A Fantastic Four Months

Who's got two tiny thumbs and turned 4 months today?

This gal!

 

I have been up to a lot since way back when I turned 3 months old.  Mom has lifted the sequester on me, and I've been out several times to make very strategic, germ free visits.  I caught up with nurse Linda, I went to learn all about babywearing, and mom took me on a road show to visit my buddies Jill, Cristina, and Chris. Dad takes me on walks in the park in the weeeeeee hours of the morning.  It's like there's a whole new world out there that I didn't even know about.  I love watching Mom and Dad huff and puff when they take walks. They talk a lot about being out of shape, but they've always looked like fuzzy blobs to me.  I don't get it.

babywearing is the bomb

I have started occupational therapy to address something called sensory issues.  I don't really like loud sounds or lights or fabrics.  I'm not a fan of touch either.  My therapist Michelle said I'm pretty stellar at playing with toys though.  We're going to be working on a whole lot of stuff so stay tuned!

Big news! I have colic, which is super awesome because it makes my parents want to hold me all the time.  I've yet to give them the secret password that stops me from crying.  About two weeks ago, I decided 7pm is the witching hour, when I start screaming inconsolably.  Dad has figured out if he twists like Chubby Checker on heroin, I will settle down for a bit.  It's good for his waist line really.  You're welcome pops.

Dad and I after twisting.

Mom keeps telling me her time with me one on one is coming to an end soon.  Something about August 3rd being her return back to full time work.  I haven't quite decided if we're supposed to be excited about this or not.  Sometimes she starts smiling about it as I'm crying, but then i hear her crying in the morning as she's holding me and I'm all quite and snuggly. I guess she hasn't made up her mind either.  Since she's going to work, I get to meet my Grandma Simpson.  I'm so excited to find out I have TWO grandmas.  This one is going to stay with me for two weeks, while Mom transitions back to work.

I thought I'd compile a list of things that I dig at 4 months:

Elvis, making Mom and Dad sleep with me, the sound "g", miss turtle on my changing table, my black and white queen cow, and baths.... but NOT getting out of baths.

I try to get milk out of queen cow, but she's holding out.

Dressed in my Sunday best

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee

Happy 4 months to me!

3 Months and counting

Hey everybody!

3 Months!

I've been so busy being home and an awesome, albeit fussy newborn, that I haven't had time to blog.

The transition home has been interesting.  Mommy and Daddy were so excited to have me home.  You should see them figure out this whole parenting thing.  There were times when I was being a perfect sleeping angel, resting quietly.  They thought I was a little "too quiet" and they nudged me just to make sure I was breathing.  I showed them I was by screaming and not going back to sleep.  It's a team effort really, and I'm all about feedback.

Here is a photo of me at 2 months old.  I was such a little baby back in those days.

I have been to the pediatrician and cardiologist and both say I am doing so well!  I think Mom and Dad have a hard time not being regimented like the NICU schedule.  My pediatrician says Mom needs to adjust to real life and to go with the flow. When I'm hungry feed me.  I decided I am going to start being hungry every 2 hours, just in case she wants to fall asleep on the job, I do my duty of waking her up!  The cardiologist also said my heart was really strong and that I'll be monitored throughout childhood to make sure it stays that way.  He said it was amazing that everything turned out so well and that he was actually really worried when he heard Mommy was delivering at 29 weeks.  I'm full of surprises!

First doc appointment after the NICU.... BORING.

I have had so many milestones that it's hard to keep track.  I passed being 3 months old on the 29th of June.  Even though I am so old, I am still really gestationally only about 3 weeks old.  I was born so early that the early months really just count like I was still a fetus.  Mommy and Daddy will measure my developmental milestones from my due date. That means I'm still working on things like tummy time and recognizing black and white objects. Here are some of my work outs:

The vibrating chair is intense

This will likely make me a genius one day.

Add caption

Here I am at my favorite gym. Right now I just bat at all the toys, but someday I will grab them and in my mouth they will go.

Sophie and I discuss changing table etiquette.

This is me interacting with "My baby".  She's always talking when I am.  It is so rude.

Most of the time I just sleep and look adorable.  

I'm too sexy for my shirt.  So sexy it hurts.

As you can see for the first couple of weeks I didn't wear anything but a diaper and a swaddle.  This was because Mom and Dad were too lazy to change clothes and a diaper, but over time Mom has gotten into the whole cute clothing idea and likes to put outfits on me as if I were a doll.  Dad likes the outfits only because it provides another layer of blow-out protection.

I have passed the 7lb mark and am growing really well, but still pretty small.  I am in the 10th percentile for preterm babies in both weight and length.

This next month I start some heavy duty training- Occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy.  These are supposed to help me catch up to other kiddos my age.  Mom and Dad are hoping they train me on how to stay asleep all night. We'll see about that:

    

Day 54: I'm GOING HOME!!

The day that we have all been waiting for is HERE!

After my big weigh in last night, all I needed was the go-ahead from the doctors during rounds. Of course there was a glitch in my chart.  The system reported I had lost 50 grams, but luckily nurse Lindsey and Mom made a stink about it and Dr. Patel agreed to re-weigh me.

My resident team- Dr. Patel pulled rank and said he got to hold me because he's the attending.

I had gained even more weight so it was no big deal, but it was kind of a funny start to they day.

Lots of people came by to see me off

Dr. Lange told me to listen to my parents.  He's big so  I didn't argue with him.

Voni helped Mommy through 2 bouts of mastitis and helped me learn to breastfeed

Dr. Phillips coached my Mom from the beginning of her hospital stay.

Lindsey is my favorite non family member.  I sure will miss her.

Then it was time to change outfits and pack up!

Super Malala

Car seat time

Let's blow this joint!

 And head out the door!

My home for the first 54 days of life.

Mom and Dad dreamed of this moment.

And motor on home!

HOME!

My new room

The NICU was a frustrating, but amazing place.  Without it and all the caring people that work there, I would not be here.  Mom and Dad are forever grateful for the special people that showed love and support we received while there.

I will keep blogging here and there, but for now I have to figure out how all this will work on our own.  Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers, and for reading!

We made a sappy & EPIC slideshow of my journey.  It took a long time, and I dare you not to cry.

VIEW MY JOURNEY BY CLICKING HERE!!!

  

Peace Out
Malala

Day 53 My Big Night

I have extra special news today!  I was able to take enough food to keep my feeding tube out and when the residents made their rounds this morning they said that if I can gain weight tonight and take all my feeds, I MIGHT get to go home tomorrow!  My parents are both excited and shocked.  They made a really big to do list that included getting my car seat inspected by AAA.  My nurse Linda even said Mom could ask 100 questions today.  Usually she just limits her to 30.  Linda is an invaluable resource and has worked in the NICU setting for many years.  She knows how to get babies out of here!  Mom and Dad really appreciate her help.  We took a photo together today.

Linda challenges me but is really confident I can make it home soon!

Mom really likes Linda.

 I had visitors today too!

My pal Pam came by and was shocked to see how big I had gotten.  She hadn't seen me since I was in the isolette. She said she'd come by and hang out with Mom when I go home.  Because I am a premature baby, I am not supposed to go out or have lots of visitors for the first month or so because I can get sick easily.  I told Mom Pam is fine because she made me lots of hand made gifts and came to visit me lots too.  I'm not above bribery.

Pam and I.  I have to show off all my sailing outfits to Mike soon.

 My friend Stacy came by too.  Stacy and Mom talk about serious stuff a lot like Poly ticks and sheroes.  For some reason Mom changed me out of my cute elephant outfit when Stacy came by.

Stacy said she felt lucky holding me.

 All these visitors made me sleepy.  I could tell Mom was in a good mood because she kept taking photos.  I hammed it up a little with this glamour shot.

Next Generation Rodin

 I had to pass a test today too.  I had to sit in my carseat for 1 hr without desaturating in oxygen or having a brady.  PIECE OF CAKE. I passed with flying colors and am ready for my next challenge!

A+

Everything seemed like it happened so fast, even though I've been in the NICU forever!  My weigh in tonight was crucial, because the only concern the docs had was me gaining weight.  Lucky for me my night nurse was my primary Benjamin.  When he weighed me, we all celebrated because I gained 50 grams!!! Mom and Dad both did a silly dance and Benjamin gave me a baby high five.

Big Ben and I spending our last night together.

When the doctors did their rounds, Dr. Iani, the doctor who was in the delivery room was the attending.  Mom was so happy because Dr. Iani let my parents hold me right after I showed up on the scene.  Dr. Iani said it was rare to let a mom hold a 29 week old baby, but I was doing great at the time.  Mom, Dad, and Dr. Iani shared a special moment.  My parents were impressed because there are 60 families at this NICU and the turnover can be high.  For a Doc to remember details of our delivery story really impressed Mom and Dad and made them feel like I had been well watched over.

My first Doc ever, Dr. Iani

So since I gained weight, I should be able to go home tomorrow!  Mom alerted Lindsey so maybe we could say bye to her tomorrow.  Lucky for me, Lindsey accepted an extra shift and will be my nurse on my hopefully special day!

Day 52: Progress!

Notice anything different about my face?

I no longer have a feeding tube!  I am on a 24 hour test to see if I will gain weight and eat all of my food by mouth.  If I pass I don't have to have the tube anymore.  Everyone tells me that not having the feeding tube shows my beautiful face so much more! 

It is both scary and exciting for my parents because this is what I have to do to get home someday.  If I can show everyone that I can gain weight like a big girl, maybe I'll get to go home sooner than later!

Another cool thing that happened is that Stephanie and Violetta get to go home. We are the same age, but V was born 1 week earlier.  If she is going home, it gives me the baby confidence that I can do it!  Remember the photo of me in my mother's day present?  Well Grammy brought me an outfit just like it and I gave it to V.  V's primary Ashley let Stephanie and V come visit for a twinsie photo shoot.  Look how adorable we are!

I was just fed but Violetta is hungry!