Happy 'should've been' birthday!

Believe it or not, today is Austin's actual due date.  And tomorrow he will be 11 weeks old.  Crazy.

Austin weighed in at an even 8 lbs at the doctor yesterday and measured 20 3/4 inches in length.  He's right smack in the middle of the growth curve and continues to do very well.  We visited the pulmonologist yesterday to check on his lungs and breathing.  They removed his nasal canula for almost an hour and Austin's oxygen saturation level stayed pretty level the entire time.  He did de-sat for a brief period when the doctor was examining him but his levels came back up very quickly.  We were hoping the doctor might give the OK to remove him from the oxygen but no such luck.  Austin is going to stay on for a while longer at least when he sleeps and eats (which is about 98% of his day). 

Today we visited the maxilofacial doctor for an initial exam.  As expected, Austin will have his cleft palate repaired at about one year of age or whenever he reaches 20 lbs.  Otherwise it was a pretty uneventful visit.  Tomorrow we are back to the occupational therapist to check the progress on his hands.  He's been wearing his hand splints for a few hours a day and his range of motion seems to be improving. 

Last weekend, Austin made his first non-medical related trip out into public.  We took him over to our friends the Collins' house and everything went great.  He got to spend some time with his 'cousins' Sydney and Rylie and despite all the excitement managed to get a long nap in. 

Until next time....

Farts and burps

I never thought I'd be so excited about another person's flatulence and burping, but I sure am when it comes to our little man.  If it weren't for some periodic issues with gas we have a pretty mellow kid on our hands.  Austin is doing great at home and we haven't had much in the way of issues, developments, or changes to speak of since my last post.  As of Monday, he is up to a whopping 7 lbs, 9 oz and continues to make good progress with his feeds (duh). 

We've made a couple of journeys out into public since he's been home and managed fairly well.  It's a bit of challenge toting around a portable oxygen tank and the apnea monitor, but the two of us managed pretty well.  Austin met his pediatrician Dr. Oltman for his first checkup and to get a couple of shots.  We had a second road trip to visit the occupational therapist to have Austin fitted for hand splints.  He wears them a few hours a day to help straighten his fingers.  Beyond those excursions we've been holed up at home enjoying time with him before I go back to work. 

Here's a few recent pictures:

Dude, just feed me.

Grandma Jan, I just pooped myself.  Fix it.

Hanging out with Sydney, who is our friends' Ryan and Melissa's daughter.  So cute....she made sure to use hand sanitizer before she held him. 

Adjusting to life at home

To all of you parents out there....you are amazing.  I thought I had a pretty good idea of what raising a newborn might be like but now I'm starting to really understand.  We've only had Austin home for a couple of days now and it's been challenging.  Adjusting our way of life is going to take some time but we are making the best of it.

Austin is doing pretty well and is getting acclimated to home.  He's been taking a little less volume with his feeds and thus is not sleeping as long between them.  In the ICN he was taking between 2 and 2 1/2 ounces every 4 hours and has taken between 1 1/2 and 2 ounces every 3 hours since he's been home.  You can do the math on that if you'd like but the answer is less sleep for Mom and Dad.  Austin had his first appointment with his pediatrician today and everything checked out fine.  He weighed in at 6 lbs, 15 oz and measured 19 1/2 inches long so he's still growing like the weeds in our backyard.  This is the first of many doctor visits unfortunately.  We've got appointments lined up already with occupational therapy (for his hand splints), pulmonologist (for his lung function), dietitian (feeding), geneticist (follow up on his genetic condition), maxillofacial (for his cleft palate), ENT doctor (for his airway), opthomologist (follow up check on his eyes), and the urologist (for his cordee).  So lots to come for our little fighter.

Enough writing, you just want pictures anyways.  :)

Here's our lovely new oxygen tank which sits downstairs.  Austin is hooked up to a 50 foot tube so we can move him upstairs to his nursery.  He's also hooked up to an apnea monitor when he's not with us.  It gets a bit tricky navigating all of the chords, but we're pretty used to it at this point. 

Little man catching a nap in his bassinet (thanks Aunt Shelly!)

Anyone need any milk?  I know, ridiculous right? 

Austin's room.  Still a work in progress, but cozy nonetheless. 

Most importantly, I got the 'Boys Room' setup in time for the opening NFL weekend.  Yes, I have a problem. 

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye!

After a grand total of 55 days spent in the NICU and ICN at Tacoma General, Austin was discharged today!  Our room-in session went well last Sunday evening (except for the Mom and Dad sleeping part) and he exceeded his feeding expectations since being switched to on-demand feeds.  We got setup with his apnea monitor and home oxygen this morning, signed a few papers, packed up his ample supply of breast milk and off we went.  I'm a bit tired and we are adjusting to life at home, so I'm going to let a few pictures tell the story. 


Austin's home in the ICN for the past 20 days
 













Settled in for the big ride

Crossing the threshold

Our other 'kids' weren't too sure about the new member of the house.

Light at the end of the tunnel

It's hard to believe but Austin is 7 weeks old today.  We are definitely wearing down a bit with the constant visits to the hospital and emotional strain, but the end appears to be near.  We had a care conference this morning with one of the neonatoligists, our case manager, the dietitian, and the social worker to discuss his progress and the game plan for getting him home.  Austin is making great progress with his feeds and even managed to finish his first full feed from a bottle two nights ago.  Given his progress, the decision was made to switch to on-demand feedings from his current every 3 hour schedule.  This means he'll be fed when he wakes up and his ready to eat and will only get what he takes from a bottle.  He will not be gavage fed whatever he doesn't finish.  The goal is for Austin to take a minimum of 350 mL's in a 24-hour period.  This is obviously a huge stepping stone to get to discharge.

If his on-demand feedings go well for a few days Austin might get to come home later next week!!!! Jamie and I will be rooming-in with Austin at the hospital Sunday/Monday. This gives us the opportunity to do all of his care and feedings for a full day with limited help from the nurses.


If he is able to come home next week he will continue to be on oxygen for a while longer.  We''ll have an oxygen tank and monitor to deal with, but we'll take it.  We are more than ready to have him home so we can get on with life and enjoy our son.
 
Here's to a weekend full of empty bottles (milk bottles that is)!
 
GO HUSKIES!