March 5 - Due Date!

Gerard Weight - 7 lbs. 7 oz.
So much going on!
The home health nurse came out and weighed Gerard yesterday and he's gaining weight at home. Yeah! We needed that good news. Lucky for me, the nurse was a lactation specialist at the hospital and knew Gerard already. I was so glad because I had a ton of questions. She confirmed that he's doing well, we're doing all the right things, and I need to keep doing what I'm doing. The schedule is brutal, but the goal is not going back to the NICU. Doing what I have to do to keep him here. Tonight I'm going to try turning down the oxygen a notch to see how he does. I don't think he's quite ready, but we have to start experimenting. He's still at 1/8.


I'm learning that most people don't understand how complicated this is due to the fact that Michael and I are staying positive. When I run into people I often get the question, "where's the baby?" Well, we can't take him out of the house except for the doctor's visits. We can't have everyone pop by to visit with me and him at this time at home. No, he can't go to the store, the church, out and about to the park like other babies. He has to stay protected due to his fragile lungs and digestive system. We can't have friends with kids in school and daycare coming around due to the "germ" and RSV factor. If he got sick it would be devastating for all of us. I wish things were different, I really do. It's hard to be banished to the bedroom, mommy misses adult conversation, but for now, it's necessary. I know you all understand. By June things should be a little less restrictive. Trust me, it's more frustrating for me than it is for you.

Before the shower
Last Saturday, some of our friends, mostly Michael's co-workers and colleagues in his geosciences department, threw us a baby shower. This was actually the first baby shower I've ever been to. Thanks Nicole! Auntie Carla did us a big favor and babysat - and yes, I called a few times to make sure Gerard was behaving... It was scary not being at home with him for a couple of hours. I made it OK and he did well by sleeping through most of it. Thanks Carla!!!

We were thrilled to get the wonderful Bob Revolution Stroller that I wanted from Babinski's from Michael's department. Wow! We both almost cried. This is an awesome stroller that I won't have to replace...and I might be able to do the Ogden Marathon if he's doing well enough. We got some really, really nice things. Thanks to everyone for being so kind and generous to us old folks parents. Bob made a delicious gumbo and Nicole baked homemade king cake. It was a nice time. I usually have a big Mardi Gras party every year and this year...nada. So the shower made up for that. Who cares if we're in the middle/end of Lent! Lessez les bon temps roullier! Then, on Monday I got this awesome diaper bag in the mail from my sister-in-law by Petunia Pickle Bottom. Perfect with the stroller. Thanks Kim, John, Brett and Chase!

Jim and Rosemary helped us get things home, (yes, another snow storm) - and here's a shot of Jim holding Gerard. It's amazing how tall Jim is and how short Gerard is. I think they like each other. They certainly have the same haircut. And I'm thinking those genius little pee pee teepees will come in handy! Pee pee teepees look exactly like they sound.
Today through Friday would be Gerard's actual due date. Now I have many dates to remember...his actual birthday, his due date, and his gestational age. This is a complicated kid. He gets to get his second RSV shot next week. Something I'm not looking forward to. He screams and I cry.

Funny man's been up for almost three hours and I'm wondering how that's going to work out with his schedule. Michael teaches tonight, so we're on our own. I think he's getting a bath because it's time...he smells like it's overdue. Thank goodness for American Idol. The music is entertaining enough for me to put the TV on. He's so funny loving that show - his eyes usually search for the source, but last night he ate right through it. Tonight - he ate right through it again. I have to mention that feedings are taking an hour. He's dribbling and slow for some reason. Not quite sure what that's about.
On a completely different subject...
I finally got a copy of the book that features my authoring a chapter on gardens in assisted living facilities for people with dementia based on my research. Michael's so proud. I like this - note the baby in the crib behind me. Ha!

For those of you who would like to comment via e-mail, on the blog or at my home email address: ro_hernandez@msn.com please do...I'm already going crazy not having regular emails and chats coming to me from my friends that I did things with on a regular basis before the baby. I don't have NICU runs to make life complicated anymore, and I'm missing my friends and co-workers a lot. I'm not really checking my work e-mail account because then I'll want to work. And this is plenty enough work right here. I have noticed that some of my "friends" have stayed away and have not corresponded with me since this all started. I know things are awkward, but I'm still here!!! Hello! Hello? Hello... OK, so I'm starting to feel like I've been abandoned. I had a baby, not the plague. Oh, and for those of you who have been absolutely fabulous. Keep being absolutely fabulous. I love you all. Just because someone almost dies does not make them dead.

A great big thanks to Michael for letting me get out of the house today to pick up a mobile at Babies R Us and giving me some gym time this morning. I'm so weak and out of shape! I can hardly lift half of what I could before Christmas. Guess that will just take some time. It felt good. It felt really, really good to move! So nice to not be physically sick. That, and I'm a full 10 lbs. below my pre-baby weight. Gotta love it. Although I don't recommend it as a diet plan. No.
The doctor recommended tummy time for Gerard. Here we are practicing: