Flicker's Blog

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Brother schmother - I got BLOCKS!

Daddy found the Alef-Bet blocks, and Paul set out to build a tower all by himself. . .

NEED MORE BLOCKS!!

Friday, February 12, 2010

No, Biliruben is not a deli sandwich. . .

Joss was a little bit jaundiced, and so his doctor recommended some time at the baby-spa. . . This seems to be a family tradition.

How's his Magneto impression?

Mommy got some good snuggling in today - after Joss breastfed nicely, and then topped off with about an ounce and a half of breastmilk in a bottle.

Grandma Shelly even got in a bit of a cuddle today.

Joss has been taken off the oxygen-saturation monitor, and has been maintaining his temperature. He has taken his last few meals completely by mouth, and so is close to getting his feeding tube removed. Go Joss!!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Joss - Day 4

Hi everybody!

So far - so good. Joss is off his IV, and blood sugar is holding stable. He's been doing well maintaining his temperature, and the big news is that he's been eating more of his meals with a bottle than with the feeding tube!

Joss also loves nursing, and although it's still a little taxing for him, he seems to enjoy the initial effort.

Joss also loves to dance - check out the gams!

He is also a trouble maker - stealth poops, pulling out his feeding tube repeatedly, getting caught up in his wires. . .

And a little video:

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

When Grandmothers Attack!

They came from BEYOND. They cause terror wherever they go. They are...

GRANDMOTHERS!!!!!

Just kidding. They just brought love and red ribbons (kinahura poo poo poo) to keep the evil eye away. And they're taking very good care of Paul while we're distracted with all of the other things we need to do. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Beren had some quality post-lunch time with Joss.

Hi there, Joss!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Joss' First Photo Shoot

Some cuddle time with Mommy.

Nose to nose with Daddy.

Trying to explain the pre-natal football pool in which he was participating, and how he had been elected to check the scores tonight. . .

. . .and finding out there was no TV in the NICU. Sorry, kiddo.

Flashing signs - peace out, word.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

SURPRISE!!!

This morning, as Daddy was sitting on an airplane waiting for take-off, Mommy decided the funny cramps she was having were contractions! Yes, it was 6 weeks, 1 day early for contractions, which is why Daddy was thinking this last trip to CA would be no problem.

Mommy called the doctor, and Mommy called our good friends Kara and Brendan (Georgia's parents) who came right over.

In the meantime, Mommy changed Paul's very dirty diaper - while in labor. Mommy is hard core.

After Georgia and Kara arrived to play with Paul, but before Brendan drove Mommy to the hospital, Daddy managed to sneak in one more phone call before actually taking off (wa-hoo for airplane delays!). Mommy told Daddy to get off the plane, and he did. Daddy actually made it to the hospital before Mommy did.

After establishing that this was indeed labor, and that Mommy was 4cm dialated, Mommy was moved to a delivery room where she was reunited with her best friend, Epidural. This is Mommy hanging out with Epi:

After some resting and phone calls, Mommy began to feel pain through the epidural. The anesthesiologist gave her a little more medicine, and said it would take about 10 minutes to really kick in. Well, that was 8 minutes too long, because Mommy felt the urge to push, and about 90 seconds later, at 1:29pm on Sunday, February 7, 2010, Joss Nathaniel joined us, apparently in quite the hurry.

Joss was 5lbs, 4.8oz and 18.5 inches long, and had Apgar scores of 8/9. He was very blue the moment he arrived, but pinked up quickly, and cried very nicely until the NICU nurses got him all wrapped up and warm.

Once Mommy could feel her feet again (that extra dose of medicine did kick in. . .too much too late, but there you go), she and Daddy got to go to the NICU to visit Joss. We couldn't pick him up yet, but he was breathing all on his own.

First (almost) Family Picture!!

Because he is a festering blizzard of germs and destructive capability, Paul will not be able to see his baby brother until Joss is out of the NICU, but he will be able to visit Mommy, who misses him already.

Nap time is where you make it.

Yesterday, we were getting ready to go out and meet Michael, Reiko, and James for Dim Sum in Lexington. Mommy left Paul in the family room to wash her hands after a diaper change, and came back to this:

Please note the balloon he's clutching, even in his sleep:

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Pee-Pee in the Pot-tay!

Mommy was just about to put Paul into the bathtub tonight, when she asked him if he'd like to try making pee-pee* on the potty. He was enthusiastic about the idea, and sat right down. After a minute or two he stood up and. . .there was pee in the potty!! Mommy called Daddy into the bathroom, and there was much clapping and cheering for Paul!

It may have been a fluke, but it's also a first step!

*This is in direct contrast to the last time we asked Paul to make a pee on the potty, when he took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and squealed "PEEEEEEEEEEE" as loud as he could.