Great news! (and a little scary...)

When Bryant entered the NICU today, Ben was in an open crib! He's been doing so well that his docs decided he could regulate his body temp all on his own. Ben now weighs 4 lbs. 7 oz. (gained 4 oz. since yesterday!), and he took two whole feedings by bottle today (the rest are through his feeding tube). He's off all oxygen. And the greatest news of all...

If Ben continues to progress on this path, his doc said he may be able to come home in ONE TO TWO WEEKS!!!

Yikes! After "planning" for Ben to be home around the end of November or early December, I feel very unprepared for him to arrive early (again). Actually, I'm scared to death of the responsibility involved with caring for a tiny preemie. What if I can't feed him correctly and he chokes? What if Ben has an apnea episode (stops breathing), and we don't catch it in time? What if Jack accidentally sits on him?! The fears are endless...

And we're completely unprepared in every other way, too. We haven't even started to prepare Jack's "big boy" room so that Ben can have the nursery. I'm not really sure where our bottles, swing, bouncy seat, etc. are. And I lent out all of our burp cloths and swaddling blankets to people who were planning to return them next month. We don't have a double stroller or a baby carrier. All-in-all, I'm a horrible, unprepared, disorganized mom.

And I'm so excited that I may soon be able to hold my baby boy all day long without beeping machines and poking nurses and other crying babies everywhere.

I know all the other stuff will work itself out. God has cared for us in amazing ways thus far, and He will continue to meet our needs as they come. My house will be a wreck for many more months, but my family will finally be together and whole.

A Great Week for Ben!

It's been a while since I updated this blog, so I have a lot to report! Benjamin was working too hard to breathe last weekend, so they replaced his nasal cannula and have him on minimal oxygen. He began gaining weight rapidly and now weighs 4 lbs. 2.5 oz.!! Measuring a preemie is an inexact science, but we think he's grown about an inch in length. And because he can regulate his own body temperature a little better, he's finally allowed to wear clothes! So thank you to all of you ladies who bought him a gorgeous preemie wardrobe. The nurses are having so much fun dressing him in little t-shirts or gowns and matching hats.

Bryant's mom (Grammie) came for a visit, and Ben absolutely loved snuggling with her. She and Jack read Ben some books, and we took Jack to a pumpkin patch to pick a tiny pumpkin for Benjamin.

So Ben is doing very well. Please pray for the rest of us. Jack is quite sick with what appears to be the flu, and I'm starting to feel off. So pray that Bryant and I stay healthy and can continue to visit Ben at the hospital.

And THANK YOU to all of you who are bringing us fantastic meals, helping to care for Jack, and sending us precious gifts for Ben! You are making all of this so much easier.

Visiting Ben

Several people have asked us if it's possible to visit Ben. Ben can take guests as long as they are accompanied by Bryant or me. To make coordinating schedules easier, Bryant and I will be at Texas Children's most Sundays from at least 12:00-2:00 p.m. If you'd like to meet us there to see Ben, please call one of our cell phones (Dawn 281-468-8664, Bryant 281-702-0942). Otherwise, I'm there most days during the day, and Bryant is there some evenings right after work.

Texas Children's Hospital
West Tower, Level II NICU
Bed F117

My Handsome Boy!

It's been one month since this whole thing started!

When I walked up to Ben's bed yesterday, I thought I was looking at someone else's baby! It took me a minute to realize why he looked so different. They had removed most of the tape and stuff from his face, and I could finally really see my beautiful boy! Ben was much happier and more relaxed without all of the things pulling on his skin, and I got to know a bit more of his personality. In fact, I think we finally started to "bond" yesterday.

I've been feeling a little under the weather, so my mom was Ben's designated holder. He was so warm and content that he actually smiled several times! Ben's new doctor walked by and commented that it was wonderful to see a grandmother doing "kangaroo care" (holding skin-to-skin). He whipped out a camera and took pictures of Mom and Ben to show how happy kangaroo care makes preemies.

While spending quality time with Jack today, it struck me how very fortunate I am. Most moms don't get one-on-one time with each of their children right after they have a second baby. But I can go to the hospital to snuggle with Ben, then come home to play rockets and trains with Jack. Last night, I listened in awe as Jack gave an entire monologue about how a fireman would come to our house to push the buttons on our TV and fix it so that he could watch Mickey Mouse again. (Our TV isn't broken--I just told him that we needed to quit watching so much TV.) After dinner, we sat on the grass outside to wait for the fire truck. It was a fun parenting moment that I probably wouldn't have experienced had Ben been home with us.

And yet I'm confident that Ben WILL come home--many of the NICU parents can't hold that hope. It's a blessing to have a small, healthy baby, rather than a larger, very sick child. It's like we're watching the miracle of creation right before our eyes! I'm getting to see what normally happens to a baby in utero during the last trimester. Every day Ben changes--his skin thickens, his eye color brightens, his hairline moves, his fingernails grow, and he looks more and more like a "real" baby. I am watching God knit together my sweet son, and I am amazed.

On the Road Again!

Benjamin had a very busy day yesterday. We had family in town from Austin, so he entertained a parade of visitors. He did a great job showing off his new hat, long fingers, and big dark eyes. Even big brother Jack came for a short visit. Ben just stared and stared as Jack jabbered at him.

Late in the afternoon, a space finally opened up in the Level 2 NICU, and Ben rolled down the hall in his little isolet to his new digs! He's now in bed F117. Praise God for continued improvements!

Ben and His Elephant

We found out today that Ben may be moved to the Level 2 NICU tomorrow!

Here are some recent pics. Ben's starting to wake up for longer periods of time and looks around with WIDE eyes. In fact, for some reason, he almost never blinks--it's kinda creepy! His favorite activity is sleeping on Mommy. The hat you see in this picture barely fits on my fist and is quite big on his head. He loves his new little elephant and holds its hand while he sleeps. Very cute!

Arrrggghhh!

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

These verses really speak to me this morning. We've had a few additional issues for which we covet your prayers. Someone broke into our car last night, smashing out a window. They didn't steal anything.....but then again, why were they foolish enough to break into a Hyundai?? Bryant and Jack are sick, and I may have an infection in my incision site. And our kitchen sink hasn't worked for several days. All of these things are small and temporary, but they just add to the stress level.

Now for the good news! Benjamin is doing very well. He has continued to do well without breathing assistance, and they've now changed his feeding tube to a very thin one in his nose. (The thicker feeding tube he had in his mouth was uncomfortable and interfered with sucking his little pacifier, etc.) He now weighs just over 3 pounds (1370 grams), and if he continues on this course, we could move to the Level 2 NICU sometime in the next week! Praise God!

He may be little, but he's mighty!

Check out how much my boys look alike! Here's a picture of Ben, followed by a pic of Jack (with Daddy) at about the same age. Jack was four pounds heavier than Ben, but they still look a lot alike!

BENJAMIN

JACK as a newborn with DADDY

Sorry that I haven't posted updates for the past few days. There's really been nothing new to report. But now we have good news!

Our little Mighty Mouse is doing well. Yesterday, Ben's nasal c-pap was removed and he was put on the nasal cannula for a few hours before they decided he could do without it. So at least for now, he's breathing completely on his own! His IV was removed a couple of days ago, so if he continues to do well for the next several days, he could be moved to the Level 2 NICU to just "feed and grow!"

It was wonderful to really look at Benjamin without all of the equipment on his face. (He'll keep his little mask until he no longer needs his feeding tube.) I looked back at Jack's newborn pictures and realized just how much Ben resembles his big brother! Ben even likes to peek at us with one eye, just like Jack did.

I've received a lot of calls and emails asking how the rest of us are doing.....
--Jack is starting to have separation anxiety and cries whenever he thinks I'll leave him. But he's happy enough as soon as I'm gone, and seems to be handling all of this remarkably well.
--Bryant has just started a new position at work, in addition to keeping up with his MBA assignments. I'd say he's dealing with the most stress of any of us.
--I'm healing well and on very little pain medication. Other than being tired all the time, I'm fine. I spend a lot of time at the hospital holding Ben as much as I can, then I'm up all night long to pump milk. Please pray for my milk supply to improve so that I can keep up with his growing appetite!

So we're all doing well. Thank you for your continued prayers!