Congratulations Miracle Mason! Happy 33 Months!

(I started this on August 31, but am just now

finishing it on Sept 4. Life is very busy!)

("My future is so bright I gotta wear shades!")

Mason has had another busy month in and out of the hospital,

cardiology clinic visits, blood draws, attending his aunt Bridgette's

wedding, and just trying to keep up with his big sis and brothers!!

At 33 month old, Mason weighs 26 lbs (was 27 lbs, but lost

weight from the pneumatosis), is 33 inches long, and has O2 sats

here in Utah between 94-98% (They were a little better in Cali at

sea level, but not bad now living at 4500 feet elevation!) Mason still

struggles with being painfully shy, as well as experiencing steroid

induced grumpiness. I pray his happy little personality and darling

smile will shine through more and more as he realizes we are

home to stay, with only short visits to Primary's and Stanford......

AND as he can come down on and eventually off the yucky steroids!

A few more tid bits of information about our Miracle Mason:

The Cyclosporine he is on presently for anti-rejection has covered his

cute little body in lots of hair. He is like a little teddy bear!!

It has also made is hair much darker.Our plan is to switch to

Prograff, that does not have this side effect, as soon as Stanford

gives their permission to stop the steroids, which will probably

be at his year transplant anniversary. Stanford's team does not like

their transplant patients to be on Progragff and steroids together.

They have seen issues with blood sugar problems when these two

meds are taken together. (The extra hair is cute now, but not

something I want him to be teased about in kindergarten!)

Mason also loves to spend time in the shower. He does not like baths

though. What a funny kiddo! I can sit him in the shower with me while I

shower, but when I'm ready to get out he is not!! I ask him if he's

ready to get out and his answer is always "NO". So I leave him while I

get dressed and ready for the day......and then he STILL doesn't want to

get out! Well, at least I know where to put him to keep him occupied.

Here are a few pictures from this last month:

We've had trouble finding the right balance for Mason's

blood pressure meds lately. (He takes them because steroids

cause high blood pressure.) Either his pressures get too high

or he falls asleep in strange odd places at odd times. Here he fell

asleep on the family room step and of course w/ his blanky.

Too bad I still can't get him to sleep through the night though!!!

Here's Mason on our couch after we came home from his

aunt's wedding! Luckily she had an outdoor reception. I was

able to take Mason (armed w/ sanitizer) to enjoy the celebration

and not worry too much about germs (well, at least not as much

as if I'd taken him too an indoor party). He was worn out from

the long evening & fell asleep within minutes of getting home!

Mason does love to be outside. Here he is with big brother

Preston enjoying some skateboard rides on the deck.

We took our kids and some of their cousins up the American

Fork Canyon to roast marshmallows and make smores.

Then summertime fun was spoiled by a 10 day stay

at Primary's for pneumatosis! But at least Mason was

supplied w/ plenty of toys by Child Life to help pass the time.

Oh no!! A scary seizure like event ended Mason up in the

CVICU for 2 days and on the ventilator for about 7 hours.

Unknown what it actually was, I'll explain below what is the

most likely explanation. Hopefully it won't ever happen again!!!

Here is Mason soon after getting off the ventilator.

He was very exhausted from that days unexpected event!

Although, it didn't take him long to ask for a wagon ride,

his favorite past time during hospital stays (and at home).

This was quite an appropriate pair of pj's to be wearing

in the hospital since getting much sleep there is a joke. Mason's

pj shirt reads, " Don't Wake Me! I'll Wake You!" All the nurses

and doctors commented on "how cute" but it sure didn't keep

them from coming in and waking us way too often!

I think Mason should win "The Best Bed Head" award.

On our return to the 3rd floor, the Child Life specialist was so

good to Mason. She went out of her way to try and make him

happier about being in the hospital. He loved the police car

jumber/exersaucer she brought into our room. He didn't want

to get out, even when we we were discharged and ready to go home!

Congratulations my dear Miracle Mason on meeting another

"month birthday"! You continue to exceed the expectations of many!!!

We love you sooooo much and look forward to many many more birthdays!

What possibly caused the scary event which sent Mason to the CVICU?

When talking with the attending doctor in the CVICU about Mason's episode, after his MRI came out normal, he explained that it may have been something called a Vasovagal Response. (Click on vasovagal response to learn more.) In my own words, this is when a person experiences a slow pulse, holding of the breath, a drop in blood pressure, and sometimes fainting and or convulsions, caused by a sudden stimulation of the vagus nerve. Mason had vomited bubbly, watery stomach acids several times that morning previous to his episode. So possibly he was beginning to reflux and vomit this acidy vomit again and it stimulated his vagus nerve in his esophogus, causing a VASOVAGAL RESPONSE which can look very much like a seizure. Could it happen again?? Possibly, but hopefully not!!!

Mason and our family send our LOVE back to all his dillgent fans and blog followers and a big THANK YOU for your conitued prayers.