New Place

It has been such a long week.  Baby GL left his first home and we moved into a new place.  We consider it cleaner and more "social" with the distance to parks and places to walk. He took the move very well, but he definitely knew we were not in the same place.  He was actually a little scared looking around and not recognizing where he was at.  Lately, Baby GL has really noticed the different places we go.  He will get very clingy when he not sure about a place.  Clingy and then he'll try to climb up you which there's no higher point than having him wrap around my neck and shoulders.  It just shows how much he's grown.  He continues to show he has the curiosity and intelligence of a 15 month old, but the body of maybe an 8 month old.


Baby GL has been making great strides within the last week.  He has started crawling.  It's a little unstable, still, but he manages to get where he needs to go.  H's even made it over to the bathroom knowing his daddy was in there.  He doesn't let anything be an obstacle for him.  It will take a little more time before he's really taking off crawling.  Something else he's learned to do, which is a little dangerous for us now, is stand in his crib.  I stood him up in his crib the other day just to see what he'd do and he was so excited.  Well, no he's figured out how to get up there on his own.  I found him there this morning.  Now we have to lower to mattress.  He's really been impressing us so much these last few weeks.  He's just at that point where he's bursting out of his "baby" shell and moving into being a toddler.


I'm starting to think that writing about Baby GL's accomplishments may be boring for anyone but us.  After everything we've seen and been through it's just been so exciting to witness everything he does.  I think the moment he takes some bigger chance eating will be a huge milestone.  He has 2 teeth on the bottom.  It's hard to get in there to see if anymore are pooping out.  He has the desire to eat, not just his fruit and veg.  I was eating a muffin and he started to excessively swallow and grabbed my muffin out of my hand.  The desire is there to eat more, but when we give him and of the dissolving rice baby snacks, he chokes when he gets a piece on is tongue.  He will attack a MUM MUM like a champ but then he can't swallow anything that gets in his mouth.  He just licks it and sucks on it until it falls apart into tiny mushy pieces.  We'll have to keep waiting for him to get just a bit bigger, I think.

Video Conversation with Baby GL

See a Video with Baby GL

First trip

Baby GL recovered very quickly from surgery.  He was up and playing around by Wednesday without any problems.  By Thursday we were able to give him his bath and he was already healing very well.  Baths are so much fun now because he's sitting up now.  He'll hold on to the front rail in the bath chair so I don't have to lay him back anymore.  I tried to get him to play in the water and splash around.  He's not really interested in that yet.  He laughed with me a little, but he's not sure about the splashing and playing in the water.  He's not just sitting up in the tub now, he sits up to play and he sat up really well in the shopping cart.  He holds the front handle like a big boy.  He's a little unsteady when he twists, but can sit up and lean forward to play with toys.  


This weekend was PolishFest in Milwaukee so my sister and nephew came with Baby GL and I on Friday night.  He wasn't thrilled with the loud Polka music. He is still very sensitive to loud noises and aside from crying he'll try to climb up into our shoulder and snuggle his head in our neck for protection.  It feels really nice as a parent but we know he's not happy.  As long as we moved far enough away he was fine.  We could hear it enough to dance a little and he loved that.  We were able to visit with family and shop for a great Polish t-shirt to add to his wardrobe.  


So we took our first little outing together as a family this weekend.  I decided it was a good time to have my husband take off work and go away for the weekend.  His birthday was last week and then we had father's day this weekend.  We were invited to a wedding in Madison so I thought it was perfect.  We planned to spend some time at the zoo on Saturday, but we got there too late and most of the animals we already packing in for the day.  It was fine, my husband and I enjoyed a nice dinner out while Baby GL slept in the stroller.  Later we went to the wedding for a little while.  The music, once again, was a little too loud for him so we didn't stay long.  


Sunday morning, Baby GL and I took a morning dip in the pool.  It was his first time.  I had tried a few weeks back putting him in a little kid pool outside, but he was very nervous and wouldn't let go of me.  This time I thought it would be better since I was going in with him.  He did really well.  We, again, were dealing with loud noise from some kids.  The screams and loud splashing echos inside.  It was still good to get him in a feel the water.  I'm hoping to get him swimming while he's still young so he's not afraid of the water.  We'll have to hope for some better weather so we can get him in the lake in his little floaty.

Since it was Father's Day we went out for a nice breakfast, which once again Baby GL enjoyed a snooze in the stroller after playing for a bit in a highchair.  He's not terribly thrilled with the restaurant style highchairs yet.  We traveled up to Devil's Lake and then into Wisconsin Dells to just get out and show my husband something he's not yet seen.  Something he's never done before is play mini golf so we had to do that.  We put Baby GL in the back carrier and played 18.  It was a blast.  I really could feel the wonderful energy as a family that we've lacked for so long while dealing with hospital visits and being stuck at home all winter. We've had too many gloomy days and this was one that was relaxed and full of laughter.  I don't think we could've asked for a better day.  

Day After Surgery

It was an emotional day for both myself and my husband.  The emotions hit my husband harder.  It was a little deja vu in the same waiting room that we were in during Baby GL's 7 hour long hernia surgery months ago.  The nerves just take over while you wait.  


Before Baby GL went in he was given Versed, a light sedative to prevent any memories of surgery and prep.  It made him very drowsiness and loopy.  He was kind of in slow motion, which was actually really funny to see.  I feel better knowing that he won't remember the experience.  


After the surgery was done, which was actually quite quickly, the doctor came out to discuss what happened.  The original plan was to repair the Hypospadias and a catheter would go in while healing and a week later it would be removed.  However, the doctor found that Baby GL's urethra was as thin as tissue paper not making it strong enough for the catheter.  It actually made it a little harder for the repair.  He will grow up with a slight Hypospadias but not enough to be noticeable.  With the tissue so delicate he couldn't repair the urethra all the way to the end as was supposed to be done.  He reassured me that functionally, I will have my grandchildren in the future and as far as locker room issues go, there will be no embarrassments.  I'm not sure how I felt when he mentioned grandchildren.  I still have a baby, I don't want to think about the "process" of making grandchildren when I look at my son.  It will be a thought in my mind now that will take time to forget.


Baby GL went into surgery the same was we found him after surgery, awake and wiggly.  During surgery they did have to intubate him, but it was so wonderful to know they extubated right away without complications.  We had to stay in recovery while the nurses watched his vitals.  Some side affects we were watching for we vomiting, irritability, fever, etc.  In order to be discharged we had to get something into Baby GL's tummy.  So we started with apple juice.  Apparently he was very hungry.  He attacked the bottle.  Unfortunately, he didn't drink enough.  He's not great at taken juice because he's used to his thickened formula.  SO in order to get out of there we had to settle him and tube feed some Pedialyte.  It was a success.  We got to the hospital at 11am and were able to go home by 6pm.  I think it was a good day.


Our order at home were to not submerge the surgical area in a bath until day 3.  Since a catheter wasn't placed they used a type of tape that is like sticky cling wrap to wrap around the surgical area.  Slowly the tape will give and fall off.  It actually is almost all off today.  We were to watch for bleeding, which hasn't been an issues.  For pain we were given a prescription pain killer that we didn't need to fill.  Tylenol has been enough.  The worst part of today was when Baby GL was trying to have a bowel movement.  He cried for at least 30 minutes.  I think between the Tylenol and the crying he just got tired out and fell asleep.  It's heartbreaking to see your child in pain and not be able to do much about it.


The rest of the day Baby GL has been a champ.  Playing as usual, back to normal feeds, sleeping comfortably.  We are staying away from the bouncer for a little while.  Nothing that sits between his legs for obvious reasons.  


It's amazing to see kids heal from surgery and hospital stays.  Adults would be vegetables, lazy and whiny.  Not these little guys.  Children bounce back so much faster than we do.  Isn't that sad to say.  Baby GL is doing so well, he's holding his bottle better than he's ever done and bouncing around at table piano never missing a beat.  He fills our heart with so much love an joy.

Day before surgery

Tomorrow is a big day for us.  We've managed to go over 5 months without a hospital stay and we're hoping to keep it that way.  Baby GL has his Hypospadias surgery tomorrow.  It is only supposed to take 2-3 hours and he would come home the same day.  The complication that could happen is that he may have difficulty coming off the ventilator.  Because of being put under for more than an hour he'll need to be intubated.  Anytime we intubate it strikes a tender spot within me.  Even when we were have the pre-op talk with the doctor I nearly teared up.  It's a very nervous thing to think about.  If he has problems coming off he may need to stay admitted for the night.  Not something I would be excited about doing.


So for now we just have pleasant thoughts about bringing him home after a very successful surgery.  We're planning our nightly feeding.  He will need to stop any formula or solids by midnight, but he can have clear liquids like water or Pedialyte up until 9am tomorrow morning.  We need to be at the hospital for 11am for surgery at 12:30pm.  It was good to hear that they won't be placing an IV until he's under anesthesia.  He won't feel anything then, which make me calmer.  


Send out positive thoughts for Baby GL in the afternoon.  We know things will go well, but I can help being an anxious mom.

Pre-Ops

It's been a pretty busy couple weeks in this family.  Baby GL just keep us on our toes nowadays.  He's moving around with ease.  If he wants to get to something he will get there.  It may take a roll, reach and scoot but he'll get there.  Something we did together was a Baby & Me yoga class for my prenatal students. It was great to show them some poses to bond with their babies and Baby GL loved it.  His favorite is going upside down.  It brings an immediate giggle.  


Our clinic visit last week was for Endocrine, they check his thyroid.  He's been on a tablet for his thyroid since he was in the NICU and it sounds like he'll continue to stay on it.  It's really his only med he's taking for now.  It's the only clinic we need ot have labs drawn up for.  That is a terrible experience for Baby GL.  He has such small arms that it takes a while for the nurse to draw blood.  In this case they started in one arm and ended in another.  I'm not sure how that can be a happy experience for any baby.


So I took my trip last week.  I was away from Baby GL for 4 complete days.  I really thought I would be falling apart.  He was on my mind everyday with everything I did.  I survived, though.  I at least was able to connect over the computer with him.  I think it was probably a good way for me to be away from him for the first time.  It's always a struggle as a mother to put your trust in everyone else to take care of him.  I wrote out a schedule for my husband, by the hour and even added that he's need a bath.  I did the same for my mother. I've never been so type-A until my son arrived.  Now I have to work on relaxing.  Maybe next time I'll try going on vacation.

So today we had our Pre-op appointment for his surgery next week.  It was just a general informative visit.  He needed his vitals checked, weight and height.  We were given a schedule for the day as well as instructions for when to stop feeding him.  I actually got emotional during the appointment when the doctor mentioned he'll need to be intubated.  I knew that he would be but when she started talking about it the whole thing became very real.  We've seen so many bad moments in our son's short life that have included him needing to be intubated.  His surgery is 2-3 hours long so it's too long to go without intubation when under heavy anesthesia.  We should be able to take him home in the evening, however, if he has issues coming of the ventilator it may turn into an overnight stay.  My hopes are to put him to bed in his own crib.  Our week now is preparing ourselves for surgery on Monday.