Connor likes to eat even more now...

Connor is up to 3 ounces a feed now. YIPPEE!! He is doing really well and we are very excited. Today was a good day for all of us which is nice. Connor doesn't seem so gassy and upset. The guy FINALLY showed up with Connor's machine that monitor's his oxygen levels at home. I had to call everyday and hound them but I have one now. I miss the one at the NICU though, at least that one stayed on Connor's foot!

We have a Dr appointment on August 9 and so we will have a weight for Connor then. I was looking at him today and he seems bigger to me! He looks longer and fuller. It was pretty cool.

To the NICU nurses...I miss you guys. I was telling my mom today how much I miss seeing all of you. I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done for Brian and I and of course Connor.

Love,
Ali

Big day for Connor

Happy Sunday everyone!

Connor had a big day today, he went to church for the first time with Mommy! It was wonderful to have Connor at FRC with me (Brian had to work). We got to sit in our usual spot and Connor had lots of people visit him (none touched!). Connor slept through the whole thing but I think he still was listening.

Connor also had his first full bath at home. He has just had small sponge bath types until now here. He loved the bath as soon as he realised what it was and that he was ok. Besides needing a bath, Brian and I had hoped Connor would get some relief from all his gas with a bath. So far so good but we are hoping it will last through the night!

Last night was our first rough night with Connor. He had such bad gas pains and was just beside himself. Poor little guy. At 4 am I finally gave in and let him sleep on me on the couch and the both of us finally rested. Brian and I think it isthe extra iron that Connor is getting that makes him so upset but he only needs to be on that until Wednesday so I am sure we will see some relief after that. If not it is off to Dr. Chad for us!

We hope everyone is doing well.

Love,
Ali, Brian & Connor

photos

Friday July 28

Hi everyone,
Things are starting to resemble some sort of schedule around here. Its not a schedule that is condusive to sleep for anyone other than Connor but it seems to make him happy, therefore his humble servants are happy. Connor sleeps for about 3.5 hours now and is eating closer to 80 cc's a feeding. So he is almost up to 3 ounces a feeding. He looks wonderful.

Today Connor convinced me that he is brilliant (not that I needed much convincing to begin with) We were spending time on our tummy's and Connor lifted his head and pushed his feet against me and rocked. I thought it was a fluke and so Connor did it again, and then he did it for Grammy too. He doesn't move very far or for very long (and he face plants but we don't tell him that, we don't want to discourage him!) but it is progress and something that babies between newborn and 3 months do so I am estatic. Connor was also introduced to his swing today, it was a hit, he loved it. We love seing him smile so everyone is happy when he is in the swing.

A truck arrived today as well. A Ford truck to be exact and it is the perfect size for Connor. I have attached a photo. It was a gift from the Phoenix/Grace family.

Mignon and Bob Zylstra met Connor today. Mignon made us all dinner and she brought over a prayer shawl for Connor that matches mine which she also made. We were so grateful to them for the dinner and the gifts. They of course fell in love with Connor as everyone does!

Love to you all,
Ali.

First full day home

We survived!!! Thank goodness my mom is here!!!

Connor was up about every 2.5 to 3 hours last night and just really fussy. I think he was just overwhelmed by everything from the day and was wondering how on earth Brian and I got the ok to take him away from his beloved nurses at UW! Connor slept in his own crib and I slept in my own bed. I am so in love with my Angel monitor it isn't even funny. I can hear everything Connor does and I can even hear him breathing.

We went to the doctor for the first time today and Connor weighed in at 7 pounds 2 ounces. Yipee!! It is going to be so different for us not to have a daily weight for him. We got back to the doc in 2 weeks. We did well in the car and in the hospital. Connor did not like being undressed or being poked by a new person. His oxygen saturation in the office was 97 which is awesome. Connor came home from his adventure and promptly ate and then slept for 4 hours.

The oxygen company sent someone out today to fit Connor for his O2 machine (it monitors his rates so that we can start to wean him off the O2) they came out here and only had a finger monitor that one of us would wear! Connor's thumb was too small for the machine to even pick up. SO ANNOYING!! Maybe next week they will have a machine for us.

Brian has also managed to make it through work today, it is funny to him that Connor and I are at home and he is at work. I am suspicious about whether Brian heard Connor last night or not, he didn't seem to move at all when he would wake up :) If I had to work today I think i would have chosen to sleep too and now for the first time in months Brian has his family home. All we are missing now is Maverick and he will be home next week!

Love to you all,
Ali

pictures of Connor

I have just started a picture trail for Mr. Connor. Feel free to check it out!

Love you all.

http://www.picturetrail.com/scharich

Welcome Home Connor!

We are HOME!!!!! 97 days in the NICU was the total we got in rounds today. Crazy to think we have been there that long. Having Connor home right now all tucked in his crib is so worth it. I think the stress level for both Brian and I have gone down about 75% at least.

Saying goodbye at the NICU was very hard today. I think we were still in shock that we were leaving. It was finally our turn to go home. The folks there were amazing to us and it was not just us with tears most of them had them as well. Connor seems to make people fall in love with him!

Connor seemed to enjoy his car ride home for the most part, he and I crashed out in the back seat while Brian drove. It was great. Then we got back to the house and some folks from our church had decorated the outside of the house with signs welcoming us home and inside they had also decorated and left gifts. They also did a grocery shop for us for staple foods (like milk!) It was so wonderful. Connor got a tour of the house and he seems pretty content with his surroundings for the most part. He was a bit over stimulated though, we decided Connor needed to try all his new things and eat and be cuddled. Poor little guy didn't know what else do do but cry. Finally we went into his crib with his mobile and he was out within minutes.

So the bets are that Connor sleeps 3 hours between feedings. We shall see.

Thank you all for praying for Connor and us, thank you for being there for Brian and I, and thank you for loving our son with us. It is so wonderful to be home and we want for all of you to know just how wonderful you have been in the past 4 months. We could not ask for better family and friends.

Blessings and love,
Ali, Brian & of course Connor!

July 25th

Connor is coming home tomorrow! WOO HOO! We just cannot wait. He has his eye check to see if the surgery was a success in the morning and then an hour after that we should be good to go.

Connor is now 7 pounds 1 ounce so he is over what Mommy weighed when she came home! He is still loving to eat and takes the bottle like a champ.

The oxygen lady came today and taught me how to set Connor up on the O2. It is much easier than I thought. The company will be sending someone out to the house tomorrow to get us set up with the home supply of oxygen. We got travel tanks today. Each tank has about 60 hours worth of O2 for Connor. We have an appointment on the 31st witht he docs from children's, those doc's will be the ones to wean Connor off of the O2. We have no idea when exactly Connor will be done for good with the prongs. So long as he is home who cares!

That's about all the news today fromt eh NICU. Soon we will be sending notes form home!

Love, Ali, Brian & Connor

July 26th

Connor is coming home tomorrow! WOO HOO! We just cannot wait. He has his eye check to see if the surgery was a success in the morning and then an hour after that we should be good to go.

Connor is now 7 pounds 1 ounce so he is over what Mommy weighed when she came home! He is still loving to eat and takes the bottle like a champ.

The oxygen lady came today and taught me how to set Connor up on the O2. It is much easier than I thought. The company will be sending someone out to the house tomorrow to get us set up with the home supply of oxygen. We got travel tanks today. Each tank has about 60 hours worth of O2 for Connor. We have an appointment on the 31st witht he docs from children's, those doc's will be the ones to wean Connor off of the O2. We have no idea when exactly Connor will be done for good with the prongs. So long as he is home who cares!

That's about all the news today fromt eh NICU. Soon we will be sending notes form home!

Love, Ali, Brian & Connor

July 23, 2006

Connor is now 6 pounds 15 ounces!! That is 3148 grams and 7 pounds is 3175 so he should make that mark by the time he goes home. Connor will officially weigh more than his mommy did when she came home at that point.
Connor is still eating very well. He eats about 60cc's every 3 hours with the odd 75 or 80 cc feed in there too.
The nasal prongs are annoying Connor, hopefully he starts to put it together that if he breathes on his own all the time then he will not need the o2, that would be nice!

We are still planning on being home on Wednesday. No idea what time but at some point. I will be sure to let everyone know asap when we get home. We are all set up for the big arrival. I don't think Brian and I have fully grasped the fact Connor is finally coming home!