All updates about Jack

HEY LOOK!! A POST!!

2007-05-09T23:44:00.000-05:00

Oh my!!! It's been such a long time!!!

Jack here... I've been busy doing so much stuff!!! You guys will not believe how crazy life's been outta the box!!! When you don't have your nurses there, and it's just Mom and Dad... well let's just say I've been putting them through the hoops! Let's see... what can I tell you guys...

Mom's gone to working nights, so I get her from the early morning til Dad gets home in the evening. We play all day, and sometimes I even let her get a nap in! Only when I'm feeling nice though-- she's too much fun to play with, and I want to get all the time in that I can.

Dad... well, Dad's just a laugh riot. He comes home and I immediately start laughing and smiling, looking all cute so he doesn't know just what he's in for. *grins* He and Mom have said many times that it's a good thing I'm so cute...

I go to the doctor's tomorrow, to find out my weight and how I'm doing... Last doctor's visit I was at 14 pounds, 4 ounces. Now I KNOW I've gotta be bigger then that-- I want my niblets and dipping sauces!!

My great grampa and great gramma (otherwise known as Nana and Tots) are gonna be here on the 15th of May. Mommy is super excited about it, and she keeps telling me how much they are gonna love me. I know it-- I'm too cute not to love!

I'm using my jumparoo a lot now, I really really love it, which is a good thing, cuz I'm outgrowing my swing. Oh how I love my swing!! Even if my feet are starting to poke out of it, it's still my favorite sleeping place. I can also stand up if Mom or Dad hold my hands up- I'm that good!!

On cinco de mayo i got to hang out with a new friend-- Caylie. Yep... She's kinda cool, even if she does scream a lot. I saw Logan and Hayley, too, but Hayley's a little old for me. Dad says he's gonna do my hair in a mohawk like Logan's when I get older, but Mom says that's not going to happen, that it's taking me way too long to grow the stuff to just cut it off like that. I like hanging out with other kids... it's more fun than when we were all at the nicu, because there's less heel sticks and icky stuff that they gotta do... Nowadays I even smile when Mommy uses the nose plunger on me!!

Ok... Mom's coming back from the kitchen with a bottle (of which I'm eating a TON of!!! 8 ounces a meal, baby!!!), so I gotta skedaddle and lock this lappy back up before she realizes...

Laters!

Behold Jackzilla!!!

2007-01-19T13:22:00.000-05:00

I am now TEN POUNDS, NINE OUNCES!!!!! That's right... someone hand me my dipping sauces, I need to get me some niblets!!

I had a doctor appointment yesterday, and I was all sorts of good. I flirted with the nurses, smiling and talking... (they didn't respond to any of my pickup lines though, I forgot that grownups don't know how to talk) They didn't even mind when I may or may not have peed on the nurse during my weigh in.

Dr. Chaney says that they're talking about me getting off oxygen sometime in March. I'm hoping it's sooner-- I really don't like the monitor stickers, and the tubes in my nose. I try to pull them off all the time, which stresses me AND Mommy and Daddy out. But soon... In the meantime I'm eating like a champ, and almost on the "term baby" weight chart.

Mommy took me to go visit the NICU nurses, while we were in Annapolis. I got to see a bunch of my old friends, including Kevin, Chona, Donna, and Sherrie. They were all impressed with how big I've gotten, AND I got a chance to scope out some of the niblets... There's a tasty morsel living in the corner room!!

Well... Gotta scoot, it's tummy time!!!

I've made it back! PS

2007-01-15T11:01:00.000-05:00

**NEW PICTURES AT WWW.KIRAWILL.COM **

Greetings!!! A late update... Mommy and me made a deal-- I'll sleep well once a week, and she'll let me get on here once more more times a week. I think it's a good one.. i like typing!!

I'm doing well, I'm being loved and adored, so all is as it should be. I got to take advantage of the nice weather here, and made Mommy take me out walking in the outdoor plaza. We had fun-- my monitor and oxygen fit perfectly in the stroller basket. Saw a couple hotties, too... a realy awesome 2 year old who was giving me the eye... I know I'm adorable. ;)

Infants and Toddlers came to visit me, and they played with me awhile. They said that I was right at the perfect 1 month old level on some things, and ahead at a 2 month old level, with others. Apparently I'm really social. Mommy and Daddy already knew that, though! I love being held, talking to people... even if these silly grownups don't know how to talk. I dunno how that happens-- I tell them all about stuff, but they just kind of nod and babble. It's strange.. the older you get, the less you can talk.

I'm having fun with Grampa Rick and Gramma Cindy-- they've been taking over my 4am feeding for Mommy and Daddy. Also they're helping get the house all nice for me. Already it's groovy!! There are men here today working on the bathroom floor.

K... I gotta go, it's time for naptime... Mommy needs to sleep!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

2006-12-26T12:46:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!! Jack here-- and let me tell you, this has been an exciting few days! I had my second RSV shot on Thursday, and got checked out. The shot hurt, but I took it really well-- only cried just a little, really... and don't tell Mommy or Daddy, but it was mostly for sympathy. Nothing gets you snuggles like them feeling sorry for you!! I also had to get blood taken, but I couldn't even pretend that one hurt. Daddy says that got me one more ice cream coupon for when I'm bigger. He told me that when I'm big, I'll have so many coupons saved up I'll be able to have ice cream every day for a year if I want. Now, I don't know about this ice cream stuff, but if it's half as good as they say, I'm all for it. On Friday, Daddy came home early from work, and mom's been making the house smell really good. She says she's been in a baking frenzy, and that I'll be thankful for it when I'm older and have teeth. We'll see! Saturday brought more baking, and last minute shopping for Mommy. She went out for awhile, and came back quite jolly. She said there was liquid jolliness flowing at the mall, so I guess she must've gone swimming in it. Either way, it was quite a fun night! I got to see A Christmas Story-- and please, please, please... nobody get me a pink bunny suit... Mommy said if I had one she'd want to see me in it, so.. let's just work together and not do that to me, ok?
Sunday was great... Gramma Terry came down and held me for a really really long time. It was really nice. :) She got me some warm clothes so I'll be nice and toasty. Mom and Dad snuggled in, and we all had a really good day. Then Monday we got stuff in our stockings (Mom wanted to let me sleep in mine!), and opened stuff... ok, well, Mommy and Daddy opened stuff, I just watched for now... and then we went to Gramma Kerry and Grampa Wilson's house to have dinner. Aunt Betsy showed up there, and she gave me my dinner while Mom talked and petted the new kitty I met. I met the puppydog, Ryder, but I don't think I like him just yet. I may have to have a talk with him about noses in ears. I got lots of toys and stuff there!! Gramma Kerry brought home lots of stuff for me from her work, from really really nice people there. My Uncle Jeff wants a big version of my fire truck chair that I got-- I won't let him sit in mine, he's too big and will squish it!! But if he wants he can help me sit in it... I kinda slide down it if I don't have some help.

It's been a really good season for me and my Mom and Dad... we're so grateful for everything that people have done for us, for all the prayers, help, just everything. Mommy says that this should help me to understand how blessed we are, and how wonderful the people in our lives are. Thank you all so much for helping us, for sending us your prayers, for every little thing that you've done.

*** and now I gotta go cuz there's a boppy with toys on it that's got my name on it!!!**

--Jack

2006-12-12T01:04:00.000-05:00

Happy holidays! They've already begun here at the Graves' residence, with our newest addition We're not going to have a tree this year, since we don't want to introduce anything foreign into the house until he gets a little stronger.

A day with Mommy

2006-12-11T13:06:00.000-05:00

Today Mommy and me are hanging out. She's playing with her birthday present (she keeps talking about living in ipodia now? I dunno... she's wierd), and I'm doing my best to keep her busy too. We were watching what Mommy was calling my kind of tv earlier... cept I think she was more interested than me. We watched one show called Reading Rainbow, and that one was kinda neat... I got fed during it, so you know I was a happy camper. Then we were watching something called Teletubbies... but I fell asleep. It was so silly!! When I woke up though, apparently Mommy didnt' think so, because she was dancing around with the little red one. Silly Mommy.:) After that we got to the ones we usually watch-- yay Star Trek. Mommy says she's doing her best to bring me up right-- on the Classics, whatever that means. Aunt Betsy says I'm doomed to be a dork, but since Mommy just laughs and says probably, I don't think it's gonna be that bad.

Oh.. it's 1:18... that means its time to wake Mommy up.... I seem to remember there was a rule somewhere that said Mommy can't get more than one and half hours of sleep at a time, and I do my best to make sure that rule doesn't get broken. Gotta go!

love, Jack

Wow... long time no see!

2006-12-07T05:39:00.000-05:00

Greetings and Salutations! Jack here!

Sorry I haven't written-- it's been really hard getting to the computer, with how much Mommy and Daddy have been hanging on me. It's crazy!! I can't get a moment's peace without one of them checking on me, or holding me... they have this wierd thing where they just like to watch me. I wake up, fully intending to sneak inhere, and BAM! There they are watching me.

No, but really, life outside the bighouse has been pretty good. I get lots of food, I sleep when I want to, there are a lotta really neat things to see, and Mommy sits me up and lets me look around a lot. Daddy showed me this thing called hockey on the tv. I thought it was interesting, there was a lot of movement and bright lights coming from it, so me and him sat and watched it for awhile.

My reflux is kinda bad, so I keep Mommy and Daddy awake a lot. Tonight is Mommy's turn, but she's fallen asleep over the side of the chair so I can do this, heh. When I'm done I'll whimper a little, and if that doesn't work, a full on lung scream will work to wake her up and get her moving... these parents... so easy to manage them if you know the secrets!!

The home nurse came for her second visit a couple days ago, on Monday. She said I was doing well, but not growing quite as quickly as I should. I guess that means I gotta really start eating more. I was slacking for a few days cuz well, darnit, it' s hard to be eating all the time, specially when I'm not sleeping as much as I was back in the Big House. When you're there there's nothing to do but sleep... but home is much more interesting than that! We also went to the eye doctor on Tuesday... he put that grody stuff in my eye again while Daddy held me for the doctor. Mommy hates that test-- but was happy to hear the report that I'm ok, and ROP free!! Yay Jack!! Thursday is the pediatrician appointment, so they can weight me and see how I'm doing. Daddy says he's going to try and talk to the doctor about this whole oxygen thing, so they don't have to carry it around all the time anymore. I like it tho, it gives me a little kick, and it's quite the fashion statement. In the Big House, all the cool babies had cannulas.

The only problem with home is I miss my old buddy Cole. Sure he had this wierd looking like me thing going on, but he was still pretty cool. Who else would help me plan? Of course, I don't need to plan any escapes now, but it would still be nice to see them. Mommy says maybe after RSV season, and if I'm good, we can go see them.

Mommy has been playing something she calls "Bing." Daddy keeps rolling his eyes and telling me it will all be over in January, but Mommy gets all happy and sings along to this Bing thing. Something about a white christmas...?

My Uncle John and Auntie Jessi came to visit... they held me and snuggled me... it was nice. Of course they thought I was quite the little looker.. I know. :) Someone had to get the looks in the family, and looking at everyone else... I'm the cutest one I see!

Oh.. Mommy's starting to wake up, I'd better go.... I'll try to distract them a little sooner this time, so i can keep posting. In the meantime, happy holidays!

taps the mic Attention please...

2006-11-25T12:40:00.000-05:00

JACK IS HOME!!!!!

He's doing well, eating, sleeping, and pooping... has only set off the alarm a couple times, mostly for the loose leads to the monitor. But.. YAY!!!!!!!!!

Notes from the Big House (no, really this time!)

2006-11-24T01:18:00.000-05:00

Hey guys!!

Jack here.... This time it was easy to snag the computer--- Mom brought it with her!! Her and Daddy are spending the night with me tonight, so that they can get used to my monitor and oxygen tank and stuff before we go home tomorrow. That's right!! I get to actually see this place that they keep talking about!! So far it's been a pretty good night... Daddy is napping, and Mommy let me sleep on her for a long time before it was time to wake up and eat again. Darn all this waking up and eating!!! It's good though, I like the stuff, so I don't mind too much, I guess.

This afternoon was busy!! Mommy and Daddy came, and then Aunt Chris and Uncle Dave showed up, and other Uncle Dave, and then finally Gramma Terry. I was super busy looking cute!! (ok, so it wasn't that hard of work, being as genetically gifted as I am. Mommy taught me that phrase. :)) It calmed down for a little while, but then Mommy and Daddy came back again, and here we are, hanging out in a room that's not mine. No rocking chair, not a teddy bear mural to be found!! It's ok tho, they're here, and that's all I need. They give me food, they snuggle me... I'm good.

So... to recap... I'm going home!!!! And Mommy and Daddy are ecstatic!!! Before she fell asleep, Mommy said something about having to share the rules with everyone about visiting, and to be sure and pick up some germ x as soon as they can. I wonder what germ x is...

Well... I'll let you guys know when I'm home, I'm sure I'll be able to sneak back on!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

Notes From the Big House (scribbles from Jack)

2006-11-20T23:22:00.000-05:00

Ok... so, my friend Cole is springing the coop tomorrow. This is good, and bad. For the good, he gets to go to this "home" place that the mommies keep going on about, where apparently there's lots of good food, and comfy stuff, and even a swing! (I love the swing, I really do!) Plus, his brother JD is there, and he was a really cool cat. The bad part is, I'm really really really gonna miss my partner in crime!! Who else is going to help me do the preemie limbo with the syringes?? And we had worked out the next plot for getting out-- which is really a lot trickier considering they have these new doors that use swiper cards in them now. How is a baby supposed to get through that? We had figured out a way to get into the ceiling, but the plan called for two, count them, TWO babies. And now... sadly... Cole is busting out without me. No hard feelings though, although my Mommy is very sad that her friend, Mrs. Cole's Mommy is leaving. She says we'll all get together when everyone's out, so we'll see. I'll have to see if Sydney is interested in the breaking out planning, but really, I'm starting to get the feeling it's time to buckle up and get out. I mean, I AM almost three months old, it's time to get out and see the world!! Plus, they keep calling me "El Chunko," and that makes me grumbly. Ok, really only Mommy calls me El Chunko, but still-- not nice!! First everyone tells me to hurry up and gain weight, and here I am at the wonderfully fluffy weight of 5 pounds, 14 ounces, and now suddenly there's all these baby sumo threats!! What gives?

Mommy and Daddy are getting all ready for me to come home... they keep telling me all about my room, and how pretty it is. Mommy also says that once she gets off her duff she'll post more pictures. She also asks that you guys forgive her slacking.

The social worker Carrie made us ornaments with our pictures in them. Mine's a snowman, and looks really great-- cuz there's a picture of me right in his belly!! I'm a cutie, I have to admit... who can deny it, really? Mommy says I'm the handsomest boy in the world, and Daddy agrees. He says someone has to have the looks in the family, and guess what? I got em!! :-D

Ok... back to Cole's farewell party. The twins across the hall hooked us up with some sugar water, so we've got the binkys covered with it, and everyone's feeling a little fine.

BYE COLE!!! WE'LL MISS YOU, AND GOOD LUCK!!!

--Jack

2006-11-19T17:45:00.000-05:00

Jack has been doing really well the past few days. He's been taking his bottles fairly regularly, with only a couple gavage (tube) feedings during the day. He's also been growing like a weed. He's now tipping the scales at 5 pounds, 11 ounces! He is DEFINITELY getting signed up for baby sumo.

Our friends, Jason and Brandi are here today, with their kids Haley and Logan. Brandi is painting a gorgeous tree on one of the walls in the nursery. I've seen it half done, and I'm really excited about it!! There WILL be pictures up soon for everyone to see and enjoy.
** EDIT: We've seen it done, and oh my god... she is so very very talented!! Both of us can't stop going in the room to look at it. Thank you Brandi!

Sonnet has started a kodak page for all the pictures, while www.kirawill.com is under construction. The good part about this is that now, on the kodak page, anyone can order any pictures they'd like, which makes it easy if you want a non-computer picture of him. (and really.. who doesn't want a picture of Sir Jack?)

That should be it for now... if we're not addressing any questions anyone would like answered, please comment, and ask! We try to answer all the important stuff, but sometimes we miss stuff.

sentimental...

2006-11-18T00:31:00.000-05:00

Dear Jack,

I just want you to know how much your mom misses you tonight. It's been 79 days since you were born, and in those 79 days I've learned more about love and pain than any other time in my life. Never before you did I understand just how completely one person could love another. But I know now, and it kills me not to be able to be with you like I would like. You're almost 3 months old now, and getting big. I just stare at you, amazed at how beautiful you've become. You've been beautiful to me from the first time I saw you, but now.. now you're absolutely breathtaking. You're my miracle.
Every night and morning I pray for you, my son. I pray for you to grow big and strong, to stop needing oxygen, and to be able to finish your bottles. I pray for you to not have complications, to not be behind in development. And most of all I pray for you to come home to me and your dad.
I hung a mobile in your room today. You got it during your shower. I held you, and put together this big mobile. It didn't fit right on your crib-- it's for normal cribs-- but the nurse helped me and now it's hanging over you. I wanted you to be able to have something nice to look at besides wires and monitors. It's made me inexplicably sad to look at, though, because you should be at home enjoying that, not away from us.
I'm trying really hard to be strong for you, Jack. To be there as much as I can, to hold you, read to you, feed you. Never doubt for a minute that I adore you, that I love you with all my heart, and I'd do anything in the world to take away the pain and discomfort that you're subjected to.

I love you, mi hijo. You are the light of my life, and the most important thing in the world to me. Please know that, even now, even when I'm unable to be with you. You are my heart.

love,
your mommy

Settled into the new NICU

2006-11-16T10:42:00.000-05:00

Jack is all settled into the new NICU. It seems some nurses got ahold of his getaway plan and thwarted him by making Sonnet wheel him in there herself. Jack and the other old-timers got to go in first, in order of birth -- So Alaina got to go in first, then Cole, and then Jack. The nurses were all at the doors, cheering the babies on. Such a grand entrance!!

He had his third eye exam yesterday-- again, it was harder on Mom than on Jack, but they both made it through. He's got another one scheduled, for only his left eye, in two weeks.

Jack is doing really well... More to come later

Mission Impossible: 1/2

2006-11-13T23:58:00.000-05:00

** Note written in multivitamin, found crumpled on the nicu floor...**

Cole--
I overheard Mommy talking about the Big Move... I say it's time we make our move!! Now that I'm 5 pounds, 5 ounces, I'm big enough to blow this pop stand!! They've got you off the oxygen, we'll only have to worry about one nasal cannula, which is good since my caffeine high is wearing off.

Tonight, at midnight caretime, be sure to store some of your formula in your jammies. I'll do the same, and we can suck on our jammies when we get hungry later on our way home. Remember... DROOL WORKS!!! Don't let them wipe your mouth too much-- straight to the jammies!!! VIVA LA JAMMIES!!!!! er.. anyway...

K... so here's the plan... they'll probably take me first, so when they're busy wheeling me, I'll toss my binky on the ground. They'll stop, you know how grownups are, and fuss over it.. so while they're doing that, I'll jump down, doing that super ninja kung fu jump that Sydney was telling us about... she's agreed to do some distraction work too, since we couldn't figure out how to get her out of the Box. So I'll jump down, looking all slick, and hide in the plants. Then when you come by, Sydney's going to hold her breath, so they all run back and check out the beeps... right as they get to her box tho, she's going to make it sat again, so be sure to jump quickly. We'll make a run for it then-- I've been hording blankets we can tie together to get down.

I'm not sure how we'll take anything more than our binkies, but we've gotta travel light. I figure we can catch a ride on a car or something... You know, those things that are on our jammies that our Mommies keep oohing and aahing over? Mommies... gotta love them! So... once we find one of those car things, then we just tell it where we wanna go, and POOF!!! Escape from the Big House!!!

Now, Cole, remember, we gotta keep our lips shut on this one.. top secret stuff. Can't let the grownups know, or they'll stop us. I gotta go, I see Nurse Sue looking for her pen...

Jack

Notes from the Big House

2006-11-12T10:38:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!

It's the one and only JackJack here, wanting to make sure you all knew how I was doing, since Mommy seems to be slacking (Daddy says to leave mom alone, she's busy doing stuff for me). Cole and I made our way out this morning, but Cole got caught shimmying down the trellis. See... that's why you don't wear blue choochoos as an escape outfit. (Not that we have any say, these nurses seem to delight in dressing us up in duckies, choochoos, and big trucks. I like the trucks tho!)

Ok... onto me. :) I just hit 5 pounds 4 and half ounces. Mommy says she's going to put me into Baby Sumo if I keep on like this. I really gotta find out what sumo is... if it's a new something to eat, I'm all for it!! I'm doing good with my food now.. it tastes soooo good, that I always want more and more, until I fall asleep. Darn that whole feeding thing being such hard work! I have to admit my tube is much handier. If only I could figure out how to taste things with that...

There's a new girl in our flat-- Sydney. She's pretty cool, she likes talking to Cole and me through our monitors. We have this groovy morse code worked out, none of the grownups seem to have figured it out yet. Mommy has an idea of it, everytime we ding she tells us to stop talking, but that doesn't really stop us. ;)

They keep messing with my air-- they've got me down to 1 liter of pressure and around 35% oxygen. I liked the higher level better, but Mommy says I gotta get off the stuff completely so that I can come home. She keeps telling me about this home place, with toys and pillows and no needle sticks on my feetses. It sounds like a really great place, so I'm working really hard to get there.

Everyone's moving on Tuesday, so we're looking forward to that-- we get our own room!!! We're hoping that Cole and his Mommy will have the room adjoining ours, that way we can still talk and have fun.

Ok... gotta go, Cole dropped the sheet out the window for me to climb up. Time to go!!!!!!

Fat Baby!

2006-11-08T09:09:00.000-05:00

Jack is now FIVE POUNDS!! Well, Five pounds, half an ounce for good measure. :) He's doing fine.. He had his 2 month vaccinations the other day, but he's bounced back pretty well from those- only a little bit of general fussiness and lack of appetite, but he seemed fully recovered from it last night, when he fed for 30 minutes. We're hoping for a banner day of feeding today, with 2 nursing attempts in the afternoon and perhaps a bottle this evening. We'll see though, it depends. We have to keep in mind that he still is quite little, and is still working to get himsef together and healthy and breathing. But he is doing SO well so far, and we are so proud of our boy.

Slowly, slowly...

2006-11-06T06:30:00.000-05:00

They've taken Jack off of the MCT oil (that which Matt calls the fried chicken) and replaced his 26 calorie milk with 22 calorie. This pretty much means that he's doing well enough on the weight gain end of it that they're not really worried about that anymore. We're still working on getting him to nurse, but, as is the preemie way, we're getting inconsistent results. Soon though, it'll prolly snap into place, and he'll be doing it all the time, as if he were born nursing. At least, that's what the nurses tell us!

Sonnet's working on accumulating a "rogue's gallery" of the nurses, so that you, dear readers, can see who is taking such amazing care of our Jack in the box:) (Well, recently in the box, at any rate). That will come soon, with any luck.

All in all, no great changes, Jack's just plugging along, growing, and working so that he's able to come home to his Mom and Dad. Keep the prayers coming, please!

Sunday morning special (wow 6am is early!)

2006-11-05T06:49:00.000-05:00

A huge thank you to everyone involved in Sonnet's baby shower, with extra big snuggles going to Betsy for once again throwing an amazing bash (And providing Sonnet hours of amusement, via Boppy!). Everyone seemed to have fun, and the food was absolutely fantastic!! Thank you... She's definitely going to treasure the memories forever.

And onto the Jack news!

Jack has been rather cranky the past couple days, but after a complete and thorough checkup, he was declared quite healthy and vivacious by Roseanne, the nurse practitioner. He's been grumpy and crying during feedings, which has caused Sonnet no end of worry, and Matt consternation as he tried to help and hold through many outbursts. The fussiness coincides with them lowering his air pressure down from 2.5 to 1.5 liters, though, and he's down to between 38% and 40% on oxygen, so they're definitely challenging him. They believe that that is what is causing the outbursts, his frustration at having to work more, etc. We're willing to work through it, we were just worried that his crying, which is a total change of character, signified that he was sick. But, having gotten the clean bill of health, we are now MUCH happier and calmer. It's amazing what a few simple words can do for a new parent? Or rather, any parent, since the "veterans" with adult children tell us that it doesn't end anytime in sight. We don't mind-- Jack is worth any and every thing that we'll come up against, no matter what happens.

Jack is still gaining -- he's now 4 pounds, 11.5 ounces, he's steadily climbing, we anticipate the 5 pound mark early next week, if he keeps up like this. He's so cute-- he's looking so much like a "normal" baby!!

More later... Sonnet needs a nap!

2006-11-03T10:13:00.000-05:00

Jack seems to be getting the hang of nursing. Now that they've compressed his feeds to 38 ccs over an hour, and he gets fed once every three hours, he'll have periods of hunger, which makes his feeding go a lot easier, because there's incentive. Yesterday he nursed successfully twice- once in the morning for 30 minutes, the other time in the evening for 25 minutes. Hopefully he'll keep going and kick the oxygen habit soon, too! He's hung in there, steady, at 4 pounds 10 ounces, and is doing beautifully.

**Note from Sonnet**

There's a song that's been running through my head lately, that seems to say so much about how I'm feeling during this whole nicu experience. It's by Stone Sour, and is called Through Glass. Here's the lyrics:

 I'm looking at you through the glass...
Don't know how much time has passed
Oh god it feels like forever
But no one ever tells you that forever
Feels like home sitting all alone inside your head

How do you feel? That is the question
But i forget.. you dont expect an easy answer
When something like a soul becomes
Initialized and folded up like paper dolls and little notes
You cant expect a bit of hope
And while your outside looking in
Describing what you see
Remember what your staring at is me

Cause I'm looking at you through the glass...
Don't know how much time has passed
All i know is that it feels like forever
When no one ever tells you that forever
Feels like home, sitting all alone inside your head

How much is real? So much to question
And never dare make up the mannequins
Contaminating everything
When thought came from the heart
It never did right from the start
Just listen to the noises
(No more sad voices)
Before you tell yourself
Its just a different scene
Remember its just different from what you've seen

Im looking at you through the glass...
Don't know how much time has passed
And all i know is that it feels like forever
When no one ever tells you that forever
Feels like home, sitting all alone inside your head

And its the stars
The stars
That shine for you
And its the stars
The stars
That lie to you.. yeah-ah

I'm looking at you through the glass...
Don't know how much time has passed
Oh god it feels like forever
But no one ever tells you that forever
Feels like home, sitting all alone inside your head

Cause I'm looking at you through the glass...
Don't know how much time has passed
All i know is that it feels like forever
But no one ever tells you that forever
feels like home, sitting all alone inside your head

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Just for info...

2006-11-03T09:05:00.000-05:00

This is where Jack lives...

Birthday from the Big House

2006-11-02T05:54:00.000-05:00

Jack here-- thanks everyone who bugged Mommy and Daddy and said you wanted them to break me outta the big house to be able to write to you guys! They listened, and now Mom is keeping a lookout while I work. One beef- I know that you don't expect us babies to type and stuff, but please, I'm sure there's gotta be a preemie sized keyboard around here somewhere!! This blogging stuff is hard work!

So, today is my 2 month birthday. That's right... just two months ago, Mommy went to the hospital for a flu bug, and poof! Out I came! Momma says it wasn't quite that easy, but she'll spare me the story til I'm older. Things have gotten a lot easier since then though. I finally got them to stop shoving a breathing tube down my throat, and they give me lots of food. I'm learning how to eat with Mommy, and they say I'm getting pretty good with it, even if I get tired a lot. Sometimes I just like my tube better-- I just snooze and it makes me not hungry, that's a pretty good deal! I'm not a big fan of my vitamins, they should hook me up with some of those gummy vitamins that Mommy talks about. mmmm candy... Daddy says that I'll enjoy candy someday, that its a lot like my paci when it's got the sugarwater on it. Anyway-- birthday. Cole and I have the pad to ourselves now, so we're having a huge party tonight when the nurses are distracted by lunch! These silly grownups with their eating. Don't they know that it's so much easier this way? We're going to put up the black lights that Amelia left during her stay, and JD smuggled a boom box over to Cole, so the place will be hoppin. What a way to spend a birthday! It's great being 2 months, let me tell you.

I had my second eye exam yesterday. It was yucky. Mommy stayed with me though, and held my hands, even though she was really upset. I hated it, it didn't feel good at all, but then Mommy held me for a really long time afterwards and that was nice, so I guess the day wasn't so bad.

So, earlier in the week it was Halloween. I sure got a trick, AND a treat! I was happy and sleeping and cozy and suddenly Mommy and Daddy apppear, wake me up, change me, and suddenly everyone's coming in to see me and laughing and saying how cute I am. Like I'm not always cute, please! When I got a chance to look... I was in my superman outfit! They'd discovered my secret identity!! Good thing it happened on Halloween, that way they think it was ONLY a costume. They don't know that between care times I climbout of the crib and make my way around the nicu, helping those babies in need. I am.. SUPER PREEMIE!!

Ahem. Forget you read that part. I'd delete it but looking over, the backspace button is way far away and Mommy says that I need to hurry up, it's almost time to go back. Let's see... Oh yeah... Nurse Tasha put me on the scale last night and I was 4 pounds and 10 ounces. Daddy says I'm almost ready for my own dipping sauces, but rest assured... I remember the BigBuddhaBaby from when i was still in my bachelor pad, and I'll not be needing those. I have my feeding tube to take care of me, I need no munchies from little preemies. They do have some tasty looking toes though...

Um... forget you read that part too.. No toes, really... :-)

Mommy says it's time to sneak me back now, but that I can come back soon! Bye!

Happy Halloween (belated)

2006-11-01T17:06:00.000-05:00

Jack's doing well-- he's up to 4 pounds, 7 ounces. He also spent a rockin Halloween with his buddy and roommate, Cole!

As you can see, SuperBaby had a good night. :)

He also had his eye test today, his ROP is nothing to worry about:)

Notes from the Big House (otherwise known as the NICU)

2006-10-26T22:06:00.000-05:00

Hi!
This is Jack. I figured that with all the hubbub about me, I'd add a little something along to this. I type really well for my age, Mommy says, except that it takes me so long because my hands aren't very long yet. She also says i have to clean up my own drool on the keyboard.

I'm doing pretty well, I guess. I have a nice comfy bed in a quiet room. My roommates are Cole and Amelia, they're pretty groovy. We all make our monitors go off around the same time. Mommy calls this "Symphony of Dings." I call it fun.:)

They've still got me on all sorts of medicines-- i've got my vitamins, my potassium and sodium, some caffeine (Mommy says Daddy needs that!), this stuff called Lasix (they give me that and I end up getting a new diaper, heheh), MCT oil to make me get bigger (Daddy calls it my fried chicken), Reglan and Zantac for when my tummy gets grumbly, and some other stuff that I don't remember right now. I also get breathing stuff to make me all nice and clear, which is important for when Mommy tries to feed me.

I wanted mostly to thank everyone for all the stuff they've been doing for Mommy, Daddy, and me. I love my snuggly warm hats, and everyone says I'm the best dressed baby in the nicu! I have my Halloween hat, my white snazz-o-rama hat, and my comfy blue hat that Aunt Betsy says makes me look like a snork. (Amelia says it's all sorts of hot though, so whatever a snork is, I guess I don't mind)

My Grammas got to hold me last weekend, that was kind of neat. I wasn't sure how to act, though, so I ended up pulling my feeding tube out when Gramma Kerry was holding me, and then I just forgot to breathe when Gramma Terry was holding me. I was just so excited, usually only Mom and Dad hold me, and now all of a sudden I get all sorts of new snuggles!

Today Mommy introduced me to Ms. Aime, she was really nice. Mommy says that she has a little girl who was in here, just like me, only awhile back. She says that if Ryleigh can do it, I can break outta here too. When Mommy came back from having lunch with them, she was in a really good mood, and I got extra happy snuggles. I love snuggles!!!

Daddy spent sooo much time holding me tonight!! I was a little squirmy, but that's only because I had to get comfy. I was enjoying it, Daddy knows exactly how to hold me so that I don't get a tummy ache during my feeding, and so that I can look around and see everything, too. After awhile, he let me sprawl out on his lap. I was loving life!

Ok, I've gotta go. Mommy's gotta sneak me back to my crib before the Ms. Nurse Stephanie notices I'm gone. Bye!!

Behold!!

2006-10-25T09:34:00.000-05:00

The fat Buddha Baby that is Jack!! He's now *trumpets blaring* FOUR POUNDS!!!!!!

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

that is all. Please continue with your regularly scheduled program.

**this message brought to you by the letters M, C, and T, the number 4, and a very VERY happy momma**

Movin on up, to the back room

2006-10-24T04:21:00.000-05:00

That's right... Jack's now sitting pretty in the back room, behind the nurses. We're really happy he got moved back there, it's much quieter and he'll be able to rest easier. We spent our first night in there last night. It was very nice, and we like the thought that Jack gets to hang out with his friends, JD and Cole, who are just 4 days older than he is, and about the same gestational age.

The boy is getting HUGE!! He's hit 3 pounds, 14 ounces! They probably put him in the back room to avoid smaller babies disappearing under Jack's watchful (and hungry) eye. The weight gain may slow somewhat if he ever decides that he wants to nurse on a more full-time level. So far he's been rather slothlike, with five minutes here and there. We're still working on it, though! Feedingwise he's up to 30 ccs every three hours.

The laptop has died, and until Sonnet gets a little more computer savvy, it's going to take a bit to get the pictures up. Sorry for the delays!! Email Sonnet, she'll send them to you personally. She's hoping to get them up and working in the next couple days.

Special Hoorays and Congratulations to Lori and Dave Earnest, who welcomed Caylie Rose into the world on Monday, October 23rd. Yay!