Days 14 and 15

Sorry for the delay in posts, it's been a busy couple of days...

News about our sweet baby Zachary...he's now two pounds, one ounce!! WHOO HOO!! He's having a bit of trouble with reflux when he eats, but we're going to talk to the neonatoligist about it tomorrow and he may get some medicines to help him. As he matures, many of these preemie problems will go away. In the meantime, we just pray and love him (and worry a little bit too, but that's our job).

I (Kim) am doing well. My mom came in this weekend to meet her grandson and we've been busy, busy, busy. I'm getting used to life "on the outside" and am enjoying wearing clothes and not nighties. We see my good friends the nurses that took such good care of me every time we go to visit Zachary and it's nice to see them while not being horizontal! I have to hand out kudos to all the nurses that took care of me at Women's Hospital and the nurses that are taking care of Zachary, they are amazing and I love them all. Zachary and I would not be doing as well as we are if not for them and Dr. Pinell and all the neonatoligsts. Seriously, kudos to them!

We're still struggling to find time to do everything so again folks, sorry for the delay in getting new pictures up. Stephen's going to teach me how to do it so look for them soon! Until then, love to all!!!

Day 13

All in all, Day 13 was a good day!

Zachary is now up to 1 pound, 15.6 ounces and the doctor has increased his food intake to 9 ccs, every three hours. He sleeps a lot in his warm, dark baby condo. Today Daddy got to hold him while Mommy read him a Dr. Seuss story. He is starting to stay awake more of the time when Daddy and Mommy hold him, he loves to open his eyes when being held. Earlier this evening, Mommy sang him to sleep when he was a bit agitated while trying to get comfy. He really is soothed by hearing his parents' voices. He truly is just so amazing.

Today Mommy got some good news too, she got to go home! Since we live about 45 minutes away from the hospital, we have temporarily moved in with Stephen's folks, who live a mere 10 minutes away (thanks again to Granny and Grandpa David for letting us stay with you!). Mommy and Daddy had a hard time leaving the hospital without Zachary, but were excited about leaving too, it had been almost seven weeks since Kim had walked in on that scary day her water broke. Thinking back to how much has changed since we first checked in, we again thank God for how blessed we are. FYI, we've only called the hospital twice to check on him since leaving. ;)

Sorry for the lack of pictures today, but we'll try to get some up over the weekend. Thanks so much for all of the prayers, comments, emails and calls. We appreciate each and every one of you and send our love to all!

Stephen, Kim & Zachary

Day 12

Today was yet another good day for little Zachary. The Doctors took Zachary off the last antibiotic they had him on. Zachary is also doing very well with being fed the 7 ml. of formula every 3 hours and keeping everything down. They maintained the 7 ml. feedings because they didn't want to increase it too fast. He seems to be doing very well in the new condo, maintaining his temperatures and sleeping nice and quietly. He looked so cute earlier when we went to visit. When the nurse had placed him on his belly after feeding him, he was facing the back of the isolett ( the condo ) and had his little hat facing to the back. So when you look at him .... he had a little baby chicken face looking back at you. Kim and I thought it was cute.

Kim is doing good too. Her doctor said that the incision on her belly is healing, but he would like to have the infection clearing up a little more before she will be allowed to come home. The medicine they have her on is working, just not as fast as everyone would hope. So until he says that she will be released on such and such day ...... we're just going to maintain and going to see Zachary. We are dreading the idea that we will be going home without him. It will be hard, but we know that he is in the best place that he could be for now.

Anyway ..... now for what you really came to our blog to see .... Pictures of Zachary!

Day 12 - Video

Day 12 - Pictures

Day 11

Hello blog friends! Everyone is doing well!! I love it when I get such positive news from the Baldwin fam! Thanks to everyone for leaving such encouraging notes for the new mommy and daddy to read. They really appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers. Kim says all those prayers are the reason that Zachary is doing so well.

Speaking of Zachary doing so well.....

-They bumped his feedings up to 7cc's every three hours today.
-His bilirubin(Jaundice) levels have gone down so they turned off the lights in his new condo that he moved into today!
-He did have a little sleep apnea today after his feeding but the nurse said that this was common and not to be alarmed. They are just going to look for a pattern (hopefully there won't be one).

Kim...
Feeling better today. They think that she will hopefully be able to go home Thursday.

Day 11 - Video

Day 11 - Pictures

SHhh ..... Sound asleep ...

Listening to Daddy

Holding Mommy's finger

haha .... They think I'm sleeping .... I see you!

Day 10

Zachary.....
Zachary had a great day.
-He moved into his own baby condo(isolet) where it is darker and no more noisy neighbors!
_Here he will be able to get more rest and it will help him grow into a big, strong healthy boy!
-He is still eating 4cc's every 3 hours and he is loving it!

-A little bad news.. They found some bleeding in his brain(which is common in preemies).

_Kim asked for everyone to pray for reabsorbtion. They will do another scan next week to see that is going on.

-He is now 14 inches long and weighs 1lb 13.8 ozs!! He is gaining!! Mommy's milk is good!!
-It was Kim's day to hold him and again she said it was amazing!

Kim...
-Feeling better today, her antibiotics are beginning to work!!
-She may get to go home Wednesday if she continues to get better!

Day 10 - Pictures

Mommy and Zachary

Lunch time for Zachary - 4 ml. of formula

Zachary's new little "Baby Condo"

A cute litte crocheted hat made by one of the NICU nurses