MAX'S FAN CLUB CONTINUES TO GROW...AND GROW...AND GROW!!!

So last week I was wondering how many people really do read Max's blog, because it seems like every day I find about yet another person who has been following our journey. I either receive emails from complete strangers or a friend tells me that "Oh of course my niece, my mailman, my hairdresser all know about Max. They have been reading his blog for months now..."

I added a simple monitor to the site and it gives you a summary of the number of visits, the city and states of the visitors, etc. Boy was I surprised to see not only how many states were listed, but also how many countries! The majority of the visitors are from Washington and West Virginia but nearly every state is represented too! Every day there are over 300 people visiting his site! Some days many, many more!

What is funny too is "how" people are learning about Mighty Max. Many other sites now post links to this blog and then there have been numerous tv interviews, newspaper articles and the latest...our fun radio interview this past week. Others say they have heard about him through a friend and have been hooked to this lil' miracle's story from that point on!

THANK YOU everyone! I love how many people are caring for, concerned about and celebrating Maxwell!!! :) I love your prayers and your supportive emails and letters...it has provided incredible strength and comfort during our challenging journey. I can't wait to tell Maxwell someday how many people were routing him on...I have a feeling though that his fan club will be quadrupled by that time!!! :)

MAX & HIS BUDDIES

I love seeing Maxwell enjoying his toys!!!

How cute are Max and his cousin Thomas holding hands? Thomas constantly is going for Max's cannula so we have to watch their "playtime" very closely! But since Thomas is now a very speedy crawler, he seems to get pretty bored with lil' Max and moves on after a few minutes. I so look forward to the day when Max is mobile too!

Shakespeare is always trying to sneak in a kiss! And Max now puts his hand out for him...too cute!

Maxwell LOVES to play with hair...so he is a BIG fan of his new friend's (Stephanie) hair. When she took down her hair today for him, he quickly smiled with delight!

ON THE MEND??? NOT QUITE

I think I spoke too soon when I said Maxwell was on the mend! Yesterday he was feeling pretty crappy all day...we were both quite miserable! :( The poor lil' guy was coughing so much that he would violently puke out of his nose and mouth...I then had to quickly suction his mouth and nose so he wouldn't aspirate the excessive secretions. It was quite a day! I have never seen anyone puke out of their nose and I was a bit worried. I immediately called my nurse and she said that is normal for a baby at this age, so at least it is "normal."

His ears are continuing to bother him too...he is pulling at both of them now. So we have ANOTHER doctor's appointment later today to check on that.

Hopefully today is a better day...I'm confident it will be! No puking throughout the night, that's a good sign.

AND today will indeed be super fun because we have an extra special guest with us, one of our very best friends, Stephanie. She flew out from DC yesterday and her wonderful husband Drew will join us on Friday and be with us for the weekend. We are soooo excited to have them here! They met Maxwell last summer when he was just a lil' sickly kid...BIG difference to the pink, chubby, lively, happy baby now!!!

Today I also have a radio interview to promote the upcoming guild fundraiser for Children's Hospital. I absolutely adore (as you know!!!) talking about my sweet son so I am looking forward to the interview! Hopefully it generates further interest in our event!

Off to give some meds...

ROAD TO RECOVERY

We went back to the doctor again today so he could look at Max's infected ear and listen to his lungs...and both are on the mend. Yay!

So slowly but surely, Max is on the road to recovery. He is coughing like crazy with tons of secretions and occasionally that leads to some vomiting...but for the most part, he seems to be feeling better. On the way to the doctor's, he had one of his major coughing spells and I quickly pulled over because it sounded like he was dangerously choking. The oximeter was beeping like crazy...Max was making weird sounds...it didn't seem good, that's for sure! So I pull over and run back to his seat and what do I find? Maxwell with a big smile on his face! (He loves the overhead lights that go on when you open the car door!) Not at all what I expected to see, but what a relief! He had coughed up A LOT but most he managed to spit out (well "drool" out on his chin and clothes is more like it!) and the rest apparently he swallowed.

The fever is also gone and he is now officially back on full feeds too. He has crazy "runs" due to his antibiotics, which leads to many comical situations! And you truly could make a boxing movie with me and Max when I am attempting to suction his nose...he is getting quite a left hook!!! It is unbelievable how strong and coordinated his arms are when he is defending his nose!

I have a feeling in a few days Max will be back to "baseline" and kicking away like the crazy man that he is!!! One more hospital stay avoided...go Max go!!! :) Thanks everyone for your prayers and incredibly kind and supportive emails!

MAX & HIS CANNULA!

Max seems to have absolutely no desire to go to sleep tonight...he is in full play mode with his nasal cannula! Great opportunity for me to take some super cute photos! I took a series of about 30 shots and they are hysterical all together.

He is getting to be quite a ham already! Seems like as soon as I bring out the camera, he will stop what he is doing and just stare...too funny! ENJOY! :)