Home Sweet Home

In sitting down to write this entry, I can't believe that 7 weeks in the NICU and now 2 weeks of Boston being at home has already passed.  Now if only we could get the time needed for Boston to sleep through the nights to pass as quickly!

Over the past few weeks since we brought Boston home he has had 4 breathing episodes (quit breathing) at home. Words can't describe how terrifying these have been.  After the first one, I took him to see his pediatrician who helped us come to a few conclusions as to why these were happening. 

First, the changing table was where every single one of these episodes occurred. After the second time, let alone the fourth, I was ready to trash that darn changing table thinking it was cursed.  Have you ever tried changing a baby's diaper on your lap while holding him on an incline?  That is quite the feat!
Come to find out the reason Boston was having them on the changing table was because this was the only time he was laying down flat.  Needless to say the changing pad was inclined faster than you could blink!

Second, his little sphincter muscle (in his stomach, not in his butt-there are 2) has not developed fully.  This muscle closes the stomach-or in his case doesn't, so his food was coming up and sitting in his throat.  This is what would cause him to stop breathing. 

For this, the pediatrician prescribed Zantac.  Two days after we started the medication he had another episode.  This time it was worse. I actually had to use a nasal aspirator to help suck out some of the gunk that was clogging his throat.  Isn't Boston making me a tough mom?

After this bad episode, I called the doctor and he suggested that we try a couple of other things. First, put him on Prevacid in addition to the Zantac.  Prevacid works better but not as fast, that is why we started with Zantac. Second,  and most exciting...his mom needs to practically become a Vegan.  I have to avoid Dairy, Nuts, Chocolate, Caffeine and Shellfish. For those of you that know me, I am the most finicky eater on this planet.  And now this...I might just shrivel up! What we won't do for our children!

Since the combination of meds and me starving, Boston has had 3 episode free days!  Wahoo!

Also, at his 2 month appointment yesterday he weighed in at 5 pounds 14 ounces and measured 18.9" long. He is still growing strong!

Here are some updated pictures of my little squirt.

Sleeping...

Still sleeping...

Ah, do I see eyes?

Not for long...sleeping again

Now, if only mom could learn how to get him to do this at night!

Why is it dads always get a kick out of their little boys giving the bird?

Grandpa Morris (Boston loved his bright red shirt)

Final Moments

As mentioned in my earlier post, Boston had to stay in the NICU an extra week since he had a breathing episode before the 7th day.  During this extra week Day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 passed with no problem.  But once again Day 6 came and guess what? Yep, another morning phone call from the NICU.  Can you imagine how my heart stopped.  Could Boston possibly be replaying the previous week?  Day 6 and another episode...

I happened to be at work when the NICU tried to reach me so I had to call them back.  As I waited for the front desk to patch me through to the nurse my stomach was doing hoola hoops.  I was biting my lip and holding back tears.  We were so ready for Boston to come home.  Could we really have to wait yet another week if not longer?

Within seconds, Tiffany answered. She didn't waste one second in saying to me "you ready to pick up your son"?  In preparing to hear that he had had another episode, what she said didn't sink in.  I actually had to have her repeat herself.  What, Boston was ready to go home?

I was so overjoyed but panic set in.  We were planning on him being discharged tomorrow Wednesday, November 11th if all went well.  Not today, Tuesday.  Therefore, I had no clothes to bring him home in, no blankets, no diapers, etc... Luckily the most important item, the car seat was already in his room at the NICU.  But still...I was not ready!

I asked Tiffany what happened if we couldn't pick him up today.  Both Joe and I had tomorrow off since that was his original discharge date.  She replied, "just be here to pick him up no later than 6:30pm today". I guess the NICU isn't a babysitting service, so okay then...today it would be!

I hurried and called Joe. The first words I said to him were "can you get off work early"?  He asked why and then I told him the great news!  Unfortunately, Joe couldn't get off work so we had to wait until 5:30pm.  Can you imagine how hard it was for me to finish out the work day knowing my boy was ready to come home?

Tick.....Tock......Tick......Tock.  This was the longest day of my life!

Finally 5:00pm arrived.  I practically ran out of the office and headed over to the hospital!
Joe met me there at 5:30pm and the fun began!

Tiffany began our discharge. First things first she said...should we make this boy cordless?

Removal of the leads (heart rate).

Removal of foot monitor (oxygen levels).

I'm free!

 

(Boston wasn't so sure about this at first. It was a little scary for him)

Next, we had to put him in his coming home outfit. Note: No surprise to anyone I wanted to have an outfit from Nordstrom's for him. However, since he came home a day early I hadn't had a chance to shop.  Once again, Joe was thanking Boston for this! 

Boston came home in an outfit that two of my co-workers, Lisa Nordstrom and Tandi Sheriff gave me (I guess in a way it did come from Nordstrom's!).  It was an adorable onesie that said "NICU Alumni".  And that he was about to be!

While I was camera happy, I asked if I coud take a picture of Boston's girlfriends. From what we've been told, Boston was quite the lady's man in the NICU. He doesn't take after his dad does he?

Allison Jorgensen (his primary nurse)

Tiffany (his discharge nurse)

Following the photo shoot, Tiffany spent a few minutes summarizing his cares and then opened it up for a short Q&A session.  Of course we had thousands of questions, but sitting there, just excited about taking him home Joe and I spaced all the things we wanted to ask.  "Well, if there aren't any questions let's get him in his carseat" directed Tiffany.

Dad getting Boston ready to go!

Boston, comfortable and ready to go home!

And here we go!

Graduation

In a matter of 9 days Boston had his mom ripping out the pages of her Franklin Covey day planner.  He was once again not going to be kept to a schedule.

See Boston had learned to take all his feedings by mouth so the only thing left before he could come home was 7 days without a breathing episode.  Day 1,2,3,4,5 all passed without incident. 

Then Day 6 arrived. It was 7am on November 3rd.  I was in the bathroom getting ready for work when all of a sudden my cell phone rang.  Caller ID announced it was the NICU calling.  I looked at Joe and you could tell we both had the same exact thought. "Why would the NICU be calling us at 7am unless something bad had happened?"

I reluctantly answered the phone and was told what we had dreaded...Boston had just had a breathing episode and our countdown would have to start over. 

As sad as we were, Joe and I managed to focus on the positive side of this event (yes, there is one).  At least Boston had this episode while still in the hospital and not at home.  He was trying to tell us he was not quite ready. What was one more week in the NICU?

We used this time to get the house more ready and prepare both grandmas to help care for him since I would only receive 3 weeks of maternity leave.  We had them come in and participate in his cares and learn how to feed him.

Grandma Julie (Joe's mom)

Grandma Sue (Jayme's mom)

Splish Splash I was Taking a Bath

Long about a Sunday night...

Rub dub just relaxin in the tub...

Thinkin everything was alright....

There was a splishin and a splashin...

Rollin and a strollin...

Well, maybe not much movin and a grovin...

These pictures were taken on November 1, 2009.  This was mom and dad's first time giving me a bath! It was a little different giving me a swaddle bath where I remained in a blanket. Dad did great, but mom was a little nervous.  She kept freaking out as water would cover my ears and when I would open my mouth and take some water in.  But as you can see above, I survived and got pretty dang comfy at the end!

Record Breaking Week

Has it really been 2 weeks since I last blogged?

Boy how our days run together.  I apologize and hope what I have to say will make up for the times you checked our blog and said "what, no updates?"

I'm going to back up a bit and start on October 26th. It was quite the record breaking week.

Being a preemie, Boston has had milestones he's had to reach before we can take him home.  Our son so far, has surpassed expectations and only has 2 left.  First, he has to take all his feedings by mouth- breast or bottle.  Second, the toughest of them all, he needs to be off oxygen and have 7 straight days without a breathing episode.

After we learned these 2 milestones were all we had left, it was off to the races!  Monday, October 26th Boston decided he was going to accomplish the tougher task first.  I came to visit him during my lunch break and once again he turned me into a bawl baby.

See if you can tell what is different in these pictures...

Before

After

If you figured out what was missing in the second picture you can imagine the emotion that ran through me.  How could a mother not shed tears when she sees one less tube on her baby's face!

Boston had done so well the day before that they decided to take him off oxygen completely!

And if that weren't enough, this same day Boston reached 2000 grams which converts to 4 pounds 6 ounces. He has earned a new nickname in the NICU- "linebacker". Boston normally eats 35-40 ml in one sitting, and today he decided he could take 65 ml. Ramona, the nurse said "pray that he is going through a growth spurt or you will have a linebacker on your hands"!

What a joyous day, only to be followed by another.  Due to Boston's great accomplishments, Tuesday, October 27th our 7-day countdown began.  We can't believe it.  Our baby might be home in 7 days!

So, as we counted down each day, Boston had to master one last task. He had to take all his feedings by mouth.  Well, on October 30th, Boston decided he was done with the feeding tube in is nose and throat, so guess what he did?

Yep, he yanked it out.  What a determined little kid!

The nurse said "well he obviously wanted it out so we'll just leave it and see how he does".  That very same day he took the rest of his feedings by mouth and as they say...the rest is history!

Look Ma, I'm a big kid now!

U of U vs BYU Rivalry evident even in the hospital!

When Joe first introduced me to his parents, Bill's (joe's dad) first question to me was "what color do you bleed"?

The Stewart Family is full of die-hard Utah fans and therefore Boston was born one too!  Julie (joe's mom) even decorated Boston's room with a U of U bib. 

Several of Boston's nurses finished their degree at the University of Utah.  One of our favorites, Connie, discovered we were U fans, and she surprised us one day with a U of U onesie for Boston! She instantly wanted to see him in his new outfit and we asked her if she would do the honor.

Connie and our little Running Ute!

Doesn't he look handsome in red?

Proud Dad!

However, not all of our favorite nurses cheer for the right team. Ramona, thinking she would show her colors, surprised us with this...

Sorry Ramona, but that bib didn't stand a chance.  It was placed where it belonged (in the trash) behind the University of Utah bib within seconds!

Counting our Blessings

I want to start this blog out by thanking all of you for your love and support during this difficult time.  Most of you know about the scare we experienced (see the previous blog) and Joe and I could not have remained sane had it not been for all of you helping us through it.

As you know, the night of October 19th to 4:00pm on the 20th, we had nothing to do but pray for good news about the mass they found on Boston's brain. Thank goodness those prayers (and all of yours) were answered.

The dense white matter on Boston's brain was the result of a brain bleed.  White cells attacked it trying to clean up the mess and those cells are what the mass consisted of.  Lucky for us the bleed was so small the doctor felt that it would not affect Boston very much. They would have a specialist evaluate Boston's reactions and make sure his development was on track but they were not overly concerned.

It's amazing how in a split second  it went from the mass possibly being a cist, a tumor, or signs of cerebral palsy to relatively nothing and he will be just fine!  Wow, what a roller coaster of emotions we experienced in such a short time.

"Boston agrees, what a day!" (Big Yawn)

Mom and Dad so relieved that Boston will be okay.