First Day Home

Noah is finally home! Our first day has gone very, very well. He slept pretty good (he woke up every two-three hours to eat during the night) and enjoyed being held by his grandparents, aunts, mommy and daddy, and, later in the evening, the Frey's. He loves his swing too! (And sunglasses.... thanks Great-Aunt Connie!) He even took a whole two ounces from a bottle too!

Nana, Papa and Noah.

Swinging during dinner!

Enjoying some time with Angie too.

DISCHARGED!!!

Accomplishments of the day: Noah was circumcised and FINALLY discharged!!!

When Dr. Davis came in and found out that Noah had taken all of his feeding orally the day before, she was willing to allow us to take him home! Of course, we have to take him into the pediatrician on Saturday for a weight check to make sure he is eating well and gaining weight, but we're just thrilled to finally take him home! We had to wait for Dr. Bickman to be able to do his circumcision, so we didn't actually leave the hospital until after 11PM, (he had to pee first after the circ), but it was worth it!

Noah in his carseat! FINALLY!!!

Video taken when we first arrived at home!

NICU Watch Day 17

Accomplishments of the day: ALL of Noah's feedings during the day today were ORAL! He did so good and we're hoping that he'll be released soon!

My family came into town today and arrived just in time to see Noah during his 8PM touch time. Everyone was SO excited to get to finally see him in person and hold him.

Meeting Nana.

Proud Papa!

Aunt BB loves him!

Aunt Jessie could hardly contain herself!

NICU Watch Day 16

Merry Christmas from the NICU!

Accomplishments of the day: Noah did great with all of his oral feedings today!

We spent most of the day up at the hospital with Noah and celebrated Christmas there. In between his touch times we watched our new Christmas presents (we watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) on his laptop in the cafeteria. And, when we got back home, we put his first Christmas Baby ornament on the Christmas tree. While it wasn't the ideal Christmas, at least we got to spend some time with him!

The Smith Family

Noah's Christmas Hat (it has a reindeer on it!)

Noah's First Christmas Ornament

NICU Watch Day 15

Happy Birthday Noah! Two weeks old today!

One of the nurses got all the kiddos in the NICU Christmas clothes.... Noah's says "Naughty or Nice".... Ben thinks he's pointing at the naughty, but we all know Noah is nice!

Accomplishments of the day: Today was another good day. Kari, another occupational therapist, came by during our morning breastfeeding session to check in on Noah. And, FINALLY, someone listened to us when we said that we think the amount that he is receiving in his feeding tube is too much and is making him too sleepy to latch on properly or to take a bottle correctly. To make things even better, she spoke to our nurse and the on-call doctor (who called Dr. Davis to confirm the decision) and we decreased the amount that he is gavaged. At our afternoon breastfeeding session it was like he was a whole other kid! He was hungry and awake and ready to eat! And he did! And the same for our evening session. We're anxious to find out how he'll do at his two o'clock in the morning bottle feeding.

Merry Christmas Eve!

NICU Watch Day 14

Accomplishments of the day: Today was a MUCH better day. Ben talked with Dr. Davis (the neo-natologist) and we are all on the same page now - she knows that we want to bring Noah home as soon as it is safe, not necessarily ideal or perfect and she agrees with us! Also, the morning breastfeeding session didn't go so great, BUT the afternoon and evening one did! I've finally got my little champ back!

This is the outfit that his (Great-) Aunt KK got for him... the back and the front! Isn't he adorable in it?! (And sorry... I forgot to turn the picture before I uploaded it... and I'm too tired to go back and fix it.)

He just looked so peaceful when we came in that I made Ben run back out to the Jeep to get the camera!!

Every time we go in for a touch time with Noah, we start it out by waking him up, taking his temperature and then changing his diaper.... and, just so everyone knows, Ben is a great poopy-diaper changer!

NICU Watch Day 13

Accomplishments of the day: Nothing major to report, except for the neo-natologist finally set Noah on a real schedule. Every other feeding is going to be by mouth (either bottle or breast) and the remaining ones are to be done through his feeding tube.

Big yawn after finishing up a feeding!

We tried to get him to smile for everyone!

NICU Watch Day 12

No major accomplishments to report today.

This morning was a rough morning. We called (as we were told to do) to see what Noah's touch times were suppose to be. We were told 9,12,3, & 6. When we got to the hospital however, we found out that they were set for 11, 2, 5 & 8. We missed the first one and they were already feeding him through his gavage - I bawled. I'm so over all this. I'm just ready to take my baby home where he belongs and he'll get all the "mommy milk" he wants and needs and nothing ever again through that dang (I used a nice word) gavage tube.

On a much happier note, I came back from pumping after the 2 o'clock feeding to find my two favorite guys enjoying some much needed sleep and skin-to-skin time.

We're still not certain when he'll get to come home, so please continue praying that it is before Christmas, or at the very least, Christmas Day. We're both ready to have him home and feel that he is ready to be home too -- pray that he starts taking all of his feedings by mouth and not the gavage tube.

NICU Watch Day 11

Accomplishments of the day: Noah is now done with the special medication that will help relieve some of the fluid in his body and Dr. Davis asked us to go ahead and call Dr. Bickman about getting him circumcised - she didn't want us to miss out on having the person we want to do it, do it, just in case we are released over the holidays. So that's a very good thing.

We couldn't resist dressing him in his BDU-style onesie that Angie and Katy (and Greg and Landon) got for him. We forgot to put the bib on him for the picture - it says "Daddy's Little Sidekick"!

NICU Watch Day 10

Accomplishments of the day: Sada (the OT) increased his number of bottle/breast-feedings from one per shift to every other feeding after he sucked down a whopping 83cc/mL! At one feeding, he refused the bottle from Sanna (his nurse for the day), but happily went to Mommy for a little breast-feeding!

They told us that we could start bringing in some of our own clothes for him and dress him, as long as they were only onesies or t-shirts (to make it easy to get to his tubes and cords). So we picked out this one from my sisters:

We figured we better start putting to use any of those 0-3 month clothes that might still fit!

NICU Watch Day 9

Accomplishments of the day: Jessica (the lactation consultant) helped me get Noah properly latched on for the first time - and now he is a pro!

Mommy kisses are his favorite kisses. ;)

My two snuggle-bugs.

NICU Watch Day 8

Happy Birthday Noah! One week old today!

Accomplishments of the day: Noah's jaundice level has gone down so much that he no longer needs to be under the Bili lights! Also, he's moving into a "big boy" crib - he no longer needs to be in the incubator bed! And, finally, the OT has given him a "prescription" for how often he should feed from a bottle - he took 41cc/mL (of his required 91) from a bottle today!

Noah's new crib - though we wish it was at our home, we know that this is a good sign that he is making a lot of progress!

NICU Watch Day 7

Accomplishments of the day: Noah was moved to NICU East! (NICU West is the first stop for all NICU babies. Babies in the NICU East are there for care after their various conditions have been stabilized.) Also, his jaundice level has started to drop!

Noah sleeping under the Bili lights in his incubator bed.

Noah's Project Linus blanket - Project Linus is a non-profit organization that gives handmade blankets to seriously ill children (such as all the babies in the NICU). We really like Noah's because it looks like a "cowboy" blanket.

Daddy's favorite hairstyle for Noah - all spiked up.

More snuggle time with Daddy.

(After yesterday's vent, I thought I should post this too.)

Top 5 Things You Should ALWAYS Say to a NICU Parent

1. Congratulations!!

2. This sucks - I'm sorry you are having to deal with this.

3. What can I do to help?

4. He's SO adorable! I love his (fill in the blank with anything).

5. I/We love you and am praying for his time in the NICU to be short.

NICU Watch Day 6

Accomplishments of the day: Ben finally got to hold his son for the first time. Noah's jaundice level is starting to stabilize, though it is still high. He also opened his eyes and stayed awake with us for nearly an hour while we held him.

It's finally "guy time".

Noah always seemed to get the hiccups in utero and now that he is out in the world, it is no different!

(Here's my vent for the day:)

Top 5 Things you Should NEVER Say to a NICU Parent

1. When are you having your baby? (Seriously. The security guard asked me that after we had already explained to him that we needed a NICU parking pass. I know I still look five months pregnant, but weren't you just listening to what we were saying??)

2. Enjoy this time because when you get him home, you'll be SO tired. / Sleep while you can! (Are you flipping kidding me? I'm tired now because I have to come up here to the hospital just to see my child. And I can't sleep because he's not here with me. I'll sleep much better, thank you very much, once he is home.)


3. Use this time to get ready for him to come home. (I'm already ready for him to come home - seriously. All the important stuff has been finished. Everything else can and will wait.)

4. Aren't you glad you didn't have to carry him to full-term? He would have been SO big! (WHO CARES!? I don't care how big he would have been - at least he wouldn't be in the NICU.)


5. Did anyone tell you that diabetics have bigger babies? (I can't even respond to that one. See previous blog/vent.)

NICU Watch Day 5

This has been one of the hardest days of mine and Ben's life. No parent should have to leave their child alone at the hospital, no matter how good of care the child might be in. There's really nothing more that I can say than that. (Needless to say, I now understand how my parents must have felt all those times I was in the hospital.) I was discharged early in the morning (about 9ish), but since we lived so far away and the occupational therapist was coming to work with Noah in the afternoon, my nurse allowed us to stay in my room as long as we needed (well, up until 6:30 at shift change).

Accomplishments of the day: Sam and Noah had some "Kangaroo Care" time (skin-to-skin... it helps promote healthy brain development and, well, just makes everybody involved feel better).

Noah lying "prone" in his incubator bed under the Bili lights. Notice how his legs are splayed out like a frog! That's due to him being breech in utero and will correct itself quickly and naturally.

His Daddy's hands always calm him down when he gets upset. He loves the firm touch that Ben gives him.

Noah and Mommy enjoying some skin-to-skin time after attempting to breastfeed. Look how relaxed he is when I get to hold him!

The tube/syringe on the side of the rocker is giving him the rest of his formula (I'm not making quite enough milk yet). It's called a gavage tube and it allows him to be fed without having to "suck".

Thank goodness for a sweet lady at the Pump Station who met us at her home to get us our rental breast pump - Rita, you helped us in so many more ways that you will ever know!

And, just as helpful and spirit-lifting were Greg and Angie who brought us dinner and sat with us until we drove back up to visit Noah during his late night touch time. Thank goodness for good friends.

NICU Watch Day 4

Accomplishments of the day: Noah had one of his two tubes in his umbilical cord removed. Sam had a full day on a regular diet! ;)

The morning view of Santa Monica from our hospital room.

My two favorite guys.

Noah is still under the Bili lights for his jaundice - the only time they turn them off is during his special touch times every three hours.

NICU Watch Day 3

Accomplishments of the day: Ben has now become a pro at changing diapers! Sam was able to hold Noah for the first time. And Noah tried his first ever bottle.

Ben is quite a natural at the diaper duty.

(I'm sure one day Noah will be upset with me for posting this on the internet, but for now, well, he can't do much about it.)

I finally got to hold my son!

Our sweet little boy trying to take a bottle - we love Emily (the nurse) for trying!

NICU Watch Day 2

This morning was the first time that I was able to actually see Noah with my own eyes (minus the couple of kisses I was able to give him before they whisked him away). Ben would go down and take pictures and videos and bring them back to the room to show me, but seeing him for myself was what I really wanted. It was so hard to go into the NICU and see him simply laying there in his little incubator bed, breathing tube in, and me being unable to hold him. After spending a few moments in the NICU, our nurse took us over to our new room in postpartum.

Noah under the Bili lights (for jaundice) and before the breathing tube was removed.

Accomplishments of the day: Sam was able to get out of bed with help and Noah had his breathing tube removed.

And, Happy Birthday Jessie! Sorry he wouldn't wait one more day like you kept telling him to do!

Welcome to the World Noah!

This morning at about five o'clock, when I was getting back in bed from my hourly bathroom break, my water broke. Now, I've always heard stories about how women sometimes, umm, pee on themselves when pregnant, so my first thought was not "MY WATER BROKE!", but "Oh my gosh. I just peed the bed!" I spent nearly an hour of hopping in and out of bed and I finally realized that this might just be it. After talking with Ben and calling my mom too, I called my OB who told me to go immediately to the hospital. So, we got ready, loaded up the newly completed hospital bags (good job Ben!), and headed out in LA's rush hour traffic to Santa Monica/UCLA Medical Center. By the time we got there, I has having contractions and was convinced that Noah would be born today.

At 11:36am Noah Eugene was born via c-section due to him still being breech. He was 10lbs 11ozs and 21 in long. Because he was born slightly early, he was having some breathing problems. After getting him all cleaned up and allowing Ben to cut the cord, the nurses took him to the NICU for monitoring and eventually to intibate him to help him breathe.

He has already stolen our hearts.

The Master To Do List

Today Ben and I worked on getting a few things done around the house in preperation for Noah's arrival - here's our "Master To Do List"... we've got a bunch of things to do this week!!

One more trip to San Diego

I love San Diego - it's by far my most favorite destination city CONUS. Knowing that it might be our last chance to go down there without taking a baby along, Greg and Angie came over and picked up Ben and I and we headed out. Of course, our main reason for going was to eat at the Gaslamp Strip Club (oohh... just thinking about that steak makes me hungry again!). But, what is a trip to San Diego without a stop at the Package Store (Navy version of the Class Six... or the liquor store for non-military folk) and the bowling alley? The boys were pretty bummed out that there wasn't that much on sale at the Package Store, but they still managed to find a few things for themselves (and for others)! And, once we got back to LA, we had to play a little Euchre too. I love spending the day with friends, eating good food, and playing games!

Ben and I at the Gaslamp Strip Club!

Just another reason why I hate UPS....

We've had tons of problems already with FedEx (not including the fact that I fell while I was trying to get to the door!), and UPS has always been a thorn in my side too. This is because they have (REPEATEDLY) thrown packages over onto our patio. The last straw for me with FedEx was when they tossed a package over the patio wall (which is about six feet tall and has a hedge on the outside, so the FedEx/UPS guys can't see where it is going to land), breaking one of my flower pots. Grr. I wrote a nasty letter to both the local FedEx delivery and to corporate and have not had any problems with FedEx since.

Fastforward to today: a package from Ben's Grandma Lucy was delivered and tossed onto the patio. The fragile cookie jar inside was broken. Just another reason why now I hate UPS too.

Not just another grocery shopping trip

Yesterday I went to the commissary and bought most (minus the perishables like veggies, milk, bread, etc.) of our groceries for the next TWO months! Crazy, I know. But when you have a little one on the way and you are in a nesting mode, who wants to deal with making sure that you have a kitchen pantry (and bathroom storage, in our case) full of groceries? I for one, do not! We got all the cold stuff put away last night, but there was no way that I was going to be able to bend over or sit down and organize the extra storage - so, look what Ben did! Nice work honey! And now, when my chefs get here (Mom, BB and Jessie!), they'll have everything they need at their disposal!

I've even got a little bit (not much though) of room left to make a few frozen dinners for Ben and I!!

No more TDYs!!

No more TDYs!! Well, at least not until long after Noah gets here! Ben came home today (early!!) from a TDY to Vandenburg AFB - I'm SO glad to have him home already!

Oh! And I'm 35 weeks today!! Three more to go, though I'm hoping for a lot less!

When You're a Parent with Diabetes

A couple of weeks ago, I found a recommendation for this book, "When You're a Parent with Diabetes" on another type 1 diabetic's blog. I've been wanting something like this to read my entire pregnancy and finally, now that we're at the end of it, I've got one!

I love this book already and I'm only about half-way through it. I think I like it so much because (obviously!) I can completely relate to what the author has to say. She and her husband are both type 1 and have two, very healthy (non-diabetic mind you!) boys. I literally laughed out loud because I could totally relate when she wrote about how others would comment on the size of her babies and how it must be because she is diabetic - I had a nurse in the hospital over the weekend say, "You know that diabetics tend to have bigger babies, right?" What on earth?! Of course I knew that! And, of course, I know that my management of my diabetes has not contributed to Noah's size, just like Kathryn (the author of the book) knew the same thing of her sons. I guess it's just hard to explain this to people who have little to no education on real life with type 1 diabetes - it's completely different from type 2 and gestational diabetes!

As for an update on Noah - he's still doing great! I went in for my weekly NST today and he's just so happy to be head up still! Keep praying that he'll turn...

Christmas Packages

We're almost ready to mail out our Christmas presents! I'm SO glad to have them almost done and cannot wait until everything is mailed out - what a load off our shoulders it will be!

Taking the Shoeboxes to be mailed

Today we took the Operation Shoebox shoeboxes out to Saddleback... we were planning on going to the church service and then also Class 401, but after the couple of days that we had had, we decided that it would be better for us to simply watch the service online, not go to Class 401 (we were really bummed about this one!), and just take the boxes out at our leisure. And that was a very good decision!

Discharged and Tired

**Ben has the camera with the pictures on it... I'll post them when he returns!**

We (well, I was) were discharged from the hospital around 8:30 this morning and luckily, everything is completely fine with Noah. But poor Ben - he says that he's bringing his air mattress when Noah actually makes his appearance!

We were suppose to have a small Christmas party with some of our friends tonight at our place, but since we were expecting to not be released from the hospital until 2 in the afternoon we had canceled it the day before (Dr. Bickman had wanted me to stay 24 hours, but when she came by at 8am, she said we could go ahead and go home).

Because I had already made so much of the food for our party and our small group Christmas party was pushed back a week, we didn't know what to do with all the extra food. Instead of making a big deal out of it and calling everyone again, Ben just went ahead invited a few people over to watch the Big XII Championship game with us. It was a easy, relaxing evening and since everything had really already been done, I didn't do much but sit and watch the game! And yippee!! Oklahoma won and is going to the Fiesta Bowl!