The Andrew Report

Andrew is doing really well. We took him to see Santa Claus and he was not sure what to think.

Andrew-7 months old

Andrew's very first bowl of cereal. He was not sure what to think.

Andrew's first Thanksgiving.

Our little boy is growing so fast.  Andrew now rolls over frequently and is working on rolling in the other direction.  I believe he is a little spoiled; he does not like to be by himself.  Andrew is probably around 15lbs., he was 13 lbs. 6 oz. about 3 weeks ago.  He is already loving the Christmas lights and continues to be curious about everything.  He loves to pull on all of the ornaments on the tree.  It is so cute.  Andrew was sleeping through the night, but has decided that his mommy does not need to sleep through the night.  He now likes to eat once during the night, but goes right back to sleep.  I am still struggling with getting Andrew to take naps.  Our little boy is still a charmer.  He is such a blessing to our family and brings so much joy and laughter to our lives.  I cannot wait for Christmas with Andrew and family.  I must go to bed.

The Andrew Report

Andrew is ready for bed
Andrew's little friend Caroline

Andrew went for his 6 month checkup last Friday and he was 13lbs. 6oz. and 24.5 inches long. What a big boy!! He is doing so well and makes us so happy. He smiles all of the time and is very verbal. He has found his voice and has a high pitch squeal that he likes to practice. He is very close to rolling over. He continues to only sleep for 30-40 minutes at a time during the day. This makes it hard for his mommy to get anything done during the day. I spend a lot of time trying to get little Andrew to take a nap. I believe he thinks he is going to miss something if he sleeps to long. Andrew was sleeping through the night, but lately has been waking up once during the night. Darin has been out of town for about a week and comes home today. Thank goodness, we are looking forward to seeing him this afternoon.

Andrew-6 months old

Grandma and the little pumpkin
My best attempt at an Andrew size birthday cake.
                                                                             The fam

Darin and I decided to celebrate Andrew's 6 month birthday this past Sunday.  I make a little cake and Grandma, Grandpa and GG came to help celebrate.  We had lunch at Applebee's and cake at the house.  Then it was off  to work for Darin.

Andrew's Adventures

Darin has been working a lot lately, so Andrew and I keep ourselves busy.  We stayed with Grandnana and Granddaddy last week when Darin was out of town.  We had a blast taking some fall pictures on the McKinney Square.  It was a beautiful day.

Updates on the Deavers

I thought this picture was hilarious with Dylan the duck.
Andrew is about to go cruising the neighborhood on a sunny day.
Andrew watching his blinking and singing star.  It is his favorite toy.

Andrew in his new airplane overalls from Grandnana.  They looked adorable on him.

Andrew has had a few adventures lately.  I have not figured out how to get the text below the pictures.  I will have to wait on Darin for that one.  There is a picture of Andrew in his new highchair.  I wanted him to be able to sit with us at the table.  He was not too crazy about it the first time.   Andrew is getting stronger and is able to hold his head up fairly well.  We have a blast playing with him and watching him grow. 

All is well with the Deavers.  Andrew is keeping us quite busy these days and likes to be entertained  most of the time.  He has had lots of adventures and is so much fun.  He is so cute, I just can't stand it.  He likes his car rides, although he has not had any long ones yet.  We plan to take him to Longview soon to see the grandparents.  I could not resist putting so many pictures.  Darin  and I were even able to go on a date last night with the Greenwoods.  It was great.

Andrew is talking to his toys.
Look Andrew is ready for prep school.
Andrew is a very busy boy these days. He is doing a lot of smiling and grinning. He talks to his animals and is entertaining himself. He keeps his momma busy during the day and loves to look out any window. Andrew is healthy and putting on the weight. We are guessing he is around 12-13 pounds? We sure are having fun with Andrew. I promise to blog often.

All is well with Andrew at home. He is definitely getting more playful and active. He is smiling really big at his mom and dad. He loves to swing and likes to fall asleep in it, not his crib. He has almost doubled his weight since coming home. Andrew and mom get out of the house for a few outings a week to keep sane. We figured we would do our outings before cold and flu season begins. Andrew met his new friend, Caroline Rose, she is a cutie. Maybe someday Andrew will have some cousins. Hint, hint.

The Andrew Report

We are sorry for the delay in blogging. Life is busy at the Deaver household. Andrew is so sweet and growing like a weed. Andrew is sleeping well at night, usually just getting up once or twice to eat.

Andrew had his last eye exam for awhile last week. The blood vessels are developed and his retinopathy has resolved. Thank the Lord. Andrew had a doctors appointment this week and received his four month shots. He handled it like a big boy. He is now 8 1/2 pounds and almost 21 inches long. The doctor advised for him not to gain weight too fast. His thyroid levels came back normal this time. Yeah!

Most exciting of all he has started smiling at his mom and dad. He has the sweetest little grin. Andrew sure enjoys his swing, thanks Ashley.

Mom is continuing to get out of the house and has enjoyed time with the girls. Andrew was excited to meet two great Aunts this week-Aunt Jean and Aunt Emily.

Grandnana and Grandma have continued to help out and provide some relief for Darin and I. We sure are happy about that and never turn them away.

Andrew attended his first birthday party, Uncle Dallas's party on Sunday. He stole the show.

Andrew is excited that he has a new friend coming soon-baby Ruby.

We hope all is well with your families.

The Andrew Report

Today was a busy day for the Deaver family.  It all began at 3:00 a.m. with the first meal of the day, followed by the second meal at 5:30 a.m.  But there was more to come... today was PICTURE DAY.  Mom managed to squeeze in a bath (for Andrew) by 8:30 and we were on the road to the studio by 8:45.

Of course, Andrew was a model model - very photogenic if I do say so myself.  And a good sport to boot.  Here are a few of the pics.

Andrew also had another check-up today with Dr. D.  He weighed in today at a hefty 7 lbs 2 oz. and was up to 19 3/4 in.  I think his mom is very proud of him.

Yesterday he rolled over by himself (sort of).  Sometimes he tries to help hold the bottle, but he still needs some practice on that.

He has had several visitors over the last few weeks and has enjoyed them all.  He keeps asking about Carrie P., though, wondering if she is ever going to come see him.

We enjoyed having Grandnana Sara stay with us for a week.  Granny Kidd also got to put in some babysitting time last week.  We appreciated the help.

And just because you can never have too many pictures, here are a few more that Justin took a couple of weeks ago.

It has been a good month.

Darin, Meredith, and Andrew

Andrew's First Week Home

Mr. Andrew has been home a week and I am just now finding the time to post an update.  I think that about says it all.

Turns out that Andrew is a rather fickle eater and we have been having a hard time syncing up with him on the feeding schedule.  The doctors have told us to feed him at least once every three hours, but he prefers to do things in his own good time.  If he's not ready to eat, he puts a padlock on those lips of his and there's no getting in.

He had his first visit to the pediatrician on Monday and everything checked out fine.  In spite of his fickle eating, we managed to put another 10 ounces on him in five days.  So as of Monday, he weighed in at 5 lbs 15 oz.

He also got his eyes checked out again yesterday.  That was a rather unpleasant experience for all of us, but the doctor said his eyes are improving and they should be fine.  He has another appointment for a follow-up at the end of the month.

Given the three-hour feeding schedule, neither Meredith nor I have had a good night's sleep in a while, so we finally called in the calvary.  We are looking forward to some relief from Grandnana Sara early next week.

Thanks to Uncle Julio for dinner tonight!

It was a rough week, but a good week.

NICU Day 68 - Discharged!

Day 68.  The last day in the NICU is finally here.  The doctor finally saw Andrew around noon today and gave him the green light.  We left the hospital around 4:30 with our precious 5 lb 5 oz cargo...

and all made it home safe and sound around 5.   The paparazzi was there to greet us...

Home, Sweet Home!

So far the big guy is taking it all in stride.

He has already had two dinners, a bath, and a nap tonight.

There are a few more pictures in the NICU album, but today's pictures are in a new album.

Thanks again to everyone for their support and encouragement (and all the wonderful food).  We couldn't have made it without you.

Check back here for regular updates - but not daily updates.  For the really adventurous reader, I think you can even subscribe to the blog, using this link or the Atom link at the bottom of the page, so you can receive the posts right in your inbox or news reader.

It was definitely a good day.  That is all.

NICU Day 66

Day 66. I thought the day would never come, but the MDs and the RNs
are actually using the "H" word and Andrew is taking his second car
seat test tonight. He should be home by Wednesday - Thursday at the
latest.

Other than that, there's not much new to report tonight.

It was a good day.

That is all.

NICU Day 64

Day 64.  Happy birthday to Andrew again!  Nine weeks old today (that's 38 weeks gestational).  5 lbs 3 oz tonight.

It was another exciting Saturday night at the NICU tonight.  First we gave Mr. Andrew a bath and then I fed him a bottle, which he handled well tonight.  Then, after he told me all about the car seat manual he read today, he took a short nap in the recliner with me before we had to leave for the night.

We are still optimistic that he will be home within a week, but nobody will tell us for sure.

It was a good day.  That is all.

NICU Day 63

Day 63.

Another day gone by in the NICU.  Andrew was advanced to 6 oral feedings a day.  He continues to do well, but is a little inconsistent with the feedings.  Andrew did not finish his bottle at the 2pm feeding today.  With all things considered the little guy is doing darn well.  All of the nurses keep telling us that all of the sudden a lightbulb goes off in their little heads.  So I asked Darin tonight if he thought Andrew's lightbulb had gone off.  He replied I think he has a dimmer switch.  The feedings are taking a little longer because Andrew was born at 29 weeks and does not have the energy stores like a term baby.  He still tires very easily.  His parents are very proud of him. Darin read Andrew The Three Little Pigs tonight and Andrew enjoyed it.  Thanks to Grandpa Rick for helping with the finishing touches on the nursery.  The nursery is finally ready and looks beautiful.  Andrew is going to read up on the carseat manual this weekend and we are ready to go.

A shout out to Mary Sue for the DELICIOUS chicken tetrazzani and salad.

Thanks to Grandnana Sara for the wonderful peach cobbler and fruit.

NICU Day 61

Day 61.

Aunt Stacey was able to be Andrew's nurse for the second time today.  It was a lot of fun for us all except that she had to give Andrew his immunizations.  Andrew did well with the shots but was not feeling up to par this evening.  Dad gave Andrew a bottle and he took some but did not look like he felt good.  I was very upset that my baby was not feeling well.  Andrew was just improving on his bottles and they had to give him shots.  I cannot tell you all how ready we are to take the little man home.  I just frustrated and upset, but Andrew will do things when he is ready.  His weight tonight was 2230 grams (4lbs. 14oz.).

Thanks to Aunt Stacey for taking such good care of Andrew.

NICU Day 60

Day 60.

Yes, we missed another day.  We each thought that the other was blogging last night.  Oh well...

Mom gave Andrew a bath for the second time tonight.  It sure is a lot of fun bathing the little guy.  He did not seem to mind it except that it was cutting into his feeding time.  Andrew is beginning to take feeding time very seriously, which is a good thing.  Dad gave Andrew a bottle this evening and Andrew was able to take some breaths between sucks on his own.  This is a very good sign when feeding a preemie.  Maybe, just maybe we are on our way to 6 oral feedings.  Andrew is gaining weight beautifully and he was decreased from 24 calorie milk to 22 calorie.  Andrew is now 17 inches long, no word on the weight tonight.  Please continue to keep Andrew in your thoughts and prayers.

NICU Day 58

Day 58.

I believe that the days are getting longer as we get anxious for the little man to come home.  Andrew is doing alright, he seems to be holding at 5 nipplings a day.  I believe once he starts to finish his bottles they will up him to 6 nipplings.  Hopefully that will be real soon.  Andrew spends his days sleeping like a champ with little awake time.  Andrew has a great nursery nurse taking care of him tonight. No word on the weight yet tonight.  I hope you all enjoyed the video; I thought it was hysterical.  I will make it short and sweet tonight.

That's it.

NICU Day 57

Day 57.  Happy birthday to Andrew - 8 weeks today.  And another exciting Saturday in the NICU.  Andrew ate pretty well today.  He must be doing something right, because he was up to 2155 grams (4 lbs 12 oz) tonight.  This was bath night, too, and Meredith got to bathe him for the first time.  Fortunately, I was there to capture some of the highlights...

It's been a while, but Dad also got to give Andrew another bottle tonight.

Dad finally got the Pack N Play put together today.  I thought that thing was supposed to be portable - silly me.  The video monitor is also working now; we just have to find a good place to put the camera.

As promised, I finally got caught up on picture uploads today.  And just for Andrew's #1 fan and most prolific commenter, here is a picture of the nursery...

Thanks again to Grandma Ada and Grandpa Jesse for the meals-on-wheels tonight.

It was a good day.  That is all.

NICU Day 56

Day 56.  It was a pretty quiet day at the NICU.  Andrew is doing fine - he's even looking a little chubby around the cheeks these days.

Meredith met with the occupational therapist again today to learn how to feed him (apparently the lesson was a day late).  The therapist thought he was getting a little over-stimulated and fatigued, which was interfering with his eating.  He has been doing so well that I guess we sometimes forget that he is still a preemie and still maturing.  Everybody always wants to hold him and fuss over him, but he still needs his space and his quiet time.

I know I am a little behind on my picture duties, but look for some new uploads sometime this weekend.

A special thanks tonight to Meredith for a delicious home-cooked meal - prepared right in our very own kitchen.

It was a good day.  That is all.

NICU Day 55

Day 55.

Today Andrew had a wonderful day nurse named Aunt Stacey.  She took great care of Andrew and mom rest assured that Andrew was in good hands.  Andrew is doing well, but acting like a preemie when it comes to feeding and endurance.  He is also Darin's son, so he likes to take his time with things.  Mom made poor Andrew choke this afternoon.  He was tired and I continued to give him a bottle and he choked.  I was very frightened and luckily Aunt Stacey was nearby. 

Andrew will become proficient with feeding when he is ready.  The occupational therapist saw him today and said he is doing everything he should be doing.  He even a little ahead of the game.  I must be patient and know that he truly has been a blessing and were are very impressed with his progression.  He now weighs 4lbs. 9oz.(2085 grams).

Good night.

NICU Day 54

Day 54.

Well Andrew had a quiet day today, after such and eventful day yesterday.  I gave Andrew a bottle for the first time today.  He took the bottle well and left a little.  The nurse said today that the prior two feedings Andrew had not finished his milk.  Hey, we all have our days.  However, the big guy did nurse well this evening after some persuasion.  Grandmomma Ada bought Andrew a organic bassinet today.  Grandmomma and Grandnanna took a couple of hours this evening to put it together.  It looks great!  Andrew has a big day ahead of him with a special out of town visitor.  He is just such a blessing to us and is amazing.  I have to keep this in mind as I get very anxious for Andrew's homecomming.

Andrew was 2040 grams(4 lbs. 7oz.) this evening.

A shout out to Mary Sue for a lovely and well balanced dinner. Thank you.

Hope this all makes sense, I am tired.  Good night.

NICU Day 53

Day 53. Today was pretty eventful - as far as NICU days go. Aunt Tracy showed up to be Andrew's nurse today and I'm sure she took real good care of him. I also heard he had a lot of VIPs from the newborn nursery checking up on him. I hope he passed inspection!

The doctor finally ordered the removal of his oxygen sensor today, which means one less cord to deal with. There was a couple of little hiccups today, though. Andrew is not cooperating with the feeding schedule. He just does not seem interested in eating dinner at 8. I'm afraid he takes after me and has to do everything in his own good time. And then there's the thyroid thing... I'm sure Meredith could explain the details better, but what I know is that one of his tests has been giving the doctors a little pause about his thyroid. They may have to put him on some medication to help regulate it, at least temporarily. We don't have a final decision on that yet.

We know that the homecoming moves closer every day and it seems like there is still much to do. Meredith and I have both been really busy (and really worn out) this week and the house is still a disaster after the carpet fiasco last week. I have a feeling we will be working on it all weekend.

All things considered, it was a good day.

That is all.

NICU Day 52

Day 52.

All is well with Andrew.  He continues to become more active every day.  Andrew's nurse today said, "he is something else."  I believe she was referring to how well he is doing with his feedings.  Andrew is now taking 43cc every 3 hrs.  I am hoping that the doctors will up his oral feedings from every 6 hrs. tomorrow.  I am sure ready for Andrew to get out of the hospital.  I know Andrew is ready to have his parents around full time.  Dad got to hold Andrew for awhile this evening and he did not hold still.  He is very interested in looking at all of the lights and swinging those arms around.  He is the cutest baby ever!  No word on the weight tonight.  It's bedtime for me.

Good night.

NICU Day 51

Day 51.

Wow, 51 days has passed and it sure has felt like 51.  Andrew is adjusting to his new room and getting the hang of things.  Andrew has another new roommate this evening.  I believe it is like the 6th roommate he has had.  Andrew is becoming very animated these days and it is fun to watch his facial expressions.  Dad had some great father-son time with Andrew this evening and even got a smile.  The little guy left a card for his dad as well.  

We received good news today that Andrew passed this hearing screen.  As far as feedings go, he is now up to feeding by mouth every 6 hrs.  This is great news, he has to be feeding by mouth every 3 hrs. to come home.  It cannot come soon enough.  I am beginning to see the light! 

Andrew now weighs a grand total of 4 lbs. 5 oz. (1975 grams).

Happy Father's Day to all of the dads!  

NICU Day 50

Day 50.  Yes - we missed a day.  We were both a little run down and under the weather by blog-time last night.

Yesterday was a pretty big day for Andrew, though.  He got a new room in the "step-down" NICU and he took a whole bottle for the first time last night.  It was a big day for the grandmothers, too, since they both got to hold him for the first time.  Grandnana Sara claims the nurse just dropped him in her lap and should couldn't do anything about it.  I'm not sure how Grandma Ada pulled it off, but she managed to get her turn in, too.

Today Andrew had quite a few out-of-town visitors.  Grandpa Dan and Grandma Laura made a second appearance, while Great Grandmother Meme and Aunt Dee Anna finally got their first peek.  Unfortunately, Andrew was pretty sleepy this afternoon and barely opened his eyes for anyone.

It's getting late again, so...

That is all.

NICU Day 48

Day 48. All quiet at the NICU. Andrew crossed the 4 lb mark last night, hitting 1815 grams, and is doing well in his open crib so far. I think we are in the home stretch.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the carpet installers worked all day putting in Andrew's new floor and I think the nursery is just about finished. If I could only get that monitor thingy set up...

Thanks to Grandnana Sara and Grandpa Rick for helping out with the carpet ordeal today. And thanks to Laurie for dinner tonight.

That is all.

NICU Day 47

Day 47.
Well lots to talk about today. First of all, Andrew graduated to a big boy crib this afternoon. Darin went this evening and there he was sleeping in a big boy bed. He is keeping his temperature up so far. Andrew will get to wear sweet little oufits now. I know he will do great. Dad was able to bottle feed Andrew for the very first time this evening. It was Andrew's second bottle and he did well as always. Darin said he took almost an ounce in 15 minutes and he learned how to burp Andrew. Mom stayed behind this evening to prepare the house for new carpet being installed tomorrow. This was kind of a last minute decision to get the house ready for Andrew. Well I better get busy. Carrie P. are you still around?
A shout out to Iris for the wonderful soup.
Good night.

NICU Day 46

Day 46. Wow - 46 days seems like a long time, but it really has passed quickly (for me anyway). Not much new to report on the NICU front today, except that Mr. Ogletree finally paid Andrew a visit today. He is still in his incubator and still growing, getting closer to home by the minute.

Thanks to Grandma Ada for bringing us dinner... again.

That is all.

NICU Day 45

Day 45.

Today was  a good day for Andrew.  He is continuing to grow like a champ.  He was 1760 grams(3lbs.  14 oz.) this evening, mother got to help weigh him.  Andrew received yet another eye exam this afternoon and the results were the same as previously.  He has stage 1 retinopathy which will resolve by the time his eyes are fully grown.  He continues to breastfeed well.  We had nurse Ron for the first time last night and a nurse that did not show up this evening.  However, they were able to find Andrew a nice nurse Kim.  We are continuing to count down the days until Andrew's arrival at home. Can't wait...

Good night.

NICU Day 44

Day 44. All is quiet on the NICU front - another good day for Andrew. He is just eating and growing -- up to 1710 grams (3 lbs 12 oz) today. He should be in an open crib in the next day or two.

On the home front, we have been busy getting the house ready for the big day. Meredith did some more decorating in the nursery, and Meredith and Grandma Ada put together his ExerSaucer.   This one took some brain power...

But they did a great job!

That things got more bells and whistles than a Cadillac.  Dad is running out of time to put together his Pack 'N Play and his fancy video monitor, but someone had to read him to sleep tonight!

Thanks to the Greenwoods for lunch today.

That is all.

NICU Day 43

Day 43.

Well today was a very happy day for us. Andrew's nurse let us know this morning that Andrew was being weighed on a broken scale. The scale is on the isolette that he was put in on monday. I was questioning his weight all week, but no one would listen to me until now. Momma knows best, right? The real weight 1645-1660 grams( 3 -10 1/2). He will be in an open crib this week I imagine. Andrew nursed extremely well today for his age. Of course he always impresses his mother. We continue to be extremely blessed by how well he is doing. Today is his 35 week birthday by the way and he is 6 weeks old. Dad is kangarooing with him at this time. Some of Andrew's visitors were not able to come today. We will see them next weekend though. Carrie P. even though you are on vacation, I still expect comments. Thank you for being so faithful with the comments, we enjoy reading them. Please keep Andrew in your prayers.

NICU Day 42

Day 42.
Well, let's see what is new. Andrew continues to look cuter and cuter. He is now focusing on faces a little more than before and seems to know that there is someone starring in his isolette. Andrew's weight gain continues to be a little slow. He weighed in at 1524 grams this evening, I am hopeful that it will pick up soon. The doctor told me today that his anemia could be contributing to the slow weight gain as well. He will have his labs checked again on monday... He is tolerating his formula well the nurses say. Dad is with Andrew having a visit this evening. Andrew has a big day planned tommorrow with visits from the out of town grandparents, aunt and great grandmother. He is the cutest boy ever; I would like to sneak him out of the NICU. Goodnight and have a good weekend.

NICU Day 42

NICU Day 41

Day 41.
It has been a long day for Darin and I . Darin is working very late tonight, so you will hear from Andrew's mom. Andrew is doing okay, he has not gained weight in the last 5 days. The doctor is going to give him half breastmilk and half formula to see if his weight starts to come up. I guess I am starving the little guy, I feel bad. On a lighter note, the doctor says he looks good. He is looking alot longer to me these days. The weight tonight was 1519 grams.
Thats all folks.

NICU Day 40

Day 40. It was a slow day in the NICU -- no new orders, no real weight change. If the scale was accurate, Andrew actually lost 2 grams today.

Thanks to the Rubys for yet another delicious home-cooked meal tonight.

Mom and dad are pretty tired tonight, so...

That is all.

NICU Day 39

NICU Day 39.

Andrew had a busy day with another roommate moving in this evening. Mom got to breastfeed  Andrew two times today.  He seems to be a fast learner and the lactation consultant was impressed.  I was not surprised at all because Andrew always does well.  When Andrew's roommate was moving in today he was out of his box he got a little overstimulated with all of the noise.  

My little boy is so sweet and I am getting very anxious to take him home.  It is extremely hard to have to leave him there after such wonderful visits.  I am trying to stay strong, just a few weeks hopefully.

I want to give a shout out to Debbie C. for the wonderful chicken spaghetti that she made yesterday.  Thank you and sorry the shout out is a day late.

It is bedtime, see you tomorrow.

NICU Day 38

Day 38.  This was a pretty busy day for the big guy.  Andrew got his first bottle for breakfast and Mom was there to capture all the action in digits...

We also got orders to start feeding him au naturel twice a day this week - don't count on pictures of that!  He has been maintaining his own temperature pretty well for a while now, so he graduated to a new big boy box today.  It's still an incubator, but it doesn't have a built-in heater or a lot of bells and whistles.

He is doing well and looking healthy.  What more could we ask for?

That is all.

NICU Day 37

NICU Day 37.

Andrew had a good Sunday and is doing well. His weight is still 1500 grams (3lbs. 5oz.). He was measured tonight and he is now 15 3/4 inches long, from 13 1/2 at birth. I was holding him today and thinking that he was looking quite a bit longer.

Andrew got a bath yesterday evening, laying down in a basin. The nurse claims that he liked it; however, he does not like his face or bottom cleaned. Who does? Andrew is now eating 32cc every 3 hrs. I am anxious to see Andrew's bottle feeding tomorrow. The nurse this evening said that she was going to take Andrew's feeding tube out of his mouth and put it in his nose. My poor boy, it makes me said to think about that. He is very strong and luckily he will not remember these things. Mom is tired and going to bed.

Good night.

NICU Day 36

Day 36. 5 weeks old; 1500 grams. Need I say more?

NICU Day 35

Day 35.

Andrew and his mother had fun today in the NICU.  Andrew did some more nuzzling and is getting the hang of things.  He sure enjoys his pacifier and goes to town on it.  Hopefully we can break that habit when he comes home.  We'll see...  The little man sure smelled clean and had fluffy hair today.  I think he is extremely handsome; however, I am a little biased.  

Andrew continues to do well with his oxygen levels and heart rate.  Good news, on monday Andrew will have his first nipple feeding.  The occupational therapist will do it with a little milk in the bottle.  This is to make sure he knows how to suck, breath and swallow safely.  I am sure he will do great as always.  He continues to make his parents extremely proud.  Father Darin will be visiting his son this evening.  Mother Meredith will be at home doing chores and then to bed.

I would like to send my kicks out to Wayne and Ashley for the wonderful barbeque dinner this evening.  Thanks so much.

I hope everyone has a good weekend!

NICU Day 34

Day 34. A quiet day in the NICU. Mom and baby started "nuzzling" today. That's all I have to say about that.

Andrew is still behaving himself - breathing on his own and all. He gained another 20 grams today, so he is now at 1410 grams (3 lbs. 2 oz.). He got an early bath tonight and was already sound asleep when I got there. I don't think he moved a muscle while I was there.

I think we are probably about halfway home by now, but his nurse tonight was a little more optimistic and thinks we are a little closer than that.

Speaking of home, Grandnana Sara delivered Andrew's bookshelf today. The nursery is getting pretty full. If only he had a mattress to sleep on when he makes it home...

I don't like to shout at people that bring me food, but Meredith wants to give Grandma Ada a "shout out" for bringing us dinner tonight.

That is all.

NICU Day 33

Day 33.  Andrew had an eye exam today and the doctor tells us that he has mild retinopathy, which is common in premature infants.  They will keep an eye on it (no pun intended), but it should improve as his eyes develop.  And so far he is breathing well without his nasal cannula.  I hardly recognized him tonight without that tube under his nose or all of the tape on his face.  His legs have been getting pretty chunky for a while, but now his face and shoulders are starting to fill out a little, too.  No weight report yet tonight, though.  My guess is 5 lbs...

That is all.

NICU Day 32

Day 32.  Dad didn't get to see Andrew today because he had to work late tonight, but Mom says he had a good day with her.  She sang to him and she swears he liked it.  She also claims he smiled at her.

The doctors removed his nasal cannula and he seemed to be breathing OK this afternoon.  He is scheduled for an eye exam tomorrow.  The doctor told Meredith that he wasn't really at high risk for any eye complications, but we still worry.  Keep your fingers crossed.

That is all.

NICU Day 31

Day 31.  Happy Birthday to Andrew.  Hard to believe, but he is one month old today.  Coincidentally (or not) he is also a 3-pound baby today.  Congrats to Mr. Andrew. 

He had quite a few visitors today for the big occasion, including first-timers Uncle Justin, Uncle Dallas, and Aunt Carrie.  He was a sleepy guy today - not one of them saw his eyes open.  I guess all that growing really takes it out of you.

We also made some progress on his room at home this weekend.  I got his crib (sans mattress) ready for him this weekend and Grandnana Sara is putting the finishing touches on a bookshelf he inherited from his great-great-great Aunt Goldina.

New pictures are also up just in time for the birthday party.  (Note: the URL has changed so be sure to update your bookmarks.)

That is all.

NICU Day 30

Day 30.

Andrew is doing well these days; however, it was a rough time when his parents arrived today.  I attempted to change Andrew's diaper and it somehow ended up all over the inside of the isolette.  At the same time Andrew was spitting up and his sats were dropping.  After all of this Andrew got a bed change and new feeding time.  Welcome to baby world, right?

Andrew still has his nasal cannula; the doctor tells us he is still breathing shallow.  It will be nice when he is able to let go of that.  He sure has a time keeping it in his nose.  Andrew spent some awake time with his dad today. Andrew is now up to 1270 grams(2 lbs. 13 oz.).  Darin is with Andrew this evening.  We look forward to the day we can have baby Andrew home with us.

A shout out to grandpa Rick and Grandnana Sara for a wonderful dinner and strawberry pie.

Comments anyone?

NICU Day 29

Day 28 and 29. Yes - we missed a day. Meredith told me she was going to take care of the blog last night while I was spending time in the NICU. Instead, she went to sleep.

While she was sleeping, though, Andrew managed to put on another 10 grams. He now weighs 1240 grams - 2 lbs 12 oz.

Thanks to the Smiths for the wonderful Mexican fare and brownies last night.

NICU Day 27

Day 27.  Another good day.  Meredith got to spend quite a bit of awake time with Andrew this afternoon.  We've started working on his sucker by giving him a pacifier at meal times, which is supposed to make him associate sucking with food.  He has to get that down before they will stop feeding him through a tube.  Sometimes he doesn't seem to have any interest in the pacifier at all, but Meredith said he really went to town on it today.

I took the night shift again.  The nurse was pretty busy with his roommate tonight, so she had not weighed him yet before I left.  He sure is looking like a big boy, though.

Thanks to Grandma Ada and Grandpa Jesse for driving all the way out just to deliver dinner tonight.

That is all.

NICU Day 26

Day 26.  All is quiet on the NICU front.  Andrew was right where I left him last night and still asleep.  He did change his hat, though, and he got a little fatter, too - 1190 grams.  His breathing is improving a little, but he still gets a steady air flow through his nasal cannula and oxygen when he needs a little help.

Meredith and I went to see him together tonight.  She has a hard time just letting him sleep, but she behaved pretty well.  I think she only went for the port covers once tonight.

On the home front, Grandpa Richard and Grandnana Sara came today to help spruce up the nursery a little.  Grandnana Sara also cooked dinner for us.  It's always a treat when Grandnana Sara cooks!

That is all.

NICU Day 25

Day 25. All is quiet on the NICU front. Meredith is still recovering from her trip to the endodontist, but she was back on kangaroo duty today anyway. What a trooper!

Tonight was bath night for Andrew (not me). By the time I got there, though, he was already sound asleep. His weight was up just a little tonight, too - 1170 grams. Every gram is a good gram...

That is all.

NICU Day 24

Day 24.
Darin and I took some time to ourselves this evening. Darin has been up in the NICU very late the last 5 evenings. I take the day shift and Darin takes the evening shift it seems.

Andrew lost his PICC line this afternoon, he loves having two free arms now. This is a great step forward for Andrew. Last night his weight was 1140 grams - tonight it's up to 1150. He has also quite a bit taller this week at 15 inches!

He is looking pretty handsome these days with his clothes and hat. The nurses seem to like to dress him. The OT saw Andrew today and said that is muscle tone is appropriate for his age and his strength appropriate for his size. Andrew now sucks on the pacifier a little while he is getting his feeding. However, grandnana Sara does not think that he likes it in his mouth very much. He is such a sweet and precious boy and just melts my heart.

Darin puts on a button up shirt even on the weekends and says he is wearing his kangaroo shirt. He is hopeful that it is his day to kangaroo. What a great dad!
I have one less tooth this evening with 9 stitches in my mouth after my trip to the endodonist.

Good night! Keep praying for Andrew.

NICU Day 23

Day 23. Another quiet day in the NICU. I'm sure everyone is bored by now, but boring is good for us.

Andrew's weight was down a little last night - 1100 grams - but he is still digesting his food quite well. No update on his weight yet tonight.

On another front, I think Meredith got some much needed rest today. Tomorrow she gets a little one-on-one time with her endodontist. I know she can't wait...

That is all.

NICU Day 22

Day 22. Happy birthday to Andrew again - three weeks old today! What a difference a few weeks can have...

I am spending another lovely evening here in the the good ol' MCD NICU with my favorite son. I got to hold him for about an hour again tonight and we had a blast.

No other news tonight. The PICC line isn't out yet and the nurse hasn't weighed him yet. I did get a few new pics posted on the Internets, though, including some good close-ups at bath time on Thursday.

That is all.

NICU Day 21

Day 21.

Well Andrew's mom is blogging tonight because Andrew is having some father-son time in the recliner. Andrew wiggles around when I hold him and is starting to make little baby noises. Usually dad comes by himself in the evening. Darin enjoys his one on one time with the baby. I nap in the evenings or catch up on the chores.
Andrew is 1120 grams (2 lbs 8 oz) this evening. Andrew is now on high calorie milk at
24 cal/oz. He is so sweet, I just want to kiss on him, scoop him up and bring him home. Tomorrow he will be three weeks old. That's exciting. Andrew seems to be awake more frequently now that he is a little older. The nurses say that Andrew might be refluxing a little, he has little "episodes" after his feedings. He should grow out of that.
Andrew officially has a place to call his own, we picked up the crib today. Hopefully, dad can put it together soon.
A shout out to Grandparents Jesse and Ada for taking us in the truck to pick up the crib. Also, thanks to G-G Bonnie for the wonderful shimp casserole, it was great!
Thanks for all of the prayers and support.

NICU Day 20

Day 20. I'm bloggin' bedside via crackberry tonight, so please forgive any typos.

Today was pretty uneventful in the old NICU. We don't have an update on the weight yet tonight. I think the only significant change today was the order to administer his caffeine orally, which means that he is no longer receiving anything intravenously. Barring anything unexpected, his PICC line should be coming out soon. Another good day.

As promised, I also posted some new pictures at the usual location.

That is all.

NICU Day 19

Day 19. Alright, so he's back up past 1100 again tonight - 1110 grams. They got rid of his TPN and lipids today, which is a big step for him. No more artificial nutrition. He also got to wear his first shirt tonight. All-in-all, another good day for Andrew.

I've been a little worried about his head being flat from laying on one side or the other all the time, but the nice nurse tonight explained that the two halves of his little skull still aren't fused together. Apparently he is not quite as hard-headed as his old man and he has a big soft spot that allows his skull to be a little more flexible. Long story short, it should all be OK in the end and I shouldn't worry.

Thanks to the Woodburys for lunch today. The cake was excellent.

Baby's asleep. Mom's asleep. Dad's going to sleep. New pictures tomorrow - I promise.

That is all.

NICU Day 18

Day 18.

Andrew is looking so good these days and is filling in nicely. Dr. Schwendeman informed me this morning that last nights weight of 1140 grams was incorrect. He said that they reweighed Andrew and he was 1060 grams, that was after 3 stools. Andrew is becoming more predictable, he starts squirming and opening his eyes about 30 minutes before his feeing. He is a smart guy and knows he is waiting on something good. I believe that today Andrew received last bag of TPN and lipids and by Thursday he will be on what they call "full feeds". Andrew got 2 new pillows today, one for his tummy and one for his head. Dad is with Andrew tonight, probably trying to sneak in some kangarooing.

Thanks to the Ruby's and Karen J. for not letting us go hungry today.

The dinner was delicious, and very good watermelon by the way.

NICU Day 17

Day 17. Today was another good day. Mom spent most of the afternoon with Andrew, and Dad just got home from spending a little quality alone time with him this evening.

Mr. Andrew continues to pack on the lbs, smashing through the 1100 gram barrier tonight - 1140 grams to be precise. That's a little over 2.5 lbs. The nurses also took some other measurements last night. He grew another 1.5 cm long and that big brain of his pushed his head circumference out another 1.5 cm, too. So, for the record, he is now 35.5 cm tall/long (about 14 in.) and his head circumference is 25.5 cm.

No real problems to report so far. The doctors and nurses have had to continue to tweak his oxygen and airflow to keep his saturation levels up, but that may be partly because the surfactants they gave him when he was born could be wearing off and he is not quite mature enough to make his own yet. We'll have to keep an eye on it, but he should start improving in a couple of weeks when he does start making his own.

Be sure to check out the card from Andrew that I added to last night's post. (And despite what Mom says, I did not neglect her yesterday. I did take her out to dinner.)

Good night, and good luck.

NICU Day 16

Day 16.

Well, I am embarrassed to say that Andrew did not get a visit from his parents on Mother's Day. Darin and I were not feeling well and wanted to make sure we were not passing anything along. He had one of the favorite nurses today, so I felt comfortable. He is up to 12cc a feeding this evening and the nurse tonight said his belly looked a little full. I am hoping for a poop tonight. The nurses keep trying to give him a pacifier while his feeding is going; however, he does not really suck on it. Andrew left me a sweet Mother's day present with his footprints on it. He is already doing better than his dad in the gift department.

Andrew weighs a total of 1070 grams(2 lbs. 5.5 oz.). Gotta go, its pumping time.

NICU Day 15

Day 15. Happy birthday to Andrew! He is two weeks old today (31 weeks gestational).

And speaking of birthdays, Grandnana Sara walked in on him while he was in his birthday suit taking a bath tonight! Doesn't anyone knock anymore?

Mom got to hold him again today, so the score is now 3-1. He hit the 1000 gram mark last night and he was 1020 grams tonight, so he is definitely making progress.

The complaint department (Stacy) tells me that I'm not getting pictures up fast enough and not putting them in the right place, but Big Daddy is overworked, underpaid, and just plain tired tonight. (It was actually Big Momma's turn to blog tonight, but she played the I'm-too-tired-and-have-to-pump-every-three-hours card.) I'll try to do better next week. Good night, and good luck!

NICU Day 14

Day 14. It's official - his eyes are open. I saw both of them today. He is still stable and growing. Last night he weighed 970 grams (about 2 lbs 2 oz). And by the way, dad finally got to hold him for about an hour today. Mom - 2, dad - 1.

Thanks to Grandma Ada for another home-cooked meal tonight. I don't think we ever had this much home cooking, even before Mr. Andrew came along.

Tomorrow we celebrate the end of two weeks in the NICU and one week closer to home.

NICU Day 13

Day 13.

Today has been a little stressful for us all, especially Andrew. It started out with a call from the doctor that Andrew was going to receive blood today. Andrew's breathing has still been fast and his oxygen levels are still dropping some. His momma sat for six hours watching his monitors and keeping an eye on his nurse. His nurse was a little rough with Andrew today, so his mom asked to do some of his care today. When we left this afternoon Andrew was breathing a little easier; however, by tonight trouble began again. From what I hear things will be up and down until he comes home. At this point I am hoping the time passes fast and I am enjoying my little blessing everyday. Andrew tipped the scales at 970 grams tonight(2 lb. 2 oz.), a little up because of the blood. Andrew is well on his way to being a chubby little baby.

Oh, for the count the holding time remains Meredith-2, Darin-0.

Thanks to Marilyn for lunch at the French Garden today, and a shout out to Natalie B. for the wonderful dinner with wonderful dessert!

NICU Day 12

Day 12. So, the big news this morning was that Andrew crossed the 2 lb mark for the first time. He was actually 930 grams. By tonight he was back down to 880 grams (Grandnana Sara must have swapped a little Slim-Fast (tm) for his milk today while the nurse wasn't looking). The doctors also removed his nasal cannula (which provided airflow to help his breathing). Unfortunately, by this evening he seemed to be having a little trouble keeping up on his own, so they had to put it back for now. All things considered, though, it was another good day for Andrew.

Mom also got to hold him today - again. Dad still did not. For those of you keeping count (like me), that's Mom -2 and Dad - 0. Something doesn't seem quite right... what does a dad have to do to get a little r-e-s-p-e-c-t around here? Am I gonna have to start lactating before I get to hold the little guy or what??

NICU Day 11

Day 11.

Andrew continues to amaze us everyday. He is a very strong boy and a fighter. Andrew is up to 4cc every 3 hrs for feedings and was able to poop on his very own today. His mom was very proud of him for this. He looks like he is all belly and continues to be a little squirmer. He was able to cuddle with his momma for the first time today and he loved it. He did not move much, but he did drop his heartrate a few times and that was it for the cuddling session. We received wonderful news that his head ultrasound was normal, that was a huge relief. All of the alarms continue to shake up grandnana Sara. It was another good day in the NICU, thanks be to God.

NICU Day 10

Day 10. Today was another good day for Andrew. The doctors increased his milk to 3 ccs every three hours and cut off the humidifier in his isolette. He also graduated to a real blanket. I think he slept all day wrapped up in that blanket.

Last night I learned that the little guy had grown half a centimeter over the last week. Tonight he weighed 830 grams.

Tomorrow is going to be a big day for all of us. He gets a head ultrasound in the morning to make sure there is no bleeding in his big brain. And if all goes well, at least one of us should also get to hold him for a little while tomorrow afternoon. (I hope Meredith gets to hold him some, too.)

NICU Day 9

Day 9.

Today was a good day for Andrew, mom and dad. Andrew's personality is definitely beginning to show. Andrew had to wear a urine bag for the third time today and he was not happy about it. Andrew wiggled and threw his arms and legs around like crazy. Andrew's PICC line is looking good. Andrew is up to 1.5cc of milk every 3 hrs, tummy is looking good. We are still not sure about sweet Andrew's eyes, whether they are open or not. He weighed in at 1 lb. 11 oz. (770 gms.) He is the sweetest little guy ever and we could not be more proud.

Thanks to Carrie D. for baking us muffins, cookies and banana bread(yum) and to Aunt Jean for the soup. Thanks to Darin for the clean clothes.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

NICU Day 8

Day 8. Today kicks off week 2 for the newest member of the family. We were starting to worry a little bit yesterday about his stomach digesting his food properly, but everything seems to have improved today. The doctors have resumed feeding him milk in smaller doses. He weighed in today at a hefty 760 grams. Scattered reports of seeing his eyes open continued to trickle in from the nurses. We still have not seen them.

The nurse gave him a bath this evening and he was resting comfortably when I left about an hour ago.

Thanks to the Greenwoods for lunch today. Very tasty. And thanks to "Grandma Ada" for picking up the groceries.

NICU Day 7

Day 7. The end of the first week is upon us. Andrew got a little "backed up" today and the doctors cut off his milk supply for now. He eventually managed to clean out his pipes (in a big way) with a little help from his friends, but the doctors are still keeping a close eye on his stomach. His girth is getting a little larger than what the doctors consider normal. We should know more about his prognosis tomorrow.

The doctors also traded in his UAC (little tube) for a more durable PICC line (big tube), so he now has this splint-like gizmo on his right arm that keeps the new big tube in place. It looks terribly uncomfortable, but he didn't seem to mind it too much at last check.

Meredith tells me I should be asleep by now, so I guess I better call it a day before I get in trouble.

NICU Day 6

Day 6. The big news today is that the doctors bumped up Andrew's feeding to 2 ccs every three hours and he seems to be processing all of it. One of the nurses also reported seeing his eyes open today, but we've never seen them open.

The other big news story is that Meredith came home tonight and we get to sleep in our own comfy bed again. It is a bittersweet homecoming, of course, but we know there will be a second homecoming real soon and that keeps us going.

Thanks again to the Rubys for a good home-cooked meal tonight! Delicious.

NICU Day 5

Day 5 (I think). Today was a slow news day, which Dr. Treen says is a good day. We like slow news days around here. Mom did get to change Andrew's diaper, though. It seemed to be a real treat for her. Andrew continues to rest most of the day, but he lost 20 grams in the last 24 hours. The doctors tell us that weight loss is normal right now and we should not expect to see him really gain any weight for about two weeks.

Meredith was discharged today but she was not ready to go home yet. The hospital was kind enough to give her a courtesy room so we are staying at least one more night here.

NICU Day 4

Day 4. Andrew's bilirubin has come down some, so the doctors took him off the phototherapy for now. They also removed one of his tubes today and increased his feeding to 1 cc every 4 hours. He seems to be resting comfortably most of the time, as you can see from the new photos that I posted this evening.

Meredith should be discharged tomorrow night, but she is going to try to stay in a courtesy room for another night or two so she can be close to the NICU. We are both starting to get run down a little and hope to turn in early tonight.

NICU Day 3

Day 3. Good news keeps coming in on the baby front. The occupational therapist had a look at Andrew today and said "his suck was superior." The neurodevelopmental pediatrician also evaluated him and said he looked "great." All of the doctors and nurses seem to be amazed at his progress. His bilirubin levels have come down some, but not quite enough to get rid of the phototherapy. I took a few pictures of him basking in the lights today and (thanks to the Rubys and their handy-dandy card reader) posted them with the other pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/dwdeaver/Andrew?authkey=0MbNv8YNwLg. He also got his first real "meal" today.

Meredith has been a bit reclusive this week, but she is also doing well. I think she still has some pain from the surgery, but she is walking on her own today and we still plan to be home by Wednesday.

We have received lots of support from all corners and we appreciate everyone's phone calls and email messages. We look forward to the day when all of you can visit Andrew personally. I know we aren't as interesting as the little guy, but you will just have to be happy visiting with Meredith and me for now!

NICU Day 2

Day 2. Mom is up and moving about the hospital today. She ate a big breakfast after being deprived from solid food for 24 hours, and I do believe she enjoyed every last bite.

Andrew also made some progress overnight and is now breathing on his own. He's also getting a little tan under the phototherapy lights, which helps break down bilirubin to treat and prevent neonatal jaundice. Oh, by the way, I finally managed to get his inaugural photos off our camera and on to the world wide Internets: http://picasaweb.google.com/dwdeaver/Andrew?authkey=0MbNv8YNwLg

NICU Day 1

Andrew Wilson Deaver checked in early today, standing 13.5 inches and tipping the scales at 1 lb. 10 oz. He started squeaking and crying almost immediately, which is a good thing. And he came out kicking at Dr. Hyslop and peeing on everyone else, both of which are also good things. Dr. Treen checked him out in the NICU and everything looks good so far. He is on a ventilator for now, but Dr. Treen expects to move him to CPAP in the next day or two.

Meredith is also doing well and even made a short trip down to the NICU this evening to visit with Andrew. Meredith and I expect to go home on Wednesday, but Andrew will be here for at least a couple of months.

All of the doctors, nurses, and staff here have been great and have taken excellent care of all of us. We know Andrew is in good hands and we could not have asked for a better medical team.

The Andrew Report

We do not have an exact time for delivery yet, but today is the day. Meredith would appreciate a little private time for awhile, but she asks that you please continue your prayers for Andrew. He will go straight to the Neonatal ICU (NICU) and be there for quite some time.

Please feel free to hang out in the waiting room if you can't stand to stay at home. I'll be sure to let everyone know when she and/or Andrew are ready for a few visitors (in small doses of course).

I will try to give everyone another update after the delivery...

The Andrew Report

Meredith and Andrew had a good night's sleep last night and a big breakfast this morning. Both of them seem to be in good spirits this morning.

The schedule around here is a little different on the weekends, so we haven't seen the doctor yet today. We hope he comes by before noon, but we don't really know when he will show up. Look for updates later today...

The Andrew Report

For anyone that has not heard yet, Meredith and baby Andrew were admitted to the hospital on April 23, 2008.

The good doctors have told us that there is some problem with the placental perfusion. In lay terms (because that's all I know), I think they are telling us that Andrew is not getting enough oxygenated blood through the placenta. Without enough oxygenated blood he can't develop normally (for all you wikipedia and WebMD junkies, the technical term is intrauterine growth restriction or IUGR).

Andrew's gestational age is about 29 weeks, but he is small for his age because of the IUGR. He moves around a lot and seems to have a strong heartrate, which are both good signs, but his weight is extremely low and his stomach is not very developed yet. The doctors estimate that he is about two weeks behind schedule. It is likely that he would survive at this stage, but there are still significant risks of complications. Each day that he gets to stay put decreases those risks some.

So, each morning our perinatologist takes an ultrasound to see if there is any change in the perfusion. As long as there is no change, Andrew gets to stay put and Meredith just gets to take it easy for another day. As soon as there is a change for the worse, we expect the doctors to deliver him within a few hours.

In a nutshell, we wake up every morning and hope he gets another day.

I will try to post an update every morning after the ultrasound. Stay tuned.