I told Christian about a month ago that he couldn't do something ... i don't remember what it was. But I must have said that only 'big boys' can do that. Ever since, every time I tell him 'no', he looks at me and says, "Big boys?" in the cutest, most innocent tone. He's been attempting to speak in sentences more and more, and i really should be writing them down. His longest and funniest one yet was the other day during a diaper changing time. He said, "No big boys eat diaper cream!" You can imagine how this statement came about. He often tries to take the tube of diaper rash cream and put it in his mouth. I tell him 'no eating diaper cream.' He says, "Big boys?" I say "no. not even big boys can eat diaper cream. in fact, no people eat diaper cream." (and since i will often tell him that only mommy or daddy can do something or other... he will respond to such a statement as "no people eat diaper cream" with, "mommy?"..."daddy?"...). So now we go through the whole list of people who don't eat diaper cream... i finally realized that he's probably smart enough to just learn the word "nobody". So now when it's time for a diaper change, he goes through the list:
Sis-chin no eat diaper cream.
No people eat diaper cream.
No big boys eat diaper cream.
Nobody eats diaper cream.
His other running joke: "Gramma Peg has a tanker truck"...(pause)..... "Nooo!"
This came about at the dinner table the other night, when we were telling gramsy and poppy that he'd announced that "poppy has a tanker truck" on the way to their house that day. we told him "Noooo...poppy doesn't have a tanker truck!"
what we failed to understand (as poppy quickly enlightened us), is that poppy does have a gas tank by his garage in the backyard, and he told christian about the big tanker truck that comes to fill it up. so he was partially right. poppy does have a tanker truck that comes to his yard. we stand corrected. somehow, the statement evolved into a big joke in his mind. and eventually gramma peg got dragged into it. not sure how. but it was one of the funniest things he's said, to date. and ever since then, he's been telling us little jokes, all ending in "Noooo!"
It's similar to when he pretends to put the shape in the wrong hole in the shape sorter, or the wrong letter in the alphabet puzzle, and says, "nope!"
Oh and tonight he was eating his alphabet tater tots, and turning them around so that they made more than just one letter at a time (ie, the "M" can be an "E", "3", AND a "W", depending on which way you hold it). we thought that was pretty ingenius, until he took the "I", and after discovering that it could also be an "H", held it up to his eye, and said "I" (eye), over and over and over.
Needless to say, he's keeping us entertained as we transition into Dave returning to work, Kyren having a few setbacks, and me still coping with some post-traumatic stress issues.
We are thankful for his wit and humor, and can honestly say that during this season, he is the one who keeps us laughing all the way!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
water weight
They've decided to try to help Kyren's lungs by putting him on a diuretic. Last week when he was doing so well, the doctor was surprised that he hadn't ever been on one. So I guess it's pretty common for micro preemies to require it. Hopefully it will lessen the fluid in his system, and in particular his lungs, and eventually help him to wean from the cannula. But for now, his oxygen level and flow have both been increased to keep his numbers from plummeting. They've also added a 1/2 Tbsp. of rice cereal to his bottles, to try to help with the reflux issue. So far it doesn't seem to be making too much of a difference. Please pray for these things to be resolved, so that further medication, etc... would not be needed.
On the upside, his nursing and bottle feeding continue to improve (he took a bottle after nursing 2x yesterday, and didn't need to be tube fed for those feedings at all!), and I have gotten to see him wide awake the past few times I've been there. It's so adorable! He is very mellow, but very alert, and beginning to look around at the big world that surrounds him. He's getting cuter and cuter as his cheeks get chubbier and chubbier ... Though he may be losing a little weight over the next few days, as he sheds his excess fluids.
Speaking of cuteness, yesterday I brought in his "My First Christmas" sleeper, and it just about fit him! He looked like a little red elf :) ...figured he better get some use out of it before Christmas-- he may be too big for it by then!
On the upside, his nursing and bottle feeding continue to improve (he took a bottle after nursing 2x yesterday, and didn't need to be tube fed for those feedings at all!), and I have gotten to see him wide awake the past few times I've been there. It's so adorable! He is very mellow, but very alert, and beginning to look around at the big world that surrounds him. He's getting cuter and cuter as his cheeks get chubbier and chubbier ... Though he may be losing a little weight over the next few days, as he sheds his excess fluids.
Speaking of cuteness, yesterday I brought in his "My First Christmas" sleeper, and it just about fit him! He looked like a little red elf :) ...figured he better get some use out of it before Christmas-- he may be too big for it by then!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
one step back
We've been so encouraged by the steady progress of our little guy, we forgot about the potential of '2steps forward, 1 step back'. The past couple of days he's been having some issues with breathing. They aren't sure if it's related to being off of the C-PAP for a week or so, or if it's being caused by reflux. Maybe a little of both?
Please pray that they would figure it out quickly, and that his little body would get back on track. One step back isn't terrible, but it isn't fun to watch him struggle.
On the bright side, he is still gaining weight steadily, is up to 41mL per feeding, and weighs 4 lbs 9.5 oz this morning! He's also doing better and better with nursing and bottle feeding, though he is still tiny and gets easily tired out.
Dave finally got to visit him for the first time last night, and came home beaming. It was a precious reunion! We are nearing the end of his Paternity Leave, and are enjoying our last few days together-- introducing Christian to all of our family Christmas traditions.
It's fun to watch him discover the little joys of the season. He loves the snow-- and asks continually to go outside for "more sled!" And as much as we thought he'd love the process of going to pick out our Christmas tree, we didn't anticipate how much MORE he'd love the fact that we went to Home Depot (to get the tree). He ended up being incredibly interested in the forklift that was moving crates around the garden center... and couldn't have cared less about the tree search. His favorite part about putting the tree in our livingroom was the 4 screws on the tree stand. He crawled around and around it, saying "turn wheels" and trying to screw them all in. And while the lights and ornaments fascinated him for a few minutes, he took more joy in opening and shutting the flaps on the box in which they came. Ah, to step back and see the world through little (boy) eyes!
Perhaps we should take more 'steps back' this season, and really take time to appreciate the endless blessings we've been given. To be 'simply thankful' for our health, our home, our boys, our family and friends, our many provisions, and our basic freedoms. And most of all, our Saviour.
Thank you, Lord, for coming to show us true Love, that we might be able to fully enjoy this life, even with all of its hardships. Thank you for humbling yourself as a tiny baby, one Major step DOWN, to do what we could never do for ourselves. As we step back and look at the Manger, we are reminded of your sweet innocence, your holy purposes, and your commitment to being Immanuel: "God with us"-- A kindness we didn't deserve and so often forget is still true! Help us this year to ponder more frequently the reason for your appearance on that first Christmas morning... and allow the wonder of it all to bring our hearts to where they were meant to be. Thank you for being God With Us during this trial, and showing us, through Kyren, how sweet and precious this life is. We don't want to take any of it for granted!
Please pray that they would figure it out quickly, and that his little body would get back on track. One step back isn't terrible, but it isn't fun to watch him struggle.
On the bright side, he is still gaining weight steadily, is up to 41mL per feeding, and weighs 4 lbs 9.5 oz this morning! He's also doing better and better with nursing and bottle feeding, though he is still tiny and gets easily tired out.
Dave finally got to visit him for the first time last night, and came home beaming. It was a precious reunion! We are nearing the end of his Paternity Leave, and are enjoying our last few days together-- introducing Christian to all of our family Christmas traditions.
It's fun to watch him discover the little joys of the season. He loves the snow-- and asks continually to go outside for "more sled!" And as much as we thought he'd love the process of going to pick out our Christmas tree, we didn't anticipate how much MORE he'd love the fact that we went to Home Depot (to get the tree). He ended up being incredibly interested in the forklift that was moving crates around the garden center... and couldn't have cared less about the tree search. His favorite part about putting the tree in our livingroom was the 4 screws on the tree stand. He crawled around and around it, saying "turn wheels" and trying to screw them all in. And while the lights and ornaments fascinated him for a few minutes, he took more joy in opening and shutting the flaps on the box in which they came. Ah, to step back and see the world through little (boy) eyes!
Perhaps we should take more 'steps back' this season, and really take time to appreciate the endless blessings we've been given. To be 'simply thankful' for our health, our home, our boys, our family and friends, our many provisions, and our basic freedoms. And most of all, our Saviour.
Thank you, Lord, for coming to show us true Love, that we might be able to fully enjoy this life, even with all of its hardships. Thank you for humbling yourself as a tiny baby, one Major step DOWN, to do what we could never do for ourselves. As we step back and look at the Manger, we are reminded of your sweet innocence, your holy purposes, and your commitment to being Immanuel: "God with us"-- A kindness we didn't deserve and so often forget is still true! Help us this year to ponder more frequently the reason for your appearance on that first Christmas morning... and allow the wonder of it all to bring our hearts to where they were meant to be. Thank you for being God With Us during this trial, and showing us, through Kyren, how sweet and precious this life is. We don't want to take any of it for granted!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
one for the team...and one step at a time
Thank you for praying for our health as a family this week! Dave is on the mend (and on Z-pack), tho he is still coughing, and unable to visit Kyren. :(
Miraculously, neither Christian nor I have gotten ill!
So hopefully we are out of the woods, and Dave has taken one for the team.
Kyren continues to gain weight and is approaching 4 1/2 pounds already! He's up to 39 mL every 3 hrs, and if he nurses or takes a bottle before his feeding, they can weigh him before and after to see how much he's actually gotten, and subtract that from his tube feed. Technology! :)
They are beginning to talk about him coming home in the next month-- and it is all a little unnerving. I remember the doctor telling us the first day, that it would seem like forever that he was in the hospital, but when it was time to come home, we wouldn't be ready for it. It would be sudden, and we'd feel unprepared. And as I think about the reality of it happening in just a matter of weeks, he's right! All of the details, doctor visits, sleepless nights, etc... are overwelming to think about, on top of caring for a 19 month old!
I know that God has brought us this far, and isn't going to leave us now-- but it is still somewhat of a daunting task-- to go from having 24hr nurse care and monitors, to having us be responsible for this little being's overall health!
One step at a time. A whole new adventure is about to begin. And as challenging as this one has been, I want to enjoy every last moment of its peacefulness and 'freedom', before the next chapter unfolds!
Miraculously, neither Christian nor I have gotten ill!
So hopefully we are out of the woods, and Dave has taken one for the team.
Kyren continues to gain weight and is approaching 4 1/2 pounds already! He's up to 39 mL every 3 hrs, and if he nurses or takes a bottle before his feeding, they can weigh him before and after to see how much he's actually gotten, and subtract that from his tube feed. Technology! :)
They are beginning to talk about him coming home in the next month-- and it is all a little unnerving. I remember the doctor telling us the first day, that it would seem like forever that he was in the hospital, but when it was time to come home, we wouldn't be ready for it. It would be sudden, and we'd feel unprepared. And as I think about the reality of it happening in just a matter of weeks, he's right! All of the details, doctor visits, sleepless nights, etc... are overwelming to think about, on top of caring for a 19 month old!
I know that God has brought us this far, and isn't going to leave us now-- but it is still somewhat of a daunting task-- to go from having 24hr nurse care and monitors, to having us be responsible for this little being's overall health!
One step at a time. A whole new adventure is about to begin. And as challenging as this one has been, I want to enjoy every last moment of its peacefulness and 'freedom', before the next chapter unfolds!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Milestones galore
I got to give Kyren a bath today for the first time -- my first time, not his! He LOVED the water. It was so sweet to watch him, so alert and happy--looking all around and enjoying the womb-like feeling.
He is officially (hopefully for good) off the C-PAP, and doing really well! This means that in the next day or so, they will move his feeding tube to his nose, so that he can begin to suck better when he nurses or takes a bottle. But after today's nursing session, I don't think he's going to have much trouble either way! He is latching like a champ, and really getting the hang of it! I am thrilled beyond words-- it is such an amazing feeling to watch him get it!!! I'm so proud of him :)
We are also able to stop the "snoogle", which was getting tiresome for me to keep having to wash and wear in my shirt. Now that we're doing "Kangaroo Care" (skin to skin) everyday, he doesn't really need the snoogle to remind him of my scent. YAY!!!
We are on the fast track here-- and before we know it, this little guy will be home in our arms! It's unreal! Please continue to pray for his health and success with feeding. And that Dave's illness would get better (he's gotten worse :( ), and that the rest of us would remain healthy!!!
sleepy head
wide awake
Blurry, but i love it!
Mommy's first bath
presh
hi mom!
mmm, water!
clean and cozy
The nurses keep coming in to see him -- he's the tiniest baby there -- and it amazes me that anyone would remember me from the week I was in and out of Paoli with contractions, but apparently they do... some have even been following Kyren's progress (while at Lankenau) and come to see him now like he's a celebrity! We're trying to not let it go to his cute little head :)
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