What Happened to My Preemie?

Because there really isn't anything "preemie" about him these days.  He seems like a typical 3.5 month old.  He is cooing, smiling and "standing" in my lap. He gets mad when we don't feed him fast enough and he smiles when we tickle his chins (notice I said chins and not neck).  He stares at himself in the mirror and he studies my mouth when I sing to him.  I love watching him change before my eyes, but it makes me sad that these days are flying by.  Friday I got to go to Carters and drop a pretty penny to buy his 6 month wardrobe, which was fun.  But, I spent today packing up all of his 3 month clothes.  I felt like such a sap going through every piece and smelling them and folding them and putting them away.  I am glad I have this blog because I don't want to forget a single minute of these times!
There are weeks I feel like I have nothing to write in this blog, but hten I realize that's a good thing.  When I started this blog I spent my time dwelling on ounces gained and irregular heartrates.  I am so happy I don't have to worry about those things.  If the hardest thing I have to deal with is packing up D's 3 month clothes, I consider myself pretty darn lucky!

All is Well...

But it didn't feel that way earlier in the week.  Last weekend we noticed a lump on the back of D's head.  I was really thinking it was just a swollen lymph node, so I didn't panic.  I took him to the doctor and she told me it was NOT a lymph node and she wasn't sure what it was.  So, she sent us down the street to the hospital for an ultrasound.  The looked at his brain and the lump.  Unfortunately, we didn't get any answers from the ultrasound and he was scheduled for an MRI at another hospital on Thursday.  The doctor told us we would then have an appointment at Riley sometime after the MRI.  There is just something about being told you have to take your kid to Riley that just scares you.  While the MRI itself was painless, getting his IV was horrible.  It took 4 tries and 3 nurses.  D was screaming and I was sobbing.  I just hated that my little man had to be back in the hospital and was in pain  Luckily, the lump was diagnosed as a heamngioma, which is a benign mass of tissue and blood vessels that will eventually go away.  We likely won't have to have it removed, but our appointment at Riley will serve to hopefully confirm that.  We have joked that D is really trying hard to be an only child by putting us through all of these scares!
We did find out that he is up to 12 lbs and measures 23 inches.  It's hard to believe just 3 short months ago he was only 4 lbs, 16.5 inches and living in an isolet.  Now, he is a growing baby who brings tears to my eyes everytime he smiles.  And, yesterday he giggled for the first time.  It was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard!  Also, he slept through the night last night!  11:30pm - 8am.  I shot awake at 6:22 when I realized he hadn't woken up yet.  I checked on him and laid back down.  I couldn't really go back to sleep myself because I kept expecting him to wake up.  I'm not getting my hopes up, but I am hoping this trend continues!

Our New Normal

Well, we all survived my first week back to work!  As much as I loved being home with D, I really feel better now that I am back to work.  It is nice to have a schedule (or at least the beginnings of one).  Our new family of 3 is working together to get into some sort of routine.  It looks like getting up early enough to pump, feed D, unload the dishwasher, make the bottles for the day and load up the dirty bottles is our new normal.  And, to be honest, I wouldn't have it any other way.  The drive home every night is the best.  I am so excited to get home and see my little man.  I am learning to appreciate every minute with D.  I am also learning how to do other things...like pump at work.  I generally don't discuss my pumping too often, but last week's comedy of errors deserve to be recorded.  I bought a 2nd pump to leave at work because, let's be honest, I would constantly forget parts of it if I was hauling it back and forth.  So, last Sunday night I got it all packed up and felt good about the upcoming week.  Well, Monday morning I hang my "Pumping: Do Not Enter" sign on my office door and start hooking up the pump when I notice I have forgotten the tubes.  So, I ended up only working a half day because I had to go home to pump.  Tuesday I spilled half of the milk I pumped.  They say don't cry over spilled milk, wel "they" don't have trouble making enough milk for their babies.  Thursday I realized I washed a necessary part of the pump down the drain and I had to go to the store to buy a replacement.  So, to recap: Day 1=fail, Day 2=fail, Day 3=success, Day 4=fail, Day 5=success.  Let's hope this week is better!

Dominic got his Synagis shot on Saturday and he weighed in at 11lbs 9oz!  It is amazing how happy my baby's weight makes me.  I love knowing he is growing into a healthy boy.

Well, here goes week 2 of being a working mom!

D and his lady friend, Harper

D trying to decide which Sowers girl to pursue

Too bad he won't be allowed to date until he is 30!

Nothing better than a freshly bathed baby

Hoo-Hoo-Hoo-Hoosiers!

The End of an Era

Well, my short-lived career as a stay-at-home mom is coming to an end, in other words, my maternity leave is over.  Going back to work tomorrow is such a mixed bag.  I am anxious to finally be a practicing attorney, 3.5 months after I was sworn in.  But, I have loved spending my days with D and I am going to miss cuddling him whenever I want to.  The fact that his Grandma PJ will be watching him makes the transition a little less painful (at least I hope that's the case).

Our last week home together was pretty uneventful.  I held him more than usual and I napped more than usual, but other than that we just spent our last week of maternity leave hanging out.  On Thursday D got his second round of vaccines.  I asked them to do a weight check and he weighed in at 10lbs 15oz!!  I can't believe my 4lb preemie is practically 11lbs.  We have had a lot of struggles with feedings and I get very discouraged with all the pumping, but knowing he is growing so well makes all the frustrations worth it!

It's the Little Things

I can't believe Dominic is almost 11 weeks old!  He is getting so big and doing more everyday.  But, I often have to remind myself he is only 3 1/2 weeks adjusted.  I don't know if other preemie moms have a hard time with this, but sometimes it is frustrating and nerveracking to have a baby that is one age, but developmentally you know is another.  While I know I shouldn't expect more of him than you would expect of a 3.5 week old, it's tough, because he has been in our lives 3 times that long!  I am so anxious for the coos, the regular smiles, the interaction.  But, we're not quite there yet.  However, I think waiting longer makes those little milestones that much sweeter.  D is staying awake for hours at a time now.  It is wonderful watching his big eyes just look around and take it all in.  He is starting to grab at things and hold onto them (hair, necklaces and the like), he gives us smiles here and there.  I know I have to be patient with him, but sometimes it's hard.

We got some good news this week.  D had been approved by insurance for 3 Synagis shots (to help combat RSV) and he got his first one in December.  That one was paid for because we had met our deductible.  But, our high-deductible plan started over on January 1st so the $2,400 (each!) shots would be 100% out of pocket.  Needless to say, we cannot afford that.  I was feeling down about it and talking to the nurse about how we weren't going to be able to get it.  She suggested I fill out this form requesting assistance from the manufacturer.  I didn't hold out much hope, but it was a short form, so I figured what the heck.  Well, I got a call this week from the nurse and we were approved and will have to pay $0 out of pocket!!  This was the best news!  I am so happy the nurse suggested it and pushed me to fill out the form.  It made me feel terrible to not be able to give D something that could help him stay healthy and now I don't have to worry about it!

Another big development is the move to the crib is complete.  Tuesday D spent his first night in the crib.  He did just fine and I fell asleep watching him sleep on our video monitor.  He's not really any closer to sleeping through the night, but I think the sleep we both get is better because we aren't disturbing each other throughout the night.

D gets the rest of his 2 month vaccines on Thursday so he will get weighed again.  I am anxious to see how big my little chunk is then!



Bath time



So fresh and so clean

Ready to go out to dinner

My whole world on one couch <3

It Won't Be Like This for Long

As a preemie D is expected to stay in the newborn phase longer than a term baby.  While this may mean he will stay cuddly longer, it also means it may take longer to get his days and nights straightened out, to sleep through the night, etc.  The last few nights D has decided to wake up in the middle of the night and refuse to go back to sleep.  While we are so lucky he doesn't spend this time screaming or anything, the lack of sleep is taking its toll (as any parent can attest to).  I find myself wishing he was just a little older and we were psat this stage.  I mean, I want to sleep.  I was making lasgna tonight and realized I forgot the noodles!  I need to sleep.  But, this weekend I was in the car and I heard Darius Rucker (yes, Hootie!) sing the words, "it won't be like this for long."  The last 9.5 weeks have gone so quickly and I know the next 9.5 years will too.  Someday I will be wishing D was a little baby again, but it is hard to think that in the middle of the night when I am exhausted.  Good thing Hootie was there to remind me to enjoy every minute of these times, no matter how stressful, confusing or exhausting they are.

Dominic had his 2 month appointment last Monday and he tipped the scales at 9lbs 3oz!  He has more than doubled his weight since he was born.  He measured 20.5 inches.  He is measured against other 2 month olds born at 32 weeks and in that group his weight is in the 89th percentile and his height is in the 77th percentile.  I am so proud of my big boy.  When I look at his chubby face I can hardly remember the 4lb preemie I brought into this world just 2 short months ago.  His peditrician said if he continues gaining well we won't have to fortify my breastmilk anymore, meaning he won't need the extra calories.   

Yesterday I got my first real smile from D.  And it was definitely real, he was wide awake and he wasn't pooping!  At the moment he gave me that toothless grin my heart actually melted!  Today he took his first nap in his crib.  At night he sleeps in our room in a bassinet and he usually sleeps in his bouncy chair during the day.  Since I am going back to work in 2 weeks I figured it was time to work on getting him into his room.  He slept soundly in there for over 2 hours and I probably checked on him 100 times.  I don't know why it's so hard to move him out of our room when his room is right across the hall, but it is!  But, I have to toughen up and I plan to complete the big move this week.

I wanted to give a quick thank you to everyone who voted on Facebook in the photo contest.  It was so heartwarming to see all the nice comments (and to realize we had so many people who were willing to humor us!).  Unfortunately, he didn't win.  But that's okay, he's still the cutest little guy in my book!

I realized this week I didn't do a good job taking pictuers.  I'll do better next week :)


The name tag one of the NICU nurses made during one of D's first nights there.  We had it framed and it is hanging in his room.



My little burrito

Happy Two Months!

D has only been in our lives for 2 months, but now I can't imagine life without him!  In honor of this day I posted our birth story below.  It's pretty long, but it's there if anyone is interested in reading it.

The Rabiola family had a pretty good week.  On Monday we took treats to the hospital.  There were 3 nurses we really wanted to see (2 NICU nurses and the nurse that delivered D) and we were so happy all 3 of them were there!  First we went to the antepartum floor.  It was so weird to walk onto that floor with D.  The nurse was so excited to see him and it sure was nice to see her.  I truly credit the nurses on that floor with keeping me pregnant long enough for D to be healthy.  For that, I will be forever indebted to them.  She told us about a reunion picnic they do in the summer.  We will definitely be going to that!  We weren't able to actually go on the floor of the NICU, but the 2 nurses came out to see us.  They both held him and doted on him.  One of the nurses always loved picking out his outfits, so I made sure he looked extra handsome when we went.  D even woke up for a little bit to visit.  It was os wonderful to see the love they had for a former patient.  Those women were wonderful and they obviously love what they do!

I hate to jinx us, but D is starting to develop a sleep/eating pattern.  He takes his last bottle around 9:30pm and then sleeps until 3.  Then, he eats again around 9am.  You may be thinking this sounds great and the first block is, but after the 3am feeding he likes to be awake until 4:30 or 5.  He doesn't really fuss, he just wants to be held and look around.  Since I'm not back to work yet it's not horrible, but man, I wish he would do that at his 3pm feeding instead of his 3am feeding!

It's amazing how much D continues to grow.  He is now out of newborn clothes and is into his 0-3mos clothes!  He has what seems like 100 0-3mos outfits.  So, I am going to have fun putting him in all of them.  It's hard to believe less than 2 months ago he was swimming in preemie clothes and now he is wearing the size he would have worn if he was born full-term.  I am so proud of my big boy and we are so blessed he is healthy! 

He has his 2 month well-visit tomorrow.  I am already dreading the shots.  We have decided to follow an alternative vaccination schedule.  He will get some of the regular 2 month vaccines, but not all of them at once.  Our pediatrician is wonderful and she is happy to work with us so that we are comfortable with the vaccines.  I definitely want D to be fully vaccinated, but he is smaller than a typical 2 month old so I just feel better spreading out his shots and we are lucky to have a doc who supports this.

It really is amazing how quickly the past two months have gone!  I love seeing D grow and change, but I also want him to stay a baby forever!!