Week 10

What’s good, fam??

I know, I know, I’ve been slacking on the updates. Just over here fighting a little cancer, you feel me? And actually, if you really want to know, I’ve been hanging with my friends any chance I get and hopping around from game to game...Can’t let the social life go down the drain too!

Sooo…Week 10…Did you catch that?? WEEK 10, 10….I should probably stop there. Channeling my inner Billy Bob (you know, from Varsity Blues?!). Mom isn’t supposed to know I watched it so we will just move right along.

Okay, down to business. Overall, treatment has been going well. I am fighting like everyone hoped and thought I would. I seem to be tolerating the chemo like a champ with a little nausea following my VDC (2 day treatment) and not much, if any, nausea after the IE (5 day treatment). I’m going to go out on limb here and say I might just be the GOAT😉. So even though I feel kind of blah on my short weeks, I don’t let it slow me down. It’s those long weeks though – being in that dang place for 7 days just flat out sucks. Mom and Dad try to make it better, but time just can’t pass fast enough. I am thankful that when I do bust out, I don’t feel too terrible so I try to hit the roads and make up for lost time with the gang.

Do you recall that ‘ol drug I raved about early on….Benadryl….yeah, that one. It’s like a four-letter word to me now. It just hits different…and not in a good way. I kicked it to the curb. Made me feel like poo. I went through my last two treatment weeks without it and I feel good about my decision. Didn’t have any extra nausea without it so I told the nurses don’t even think about bringing it up. Sometimes you just gotta take things into your own hands! 

We did have a little trouble here and there with this dang port. Couldn’t get blood return a few times. Turns out, the port is slightly tilted and if they don’t access it at the right angle, it can cause some issues. Another reason they may not be able to get blood return is if there is if there is a clot in the line, in which case they inject meds into the line (TPA) and let it sit for some time to break it up. The port is a big thorn in my side. I almost fired a couple nurses and told them I’m fidna have to start accessing my own port if we can’t get this figured out (not their fault, of course). Regardless, Ima be accessing ports and writing treatment plans up in here before you know it! I do give my nurses a hard time, but I also keep them laughing so they can’t be too mad at me.

Remember my bye weeks? Well, we still go into clinic to check my levels, maybe pay the cardiologist a visit if it’s the week prior to VDC, and really just grace them with my presence😊. My labwork determines whether or not I need extra blood, platelets, or if I need to stay home under lock and key. My hemoglobin (red blood cells) got a liiiiittle low the past week, but I was able to fight back and avoid a transfusion (told you I was the GOAT). Throughout all of this, my ANC (immune system marker/level) has been great which allows me to continue to go places and be around the peeps. The shot I receive following each week of treatment boosts my white blood cells and therefore helps to prevent infection. It also causes a little bone pain, but it’s worth it if it means I can cruise the streets!

Blaire still helps play nurse and makes sure I stay ontop of my meds, but bruh, she’s getting a little busy with her basketball career. Sure she’ll forget about the *not so little* people when she makes it big, but she still finds time to take care of me in between her intense training and game schedule…for now.

What else? OH - BIG NEWS…this week is scan week! It is my off week so we will go in on Thursday for my normal labs and then head across the street for another PET scan. We will meet with Dr. Sims after that so I’m thinking she should be able to give us an idea of what she’s seeing. The scan will be sent off to Memphis and then we will know next steps. Basically, this will determine whether or not I will need surgery and/or radiation. I aint scurred. I can tell you…I’m killing it. I just don’t feel like I will need radiation, and I really feel like this chemo is doing it’s job, but we shall see! Now, I have thought about all the adventures I could take up in Memphis if I did have to have radiation, but how much fun would that be with your Mom or Dad?!? For real, cuh. I’ll save that for later.

Before I go, I would like to ask for some prayers for a fellow sigma alpha. He was at the hospital for a while trying to figure out why he kept having these episodes of passing out. He may not want y’all all up in his business so just know his rockstar parents found him a facility outside of BR to figure out what is going on. Sounds like some real deal ‘House’ stuff to me! Please pray they find answers and get back to being a dang kid.

I promise to keep you posted on all the things. Until then, you can find me on Teams for class, crashing out on Fortnite, riding the 4wheeler or at the Catholic football games. Hit me up!

Later,

Beau

Buzzed for Beau

Mom here! First off, I’ll say it til I am blue in the face…I cannot thank you all enough for the outpouring of support and prayers as we settle into what will be our new normal for the next 6 months. It has been quite the rollercoaster and I have to say that some mornings I still wake up feeling like it is all a bad dream. I believe whole heartedly that God is most selective and has handpicked Beau to fight this battle, but watching him have to go through such a thing is truly unbearable at times.

We can all learn a lot from him…as soon as he is a little down and out or frustrated, we talk through it and he pulls himself out of his funk. Albeit in the worst and toughest possible way, he is learning true life lessons and we know this is something that will carry him through the rest of his life. We continue to lift him up and remind him just how important it is/will be to stay positive as he fights through this battle. Speaking of positivity…we are already in Week 4!! A few weeks closer to beating this thing!

Now for the informational mumbo jumbo since so many of you have asked…

Diagnosis: Ewing’s sarcoma is a type of bone cancer that affects approximately 1 in a million people. It is most common in children and young adults. Doctors are very confident in their treatment for ES at this time (and that came from multiple sources) which is very comforting. It is a tough schedule but we will get through it one day and one week at a time! We did receive some great news since the last post…his bone marrow biopsy came back negative which means his cancer is localized to that one mass!! Because it is localized, there is no stage per se. Had it spread to other areas, that is when a “stage” would have been assigned.

Now that we have had some time to digest everything, I THINK we’ve got it all figured out…sure that means a curve ball is headed our way, but for now, here is an overview of what we expect over the remining 24 weeks:

Treatment:  Beau’s treatment, as he mentioned 😉, will be inpatient at the St. Jude clinic in Baton Rouge. His schedule consists of a 4 week cycle that will repeat for a total of 28 weeks. The cycle is as follows:

1. Week 1 – 2 days of chemo (VDC) – “short week”
2. Week 2 – off – “bye week”
3. Week 3 – 5 days of chemo (IE) – “long week”
4. Week 4 – off – “bye week”

Short chemo/VDC: During his short weeks, we arrive at the clinic the day prior to chemo for pre-hydration. The following morning, he receives three types of chemo – Vincristine, Doxorubicin, Cyclophosphamide. Following the Cyclo, he has to post hydrate for 24 hours and then he can head home. Day 2 of VDC, he will receive Doxo only. Week 1 looked a little something like this:

1. Arrived Tuesday afternoon to check levels, start fluids Tuesday night
2. Wednesday chemo – VDC – started post hydration at 2:30 pm
3. Thursday chemo – receive 1 chemo – Doxo – resume post hydration until 2:30
4. Headed home at 3 pm Thursday afternoon

It wound up being about a 48 hour hospital stay, which is sooo doable (says the person NOT receiving treatment!). But let’s look at the bright side…he has a week and a half to recover at home after that!

Long chemo/IE: This is officially deemed the dreaded week! During his long weeks, Beau receives Ifosfamide and Etoposide each day for 5 consecutive days. He is required to go in the day before to pre hydrate and has to post hydrate for 24 hours following the last treatment on day 5. This equates to a 6 night, 7 day stay in the hospital (Monday-Sunday).

Bye weeks: Bye weeks are our favorite weeks! Of course, the few days following chemo may be a little rough, but his only requirement is to go in for labs midweek so they can check his levels. If he is in need of a blood transfusion or platelets, they will tackle it at that time. 

Outside of the actual chemo, they also administer medicine to protect his major organs depending on the chemo he is receiving at that time, plus pump him full of fluids the entire time he is there. He receives a shot 24-36 hours after his last day of chemo to boost his white blood cells and also takes 3 days of Bactrim each week to protect him from PCP, a type of pneumonia. If you know his sister, you will not be surprised that she is living by big bro’s medicine chart…so much that I took maaaaybe a 5 minute shower and had 6 missed calls so she could clarify exactly which pill box section she needed to start with. She has officially added RN to her resume and is waiting on him hand and foot…and he is milking it!!

Now that we have that out of the way, I know everyone is curious how he did with his first round and I am happy to report that he did really well! He experienced some nausea following his short week but nothing that a little Zofran didn’t fix. He slept well, ate well, and really perked up by the following Sunday morning. His long week also went well for the most part. By day 4, he was a little spacey and out of it, but bounced back and is feeling great. Sure being home is his best medicine right now! He really has been a trooper.

Okay, okay….I’m back!I mean, you let Mom make a guest appearance and she nearly puts you to sleep! On to the fun stuff…I’m HOME!!! If you know me, you know I am up for anything and I actually try stay away from home as much as possible (no offense Mom and Dad). For real though, I didn’t ask for all those siblings and just look at my friends…they are way more fun to hang out with! It does feel good to be home though!

Can you believe they had me locked up for 7 whole days?? That long week was cheeks. Seriously.I was not a happy camper, but since I had no choice, I tried to pass the time on the PlayStation, playing cards, had some visitors, took trips around the hospital looking for the best vending machine, and slept when I could. I can’t travel too far or even sleep too long because bruh, I have to pee like every 2 hours!!! It is the worst. Not to mention, the nurses have me on a tight leash since they are always wanting to check this and check that, give me medicine, etc. etc. etc. But let me tell you, that Benadryl they give me before chemo…it is supposed to help with nausea, but that stuff knocks me slap out. If you need a good nap, I totally recommend it! I also got well acquainted with DoorDash this past week. No, Moms, unfortunately the food is not as good as Woman’s hospital. I actually can’t stand it so needless to say, DoorDash and I have become pretty tight. A little word to the wise though…never DoorDash Subway. Just don’t do it. You can thank me later.

I officially started losing my hair, get this, before the long week of chemo even started! I didn’t think it would happen until a little later, but nothing I could do about it. Guess I never really thought about the why, but do you know why chemo makes you lose your hair? The purpose of chemotherapy is to kill fast-growing cells (cancer), and your hair is a fast-growing cell. Mind blown! But hey, if it made my hair fall out that fast, just think what it is doing to my tumor…or at least that’s how I like to think about it. Anyways, we knew we needed to go ahead and shave it when I got back home so that is what we did. 

You know how I said my friends are more fun to hang out with? Well, they’re not only fun, but they are some of the best dudes you’ll ever meet. They weren’t going to let me go bald by myself…pics for proof:

It made me so happy to see everyone and it was preeeetty fun shaving some of their heads too! I mean, they had some pretty hair and we all secretly cherished our long locks, but they weren’t going to let me do it alone! I may be a little biased, but we look good either way! The nurses said mine might even grow back curly…I’m fitna be looking so good, cuh! Speaking of looking good, can you believe Reid cut off that blonde hair too?? Still trying to figure out where the blonde hair came from. He’s also the only kid whose name doesn’t start with a B…he’s totally adopted, but I digress… Even Dad and Pawpaw, some hunting buddies, and other friends joined in too. It was pretty darn cool. I’ve decided that Coach Curry totally owes me...I did him a solid and am quite literally going to save him so much time writing us all up for our long hair. I just hope he remembers that when I am officially back at school 😉

I can’t lie, I am a little jealous of my friends since I can’t actually go to school, but I will be zooming in to classes as often as I can, and I fully expect to get all updates on anything juicy that goes down.  I guess it is pretty cool that I am the only one who will get to “attend” class in my pajamas! I want to go to my football games too (yes. yes, and social distance, of course). I know this year is going to look a lot different than I thought it would but these first few weeks kinda flew by, so I hope the rest of it does too! Well, guess that is enough for one day. I gotta go finish Ms. Candice’s math homework…

I head to the clinic tomorrow for labs and then back on Monday for my short week. I will keep ya posted!

Later!

Beau

P.S. Mom says if you are having trouble understanding some of that garbage above (how dare she!), you may need to reference the urban dictionary. I guess she's referring to you baby boomers, gen x-ers and millennials.

The Next Chapter...

Where to start???

A little housekeeping before I dive in.  This blog was started many moons ago when I, Beau Hudson Soulier, entered the world WAY too early.  Mom started posting updates to this blog as a way for everyone to keep tabs on me and my progress.  Well, fast forward to my now 12 (basically 13) year old self, and I am STILL causing problems!  Mom thought this may be a good place to continue my story, so she dug up my old blog, gave it a very basic rebrand and there you have it.... The Book of Beau.

As many of you know, this past month has kind of thrown us for a loop.  I was in Panama City Beach living my best summer life, as I am known to do, with one of my best buds (please refer back to my March 2012 posts for Sawyer's introduction) and started having some pain on my right side - stomach/shoulder/chest.  Aunt Al was able to get me in with a pediatrician who sent me for an x-ray due to diminished breathing on my right side.  Low and behold, I did have a little fluid in my right lung, but they actually saw a dense spot on my left lung, as well.  What the sigma?!?!

Uncle Craig got me back to Baton Rouge late that night, Mom scooped me up on the side of the interstate, and we went straight to Children's.  After a full night of testing, scans, poking and prodding, the doctor's told us that I had a tumor the size of a baseball on the outside of my left lung...say what???  

I'm sure you noticed if you followed my NICU journey back then, but we (I mean, Mom) tend to get a little long winded so to save you from allllll the details, here is my best stab at a basic summary and timeline of the past month:

• June 21st - Biopsy of the mass

• June 28th - We met with the oncologist, Dr. Sims, to get the results from the biopsy.  She informed us that the tumor was malignant and showed abnormal cells, small round blue cells to be specific.  A sample obtained from the biopsy was sent to St. Jude in Memphis to test further. 

• July 3rd - I underwent a PET scan to see if there were any other spots in my big, beautiful body.  Here, I met my favorite nurse...no offense to the others, but she only had to stick me once so she gets my vote!  We met with Dr. Sims right after and she told us the scan did not show any other spots from what she could see, YAY, however the biopsy came back favoring a type of bone cancer, Ewing's sarcoma.  I mean, way to ruin a kid's July 4th!!!  It didn't stop me from celebrating with my cousins or making my way to Grand Isle though, not to worry!  Pics for proof below:

• July 15th - This was port placement day, bone marrow biopsy day, and they also re-biopsied the tumor to basically confirm the original diagnosis of ES.

• July 23rd - First trip to the St. Jude affiliate clinic (here in Baton Rouge) to access my port for the first time, sign consents with Dr. Sims, and go over all the things!  Talk about information overload!!  They got me to a room that afternoon to start me on fluids and sheesh...I've never peed so much in my life!  Dad got me all set up with my PS5 and we stayed up til wee hours of the morning playing the new college football '25 game (shhh...don't tell mom!).  Just FYI - my chemo treatments will be inpatient, meaning they have me locked in this joint the entire time.  They claim it is so they can give me fluids the whole time I am receiving treatment in order to flush the chemo through my system.  Let's be honest though, they just want to hang out with me, and I do not blame them one bit! 

• July 24th - It was GO TIME!  I received three types of chemo on day 1 and totally crushed it!!  To be honest, I was given a hefty dose of benadryl and slept right through the first two and had some visitors to pass the time while the third type was being administered.  I had a great day overall and did not have any yucky side effects except for a little metallic taste in my mouth.

• So that brings us to today, Day 2 of my "VDC" treatment.  I will let Mom give y'all your lesson in all things chemo and treatment because it makes my head spin!  All I know is that I get just 1 chemo today and can go home after my fluid's are finished around 2:30, whoop whoop! 

I will continue to keep everyone posted, but I am sure you will hear from Theresa soon...

Before I go, I just want to say thank you for all of your prayers and support.  I mean, this whole cancer thing is pretty crazy, and I can't say that I ever thought this would be the next chapter in my story, but my parents keep telling me God only gives his toughest warriors these crosses to bear.  Well now it all makes sense =).  And like I've been telling my friends...you better watch out because when I shed a few pounds and my hair grows back, I am going to be getting ALL the females!!  Definitely a silver lining to this whole ordeal!

Be cool,

Beau

I’m baaaack!!

Hey, Hi, Hello, Hola!!  Remember me???  A few of you have requested that I continue to keep you updated on little ol me again.  Well, after a year hiatus from blogging (yeah, I've been busy, what can I say?)...I'm back!  Like I said, I'm a busy fella, but I will try my darndest to keep in touch!

 

So, looks like it was exactly one year ago that I posted my last update.  Sheesh, how time flies!  Today I am 18 months old.  I cannot believe I survived the past year, to be honest.  I thought for sure between the 5,672 appointments, someone was going to do me in.  I sure miss all of my nurses in the NICU, but I have made a few new "frien-emies", as I like to call them.  All of which I scream at the second they walk in the room.  No, I am not exaggerating...touch me and you will feel the wrath!  I am over each and every one of you after the countless appointments due to ear infections, wheezing/asthma episodes, breathing treatments, physical and speech therapy appointments, orthopedist and  neurology checkups, surgeries, allergy tests, my first haircut (sorry Mimi!), just to name a few.  I am fully aware you are trying to help, but I have been poked, prodded, cut on, and just plain messed with waaay too much in my short little life.  It's kind of Mom's fault (then again, it usually is, right?).  She is definitely a bit more cautious with me, but I guess each of those appointments was for a good reason.  The doctors always tell her she had reason to bring me in.  Thanks a lot, guys!

 

Good news is...my second set of tubes seem to be working (as of a few weeks ago), my adenoids are gone for now, I am babbling more and more every day, eating eating and eating some more, I am not showing any signs of any "conditions" thus far, my eyes are good, and yep, wait for it....I AM WALKING!! 

 

I overheard my PT telling mom at our first few appointments that she should not expect me to walk until I was 2 due to my history.  Lady - this is ME we are talking about here!  She acts like I was early or something?!?!  I am one determined, independent, motivated, (and frustrated) individual, and I am ready to hang with the big kids!  Plus, I have to break all of Reid's records anyway...

 

- Reid walked at 15 months (and that's being reeeaaalllly nice).  If you adjust my age for that whole prematurity thing, I am 15 months today, and I've been pretty mobile for a couple weeks now.

- Reid has undergone 1 surgery (tubes).  Me, I am working with 5 surgeries under my belt.

- Ummm...okay, so maybe that's it for now, but I am definitely keeping track, in case Mom and Dad aren't.

 

Moving right along...we moved into our new house back in October, yay.  That little house in the back got a bit crowded once I came home.  We celebrated my 1st birthday 6 months ago...man, if I knew how much fun birthday parties were, I would have come home a lot sooner!  We went trick or treating (not from an incubator), spent our first Thanksgiving as a family, we woke up altogether Christmas morning for the first time, rang in the New Year, went to our first Mardi Gras parade, and basically, we are just taking things one day at a time.  This past year was filled with a lot of "firsts" and boy, it was great! 

 

I really am loving life, although I would love it a lot more if Mom and Dad would let me live outside.  A tent is fine, I'm not picky, just let me stay outside!  Evidently, Mom thinks I may have some allergies so she has not given me free reign just yet.  I do try to sneak out every chance I get, and I'm a quick one so you gotta watch out!  When Mom is gone, I usually suck up to Dad a bit and yep, we get to ride on the ranger, woohoo!!!  (Shhhhhh, don't tell Mom)!

 

On a more serious note, I have been doing a lot of thinking lately.  Unfortunately, I missed my NICU reunion last weekend.  However, I often think about the 88 days I spent over there, the amazing doctors and nurses who took care of me, and all of my buddies that were couped up in there, too.  I pray every night for all the sweet babies going through what I went through, some not as severe, and others who really struggle and are fighting for their lives...you are all angels, and proof that big things do come in small packages.  Every one of you who came before me was an inspiration to me and gave my family hope that I, too, would be walking and running around one day, just as my big bro is.  I have made it, and for all of you who have come after me, you will make it too!  It is a long and bumpy road sometimes, but we are fighters!  Don't believe me?  Ask Reid - he won't get in the ring with me anymore ; ) 

 

Until next time...hugs from me!

Beau

 

 

 

Ugh, Physical therapy!

Allergy test!

Eat your heart out, ladies!

Daddy's deer he killed behind Pawpaw's house.

Guess what I had to show to get these?!

Love me some sonic ice!

First donut...enough said!

Do you think my tractor's sexy?

Piano jam at Mawmaw Resa's house!

First Happy Meal...don't be fooled by my face.  I am my mother's son and I do love chicken nugs!

Thanks for the cake, Sawyer!

Jumping with big brother

=)

 

Just hangin out!

Yep, that's me, at the big boy table!

That's what Mom is not supposed to know about!!  Someone tell Reid, that hat is like 10 sizes too small, please.

Beau Hudson Soulier - 18 months

XOXO

BIG changes for lil 'ol me!

Hey everyone!  It's been a little while, but I just wanted to give you a run down on how everything is going now that I am 1/2 a year old...wow, where has the time gone??  Technically, 6 months old today, but my adjusted age is a measly 3 months.  As my title suggests, there have been some big changes in my life over the past week! 

First and foremost, I am apnea monitor free!!!  Yep, you heard me, no monitor, no cords, no nothing!  I am happy to report that even though that "piece of mind" for Mom and Dad is gone, they are still sleeping well during the night.  I say it is because they have faith in me =)  They are also tripping a lot less without those silly cords - it was pretty comical.  Guess this means they will be booting me out of their room soon and I will get to shack up with my big bro.  That should be interesting...the house cannot be built quick enough..."andale, andale" mi amigos!!  Just kidding, we get along really well, but he never leaves me alone (as you can see in some of my pics below)!

I have made it through RSV season pretty much untouched, minus that one cold I had, but no more synagis shots!  Without the shots and without my monitor, that means no more home health nurse checkups for me...I sure will miss them!

Next, I have started eating cereal.  Not too sure about this one yet, but if I am anything like my brother, I will be eating like a champ in no time!  After a week or so of cereal, doc says I can start on my veggies and go on as usual from there.  Dad is ready to feed me deer meat already!

As far as my growth goes, I am inching closer and closer to the curve for full term babies, but Doc said the rate at which I am growing is excellent, so good job, Mom!  My six month stats:  I am weighing 13 pounds, measuring 23 inches tall, and the circumference of my head is 16 inches.  Size 1 diapers are out and size 2 diapers are in!  I am rolling over, eating about 5-6 ounces every 3-4 hours, smiling and laughing, and just loving life!  Still in first place for the best baby award - I sleep from 8:30 or 9:00 pm until about 9:00 the next morning, although my record is 10:30.  I am also still taking my midday 3-4 hour snooze.  This whole sleeping thing is great, not sure why all babies don't do this!! 

I had my first sleepover too!  Went to my Aunt Kimmie's house (she was one of my nurses while in the NICU) while Mom and Dad celebrated Aunt Da's wedding weekend in Nola...CONGRATS to them!  I was an angel...really, hardly even noticed my parents were gone.  Easiest babysitting job ever, in case anyone is interested in snuggling with me sometime =)

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!  I kind of like that holiday...lots of candy and such.  I think Mom accepted candy on my behalf to benefit herself, but I will just act like I don't see her digging in my basket.  Well, I guess that pretty much wraps it up for now.  The rest of the fam is doing well...Dad stays busy with work, Reid is still loving school, me, and being outside, and Mom is trying to keep up with all of us boys!  We hope that everyone is doing well!  Until next time, hugs and kisses from the Soulier's!

XOXO,

Beau

Brings a whole new meaning to invading my personal space.

I can't lie, he is a good big brother!

No, Reid, both of us cannot fit in here!

Me and my buddy, Sawyer, just hanging out!

You thought I was joking, he is ALWAYS all up in my personal space!

Yep, certified thumb sucker!  Mom is welcoming suggestions on how to stop me...

Look at me now!  Just in case you forgot how small I was...remember these??

   

Truckin' right along...

Hey everyone!!  It's been a while, but I have good excuses, promise!  I, of course, have continued to keep Mom and Dad on their toes, but for the most part, I am doing really well.  The past month and a half has been busy, to say the least.  To recap:

I am sorry to report that last month, my Great Opa passed away.  I never had the chance to meet him, but I was able to go to his funeral.  I hear he was a pretty cool guy!  I did get to meet my Oma for the first time...she loves me =) and has such a neat accent!  I will have to get Joe-Pa to teach me a little Dutch.  I also got to meet Mom's aunts, uncles, cousins and their kids.  Lots of new people, I can't keep them all straight!

Healthwise, I was doing great until about 2 weeks ago.  I started with some congestion in my nose...that darn suction bulb will be the death of me.  Reid and I have nicknamed Mom as the nose nazi...Dad says she is always on booger patrol.  No lie.  She is relentless.  The doctor said it was just a little cold and actually gave Mom permission to continue sucking my nose out.  Really, Doc???  Well, after a few days, my nose cleared up, but I started with a cough.  One night, I was coughing and just couldn't cough up the congestion in the back of my throat, choked, and stopped breathing.  I did this a few times as Dad was trying to get me to breathe again.  I tried telling them that I was just practicing my look as a blueberry, but they were not impressed and took me straight to the hospital.  Dad held me in the back of the car as I continued to choke on and off while Mom drove.  That was not a fun drive, but we made it to OLOL.  That place, let me tell you, is a zoo late at night!  Luckily, I had a little priority over the rest of the people and did not have to sit amongst all the sickies.  They tested me for RSV, the flu, took a blood culture, and did a CBC (ran some blood tests).  Good news is that all came back negative and looking fine, yay!  The doctor said I definitely had something respiratory going on and just because those tests came back okay, it didn't mean that I did not have some other infection or wasn't sick.  So, they started me on an antibiotic, a decongestant, and we stayed there for two nights so they could monitor me.  Since then, I have been fine!  Scared Mom and Dad a bit, but they were just thankful that I was okay.

Other than that, we have kept busy visiting various doctors around Baton Rouge.  I will save you all of the boring details, but basically, they all think I am looking good and growing as I should be.  I did go to see the Physical Therapist so she could check on my development and she said I am right on track (once you adjust for my prematurity).  Once I am about 2 years old, I will have caught up with my peers and we won't really need to look at my adjusted age.  I had fluid in my ears so the audiologist couldn't test my hearing.  We will go back in a couple months.  The surgeon says that my hernia repairs still look good and will check me again in a few weeks.  I will go see the neurologist in May so he can check my brain development. The pediatrician is really happy with my growth - 11 pounds and 21 3/4 inches long!  I have actually been growing OUT of clothes, if you can believe that!  I still have my apnea monitor and we will see about getting rid of that in about a month.  Dad says he is going to buy it and keep it strapped to me until I am 2...I got news for him!  I am still eating well.  Doc says we can talk about starting rice cereal next month, but until then...milk, milk, and more milk! 

When we are not running back and forth to doctor appointments, I stay home with Mom.  I think her favorite thing about staying home, other than snuggling with me of course, is...two words...Kelly Ripa.  That woman is soooome silly!  Mom said she doesn't think she will ever have another baby as good as me.  I sleep all night, yep - 9:30 til 8:00 the next morning and then I nap for a total of about 4-5 hours during the day.  I am doing my best to win the best baby award, and I think I have done that, hands down!  What does Mom do all day, you ask?  Nonstop cleaning, cooking, and looking for little things to conquer around the house.  Oh, and planning parties, showers, etc...she loves that!  I think she's nervous because she has only 7 more months to plan my 1st birthday party, hehe!  Sooo just kidding!  She definitely has the utmost appreciation for all stay at home Moms!!  And they just started on the house a few days ago, so I guess now I will be tagging along to shop for that, woohoo.  Can you hear the excitement in my voice??  Guess that is my punishment for delaying this process a bit,

 oops.  On a good note, I can brush up on my Espanol since mi amigos will be here working

for a while!

As for Reid, he still loves me!  Loves me and my stuff a little too much, though!  He takes my nap nanny as his own.  Guess Mom could invent a Toddler Nap Nanny while she's home.  Little does he know, I will be passing him up soon and get him back!  He is a good big brother, though.  I can't wait until I can go play outside with him and Dad, go fishing, and ride the Ranger.  Soon enough, soon enough!!

Well, I think that's about it.  Mom said she put some updated pictures of Reid and me on facebook so you can see how we are growing.  Between the two of us, we keep Mom and Dad busy busy.  They wouldn't trade us for the world, though!

OH - and tomorrow is a BIG day...my Aunt Chantal will be giving birth to my new cousin, Baby Kate Finley Wilson, and Aunt Al will bring my newest best friend or my girlfriend to the world!  So excited to meet them both and so sad that we can't be in Arkansas when Baby Kate is born!  Good luck!  Love yall! 

Until next time....

Beau Hudson

Livin' the life!

I can't believe that it has almost been 3 weeks since I came home!  I know, I have been slacking, sorry!  I officially made it home on January 5th, two days past my due date.  I weighed 7 pounds 10.8 ounces the night before I came home.  Yep, .8 oz heavier than Reid when he was born (I win!).  Things are going great at home, and the only equipment I had to bring with me was my apnea monitor.  It sure beats being in the hospital, although I do miss all of my pretty nurses =)

So, like it says in the title, I have been livin' the life!  I eat a lot, sleep a lot, and, well, you know the rest...what more could a kid ask for, except for a BCS Championship or Super Bowl title?!?  Yes, I know, still a touchy subject around here too.  I almost had to be re-admitted to the NICU for high blood pressure during that game.  Evidently my jersey didn't bring the tigers good luck.  If you know my Dad, then you know how superstitious he is.  He said I had to burn the jersey.  Luckily, Mom has the final say so in this house (shhh, don't tell Dad), so the jersey stays!! There's always next year, right?? 

Reid loves me, well, most of the time, anyway.  He is super affectionate, and likes to tickle me, talk to me, and he even tries to feed me sometimes.  Too bad he's not tall enough to actually pour something into the cup he feeds me with!  So Mom stays busy trying to keep him from loving on me too much.  He already reclaimed his bouncy seat...such an Indian giver!!  Doesn't he know there is a weight limit on that thing??  He does get a little jealous when Mom is feeding me and not him or holding me and not him, but all in all, he is being a great big brother! 

The home health nurse comes to visit a couple times a week.  We were friends up until she gave me a Synagis vaccine last Friday, hmmph!  The vaccine helps prevent and lessen the severity of RSV, if contracted.  It is a monthly shot, given during peak RSV season, so I guess she will come back to torture me again next month.  During her normal visits she weighs me, listens to my breathing, and checks to make sure everything is going well and that I am not having too many episodes.  I have had a few; one while Mom was driving, oops, others when I eat and choke, and the rest at random times.  There are a few false alarms, though.  Luckily, the alarm doesn't wake me up, although it is loud enough to wake the neighbors.  Mom says she is going to keep that thing strapped to me until I am 18.  She is one tough cookie!  I think she just needs a drink, or two, or three, hehe.  Anyways, today, I was 9 pounds 2 ounces!!  Go me...I'm a big boy now!

 

Mom and I stay busy going to all of my doctor appointments...the pediatrician, the surgeon, the eye doctor, etc.  They are all pretty nice, except for the eye doctor.  He is relentless!  Everything is looking good so far!

Well, that about sums it up for now.  Before I go, I, along with my family, want to say THANK YOU.  Thank you for all of your love, support, and especially prayers over the last few months.  It is hard to believe I was in the hospital for 88 days, but we got through it, and we are so happy to be home.  We love all of you and want to thank you, again, from the bottom of our hearts!  I will drop in every now and then to let you know how things are going! 

Love,

Beau Hudson

Getting all buckled in!

 Heading down Airline on our way home!!

HOME SWEET HOME

I think he liked the moose on my shirt more than me...

 ...but then he wanted to crawl in.  He could crush me!

My big brother loves me =)

First night in my OWN bed...all snuggled in.

He likes to give me high fives.

Did I mention Reid loves me??

It's a rough life.

Two words - MAX'D OUT!  I mean, holy moly, look at the size of those thighs!

Almost game time...

Next year, Saints, next year...

 Night night!!