These cute pictures are from a couple of weeks ago. Now he has fat rolls on his legs!
Blog
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Spring is on it’s way!
We had Liz’s mom come up for a few days to visit Michael. While she was here I took her out in the “big orange pumpkin” as it’s known at work to show her what Alaska looks like once you get off the beaten path. Fortunately for her, it warmed up to about 20 deg before we went out. The day prior topped out at -10.
She said this made her trip, but we all know it’s a lie. Seeing shriveled wrinkly baby feet seemed to have more of an effect on her. Though to be fair, not many people get to go for a ride in the Alaskan bush in a Tucker tracked vehicle with their crazy son-in-law at the wheel. Susan also had a chance to see the northern lights while she was here. On the drive home from the Airport, the second best show I’ve seen popped out. Had she waited a week, she would have seen the best ones reported in the last few years.
Isaac and Sydney came along for the ride, but got pretty bored after a while. The Tucker doesn’t get much above 15 miles an hour in deep snow, and we drove about 30 miles. The snow we’re in is about 3 feet deep. That’s why the kids didn’t want to step off the tracks. They didn’t want their boots full of snow for the long ride home.
Sydney is loving being a big sister. She has trouble not messing with the baby when he’s asleep though. She must get that particular trait from her mother, because Liz will get on Syd’s case for it then turn right around and do it herself!
Isaac is also fascinated with Michael, but has no problem ignoring him when it suits his purposes. A few seconds holding Michael, and Isaac’s satisfied for the day. Me, I’m lucky if I get to hold him for an hour before bed. So far he’s been a pretty content and quiet little kid. Aside from grunting and snorting through a stuffy nose, he doesn’t really cry unless he’s mad or hungry, and even then it’s only enough to let you know he wants help.
We’ve been above freezing during the day for a few days now! The kids have had fun playing in the snow, and Isaac has re-discovered the boys across the street now that folks are coming out of hibernation. It topped out at about 40 degrees today, which compared to -40 feels like heaven. We’ve melted off almost 2 feet of snow in the last few days. I was out for two hours yesterday busting ice off the driveway in nothing but a T-shirt and jeans. The sun is up for 13 hours a day, and gains almost an hour a week. It won’t be long before we have to start shutting the blackout curtains before bed. As is, it doesn’t get dark now until about 9:30. Spring is wonderful! -
Michael’s Home
Michael’s home! We’re all tired, but very happy.
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Video of Michael doing nothing, and of Isaac and Sydney fighting each other
As if you hadn’t heard enough from us lately, here’s more. Liz wanted me to post this video clip of Michael. Typical of little babies, he’s pretty boring.
Isaac and Sydney were happy to test for their yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do. As if he knew what would happen, the instructor put Isaac and Sydney together for sparring. It was a little one-sided. They both passed, and Sydney was awarded “Best Test” of the 7 or so folks testing with her. -
Going Home Soon!
Michael is officially out of the incubator. He only needed the gavage tube for one feeding in the middle of the night. If he can eat all of his feedings on his own tonight then he should be coming home Tuesday!
Peter and I had a nice day together at the hospital and Peter enjoyed being able to really sit and hold his new son. We’re thankful that our family is all well and over the colds and flu bugs that were hanging around last week.
Thank you for all your prayers and encouraging comments. It has been wonderful knowing that our friends and family have been looking out for us these last couple of weeks.
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Today’s Update on the Little Man
Michael is being weaned out of the incubator and should be in an open crib by tomorrow! He has been keeping his body temperatures steady and still putting on weight the last three days.
For the last 24 hours he has been having some bottles. He only needed a little bit topped off through the gavage tube. The doctor predicts he should be able to feed himself orally for all feedings in the next couple of days.
When Michael A) can get all of his calories by mouth for 24 hours, and B) can keep his temperature steady in an open crib for 24 hours then he will move into a hospital room with me for 24 hours; if all goes well then he gets to go home! If he keeps up progress at this rate he should be home in the next three to five days.
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Cute Michael
Michael snuggling up with his giraffe that Sydney and Isaac picked out (hope you’re not offended that he’s flipping the bird). -
Michael and Other Things
Peter and the kids showed up for a little while to see Michael last night before going to their TaeKwon-Do class. Being a very hands-on dad, Peter volunteered to change Michael’s diaper and proceeded to get exploded on. Ten points for Michael!
Michael’s update:
- He’s still cute
- Around his feeding times he has been more wakeful
- He poops a lot
- He likes to nurse (he does NOT like the burping process)
- He likes warm water pored on his head
I was able to give him his first bath yesterday; it’s been a while since I’ve done that. He did not appreciate being sponged off and having some tape removed from the sides of his face, but he loved being snuggled in a blanket and having his hair rinsed off with warm water. After his sponge bath, I got him dressed and snuggled him up warm in a couple of blankets and got to sit and hold him for quite a while before needing to lay him down in the incubator. I’ll take these little moments of heaven!
Peter is holding up well with the kids. They seem to be doing well and keeping busy; Peter has been doing some fun science experiments with them and taking them to any available TaeDwon-Do classes to keep himself sane. We’re trying to arrange for someone to watch our kids on Sunday during the day so Peter can come spend a whole day with me at the NICU. We have hardly seen each other since Michael was born!
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Hurry Up and Wait
Yesterday the realization hit that Michael could be in the NICU quite a while longer; maybe as long as 2-3 weeks. The major hurdles have been met, but now he just needs more time to bake in the incubator while he develops his strength; a job that would have been much easier had he just decided to stay put a couple of weeks more before making his grand entrance.
Although he knows how to nurse, his little body is by no means ready to do it around the clock so today the doctor suggested giving him a break and only trying nursing twice today. So be it. We are going to start doing some feedings by bottle in a couple of days; not my ideal solution, but he needs to be able to feed himself by bottle or breast for 72 hours around the clock before he can go home (among a few other milestones that need to be met). I will have to wean him off the bottle one feeding at a time once we get home; this should prove easier than it did with Sydney because Michael has been a better nurser than she ever was.
Michael is doing an OK job keeping his body temperature at an even keel. When he gets to an open crib he needs to be able to regulate his own body temp for 24 hours before being discharged.
Overall, this process is going to take longer than we originally thought, but I am thankful for the great communication we have with the doctors and nurses. They have been very helpful letting us know exactly what progress has been met, and what needs to happen still.
We are thankful for wonderful friends and neighbors who are helping out our family in the meantime. Peter is going to take ten days off of work to spend time with the kids (he does have to go in a couple of times for meetings), and my mom is coming next week for a few days.
Life is hard, but life is good.
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I Love Staying at the Hospital…
Not exactly the Ritz Carlton, but the hospital stay has been going just fine. Thankfully I did have two sets of underwear so I could hand wash one pair at night time and wear the others during the day. Scrubs make ultra comfy pajamas and are so stylish. And I think stringy, greasy hair that hasn’t been washed in five days is making a come back; just consider me a trend-setter. But just to keep me humble and not too comfortable with my established routine, I have a neighbor bringing me a bag packed with all of the important modern-day toiletries and changes of clothing (I am interested to see the outfits that Peter packed for me). So by the end of the day I will be showered, blow-dried, plucked, and dressed in a different outfit than the one I have worn for three straight days. No more modern day pioneer woman for me!
Michael has been doing really well yesterday and today. He has figured out how to nurse and can do it effectively but it tires him out a LOT. Right now we are nursing three times a day – 8:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 8:00 PM, and feeding through a gavage tube during all the other feeding times (which come every three hours). His little body needs some time to get strong enough to nurse around the clock before he can come home. There is no way of knowing how long this may take for his little body but he is making steady progress.
The poor little guy pulled out his gavage tube two times in five minutes this morning; he must love having it re-inserted…either that or he’s just being a little muscle man show off. He’s very sneaky.
Right now I am missing my husband and kids that are at home still recovering from colds. Michael’s cute and all, but I want to spend time with Sydney and Isaac; reading to them, giving them hugs, and ordering them around the house with chores. If they are feeling well by tomorrow evening they may come and see Michael through the NICU window.
