One Month

When Spencer was born I sent out an email announcement to everyone I knew.  One of my friends wrote back and said that one of her favorite things was when she got email updates and pictures past just the birth announcement.  With that in mind I sent updates with cute little stories and pictures every month.  Then I started blogging when Spencer was 15 months old and his monthly pictures and updates went on the blog.

I am beyond thrilled to be able to do Elliott's 1 month update today.  There were about 24 hours in the hospital where I didn't actually think we would make it to today. 

Elliott got a bath this morning, I picked his outfit, we dressed him in this adorable sweater, posed him, photographed him and then changed his clothes into a more baby friendly get-up.

Date:

January 16, 2012

Weight:

Elliott was 6 pounds 13 ounces at birth.  He went down to 6 pounds 2.5 ounces before he started gaining weight (between 7 and 9 days old).  We took him to the pediatrician today for his follow-up to being discharged from the hospital.  He was 7 pounds 2.5 ounces.  He gained a pound in a little less than a month.  Pretty impressive, given how sick he was during a chunk of that time.

Sleep:

Elliott was pretty much asleep until he was 19 days old.  First, he was a premature newborn which made him extra sleepy to begin with.   Second, at 3 days old he developed jaundice.  Then he was in a bilirubin coma for 3 days.  Just as he was really getting over the jaundice he developed the UTI and sepsis.  We felt like we really didn't see him at his most alert until he had been on the IV antibiotics for 3 days.

Since we have been home from the hospital and we are settling into a routine, his routine (for the last 3 days) is: He sleeps for 2-3 hours at night with one 3-4 hour chunk, normally in the early morning hours.  He sleeps in the co-sleeper at night until around 4-5 am and then he wants to snuggle.  Then he goes in my arms.  He has 2-3 periods of good alertness during the day.  He has been napping with us during the day.  I know it is a fine line we are walking here with him getting too used to being held while he sleeps.  We do not want to repeat what happened with Spencer, but then part of me says- screw it.  He almost died and if I want to hold my beautiful baby I will hold him, dammit. 

Movement:

Elliott is surprisingly strong given his prematurity and illness.  He tries really hard to hold his head up and can do it for 4-5 seconds before his neck gives out and his head crashes back down.  He can roll from his back to his side.

Speech/Language:

Elliott is a grunter.  He gets really mad and grunts really loud while he is being swaddled, but then he relaxes and enjoys the cocoon. We didn't really hear him cry until we were in the hospital for a few days.  I think before then he was just too sleepy and weak and sick.  The most miraculous thing about him is that he will cry and then STOP when we pick him up.  That never happened with Spencer.  Elliott makes the sweetest noises while he sleeps.  They sound like content sighs.

Sweet Remembrances:

I am going to force myself to list some because the overwhelming theme of the month was not sweet, nor anything I want to remember.

1) The overwhelming support of our friends and family during a very difficult time.

2) The wonderful medical care we received at Cardon Children's Hospital.  They saved Elliott's life.

3) Spencer being so excited to be a big brother and dealing with us being gone at the hospital for 10 days.

4) Our first Christmas with Elliott.

5) Taking Elliott to our 10th Anniversary dinner.

Food:

The hospital had a policy that premature babies be given a small amount of formula after nursing in order to keep their glucose levels up.  We didn't do it once and the nurse yelled at us.  So, while we were in the hospital Elliott got about 1/2 to 1 ounce of formula after each time I nursed.  Once we were home, starting on day 3, it has been only breast milk.  We went through 2 phases where Elliott quit nursing- once for 3 days during the jaundice and once for 2 days in the hospital.  I pumped like mad during those times.  Elliott has been a champion nurser for 11 days now.  He eats between 9 and 12 times a day, so today we returned the hospital pump I had rented.  I was not sad to see it go.

Mood:

So far so good.  No excessive crying so it appears Elliott is not following after his brother with colic. Premature babies can develop colic up to 2-3 weeks after their due dates though, so I'm still holding my breath a little bit.  I'm so glad he is here though that I'd just deal with it if he had colic.

Likes/Dislikes:

Elliott likes being held by mommy and daddy.  He sometimes likes to sit in his infant chair.  He likes bath time.  He doesn't mind his car seat and being in the car, but he wants the car moving.  He cries at red lights.  He tried out the lion gym for the first time yesterday and it occupied him for about 10 minutes.

  Ellliott does not like the swing.  Poor swing.  Neither of our kids were/are fans.

The lion gym- yesterday

Dear Elliott,

What can we possibly say on your 1 month birthday?  Your birth was truly miraculous after such a trying time for mommy in the hospital on bed rest.  You were just perfect and we were so glad to have you join the family.   It was such a delight to bring you home from the hospital.  Your big brother was so excited and we, your parents, were thrilled.  Then you got jaundice and you were so, so sleepy.  It was stressful but you perked up after a couple of days of bili-light treatment.  Then, when you were 17 days old you turned blue.  We rushed you to the Emergency Room.  The next couple of days were awful.  The worst of our entire lives. We thought we were going to lose you when you were 18 days old.  The fact that you lived and are going to be fine is a miracle.  We thank God for you every day and will try our hardest to 1) not be too overly protective and paranoid as you grow and 2) show you just how much we love you every day of your life.

Love, Mommy and Daddy

napping after his 1 month photo shoot