Moving on Up

Gus is now in the CCN (Continuing Care Nursery)! Really, it's just another room down the hall, but like I said the other day, it's smaller and more quiet. He still has a ways to go, but of course it's a step in the right direction. He's also up to 4 lbs. 9 oz., so it really is looking like he'll be bigger than Wyatt was when he came home when he comes home. Lots of unmodified pronouns there, but hopefully you know what I mean.

A friend said she enjoys the updates on Gus but was wondering how the rest of us are doing. So I figured I'd tell you all -- we're doing fine. Obviously, it's been hard and will continue to be. But we're so lucky to have lots of friends, lavishing us with good wishes and good food. The hardest thing has been balancing our time with Wyatt and Gus. Of course, that's going to be a struggle with any second child, but at least when Gus comes home, the balancing act can happen in one place.

Right now Jamie spends most mornings with Wyatt and then heads to the hospital (about 40 minutes away) in the afternoons, then back home for dinner, bath, and bed. That's if babysitters are available. And we've been incredibly fortunate there. My (Ken's) father retired in March, so my parents have been able to come up from New Jersey to pitch in. They've been staying for two weeks (in a motel), then back to Jersey for a week, then back to Maine for another two weeks. We've done that cycle twice, and they're due back again tomorrow for another two weeks. It's wonderful, since they're a steady presence for Wyatt, and also because under normal circumstances, they don't get to spend so much time with their grandchild from The North.

When my parents aren't here, Jamie's mom has been able to come down from her house (about two hours north or here). And our friend Tess and Jamie's sister Jennifer have filled in most of the gaps. When no babysitters are available, Jamie stays home all day and then goes to the hospital at night after I get home from work. Those are my least favorite days, since we don't get to spend any "normal" evenings together, even if it is mostly sitting in front of the TV.

I have it relatively easy by comparison. I have to drive to Portland for work anyway and can usually get to the hospital for an hour or so before heading home for dinner, bath, and bed. It's still a tight schedule, but I don't need to do all the juggling Jamie does. On the weekends, if we have sitter, both Jamie and I get to go to the hospital together, and I get to spend more time with both Gus and Wyatt, which is nice. And it's nice to see Jamie, too. If we don't have a sitter, I'll stay with Wyatt while Jamie goes to the hospital. Those are hard days because I don't get to see Gus, but especially now, as he starts to try nursing, it's more important for Jamie to be with him.

On the whole, Wyatt's been handling all these changes wonderfully. He definitely doesn't like having mom away so much, but he's loving all the special guest stars. Even with the big 2 right around the corner (June 4), he's generally helping out the best way he knows how -- with a big smile. Though we've had some glimpses of the impending storm.

Like I said, it's hard, but it isn't forever. Hopefully, in another month this'll all be a faint memory, and we can get on with our real lives, whatever that means.

Here are some new pictures of the brothers (click to see them bigger):

A Real Bed

We had good news yesterday -- they removed the nasal cannula from Gus' nose. That means he's simply breathing room air without any help, and that now he just has one tube -- his feeding tube -- which is wonderful, because we can really see his face.

Even bigger news is that today they moved him out of the incubator and into a regular bassinet. It's just a good sign of his weight gain and ability to regulate his own temperature. And it's one step closer to the Continuing Care Unit (and then home). The CCU is a little quieter, since the babies there need a little less attention (though there are still nurses on duty 24 hours a day). Before he can officially transfer there, he'll need to have fewer apneic spells (which he is) and be on a lower dosage of caffeine. Yes, caffeine. He's been getting it for a long time, to stimulate his heart and lungs. Hopefully, he won't be addicted or get headaches when he quits.

He's still gearing up to nurse but will hopefully get the hang of that in the next week or two.

That's the gist of the good news. And here is a nice picture one of the nurses (Leslie) took while we were visiting yesterday:

4 Pounds

Gus crossed the four-pound threshold today. Also, they've lowered the pressure on his nasal cannula, and he's been doing fine with that. He has a bit of a stuffy nose, but they think that's just irritation from the tubes, since there are no other signs of infection.

The big news is that he's been trying to nurse a bit. It's early yet -- he's only just at the age where he might be able to coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing at the same time. And it'll be longer still until he'll be able to get all his meals from breast or bottle. But these are all steps in the right direction.

3 Pounds 9 Ounces

Gus passed the three-and-a-half pound mark yesterday, which puts him a pound above his birth weight. Really, he's gained most of that in the last couple of weeks. Before we know it, he could be bigger than Wyatt was when he came home (5 pounds).

The other momentous event was his move from one kind of isolette to another. The significance there is simply that they needed the Giraffe for the small preemies. Because now he's a giant and can handle the Air-Shields C2000.

Otherwise, things are pretty status quo, which is fine. He's having fewer apneic spells but is still on the nasal cannula. And he had an eye exam which showed that his retinas are premature (along with the rest of him). That doesn't really mean anything. They'll just have to check again in two weeks. There are always concerns about exposure to oxygen and lights, but this is nothing out of the ordinary.

I think that's it for now.

1 Month Old

Gus is one month old today. Still hard to believe.

He's doing pretty well -- up to 3 lbs. 4 oz. He's back to "eating" large quantities of milk at a time, instead of a constant drip. All the milk is still delivered by a feeding tube, since he can't yet coordinate sucking, swallowing, and breathing (all things we take for granted). 34 weeks is the earliest that would happen, and he's at 32 weeks now.

He's still on the nasal cannula for air pressure, though a lower pressure than before. The apneic spells and bradycardia continue, though not quite as frequently. And a few days ago, he needed to have a transfusion, because he was a bit anemic. None of this is outside the realm of normal preemie behavior, though.

That's the gist of what's going on.

3 Pounds

This is always subject to change (depending on what he outputs), but Gus hit the three-pound mark yesterday!

On top of that, he's been doing pretty well. He's through the antibiotics for his eye infection (which has cleared up), so no IVs for now. He's still on the nasal cannula, but only with room air (for the pressure). And they will gradually lower the pressure over the next couple of days to see how he does. He still has some spells of apnea, but definitely not as many.

We've also put a sound machine in his isolette (incubator), so he gets the soothing sounds of the womb throughout the day. Not as good as the real thing, but it's the best we could do.

Thanks again for all your good wishes and food. We're all doing alright. Why, just this morning, Jamie, Wyatt, and I went to a playground. And it felt downright normal. Though it'll definitely be nice to have Gus as a regular fixture in that normality.

Three Weeks Old

Gus had a good day today, after not such a good day yesterday. Mostly, it's the apnea which is concerning. But he's now on nasal cannula, which provides a bit of pressure, like CPAP, and a little oxygen, but is much less intrusive. He's lost a little weight, after a big poop, but has gained some of it back.

Anyway, it's hard to believe it's been three weeks now. Jamie says, "Please keep sending (and thank you for) the good mojo."

Here's another picture, to satisfy the fans: