Hanging out

This week has been slow and steady for me. Nothing special to report really. Mommy gave me a nice warm bath and weighed me tonight and I weighed in at a whopping 12 lb, 6 oz. Whoa man, that neosure and milk does the body good!!

I had PT last night and was a total rockstar. I'm starting to hold myself up in a sitting position pretty well and even started using my hands when I'm on my belly. I'm reaching for toys a little bit although I can't quite figure out how to make my hands go where I want or grab what I need! I guess practice practice practice is my motto for the week.

I've started noticing the television lately, wow what a cool box full of colors. So much is going on in that thing I can hardly keep up. I also follow along when mommy reads me books... she pulled out all kinds of fun Halloween ones about witches and bats and trick or treating with fun, colorful pictures that I like to look at... that made mommy pretty happy since she loves books so much and has hundreds for me :)

Here are a couple of pictures of me hanging out with mommy and daddy...

 

... okay so I'm not perfect all the time!!! Mommy says my shirt says it all though...


Here's a video daddy took of me playing with mommy...

Rainy Sunday

Today has turned out to be a pretty rainy Sunday so we have been pretty lazy at home. The Bears and Panthers both have a bye week so we don't have anyone special to watch. The St Louis Cardinals, however, are playing tonight in their first game of the playoffs against the San Francisco Giants, so I'm rooting for them in my baseball and Cardinal red outfits to show my support!

Mommy and daddy and I did go shopping a little bit this weekend for me. I have a photo shoot on Thursday with mommy and daddy and since I'm too old for those cute newborn baby photos and I have too many NICU battle scars to take naked shots anyway, I needed something extra spiffy for the photographer. Soooooo we went to Babies R Us to check out what they had and came out looking pretty stylish (see preview below). Apparently I'm pretty handsome in plaid and jeans! We also picked me up some new high top sneakers today since I don't have any tennis shoes that fit just yet! Mommy and daddy said high tops were pretty big back in the day, they must be making a come back with the babies :)

Not much else to tell otherwise. We are supposed to go have dinner with my old friend Jacob (my BFFs twin brother) tonight, so I'm pumped about that and to hear how Jeremy is doing and when he's coming home. My new mickey button (which replaced that dangling g-tube I used to have) has been wonderful so far. I can vent and get the air out of my belly MUCH better than before and getting dressed and taking baths is so much easier now! I'm also back on a neosure supplement with mommy's milk to help my nutrition get just right so I've been a little grumpy with my belly trying to adjust again. I am officially 12 lb, 3 oz though so I'm on the right track!!!

New Found Knowledge and Power

I learned a few things about myself today and feel suddenly empowered :)

Here is what I learned:

1) I have a voice and I'm going to use it.

2) NEVER trust a doctor when they lay you down on the table. e v e r

3) I'm a lot smarter than people realize.

4) Crying, whining, and complaining DOES get you somewhere, regardless of what they say.

5) I LOVE water. 

6) Afternoon naps bring out the best in me.

Let me elaborate....

I have always known I had a voice and usually like to use it to talk to mommy and daddy and a select few other worthy people. However, a voice can be used for more than just casual conversation.... a voice can be used to make a point and get someone's attention....  For example, when mommy took me to the GI doctor today I used my voice to talk and play with her while we were waiting for the doctor. My voice, combined with a big smile, can REALLY get mommy's attention in my favorite way!! Then again, when the doctor did finally come see me (and this goes to my second point), my voice, combined with tears and/or the holding of my breath, can ALSO get mommy's attention!!

Never trust a doctor when they lay you on the table because inevitably you will get stuck, poked, prodded, and the like within the first minute of inspection. OR... in my case, a perfectly fine G-tube could be ripped from my stomach and replaced with a stick in the belly, all without warning!! I don't care if a "mickey" will be better for me in the long run... to say I couldn't breathe, or speak for that matter, because the pain and shock were so severe would be an understatement :( And mommy knew all along, how could she???

I am smarter, though, that she realizes.... and paid her back after her betrayal. I have figured out that the position of me on my back is no longer a safe position. Since the GI doctor had me flat on my back for the unexpected G-tube operation, then mommy picked me up and made me feel better, then she laid me back down on my back for the doctor to mess with again, then picked me up and comforted me.... I have concluded that the position of me on my back is NOT a safe one and will subsequently scream bloody murder any and every time I am in that position.

Through this process I have also learned that crying helps get my point across.... particularly when I add a little high pitch squeal to the cries. I have never been a crier, or maybe never really had the need or cause to cry or complain beyond a little groaning and whining.... however, it's never too late to try something new! Especially if it gets you what you want!! So, I'm learning to use my cry and my voice to get what I need in this world :)

Mommy DID make it up to me tonight after we got home... we took a nice warm bubble bath together and she let me float and swim and splash in the water until it got cold. I've decided I REALLY like water and plan to explore this hobby more in the near future!

My final lesson learned today is that an afternoon nap.... the 3 to 4 o'clock kind for about 30 minutes.... does the body good! I wake up feeling on top of the world and am in the BEST mood for mommy and daddy! I think I'll make a habit out of that :)

So.... in the end, I have learned a lot about myself today and the new little man I am becoming! I hope to use my new found knowledge and power to teach mommy and daddy more about what I like and don't like and how to take care of me in the BEST ways!

Exhausted

Today was a kind of big, exhausting day for me.... and I got to spend most of it with daddy!! I had speech therapy this morning (which, as usual, I was a rockstar for) and then OT. Daddy said I was such a good boy... I didn't get tired or cranky or try any of my usual antics :) What can I say... I can turn on the charm when I want to! Then I had to go get bloodwork done over at the children's hospital :( The lady had to stick my arm with a big ole needle and took two whole tubes full of my hard earned blood... doesn't she know how long it takes for me to make that stuff?! But, my GI doctor wants to check my liver and kidney and other nutrition numbers... and my neurologist wanted to check some other blood level numbers since they haven't been checked in a long time.... SO that's why they needed so much! Mommy and I are going to therapy tomorrow morning again and then to see the GI doctor in the afternoon (wish me luck) to see what my blood tells them.

I weighed 11 lbs, 14 oz when mommy weighed me yesterday! I'm getting to be such a big boy I fit into all kinds of new clothes these days... since I was visiting so many people today mommy decided to dress me for the occasion... I'd looked pretty good if I do say so myself! Mommy caught me smiling a couple times last night since I was in SUCH a good mood for some reason.... just happy her and daddy were home I guess :) Check out my handsome mug:

Happy boy in the car (this is rare)

Chewing on my favorite left thumb

I tried both hands

What's up guys

Like my outfit

Sleepy boy

Belly time

Hi mom

Trying out a new toy

More hand action

BIG SMILE

Back to serious

Happy Weekend

Today was a sad day after a happy weekend because my Mamie and Pops had to leave :( BUT... I had a great time with them alllll weekend! First we had the WHOLE day to ourselves on Friday and I got to show them all the cool stuff I know how to do and we played with all my fun toys! We made potato leek soup and watched movies with mommy all night long, then slept in on Saturday which felt REALLY good! On Saturday we went out for a little shopping and everyone (except me) bought shoes.... haha... then I had my first of I'm sure many Cheesecake Factory experiences! I slept on the booth next to mommy while she ate her lunch :)

Playing with a toy my friend Ms. Karen gave me! One of my FAVORITES!

Hanging out with the Cat in the Hat

Chillin with Pops

Enjoying my hands at the Cheesecake Factory while everyone else ate their lunches

Helping mommy shop

All tuckered out from my big day out

On Sunday we decided to take a ride over to the beach and walk on the boardwalk in Hollywood. It was beautiful and sunny at my house so I got prepared to hit the waves....

Trying out my shades

Not sure how I feel about these things

  

Oh mommy

Lookin' GOOD

Mommy is so funny sometimes

....but by the time we got over to the beach it was dark and sprinkling rain :( We decided to risk it anyway and took a stroll by the water. It turned out to be ok... it sprinkled a little while we had lunch and a HUGE crack of lightning struck close by in the water and scared everyone... but in the end the rain held off and we still enjoyed the ocean and the breeze, so overall it was a success!! :)

Napping in the stroller

Hey, when did Uncle Pierce get a street named after him?

We made it

Pops was showing me how to dance... silly

Daddy FINALLY came home to me yesterday from Chicago and brought me LOTS of Bears gifts!!! Mommy says he's not allowed to go back to Chicago for a long time if he is going to bring back ugly blue and orange clothes and hats for me, but I am pretty excited to wear all my new stuff when I get a little bigger :)

I'm sad the weekend is over and my Mamie and Pops had to go back to North Carolina... BUT they promise to come back and see me again soon... and I am happy to have my daddy back :)

Happy for the weekend

Well I officially made it through my first week with mommy back at work and daddy out of town. The nurses and I survived the week and I even made it to each of my therapies once, although I mostly slept through speech yesterday (I'm just so tired by the time we get to see her!). I weigh 11 lb, 11 oz as of last night and I'm really trying hard with some of my development benchmarks! I can, for the most part, hold my head up and most of my chest/tummy too in a sitting position... I can also lay on each of my sides (and stay there without rolling back onto my back) by myself, although only when I really feel like it :) I've BARELY started to realize I have these things called hands, although I have no control over where they go or what they do other than to get them to my face and mouth. I have figured out, pretty consistently, how to get my left thumb into my mouth whenever I want and I chew, chew, slobber, chew on it all day long. I can roll onto my belly (with some help) and hold my head up and move it around (NOT my favorite position)... and I even managed to get my arms underneath me for the FIRST time yesterday to help hold my head up, hooray (that's what mommy said when I did it!). I love chewing on my finger brush and even reconnected with my old friend the binkie pretty hard core this week (I didn't gag on him or spit him out as much). I'm still, as ever, quite a talker with anyone who will listen and am a complete social butterfly when someone talks to me (I let them know they have my undivided attention by laying on the smiles and locking eyes with them). I like going on walks outside with my puppy and any time spent in my swing is a good time! :)

Daddy came home from Ohio yesterday very briefly to hang out with me and then had to leave again for Chicago this time early this morning. Luckily my Mamie and Pops are here to visit me for the weekend, so they'll keep me distracted while daddy's gone! I'm hanging out with them and showing them the ropes today while mommy works... sometimes when I look at Mamie I get a little confused because she kind of looks like mommy, and she kind of sounds like mommy, but I know she's not really mommy! I get a pretty good kick out of Pops too, especially when he tries to kiss me with that funny hair on his face... what IS that stuff??? :) He's good to talk to though and makes me smile a lot so I think I'll keep him around! :) I'm looking forward to a nice long weekend with them

We Survived

So far so good.... mommy and I have survived the first couple of days of our new life and routine. I made things as easy as possible for her because I know she's super worried about me, so yesterday when she woke me up and was getting me dressed (I'm traditionally a late sleeper, but mommy wanted to get me up and going for when the nurse arrived... groggy is a good word for the mood that put me in) and the nurse came in to see me, I turned on the charm. I woke RIGHT up, smiled at every turn, and started chatting the both of them up. Have I mentioned how social I have become of late? I love attention and anyone who will talk to me, which also makes this new routine a little easier :)

My nurses play with me and talk to me and watch cartoons with me... they both think I'm p-r-e-t-t-y adorable (no argument there) and have no problem hanging out with me all day. They even like my puppy dog, who follows them around religiously just to make sure he isn't missing out on anything!! I'm sad I don't get to spend as much time with mommy though.... I'm usually pretty tired by the time she gets home so we only get to hang out for a little bit before I zonk out for the night. I also miss my daddy BIG TIME!!!! He's gone in Ohio for most of the week and I haven't seen him in a couple of days :( He comes back on Thursday - HOORAY! So not long now :)

On another note I had to go to the Pulmonologist this morning to get my RSV shot again... Y U C K! They really trick you at the doctor's office.... they're all nice and sweet and funny when you first get there... then the doctor comes in and she's all nice and sweet and funny.... then the nurse comes back in (hey haven't I seen you before?) and acts all nice and sweet again... then BAM, no more funny!! They should just give it to me straight right when I get there! I'm a big boy, I can take it!!! Why all the games? I did weigh 11 lb, 6 oz though and they said I'm a ROCK-STAR on the growth chart, so I will take that :)