just some more photos

For those of you who are checking for photo updates .... here are a few. I it is very hard to find time to take pictures. And, when I want to take a photo there is at least one child who isn't in cooperation mode. Not much new here. Grady weighed 6 lbs 14 oz on Thursday. I wonder what he would have weighed if he had been born at full term. His due date was Wednesday Feb 13th - glad it was over before that!!!

music lessons

Grady had his first music lesson from Auntie Marci. He enjoys both the piano and the violin. It was soooooo nice to have Marci here for a few days.

one month old

In some ways time flies ... and in other ways it seems like Grady was born just last week. But, he is a whole month old. No complaints from mom ... except that a little more sleep (for both of us) would be a bonus. Last night was our best one so far. He slept from 10:30 until 2:30!

Hospital Statistics

Admitted: November 2, 2007; readmitted January 22
Discharged: Grady - January 24, myself - January 18, then January 25
Number of visitors while on bedrest: 289
Number of visitors after Grady was born: kind of a fuzzy memory but at least 40
Number of days with no visitors: 6
Number of times I saw the kids: 18
Number of books read: at least 40
New hobbies: crochet, cross stitch, and suduko
Number of outings: 5 for a total of 17 hours out of the hospital before Grady was born
Number of room changes: 7 including readmission
Number of IV starts: 11 that I recall ... probably missed some
Number of ultrasounds: 8 (including 3 prior to hospital admission)
Estimated birth weight on admission: 1 pound 13 ounces
Birth weight on delivery: 5 pounds 11 ounces
Number of blood transfuions: 16 during surgery plus 1 the next day
Number of hours till I saw Grady: 36 (did see pictures)
Worst memory: waking up in ICU with tubes down my throat and feeling like I couldn't breathe
Best memory: feeling so sore but when I was holding Grady the pain disappeared (for the most part!)

more photos

mom and baby home at last

After 85 days away from home, I must agree there's no place like home! I don't miss the regular blood pressure, temperature, and pulse checks or the daily doctor visits. Grady hasn't said much, but I don't think he misses the all the beeps and babies crying in the NICU. He likes all the cuddle time at home - doesn't even complain about all the little hands in his face or the arguments about who gets to hold him. The kids are quite taken with him ... even Rhett is sharing his blankets(even though Grady already has a collection of his own). Most of you have probably heard the details but for those who haven't: Grady Parker Stewart was born January 8th at at 10:00pm. He weighed 5 lbs. 11 oz. He was born about 5 weeks early so had a couple weeks in neonatal care. He's a healthy, happy little baby. He had a feeding tube for a while as he was too sleepy to eat and he didn't have the suck, breathe, swallow motions figured out yet. He spent a couple days under the lights for jaundice (he could have shared some of his color with mom). Grady passed his carseat test on th 25th(90 minutes in the carseat with all the monitors on making sure there is no red flag changes in heart rate and oxygen levels). Unfortunatey I held up the homecoming by one day as I had been re-admitted on the 22nd (just couldn't get enough of the hospital setting). Anyway, I got out on Friday and Carla and Tim brought us back to Cold Lake Friday night. Home Sweet Home! I'm not planning on going anywhere soon!

update

i am surviving my "bedrest experience" you could say! \t has gone by fast enough when look back - just try not to look too far ahead! i just discovered internet access in the hospital lobby ... just have to wait for someone to push me in the wheelchair and then wait in line! All is well here - 29 weeks and counting!