Ears - Oh my!

We are asking for extra prayers for Ryder Jeremiah. He's been having some ear issues for the past couple of months. Ear infections have become quite the norm lately and with those infections come sleepless nights, crying and eventually bloody ears. Yep! Bloody ears. 

The first time it happened I freaked out but sadly, bloody ears are becoming "routine" around here. Ryder's always struggled with excess fluid draining through his open palate which effects his ears by causing major pressure. That pressure builds up so much so that blood vessels, near Ryder's ear drum, start to pop. When the blood vessels pop, blood begins to drain from Ryder's ears. The good news is that we know what to do when his ears start to bleed and within a week or so his infection starts to clear. Thankfully his ear tubes are still in place and he won't have to undergo another ear surgery (as of yet) but eventually they'll need to be replaced. 

Pray for a strong heart for mama. My heart always breaks to see Ryder cry and be so uncomfortable! It's a constant guessing game with Ryder and since he can't communicate the pain it becomes a game of process of elmination . It's hard to tell when Ryder has an ear infection because he doesn't show "loud and clear" ear infection symptoms like other babies might show. More specifically, I hardly see Ryder's nose run. All of that mucus build up from his nose falls directly through the cleft palate in his mouth, causing more drainage in his throat....eventually causing an ear infection. Here's what we see when Ryder's ears start to bleed....

After a few days we start to see smiles....

And eventually he's back to his normal, joyful self with a full night's sleep for ALL!