Connor McLaren

Connor was born at 25 weeks and 2 days on April 20, 2006. he weighed in at 1 pound 10 ounces (738 grams) and was 14.5 inches long. This blog space is to help keep all our friends and family uptodate on Mr. Connor.

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Children's Hospital today



SATing 100%

Connor in the Dr office


Today was our trip to Children's where we had 2 appointments. One with Pulmonary Clinic and one with Physical Therapy. We started off in the Pulmonary Clinic. We were sitting in a really nice room when in walks Vicki one of the residents from the NICU who is on rotation in this clinic. It was awesome to see her and really great for her to get to see Connor because she knows all too well everything we went through in the NICU. She thought Connor looked great and was really happy to see how well he was doing. She took Connor's oxygen off and put him on one of their O2 monitors and Connor's sats stayed between 98 and 100% for well over an hour. Then the specialist came in and he examined Connor and also thought he was doing great so .... no more daytime oxygen for Connor!!! WOO HOO. So take a good look at these photos they may be the last you see with prongs on Connor! Connor needs to stay on the O2 at night but even that will be going away soon according to this doc. Connor had blood work done and a chest xray as well. We will have results from those tomorrow and a plan will be made then as to when we will start taking Connor off the oxygen at night. It won't be long until Connor is done with the O2. The doctor wants us to keep O2 and the monitor at home though for through cold and flu season just so that if Connor gets anything (please pray that he won't) we have stuff here to try and make him more comfortable and not have to work too hard. Connor was also seen by a dietcian at this appointment and she declared Connor to be doing wonderful. He is in the 50th percentile for height and weight and she said I don't have to worry about moving Connor on to a higher calorie diet because he is doing just great on the diet he is on now. YIPPEEE! Connor weighed in today at 9 pounds 8 ounces and 21 inches long. He came home form the NICU at 7 pounds 1 ounce so this is a wonderful weight gain for him. We are so excited and happy that he is this big now. GO CONNOR GO!!!

Then it was on to Physical Therapy where Connor was measured for a wedge made especially for him. It is a spiffy wedge. He seems to really like it too and Brian and I are very happy with it. It looks so much more comfortable for him and when he outgrows it they will make him a new one. :)

Since we were in Seattle the three of us stopped by the NICU to say hello. We saw Susan and Terry, two of Connor's regular day nurses, as well as Dr Neufeld, the doc who admitted Connor back in April. Everyone was happy to see Connor and were really excited to see how well he is doing and how much he has grown. It was great for Brian and I to get to see everyone again as well and even better to get to leave WITH Connor!

So all in all today was a wonderful day in Seattle. We go back to Children's at the end of September to see Cardiology (just a check up because of my heart condition, they don't think Connor has anything but I want to make sure) and then back to the lung doc November 30 for a check up. Other than that they don't want to see us and we don't want to see them :)!!

I have put some new pictures on the picture trail website so check them out and on a side note Lisa Hayo, one of the nurses in the NICU who we became good friends with, had to travel back to Huston to attend the funeral of her fiance's grandmother. Please pray for Lisa and her family as they go through this difficult time. Lisa and Jamie are going to be getting married on September 9, 2006.

Blessings to you all,
Ali

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Home for one full month!!!

Taken today
Taken when we first got home


Today marks one full month of us having Connor at home!!! Connor gave mommy a wonderful gift...he slept until 3 am and then again until 730 and again until 11, what a guy! It was wonderful. I tried Connor's homecoming outfit on him again today (the NICU nurses will remember just how HUGE it was on him at the time), it fits him now! Brian and I were shocked but very happy. The past month has flown by and I now understand what people mean when they say babies change so much daily. Connor follows brian and I around the room with his eyes now and is starting to show a faint interest in what or who Maverick is. I am sure it won't be long until Maverick is running from Connor.

Tomorrow we are off to church and then hopefully walk by the marina to see the boats.

The picture I have attached was taken tonight while Connor was waiting for his bottle to warm up. He has taken to looking at himself in the mirror. He just loves seeing himself. It cracks Brian and I up because from time to time he will make faces at himself too and then be shocked at what is looking back at him. The other picrure is a comparison one for you guys. Connor is wearing the same sleeper and is with the same Bear but one was taken when he first got home and the other was taken today, look at the difference!

Love,
Ali

Friday, August 25, 2006

Needles don't scare me!!!




Hi everyone,
Connor handled his shots like a pro. Mommy and Daddy did pretty good too! Connor got 4 shots (2 in each leg) and then we were done and out of there. Tylonel was already on board when we left for the hospital so Connor seemed just fine for the first 4 hours, after that more tylonel was needed but by this morning he was just fine. The highest his temp got was 99.3 so he barely even had a rise in temp (aweosme for us because we were worried about that). Connor even gave us a gift last night of a huge poop, what a guy! We still praise the poop around here as you can see.

On the feeding front 3 ounces is not enough anymore even as a snack. Connor is taking a full 4 or 5 ounces now. When Connor came home almost a month ago 2 ounces was a great feed for him so 4-5 ounces is an amazing increase. We have no new weight yet... Connor has 2 baby showers at the church coming up and we have registered for a scale ment for babies and toddlers so perhaps soon we will have weekly weights for everyone!!

Connor is still wearing fussy britches but that's ok. We figure he will eventually outgrow it. For those of you laughing and shaking your head saying they never outgrow it please humour Brian and I and just smile and nod :)

I have attached some photos taken in the last week for all of you. We will have more again soon. I have also ordered some baby announcements so in the next few weeks keep your eyes peeled on the mail!!

Love,
Ali

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Fussy Britches

This is Connor's new nickname. He has been awake almost all day today and was kind enough to wake up every 2 hours to eat last night. I think we may be having a growth spurt, Daddy thinks teeth are coming. He is very active and fussy but we still love him....

The pacifier is a new addition to Connor's life. He has always liked it but now he LOVES it and will actually cry if it falls out or if he wants it. We think it is so cool. Its amazing to me that he can actually want something other than food now and he is communicating with us his wants. I just love it. Connor can keep the paci in his mouth on his own for the most part but it does fall out from time to time and he cannot put it back into his mouth yet...

Connor has moved up a size in clothing now. He now wears 0-3 months comfortably rather than swimmingly. Most of his newborn stuff still fits but not for much longer and the preemie stuff is gone for good. I have kept a couple of his preemie outfits for his keepsake box but the rest are going to be donated to the NICU at UW. It will make another set of parents estatic to see their little one in clothing for the first time just like it was for us and it is through donations that these kiddos get to dress up.

Tomorrow is the 4 month shot day. We have tylonel already lined up and are not afraid to use it! Brian is on leave right now so he will be coming with Connor and I (Thank goodness) but Maverick will be staying home. I will post tomorrow on how this latest Scharich family adventure goes.

Love,
A.

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Happy 4 month Birthday Connor!!!

Hi everyone,
It is 4 months for Connor today!!! He has celebrated in style by waking us up at 5 am and then staying awake off and on until 10am. It's been a great day though and we are so excited to be celebrating 4 months. Connor is of course "actually" only 20 days old today but so what, it just means tomorrow we can celebrate 3 weeks!!! Works for us!

Don't forget about connor's baptism on the 10th of September here in Oak Harbor. We are very excited about it and even more excited about everyone who has said they will be here. Connor is looking forward to getting to meet everyone.

Love to you all,
A.

Saturday, August 19, 2006

Sleeping for Daddy




Hey everyone,

Brian was on Connor duty last night (means he gets up in the night with him snd in the mronign so that I can sleep in) and Connor was wonderful to him. I was really worried it would be a bad night because the night before I had Connor and every 2 hours he was up and wide awake. Connor did awesome though. He ate at 10pm then slept until 3, ate again, and slept until 9am. It was so wonderful. We are hoping the combinations of the wedge, Zantac, rice cereal, and a bath before bed time is what helped out. We have tried the same thinsg tonight and so wish us (me since it is my turn)luck that it works.....

Here are some pictures for you all. The ones of Brian and Connor are form theother morning when Brian just wanted Connor to go back to bed so he took him into the spare room and the other ones are of me and Connor. Connor doesn't have his oxygen prongs on and his machine is saying 99% saturation and a Heart rate of 147 perfect!!! Plus a couple extras just cause he is so darn cute....

Love you all,
A.

Friday, August 18, 2006

Movin up a size in diapers

hey everyone,
Connor has moved into size 1 diapers now!! He is officially done with the "swaddlers", I just changed him over today. I don't know if I should be happy about this or not. On one side it means Connor is growing and gaining great, not to mention peeing well. On the other it means he is growing up and that is a bit sad. The good thing out of all of this for sure is that now Connor doesn't pee all over his onsies and bed.

5 ounces of formula is now Connor's biggest feed. Can you believe that?!?! That is approx 150 cc's, I remember when Connor just took 3cc's a feeding nevermind an ounce! Connor is also loving having the rice ceral in 2 bottles a day now, he doesn't take as many ounces with those bottles but that's just fine with us.

In other news.... still no movement on the house yet although I have counted the flyers in box and they have gone from 20 to 15 which means that 5 are gone, I like to think that 5 people came by and took them and are interested in our house. Hopefully soon people will actually come through the house to see it.

Love to you all,
A.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Pictures





I love Zantac...Zantac is my friend..

Connor loves this stuff too! He is doing so well it is amazing. I swear it is like having different baby now. Connor slept for most of the night last night and managed to keep his O2 at 1/32 all night with no issues. Very exciting to say the least.

We had a Doctor appointment today (last day of meds for his lungs) and Connor is now 8 pounds 8.7 ounces. Another wonderful weight gain. Connor also showed the doc just how well he can puke all over Mommy. Apparently being on his back for the exam was bothing Connor so when I picked him up he puked. The doc said "yup, its reflux!" Its a good thing I learned to pack a shirt for myself in the diaper bag. Connor will start a flow vent treatment tomorrow for his lungs which is really easy, we just put a small mask on his face and have two puffs of treatment go into his nose and mouth as he breaths. The other awesome, most exciting news is that We can start to wean Connor's oxygen some more during the day now. We have to put him on the O2 at night but we can turn him off during the day for periods of time and see how he does!!! We are praying that this O2 is on the way out the door completly.

We have no doctor appointments for Connor until the 31st of August now. We will have a nurse coming to visit every other week I think starting next week and she will weigh Connor when she comes out so we will still have some weights for you all and of course pictures.

Love to you all,
Ali

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

Oxygen back to 1/32

Hi everyone,

Connor has successfully moved down on his O2 needs to where he was when he first came home from the NICU. WOO HOO!! He goes to Children's on August 31 to see the lung specialst and we should get some news then on more weaning. Perhaps before Thanksgiving (Canadian of course!) he will be off the prongs.

He had a good night last night. He slept in his crib on a wedge that allowed him to be at a 45 degree angle which helped witht he reflux. Hopefully tinight goes as well if not better.

Today Connor tried rice ceral in his formula for the first time and he seemed to really like it. He will try it again tomorrow and we will slowly increase the feedings with the ceral.

Love to you all,
Ali

Monday, August 14, 2006

Weight again and other news....

Hello everyone,
Sorry it has been so long, life at our place has been "interesting".

It all started on Thursday of last week. Connor started having issues with his oxygen levels and I of course was freaking out. We increased his flow and the amount he was getting and he seemed to improve. Then Friday night Connor had two severe choking episodes and it was off to the ER we went. So at midnight Brian and I show up in the Er at the naval hospital toting oxygen and enough infomation to scare most people. Connor of course by this point is happy and smiling. The docs in the ER were more intereted in hearing Connor's story and actually seeing a former 25 weeker than listening to our issue and when we were done the doctor said "I think he has reflux" I was thinking whatever. Today we went back to see Dr. Huebner (have I ever mentioned how wonderful he is to our family??) and he put Connor on some Zantax and we got a chest xray. This is where things get exciting so hang on.... There was MARKED improvement in Connor's lung xrays (in my opionion) from the ones taken July 10. It was so exciting that I cried. Then we got home and tried the Zantex. Connor was like a different baby! He took his feed really well and then he slept for 3 hours and woke up ate again and was not fussy. I hope that this reflux issue is what is bothing Connor and causing the oxygen needs. We hope to wean the oxygen starting tomorrow....

On another positive note... Connor now weighs 8 pounds 6 ounces and is 20 inches long!!!! I had set a goal for him of 12 pounds by Christmas but I am thinking he will make that by the end of October at this rate. WOO HOO Go Connor Go!!!!

Love to you all,
Ali

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Dr Appointment today





Hi Everyone,

Today Connor had a Dr appointment (scheduled one, not because he is sick or anything) and things went really great. Connor now weighs 7 pounds 15 ounces (one ounce away from the 8 pound mark) and is 19 3/8 inches long considering he was 1 pound 10 ounces and 14 inches long at birth this is amazing. After the weight and length Connor and I hung out in a room waiting for Dr. Chad and I couldn't help but cry for a minute because of how far Connor has come. Sure he still has his O2 pack and his monitor but so what, he is doing just great. Dr. Chad doesn't need to see Connor until after September 21, YIPPEEE!! Connor is considered well enough to not need to be seen by him until then!!!!

I took some pictures before we left for the DR and I have some pictures from our walk the other day and visit with Jon and Kristyn Brown.

Love to you all,

Saturday, August 05, 2006

Out for a walk

Hey everyone,

Today Brian and I took Connor out for his first walk outside. It was wonderful. We parked at the church and walked over to Pastor Jon and Kristyn's house. Connor didn't care much for the bumps in the sidewalk but other than those he seemed to enjoy himself. Connor got to hang out with Lydia while at Jon & Kristyn's and he got lots of cuddles from Jon and Kristyn. I took some pictures of all of them, I will post them tomorrow. Today was the block party for the church as well and things looked wonderful while we were there. We are hoping the turn out was better than expected.

Today during tummy time Connor again did that moving thing he does. It is so awesome to see and he is getting really good at it. He is lifting his head up more and moving it as well. The changes in a week are remarkable and we are so grateful to God for all of them. I am hoping that all of you can see that Connor is getting bigger from his pictures as well. Brian and I were commenting tonight that the days just fly with Connor home, we have decided this is why people say they grow up too fast.

In some other news, Brian and I have put the house on the market. We signed the papers tonight and are hoping to have people coming through in the next few days. Pray for us that the house will sell quickly and for a good price. We are anxious to move on and get settled.

Love to you all,
Ali Brian & Prince Connor

Friday, August 04, 2006

TGIF




Hey everyone,
As you can see Connor decided to get dressed up today. He managed to stay clean in this outfit for almost 6 hours!!! Today was really nice and warm so we decided to wear short sleeves and no sleeper for part of the day. Connor seemed to like it but I think Mommy enjoyed seeing him all dressed up more. He is just so darn cute!

Connor again did a five hour sleep last night, fed and then slept for five more hours. What a champ letting mommy (and Grammy) sleep for so long. Hopefully this is a treend that will continue and eventually he will be able to go the whole night. I don't know how I feel about that though, seems that after 5 hours I am anxious to check on him anyways so I think I can handle staying at this level for a bit.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

One full week home

It has been one full week home now for Connor. Life has been going fairly well considering a 7 pound baby has turned it upside down. Connor has some resemblance of a schedule and we will be working on ironing out the wrinkles in that over the next few weeks.

For the NICU nurses that read this blog....I now know what Connor sounds like when he cries. I also now know what he sounds like when he screams! I hate them both and you were all right, I am able to hear him just fine. Funny how Brian seems to sleep through it though.

Connor is still eating well and seems to really enjoy bottle time. I am hoping this translates into a nice weight gain on the 9th when we go back to the dr. I am hoping for 8 pounds but Grammy says about 7pounds 10 ounces. Anyone else out there care to make a bet???

Today Connor also seems to have discovered his cough again. The NICU folks will know what I mean. It sounds like he is going to cough up the biggest something ever imaginable. Connor is very dramatic when he coughs. He used to only do it when we were done feeding and burping but now he finds that if he does it in bed Mommy comes running. I am beiginning to think he feels it is funny to see Mommy so scared....

Love to you all,
A.

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

New pictures

There are new photos on the picture trail website. It is some shots of the night nurses with Connor.

Connor had a good day today. He is eating well and sleeping even better. I spoek with his doc's nurses today and the fact he wants to sleep for 5 hours at night between feedings is ok. YIPPEEE!!! Midnight to 5 am sounds great to Mommy! We shall see if it works out this way.

Maverick is home and seems to be doing well. He doesn't care much for Connor's crying. He leaves the room when that happens. He is getting used to the fact that when connor is sleeping Mommy can play with him but when Connor is awake Maverick has to wait hsi turn. The next few weeks will be interesting.....

Brian and I are doing well. We are very thankful my mom has been down and able to help us out. The church has been wonderful as well, we have had delicious meals brought to the house and we have all been loved on by them.

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Connor is 40 weeks!!!

Hi everyone,
Connor is officially a newborn!!! Today was/is his due date and so today is the date we use for his milestones. Connor celebrated his big day by finally pooping!!! It was like being in the NICU again and finally having poop. I did the happy poop dance and called Daddy right away to tell him. Connor seemed pretty pleased with himself too.

Connor also went on an outing today with Mommy, Grammy, and Gramps. We all went to the Navy Exchange and then the grocery store. Connor slept the entire time and Mom worried. No one came near Connor which was awesome, I think one of the 3 of us would have tackled them if they came to close!!

Samatha Brown also came over today with her mommy. Connor gaain slept for the whole visit but it was nice ot have a new mom around to chit chat with about life and the lack of sleep.

I will also have pictures of Connor to post tomorrow, I know you all wait for those pictures!! :)

We miss and love you all,
Ali