The First of Many

The first of many photoshoots of Baby Drew. This was just a very mini-photoshoot that I did this afternoon. I have big plans though for many more in the coming weeks!! It's good to have him home.

Homecoming

Drew finally came home today after 24 days in the NICU. We are all thrilled and a little nervous. I will take lots of pictures as soon as I get a minute in between pumping, nursing and changing diapers! I didn't get any pictures of Evan and Drew's first meeting as it was pretty anti-climactic. I don't think Evan even got within 5 feet of him, he is pretty uniterested at this point.

Happy Birthday Evan.... Again?

Last night my girlfriend Jen and her husband Greg, threw Evan a birthday party. (Disclaimer: we didn't invite all of Evan's friends because Jen was doing me a huge favor by doing this, and I didn't want to invite 20 friends to her house and trash it, so it was mainly this one group of friends that came that knows the hostess... so for any blog readers that are wondering "why wasn't I invited?"... that's why!) Jen offered to do this for me when I was in distress at the hospital on bed rest, and I had to cancel Evan's birthday party. It was so sweet, because she knew with everything I had going on, I wouldn't have much time to reschedule. So basically I just had to show up last night, the easiest birthday party EVER!! It was so nice for Evan to see his friends, and for him to be able to eat cake and be the center of attention. It was an amazing cake by the way!!! And he got really excited about it. He calls firetrucks "woo woos" and when they brought it out he started waving his hands around in the air and screamed "woo woo", over and over again. Then my friends brought me out a homemade key lime pie and sang Happy Birthday, to me! I was taken so much by surprise, I started crying. I have been super emotional lately, must be all the hormones. I am just so thankful for my friends, they have done so much for me. I just feel really lucky, and that just totally hit me last night. Anyway, it was a lovely party and it warmed my heart that Evan didn't have to miss his birthday. So thanks Jen and Greg!!!

Ugbie got to come too, because he extended his trip another few days to help me take care of Evan, which freed me up to spend my days at the NICU. So he took a few pictures at the party. Of course he thinks the pictures didn't turn out, something to do with the light being too red, against his flash being too blue. But all I see are beautiful little boys and girls enjoying their cakes... and memories of Evan's party that almost didn't happen.

Gogie

I have heard of people looking like their dogs, or dogs looking like their owners... but I have never heard of little boys looking like the character on their drink boxes? This picture makes me laugh because he looks like Big Bird here!! And he calls birds gogies, so that's why I entitled the post Gogie. But those big eyes, and the pudding dripping off of his nose (it makes him look like he has a big yellow beak).... he looks just like the big yellow bird from Sesame Street!!!

Drew Update

I have no new pictures to post. Only more dissapointing news. The nurse on Sunday got me all excited for a mid-week discharge this week. However, the physician just informed me, that she would rather we wait and not send him home on an oxygen monitor, but rather wait until he isn't having any more apneic episodes. Which could take another week or two. Geez!!! Hoping and praying he grows out of this apnea SOON!!!

Drew Day 16

Goodness, I really never thought Drew would still be in the NICU at 16 days old!! But he's tough, and still getting stronger every day despite the small set backs here and there. This morning Meema and I went and visited Drew, and this afternoon Ugbie and I visited him. Ugbie got some really cute shots of him too. I think tonight was the most alert he has ever been, and for the longest. It was a great visit. He is 4 lbs 9 oz and growing.

Like Twins

I found this picture of Evan at 1 month and let me tell you, other than about 3 or 4 lbs of extra chub, these boys are almost identical at this age.

Update

Unfortunately Drew was tuckered out this afternoon and was unable to take his bottle, so they had to put the tube back in his nose and put him on more tube feeds. I know he was so glad to get rid of it yesterday, but it's for the best. The nurse said it's common for preemies to regress a bit, so I am hoping it's just a very temporary set back.

Two Weeks Old Today

Drew is two weeks old today. I can't believe that. In some ways it seems like it's been months that I have been spending my days in the NICU, and in some ways it seems like was born only hours ago. Here are some pictures of him from today. He got rid of the tube in his nose!!! He is 4 lbs 8 oz. His oxygen levels still drop when he takes the bottle, so there is no talk of discharging him yet. But I haven't lost hope that he will come home next week some time!!! These are the best pictures I could get today in his tiny dark little room. His hair still hasn't grown in yet in the two places they shaved it for the IV. But he is still cute as a button!!

While I spend my days at the hospital, Evan is enjoying time with Ugbie (Uncle Kevin). He has been having a blast getting lots of one on one attention from his Uncle and his grandparents. He is going to be disappointed when every thing goes back to normal and it's just me day in and day out.

One Down, One to Go

I haven't worried about Evan in at least a few weeks, so I was due to worry about him I suppose. He is a horrible eater, doesn't drink milk, and has even been to a dietitian a few times because of it. With everything that has been going on with Drew, I sort of put his eating problems on the back burner for a while. Well, today was his 2 year well visit. And since Evan has never been to the doctor other than for well visits, it's been 6 months since we have seen the doctor. And it's been about 5 1/2 months since he completely gave up milk. The doctor told me today, he absolutely has to start drinking milk and to withhold all other liquids if I have to! Just what I need. A cranky toddler crying for his juice 24/7!!! Well, low and behold I got him to drink two cups of milk today! That's more than he has drank in the last few months combined! I think he could sense my desperation!!! The doctor is also concerned that he isn't putting two words together and may refer me to a speech pathologist in a few weeks if he doesn't start talking better. Also, as if this wasn't enough, he told me that he probably wasn't going to get his two top incisors since he hasn't gotten them in already, so I have to take him to a dentist for XRays. Sheesh!!! But OTHER THAN THAT, he is healthy. He weighs 26 lbs and is 34 1/2 inches tall. And he got his hair cut on Sunday with Daddy, so I had to take a picture to show off the new do.

As far as Drew goes, he has turned a major corner!!! He all of the sudden woke up and decided he was ready for a bottle. He has taken 5 or 6 full bottles today. The nurse who told me yesterday, it would probably be another 3 weeks, just ate her words!!! She says probably another week or so and he will be good to go. So now the only issue is his apneic periods. I finally am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!!!

So as Drew gets better, stronger and healthier, problems are now surfacing with Evan. But hey, I feel like I can handle anything right about now!!! If I can just get both of my boys under one roof, I can pretty much take on anything.

By the way, I promise after this whole NICU thing is over, it will be a much more positive blog. I know lately all I do is gripe and complain. I know there are babies much sicker than Drew, I haven't lost sight of that. I can't stand blogs that are so negative, which is basically what mine has become. So soon, it will be back to normal, with happy stories and cute pictures of both of my boys!

Update

Because I am totally bummed today, this update is gonna be cut and dry without any cute pics of my little man.

The nurse says if she had to guess, Drew would be in the NICU another 3 weeks. She has been a nurse for 28 years, so I tend to believe her. Drew is still only taking about 20 ml of breast milk three times a day, and he needs to be taking 40 ml every three or so hours. He needs to gain weight steadily, so far he has only gained weight one day in a row, not for two consecutive days. He also needs to stop having apneic episodes, which he is still having one or so a day. The poor boy can't even hold his neck straight enough when laying flat in bed. He has to lay on a rolled up washcloth to hyper extend his neck, so he doesn't cut off his own breathing.

Anyway, he is still doing great, this news just caught me off guard today. Every one says he is progressing as he should, but now all the sudden one week just turned into three.

Keep the positive thoughts coming!

Drew...9 Days Old

Today Drew is nine days old. He has come so far in nine days. He is totally of oxygen now. He is has no IV. He is taking three partial bottles a day. This is such an improvement from last week at this time. He is still getting tube feedings, and his weight is fluctuating around 4 lbs 3 oz. But he is still progressing every day. Right now his main issue, other than eating.. is having periods of apnea. He has had apneic episodes almost once a day, but the nurse says that should improve once he hits 5 lbs. So I am praying he starts gaining weight, FAST!! The key is letting him rest and not stressing him. Because just taking a bottle is stressful enough for him to lose weight. So it's a fine balance that we are trying to find.

Passing Time

I feel like every thing I do these days is just something to pass the time until I can bring Drew home. I have been trying to do some fun things with Evan, since most of the time he is cooped up in the house. So yesterday we went to the park with Meema and we had a blast! What a handsome little boy I have.

Evan Or Drew?

It's no wonder I keep calling Drew, Evan. They are virtually twins, except Evan's hair was reddish and Drew's is brown. Here are some pictures of Evan at a week old.

Sorry the pictures are a little blurry, my camera skills weren't so hot back then!

Drew's New Crib

Yesterday Drew was upgraded from an isolette to an actual crib! Which means I can put him in his own clothes and use his own blankets now! Just one more step to bringing him home. He is regulating his own temperature now, his jaundice is still there...but improving, he is still on room air, and his infection has cleared. As I am writing this, his Doctor just called me. She said he is having a few apneic periods with his breathing, but this is typical for a preemie. He is also "slow" to "nipple" feed. Which means he is having a difficult time taking a bottle. The Doctor said that boys are usually slower at this than girls, and to be patient. We can't push him to take the bottle, because that will wear him out and he may give up trying all together. I asked the Doctor if she thought he was still on track to go home in ten days, and she said, it all depends on Drew. Boo!!! I hate when Doctors are so vague!!! I mean, I understand that it depends on how well he is feeding, but I was hoping for estimate based on how he is doing. Oh well. I gotta hold on to the fact that he is stable and improving every day.

So far the nurses at the hospital have been amazing. When I was on bed rest there, they were great, and they continue to be great when taking care of Drew. Except for one episode yesterday, I have very little to complain about. But, his nurse yesterday gave the poor boy formula. I have an entire fridge full of breast milk that I have been diligently pumping every two hours, and she doesn't even check the fridge and gives him formula! I have nothing against formula, but I have been working my butt off trying to build up my supply. Apparently Drew was not too thrilled about it either, because he immediately threw it up! Serves the nurse right! If you add up all the time I have pumped over the last week, it's a day and a half. Every two to three hours all day and all night. Can you tell I am a bit sleep deprived and a tad bitter?!?

Ok, well now I am off to take care of my other little boy who won't eat, who shall remain nameless.