The Tooth

Unfortunately it looks like John's first tooth is a yucky brown color. While in the NICU, he was on TPN (for nutrition) for about a month following his battle with NEC because he wasn't able to digest my breast milk. He ended up with high direct bilirubin levels. High indirect bilirubin results in jaudice (which he also had) and can be taken care of with the bili-lights but, direct bilirubin is different and can only be decreased by digesting food. Anyway, the high levels can cause damage to the baby tooth buds and cause them to be discolored. This may be the only discolored tooth his has or he may have more. I am just so sad that this has happened to his 1st tooth. This is so minor in the grand scheme of things but, it is still heart breaking as a parent to see your child have ANOTHER obstacle to overcome. As a teacher, I keep thinking about how cruel kids can be and it makes me cry thinking John could be picked on. Oh how I wish I could make everything better for him. I made an appointment with a Pediatric Dentist for next week. I hope he can ease my mind and give us some goods news. Is there such a thing as baby veneers? I am all over it, if there is. Anyhow, the good news is that it's temporary and his adult teeth will be fine.

Please pray for his teeth to come in white, his neck and trunk muscles to get stronger so he is able to hold his head up and sit by himself, and for his brain bleeds to resolve themselves and not have any long term effects on him. Please pray that he is able to do ANYTHING he puts his mind to.

Update: On a brighter note, John took a 2.5 hour nap today for ME! I even had to wake him up so I could give him his Prilosec (reflux med) and put his PJ's on. It must be a growing day:)