Topic: Memories

Well, life has continued to become busier as Robert grows and each day brings a richness to my life that I never thought possible.  As of yesterday he weighs 17lb's 13.5oz's and is 24 inches long.  We got his new measurements at the doctors yesterday, where he was diagnosed with an ear infection.  Thankfully, it's nothing awful, he responded to his medication fast and is already feeling better. 

Our first summer as a family has been a joy and if it's any indicator of the years to come then life is going to be full of fun.  We've visited the zoo a couple of times, Robert was completely fascinated by the aquariums and Manatee's, he loves to go for walks by the water at the local metro park here, and has had his first few tries on the baby swing in the play park near our home.  He is developing into quite a character too, and chats away to us, the dogs, the cat, his toys and anything else nearby all day.  His most recent trick is to blow raspberries as a form of communicating to us when he want's something.  Also when he finds something that he can't fit into his mouth, he gets furious and shouts at it, and often the legs of the dining table oare the objects of his baby wrath. 

He has learned to hold his own bottle although he still needs help when he's tired and, he began to eat his first solids around September.  So far his favourites are peas, sweet potatoes, lentils with rice, chicken, bananas and strawberries.  Our little Gummy Bear is not quite as gummy anymore with his first two teeth, and his is on the verge of crawling, concentrating fiercely as he carefully puts a hand forward and tries to move a foot at the same time. 

 But, the thing that made my heart melt most of all was when he gave me a kiss for the first time.  He was playing with his toys on the bed after a nap, when he rolled over onto his tummy, just for fun I rolled over too, he turned to look at me, smiled and planted a tiny kiss on my cheek.  It was one of the most unforgettable moment's of my entire life. 

Finally, last Wednesday it was Halloween and, Robert was turned into a little lion cub for the night.  He went for a walk around the neighbourhood with us and some friends to see all the pumpkins lit up in peoples porches, then visited Grandma Ula and Grandpa before coming home at bedtime a very sleepy little baby. 

 

 

The removal of Roberts g-tube went very well on Tuesday morning.  Of course he fought against the sedative that was given to keep him relaxed through it all.  He's a fierce little soul and we love that about him.  Partly because it shows that he's strong and, partly because we simply find his fiesty attitude delightful to see.  But, back to the g-tube.  He reached a fairly drowsy state, but was still aware of things enough to react to them.  No need for an anesthetic as it was just a case of pulling the thing out through the hole that it was sitting in, then cauterising the opening with silver nitrate to close it up.  Poor little fellow was a bit stunned when we went back in to get him when the procedure was finished, and he was sore for a couple of days. 

The wound where the tube was, is healing incredibly fast and it's such a relief not to worry that he'll pull a tube out from his stomach wall anymore.  Not the usual thing for a parent to worry about, but it was getting dangerously close to happening, as he was getting more and more interested in it.  There was however, one not so happy difference. 

The day following his tube removal was 4th July and we all went to spend some time with Roberts paternal grandparents.  While we were playing board games together, Carl (Roberts Daddy) went to check on our napping baby across the room and, came back saying that he was crying in his sleep.  Just moments later he woke up screaming and frightened, it took a lot of soft words and cuddles to calm our paniced little boy.  We're both convinced that Robert had just had his first bad dream and we believe it was to do with getting his g-tube removed.  I have to say that although I'd never heard him make a single sound in fear before, I knew that when he woke up that day he was seriously frightened and to hear him cry out in alarm like that made my heart ache for him. 

Still bad dreams aside we have a baby who seems much happier without his g-tube and we're a set of very relieved parents now that that's been resolved.  Oh, and just for the record;  from the first feed after it was put in till the day it was taken out,  Robert didn't use his g-tube one single time. 

 

Topic: Announcements

Well, later today Robert will be facing his latest milestone and, another big day in his young life.  Today he gets his g-tube taken out. 

It's been a busy couple of months since our little boy came home from the hospital and he has been thriving.  Some of the highlights since his homecoming have been meeting his Grandma Margaret from London, England, getting to know his family here and being offered football lessons from his older cousins Matthew and Michael. He went to his cousin Alexa's birthday picnic, visited the zoo and took a tour on a replica of the Santa Maria. 

Through all of this he has managed to grow to 11lb 14oz and 21 inches from head to toe.  He's feeding happily and, has never needed to use his g-tube in all the time he has had it.  He loves his yellow activity lion and talks to it daily.  He also loves his barnyard gym and soft piano.  He loves loves LOVES having a bath and, spends his time kicking and splashing in the water happily.  His favourite nursery song is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and he likes to look at the pictures in his board books as I read the words to him.  He's becoming very chatty too and is delighted when Mummy and Daddy join in with his baby talk. 

As for me, I spend most of my days in a state of exhausted happiness.  Every day with Robert brings something new to wonder at and, my heart is constantly overflowing with love for our little miracle boy.  When I look back at how tough those first months were, I am still amazed at how far we have all come in order to be where we are now.  We were the lucky ones, things could have been so much worse.  He could have suffered so many other complications than he had and been far sicker than he was.  I've learned so much since those first terrifying days in December last year, and I've found my own strength throughout it all.  I'm sure there will be many more trials ahead, it's the way life works for us all but we'll go through it all as a family and we'll grow as a result.  Just like his Daddy, my wonderful husband Carl, our son brings out the best in me every day. 

 

Topic: Announcements
The day has come at last. In about an hours time we'll be going to the hospital and, this time we won't be leaving without our son. No more more rushing to and from the hospital each day, no more having to ask a nurse how our baby is today, and best of all, no more saying goodbye then, walking away from him.

Today he will see the sky for the first time, breath outside air for the first time and sleep in his own co-sleeping bassinet. There will be no wires stuck on his tiny chest to monitor his heart and no sat-probe on his foot to check his oxygen levels. The only thing attached to him will be his g-tube which, he hasn't needed to use at all since it was put in. Since, he was able to eat again last saturday after his surgery, he has taken every single feed by mouth without a single problem at all. Perhaps having to fast because of his surgery last week did the trick or, it could have been that he simply needed a few more days to master feeding by mouth, nobody including the medical staff can really say. But, the main thing is, he is eating and has been doing so consistantly now for the past six days.

Today all three of our lives will change in a huge way. We will become full time parents instead of visiting ones and, at eight days short of five months old Robert is coming home to live.

Topic: Announcements
The last few days have been both busy and frightening. After my last update, we found just hours later that Roberts g-tube surgery had been moved back to the original day of Wednesday. Then, on his big day, he was sedated while the GI surgeon tried to put the camera down his throat and into his stomach. Our fiesty little boy fought against it. They attempted the procedure twice more and he fought every time. Also his heart rate and oxygen levels dropped to dangerous levels each time so, they decided to stop. His g-tube surgery was re-scheduled for today at 12.30pm but this time it was done with the help of a general anesthetic.

With all this weighing on my husbands and my minds this week, we have been trying to keep our minds occupied by getting the house organised for my Mothers arrival from the UK, and finishing Roberts nursery. We're a chest of drawers and a bedside table short, but apart from that it's finished now, complete with futon for my mother to sleep on during her stay.

It was a rough friday for us all. The hospital phoned to double check that they had my consent from the OR and, all the time we were talking I could hear my baby crying in the background. Later I waited in his room at the hospital for him to arrive. When he did, seeing the tube for the first time was a bit of a shock. I'm not ashamed to say that I got rather tearful when I saw our little boy with that, an IV in his arm and for only the second time ever, his face without a single tube or piece of tape on it. It was the most beautiful face I had ever seen.

Topic: Announcements
Here's a quick update. Robert's g-tube surgery has been moved forward to Tuesday 24th a day earlier than originally planned. This means that both Mum and Dad are very excited as, it looks more and more certain that our little boy will be home by the weekend.

Also as of yesterday he now weighs a healthy 8lbs 3oz. Such a huge differance to the tiny baby he was just four and a half months ago. I will be spending a lot of time in the hospital with Robert over the next few days as he recovers from his surgery, and then hopefully a lot of time at home with him as I learn to be a full time Mum instead, of a visiting one. I can't wait!

Topic: Memories
And finally it happened... On 31st March 2007 Robert met Bob, Daddy's dear lifelong friend and the one he was named for. Bob's wife Sarah was there too and, despite their long awaited meeting taking place in a hospital room, it was a happy occasion for all.



There were even some gifts too! Bob and Sarah both work at the zoo in North Carolina and found some things for Robert in the gift shop there. A cuddly little monkey, a soft cushion with a puffin on to snuggle and, a cute blue t-shirt with a polar bear on the front.

Robert seemed to really enjoy meeting them, he loves to be cuddled and he had lots of them from us all. He also had some fun with Bob's beard and trading preemie signals with Sarah whom he was completely fascinated with. Then it was time for his 5pm feeding and a snooze with Daddy before being tucked up into his crib.

Bob and Sarah won't be up to visit again untill Christmas which we are all looking forward to. We're also hoping to have an Aunt or three visiting from the UK at the same time. (hint, hint)

But for now it's a very exciting week here. On wednesday Robert will be having a g-tube put into his tummy as he is a little behind with learning to feed by mouth, and if all goes well a few days after that he will be coming home from the hospital. Adding to the excitment is that his lovely Granny from London, England will be arriving on the 28th April to meet him for the first time. They will have six week visit to get to know each other and for Granny and Mummy to catch up after not seeing each other for nearly two years. We're expecting it to be a chaotic and wonderful time for us all.

Topic: Memories

At 6.50am on 12th December 2006 our tiny boy Robert James was born by emergency c-section at Ohio State Medical Center. His original due date was 10th March 2007, he was born almost exactly three months early. This blog is his ongoing story as told by me, his Mother.

He weighed just 1LB 15OZ and was 13 inches long, just one inch longer than a barbie doll. He was able to breath on his own right away but, was very weak and so, was put onto a ventilator.

I saw him for the first time just over twenty four hours after he was born. A hospital orderly wheeled me into the NICU to see him and, I just sat and stared in silent amazement. I had never seen such a small baby before. I remember noting that he had his fathers nose and ears, and being enchanted by his minute but perfect finger and toe nails. When I finally plucked up the courage to put my hand into his incubator to touch one of his hands with my ring finger, his tiny fingers slowly closed around it and, there was that special moment they say every parent has. That profound moment when you make that first connection with your child leaving you, changed forever. I knew then, I would do anything, give anything for him to be safe, well and happy.