Warren's First Christmas

 Before we put Warren to bed on Christmas Eve we started some family traditions (both of which I have done my whole life and now I am continuing on with Warren)  We opened up new Christmas pajama's and the present from Uncle Dan and Aunt Donna.  Then we read Twas the Night Before Christmas and then we all went to bed.  No cookies or milk was put out for Santa this year, we'll start that next year.

Christmas morning we woke up with a bunch of presents under the tree...Santa was good to us this year.  Bob's parents and Jimmy came over and I made german apple pancakes and bacon..super healthy :-)  We enjoyed a delicious breakfast and we enjoyed just hanging out as a family. 

Once Bob's parents left we opened up presents.  Some highlights for me were brand new purple coach gloves, weighted hula hoop, Beauty and the Beast DVD, a facial and massage.  Bob's top presents were an annual subscription to Marvel comics, t-shirts, nerf gun, and some other odds and ends.  Warren got a few toys and his Aunt Courtney and Uncle Brian opened up a college fund for him..so awesome of them to do that!  

I then made a delicious Christmas dinner, ham (we bought a honeybaked ham), cheesy potatoes, mashed potatoes (since Bob can't have cheese), stuffing and green beans...all very tasty.

Since it is RSV/flu season, Warren and I stayed home while Bob went over to his parents house. Thankfully with technology everyone was able to see Warren and we did some video chatting online which was fun.  

That was Warren's First Christmas overall very low key and relaxing.  I am looking forward to next years when he can start opening some presents.  

Yes they are family matching pajama's

Opening presents tired him out

So sleepy...

His official Christmas outfit

another shot

Warren among all of his presents

Christmas is very exciting

just being cute

Playing with Daddy's nerf gun

kicking his legs

Our First Date Night

Today was Bob's work annual Christmas party at the Ren Cen.  We usually go down early in the day, go to Greektown, eat some saganaki then take a nap in the hotel and party the night away.  This year was a little different but we were still able to go :-)  Bob's mom came over and watched Warren for us.  First time I left him with someone else...I almost cried when I left!  Warren was fine and enjoyed his evening with his Oma.  Bob and I also had a fabulous time together.  We enjoyed a nice dinner and a fun night of dancing with the Jerry Ross Band.

Our Family Photo before we left

  

Me and Micki

Me and Bobby after some dancing

Me, John and Micki 

Me, Bob and Micki

Me, Liz and Mark

Warren's First Christmas Tree

We went out today and bought our real Christmas tree.  We decided on a blue spruce this year.  It is about 6 ft tall and it smells amazing!  So excited for Christmas this year :-)

Family shot at the tree farm

Loving my little man

Before we decorated

After we decorated

One month of RSV season down!

It is now December and we survived one month of being in lock down mode! So far so good. It was a little difficult not spending Thanksgiving with family but we have to worry about the health of Warren first. We will have many more holiday's to celebrate once his lungs get stronger.

A lot of people don't realize how big of a threat RSV can be or even what it is. Basically RSV is a common cold for you or I but if a preemie were to get it than it could land them back in the hospital on a ventilator or even worse death. It can lead to serious lung infections like pneumonia and bronchiolitis. So to make sure that Warren doesn't get RSV we have to take a lot of precautions. He cannot go out in public unless it is necessary, i.e doctors appointments. His pediatrician did say that, weather permitting, I could go outside on walks with him but I am not too sure about that, Michigan winters are cold! He also gets a monthly shot called synagis which helps protect him from RSV. There is also a lot of hand washing and anytime Bob or I leave the house when we return we change our clothes and "Scrub" in. Another precaution is that anyone who is around Warren must have had their flu shot. We have to do everything we can to make sure he doesn't get sick this winter. That is RSV in a nutshell. I also wanted to mention that since Synagis is a weight sensitive med he'll be weighed every time he receives the shot, he is now 11 lbs! Go Warren Go!

Warren's First Thanksgiving

Today is Warren's first Thanksgiving!  I am thankful for his resiliency.  It is absolutely amazing to think about how much he has been through at such a young age.  All babies are miracles but considering how early Warren was (11 weeks early) he is doing so great.  He is happy and we are happy!  I am so very thankful for my amazing husband as well.  2010 has been quite the year and like always Bob has been my rock.  I love you Bobby...thank you for being the best husband in the entire world!

Since it is RSV/flu season and we are in lock down mode we are unable to spend the holiday's with Bob's large family.  We did however have breakfast with Bob's parents and Jimmy which was very nice.  Then we came home and spent the rest of the day together as a family.  I made an entire Thanksgiving feast, homemade stuffing, cranberry relish, mashed potatoes, green been casserole, whole turkey and of course pumpkin pie!  I have to admit it turned out pretty fantastic.  It was the first time that I made homemade stuffing and cranberry relish and they both turned out delicious.  I took some pictures so I hope you enjoy!

Warren's 6 month check up

Today was Warren's 6 month well baby check up.  He now weighs 10 lbs 12 ounces, 23 inches long and his head is 16 1/2 inches.  I was happy with his weight gain even though it has been such a challenge to get him to eat at least he is gaining.  The pediatrician was also happy with his weight.  He of course wants more but he knows that I am doing everything possible to fatten this little man up.  The only change we had was an increase in his Zantac and now he is at the max dose for his age and weight.  I am really hoping that it works.  His feeds have been so rough lately.  I am slowly going crazy.  I cannot wait for December 13, the day of Warren's pediatric GI appointment.  The doctor doesn't want to change his reflux med until he sees the GI.

Everything else in is check up was great.  He is a very happy baby that just doesn't want to eat :-/

Finally some Validation

Today we took Warren in for an OT evaluation.  He has been having some major feeding issues that have just gotten worse.  I went prepared with a bottle and a pacifier so that the OT could watch us do everything with him and it was 4 hours since he ate last.  So one would think he would be hungry right?  Nope not my baby I am convinced that he would starve himself if given the opportunity.

When we got back into the evaluation room she wanted to watch me feed him and finally someone other than Bob and I witnessed the daily struggles of feeding this little man.  It was so nice to have a professional actually see what I go through every single day.  I feel like no one has been listening to me and finally someone is listening.  So after our initial fight with the bottle I could tell that he was very sleepy so I gave him his pacifier and he went to town on it and passed out.  I was then able to feed him while he was sleeping, all in front of the OT.  On the upside his suck is very strong and he doesn't have any weak jaw muscles.  She also doesn't think that it is behavioral.  She thinks that it is medically related.  Due to his reflux he is associating pain with eating and that is why he will only eat if he is sleeping.  I have known for awhile now that Warren has reflux and unfortunately his pediatrician never listened and never prescribed any reflux meds.  About 2 weeks ago, his neonatalogist, after listening to my situation prescribed some Zantac.  It seems to be helping but I still believe his reflux isn't resolved.  I am also wondering if he has some kind of small milk allergy or something of that nature.  So now we wait...we see a pediatric GI on December 13.  I just hate seeing the little man in pain and I really hope that we can get this whole reflux situation under control.   

On the upside developmentally he is doing great.  He is doing everything that a baby his adjusted age should be doing.  He is 3 1/2 months adjusted.  His head control is great, fine motor skills are good, he is rocking it out during tummy time.  He is almost rolling over, he can get his butt over first then his upper body comes along.  He is laughing, smiling, "talking", squealing when he is happy.  Everything is great.  We just need to get this feeding thing figured out.  After his evaluation I feel better.  I feel as if I can maybe see the light at the end of the tunnel.  That we are going to get this figured out before he gets old enough that it turns into a behavioral issue.  I am hoping that since we are being proactive that we can get this resolved so that he doesn't have a lifetime of feeding issues.  Fingers crossed that we can figure this all out!  

Warren's First Halloween

Here are some pictures of our little monkey!

Below are pictures from The Detroit's Zoo Boo 2010...Warren's first trick-or-treating

A Preemie Mothers Oath

I have joined an online Preemie support group and found this journal entry perfect.  I wish I could say I wrote it myself but I didn't.  But I would like to share so here it is:


There are women that become mothers without effort, without thought, without patience or loss and though they are good mothers and love their children, I know that I will be better. 

I will be better not because of genetics, or money or that I have read more books but because I have struggled and toiled for this child. 
I have sat in the NICU and waited.
I have cried and prayed. 
I have endured. 

Like most things in life, the people who truly have appreciation are those who have struggled to attain their dreams. 
I will notice everything about my child. 
I will take time to watch my child sleep, explore and discover. 
I will marvel at my surviving miracle every day for the rest of my life.

I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child, knowing that I can comfort, hold and feed him and that I am not waking to a nurse taking another temperature, an alarm going off, another round of meds or because I am crying tears for fear of the unknown. 
I will be happy because my baby is alive and crying out for me. 

I count myself lucky in this sense; that God has given me this insight, this special vision with which I will look upon my child that my friends will not see. 

Whether I parent a preemie with physical challleges or medical issues, I will not be careless with my love. 

I will be a better mother for all that I have endured. I am a better wife, a better aunt, a better daughter, neighbor, friend and sister because I have known pain. 

I know disillusionment as I have been betrayed by my own body. 
I have been tried by fire and hell many never face, yet given time, I stood tall. 

I have prevailed. 
I have succeeded.
I have won. 

So now, when others hurt around me, I do not run from their pain in order to save myself discomfort. I see it, mourn it, and join them in theirs. 

I listen. 

And even though I cannot make it better, I can make it less lonely. I have learned the immense power of another hand holding tight to mine, of other eyes that moisten as they learn to accept the harsh truth and when life is beyond hard. I have learned a compassion that only comes with walking in those shoes.

I have learned to appreciate life.

Yes I will be a wonderful mother.

Author Unknown

Warren's First Fall

Here are pictures that we have taken throughout the fall...Enjoy!

Warren just hanging out in his new bumbo seat!

Let's Go State!

Warren's first trip to Yate's Cider Mill