You can tell your preemie is getting big...

when the sweet little "santa baby" set does not fit around his neck...even when I lift up his double chin.

Fatty McFatso...So I had to quick take a pic with it around, but not attached so that we could at least see it on him!

My grandma responded to my blog entry last night with this...

Just a note to say that full term babies have the same problems. I learnt about salt water & a nose syringe early on. Both my babies needed suctioning from time to time. It really works & salt water (saline) is also healing. Use it on yourself if you get a cold.

SOOOO true! All babies have delicate immune systems! They are all very fragile, so as we are in the midst of RSV season and healthy full term babies are getting sick the same as preemies, having machines breathe for them, it makes me know he is just more susceptible. If it can happen to them, it sure as heck can happen to him, which makes me even more vigalent of his exposure.

He had mucus draining into his eye this morning, which prompted a call to the oncall nurse, who recommended he be seen. He was, we were reassured that we are doing everything right, and thank goodness no ear infection!

Not a better sound I can think of...

than the sound of a wee babe cooing delightfully at your side...unless that wee babe didn't have a nasty nose rattle that goes along with the sweet cooing...

I hate sickness. Although Gunner is getting a lot better, he is still stuffy and snorty. Babies are so hard to have sick. There is so little you can do for them to keep them comfy. Thank goodness for little noses saline, the aspirator he HATES, and breast milk. Other than that, there is very little I can do.

On a side note, I did discover something amazing and interesting about breast milk that I did not know. Someone mentioned that a baby's saliva contians germs that influence mom's body to make antibodies that fight whatever illness he is having. How amazing is that? But I wondered, it kinda sounds to good to be true...so I googled...and I found on many sites information similar to this: (from http://www.007b.com/wonders_breastmilk.php)


Immune boosters. In each feeding mother delivers MILLIONS of LIVING white blood cells to her baby to help baby fight off all kinds of diseases. You will not find these living cells in formula! Also, when mother is exposed to a germ, she makes antibodies to that germ and gives these antibodies to her infant via her milk. Breast milk also contains factors that prevent microbes from attaching, and a long list of other antiviral, antibacterial and antiparasitic factors.

Even more amazing, if a baby contracts an illness that mom has not been exposed to previously, he will transfer this organism through his saliva to the breast, where antibodies are manufactured on site and then sent back to baby via the milk to help him cope. Mothers who wean their babies from the breast during the first and even second and third years of life often notice that their child becomes sick more than before, or for the first time. Lisa Marasco and Jan Barger in Examining the Evidence for Cue feeding of Breastfed Infants

However, this illness makes me think, where would he contract such an illness? He is not around anyone but his family and rarely a little extended family. So of course it is no one's fault he is sick, but no one but me is up several times a night suctioning him so he can breathe. No one else is googling the symptoms of RSV, praying he doesn't have it. No one else is talking to after hours nurse explaining his symptoms, getting the low down on what to do next. No one but me.

I think it is getting increasingly hard to explain to others my desire to keep him out of crowds and home where it is "semi-safe". No one actually questions it (to my face) but I am sure it is mentioned not in front of me. I say this because on the outside he is huge, he looks completely normal. He is on the full term baby scales, over top on the preemie scales, he is actually BIGGER than some full term babies that are his actual age (when he should be almost 2 months younger than them).

Tis the curse of preemie parenting. See, he was born at 33 weeks and while I am thankful for each day he spent in utero past 28 weeks when my water unexpectedly broke, at 33 weeks and prior babies are born with no immune system period. At 34 weeks, mom's immunity begins to transfer to baby. So between 34 and 40 weeks, that is when baby develops the small amount of immunity he will have at full term.

~~Merry Christmas 2009~~

Merry Christmas!

Hi everyone! Hope you enjoy all the pictures of Greyson and Gunner on the Christmas card that I just managed to get out in time! I took so many it was hard to choose just a few! The card already says it, but it has been one crazy year! That’s right, we learned all sorts of new things this year we didn’t want to, like what pPROM means, that 1 in 8 babies are born prematurely, and how much it costs to be a guest at the hospital for 12 weeks between Mommy and Baby. But at the end of the year we couldn’t be too much happier and healthier so we count our blessings daily! Here's our little family on Mother's Day, my first weekend of hospital bedrest!

Boys, Boys, Boys…what else can I say! It used to be a more equal ratio, but it is official, I am seriously outnumbered. Yet, I must say that I am loving be a Mommy to two big and healthy boys!

Our first “baby” Greyson: He is an amazing BIG brother! He loves “his baby Gunner” but doesn’t understand why he has to be so quiet all the time; that darn baby is always sleeping! Yes, we still think of him as our baby, but he is growing like the cutest weed you have ever seen. He is a very active little boy, and when I say boy, he is ALL boy. He climbs, jumps, and does all sorts of things that make us cringe. He has no fear and is so energetic. He is very smart too! We saw an amazing change in his vocabulary and skill level when he started full time preschool (with Aunt Lindsey) over the summer while Mommy was in the hospital and it is amazing what he seemed to learn…including the dreaded potty training! He loves his school, friends and his cousins. He still has a serious allergy to milk, so that means we have to be over-vigilant making sure he has nothing with milk in it and carry an epi-pen everywhere just in case.

Greyson and his cousin Keegan while I was on bedrest, he hung out here a lot!

Our second, but “miracle baby”, Gunner: I am in complete awe of this boy. Yes, boy not girl like I swore I was having a girl, and it was even confirmed for a day. After coming at 33 weeks, at a tiny 4 lbs and 17 ¼ inches, he kicked NICU butt and made it home before his actual due date! He is such a little fighter, which is what his name means! Overall, he looks and acts perfect, but on the inside I know better. His lungs are the lungs of a preemie, so they won’t really be the same as a full term baby for at least another few years. At 34 weeks to birth is when Mom passes antibodies and immunity to baby, which of course he was born before, so he has no immune system right now. So we have spent since October in hibernation mode. Other than that, he is growing like crazy and developing according to his adjusted age very well. He is a whopping 15 pounds now, which is about 14 oz smaller than Greyson at his age! He is just an angel baby.

Of course, the parents of these amazing children are doing ok too. We sincerely love having two boys and just really enjoy everything Gunner does even more because of what we went through to get him here! In fact, due to the happenings of the summer, Mommy now has a cause or a soapbox that she likes to stand on and that is joining with the March of Dimes to educate and try to fight for the babies that are too little to fight for themselves! I have formed a team in honor of Gunner will be doing my first walk in April of 2010. So please consider joining me to walk, making a donation, or just raising awareness with me! Here is my team website: http://www.marchforbabies.org/team/t1363932

Daddy passed his journeyman’s test, which for non-trades people, is the equivalent of a bachelors degree in the electrical field. He also bagged a giant buck off the back 40 acres that we will be building on if this economy ever recovers!

Latest updates can be found at:
www.babysites.com/sites/clyoungsey (which will be my project over Christmas break, I have been spending too much time on Gunner’s Blog)
http://www.babyyoungblog.blogspot.com/

Or catch the boys in action at:
http://www.youtube.com/ (tags: Greyson and Gunner Young)
http://www.theyoungboys.shutterfly.com/ (pictures, pictures and more pictures)

So all is well in the Young Household! Hope this letter finds you healthy, happy and in great Christmas spirits! Better watch out, better not cry, better not pout, I’m telling you why…..Santa is visiting our house again! Thank goodness for children!

Love you all,

The Young Family

Gunner likes sweet potatoes...

So after successfully trying and liking oatmeal, we moved on to Gunner's first food, sweet potatoes. This was Greyson's first food and I made it myself for him also. Super easy and cheap. I just nuke a sweet potato, scrape out the insides, mix it with breast milk and zap it in the amazing magic bullet. It processes it to the same consistency as commercial baby food and it is just soooo much cheaper and has more nutrients because of the milk.

Here's a little video of him trying cereal for the first time...

Baby Duggar: Soapbox topic....

Hmm, when I tried to look up "fine" on dictionary.com, this was the choice that fit the context best:

fine: healthy; well: In spite of his recent illness, he looks fine.

I have to say this entry is inspired by a mom who knows first hand what "fine" lmeans in this exact context. Her beautiful son was born too soon at almost this gestational age of the Duggar girl, Josie. To read what "fine" means to a 26 weeker, click here.

Why do I go here? Because that is what they have described the latest Baby Duggar as. For those of you who do not know, Josie Duggar was born more than three months early. She was due in March. It is December. I know that Gunner certainly was not a 25-weeker. He was a strong 33 weeker. But I also am very aware that he could have been a 28 weeker, which is only 3 weeks older than Josie.

For people who do not know the ramifications of a premature birth, let alone a 25-week premature birth, let me run down a few...

Apneas: In a premature baby, the part of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) that controls breathing is not yet mature enough to allow nonstop breathing. This causes large bursts of breath followed by periods of shallow breathing or stopped breathing. The medical term for this is apnea of prematurity, or AOP.

Bradies: (bradycardia) slowing down of your premature baby's heart rate to less than 100 beats a minute, results in blue baby

Infection: Premature babies have no immune system, as antibodies are not passed from mom to the fetus until 34 weeks.

RDS: (respiratory distress syndrome) the infant's immature lungs don't produce enough of an important substance called surfactant. Surfactant allows the inner surface of the lungs to expand properly when the infant makes the change from the womb to breathing air after birth

Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), which is abnormal growth of the blood vessels in an infant's eye. About 7% of babies weighing 1,250 grams (2.75 pounds) or less at birth develop ROP, and the resulting damage may range from mild (the need for glasses) to severe (blindness)

Warmth/Temperature: Premature babies lack the body fat necessary to maintain their body temperature, even when swaddled with blankets. Therefore, incubators or radiant warmers are used to keep the babies warm

I think my biggest concern is that this event will sensationalize premature birth, especially if this baby makes it out healthy and thriving (which is of course what anyone hopes, but also notice the word "if". "If" is the proper term given this baby's current condition.) and make it seem that a premature baby is just a small baby. You know my drive to help educate future parents (my students) and anyone who will listen to me about prematurity and how to have healthy babies, so I just wanted to put my two cents out there.

Fat baby tries cereal...

Gunner had his 6 month well baby check up on Tuesday as I mentioned and he is officially a fatty fatso. My original plan was to try some solids at 6 months adjusted age, which is about 8 months adjusted. This would be in the beginning of January.

On second thought, I thought it might be best to do it while I was off on Christmas break so he could get used to it in some kind of routine before I went back to work. Greyson started around 5 1/2 months and it took him a bit to get adjusted. Gunner on the other hand...well his only problem was that I was not shoveling it in his mouth fast enough. So, fatty fatso will probably be getting even more fat soon. :) I will post video of this soon. In it, you can see he is handling this like a chamP!

Blog comments make me smile

I have found out over the last few years that students and teachers alike hate finals week. Every year I set my mind on getting grading done and getting out of there...it never happens. Today, again, that was my plan. Did it happen? Yes, but not in the time frame I had planned. Oh well.

In the midst of this swirl of finals week, I got a personal email that was a response to my blog, and it certianly made me smile AND be thankful for everything that I have. I actually get a lot of comments that don't get publicly posted and they are so special to me...this one today, just made me smile because it is from someone who really doesn't know me that well. When my family comments I know that they love me unconditionally so of course they have nice things to say. I am posting the part that is so close to how I am feeling right now...

"When I am feeling overwhelmed and stressed, I take a break and read your blog and it puts everything in perspective and I remember what is truly important in life."

Another comment that made me smile was one that was passed on to me by a friend of mine. Her sister is going thru something similar to what I did...the bedrest in attempts to have a healthy less premature baby...but in her case it is babies! I asked how the babies were doing and she said good, mentioning her sister's conversation

"We even referred to you yesterday---I said "When you get up to pee watch all these cords and sheets so you don't fall". And she said "Like your friend Christi did". Your quotable."

I'm quotable...I love it. I certainly don't think myself an author, but if what I write can help one mommy in the situation I was, I might as well be a famous writer!

Whoo hooo

I am sooo stinkin excited...I have my first team member on my March for Babies Campaign! Without any solicitation, one of my colleagues who has admittedly followed my blog thru the ordeal of this summer, has joined my team and I have yet to solicit any participation whatsoever. Whoo hooo.

Don't feel left out you will get your invite too. I was just wanting everyone to be able to enjoy their holiday season and then plead for participation in one way or another come the beginning of the year!

If you want to see what I am talking about, check out Team Gunner here.

Six Month Stats...

(Good question Gunner, yes, these people are really your relatives...as mommy makes goo goo faces at you!)

"Little" Gunner had his 6 month well-baby exam this morning at 8 am...wow, that is early when you have to drag 2 kids out of much needed sleep!

He is getting to be BIG boy Gunner...he is on the Full Term Baby charts, and not just at the 1%, but even better. He is now:

• 15 lbs!!!! which is the 6th percentile for (FULL TERM babies)
• 25 1/2 inches!!!! which is the 7th percentile for (FULL TERM babies)
• And head circumference is the 12th percentile for (FULL TERM babies)

Let's compare....Greyson at 6 months, was 16 lbs, 24 1/2 inches! So this boy is growing like a weed! Wooo hooo....The only downside of this is, as I predicted, he will be getting $750 shots instead of $500 shots come January as they are based on weight.

In terms of development, he is right where a 5 month old baby should be, which is great since he is actually only 4 months and some change. He is making steady progress and they are extremely pleased with his growth (4 lbs and 3 inches in 2 months...they better be!)

We will be working on more tummy time to build his neck and get him ready to get moving and rolling. He is so close, but no cigar to rolling. He gets all up on his side and then rocks back down.

We will also be trying some solids (ie runny oatmeal milk) over Christmas break to see how that goes. If it is a hit, we will go for squash or sweet potatoes, which were Greyson's favorites!

I tried and tried to take a picture of Gunner with Santa hat on, but it was much more fun to eat than wear, as you can see by the pic!

It's official...our walk has been scheduled

Gunner's Team will be recuriting for the Battle Creek Walk on April 17, 2010....save the date!!!

This is what I got for my birthday this year....

I must say it is one of the sweetest gifts ever!! You know, the non-monetary kind...I had a great day, spent with my boys who took care of me, and a great date night with Daddy. Cards and well wishes from lots of people.