Another Update.... and an upcoming Birthday

So I apologize that its been a while since the last update, but we are finally getting some where. A couple weeks ago Carter went to a Pediatric Optometrist. After running his test he found that Carter's vision development has not been affected as of yet. But his hemangioma is putting pressure on the affected eye ball and causing an astigmatism. With that the eye doctor recommended that we go ahead with the medicine that the dermatologist had recommended.

The afternoon of the eye appt I call the Dermatologist office and let them know that we were going to go ahead with the treatment. Well, the medicine that Carter will be taking is an adult blood pressure medicine, so we had to get pre-authorization from our insurance company. Thankfully the dermatologist office took care of all the paperwork and Carter was pre approved in a couple days.

The side affects of the medicine, Propanolol, is low blood pressure and low blood sugar. For this reason the first 4 doses, two days worth, Carter must be in the hospital where they can monitor his levels. On Tuesday the 27th of March he will be admitted into Children's Hospital. And we should be able to be discharged the evening of the 28th, if all goes well.

In a little over a week our big boy NOAH will be 3!! So hard to believe. He is very excited about his upcoming party. We made a practice Elmo birthday cake this past weekend and Noah LOVED it. I can't wait for him to see the 3' Elmo balloon mommy bought for him too. Shhh.... its a surprise. Noah is also looking forward to moving into the 'big kid' room at daycare. He's been talking about "when he turns 3 he goes to big kid room" for almost a month yet. It also means he'll be with grandma during the day. We're not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing yet. :) Hopefully he will listen.

Also in a little over a week Noah will start his first swim lessons. Mommy and Daddy are looking forward to Noah getting more comfortable in the water and learning some more rule about water safety from people other than mom and dad. Especially with summer coming up.

I'm sure more pictures will come from the birthday party and swimming lessons in the next few weeks.

We hope that every one is well and enjoying some of the lovely weather we have been having.

Much Love

Dustin, Jessi, Noah, & Carter Fricke

Happy February

Last week we went to the Omaha Dermatology Specialist for Carter's eye. Basically we learned Nothing. Instead we are now going to the eye doctor in a few weeks. He will run tests to make sure the hemangioma (not a cyst) is not putting any pressure on the eye to affect development. If there's no pressure then we will keep checking it every few months, but no further action will be taken.
If the test find that there is pressure on the eye then a medicine will be given. It is an aggressive medicine so both of us our hoping for no pressure and to keep on, keeping on. :-)
In a little over a month our 'Big Boy' Noah will be three. Hard to believe. So mommy has started thing about what kind of party our Noah will want.

Time Flies

Wow it's hard to believe that January is almost over. The fact that it was near 70 makes it hard to believe it's even winter. We all went for a walk last night and played at the park. Carter is dealing with a double ear infection and some sinus gunk so it was nice to get some fresh air.
Carter is 8 months old. It just doesn't seem possible. Noah will be 3 in March.
We had a check up today because Carter developed a mild rash after starting the antibiotic. So we found out he's allergic to penicillin and we've stop the medicine and will go without any thing. Dr said both ears are basically cleared up anyway.

Happy Holidays

First Carters update: No surgery for now. Since the cyst isn't getting significantly larger and not affecting Carters eye development. We have decided to hold off on surgery until he is older.
This past weekend Carter and Noah got to visit Santa. I consider this a success. Noah did NOT cry. He didn't sit on Santa's lap, but gave him a high five and took his candy. Carter got to sit on his lap and ponder his beard. Luckily he didn't tug on it too hard.
The holidays are fast approaching. The Fricke family hopes this finds you and yours well and many blessing for a festive and Merry Christmas and a fruitful New Year.

<3 The Frickes
Dustin, Jessi, Noah, & Carter.

Our Consult with the Plastic Surgeon

Well yesterday afternoon Carter and Mommy braved the snow/rain/slush to make a trip to the Plastic Surgeon. :) After examining Carter's eye, asking questions, and the nurses oogling over how cute Carter was. The surgeon decided that its mostly likely a cyst. Some good news is that since the cyst is on the side of the eye, it (the cyst) should not grow back into Carter's cranial cavity. Sadly some times kids get cyst in between their eyes and there is a suture line there, so for those cyst they must do surgery asap, to make sure the cyst doesn't grow back into the brain. ONE PRAYER ANSWERED!!
The doctor usually doesn't like to do surgery until after 6 months old. Since Carter's protrusion is not affecting his vision yet and not seeming to cause him any discomfort, the nurse took pictures of the cyst from multiple angles and we will go back in another month. If the growth continues to grow we will discuss surgery at that time. Of course, in the mean time, should anything change drastically, we would go back in sooner. They did say RARELY the growths can get smaller and go away on their own, but we aren't counting on that.

Laying on his blanket in the waiting room.

Update on Carter's eye

Some know, some don't but for the last 2-2 1/2 months Carter has had a growth above his right eye. At his check-up a month ago the Pediatrician said it could be one of two things. 1.) a nother hemangioma (he has a large one on his upper chest/shoulder area that is quite larger & a small dot of one under his arm pit) or 2.) a dermoid cyst. We would just wait. On one of the pictures you can see the growth pretty well.
Well the growth has been getting larger, so mommy took him back to the Ped this week. Not a lot of new information, but we do go to a consolation with a plastic surgeon next Wednesday. It depends on what they say as to where things will go from there. A: surgery, b: CAT scan, c: further consulate with a specialist, or d: other. :-)
So after our next appt I will update further. Thanks.

I don't want my picture taken mommy.

Here you can see the puffiness of his eye

Noah eating a donut as his bride for taking family pictures.
checkout E2Photography

Happy Boy

And more Happy Boy from Family Pictures
Taken by E2Photography

Party at the Pumpkin Patch

This past weekend we went to the Roca Berry Farm with Grandma and Papa Scott. Carter slept most of the time while Noah was all over the place having a blast.