31 December 2010

Today was new years eve. We had quiet a busy day and I think you enjoyed yourself. Once again you slept in with dad - this is becoming quiet the routine! Then I took you to the shops with grandma and me. At the shops you were a hit - more so than normal. One lady came up to me and asked to have a look at you - it was a bit strange but I let her as she was old and meant well. Then several other ladies started swooning over you at the news agent!

All afternoon you just wanted to be played with and spoke to which was rather difficult because I was trying to tidy the house for the evenings gathering. This is the first year where dad and I had a gathering on NYE. We had a ham party, it was a low key gathering and I cooked a giant ham and a pavlova.

This was a giant 5kg ham - thats heavier than you!

In the afternoon as dad walked past your cot and said hello you gave him the biggest best smile you have managed to date - this was a real smile - gums and all. It was so cute! I'm glad dad caught that first because I see you  doing a lot of firsts and its nice that he got a chance!

The ham party went well, and you were beautifully behaved as always - you peed on Aunty Laura though, well your nappy leaked - it was quiet amusing! You got to meet Logan again today, he smiled at you quiet a lot but I'm not sure if you recognise him as another baby yet. You were knackered by the time the clock ticked over but I held you in my arms as we watched the Sydney fireworks on TV.

Happy New Year my little papoose!

30 December 2010

We had a bit of a quiet morning as you and dad had another sleep in - I think its dads favourite thing to do when he's on holidays! I spent the morning making a pirate liner for your pram so that its not drab and boring - i hope you like it but i think you will appreciate it more when you are bigger though!

In the afternoon we went to organise some bills and things and you came along being a real darling all the way - you didn't grizzle and you put up with being carted in and out of the car many times. I got you a little bag for all your things for when we go out our holiday next month - I can't wait to take you away on a trip and also to introduce your to nanna and grandpa Evans! 

We took you to a cafe for lunch - you haven't done this alot yet so it's still a novelty for dad and me when we take you out!

By the time we came home you were a bit tired and cranky so you had feed and then a big sleep. I am going to increase your feeds before you sleep so hopefully you will sleep through the night a bit longer!

29 December 2010

You have taken to sleeping in the bed with dad and me every morning, and because dad is on holidays you both get to sleep in until 10 in the morning!

We went to harbour town today to find you some more clothes - your a very lucky boy! Every time we leave the house you get something! While we were there we had to feed you, so we took you to the parents room. We saw some other babies in there - they looked younger than you but they were much bigger than you! 

Dad feeding you while we were out and about

28 December 2010

Today you and dad got a lot of bonding time. Grandma and I went to the shops together and I left you with dad. Dad tells me you had a nice sleep in together and shared the bed until you were ready to wake up! Then dad took you out on his own for the first time - you both came to meet grandma and me at the shops but dad had to pack up your pram and you and get in the car all on his own. I am so proud of you both - hopefully dad will feel more comfortable taking you our on his own soon! I'm sure that soon enough the two of you will be going out on boy adventures and the like!

This evening we took you to another family christmas dinner. This time it was with nanni Joan and poppy Murray. They were so happy to see you again and are totally fascinated with you! You really are just a sweetie and everybody who meets you just loves you so much - hard to blame them though - you are quiet adorable!

25 December 2010

Merry Christmas baby boy! Today is your first christmas. Having you has completely changed our regular christmas routine but I wouldn't have it any other way. The old routine was me and dad opening presents at the crack of dawn and playing with the gifts for the morning before thinking about the lunch! With you here now, we didn't get around to opening presents until midday and then lunch wasn't really served until 2pm. In saying that today has been one of the hottest christmas days in years so no one really felt like eating and we just wallowed around waiting for the sea breeze to come in!

Lunch with you on christmas day!

So for your first christmas you got some pretty good presents including blocks, a shape bucket, a truck, some smurf dvds, clothes and some money! I think you did quiet well! Lucky boy!

In the evening uncle Jude and aunty Laura came to visit and we all sat outside trying to cool down - you were so hot that you spent a majority of the day in nothing but your nappy!!

2 December 2010

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12 November 2010

Today you finished this entire bottle of milk all using your own steam! I am super excited because it means that you are getting closer to coming home!

You have put on more weight today - 2430 grams and we are attempting to do all your feeds from the bottle today. If you manage this then I will be able to come into hospital and stay with you for some mother crafting.

Mother crafting is what they make mummies who have had to leave their babies in hospital do before they allow them to take the babies home - it means I have to stay with your for a full 24 hours and make sure i know how to look after you all on my own! Hopefully we cope OK!

This afternoon, i took your foot prints with the help of one of the nurses - you hated it - I think you have a fear of people touching your feet now because of all the blood they took when you were a little bubby in the incubators.

I think you look super cute in this summer suit! I love you to the moon and back Griffyn!

11 November 2010

The doctor changed your feeding routine again today - now you are having 6 feeds a day - 5 of which are from a bottle! You are doing well with each feed and while it would seem like you are being pushed, you are coping very well! The sooner we cant get you on all bottle feeds, the sooner we can take you home!

You had a quiet a rough day with your feeding tube today - you really hate the tube but it has to stay in - you have managed to pull it out a few times already. Of course getting it back in it quiet traumatic for you - which is why we try hard not to let you pull it out!

Aunty Melissa came to visit you today for the first time. She likes you alot which is good as we have asked her to be your god mother - and she is delighted to be one!

10 November 2010

Good news little man, once again you have put on weight - 2402 grams now!

Your feeding regime is now changed to six feeds a day instead of eight. The theory being that if you are hungrier then you will eat more - from the bottle - lets hope it works!

Dad gave you a bath for the first time today. You loved it and floated around in it like it was your very own swimming pool. Very cute. You have managed to have your dad wrapped around your little finger from the moment you were born - good work small fry!

Dad giving you a bath for the first time!

We are very proud of you little Griffyn - you have come so far in two weeks. We hope you can come home soon - we miss you so much and it makes us sad to have you living here instead of at home with us.

9 November 2010

Sweetie!

Today was the day you were meant to be induced and tomorrow would have been your birthday! The doctor is happy with your progress and has asked for you to have 4 bottles a day. It's all happening quiet quickly since we only had you moved to Murdoch four days ago but it means we can take you home sooner.

You seem generally more alert today- I guess you are getting stronger and now have a bit more energy.

You have finally exceeded your birthweight now - you are 2343 grams. It is normal for all babies to loose weight just after they are born and I guess that is why you had lost quiet a bit. I am hoping the increase in your weight is due to all the milk I have been making for you - if only you could see and understand the dairy production going on at home and here in the hospital!

8 November 2010

It's so hard to believe you are 13 days old. I feel like you have always been here - I suppose if we count the time you were in my tummy then you have been here quiet a long time!

Today you weigh 2.3 kilos and everyone is pleased with your progress! I bought you some more little suits today when I went to the shops - they should fit you just nicely! I have to take them home and wash them first!

In the evening after your dinner bottle, I read you your first story - The Saggy Baggy Elephant. You remind me of the Saggy Baggy Elephant because you too havent grown into all your skin yet - so very cute. You have the cuteset little wrinkles on your forehead (they make you look like dad) and also on your legs!

As you can see, this preemie suit is too big for you and we have had to roll up your sleeves so we can see your hands!

Too small for preemie clothes!

7 November 2010

As you can see not all your clothes and beanies fit you yet! But you are putting on weight everyday so hopefully soon you will be big and strong - you are 2.2 kilograms today.

The doctor has increased your feeds to 3 bottles and 5 tubes a day - we have to convince you to only use the bottle before they will let you come home.

Today you got to meet grandma again and Aunty Laura for the first time - smitten! You are getting better with your feeding everyday - I am very proud of you bubby!

On a side note, you really hate your feeding tube, you keep attempting to pull it out and today you succeeded! When you do pull it out the reinsertion is quiet traumatic. The tube has to be put back down your nose until it enters your tummy - I cant imagine it is a nice feeling having that done.

6 November 2010

We brought in some of your own clothes for you to wear today! People have been buying you little clothes and we thought you may as well wear them because we don't know how long you will be small enough to fit into them!

Good morning! 

Thanks to a prolific poo this morning, we decided it was time for your first bath! The nurse gave you a bath while dad and i watched on trying to learn the technique. You really loved being in the bath, you kicked your little legs about like a frog!

 

Shirley giving you your first bath!

It's really great at murdoch, the nurses really encourage us to treat you like we were in our own home. You also have a new doctor called Dr Slattery, he is really nice and has told us he is going to push you along as quickly as possible so you can come home soon! They are very open with their plan to make you better soon!

This evening while dad had a rest in the lounge room, you and I had a run in with a wandering willy! While I was changing you, you quiet happily peed all over me and you and your clean clothes. When i redressed you, your clothes were super baggy but you looked very cute!

Super cute!

5 November 2010

You didn't enjoy the car seat...

This morning, I got a lift into the hospital with grandma an came to visit and feed you. I was planning to do this every day until you are well enough to come home! Because I have gone home, the nurses there were being really pushy and trying to move you to another hospital - I knew this would happen as soon as I left!

So dad and I finally agreed to have you moved to St John of God in Murdoch. The nurses at King Edward organised for you to move hospitals and your first car ride was in a taxi in peak hour traffic! You hated being put into the car seat - I hope this changes once you come home. I came in the taxi with you and a nurse while dad followed us in his car.

Your first car ride!

Smitten grandma...

Once we got to Murdoch, we really wished we had you moved sooner - it is so much nicer and a much nice environment, I am sure you will thrive here and I too feel better knowing that you are here! 

The nurses at Murdoch as so nice and the let dad and I treat you like you are ours! They even let us dress you in clothes that we have bought you - having said that there is not a lot that fits you - currently you are wearing size 00000. They even let you have visitors here so grandma got to visit you for the first time today and I am pretty sure she is wrapped with you! 

4 November 2010

This is my favourite hospital gown you have had so far!

This morning you have to have yet another bloody test for your jaundice. You are generally very quiet and don'd make any noise while this is going on but today you were clearly over it - you cried so much and for the first time in your life you cried tears - it broke my heart to see you so upset!

Again today, the doctors moved you into a normal cot as your jaundice levels have dropped quiet a lot. Today was the first day since you were born that you have managed to put on some weight - 2190 grams! The doctors are increasing your feed amounts but you still have your food through your tube. You wont be allowed home until you start drinking from a bottle so I hope you will be able to do this soon. I wish i didn't have to leave you behind today baby.

3 November 2010

Today the nurses finally found you some boy clothes and you looked so very cute in blue! It really made your blue eyes stand out and I think today's photo is my favourite photo of you (so far)!

I love your blue eyes!

I am finding this special care nursery experience very frustrating and depressing so am looking forward to going home tomorrow - but I really don't want to leave you behind.

I can't believe you are a week old already bubby - your awesome and I love you heaps!

2 November 2010

Pox! Today your jaundice came back, so after your brief moment of freedom you had to go back into the incubator!

Back in the incubator today..

The doctors have noticed you have a sacral dimple and want to have it ultra sounded to ensure there in nothing wrong with your spinal cord.

I ma starting to get really depressed living in the hospital and being separated from you - I am going to try and get discharged so that I can be in a better state of mind and help you get stronger sooner. It makes me really sad to have to leave you here but I really do think it would be for the best.

Poor little poppet - get better soon!

1 November 2010

This morning when the doctors came to do their rounds, one of the nurses asked them to check out your dimple - you have a funny dimple just above your bum! So the doctor had to take off your nappy and being such a good boy, you presented him with a nicely filled nappy! Fortunately for you he was a nice doctor and had some kids of his own so he was happy to clean you up.

So small in the hands of this Doctor..

While he changed you and looked you over, the nurses changed your bedding which you had wet so the doctor had to hold you while you were naked - it was very amusing watching him hold you worried that you were going to wee on him! He quiet liked you - so i think he didn't really mind all that much!

He says your dimple looks OK but will organise and ultrasound to make sure that it is definitely all clear. You are enjoying being out of the incubator - you look so vulnerable and little - it's a bit scary! 

The doctor is pleased with your progress and says that you are able to come out of the incubator for the first time in your life! Your are less jaundiced today and you are maintaining your temperature so there is no need for lights or the incubator any more!

Grandma bought you a nice little blanket from the hospital shop today - it's crocheted and blue -  I can't wait to wrap you up in it! I also went to a "milk talk" today so that I could learn how to make and store your milk once I go home - funny business!!

Your first time out of the incubator!

31 October 2010

Happy Halloween Griffy! Today I got to have another snuggle with you because your jaundice is getting better and the doctors were happy for you to come out of the incubator. Dad came to visit you today and he too got to have a snuggle with you.

Dad took me out of the hospital today to have some lunch - I have been cooped up in the hospital and have been eating yukky food and getting depressed - it was weird to leave the hospital without you! After lunch we had some photos of you printed out so that I could keep them in my hospital room - I miss you very much and am starting to get depressed about not having you with me - especially because all the other mums have their babies in their rooms!

In the afternoon, the doctors decided to move you to a different nursery called '2 west'. This nursery is lower intensity and a bit more pleasant for us all as we are not squashed in!  Hopefully this means you are getting better and will be allowed home soon.

Just moving into 2 West

30 October 2010

The doctors have decided that you need to be put under lights because your jaundice is not getting any better. For the lights to work properly, you need to be wearing nothing but your nappy and your sunnies - this means you are not allowed out of the incubator today because you will get cold - poor bubby.

Hanging out in the incubator under the lights...

You look so little and vulnerable...

On a funnier note, I didnt do a very good job of doing up your nappy today so it leaked everywhere, all over your and your sheets! Lucky the nurses were there to help with the clean up!

At this point in your life you are an amazingly calm and beautifully behaved little monkey! Dad and I are wondering if this will last? I don't know a lot of babies but the ones I do know seem to make more noise and are more demanding than you are.

You are finally getting some milk from me now so I hope this helps make you stronger soon!

29 October 2010

Today has been an awesome day - both Dad and I got to give you snuggles! Much more fun than nappy changing - unfortunately all the wires and monitors make it quiet difficult! My first snuggle lasted for only fifteen minutes, but I will never forget it, you were so little and soft... I was so scared I was going to break you.

Mum's first snuggle

Dad's first snuggle

You and Dad both fell asleep during your snuggle - Dad says you have a nice baby smell that makes him very sleepy!

You apparently sleep a lot because you have jaundice. This means you have high levels of billiruben in your body - billiruben is currently Dad's favourite medical term - and we hear a lot of them at the moment!

Dad attempted his first nappy change today you were nice enough to make a rather large mess of your nappy and your self - poor Dad!

Unfortunately you are still in the incubator today and we don't have any indication of how long you are going to be in here... and you are wearing a flowery green shirt!

Flowery shirt!

28 October 2010

Overnight you have been moved into an incubator because you are quiet little and the doctors want you to stay warm until you are able to maintain your own temperature. We weren't expecting to see you in there when we came to visit in the morning so it was very sad to see you this way. You had some fluid on your lungs so they put you on a machine called C-Pap, not sure what it does but you didn't have to be on it for more than half a day.

This is what you looked like on the C-Pap machine..

Its so sad to see you in there, especially because we are not allowed to snuggle you at the moment, but we know that it is for you own good. We are only allowed to touch you through the little portholes in your incubator for now. The nurse showed us how to change your nappy - thats about all the interaction we get - its rather difficult with all your wires and monitors - occasionally one gets moved or falls off during the process and all your alarms start going off!

Dad saying hello through the incubator

You are very small so you have to wear clothes from the hospital that are hand made for little babies. They are a bit like dolls clothes and unfortunately theres not a great deal of variety or selection so you are wearing a little bit of a girly shirt today! Just look at your lemon beanie and your pastel green shirt!

Special nursery size clothes and a whole lot of wires!

This evening, the doctors decided to stop feeing you glucose and to start giving you formula. You get 25mls through the nasogastric tube that goes in your nose and down to your tummy because you do not know how to suck yet.

Dad bought you a Halle cat to look out for you when we are not with you - she sits on top of your incubator and protects you. We are also using her as a measuring stick at the moment, and you are about two Halle's long!

27 October 2010

Happy Birthday Griffy! You finally joined us after 35 weeks and 4 days. We couldn't be more pleased with you if we tried. You came into the world so peacefully quiet at 8:02pm, peering around with big blue eyes! You weigh 2.23 kilos and are 45 centimeters long.

Our little papoose!!

I love you so very much, so does your dad - we have known you for barely a few hours and we are totally besotted with you. 

The only sad part about today is that you have to live in the nursery until you are strong enough to come live with us at home.

The very long and stressful wait to meet you was totally worth it - today is up there with one of the best days of my life!