someday find this entry and picture.

He is a cute chubby baby!! On the back it says Kenneth George Kemp age 7 mo weight 23 lbs, but no date or any other identifying item. Or the last name may be Keup - Kenneth George Keup.

Here is the picture, also a copy of what is written on the back.

Still having trouble with food - blood in stool

Michael is still having trouble. They have increased the amount of food per hour (I think they got up to 19ml per hour - that is less than 4 teaspons per hour) and he has become increasingly uncomfortable. All they were feeding him was breast milk for food (also some nutrition via IV). So because of the blood in stool, they have stopped that. He is getting Pediolyte instead. They are going back over all his scans and x-rays to be certain that he doesn't have a stricture (narrowing, partial blockage) which would be from damage from the NEC that he initially had. If they determine for sure that there is no stricture, then they will start him over again on a hypoallegenic amino acid formula and then go from there.

Michael is Back in the Hospital

He was projectile vomiting this morning. So had to take him to the ER to get him admitted. He had an upper GI today which ruled out the serious causes (which would have meant more surgery) He is in the infant unit. We spent over 7 hours in the ER for all the test stuff. Now he is in his room. Julie is staying the night. Those of us at home will try to catch up on sleep for round 2 when he comes home again. He was more lethargic today as well.

And Back to Contiuous Feeding!!!

After a straight week, we bumped Michael up to feedings over a 2 hours time period instead of 3 hours (which is a continuous feed) However, he started having a hard time tolerating that and finally just threw up again. So, back to continous feeding, and the gastro specialist is now involved. We hope that we can find out why he cannot tolerate a larger volume of food. Likely more tests next week, will keep you posted.

Michael update & Sad News about Surgeon

Michael had his 4 week post-op checkup. All is well, Especially his weight: 7 lbs 8 oz. That means that in the 2 weeks we have had him home, he has gained 1 lb. He will be totally off his Lasix by this Saturday. So the only meds he will have are for his tummy. This morning we have increased the rate that he is getting his feeds. Rate of 24ml per hour - that is a feeing just over 2 hours time, instead of 3 hours. (then no food until the 3 hour mark) So far he seems to be doing OK with it.

Sad news about his surgeon: Michael cousin on Ryan's side has a heart murmur so they saw a cardiologist at the Orem Primary's clinic. They mentioned Michael to him and he said, I know that case. I was part of the surgery. Then he said that Michael's surgery was the last surgery that Dr. Hawkins will ever do. He has advanced cancer. We do not know if Dr. Hawkins knew that at the time that he did Michael's surgery. But he did look tired Julie said. Remember he said that he would only do the surgery if he got a good night's sleep the night before? At the appointment yesterday Julie asked a little bit, He put in his resignation last week. Wow, he was the most incredible surgeon and has saved so many lives. It is a real tragedy. Julie also talked to a nurse at the hospital, she said that she could not say what specific cancer it was, but that it was not a good one.

Michael and his Continous Continous Feeding!!

This morning we were pretty discouraged. Just a 10ml bottle last evening meant an entire night of bellyache and then finally throwing up this morning. 10ml is only 2 teaspoons. So no bottles, he is hungry tonight, but a much happier boy. He is on 24 hour continuous feeding at a rate of 17 ml per hour. Today the doctor also prescribed another medication. After he got his first dose, he had a great big burp- a dry one, not the small wet ones he has sometimes almost constantly.

If he does not improve as far as being able to speed up feeding, then they will put him back in the hospital for a short stay to run a bunch more tests.

Here is a picture of him watching his music box that Grandma Persson got him for the hospital (he loves music, loves to be sung to)This is this evening. We consider it a big step that he can lay and be content. Had to hold him the entire night last night....

Tomorrow he has his 4 week after-surgery checkup with the surgeon.

Bryson Bowman on Blessing Day

What a cute guy! Tami has more pictures on her blog.

Saturday Before Bryson's Blessing

It was so fun to have the family together. We played on Saturday. Had lots of fun in the back yard. Then six of the cousins had a shower to get ready for Sunday. Here are some pictures:





Ellie the Pope!






Steph was the brave one that got in with the kids and washed their hair. The little ones just sat on the floor and splashed the water.

Saturday Continuous Feeds

Early this morning to late morning Michael was having a hard time, and was tolerating his continuous feeding, but we have to keep at it becuase he needs the calories. His belly was bloated, but then he finally got lots of poopies out over the day, so he is doing much better. We hope that the increased meds have finally helped. He was starving again this evening, so let him have 5 ml of bottle, and this time he has tolerated it a little bit better. So we will just keep going at it slowly but surely. His belly is also softer this evening. He has had a lot of awake time so hopefully he should sleep well tonight.

24 hour continuous feeds

We are going to continue the 24 hour continuous feeding. He is much better than he was, and is catching up on much needed sleep (so are the adults). So we will do this for a while, then slowly start to increase. This evening he was acting extra hungry, so let him take 5ml (1 tsp) by bottle. That gave him a tummy ache. So it will be a little while yet.

Feedings are Going Backwards

So the last couple of days feedings have been going downhill. Each day we have had to lesson the flow rate and he has been throwing up more, we have to be careful moving him. So today he was at the Dr.'s Love Dr. Durham he is so knowledgeable. Then we went to an appointment with the speech therapist (helps with feeding problems and are experts on tummy problems) So now we feel much better. They have upped his meds and we will just start back at the beginning again. No bottles, just continuous 24 hour feeding. Hopefully Julie will get more sleep - she is very sleep deprived.

Got to go, don't have much extra time. Will take Michael for the next shift....