Happy Fall!

Carter made his first trip to the farm today (aka the farm where we have an acre of property to build our house). It was great to get outside and enjoy the fresh air, though we really had to bundle up since it's getting chilly out. It is fall after all!

This is a view from the pumpkin patch out towards the road where our house will be!

Keeping our preemie healthy!

What a Difference 7 Weeks Makes!

Monday, August 3rd vs Monday, September 21st



This is how I found Papa and Carter...so much for keeping him awake for a little while!

2 Month Check-Up

Today was Carter's 2 month check-up, and it went really well!
*8lbs 1oz
*21 in long
*37.2 centimeters head circumference

All of these measurements are still not on the charts for a 2 month old, but he is growing nicely and the doctor expects him to be on the charts by about 6 months.

*Carter received 5 vaccines today - which consisted of 2 shots and one oral. He cried/screamed, but only for a few seconds and was quickly comforted.
*Should also qualify for the Synagis shots (bi-weekly shots given to preemies during cold/flu season to prevent an illness called RSV)
*Doctor says he is probably about 1 month delayed - which puts him closer to his adjusted age (age based on due date)

Daddy and Carter are now sleeping peacefully!

Breathless Babies

Why isn't Carter a "normal" baby now that he is past his official due date?

This is something that I KNOW, but is even hard for me, being in the situation, to understand. I've been talking about being excited for Carter's 2 month shots so he has more freedom, but the keyword is "more" - we will still have to be very careful with him for the first 2 years or so. It seems as though, now that Carter is past his due date and looks perfectly healthy, he should at least be equal to his adjusted aged peers (i.e. he would technically now be almost 3 weeks old - so shouldn't he be physically and mentally like a 3 week old?).

After doing some research - here is what I have found. I included the article links for anyone who is very interested, but just put some highlights here. Again, thank you to everyone for your support and understanding. Hopefully Carter will be just a normal little boy - but in the meantime, we need to take precautions!

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071214094102.htm
*research suggests that even relatively healthy preemies confront deficits in lung function that last into their second year, if not longer.
*"Healthy infants born prematurely may have smaller sized airways relative to the lung volume,"
*Compared preemies to full-term babies at 10 weeks and 15 months - unable to detect a catch-up period during the study. There was no change in the rate of increase of lung function when compared to full term infants
*premature infants who had more fully developed lungs, thus less need for supplemental oxygen after birth, actually faced greater respiratory problems than those who required prolonged supplemental oxygen.

http://www.synagis.com/what-is-rsv.aspx
*even as preemies start to look healthy and strong, their lungs remain smaller and less developed than those of full-term babies. That's why preemies are at greater risk for a severe lung infection from RSV.

2 Months!

Carter is 2 months old today!! He weighs ALMOST 8lbs! Getting to be such a big boy! We can't wait until he gets his 2 month shots on Friday so that he will have a LITTLE more freedom (we still have to be very careful, lots of handwashing, and if you're sick, please still stay away).

Also - Carter's baptism will be Sunday, October 18th at 11:15am at St. Mary's in Lockport, with a gathering after at our (my parents') house.

Labor Day!

Everything is going very well as Carter nears 2 months (however his shots and added freedom aren't til the 18th), though he has gone from eating about 3oz every 3-5 hours, back to eating 2oz every 2-3 hours (including through the night).

Today, Carter actually stayed in his swing (sleeping) for quite awhile! Now that he's getting bigger he seems to fit a bit better. In fact, based on estimates from our home baby scale, he is over 7lbs!! I also started putting him in his highchair (it reclines back) while we eat. Although he "gets lost" in it, I think he enjoys being up at the table with us rather than down low in his swing or bouncy chair. He is constantly kicking his legs and pushing with them and is holding his head up longer and longer each day.

P.S. After I wrote this blog, Carter slept from 12:30am-5:45am...I'll take it!

Welcome to September!

I can't believe that school is starting next week (and teachers have already returned!). I'm already so glad that I decided to take the extra time off to spend with Carter. It might leave the wallet a bit empty, but this is time I will never have again ~ and I'm loving every second of it!

First bath in the tub! So much easier than the kitchen sink.

Carter likes the bouncy seat!

Carter's first soccer outfit!

Carter's biggest fan!

All my boys!

Happpy 50th Birthday Grandma!!