First Few Weeks Home

Our first few weeks home have been bittersweet. We've had many highs and many, many lows. We were home on Thursday and Sunday afternoon Nathan got a call that they were currently airlifting his mother to the university. She had collapsed at home after being sick with a cold all week (she never even came to see us in the hospital because she didn't want to risk getting Rowan sick). His Dad indicated she was seriously ill and wasn't expected to make it through the night. She was placed in ICU on a ventilator. They weren't able to stabilize her blood pressure and there was also concern for the viability of her new kidney. Nathan rushed down to the hospital and spent much of the next week there. Deb was eventually diagnosed with septic shock and tested positive for RSV and Staph intermedius. The doctors are still baffled at why she got so sick so fast. We were told at least 3 times that she was going to die and by the grace of God she's survived. She spent a week in ICU on a ventilator and was just recently moved out of ICU into her own room. We still aren't sure when she'll be discharged but it is truly a miracle that she's still alive....and she still hasn't seen the baby. 

Luckily, he continues to be a great baby. Very laid back and pretty much only cries during a diaper change, bath or if he's hungry. Viv is enamored with him and loves to touch and 'pet' him. She pats his head and says 'ohhh baby'. 

She's also obsessed with his pacifier (mimi) and loves to swipe it from him and take a few pulls on it herself. She is constantly pointing out his 'boo mimi' (blue mimi). 

We of course had to head out to Nick and Bridget's for his newborn photos...

Viv was not very cooperative at all. We didn't end up getting a family photo. She was starting to get sick and just was not having any of it. 

It was pretty cold out the week we came home and it seemed everyone around us was falling ill...so we got lots of cuddle time in. I began to worry if newborns could actually sleep too much! 

Mom of course has been a huge help once again. Dad was here for a few days but soon started feeling sick himself and so he headed home. 

It's a chore to keep this one occupied when you can't go outside! We did end up taking her to the doctor and she had a bad cold and double ear infections....which meant medicating her twice a day for 10 days!! That was a chore all in itself. I compared it to trying to medicate a feral cat! She would spit out most of the meds you tried to get in her! But Nathan won in the end and made it fun for her and by the end of the 10 days she was taking them pretty well. She of course is constantly into everything and won't leave the baby alone. She wants to sit in all of his stuff and she's been helping herself to the swing. 

I was sure nursing was going to go better this time. He seemed like he was a pretty good nurser but at his 2 week check up he still hadn't made it back to his birth weight. So I'm back to pumping and feeding him everything through a bottle....including formula. I haven't officially weighed him but he looks like he's starting to fill out a little more. He's just happy to sleep most of the time! Rowan did end up coming down with a cold and we've had our first experiences with sucking out snot from a baby's nose. Fun! He did finally get rid of the cough and stuffy nose but he had me pretty worried there for awhile.

With all the happenings with Deb, we've had lots of company and help babysitting so we could go to the hospital. Aunt Nancy was here for almost a full week and Nathan's other Aunt Nancy and Aunt Pat have also come to help babysit so I could have a break. Aunts and Moms are the best! 

Enjoying the nursery recliner together...

I've definitely been thankful for the iPad these last few weeks...

Gma Marie enjoyed coming to meet him. 

Gma Jean was here to visit too. 

Stats at his first doctor appointment...8# (36%), height 21.25 inches (85%), head circumference 36.8 cm (75%). I'm still not sure where the height and the long fingers and toes come from!