Bored

I'm bored tonight, there's a million things I should be doing lol.

Quick update.......Gavin turned 4 months old on Aug 22nd and weiged 17 lbs 6 oz and is 25 1/4 inches long. My boy is growing so fast!

The 3 oldest have been back to school for a week now, 7th, 4th and 1st grades. Zachary is covered in poison ivy. Ashlyn is getting quite the attitude lol. Guess that's about it!

Finally Home!!

Haven't updated in a few days, once I got him in my arms I had a hard time letting go! lol. So here's a rundown of the past few days.

4/30 - 8 days old - weight 5 lbs 15 oz. At 7:30 a.m. the bili levels came back at 15.1. Doc says we can take him home on one condition - we bring him back the next day for another bili check and take him to our pediatrician on Friday. We were finally released around 9 a.m. that morning. Rich, Zachary and Ashlyn came to pick us up from the hospital and they were both fascinated by their new little brother :) It's so nice to finally be home. The other 3 kids couldn't run into the house fast enough after school to get their first peek at their new brother :)

5/1 - 9 days old - went back for another bili check. He slept right through the heel poke lol.

5/2 - 10 days old - went for a check up with our pediatrician. Weight is still about the same (was 6 lbs 4 oz with a wet/dirty diaper on) Thursday's bili levels were 15.8 but that's fine for this age. She said the jaundice could take up to a month to really go away. He's still a bit yellow but not as bad. He checked out perfect :) Goes back again at 1 month old which will be right around his due date.

He's eating well and sleeping well at home. He wakes to eat about every 2 1/2-3 hours except for one 5 hour stretch each morning. He's been awake and alert from about 5 pm - 8 pm each evening and he's so quiet you hardly know he's here!

Here's some pics - some you've seen, some are new:

7 days old and Look what I have!!!!

He's in my room finally!!!! The neo came in at 6:30 pm Monday. Said that he is doing great and said it would be fine for him to start rooming in with me as long as he stays on the portable monitor. So the nurse got him all ready, finally put a shirt on him, got him into the regular bassinet and brought him over :) I hate that darn monitor though, every time he starts moving around the alarms go off cuz he's constantly rubbing his arm against the sensors. He did go to the nursery for the night but is back with me already this morning. He's finally All Mine!!!

So the neo started talking about releasing us a day early, on Tuesday - but then he looked at Gavins chart. I guess on Sunday he had a very slight apnea episode but it only lasted 5 seconds, there was no color change and he didn't need any stimulation. He said it was nothing and he won't even count that as an 'episode' but said let's stick with Wednesday. Whatever I'm fine with that - at least he didn't try to get us to stay longer. He said He usually makes ppl wait 7 days after a desat........so I'm luckly to be bringing him home at 5 days after. He said "so what time would you like to go home on Wednesday" I told him my kids get on the bus at 8. So he said he wrote up all the discharge info and said all the nurses need to do is call him at 8 am on Wednesday and he will give the final release over the phone :) They'll draw is bili levels tomorrow morning but he said in order to keep him here for that his level would have to be 16 or above and he said the chances of that happening are pretty much none espeically since his levels peaked at 14.2 and he's now 7 days old. So as soon as the kids are all on the bus tomorrow Rich will be on his way to pick us up!!! We're FINALLY going home!!!!!!!!

9:00 pm - He has done great all day today :) His morning weight was 6 lbs 1 oz so Yay he gained back 2 oz!! He nursed a ton today too so I wouldn't be surprised if he gains another ounce by morning. Only about 12 hours to go!!! He had his car seat test today and passed with flying colors :)

6 days old

Hard to believe he's 6 days old already!! Morning weight 5 lbs 15 oz

He ate good through the night, and his last feeding was around 6 am and was the best yet........he gained 76 grams with that one!! (which is just over 2 oz). His bili levels came back 11.5 this morning and we're waiting to hear back from the neonatologist to see if he can come of the light. Once he's off the light he can come in here with me :) Will still have the monitors on him but I dont care I just want him in here with me. Forgot to ask what his naked weight was this morning. When they do the b4 and after feed weight checks they leave him wrapped up in a blanket and leave his diaper on because they're just looking for the difference in weight not an actual accurate weight. The neo will be in sometime today too.

He is such a quiet baby, rarely ever cries and even when he does it's more of a quiet whimper lol. The only time he really cries is when they're poking his poor little heels to get blood. But even then the instant i touch him he's fine :)

11:00 am - the bili levels came back at 11.5 this morning and just got word on the phone from the neo that he can come off the lights!! :) BUT......he wants to See him before saying he can come room in with me. Hopefully he comes in early.

5 days old - updated 8:30 pm

Sunday 4/27/08 Morning Weight 5 lbs 15 oz

6:30 a.m. He woke up on his own about every 2 hours last night to nurse. And then woke up around 6 am just before the nurse came in to draw blood for his bili check. Little stinker decided he didn't want to eat though he just wanted to cuddle and go back to sleep. So we'll give him about another hour see if he wakes back up if not i'll go wake him up. The neonatologist was here around 2 a.m. - Dr. Kekerra which is the neo he saw on tues and wed. She said he's doing great and she agree's with Dr. Chandra (the other neo) about watching him for 5-7 days after the desat episode. She was actually trying to push more for 7 days but I told her no, Dr. C said Wednesday and I'm holding him to it. I guess Gavin lost an ounce yesterday evening so was 5 lbs 15 oz so Dr. K wants him weighed before and after each feeding again and wants him getting 30 cc's per feed which equals about an ounce. If he doesn't take that much at breast it's back to offering the bottle afterwards, even if it's only for a couple cc's. At the 3:30 feeding he gained 27 then drank 10 from a bottle. He didn't appreciate that bottle though lol. He likes the boob :) The nurse pretty much moved the bottle around in his mouth so the breastmilk was dripping out and then he'd swallow. I hate that it has to pretty much be forced on him like that but hey we gotta keep doc happy. His bili levels should be back in about a half hour or so.

1:30 pm. He was pretty lazy for his 9 am feeding. Wouldn't stay awake to nurse at all so after 45 mins of trying we gave him a bottle and he ended up drinking 35 cc's. He woke up at 12:15 on his own hungry and he nursed Great :) Gained 62 grams in just under 20 mins of nursing!! So almost double what the neo wanted to see him eat :) He made up for his laziness earlier that's for sure. His bili levels came back at 13 today. He's still under the lights - it's not absolutely necessary but since he has to be back there anyway it couldn't hurt. They say that at 5 days old is when the biliruben levels out then starts going down so I expect by tomorrow it should be at a great level. He'll get them checked again in the morning.
Here's 2 pics of him from just a little bit ago :)


5:00 pm - just got back from feeding and cuddling :) I was a little worried cuz he only nursed for 5 minutes then went to sleep and I didn't want to have to give him a bottle, but at his after feed weight check he had gained 38 grams in that 5 minutes!! I have a little power nurser on my hands lol. I guess another neonatologist was in earlier while i was in the shower and now they want all his diapers weighed too. The nurse said she has no clue why and she doesn't understand why they're treating him like he's more of a preemie than he is. She said usually they only weigh the diapers like that for babies under 5 lbs. He's pretty much stayed at 5 lbs 15 oz all day - for the past 3 days he's been 6 lbs 0 oz so he's only lost 1 ounce in those 3 days and only 5 oz from birth which isn't unusual or anything to be surprised about. Guess I'll be stalking the nursery tomorrow watching for a neo to come in so I can talk to them and find out more. If they even dare mess with us going home on wednesday they're going to deal with a fight.

8:30 pm - Rich came up for awhile and even kidnapped me to take me to walgreens lol. Pretty sad how excited i was to go buy chapstick haha. Gavin woke up around 6:30 to eat and nursed great. Gained 55 grams this feeding!! That neo better be Damn Happy lol. They checked his bili levels tonight and they were back down to 12 so they'll recheck in the morning. They usually check at 6 a.m and 6 pm. I'm hoping they are down even more cuz I want to take him off the lights and also shut the warmer off and get him into clothes to be sure he can hold his own body temp. Since he has to be in just a diaper for the bili light he's been under the warmer and has never had the chance at maintaining his own body heat and I don't want them to hold us back on wednesday saying they need to be sure he can.

Saturday 4/26 - 4 days old - updated 11:30 pm

Saturday 4/26 - morning weight 6 lbs 0 oz.

1:15 a.m. - Next feeding wasn't "due" until around 2:30 but Gavin woke on his own hungry :) Nursed strong for 20 minutes then laid on my chest for awhile. The neonatologist was there - he had a new c-sect baby to check out - so he came to talk to me. The good news is Gavin hasn't had anymore desats......bad news is the Earilest he's looking at getting out of here is on Wednesday :( The neo said that after a desat they like to watch for 5-7 days. He will have to be on the monitors (heartrate, pulse ox, respiration & .........ugh whatever the 4th one is i can't remember) the whole time. I don't see how I'm going to be able to stay with him, Rich needs to get back to work. The thought of leaving him here makes me sick. I CAN'T!!!! He's finally nursing so well, I refuse to give him formula. In the morning I need to let Rich know what's up - I just know he's going to say I need to come home. I don't know........I'm just super upset right now.

5:00 am - Another good feeding, not quite as long - just over 10 minutes - but he nursed well. They took some blood for another bili test.

7:30 am - Woke up hungry lookin for me :) Nursed for just over 20 minutes and was wide awake for awhile. When he started getting sleep I just sat there with him on my chest. We were so comfy :) I hated to put him down but his bili levels came back at 14 so he still needs the lights (they were 13.9 yesterday morning). They'll check his levels again at 6 pm tonight. I talked to Rich this morning and told him what the neo said about being here til at least wednesday and I feel a little better now that i've talked to him. I really thought he was gonna push for me to come home and leave Gavin here but he didn't :) He said if his boss doesn't like him taking extra days off he'll just tell him where to shove it and will get a different job. It's a good thing we'll be getting that tax rebate this coming week - it couldn't come at a better time. Well my breakfast should be here soon - will update later today and will get some new pics next time I go in to feed him.

1:00 pm - we had another great feeding at 11:30. We're getting away from the "scheduled" every 3 hour feedings and trying to let him wake on his own which he's been doing :) Sometimes it's 2 hours sometimes 4 so they're willing to let him go up to about 4 1/2 hours before needing to wake him up for a feeding which we havent had to do yet since he's done it on his own :) My sister came up for a bit and after I got done feeding Gavin she took me over to Walgreen's so I could get some soap and shampoo and ibuprofrin. It was nice to get off the hospital grounds even if it was only for about 20 minutes.

3:00 pm - Gavin woke on his own for this feeding too :) So he has woken himself for every single feeding today! I spent about an hour and a half back there with him. He was so alert :) He nursed for a bit, then got his diaper changed, nursed some more then looked around for awhile, nursed some more then we cuddled until he fell asleep. I could have sat like that all day long with him but wanted to get that light back on him. He gets his blood drawn again at 6 pm for the bili levels and the results should be back around 7 or so. I am exhausted so think I will try to get a quick nap in.

All this evenings feedings went great. Just got back from feeding and cuddling with him :) His bili levels are down to 12.2 now :) Which is enough to take him off the lights but we're gonna keep him on them overnight just for the heck of it. He'll come off of them around 7 a.m. after his levels are checked again. They'll then check again tomorrow evening to make sure they didn't rebound. They don't think they will though :) IF his levels are going to go back up though I hope they do it tomorrow that way we can have it all taken care of before wednesday. He had some company for a little while tonight, a c-sect baby was back there for a little while for some fluid in his lungs. Looking at that baby then looking at Gavin and omg Gavin looks like a total little peanut!! lol the nurse said the other baby weighed 10 lbs 11 oz! Well I'm off to get some sleep, he should be waking up around 2 to eat again. Probably won't post very many updates tomorrow, since he'll be off the lights i'll be back there holding him much more :)

3 days old - updated 9:30 p.m.

Friday 4/25/08 Morning weight - 6 lbs 0 oz.

First I want to say thank you to everyone for the congrats, thoughts & prayers :) Also a very special thank you to 2 wonderful women who helped me out more than they even know yesterday :) You know who you are! I am very blessed to have the online friends that I do.

2 a.m. - Gavin didn't want to wake up for this feeding :( I myself didn't go to bed til 1 a.m. so am exhausted, tried for about 1/2 an hour to wake him but he was just too comfy. I headed back to bed and the nurse went ahead and gave him a bottle which he took. Not sure how many cc's I'll have to ask her........hopefully it was 25-30 cc's like the dr. wants. He was fed that at almost 3 a.m. so we'll try to feed again at 6. Hoping he'll wake up and nurse for me. He'll have his labwork drawn later this morning, this time just for his bili levels and one other thing but I forget what. Those results are usually back in pretty quickly so I really hope his bili levels went down. The neonatologist should be in sometime this morning and I am going to push like hell to get that i.v. out and all monitors off. His breathing has been perfect so I don't see any need for all those monitors anyway. My poor lil guy smells like a big roll of tape! Here's a couple pics of him taken last night. Is he cute or what!? :)




6:00 am - Feeding went well :) He was wide awake and nursed for the full 20 minutes and gained 29 grams!!!

8:00 am - Just went to sit with Gavin and the nurse was in there taking his IV out!!!! :) They're getting ready to put him under the bili lights though. His level came back at 13 this morning so he'll be under the light and they'll recheck in the morning. As long as he continues to feed well today and his levels are down tomorrow then there's a good chance we can be coming home tomorrow!!!

9:00 am - Another good feeding!! He was a bit sleepy and only nursed for 10 minutes but he gained 15 grams :) He then drank a bottle of about 14 cc's. He's under the bili light now - it's a white single light rather than those blue ones, I asked about the difference and they said this one is stronger and works faster. Hey works for me!!

1:00 pm - Yet another GREAT feeding!! Did this one an hour late because we wanted to see if he'd wake on his own for a feeding. He did and nursed for the full 20 minutes and gained 27 grams then drank about 10 cc's from a bottle. His skin color already looked much much better just for the short time he's been under the bili light. The nurse told me however that at 11 a.m. he had a 'de-sat' is what I think she called it. Anyway basically he forgot to breathe and started turning a little blue and they had to rub on his back to get him to take a breath. They didn't seem to concerned about it but that scares the hell out of me!!! She said the neonatologists usually like the baby to stay 24 hours after one of those..........which I didn't expect he'd be released sooner than that anyway - just hoping and praying he doesn't do that again!! We definitely don't need any set backs. Now I'm gonna be a nervous wreck though and watching every breath he takes! Other than that though he is doing Great :)

4:30 pm - The best feeding yet!! He woke up as soon as I went back there and the minute he heard my voice his mouth was wide open searching lol. He latched right on and nursed strong for 20 minutes, took a little break to look around then nursed again for almost 10 minutes :) He no longer has to be weighed before and after each feeding AND since he's nursing so well he doesn't have to get a bottle afterwards either!!! Which Also means I don't have to keep pumping :) Whew I'm starting to fear that darn pump is gonna pull my nipples right off lol. His skin color is looking Great. The only hard part about today is I want to just sit there and hold him all day but I want him to be under the lights as much as possible so his levels will be great in the morning so I've been limiting my self to just holding him during feedings then cuddling with him for about 1/2 an hour afterwards. It's such a good feeling to see him so alert and feeding so well today :)

7:30 pm - Daddy was up for this feeding :) He did very good again nursing a full 20 minutes before going back to sleep. I'm a bit emotional right now though - I hope the neonatologist comes in soon so I can get a clue as to whats next. The day nurse said we'll probably go home tomorrow evening even after the 'de-sat' but the night nurse said she thinks we'll be here a couple more days. I know I shouldn't stress about it and should just wait to see what the Dr. says but this is hard!! I miss my husband - I miss my kids and I want my baby right here on me. I just saw 3 more people go home with their babies and it gets harder and harder with each one.

9:30 pm - Well I just went to ask the nurse if the neo was still coming in tonight and she told me he had already been here and somehow I missed him :( It must have been when I had to go to the other end of the hospital to pay for my nights stay. So I asked her what he said and she said she doesn't know anything other than she thinks he wants him to stay a couple more days because of the de-sat episode earlier and that there will be a neo coming in tomorrow that can tell me more. If he has to stay he'll have to remain on all the monitors but the nurse said she'll see what we can do about getting him in my room at least for feedings. I know him being back there is what's best for him right now but dammit it sucks! I go feed him in about an hour then I guess I'll try to get some sleep. I only slept 3 hours last night and about 4 the night before so I'm sure the lack of sleep will be taking it's toll on me soon.

11 pm - Another good feeding, only just over 10 minutes this time but he nursed strong the whole time.