Another lovely day spent with my awesome son... Tyler is taking more of his bottle feedings, which is awesome. He spent most of the whole afternoon asleep though, which I didn't mind... I could sit there for hours in that rocking chair just staring at him and it never gets old. The good news is, tomorrow the nurse said I may be able to try breastfeeding again, and they're going to have a lactation consultant on hand to help me out, so I'm hoping Tyler will give it a try again this time too. We need practice!
I'm trying to get lots of last minute things done around the house before he gets here... I mowed the lawn today, which was weird because the last time I mowed a lawn was when I lived in NY and I was maybe 15 or 16 years old haha. It wasn't bad though, it only took a half hour and I probably sweat off some more of that baby weight, who can complain about that? I need to get some grocery shopping done tomorrow and put the finishing touches on Tyler's room and then I'll be all ready for his arrival. I know I won't want to leave the house when he's home, I'll be spending lots of time here just hanging out with him!
He is improving though. Little baby steps at a time, but I just wish for a miracle every day too. I love that child so much, he is my whole world!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Monday Update
There isn't a lot to report today... I just got off the phone with the NICU pediatrician and she said basically the only thing we are waiting on Tyler to do is eat his entire feedings by mouth as opposed to how he's been eating lately... for example, when I went to visit him this afternoon, he ate about half of his bottle and then fell asleep, so he had to be fed the rest by his nose tube. Once he masters that skill, he will be able to head home! It's so frustrating to have to keep waiting, but I know he needs to take his time and hopefully he will pick up the eating habits soon. Please keep sending Tyler all of your positive thoughts and prayers... we want him home as soon as we can have him!
In the meantime, here are a few photos from the past couple days:
Daddy feeding Tyler for the first time
Grammy giving Tyler kisses
Daddy holding his little man
In the meantime, here are a few photos from the past couple days:
Daddy feeding Tyler for the first time 
Grammy giving Tyler kisses
Daddy holding his little man
Daddy loves his buddy!
Sunday Update (on Monday)
Tyler had a big day yesterday! He finally has all his oxygen tubes off... so he's down to one tube left, and it might not even be in him today after last night! :o) While I was changing his diaper, he decided he wanted to pull the feeding tube out of his nose... I didn't even notice until after the fresh diaper was on, and he was crying, and when I looked there was the tube all out! I think he definitely wants to come home now, he's tired of the hospital!
I'm so happy to see how great he's doing though. We attempted breastfeeding for the first time yesterday... not breastmilk in a bottle, but straight from the source! I admit I was scared out of my mind because I didn't think he would latch on or even want to try, but he did it for a little bit! I think he was freaked out by the size of the breast next to his face, since he's used to getting a bottle and he can see around it and look at everything, and then all of a sudden BAM! Can't see anything except Mommy's chest. But he did well, we only tried for about 10 minutes and then went back to the bottle. We'll both need some practice!
Tomorrow he might be able to come home... if not then Wednesday. I'm waiting on the results of his culture swabs he got over the weekend; Langley has a policy that when they get transferred babies from other hospitals that they need to be swabbed for MRSA and other "germs" and isolated until the results get back. The nurse yesterday said Tyler has been doing so well though and eating better and off the air flow that he probably won't be in much longer. We can't wait to have him home!
I'll update more this afternoon, there is lots to do today in case he does get to come home within the next day or so!
I'm so happy to see how great he's doing though. We attempted breastfeeding for the first time yesterday... not breastmilk in a bottle, but straight from the source! I admit I was scared out of my mind because I didn't think he would latch on or even want to try, but he did it for a little bit! I think he was freaked out by the size of the breast next to his face, since he's used to getting a bottle and he can see around it and look at everything, and then all of a sudden BAM! Can't see anything except Mommy's chest. But he did well, we only tried for about 10 minutes and then went back to the bottle. We'll both need some practice!
Tomorrow he might be able to come home... if not then Wednesday. I'm waiting on the results of his culture swabs he got over the weekend; Langley has a policy that when they get transferred babies from other hospitals that they need to be swabbed for MRSA and other "germs" and isolated until the results get back. The nurse yesterday said Tyler has been doing so well though and eating better and off the air flow that he probably won't be in much longer. We can't wait to have him home!
I'll update more this afternoon, there is lots to do today in case he does get to come home within the next day or so!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Saturday Update
Tyler went on his first road trip today! He got transferred from the Portsmouth Naval Hospital NICU to the Langley AFB Hospital NICU. And he's doing even better than yesterday! Today he got all of his IV lines out so he doesn't need them anymore and he will only be eating pumped breastmilk (until he gets better enough to actually breastfeed) and all he has on is the little nose air tubing, which he might not even need for much longer anyway. It looks like he will be coming home soon!
Daddy got to hold him and spend some quality cuddle time with him... it seems that Daddy's got the magic touch to make Tyler fall asleep as soon as he gets in his arms :o) I took pictures but left the camera in my car, so I'll post them tomorrow...
All in all it was a great day though. A little sad because Tyler's Grammy and Poppop had to fly back home to Tampa, but we will see them again at Christmas (or maybe sooner!) It was great to have them visit and get to spend time with our little man. Hopefully tomorrow we get even more great news on his progress!
Daddy got to hold him and spend some quality cuddle time with him... it seems that Daddy's got the magic touch to make Tyler fall asleep as soon as he gets in his arms :o) I took pictures but left the camera in my car, so I'll post them tomorrow...
All in all it was a great day though. A little sad because Tyler's Grammy and Poppop had to fly back home to Tampa, but we will see them again at Christmas (or maybe sooner!) It was great to have them visit and get to spend time with our little man. Hopefully tomorrow we get even more great news on his progress!
Tyler is 1 Week Old!
We got some news on Friday that Tyler will be being transported to the NICU at Langley AFB hospital today (Saturday), as the NICU at Portsmouth is becoming overcrowded. They're moving him because he is one of the healthier babies there to make room for the newest arrivals. The somewhat frustrating part is that the pediatrician said he may need another week... BUT he could improve overnight so not to count out anything!
He looked really great yesterday though. He is eating a lot more now and will soon be off his IVs, and he is on a very low air flow through the nose tubes (no oxygen at all, and they turned the air flow down to 1%, so it's pretty much like he almost needs nothing at all) and it was great to look into his eyes... he is very alert and he can follow voices, like when I would talk to him he'd look at me, or when his Poppop would talk he'd look over at him. Smart boy! :o) We even arm wrestled and Tyler beat me haha. He's such a strong little guy, even his nurse yesterday said she was impressed by having read over his charts and seeing how much in bad shape he was when he first came in to how far he's come in one week. I know he wants to get out as much as we want him home!
Here are some more pictures we took of him yesterday... he got lots of kisses from his Grammy, Poppop, and me... and I am in love with his adorable chubby cheeks!!!
He looked really great yesterday though. He is eating a lot more now and will soon be off his IVs, and he is on a very low air flow through the nose tubes (no oxygen at all, and they turned the air flow down to 1%, so it's pretty much like he almost needs nothing at all) and it was great to look into his eyes... he is very alert and he can follow voices, like when I would talk to him he'd look at me, or when his Poppop would talk he'd look over at him. Smart boy! :o) We even arm wrestled and Tyler beat me haha. He's such a strong little guy, even his nurse yesterday said she was impressed by having read over his charts and seeing how much in bad shape he was when he first came in to how far he's come in one week. I know he wants to get out as much as we want him home!
Here are some more pictures we took of him yesterday... he got lots of kisses from his Grammy, Poppop, and me... and I am in love with his adorable chubby cheeks!!!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Thursday update- 6 days old!
Tyler is having a great day today! He's finally taking a bottle more so they moved his feeding tube out of his mouth and into his nose (just in case he's too lazy to take the bottle) and he only has to be under his "tanning lamp" probably for just tonight... but he's not yellow anymore :o) He's completely off the oxygen feed now, but still has the little tubes in his nose with regular air flow to help encourage him to keep breathing. By Saturday he should be off his IV's and antibiotics and we can look at possibly bringing him home this weekend! I'm so thrilled!
It's still so amazing that he's making improvements by leaps and bounds... I don't expect anything crazy from him, I know he has to heal and grow on his own time, but each day he still surprises me when he surpasses all of my expectations. I couldn't ask for anything more from him, and even something as simple as being able to finally look into his eyes today meant the world to me. He's been sleeping pretty much the whole time he's been in the NICU but today he was wide awake and actually looking at me, and it stole my heart. I never get tired of just sitting there and looking at him...
Tomorrow he will officially be one week old! Again, I can't thank everyone enough for all of the support and love you've all shown for Tyler, Jon, and myself. It means everything to us and you are all appreciated!
It's still so amazing that he's making improvements by leaps and bounds... I don't expect anything crazy from him, I know he has to heal and grow on his own time, but each day he still surprises me when he surpasses all of my expectations. I couldn't ask for anything more from him, and even something as simple as being able to finally look into his eyes today meant the world to me. He's been sleeping pretty much the whole time he's been in the NICU but today he was wide awake and actually looking at me, and it stole my heart. I never get tired of just sitting there and looking at him...
Tomorrow he will officially be one week old! Again, I can't thank everyone enough for all of the support and love you've all shown for Tyler, Jon, and myself. It means everything to us and you are all appreciated!
Wednesday update (on Thursday)
Yesterday we went for our daily visit and Tyler was back under his "tanning lamp". He was getting a little yellow/jaundice but nothing major, he is still improving like a champ and he's just hooked up to the oxygen and one IV line but otherwise great! I got to feed him from a bottle again and change his diaper... still trying to work on my diaper changing skills since I think that was the 5th diaper total I've changed on him so far :o) maybe one day I can get it done one-handed!
There isn't a whole lot to report from yesterday, but hopefully today he will be more alert and open his eyes for us and won't be under the tanning lamp anymore. I took a few more pictures yesterday but they're in black & white since the blue LED lights of the lamp made the color photos look weird :o) And he IS the biggest baby in the NICU right now... which has earned him the new nickname "Big Bruiser" lol!
There isn't a whole lot to report from yesterday, but hopefully today he will be more alert and open his eyes for us and won't be under the tanning lamp anymore. I took a few more pictures yesterday but they're in black & white since the blue LED lights of the lamp made the color photos look weird :o) And he IS the biggest baby in the NICU right now... which has earned him the new nickname "Big Bruiser" lol!
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