Good News on the Genetics Front

It's been another week and so far all is going well.  We made another trip to Valley Children's to the Cardiology Clinic and have another echo.  Dr. Caton, the cardiologist, is pleased with the results of the echo and we are happy to hear good news.  Jonathan has still not had a blue spell and has yet to be a big crier or whiner.  We're so lucky to have such a beautiful, well behaved, son.  Last night, we had the privilege of going to Kristen's deposition for the car accident 3 years ago.  It was surprisingly easy and seemed mostly worthless.  The lawyer didn't really ask any questions that she didn't already know the answer too.  It was quite strange, and, all of the sudden, as she was reviewing her notes, she said, "Well, thats all I have for you.  We're finished."  Duane, our lawyer, and the two of us couldn't believe it.  We all assumed that it would be an attack session, yet, it seemed rather informal and almost pointless.

After the deposition, we went over to grandma Christopherson's house.  It was a fun time, Jonathan had his first diaper blowout all over grandma's pillow and moms shirt.  That was funny!  We then went to Producers Dairy to visit with grandpa James.  Oh, how excited was grandpa to show off his new grandson.  It was nice to give him some time in the spotlight, he really enjoyed it.

We then just spent the rest of the night eating dinner and watching the College World Series while Fresno State beat the Georgia Bulldogs 19-10.  We were having a big party yelling and screaming and having a blast.  It was our first trip out to the other side of town and it went off without a hitch in the giddy-up. :)

When we got home, there was a message on the answering machine from the doctors office that said to call them.  We immediately got worried about the possibility of a genetic disorder that Jonathan had about a 75-80% of having.  We were worried because that are a slew of health problems of varying degrees of severity which he could have.  Some included severe learning disabilities, autism and many others.  See the following link for the wiki page about DiGeorge syndrome a.k.a. 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.  Needless to say, when I called the office to talk to my friend who works there, much to my surprise,  the test came back negative.  Jonathan is one of the lucky kids.  We are very happy to report the good news.  A

long with good news, come some new pictures.  ENJOY!!!

Our First Rough Night

Last night was the first time that Jonathan was difficult to handle during the course of the night. For some reason he was especially grumpy starting around 9pm and for the rest of the night. Kristen was up with him bein fussy and not sleeping well. We all went to bed about 10:30 and I fell asleep with everyone else, right away. Unknowingly, Kristen was up with Jonathan from 11ish till about 3 when he "went to sleep." When she finally put him down I woke up thinking she had just been up to feed him and gone back to sleep...I was wrong! Seeing how tired she was and the nearly unconcious look, I took Jonathan the next time he fussed out to the living room. We were up about every 30-60 minuets, very fussy. At some point while he was seelping on my chest, and I slept sitting on the couch, it occured through the many farts and burps that he might have gas pains. So, as smart as I am, I gave him some Tylenol and gas drops. Amazingly enough, just under an hour or so later, He was zonked, yes...thats the official term for it...zonked! We slept on the couch together, father and son, for the morning too. Kristen needed her sleep and if she heard a fussy baby, that would never happen. She is such a great mother that even at her wits end, she would try to help him. So, for the first time, Jonathan was a little more difficult than perfect. Secretly, Daddy loved it. Not the sick part, but the sleeping on my chest as we snuggled all night part.

After My First Week...

So, after a week of being the best baby my parents could ever ask for, here is a summary of what has happened:

• I go to bed somewhere between 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. and only wake up once a night to eat.  I get up for the day about 7 am.
• The first thing I did after leaving the hospital was go to another hospital, and get my first echo cardiogram.  Here I also got my first cardiology clinic visit and EKG.  I hate being naked for all this crap.
• I met my pediatrician, Dr. Raymond Miranda, where I weighed on 5 lbs 9 oz.  I guess I was on a diet.
• I spent some time with mommy and daddy over the weekend and then on Tuesday, Daddy got me circumcised, I didn't like that very much!
• Thursday I went back to see Dr. Miranda and he said my surgery looked great.  I was mad at him for doing it so I tried to pee on him.  He must get that a lot, because he was pretty fast, I missed , but just barely.
• Later that afternoon, I went back to see my Cardiologist, Dr. Caton, He is a nice man.  He always warms his hands before he touches me and he always rubs my head, too.  My daddy and I like that a lot!  He told me I am doing stupendous and then he wrote lots of nice things about me.  I'm not sure where, maybe on the wall, or the sidewalk with some chalk or something.  I have to go back next week for another echo, but thats ok, cuz mommy rubs my head and holds my hand.
• The other nice thing is that I am up to 7 lbs, now.  Ive been trying to bulk up on protein and milk.  I think its working!!  :)
• Mommy and Daddy took me shopping at Riverpark for some stuff for Mommy but that was boring so I went to sleep.  I slept through Dai Bai Dang, too, but it smelled good.
• I got home and crashed in my crib cuz it was a long day.  Man am I tired.  Now I wanna take a nap again cuz all this typing is hard for my little arms.  

Check the family blog for updates real soon.  C-Ya later peeps!

---Jonathan

p.s. dont tell my parents I can type already

Little Jonathan

On June 3, 2008 at 3:42 p.m., little Jonathan Russell Christopherson joined our family.  Upon his arrival he began to look around at everyone.  It seemed that he was looking around for Dr. Woods since she missed the delivery.  While her nurse and grandma were arguing about things, Mommy decided she couldn't wait any longer and he just came right out.  Instantly he was an amazing child, with such a soft and sweet cry, he instantly won over our hearts.  We spent a few days in the hospital to be sure that his heart was doing well due to his condition called Tetralogy of Follot, and every test had positive results.  See the following link to learn about his heart condition.

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=11071

He was doing so great, despite the fears of some of his doctors.  Finally, on the 5th, we were released from the hospital, only to have to go to another hospital so little Jonathan could get his first echo cardiogram. 

He was such a good boy, with mommy at his side, he didn't cry once. Although his first 48 hours of life were full of nothing but poking and prodding, his patience shined through.  Finally after an EKG, and a visit to the cardiology clinic and a visit with Dr. Caton, we were able to come home.  Oh what a joyous moment that was, Grandma Christopherson was making dinner and later the family came over.  Grandma and Grandpa Matsunaga came over as well and we all enjoyed looking at our beautiful baby boy.  Our first night was wonderful, as well as the second.  Jonathan goes to bed about 10, wakes up around 2-3, eats for an hour or so, and then sleeps again till just after 7 a.m.  He is very nice to his parents, who take advantage of the golden opportunity to sleep.  He is such a mild mannered, sweet-hearted boy, and we love him very much.

Welcome Home Little Jonathan Russell