home sweet home...hmmm

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It's great to be here - all of us - in a house surrounded by snowdrifts and cold nights. If only Nicolas would enjoy himself a bit more. His reflux is making each time he eats a painful chore and so he doesn't grow very much. In fact, he didn't grow at all for a few days now. And so we are scheduled for a visit to Hasbro children's hospital early next week to have a gastrointestinal consultation and his hernia surgery consult as well. Between now and then we will plod along with our routine. Hopefully these will lead to better times for Nicolas's eating.

81 long days

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Well I can't really believe it and neither can Martha - but Nicolas is home. He's really here. We dressed him in a handmade outfit Martha's godmother made and got all the instructions from the nurses. We put on our brave face while at the NICU in Kent Hospital but when we got to the elevators we lost it. Overwhelmed by it all. A very special thanks to Kent NICU -- especially the Angelas, Valerie, M.A., Carol, Kim, Barbara, the Jeans, the Kellys, the Chris's, (hmmm... never noticed all the duplicate names before) -- you all were patient with us and wonderful with our little boy. We can't wait to bring him back to see you - and who knows maybe he will be a little bit bigger. :-)

And in celebration, we drank a little champagne and toasted his homecoming. Cheers. Salud. Etc..

Today he was looking around at his new surroundings and settling in. He was fine in the car and in his first sunlight.

Hey it's only a blog and can only convey so much - but we want to say THANK YOU to everyone for your kind thoughts, prayers, gifts, apartment lending, and words of comfort and support (Martha's mom - muchos gracias! Stayed 2 months to help us!). It's been 81 long days since Nicolas was born - at 1lb and 14 ounces - and we couldn't have gotten through it all without the good people in our lives. Thank you.

:-)

No not yet.

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Nicolas is coming home possibly thursday (cross your fingers and toes and whatever else please). Martha and I and my mom are to take an infant CPR class on wednesday - and we have an apnea monitor and oxygen at the house JUST IN CASE we need more reasons for freaking out.

Martha stayed with Nicolas overnight on Saturday. They enjoyed. Martha was very happy to wake up in the same room with him. I had planned to stay the night as well but in the afternoon I got a sore throat - which by night-time was a full-blown cold. The thought of me staying all night in the same room as Nicolas spreading my little cold germs all around him made me nuts and I went home. I was home all day on the couch sleeping through sunday and today I am still groggy. Martha has a bit of the cold too but not as much.

We plan on seeing Nicolas sometime today through masks.

That is all.

The long haul....

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A tough week for us and Nicolas. He has been struggling with his reflux. His original due date was the 14th and his scheduled delivery was to be the 4th. And he's STILL NOT HOME. ugh (see previous).

However, Nicolas was baptized in the hospital this past sunday and it was a nice ceremony. Father Ricard is a cool priest and he made us all feel comfortable and happy with the situation as it was. We dressed Nicolas in a handmade gown that Martha's godmother made. He looked great and wasn't fussy. We had decided that it would be good for us to have the ceremony while Martha's family, especially her sister Mabe (the godmother) are still around.

It became clear to us earlier this past week that Nicolas was not going to be home to spend time with Martha's family (how's it go? .."the best laid plans of mice and men" -- damn high school english class! ). But we are happy knowing that he has had good care and will come home when he's ready. We are trying to spend as much time with him and Martha's family.

I think we are going to make a trip to BJ's this weekend and get some diapers and homestuff - maybe that's being a bit hopeful but I think we need it. :-)

The hope, that is.

A New Year

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A list of recent purchases made on behalf of Nicolas:

Snuzzler -- This is supposed to go inside the car seat and make the baby "snuzzle" into it a bit more firmly. get it?

Bundle Me -- This do-dad is for the car seat as well - its a big sheepskin cover for the seat - with a zipper for strapping in the laddie.

Head rest -- ok I don't know if i should've bought this -- but then I thought of Nicolas's head bouncing around and i felt really guilty for thinking of NOT getting it.

Essential Guide to Preemies -- This book rocks. I mean if you have to know about all the preemie related terms and issues -- it's a straightforward read -- with charts and all the lingo presented in a completely accessible way.

Things are slow here. Nicolas has bad reflux and is not eating with enthusiasm. Poor eating = slow growth = reflux = spells = NO GOING HOME YET!!!!

ugh. yes ugh. It's past time now -- according to my optimism he was supposed to have come home on New Year's day and that hasn't happened.