Check up

2 years

ht. 35 in (65%)  wt 28.13 lbs (60%) head 52.4 cm (100%)

I have very few pictures of Edward at this age because he rarely sits still enough for me to get a shot.  I guess I need to learn how to capture moving objects.  He really looked forward to going to see Dr. B and was very brave even though he had to get a shot, a Snoopy band-aid cleared the tears right up.  He loves to put on my visor and then go out for a "run".  Austin and Melinda and I follow patiently down the sidewalk as Edward runs, pauses to sit by trees and picks up rocks. Often he wants to ride his "bicycle" which really means I push him on his tricycle while carrying Austin in the sling and wrangling Melinda on the leash.  Everytime we get ready to leave for an adventure he always asks- "Minda too?". How can I say no.  He is pushing the limits and testing the waters.  Anything that earns him a time out is so tempting, he does it again and again just to see if he gets the same result. He loves school and his friends and most of all "Autin". 

4 months

ht. 27 in (97%) wt. 17.7 lbs (92%) head 46 cm (100%)

He has at least one thing in common with his older brother, the doctor says their potential for Harvard is excellent.  They are just being nice when they say 100%, I saw the curve, they are off the charts.  Despite throwing up all over me everytime he eats, Austin continues to outpace Edward in the growth department.  He is such a sweet baby and would love it if I could hold him every second of the day.  He laughs when we make faces and loves to be turned upside down.  We are working on rolling over and holding his head up (it is a heavy load).  He sucks on everything but a pacifier and his favorite time of day is just before his bath when we play on the bed. I still count his number of breaths at night just to make sure everything is okay and analyze every cough, making sure it is not a sign of something more ominous. He wakes up happy and gives us a big smile each morning when we go in his room. He is ambivalent towards the bottle but will tolerate it when he gets hungry enough. Holding him is so amazing, I know it will be over too soon and he will be going for a "run" with Edward.

Happy 2nd Birthday Edward

Edward turned 2 last Saturday.  We celebrated with Elmo cupcakes on Friday with his class at school and with Elmo cake on Saturday at our house.  A year ago he had just a few words and was doing his best to walk without falling down.  Now he repeats everything and anything, he says hi to every person and dog we pass.  Last night as we pushed his stroller down a busy street in our neighborhood he started yelling "out of my way".  Where does he learn this stuff?  He continues to love any game that involves a ball and is having a lot of fun with the basketball hoop he got for his birthday.  He is an amazing big brother and really helps me take care of Austin.  He is so sweet and caring towards his little brother and it melts my heart everytime he leans over to kiss him.  He runs so fast it is hard to keep up with him and his energy seems endless.  We love him so much and are so proud of our little man.  Happy Birthday Edward!

No More O2

As of last Tuesday we are oxygen free which has made everyone, most of all Austin, very happy. He is continuing to get stronger each day. He is making up for lost time in the growing department- he gained a pound in 4 days to bring him to 15 lbs 5 oz., if I hadn't seen the scale myself I wouldn't have believed it. We are still trying to get back on a better sleep schedule but continue to be so thankful that we are at home with two healthy boys.

No place like HOME

 We are so glad to be back home

Austin is too!

 

Hanging out with big brother Edward and Cookie Monster

Edward wants stickers on his face like Austin

We were released from the hospital yesterday and took our second trip home from the hosptial with Austin(the first being his birth).  I had everything packed by 8 o'clock yesterday morning.  The nurse practitioner came around and wasn't totally thrilled with the way Austin sounded so we had to wait for the attending doctor to come see him and give the OK to go home.  I was holding my breath and praying she would say we were good to go.  She reluctantly said they wouldn't be doing anything there that we couldn't do at home so here we are with our oxygen tanks and 14 feet of tubing.  Edward was so happy to see Austin and completely fascinated with the oxygen.  Our first night was a little rough, Andy and I were awake most of the night making sure Austin had his oxygen on and was still breathing.  Not that we needed to look at him, he sounds like a freight train rolling through he rattles so loud.  So now we are just monitoring his breathing and waiting for his congestion to decrease. We go to our regular pediatrician later this week and will hopefully be able to wean the oxygen off soon.  Thank you again for all the prayers, messages, and well wishes.  We are still not completely out of the woods but so thankful that Austin is recovering well. 

Ready for his close up

Austin was in a photo shoot yesterday for the Foundation that raises money for the hospital.  It was close to his nap time so he was a little over it but hopefully they got some good shots.  He is continuing to improve, his oxygen needs are lower and he is maintaining his sats.  We haven't had to suction him for about 12 hours and he has handled his secretions.  I definitely think we are on our way home- I just have to get the doctors to agree with me!

We both look really tired in these pictures because the first two days he was extubated Austin did not want to sleep (it took two doses of Ativan and finally some morphine to get him down on Tuesday night). He still had his central line in and I know it was making him uncomfortable along with a sore throat from the tube and I imagine a sore chest from the infection. Yesterday they took out his line and we were able to give him a bath and he was a much happier baby. Last night was a dream compared to the previoustwo- he settled to sleep easily slept for about 4 hours, woke up and ate then went back to sleep for another 4 hrs. Hopefully we are on the road to home soon. His oxygen needs have to be lower and the amount of junk they suction out of his nose needs to decrease before the doctors feel comfortable sending us home.

Praise! The doctors were able to pull Austin's breathing tube yesterday afternoon.  It was very tense yesterday as he is still struggling to breathe but hopefully they will not have to put the tube back in.  Andy and I stayed with him last night at the hospital and took turns staying up with him because he was really agitated and not wanting to sleep which was making it even harder on him to breathe.  The doctors ordered a medicine called Ativan to help him relax and sleep and it helped him to settle down.  I really want to nurse him but right now he is on too much oxygen and breathing too fast.  It is so hard to not be able to comfort your child when you see him in distress.  Please pray that his oxygen needs will decrease and that he will rest today.  I am charging the camera battery and will post new pictures (sans tube) as soon as I can.