Worry No More

In my last post I said that we were worried because he wasn't eating as much as he had been. Well, he's eating just fine now and the scale is the proof.....9 lbs 1.5 oz. He's 21.5 inches tall too. He may be ready for a diet soon. The doctor said he's doing great.

Mommy is settling back into work. It's hard to leave him but it's only a couple of days a week so we'll manage.

He loves his new tummy play mat.....

He starting to look for mommy and daddy when he hears our voice. He loves to hang out with daddy.....

Cousin Michael has introduced him to Sponge Bob. I think he likes him.....

Lots of Firsts

For all those bugging me for a picture of Mommy and Daddy with Max.....

Max is doing great. On the 11th he went to the doctors because we were concerned he wasn't eating as well as he had been and the doctor thinks it's colic. But it's not too bad. He can be consoled. He loves to be swaddled and rocked by daddy. And even though he doesn't eat much for his evening feeding he's still sleeping pretty good at night....4-5 hours at a time. At that appointment, he weighed 7 lbs 11 oz. He must weigh over 8 lbs now. He goes back next week for another check up .... when the doctor told us that his next visit would be in 2 months we looked disappointed so she said that we could come back in a month if we wanted to....we didn't pass up that opportunity. Hopefully, we'll outgrow that soon....otherwise Max will be going to college and still coming home to go to the doctor every month. We've give up on breastfeeding but mommy is still pumping to give him the good stuff. We'll see how long I can keep that up with working and all. I'm okay with it, I just wish he would have caught on so that he can get his food quicker...see earlier posts about his lack of patience when it comes to eating.

Max also loves going on walks and to be carried in the front pack.


Max has had lots of first lately....

First St Patty's Day Parade. Looks like he had a bit too much green beer.


First walk. The weather was beautiful last week so we went on walks every day.


First visit to the park.


First encounter with a dog. He met Aunt Tammy's dog Shilah.


Mommy also had a first today....she went back to work. It was hard to leave him but I knew he was in good hands with cousin Rose and her little helpers......

Arianna

and Laila. You can see how much they love Baby Max.

2 Months Old

Max had his 2 month doctor visit on Tuesday. He's now 7 lbs 6.5 oz and 18 3/4" long. He's doing great developmentally as well. He has started to give real smiles. Mommy got one on Monday and Daddy got one on Tuesday. He has started to react to toys and following things with his eyes too. All you parents out there know what the else was in store for the 2 month appointment - yes, the dreaded shots. He handled them like a champ unlike his mommy who didn't hold up as well. After the 1st shot in the left thigh, he didn't make a sound or breath for what felt like 5 minutes but was probably more like 5 seconds. Then he started screaming as the doctor gave him 2 more shots in the right thigh. Once they were done and he was in mommy's arms sucking on a pacifier, he stopped crying and was fine. He was a little cranky that night but not too bad. And he slept for 6 hours ...wahoo!!

Summary of our pregnancy polls

I'm revamping our blog and am removing the pregnancy polls But just so we don't forget.....the majority was right -- 10 people or 55% said we were having a boy. Only 44%, 8 people, said it was a girl. We'll see who's right with the other poll. 15 people or 57% said the baby would look like Marcy and 11 people or 42 % said the baby would look like Roger.....Hmmm, who was right?

Growing like a weed!

Max is 6 weeks old now and growing like a weed. He weighs 6 lb 6.5 oz. While things have settled down since his first week home, we're still a little overwhelmed. Who knew that such a tiny thing could wreck such havoc?! He sleeps 3-4 hours at a time at night, which mommy and daddy love, and he is much more alert during the day and loves tummy time with Daddy. He is generally a good baby but lets you know when it is time to eat. He gets his patience from Mommy (or lack thereof) and screams until he gets the food in his mouth. We're waiting for the day that he realizes that we will definitely be giving him his food as soon as possible. We're still working on breastfeeding and hope that Max will get the hang of it eventually but for now he's getting fed via a bottle and gets 2 formula feedings a day and the rest breast milk.

Max has an umbilical hernia - basically an opening in the abdomen that did not heal and a loop of intestines have moved into the opening. This should heal on its own before he turns 2. For now, it just looks like he has a large outie belly button. He also has a hematoma or "strawberry" on his left arm - a collection of blood vessels in the skin that shows up as a raised red mark. This too will heal on its own, probably by the time he is 2 also.

Max has had lots of visitors. Everyone just loves him and he's quickly getting spoiled. Tutu (Hawaiian for grandmother), Marcy's mom, spent almost 3 weeks with us and was a big help. Meme and Papa (Marcy's dad and stepmother), Nanny (Roger's mom) and all his aunts, uncles and cousins have all showered him with love. They were also very helpful to mommy and daddy, making lots of meals for them when Max was in the hospital and then after he came home.

No more sleep

Inauguration day 2009 was a special day in the Tadjbakhsh household.....Not because we have a new president but because Max came home that day. On Monday we were told that Max wasn't ready to come home but on Tuesday morning when Marcy called the hospital to check on how Max did through the night, they told her he was ready to come home. We were surprised and excited and a little...okay a lot...nervous. But we went to the hospital for the last time to pick him up. Even though he had gained some weight, he weighed 4lbs 5.6oz at that point, he looked so small in his big car seat.

The first night at home was very stressful. Not only did Max not sleep at all, mommy and daddy were nervous about everything. When we left the NICU they gave us instructions to feed him at least his minimum amount needed every three hours. We were so aware of every milliliter he ingested and the time that he ate it. It was quite nerve racking. And of course, when he was sleeping, we were watching him sleep. He didn't sleep well because he was so used to the NICU which is noisier and brighter than our house is at night.

Luckily we got an appointment with the pediatrician for Thursday and he put our mind at ease. Max had gained almost 2 more ounces - he weighed 4lbs 7oz. He told us not to worry so much about being so precise regarding feedings. Like everything else, now Max dictates when he wants to eat and how much. Luckily he has been increasing what he takes and for the most part keeps to every 3 hours. We will be seeing the pediatrician once a week for a few weeks because Max is a preemie. The last few nights have been better....We're all getting used to our new routine, or lack thereof. Eat, sleep, change diapers, do laundry, and start all over again.

Max has quite the personality and a set of lungs to go with it. He doesn't like his diaper changed and makes a lot of what sound like piggy noises. He is also very impatient and wants to eat the second he wakes up. He makes lots of faces....most of which look like he is very concerned about something or he is thinking very hard. He's very strong and tries to hold his own pacifier and bottle. He's already Daddy's little boy.

1 Week Old

Max is 1 week old today. Boy, time flies....even when you're not having too much fun! He's still in the NICU but doing great. Feeding tube has been out since Tuesday morning and he's been taking all his bottles on his own. Sometimes he struggles but he manages to drink all 35 ml (a little more than an ounce.) His feedings are alternated between breast milk and formula. The formula is higher in calories and will allow him to gain weight faster. He doesn't have any other IVs or anything else. Just a monitor for his vital signs.

To get out of the NICU he needs to be eating on his own, maintain his body temperature outside of the incubator and with no other problems (e.g., jaundice). He's still in the incubator but they keep turning the temp down and he's maintaining his body temp. As of 8 pm last night, he weighs 3 lbs 14.4 oz.

Marcy is usually at the hospital from 11 am. Roger comes to the hospital after work and we stay until about 9 pm. We change, feed and hold him at 11, 2, 5 and 8. The good thing about him being in the NICU is we're getting one on one training on taking care of him and how to breast feed. The NICU nurses are amazing.

We'll post again soon.