Oh what Gunner can do...

I have had a lot of time this weekend to watch the boys and all the cool things they can do!

Greyson has amazed me with his very creative toy sorting, building and imaginative play. I have to attach pictures to demonstrate...working hard on his fine motor skills.

Gunner on the other hand is all about the gross motor skills. He is officially able to sit unassisted. Greyson and Gunner sat and played for about an hour with Gunner's toys (the stage and dinosaur)

We also got our shipment from Old Navy...thank you Uncle Marty...now here are the boys modeling their new beach gear!

He rolls to where ever he wants to go, getting ready to crawl...he tripods and lifts to the plank position. He is almost 17 lbs and 27 inches long!

8 Months...

Eight months ago, at this very moment, I noticed that there was something concerning that I had to report to the docs. They checked me out and less than an hour later I was on my way to delivery. It's is Gunner's 8 month birthday today. He seemed to celebrate with some new skills..

TRIPOD

He actually has been doing this for awhile now. He props himself up on his hands and you can see actual clearance between his belly and the floor. This is quite a feat as the boy doesn't miss a meal. He loves to eat and it shows. He is 17lbs today, down to a dry diaper. His favorite foods are anything that I make, won't touch the commercial stuff. If I sneak a bite in, he gives me the ughhh face!

SITTING (not quite unassisted)

With mommy hands on, I let him go. He balances and can sit for about 5-10 second before he leans one way or the other.

ARMY CRAWL

The boy is trying to crawl...he scoots backwards and rolls and moves to whatever he is looking for.

BROTHERLY LOVE...

I was disappointed at first that I didn't have a girl to be a big sister/helper to me when bringing Gunner home (I have always wanted boys, but upon his homecoming, I just thought that would be easier)...but Greyson is the best big helper I could ask for. He is the diaper getter, paci/toy retriever, and anything else that is preceeded by "bighelper"

MOD Kickoff

It is official....I have obviously been in denial. Denial that I am a preemie mom, yes I act the part and hibernate from germs, sanitize sterilize, see a difference in Gunner's milestone attainment...but everyday, he is a fat, healthy, and strong baby. Any outsider would never guess he is a preemie. I guess I have fallen into this mindset too, all too quickly forgetting the struggle we had to get him where he is today.

Last night, I was reminded. I went to the MOD kickoff meeting...just walking around, looking at little kids that were once preemies, meeting the ambassador family (twins born at 23 weeks 6 days, one a sweet tiny 4 year old girl, the other an angel boy), pictures on the wall, the film promoting the walk....I was a mess, unexpectedly, but very publicly...bawling. It was wonderful, but hard too.

I am even more passionate now, humbling to remember how far we have come!

I am so grateful for everyone who has pledged their support or already made a donation to our team, but if you haven't, please consider it. You can join our team by clicking this link.

If you choose to donate in lieu of walking, here are some amounts to consider:

$7, $1 for each week Gunner should have spent in the belly past when he was born

$23.10, 10-cents a day for each day Gunner was in utero (this should be a $40 donation, if he were full term)

$39, $1 a day for each day Gunner was in the NICU

$51, $1 for each week I was on bedrest, in total fear of the outcome

Gunner and his parents thank you...

33 in 33 out....weeks that is

I got an email announcing that Gunner has made it to 33 weeks of age. I don not usually pay any attention to those because he never measures up as those are for full term babies.....but, that is how far he was gestationally. 33 weeks. Now, he is 33 weeks on the outside. So 33 weeks in, 33 weeks out.

I thought that I might celebrate with some pics...

Gunner has started solids...here is him enjoying carrots...

Gunner got a belated Christmas gift...yes he is adorable...but look at that tongue. :)

This is my litle boy looking so much like his daddy's baby pics...minus the eyes. Those are mine, even though I wanted him to have Daddy's eyes, since Greyson has mine!

New Years Resolution: Healthier me, Healthier Babies

I don't think I have ever been really happy to see a new year or sad to see one go, but I can tell you 2009 has been a rollercoaster of a year for us.

On January 1 of 2009, we knew that we were excitedly completing our family. But, there was no way we would have ever dreamed that we would have a premature baby, early, maybe by a few days, not months.

We had no way of predicting that our family would be ripped apart with hospital bedrest for six weeks. An almost three year old would be tossed back and forth between family members to accomodate Mommy not being there. The same child who had up to that time never spent a night away from either of his parents.

We had no idea what the NICU was about. Surrounded by babies born way too soon, some of them to never come home.

So, instead of making the same old resolution that I often make regarding healthy choices, I am going to take that one step further. A choice that will make myself as well as babies healthier. I am resolving to create a team, participate in the March of Dimes March for Babies walk, and hit my goal of $1000 for my team. I am so excited.

You can access our team page, affectionately called TeamGunner , named after the little man that inspired this all. He is such a success story, but who knows what could have or would have been if only one variable had changed. Please check it out and consider walking with us or making a small donation. It's only 3 miles!!!

If Gunner had been Jillian...

this may be what my baby girl would have looked like...lol



Story behind this...I was wearing the headband and he was playing with it so I stuck it on his head...how stinkin cute! I thought he looked girly with the expression, headband and the most adorable long eye lashes I have ever seen!

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!