Yea Summer Time

Well lots are happening! Jonathan got dedicated at church then we had a small bbq after it was a beautiful day and everyone went swimming! Jonathan will now eat rice cereal just before bed which is nice cause he sleeps longer (yea for me)! He is bigger a whopping 11lbs 2 ozs he can now fit into 3 month clothes and he is 25 inches long and no waist so shorts and pants kinda fall off when you pick him up but has his daddy's shoulders for sure nice and broad, he's going to be a football player get a scholarship go to Michigan State and study to be a lawyer, ok so I am jumping the gun a little. He loves the outdoors looks at everything, loves the water is practically a fish we have only put his feet in the pool and he just smiles and tries to giggle but its not coming out yet! He does have a little of mommys temper and if he doesn't get his bottle in time he will let you know, he is very strong you really have to watch him he will kick his way out of anything! Even his ped. says he is very strong for his age but really he had to be look at everything he has gone through! He is rolling from front to back, is grabbing his toys and putting them in his mouth loves to chomp on them and loves his gums massaged I think its to early to be teething but his ped didn't think so, so maybe in a month we will have a tooth, I hope not he is growing up way way to fast! I looked at him the other day and just can't seem to grasp that he was only 1 lb 12 ozs he is doing so good, growing fast and starting to make little noises I am on the verge of crying again he is such a miracle. I don't know what I did before he was in my life, he is Justin and I's everything he has so many loved ones that care and continue to pray for him he is just perfect and I love him so much!

Is this parenthood?

Jonathan is totally over his cold but now I am sick, I hope I get over this soon I have had it for about 1 week now and I can't take meds because I am still breastfeeding, if its not him being sick its me! Oh well I guess thats being a parent and I still wouldn't trade it for anything!!!

Anyway jonathan is doing good his p.t is very happy with him, he is starting to make noises and trying to roll over. He still isn't holding his head up but he is trying. Justin and I tried cereal with him and that didn't go over well he kicked, cried and spit it out oh well it was probably to soon anyway he is only 3 months corrected (as of June 3rd). We dont see the pediatrician until the 23 of june for vaccines, his weight is about 10lbs 10ozs he is only in the 5th% for weight but 75th for length thats ok I know he is healthy and he eats when he is hungry! We have started showing him off and I have actually have taken him into Costco but was extremly worried so I held him the whole time of course. Well we are going to church this Sunday, please pray for protection from all illnesses! Enjoy the pics of Jonathan trying cereal!

10lb CLUB!!!!!

Jonathan is over his cold a little bit of a cough still but he is doing so good! He finally hit 10 lbs he is getting longer than heavier he is almost 24 inches. His eyes keep changing from blue to brown so it will be interesting to see what color they will be. All appointments are going good he sees his heart doctor this Thursday and she already said she will be taking him off his medicine for his blood pressure which will be nice for the both of us. He loves bath time he just figured it out that when he kicks he gets mommy all wet!! he is eating very good, I just let him eat when he wants which is about 10 to 12 times during the day but he only takes 40 to 50cc's at a time, he doesn't really want to eat at night I am still waking him but that's o.k hes up to 17 to 18 ozs a day, He is probably going to be tall and thin, he still has no hair just a little fuzzes which are very blond! He loves when mommy dances with him and he loves to stare, he loves when daddy is home cause they cuddle and they both fall asleep together. He is really a sweet baby I cant wait to take him to church and family to show him off! I can't wait till we go up north on our first family vacation we are thinking sometime in July. Jonathan will be getting dedicated at church on the 8th or 9th (second Sunday) of June. He has out grown his newborn clothes and is now in 0-3 months unless its gap or old navy then he is in up to 3 months(they run big)! Its a nice day today so we are off for a stroller ride!
Hope you enjoy the newest pics!!

I AM SO FRUSTERATED!!!!!

Well after keeping Jonathan in a "bubble" he still managed to get his very first cold! I knew something was up he kept wheezing so we went to the doctors Thursday last week and sure enough the doc said this might be his first little cold, err how could this happen everyone washes their hands nobody is over to visit, except the visiting nurse, physical therapist and the hundreds of doctor appts we go to!! It got so bad that by Monday I was in tears, my baby was coughing so much he didn't pee for 12 hours so off to the docs we went. The doc said we needed to go back to the hospital (NO WAY)!!!!! So Monday we were in the hospital and of course his nurses from the NI came to see him. I tell you I felt a bit like a failure we were only home for 2 weeks my poor baby! Well they were going to start an i.v to put fluids in him but he heard that and started eating on his own! They had to take blood from his heal of so many bad memories, well after 2 failed attempts they took blood from his arm TWICE he is so much stronger than his mommy, he didn't even cry! The docs thought he might need oxygen but he is a trooper and breathed on his own. Well by Tuesday morning he was eating but still had/has a terrible cough so they sent us home! He still has a really nasty cough sometimes so bad I get a bit nervous so they said we get to just wait it out, oh I hope it gets better soon! He is now 9lbs 11ozs. Tomorrow is my very first mothers day, oh yea Jonathan got me a dozen roses man he's amazing!!!

21 long weeks

So after 21 long weeks of emotional, physical and mental roller coasters, terms like septic work-up, bilirubin, pda, rop, cbc, cp, ot, pt, ivh and list gets longer have now passed us, somewhat! JONATHAN is home where he should be! He is doing great he has no tube, no wires, no oxygen and no monitors. O.k so I will admit it was a bit nerve wrecking our first night, I was constantly checking him but everything went great. When he was discharged our only concern was his feeding and that he was losing weight a big no-no, so we all agreed to see what he would do when he got home and hope and pray he would just take off and gain weight. The doctors made arrangements for a visiting nurse to come see us once a week and his first pediatrician appt would be the 19th two days after he came home to check weight and make sure he is not losing or we could have to put a tube in him so we could feed him through that (I think not). So we went to his ped appt. and he was 9lbs 2 ozs the doc was so surprised that he was 9lbs he said to us (me and the two grandmas) that he thought Jonathan would be around 5lbs! He said preemies don't get on the growth chart but Jonathan is in the 25th percentile for weight and 75th percentile for length! So our gaol is from here to just keep putting the weight on him, the doc was very impressed with him! Then came our visiting nurse, when she first arrived she said to me looking at Jonathan I must be at the wrong house because he doesn't look like a preemie he is huge (I just have to laugh. I love it!!) She came on Monday and he was still 9lbs 2ozs that's o.k hes maintaining his weight. Then the ped appt Tues. 22 his weight 9lbs 4ozs the doc said well he is doing everything great! The visiting nurse came back on the 25th and he is up to 9lbs 7ozs!!!
so everything is going great, I have to admit that the feeding thing gets to me sometimes I start worrying so much it seems I am always sticking a bottle or breast in his mouth, I get so wrapped up and think oh no is he gaining weight and yes I log every cc that goes into his belly and he is pretty consistent however I don't count the breastfeeding time cause I have no idea how much he gets but I know its just a snack (for now till I can bring my supply back up)! During the day Jonathan is a snacker eating every three hours plus a snack or two in the middle of those three hours, at night I wake him up every three and he eats very good almost always asleep through those. He stays awake all morning with a two or three naps of a whole 20-25 mins but is fast asleep around 7pm and up at 6am ready for the day, he is such a big boy!! He was a bit shocked at his new surroundings and these two big things that run around and bark, he didn't care for his swing or anything but his bassinet and of course being held! He now enjoys his swing for about 1/2 hour but not a bit longer! He is very squirmy doesn't like to be still except when he is sleeping thank goodness, he starting to roll over he will get about half way then roll back, he likes his bottles warm not cool and of course not hot and trust me he will let you know if its not to his liking, he will get that nipple out of his mouth he will close his mouth and not let anything near there till you warm it up and put a little drop on his lip and then he will let you know if its o.k! I have no idea where he got his stubborness:) He poops and pees great I think he had christened everywhere in the living room!
He will be getting p.t twice a week to help his neck muscles he really favors his right side so we need to work with him on his left, we have a visiting nurse once a week we see his pediatrician once a week, he has eye appt every two week, he see the cardiologist next month and he will be going to an audiologist next month! So the appts. don't stop but I think we are all handling it well because its a lot better than being in the hospital!!
And yes we have been keeping in touch with our nurses (Kim and Jennifer) we do miss them a lot but we know we can visit them! So that is all for now!
LOVE you all

Jonathan is going HOME!!!!!

can you believe what I just said but its true our NICU roller coaster is finally over we are taking him home tomorrow the 17th!! Also Jonathan requires no oxygen or feeding tube he is doing everything himself! We need to work on his feedings but he'll get it cause his daddy has no problems eating so I am sure he won't either:) On a sad note I am so upset at my ob doctor she did the circumcision and it required 3 stitches not to worry though everything will still work, they just got a blood vessel that wouldn't stop bleeding. he is such a trooper he didn't really react to anything just give him sugar water on his paci and he was set! His mommy was more upset than him. Justin and I have waited 21 weeks for this day and its here it is a bitter sweet good bye to some of the greatest nurses especially our 2 primaries Kim and Jennifer however I think jonathan is going to be apart of their lives for a very long time. I think we convinced kim to watch him for a wedding in August, I told her I would just go to the ceramony and she said if she watches him I have to go to the reception too! Well we have a ways to go for august for me to think about that! So my next blog will be about him home!!YAHOOOOOOO
P.s We thank you all for you continued prayers! We also know we couldn't have made it this far without GOD he really protected Jonathan and kept him safe!

Keep eating big guy!

O.k where do I start. Jonathan is no longer on oxygen except for feedings but even then he is sometimes not on that, so to say the least he is doing great! He is gaining weight 8lbs 8ozs (he's a chunk) he is still on diuretics for his blood pressures but his bp's are great! So the "only thing" we are waiting for is him to eat from all bottles and then we can go home!!!! I just said go home I never thought I would be able to say that it feels wonderful, this experience is something I never want to do again to say the least, our little boy is a miracle indeed and I thank GOD everyday for him. Parents often take their kids for granted but instead you should kiss your child and thank GOD their healthy full term kids our road doesn't stop when we get home either. For the next year and a half we have to be hermits from Sept thru April, we can't use baby powder, vicks vapor rub, we have to even be careful of the stuff we clean house with anything that could be harmful to his lungs! We have become the biggest germaphobs washing our hands after everything I even limit myself to petting the dogs because I know when I'm done I have to wash my hands we are going to buy surgical face mask for the just in case I might be coming down with something so Jonathan doesn't get it! I am just really happy we got through our first winter yes it was in the hospital but it make a huge difference coming home during spring than the winter! Well just keep us in your prayers for a continued success at bottle and breast feedings so WE CAN GO HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!