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!

Today was a very good day.

2006-10-22T04:52:00.000-05:00

As the subject says, today was a very good day. One might say excellent, bordering on sublime. But then you, dear reader, would probably expect perfection. What we had, while near it, wasn't quite perfection, if just because he's not home yet. But, as it's quite early in the a.m., and Sonnet hasn't controlled her babbling reflex, let's get to the fun.

Jack is now quite happy hanging out in his open air crib. He's proven that he can maintain his temperature, and a side affect of that is that Sonnet and Matt can now hold him almost anytime they want to now. Now that this has happened, they're able to do something they've been wanting to do since the beginning -- let the grandparents in on holding them. Grandma Kerry was able to hold him Saturday, and he was so good, he slept for awhile in her arms. Then he came back to being Jack and pulled out his feeding tube so we had to put him back. Grandma Terry looks forward to holding him today, Sunday. We'll post all the pictures on Sunday night, for all you Jack Junkies to get your fix on Monday morning. :)

Matt and Sonnet went back for a late night Jack fix Saturday night. They ended up staying until about 12:30a.m., but it was well worth it. Matt got to hold him for awhile, and Sonnet worked on nursing him for awhile. He did pretty well- nursed for a good ten minutes before deciding he didn't want anymore. Then they got to help with his care-- they were responsible for taking his temperature, changing his diaper, and getting him ready to get weighed. They also got to pick out his outfit for Sunday, which was really nice (You never realize just how warm and fuzzy picking out your child's outfit can be unless you're not usually allowed to).

Both Matt and Sonnet went home, sleepy but quite happy, Saturday night. This post is mostly to record that... while there are some really hard moments in the NICU, there are some moments that are all the sweeter because of those hard times. Jack's still there, he still needs serious care, but to see how far he's come, and how great he's doing right now-- it really makes us very happy, and we can't help but thank everyone else who's been helping us, praying for us, and keeping us in their thoughts.

So Thank You, everyone. :)

itty bitty update!

2006-10-20T19:43:00.000-05:00

Jack's off the CPAP, and doing much better. Again.. more to come! (Sonnet's tired and needs to go to sleep, otherwise this'd be a much longer, gushier entry about the cuteness of the Boy Wonder, Jack)

quick update-- more later

2006-10-19T17:30:00.000-05:00

Jack's back on the CPAP. We're a bit disappointed, but still elated that he's in the crib and maintaining his temperature. Other then that, everything's pretty much the same.

Big steps!! and a little step back.

2006-10-18T22:51:00.000-05:00

Jack's moved into a crib! He's been showing that he can maintain his temperature, and is now hanging out in a snazzy crib. Matt and Sonnet checked it out, and it comes complete with an awesome soundsystem, spinners, disco lights, a cupholder and rear view mirror, to check out all the honeys in the isolettes around him. He's doing quite well in it so far.

He also was visited by the eye doctor today. Apparently he's got ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity) in his left eye. The doctor is going to check on him again in two weeks to see how it is, but he assures Sonnet that it doesn't seem very severe, and isn't very worrisome. To find out more about this, go to : http://www.charles-retina.com/rop-faq.htm

Just another tasty treat...

2006-10-17T16:38:00.000-05:00

Jack's got what Sonnet refers to as the Super Nose Funk O' Doom . What it is, in reality, is that he's got colonies of 3 different types of bacteria-- staph aureus, enterobacter cloaca, and pseudomonas aerouginosa. Sounds ugly, right? Two of those, the enterobacter and pseudomonas, are gram negative, which means that they're contagious. They're only passed through touch, though, which means that we can still hold him, and touch him, and the nurses just take care to wash really well and use gloves when doing his care. The bacteria isn't making him sick, it's just living in his nose. They started him on nebulizer treatments of antibiotics today, so hopefully it'll get rid of his bacteria.

The little guy is getting big!! 3 pounds, 6 ounces of pure Jackness!! He's getting better with the nursing, but it's still a lot for him to take in, still being on the nasal cannula and with his lung issues. He's still doing pretty well though, and we're very proud of him.

The picture website now has a link to here, which should make it a little easier to go back and forth between. Thank you Nate for fixing it all up!!

Pictures and More!!

2006-10-15T20:05:00.000-05:00

We now have oodles of new pictures at www.kirawill.com , thanks to the wonderful and generous nurse Cheryl, who has kindly provided hours of entertainment for Sonnet and Matt in the form of these pictures.

Ok, down to business. Jack has been taken off the aminophylline, which is for the bradycardia and apnea. In its place they now give him doses of caffeine. It does the same thing, which is, raise the heart rate somewhat and discourage the apnea and bradycardia episodes. He just got a nose culture done today, which will be ready in 48 hours, that will tell us how he's doing with the staph bacteria in his nose. Hopefully the medicine they're giving him right now will wipe it out.
Jack is doing fantastic with maintaining his temperature. He has been at room temp in his isolette for three days now, without a problem. He's still getting the hang of the whole breathing issue, but apparently he's got a little furnace in him, that he's having no problem with any of this milestone.
He's been given Zantac and Reglan now, for reflux, in the hopes it will slow down the reflux and the desaturations that he's been having. Desaturation means the levels of oxygen in his blood drop below acceptable levels. Usually his desats aren't too bad, and they come up on his own, but it's still better not to have them. They say he should grow out of them eventually.

Matt and Sonnet got to bathe Jack for the first time a few nights ago. It was quite the experience. We're afraid Jack is going to have to be quite patient with us, we're not used to washing such a squirmy worm as he is. He fought a lot at first, but then realized that the warm water wasn't so bad, and relaxed and enjoyed being taken care of.

And, lo and behold, Jack is on his way to earning the Happy Buddha Baby title! He's now 3 pounds, 5.3 ounces. Laurie, one of the nurse practitioners, is away this week, but has said that when she comes back next week she wants to see him in a crib with his very own dipping sauce. With the way he's growing, he just may fulfill that wish!

2006-10-12T19:13:00.000-05:00

New pictures have arrived!!! Much thanks to the lovely and wonderful nurse Cheryl who took the new ones. We'll have a whole slew more soon, for all you Jack Junkies out there!

Jack's doing great-- the report is pretty much the same as the mini update, they're just watching to see how he does with maintaining his body temperature. He's upped on his food again, to 27ccs per 3 hours. He's on and off with the breastfeeding-- one day he's awesome, the next he wants nothing to do with it. But he's working on it all, and we're very happy with his progress. :)

mini update

2006-10-12T05:56:00.000-05:00

Jack got to put on clothes last night. He's now a dressed baby, and they're working on weanining him out of the isolette. He did really great last night, because they started his temp at 30 degrees Celsius (don't ask me to translate, please... I'm horrible at conversions ** Sonnet), and they got him down to 27 Celsius, which is the lowest they go, and he's still doing well. Apparently he's a little furnace, like his Dad. We're still being cautious though, we don't want to get too hopeful at this development, but we are quite happy about it. :)

Pass the fried chicken!

2006-10-11T16:23:00.000-05:00

THREE POUNDS, ONE point NINE OUNCES!!!

Oh yes.. he's hit the 3 pound mark, and just keeps going! C'mon, our little pork chop!

Jack: The other white meat (if you can find it)

2006-10-10T19:16:00.000-05:00

Jack has decided to toy with our emotions. as of Sunday he was 10 grams away from 3 pounds. Sunday night he stayed the same, and Monday night he lost 1o grams. Lost!!! This from a boy who in the previous nights has gained 20, 30, or even 40 grams. So yep. Toying with Mom's emotions, the cad. They upped his food though, to 25ccs, so there's still hope yet! He's doing well with the breastfeeding. Today he got a couple five minute bursts and then decided that he was bored of it. Still though, he's doing well, especially considering he's still so little, and they tell us even term babies sometimes have issues with learning to breastfeed.

We have new pictures to post!! Hopefully tonight, perhaps tomorrow, of Jack in clothes! That's right, Mr. Tarzan has donned some jammies. It was only temporary, and he's back to being born free in his diaper now, but it was still ultra cute. It's strange how he looks more like a "normal" baby in them, because you don't see all the wires and such.

Jack is safe! Apparently the ever vigilant nurses got wind of Happy Buddha Baby's plot to devour Jack and his cohorts, and moved him down to another department. Last I heard they confiscated his stash of dipping sauces and sent him on his way!

In serious news, there's a new family in the nicu, a set of twins. We won't go into specifics here, of course, but they are in need of prayers, so please, join us in adding the M. family to your prayers this evening, this week... as much as you can. Thank you!

pictures and more

2006-10-09T08:24:00.000-05:00

Apologies for a lack of new pictures-- if Sonnet gets her duff in gear, it may be conceivable that they'll be posted tonight. Rest assured, they are worth the wait!!! (**Note: Sorry for the wait, but really... watching JackTV, all Jack all the time, is just more fulfilling than posting pictures, hence the delay. Sonnet**)

Anywayyyyy...

Jack is doing quite well, and is being smothered with adoration from Mom and Dad. His second breastfeeding attempt on Sunday went even better than the first, with him getting several swallows of milk. Apparently he's a little champ at this. Both lactation consultants that have helped are very impressed, and are encouraged about our future with breastfeeding. He's still getting tube fed, 23ccs every 3 hours with 26 cal, but eventually we'll be able to wean him off that and go with breast/bottle options. Even when he goes off the tube he'll have to have some bottles, since at least two of his feedings a day have to be with the Super Milk (the 26 cal stuff).

On other news, the Happy Buddha Baby edges his cart closer to Jack's isolette, licking his lips and looking hungry. Sonnet's a bit worried that she'll come in to find Jack covered in BBQ sauce one day!!

On top of the roller coaster ride

2006-10-07T15:50:00.000-05:00

Jack's on his way to being a Fat Baby at 2 pounds, 14.5 oz!! He's gotten onto the nasal cannula, we're so excited because he's doing well on it. He's still having episodes of bradycardia and apnea, but he's still really small, so we're not worried about it too much yet. Jack got to try breast feeding for the first time today. The lactation consultant was very happy with him-- he was able to latch and even feed a little bit on his first few tries. This after prefacing working with us with warnings that if he even slightly opens his mouth on the first try, it's a success. Apparently Jack is always eager for food. :)

There's a baby who's nearby to Jack who weighs 11 pounds. He looks SO BIG compared to Jack-- we're pretty sure that Jack is about one of the Happy Buddha Baby's legs. It really puts things into pespective when you see that.

Sorry for the delays...

2006-10-04T22:08:00.000-05:00

It always seems there's stuff that needs to be done, but it tends to get disregarded in favor of going to our home away from home, the NICU.

Jack is doing better, thank you everybody for your thoughts and prayers (don't stp though, we're still in progress!:)). He vomited on Sonnet this morning during kangaroo care, and after Mom went home to shower for the second time today, he did it again. Apparently the vitamins make him queasy, and as he's just recently acquired a gag reflex, it's now showing itself with his puking. Luckily Sonnet was as amused as she was grossed out by it. :) He also decided that he was ready for another try on the nasal cannula, and extubated himself... again. That's right, he pulled his ventilator tube out for the fourth time. So the nurses put him on the nasal cannula, did a blood gas check before we left for the night, and it looks as though he's doing fantastic on it so far. He was also squirming like a madman all night. He's strong enough now that he can turn his head wherever he wants it, and he tends to streeeeetttccchhh all across the isolette. To us it doesn't look comfortable at all, but he seems to be, so we leave him be.

Foodwise, they've brought him to 20ccs with 26 calories (he was on 22ccs), and he is now 2 pounds, 12.35 oz, and he is 15 inches long. Grow Jacky, Grow! :)

Happy month birthday (cont'd)

2006-10-02T22:25:00.000-05:00

The visit to Jack tonight was MUCH easier than this morning. He was finally resting and keeping his saturation levels up where they're supposed to be. We had a nice long relaxing chat with his nurse Stephanie tonight, and left feeling much better about everything. We also got some good news-- his brain scans came back completely normal. Whew!!! So that's one thing we don't need to worry about (thankfully!) We decided to bribe the nurses tonight -- we took them a big plate of iced brownies. They were happily enjoying them when we left. We're both very glad that there's something we can do to show our appreciation for them taking such good care of Jack.

Meds list

2006-10-02T16:45:00.000-05:00

Just a list of the medications Jack's on at the moment:

Temporary:
Gentamyin opthalmic drops (for eye infection, to be ended Wednesday)
cefotaxime (antibiotic to be ended tonight)
vancomycin (antibiotic to be ended tonight)

Daily Meds:
Lasix (twice a day, dieuretic for fluid on lungs)
Aminophylline (every 8 hours, to up heart rate and discourage bradycardia)

Nebulizer treatments:
Albuterol (every 6 hours, to help with breathing)
Pulmicort (every 12 hours)

Vitamins:
Sodium Chloride (once a day)
Potassium Chloride (twice a day)

**notice... this list is subject to change**

One month old!!

2006-10-02T13:48:00.000-05:00

Today Jack's 1st month birthday was celebrated by a chest x-ray, a brain scan, and a hepatitis B vaccine shot. He's doing better than he has been, but he's stll desatting a lot, and having problems with his lungs. He's up to 22 ccs per feeding, so that much is good. He's got quite the reputation now-- one of the nurses calls him "Badness" because he's always tripping his alarms, and when they do his cares he pushes, kicks, moves all over the place, and pretty much does what he can to thwart their effots. They've pretty much decided that if he pulls his ventilator tube out again, they're going to try him back on the CPAP.

**Notes from Sonnet**

Today is a really rough day for me, honestly. It's craptastic when your child is a month old and you can count, without trouble, how many times you've been able to hold him. Please, please, anyone who does have kids and is reading this, don't take those little things for granted. Listen to someone who doesn't get those things. I've been able to change his diaper 4 times-- average of once a week, although I haven't been able to do anything for him in the past week and half. I don't get to feed him, I can't get him ready for bed, I don't get to help him when he cries. Well, if I could hear him, which I can't because of the ventilator. The closest I get to caring for Jack is when I get to be "pain control" for the nurses, which means that I get to lay my hands on his torso and head to calm him while they do something to him, or for shots and such, I get to give him and hold his sugar water coated pacifier, to help him not mind it so much. I watch people in stores, in the mall and restaurants, who have kids, and how they interact, and I wish that were me. Then I get to go to the hospital, flash my handy bracelet, and see my son, talk to him through a porthole in the isolette, and maybe, if I'm lucky, the nurse gives me the ok to touch him.
Forgive the rant, today isn't my strongest day.

Happy October

2006-10-01T09:13:00.000-05:00

Special thanks to to everyone who made it to the Early Blessings Bull Roast last night-- we had a blast!! Michael and Aime Yirka are awesome people, and we were very lucky to connect with a couple other preemie/nicu families as well. Sonnet won one of the baskets during the drawings they had, and everyone had fun talking, eating, and even cringing to some (really) bad karaoke (Bohemian Rhapsody, anyone?). Thanks again, Betsy Poppins, Kerry, Wilson, Terry, and Dave-- we're so glad that you could join us for a night relaxation and fun, that was also for a good cause. :)

On the Jack front-- Jack's now got the most fashionable isolette in the NICU, with the adorable black cat hat that Ruth was kind enough to get for him. It's a bit big for him at the moment, but we have plans of taking some pictures with him in it as soon as we're allowed to hold him again. He's doing well so far today, pulling is usual tricks of squirming and attempting to pull his tubes out, desatting, and then being quite just long enough to let the nurse relax a bit. He's at 2 pounds 11.5 oz, so he's working getting some weight. We'll have more news after we visit today, but so far, so good. :) The prayers are working, thank you!!

Saturday evening

2006-09-30T16:00:00.000-05:00

Jack decided that he was going to make a run for it this morning, and extubated himself again. They put his tube back in, and he's doing well, just feisty as per usual. The nurses have warned us to start babyproofing the house *now*, before he gets home and mobile. :) He's going to be a handful, that's for sure! (Imagine proud parents beaming right about now!)

Early Blessings Bullroast-- And other news!!

2006-09-30T08:49:00.000-05:00

Tonight is the Early Blessings Bull Roast. It's not too late to get tickets if you want to help a good cause -- go to http://www.ebfportal.org/ for information. It'll be fun, so come and join in!! (Where else can you stuff your face AND help a good cause?)

In other news, Jack is doing well this morning... Well, he's doing, as the nurse said, Jack-like. He hangs out and is quiet, then he decides to squirm and mess with his tubes and sets off all his alarms, then is quiet again. They're giving him yet another dose of lasix, this one via iv, per day, to help with the fluid in his lungs. We're also waiting for the eye infection to go away-- it takes a few days for the eye drops to work their magic, but the eye funk should be less and less as time wears on.

We ask that you keep us in your prayers, and appreciate all the good thoughts and prayers that people have been sending-- Thank you!!!!

late night update

2006-09-29T22:36:00.000-05:00

Looks like Jack has an inguinal hernia which will need to be repaired when he hits around 3 or 4 months of age. The nurses say it's not a big deal, and he's got no pain from it, so we thank God little favors. He's slowly working on recovering from his illness, whatever it is, although his lungs are still filled with fluid. They increased his dosage of lasix from one to two doses a day, so that should help at least somewhat. They've taken the iv out of his head and put it in his arm, because the head one wasn't open anymore this morning. So now he's squirming all over the place, making the nurses run over every 5 minutes with all his stretching and making his alarms go off.

Jack!

2006-09-29T10:11:00.000-05:00

Jack is slowly getting back to the high peak he was at previously-- yay!! They've upped his food back to 20ccs, and he is getting feisty again. He keeps reaching for his ventilator tube, and tends to try and squirm down the bed away from it. He's definitely keeping his nurses busy!! They're slowly weaning him off the ventilator, and his condition is stable.

Small update

2006-09-28T13:09:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Sonnet's doctor's appointment this morning (that lasted well into the afternoon) she was unable to go visit Jack this morning and get a full rundown on his condition. However, a phone call to the nurses assured her that all was stable with him. He's doing well on his feeds, and moving around a bit more. There will be a bigger update this evening, once Sonnet and Matt get to visit with the oh-so-adorable Jack in the Box. :)

When we last checked in...

2006-09-27T21:41:00.000-05:00

Jack seems to be doing much better today. They've put him back on the milk feedings-- he's getting 10 ccs every 3 hours, which he seems quite happy about. He's on two types of antibiotics, which should knock out whatever he's got. They found bacteria at his eye, but again, the antibiotics should be good enough to take care of whatever they find out that it is from the tests. He's still on the ventilator, but seems to be improving daily, so hopefully they'll move him back off it soon. Mom is still worried, but Dad's doing a good job of calming her down.

He was smiling at us today, his eyes open, looking all adorable. We're just enchanted by the way he knows us from our voices, and smiles at us, works to look at us even if we're at the other end of the isolette. He gets feisty when we're around, which is very nice. :)

Let the roller coaster ride begin

2006-09-26T09:32:00.000-05:00

Jack didn't do so well through the night. He wasn't tolerating his nasal cannula, even though they turned his oxygen up. So they reintubated him and put him back on the ventilator. They're discussing giving him antibiotics, which makes it good that they kept the iv in his head, even though it's quite disturbing looking. The vein in the head is large and actually tolerates the antibiotics better than most of the other little veins, and it doesn't bother him at all, so that's a good thing. When they were putting the ventilator back in they got a bunch of crud out of his lungs, so they think perhaps that's part of his problem -- that the funk that he couldn't get out of his lungs himself was causing problems. We won't find out what the results of his blood cultures are for 24 more hours, although the routine blood work looked good, (the white blood count was normal, the red were low, but they fixed that part with the transfusion), so we're just standing by waiting now. Please keep the prayers up!!

** Also-- new pictures just posted, take a look!

nighttime update

2006-09-25T22:31:00.000-05:00

They've given Jack the first half of his transfusion. He's got a very disturbing looking iv that's in his head. It doesn't hurt him, and it's put there because it's an easy vein, and because it's harder for him to pull out. It just looks wierd. He seemed slightly more feisty than earlier, so we're really hoping that the transfusion will make a big improvement in how he feels. They also upped the pressure of his oxygen to 4 (he was on 2 previously) and he's on 75% oxygen. So it's safe to say he's feeling kind of cruddy, but they're doing their best to make him feel better soon.

Three steps forward, one step back

2006-09-25T16:07:00.000-05:00

Jack isn't doing so well today. They noticed that he wasn't being his feisty self, and did some bloodwork and took some x-rays. Sonnet was there during the procedures and got to help as "pain control" for them, which meant that she got to give Jack the sugar water laced pacifier that made him rather loopy and not minding of the pain. (sugar water acts on preemies in the same way morphine acts on adults) The nurses think that he may have an infection of some sort. As of yet, the x-rays have shown that his lungs are a bit cloudy, which might be oncoming pneumonia. However, the other blood test results that have come in have shown that his white blood cells are normal, and the others are down. He's also having trouble utilizing his oxygen, so they're giving him another transfusion. We're hoping that the transfusion will solve his problems and make him feel better, and that it's not anything worse. There's also a chance that they're going to start him on antibiotics, just to make sure.

On the positive side, even with the worries about infection, Sonnet got to do kangaroo care with him today, and he seemed to really enjoy that-- his oxygen level, heart rate, and respiration numbers were all perfect while she was holding him. It's a really nice feeling that he's recognizing his parents, and knows when they're holding him. He's also still taking his food very well, not leaving residuals, and his digestion is working well. He's gaining weight, last night he weighed in at 2 pounds, 9.5 oz. Also, although they think he's getting an infection, they're not very worried about his health just yet. They're mostly in precautionary phase, in that they've noticed he's not feeling well and are determined to nip it in the bud as soon as possible. Please be sure to send your prayers along so little Jack feels better soon!

Sorry for the lack of updates!

2006-09-24T20:41:00.000-05:00

Jack is doing really great-- he's moving around, being a total wiggle worm. He's also smiled a couple times, although we're pretty sure the smiles are just an excuse for being cute while he's dirtying his diaper. ;) He's doing great with his feeds, he's been taking all his food. Also, he's gained a bit of weight, so he's at 2 pounds, 7.5 ounces.

Sonnet's been able to start changing his diapers, and he's been out to be held by either Sonnet or Matt almost every day this week-- he's been a well adored little boy!

wiggle worm!!

2006-09-21T07:43:00.000-05:00

Jack is such a wiggle worm!! The nurses have stopped trying to put him into the usual baby-beloved positions, because he just squirms and stretches out, into a completely uncomfortable looking position that he seems to adore. He tends to take on the look of someone who's just walked into a room and dropped to pass out on a couch. It's cute. :)

They've upped his feeds against to 20ccs, and he's gained an ounce so he's at 2 pounds 6 ounces. We're hoping he doesn't lose any of that again, so that soon we'll have a fat baby. :)

Other then that, there's been no changes, he's doing well and growing, the nasal cannula is a huge improvement for him that he's loving, and we're very happy for his progress.

Little man is growing!

2006-09-20T06:53:00.000-05:00

Jack was weighed and measured last night, and he now weighs 2 pounds 5 ounces, and is 14 and 1/2 inches long. He's taking his feeds of 18ccs + 24 cal mixture well, and he's doing wonderfully on the nasal cannula. We got some more pictures last night (which will be posted soon, we promise!)

2nd attempt with the nasal cannula

2006-09-19T15:24:00.000-05:00

Matt and Sonnet got to the NICU last night to find that two changes had been made with Jack-- that he had been put on a nasal cannula instead of the CPAP mask, and that he had been given a pacifier (or, paci, or binky, in nurse/baby talk terms). The nasal cannula is a breathing apparatus that consists of 2 small prongs going into the nose to deliver heated humidified air, to make it easier for him to breath. It's much more comfortable for Jack than the cpap, and he seems to be a lot more agreeable with the change. He's also quite adorable with the pacifier, too!!

Sonnet got to hold him today, for k-care, for the first time with the nasal cannula. It's a lot easier to hold Jack with the cannula, since there's no huge tubes coming from his nose or mouth.

Jack's feedings have been upped again, this time to 18 ccs of food every 3 hours. It looks like he's taking it well. :)

** New pictures have been posted at www.kirawill.com !! Sorry for the delay!!

First!

2006-09-18T18:03:00.000-05:00

Sonnet got to change her first diaper today -- luckily Jack was being nice and it wasn't *really* dirty. (whew!) She also got to hold him for a couple hours, which, of course, was heaven.

Jack's been doing well today, taking all his food, accepting his respiratory therapy without much fuss, and being overall pretty sweet to the nurses. He also really enjoyed laying on his mom for awhile, even if he did wriggle out of his cpap four times during their kangaroo care. The therapist said that his lungs sounded really great today, so it looks as though the medicines must be working. Yay!

And to start another week...

2006-09-17T23:13:00.000-05:00

Matt got to hold Jack for 2 and a half hours, which both of them loved. Jack quieted down once he got to lay on Daddy, and Matt sat happily holding him and talking to him the entire time. We took some great pictures that will be posted soon.

Jack's feeds are now 15ccs every 3 hours, but with an added packet of nutrition that are 2400 calories. This is to help him gain weight, especially since the lasix he's on makes him lose fluid weight. He's doing well with digesting, and the nurses happily tell us about all his dirty diapers. :)

Please check out www.ebfportal.org . It's a website that raises money for nicu parents and patients, and they're holding a bull roast on Sept. 30th. We're going, and we're trying to get as many people as possible interested. You can buy tickets online.

bliss

2006-09-16T23:09:00.000-05:00

Sonnet got to hold Jack on Saturday night, which was awesome. Although he's been feisty and not wanting to be touched the past couple days, he settled right down once he was placed on her chest. We hope that Matt gets to have some kangaroo time on Sunday, that way Jack gets snuggling from both parents each weekend --- Yay!!

Happy 2 week birthday!

2006-09-16T17:28:00.000-05:00

Jack's been super feisty the past 3 days, and today was only a slight exception. He's been quiet for most of the day, with only one incident that involved him unhooking his cpap tube. He desaturated once while we were there, but a simple massage and readjusting his cpap got his saturations back up. To be desaturated means that his oxygen level's down, and happens when he's not breathing right or not pulling the oxygen into his blood.

They've kept him at 15 ccs of food every 3 hours, and are now adding extra calories to it, to help him become a fat baby. :) He's doing well for the most part with it, usually leaving no residuals, and when he does, it's not much. He's back down to 2 pounds 3 ounces, because of the lasix, which is making him get rid of extra liquids.

2nd try with the CPAP

2006-09-15T09:24:00.000-05:00

Around midnight last night Jack pulled out his ventilator tube, so they're trying him out on the CPAP again. That should be nice, we're hoping for the best, but at the same time, we're not keeping our hopes up that he won't go back to the ventilator. He's just so small yet, and his lungs aren't quite as developed as we'd like. He's breathing pretty hard on the cpap today, but his gasses are the same as with te ventilator, so they're hoping he adapts to it this time.

His IV came out, they're leaving it out for awhile to see how well he does with his feeds, and to see if he really needs it still. They've also upped his food to 15ccs, given over an hour, every 3 hours.

They've put him onto decadron, which is a steriod, every 6 hours, for 4 doses. Decadron improves lung maturity, which will make it easier for him to either absorb or get rid of the fluid in his lungs. They're also giving him lasix, which is a dieuretic, once a day. Between the two meds, they should help his lungs get rid of the fluids that are in there.

After an early visit on 9/14

2006-09-14T19:56:00.000-05:00

Sonnet got to have kangaroo time with Jack today, pictures will be posted shortly. He did very well, although a leak in his ventilator line led to quite a few false alarms going off on his monitor. He did well with the blood transfusion, and has been upped on his feeds yet again. He has gone up from 9ccs to 12ccs. Yay for Jack!

They did an x-ray on his chest, apparently there's a lot of fluid in there, which is bad. However, they gave him some medicine (didn't write down which this was, will try and get it next visit), and he's sounding a lot better to the respiratory therapist. We're anticipating that he'll need more treatment for this, but at least they're doing something to help it. And, as with all the things Jack has been encountering, this seems to be another one of those standard preemie things. We finally got the results of his head sonogram, and they came back perfectly normal. Yay!

As of 9/14

2006-09-14T09:37:00.000-05:00

Jack had to get a blood transfusion last night. It's apparently a standard thing among preemies-- they don't make blood quick enough to replace the blood cells that die, so they tend to need the transfusions. Apparently he took to it well, and his gas saturations (how well he absorbs oxygen, etc) are good. Also, he's still taking his food really well. He's left nothing from the last two feedings they gave him, which is wonderful. He's up to 2 pounds, 6.5 ounces. Hopefully soon he will be a fat baby. :-D

Sonnet is going for a checkup today, to check on her blood pressure and see that it has gotten back down to normal. Wish her luck for holding back her temper from the doctors!

a mild setback

2006-09-12T16:58:00.000-05:00

They put the ventilator back in. Apparently he was working too hard on the CPAP, and his blood gas tests weren't good, so they put him back.

On the positive side, they've upped his feeds from 6ccs to 9ccs of breast milk every 3 hours. He's now weighing in at 2 pounds, 5 ounces.

After our visit, 9/11

2006-09-11T23:11:00.000-05:00

Sonnet got to hold Jack tonight, which was great fun. He's off the nasal cannula, and wearing the cpap, which is a bigger set of nose plugs. It's a step back from the nasal cannula, but we think that perhaps they just jumped ahead, and he wasn't ready for all that. So he's back to the cpap, and that's ok. They say that they're going to be going back and forth on the cpap and nasal cannula, to see when he's ready for everything.

Tomorrow we get back the echocardiogram on his brain. That one will tell us if he's got any brain bleeds. We're praying he doesn't, of course. Sonnet will be able to update on it when shes get home from the hospital in the afternoon-- lucky mommy getting to go twice in one day!

9/11, 4:52p.m. update

2006-09-11T15:10:00.000-05:00

The results for Jack's echocardiogram came in, and to much happiness, his pda has repaired itself, with the help of the medication that he was given over the weekend. Apparently they attempted to wean him off all extra air today, but that didn't work, so they put him back on the nasal cannula, the little nose prongs. Apparently he's working pretty hard, but so long as his blood/gas tests come back good they'll keep him on the prongs and not put him back on the ventilator. We're really hoping that he doesn't go back on the ventilator, we don't want that step back, but if it's in his best interest then of course we'll take it.

As of 4:30, however, his gas saturations were good, and although he was breathing hard, he's absorbing all the O2 that he should be. There will probably be another update after we visit tonight and get to see the little niblet.

9/11, 11:21a.m.

2006-09-11T10:24:00.000-05:00

As of this morning, Jack is doing fairly well. They've upped his food from 3 to 6ccs every 3 hours. He got an echocardiogram to check on the pda, but they hadn't gotten the results yet, as of the time of my call. His saturations (oxygen in the blood) were good, but they had to turn the oxygen up to 40%. But all that is normal, they had him out and doing lots of stuff, with the ecg, and he also had a bradycardia episode during the ecg, where his saturations dropped down to about 82 (They try to keep his saturations between 88 and 100), so they upped the oxygen in his air so that it would be easier for him to get at.
I'll update more when we get the results of the echocardiogram!

update on the pda, and apnea

2006-09-11T05:34:00.000-05:00

Jack's gotten through his doses of indomethacin, and his heart murmur has only been heard intermittently, so that's a good sign that the meds are working.

He's been diagnosed with neonatal apnea, called bradycardia, which is when he forgets to breath, and his heart rate drops for more than 12 seconds at a time. They're giving him aminophylline for this. It should decrease and work itself out as he gets older and his nervous system gets more coordinated with itself.

They've extubated him, which means that they've got him off the big ventilator. He's now just got the nasal cannula-- the little nose prongs that give him humidified oxygen. This means they've turned the oxygen mix up to about 30%, but it's a trade off -- he doesn't have the invasive tube down his throat, but he is working harder to breath as he gets used to being without it. All in all this is a good thing, them weaning him off the ventilator.

Sonnet got to hold him on Saturday, and it was sheer heaven. Matt got to hold him on Sunday, and both of us were completely blissed out. Pictures are posted on the website. We did kangaroo care-- holding his little body against our bodies, letting him get warmth from us, and feeling us breath and our heartbeats.

He's now gained back all the weight he lost after he was born, so as of Sept. 10, he was back at his birth weight, 2 pounds 3.55 oz. That is SUCH good news, because now he'll start putting on weight above and beyond what he started with.

They had to take him off the breastmilk for the duration of the indomethacin, but he's back on the milk now. They put him back to 3 ccs of breastmilk every 3 hours, so we're anxious to see how that goes. He was tolerating it very well yesterday, so we're kind of hopeful that they push it back up to 6ccs every 3 hours soon.

All in all, he's doing remarkably well for as little and young as he is. He's got some problems, but they're basic preemie problems, and he's doing really well with them. He is so precious, and we both adore him with all our hearts.

He's doing really really well, for a preemie that's 27 weeks early.

Patent ductus arteriosus

2006-09-09T06:01:00.000-05:00

When we went to visit Jack last night, we were told that apparently he's got something called patent ductus arteriosus (pda). That means that there's a little flap in his heart, a doorway of sorts, that hasn't closed yet, and it is fairly common in preemies. They're giving him a medicine called indomethacin, in 3 doses, and are confident it should work. They've already given him the first dose. Twelve hours after the first dose, they give the second, and then 12 hours after that, the third. After THAT, they wait 12 more hours and do an echocardiogram to see if he's still got the heart murmur that is indicative of this. So we should know how it worked by the end of the weekend, if my math is still good. If it doesn't work, then they'll do the entire medicine regime again, and worst case scenario, there's a surgery they can do that's relatively simple that can fix it. It's still heart surgery, but they've pretty much perfected that one. Understandably, we're hoping it's fixed way before we get to looking at the surgery.

On the upside, his respirator is still set to a lower setting. He's been moved down from 40 to 30, and then down to 19 breaths per minute, and he's still doing really good with that. They did move his oxygen mix back up to about 24% up from the 21% that is normal air, but that's to help along with the medicine that he's getting. Overall he's still doing really great.