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):