DOL 19

I had a great weekend! I spent a lot of time with mom and I got a lot of sleep. I grew again! I am up to 2 lbs., 9 oz! I'm well on my way to 3 lbs. I also got some pretty exciting news...I found out that I might be able to get out of this incubator and into a real crib relatively soon. I am doing a better job of regulating my own temperature, so they keep lowering the heat in here. You'll see that I'm all swaddled up too. This is how I'll probably sleep when I get into a crib. I like it a lot, I feel all-tucked-in, just like if I was still in the womb. Plus, this keeps me from pulling at all of my medical instrumentation (I just can't help myself)! Here are a couple of video clips of yours truly.



Here's lookin' at you!

DOL 17

Hey folks! I hope that you had a good Thanksgiving! My mom and dad have a lot to be thankful for!! We heard today that I gained another ounce! I'm up to 2 1/2 lbs! Not bad for a guy who spends his days asleep!

Overall, I really seem to have settled down. I have only had a few "spells" and I am awfully comfortable in my little bed, so I've been getting a lot of rest. My days are really great. My mom comes up to take naps with me. Pretty soon, I'll be able to take more than one nap outside the incubator/isolette so dad said he'll come take a nap with me then too! I am getting everything that I need. I have a nice warm, dark, quiet place to sleep, plenty of food, and clean diapers. This is the life! So, things here are good.

Still, I am still tired from all of the turkey-formula (haha) that I had yesterday, and the nurses have to get to work stuffing me full of calories (boy am I funny!), so I'm going down for another nap... take care for now....

DOL 15

Hey folks! I didn't get to update you yesterday...I was too busy celebrating two weeks!! Plus, sometimes it can be tough to get to a computer with all of these feedings and diaper changes!

Well, I'm a two-weeker now. I'm looking forward to a month..then I'll be really old...

I'm in the "sleep and grow" stage of my development. I do a lot of sleeping, a lot of eating and a lot of pooping. It's not so bad, the nurses change me pretty often, so I don't get uncomfortable. But today, I accidentally pooped on mom!! I was so comfortable, I forgot that I was on her and I made a mess. Get used to it mom. Dad, you're next. Even though all this pooping is yucky, my dad is really happy because it means that I'm digesting all my food!

On a less yucky note, because I've been doing so well with my feedings, the docs are giving me iron supplements now. Pretty soon, my bone marrow will start producing it's own red blood cells. The iron helps my marrow get the job done. Right now, I'm just using the red blood cells that mom gave me. Well, soon I will be able to produce them all by myself!

So far so good everyone! Keep sending your prayers and love. I appreciate it. Oh, and I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving! You can see that I'm all excited for my turkey/mashed potatoes/gravy-flavored formula. I even put on my T-day bib. So, when you're settling in for your post dinner-nap, I will be too!! See you on Friday!!!

DOL 13

Great news today! I got good grades on a follow up head ultrasound...no change and it looks like I'm going to be just fine on that front! My mom and dad were very relieved after they heard that.

It looks like from here on out, I am just trying to sleep, eat, and grow. I have a number of other hurdles, but so far, so good. I settled down a little since the lights were removed. Those lights drove me nuts! They also elevated my temperature, which caused my heartrate to speed up, which made my mom very nervous (what else is new?!).

I have been having a lot of spells lately. You probably remember, this is when I forget to breathe for a few seconds. Most of the time, I remember, but if I don't and those little alarms tattle on me...well, then I get a little tickle from a nurse. That usually helps me remember to get back to work breathing! The other thing that the doctors did for me is to put me on a little dose of caffeine to keep my little heart beating normally. (My mom and dad love the stuff, so I guess I'm a chip off the ol' block!)

This all sounds pretty scary, but I keep telling my mom and dad that it's okay and I'll knock it off in time. Because my neurological system (nerves and stuff) is immature, sometimes the signal that my brain is sending shorts out on the way to my little muscles. All of this will go away when I get a little older.

Until then, though, I will probably just continue to give my dad gray hair, and my mom restless nights. I think that this is pretty much par for the course. So, some "spells" now, but someday I'll ask to borrow the car and then watch them worry! I've got plenty of growing to do until then, so I've got to get to sleep (which is when I grow the most). I have a full belly and I got to nap with mom and dad, so I'm going to call it a day. Tomorrow is my two week mark! I'm 2 weeks old!

DOL 12

Hi everyone! I took yesterday off because I was having a difficult day...but that passed and I'm back to my old self! The nurses here gave me tube called a low-flow nasal cannula to keep me settled. Ever since they gave this to me, I've been much more calm. All I know is, I like pulling on it!

So, mom and dad came to visit. I took a long nap with mom...she's the best. Otherwise, today was a pretty uneventful, calm day. I'm sure mom and dad are happy about that after yesterday! I have calmed down a bit and I get to sleep much better with no bright lights in my eyes. I do keep pulling on that tube in my nose and it keeps ending up in my mouth. Not my intention, but it gets me some attention from the nurses!

Here are some more photos of me!

DOL 10

I'm in double digits today! Here's a little video clip from last night. I don't like sitting still. I'm a mover-and-a-shaker!

DOL 9

Hello there! Good news! You may have noticed the bright lights shining on me constantly. Well, I'm not sure if I told you, but I don't like them. Well, the good news is that in the next couple hours, the doctors said that we can shut them off!! Hopefully, this is for good...now I can get some rest here! I also heard that they are going to increase the size of my meals! That's great!!! I can't wait for that full belly! Now I have to convince them that I should get ice cream for dessert...

Today was a good day. Mom was here all day again. I saw dad a few times, too. They told me that the doctors were really happy with my progress. I have a few hurdles ahead of me, but I'm really trying hard to get past them without making everyone worry. I'm trying to clear those hurdles with a lot of room to spare so everyone can rest a little easy. Why, by this time next year, I'll bet I'll be chuggin' down pureed carrots and mashed potatoes for Thanksgiving!

Here are a bunch of pictures that I had taken. I thought that you might enjoy them...I'm wearing some shades in a couple of these, but as soon as these lights go away, they are coming off!!!