A Step In The Right Direction

Yesterday Caiden received his last set of shots of the RSV vaccine (for information on RSV please go here). I asked the doctor if he would be eligible for next season and he won't be. Apparently here its only for preemies with a low birth weight who are six months or younger at the start of RSV season and babies with lung/heart disease up to age two. I thought preemies were eligible up to age two as well. If his doctor decides that he needs it next year we'd have to fight the insurance company. For a drug that's $2,000 per shot, and Caiden gets two each visit (dose is by weight), it wouldn't be likely that we'd win.

I'm a little torn between relief and anxiety. Next RSV season he won't have to get the shots every month but I know I'm going to be extra worried about him catching something. Every time we'd go for his monthly dose I'd feel horrible for him having to be there. The shots are painful. The needles are longer than average, they go deep into the muscle and the dose is large one. Had he not been premature, he wouldn't have needed to get them. I did appreciate that though he had to suffer through them, it was better he got them than have to deal with contracting RSV. Hopefully next year he'll be healthy enough so that if he does contract it, it won't be too bad.

It was nice to be able to see how much he weighs every month though, to go from him being weighed every day in the NICU to just at doctors appointments is quite the change. I have a good idea of how much he gains in a month though so guessing a close number isn't hard but its reassuring that he's gaining and growing the way he's supposed to.

Some days its hard to believe he was a preemie, but you never forget. He's done so well since being home, he's hardly even been sick. I think its partially because of the vaccines and because we've been very careful about him going out and being exposed to germs. After he came home from the NICU I bought a tag (pictured below) to hang from his infant carrier to ward off wandering hands of others. We've since moved to a convertible car seat so when we go to the stores he sits in the cart protected by a cover. Since he's still not sitting up on his own its a little difficult but we manage to make it work. I'm trying to figure out where I can put the tag so people can still see it.

The other day however, we were leaving the store after grocery shopping and I was putting his jacket back on (it was nice enough here that he didn't need a heavy coat). A lady walked up to us and started talking to him. For the most part I'm used to people talking to us. They tend to comment on his hair as its always sticking up no matter what I do to it. I just smile and answer their questions. This woman however decided it would be a good idea to try and run her fingers through his hair. Thankfully I managed to pull the cart away and asked her to please refrain from touching him. 

Even though I was polite she still made a rude comment and proceeded to storm off. Now I don't mind that I may have upset this woman, you simply don't touch another person's child without permission. She's lucky I didn't take it any further. I shouldn't have to explain to every curious passerby that he's a preemie, even this far out from the NICU he still has a delicate immune system. Preemie or not, its just one of those things you don't do. 

To purchase one of these signs please go here.

*I am not the owner of this company and don't benefit if you purchase one of these. As someone who's gotten great use out of ours I am only looking to pass along a wonderful item to other parents.*