3 WEEKS OLD...36 weeks gestational age

Gunner is the man. He has decided he, like his big brother was, is a boob man. I have been struggling with the bottle feeding with him as it is supposed to be easier for the babies and as a result, he may get to go home earlier. However, we tried breastfeeding today; great latch,
perfect suck, swallow, breathe..he did amazingly well. It didn't even wear him out. He was alert and looking up at me, grabbing my shirt the whole time. However, he didn't get much in terms of volume, but technique was perfect. I am EPing to supply him with milk, so there wasn't enough to make a huge weight difference. We measure it all, so he gets weighed before and after. He only gained 4 grams so that means he took 4cc's.

He was still awake and alert and eager to eat, so I fed him a bottle and he successfully ate 37cc's. Which means he only tubed 7cc's. Awesome...

Everyone asks when we have heard he might come home. I tell them what I keep hearing..by his due date, although it will most likely be sooner than that. He has to learn to eat. Everything else is perfect. That is why I was so excited about today. I am going to try to be there for at least 3 feedings each day this weekend. What they want is for him to wake up before his feeding, eat and then sleep. He hasn't been doing that...but I see it in the future. The dr had been hearing such good things about his progress, she thought he might be going home this weekend. However, when she saw the tube still there, she said it might be sometime next week. All pending him eating.

He is, however, gaining weight. He has zero aspirate, all digested. He has officially hit the 5lb mark today! So freaking excited!

Getting bigger...

The progress continues...Little Gunner is not so little any more. He is now a whopping 4lb 13oz and growing and gaining each day. I am proud of his amazing growth. Not only is he growing, but the increased his feeds, he is now eating almost 2 oz at each sitting and taking most of them in a bottle instead of his feeding tube. Yesterday, he took 77% of his feeds in the bottle! This is the only thing holding him at the hospital, so needless to say, I am beyond excited.

We have a video...

Little Gunner just steals my heart every time I go up there. He took his first tub bath with me assisting yesterday. He is doing so well. He is taking about 50% of his feeds orally now, which is a huge accomplishment. He is also waking for almost every feeding now. He is up to 4lb 10.3oz and he really looks like he is filling out. This video is more fun to watch than reading my blab about him....

Unsung Hero...on his day

Today is father's day....on this day, I thought I might reflect on how very amazed I am at the way Brian has handled this whole situation. I have learned that traumatic situations (which seriously have been life or death situations for Gunner and me both) bring out the best and or worst of people and you very quickly learn who you can count on. It reinforced my thoughts that I made the best, right, and only choice for my husband.

Brian has stepped in and did whatever needed to be done. When I was in the hospital he handled a busy busy now 3 year old. He visited me almost daily driving an hour and a half or 25 minutes, without blinking. When Gunner was born, he was in the NICU literally getting his hands dirty, jumping in for diaper changes and just being there the whole time that they made sure he was stablized.

So, on his day, even without both of the boys home, we celebrate the best Daddy in the world.

TWO WEEKS OLD...35 weeks gestational age

Gunner is doing amazingly well. We met with OT yesterday and she is impressed with his strength in all areas, minus eating. He needs a little jaw support to keep it in. But he is soo strong. He can pick his head up and he actually tries to lift his entire body off the bed, balancing on his toes.


He is now up to 4 lbs 8oz!! That is over a 1/2 lb since birth and normal newborn weight loss in the first week. His head circumference is 30 cm (12 ish in) and he is up to almost 18 in. in length. He is a growing boy!

As of yesterday, he took 33% of his feeds by mouth, when he hits 75% they are upping feeds and considering removing the feeding tube. The doc said learning to eat is the only thing keeping him in the hospital.

Yesterday, when I visited him he spent 1 1/2 houra wide eyed alert and awake. I just loved seeing him that way. He ate well over 1/2 of his bottle and burped like a champ. Speaking of bodily functions, he has the reputation of a "good pooper" he can fill a size 1 diaper, which I actually had questioned why they were putting them on him...lol!

Day 9 Updates

I got to spend some good quality time with my little man today. The 2pm feeding seems to be the best in terms of him being alert and receptive to feeding, without the feeding tube that is. He usually wakes up about 10 minutes before care time and is wide-eyed and alert. He will stay awake for almost an hour just looking up at me, so I always make sure to make it for this care time.

Today, he did what I expected him to, woke up started searching for his hands, but didn't really want them when he found them. I was waiting for the nurse to bring his bottle so we can try that instead of just breastfeeding. So while he was waiting, I offered him the paci, and he just went to town. Strong sucking reflex!

In the past, he hadn't been interested in the bottle. But today, he successfully took 5 cc's (I know...not much, but it's the first time) without spitting up or loosing any. He seemed like that was enough, so we didn't push it.

Hopefully they will be successful another time on the next shift, as this is key for him being ready to come home. His little girlfriend, who was a week ahead gestationally, but a day before in terms of when she was born, went home today. She has always been about a day ahead of Gunner...so he may be getting ready to go home before too long. That is if he continues eating progress.

He is also gaining weight, he is now up to 4lb 3.6oz....all is good!

Day 8 Updates

Gunner has left the NICU....he is now on the 3rd floor, step-down NICU or intermediate care nursery. He is doing well, but the feeding tube in his nose (in my opinion) sucks. It is to help him transfer to oral feeding, but he is getting really stuffed up and spitting up more with it in. His first day in clothes below...

Greyson came to see his baby today, although he told us he wanted a "sister" for his birthday...good luck with that kid. Two boys is all we want and can handle. Here is Greyson loving on his baby....

He is done with phototherapy for now...and in an open air crib, they will be monitoring if he can control his own temperature through the night. But here is a pic of him on the beach (aka bililiytes) it looks like I did some fun photoshopping, but this is just how the pic turned out.

I was finally able to load up the pics on my camera and I found the last belly pic that I took, ironically 2 days before my water broke, taken at 28.4 weeks.

ONE WEEK OLD....

That's right, today is Gunner's "one week birthday" he is now 34 weeks gestational age. His big birthday present was the removal of his IV. He is now IV free. He is eating 40cc's at each sitting, which is about 1 1/3 ounces.

Last night when we called to check on him, after visiting, he was up to 4lbs 2 oz. So he is growing!

I held him for about 2 hours today and he is figuring out how the rooting and sucking reflexes work together and getting how to eat without the feeding tube. They will be moving the tube to his nose so he can eat without it disturbing him. Soon he will not need one at all.

They are moving him down to the step down or intermediate care nursery sometime this weekend.

Day 6 Updates

Today was a much better day. He had phototherapy but I got to hold him for a few hours and we had the LC come in and she helped put him to breast and he likes that much more than pacis or bottle nipples. So I am much better today...

They are also hoping to get rid of the IV. They are increasing his feeds 3cc's each feeding till they hit a max of 40cc's which is about 1 1/2 ounces. He is doing great. He took 32 with no aspirations. So hopefully, when I get there tomorrow, he won't have the IV in his head any more.

Day 5 Updates...Mommy is hormonal

So, I would like to start by it is amazing to sleep in your own bed, even if it was only for 3 hours. I am up every 3 hours and every 3 hours I changed positions and sleeping location. Started on the couch, that hurt to get up and hit the bathroom, went to the recliner, that is comfortable to sit in, but not sleep in. Then I finally went up to my bed....ahhh.

I am still healing and it isn't easy to take it easy, especially when you have a sweet little boy all by himself...but that little guy is doing awesome. He is eating more and more. They have upped his feedings to 26cc (which is almost a full ounce) 8 times a day and lowered his IV fluids to 4 units an hour. They hope to discontinue the IV sometime this week. As he is tolerating the food so well. When that happens, he may move to the 3rd floor.

The IV needed to be replaced today, which was so much harder on mommy than him. I bawled. It was hard to see him have to go thru it and I left the room. It took an hour to finally get it in and after three tries in three places, he was getting pretty fiesty so it went in his sweet little head vein. Mommy bawls again.

He is under the bililytes today and they hope the phototherapy will help get his levels down. I guess it is more common in breastfed babies for the regulation of the billirubin to take a little longer. So we didn't get to hold him, which of course is hard, but we also know if he needs the phototherapy, in the long run this will help him get better faster.

So there may not be any photo updates for a few days. I can't stand to see him with his little head IV.

Day 4 Updates...Mommy Goes Home...

Little Gunner at 4 days old...

Today, after feeding, holding and stamping footprints, Mommy was discharged and Gunner stayed in the NICU...emotional, yes, but I honestly think it would be worse to have him home, because there is no way that I could provide for him the care he is getting in the NICU. The nurses there are amazing. I actually think if he were home at this point, I would be in the same 100% anxiety state that I was in the hospital those 5 weeks before he was born. So, is it odd to drive home without your baby? Yes, but it sure is better to know he is in the best hands there are.

Honestly, yes, I did cry on the way home from the hospital. But it wasn't really because he wasn't with us. It was because I was having flashbacks to on the way there when I was not sure he would be ok.

He was doing great this morning. They have increased his feeding to 20cc's, which is over a half an ounce. Dr. also said if he wants more, he can have it. This is key to regulating his billirubin count, as well as the poopy diapers they get real excited about in the NICU. They sound as though they will be removing his IV later this week and that would be when he moves to the step down nursery, to "feed and grow". He was loving his paci today; especially when you put your finger in the hole of it from behind so he can feel the nipple better.

Day 3 Update

Little Gunner continues to amaze us. He is just the sweetest baby. He has the "schedule" of the NICU down. He wakes up and cries right before it is time to eat, which happens at 8, 11, 2, 5 in the am and pm. During this time he is so alert and awake and it's great to see him acknowledge and recognize our voices.

He also has taken a big liking to the paci, especially right before he eats. This is great because it shows he is developing his sucking reflex/skills, very necessary to eat.

Brian is amazing with him. He is so comfortable and has changed many a diaper and has logged in hours holding him. So today, I decided since I have been feeling much better and starting to really recover, to spend some extra time with him. I made it down there for several feedings, changed a couple of diapers, and held him a lot.

I have been doing my duty, pumping every 3 hours, as he is getting to where he is eating a half an ounce (16cc's) at each sitting. This is really helping his billirubin levels, along with chilling on the glow blanket.

I am getting discharged tomorrow, which of course will be hard, but we do know he is in great hands here.

Day 2 Update

Mommy and Daddy have gotten some time with the little man today. We both got to hold him and Daddy got to change a diaper again and take his temp. He has "care" scheduled at 8am, 11am, 2pm, and 5pm, and they are encouraging us to be there and help out so we can get comfortable. He is just sooo small and I am still recovering.

But he is one tough little guy. He has increased his feedings from 10cc to 30cc, so he is just making great progress. He also has not lost any weight unlike most newborns. He is doing so well that they are probably going to move him to the intermediate or stepdown nursery next week. This means he will be out of NICU, but not in the full term nursery.

The nurses in the NICU are fantastic. Our favorite so far is Jan. She is just amazing. She looks like a Grama and has 30 years of exeprience with the little ones.

We will keep you up on the latest...keep checking the blog.

Pictures...

Here are some pics of baby Gunner...


Daddy and Greyson checking out baby Gunner

Gunner and Daddy's Hand

Big Brother gives Little Brother a smooch

Here is my brave little warrior...kicking NICU butt

Baby Update!!!

Well, I am sitting watching some mindless tv, next thing you know, I'm having a baby. Yes, that is right, Gunner Martin Young has made his appearance. Here are the stats:

Born: 6/5/09 at 5:05pm

Weight: 4lb 0.6oz

Length: 17.5 in

He is doing fantastic. He breathed "room air" from moment one, had a little oxygen, but no longer needs it. He is being monitored for oxygen levels, temperature, and has an IV due to the fact that I was ruptured for so long, just to prevent infection. He does have a feeding tube, but it is because he is only 33 weeks, but they want to intro him to breastfeeding asap. He is already taking colostrum/milk, started that on day 2. He is a little champ, or warrior, hence the name Gunner, which means "bold warrior"...

I only have 2 pics, in which I look quite drugged, but really I am not, as the pain I was feeling would dictate...but then I got the drug pump. That was some good stuff.

Made it to 33 weeks...here's what's happening with Pumkin

Week Thirty Three: Lanugo is disappearing (this is not Pumkin, but another 33 week old)

• You are 33 weeks pregnant. (fetal age 31 weeks)
• The baby is now 4.4 pounds (2 kg) and around 17.5 inches (44cm) in length.
• The diameter of the head is about 8.5cm.
• The baby fuzz, lanugo, is disappearing.
• Your baby drinks about a pint of amniotic fluid a day
• You may gain a pound a week (500g) for the rest of your pregnancy.
• Half of your weight gain will go directly to your baby.

The baby is using it's lungs to practice breathing by inhaling amniotic fluid. Your baby is drinking about a pint of amniotic fluid a day now and urinating the same amount. The early baby fuzz, lanugo, is disappearing now and being replaced by actual hair. The nails of your baby are now long enough to reach to the tip of the fingers or beyond and may need trimming as soon as they are born. They may scratch their face even before birth.

You may gain a pound a week for the rest of your pregnancy. Do not stop eating or start skipping meals as your weight increases. Both you and your baby need the calories and nutrition you receive from a healthy diet. Calcium intake is extremely important during pregnancy because the baby will draw calcium from the mother to make and harden bone. This can greatly weaken her own bones and teeth because the developing fetus will take minerals from the mother's skeletal structure as needed.

Ahh a day of mixed emotions, venting felt good

So those of you who have had a baby before know that you have to pee a lot. This urge does not stop at night. I make about 4 trips to the bathroom each night. Each one of these requires assistance because I have to wear these massaging leg wraps that are impossible to get off for me. So I have to call the nurse.

This morning, I was questioned by the day nurse about needing to go a lot. I was pretty upset due to my already hormonally emotional state. Basically, from my discussions with people today I know this was inappropriate conduct. So, now I get to cherry pick my nurses for the rest of my stay. Which is a blessing in disguise. One of my two fave nurses is here this weekend and then next week I will get the other one, so it will hopefully make time go a little faster. What a difference a good nurse makes.

I got some boost nutrition drinks that have 250 calories in them, so I will be drinking one of those before bed along with some nuts to raise my calorie intake. Still
working on gaining...

I got to talk to the Social Worker today, she is going to arrange a tour of the NICU for Brian and I so we can see what to expect. They say each baby has a private room with 3 walls and a curtian so the nurses can hear and get in quickly if needed. There is a low nurse to baby ratio, which is good. Parents are welcome to stay there 24 hours a day if they want to. She also said our baby will be one of the biggest there. They have a lot of babies right now that were born at 24 - 27 weeks.

Baby is doing well. Moving up a storm, from side to side making my belly look like alien...I think that is a good sign of growth. Pumkin has had the hiccups about 4 times today, which is the norm.

Here is a blurb on the hiccups situation: "There has not been an overwhelming amount of research on fetal hiccupping in the womb, although there is some speculation as to why it happens. First of all, only more mature fetuses hiccup in the womb because their central nervous system is adequately developed in order to allow this to happen. It is believed that the fetus breathes in amniotic fluid or drinks it. When this happens and the amniotic fluid enters and exists the fetus lungs then the diaphragm contracts and hiccups results. Fetal hiccups appear to be extremely normal and almost all moms will feel the babies hiccups at least once if not on a regular basis. "

This I take as something good, it is saying a) nervous system is mature and b) there is enough AF to breathe in or drink.

Counting down, in the single digits now

Bedrest is coming to an end...ahhhh. But not too soon, I have a week left to bake Pumkin. We have a c-section scheduled at 34 weeks and then depending on what the baby needs, to the NICU baby will go. Hopefully, for not too long.

On a bad note, we got the bill from Spectrum of course that sucks...not fun. And of course, there will be one from Bronson and then the baby's bill from Bronson...yikes. This will be a tight year. But that is the last thing on my mind right now. I just need to keep baby in as long as possible and hope and pray for the best.

It's getting better....10 more days at the most

So today I met with "my" doctor, the doctor that gets test results right when talking to me, will be delivering the baby (because I am going to make it to 34 weeks and he is going to perform the c-section), and is the one that I was referred to due to his excellent reputation and patient skills.

It truly put my mind at ease. He has made appointments for me today to meet with a neonatologist from downstairs to further ease my mind about what baby will be like at 32.5, 33, and 34 weeks. So hopefully, he/she will come while Brian is visiting.

I will also be meeting with a dietician. I am having a heck of a time gaining weight. They are not concerned, because the "baby will get what it needs first" but I am and them are hoping that I will be gaining more so that the baby does as well.