Merry Christmas Ted!

As a Christmas gift to Ted I decided that I would make a small post on the blog. I warn that I am not going to be as entertaining, and will be sticking to a more serious note. I have to admit that I have stayed away from posting because I really enjoy what Ted writes, so I don't want him to stop.

Drew is officially 6 weeks old and remains healthy and strong!! As a mom I am trying to enjoy the journey (which for those of you who know is not an easy thing for me to do). What a journey it has been. Gratefully the fussy, irritable, inconsolable baby that we had in the hospital has turned out to be an angel ( when he is being held). Drew seems to really enjoy being around people (whenever we have visitors he is especially content).

I have loved watching the transformation of Ted as a dad. The instant bond and love that he had for Drew was so amazing to watch. It has made me love him more and more.

This holiday season has taken on a new meaning this year. I could go on and on about the many blessings that we have but it would take pages and pages. What I do know is that Drew has been a gift from God and we are so grateful for him (even with the bags that are under my eyes!). The other thing is that I am so happy to not be 8 months pregnant and I now have a whole new repect for mothers (to all you moms: you are amazing!)

Thanks to all of you for your support, concern, and prayers when we were in the hospital! Have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Five Weeks!

Snuggling with Mom.

Drew just loves his bear suit.

I think he looks like an astronaut.

Sarah's two favorite boys.

Long time no blog! I keep trying to pass the blogging baton off to Sarah, but so far I have been unsuccessful. Whereas in the hospital blogging had a purpose, now when I post I feel like I am just another proud parent publishing to the world how adorable my child is (isn't he, though?). Although I am not exactly comfortable with the blog's new direction, I would rather boast about my son than recount gloomy details about his health any day.

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Enough about me! Drew is doing great! We have now had quite a few opportunities to show him off. Everyone's first reaction is still, "Wow, he is tiny!" And they are right. Since the last post, it is hard to tell whether he has really gained a lot of weight. He eats a ton and seems to get his fill, so we are not too worried.

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Also, now that he is officially off the phenobarbital, he generally seems to be in a better mood. When we compare the hospital Drew to the Drew we have now, we can really see a difference in how far he has come. He is not the inconsolable terror that he was for the nurses, thank heavens! In fact, he loves to be held and is almost always at ease in somebody's arms. We are trying not to let him get too accustomed to being held 24/7, but when you have such a snuggly kid, that is easier said than done!

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Anyway, Sarah, Drew (Santa's little elf), and I want to wish everybody a merry Christmas!

Adventures with Doctors

What an eventful couple of days!  First came the visit to the pediatrician yesterday for the circumcision.  Everything went great!  Sarah made me watch.  Besides the procedure, they also measured and weighed him -- his size right now puts him in the 8th percentile.  I can't imagine that a son of mine would stay petite for too long, but who knows?  If he truly does have Sarah's

build...we just hope that means that a future daughter of ours won't be stuck with my body!

 

Today we had the EEG and the neurologist consult at Primary's.  Our efforts to bring Drew in sleep-deprived for the EEG backfired; he ended up sleeping while we as parents deprived ourselves of sleep.  He has shown an uncanny (inherited?) ability to sleep through anything.  We were lucky because in spite of his rest he still ended up sleeping through the entire hourlong EEG -- which consisted of 23 electrodes placed all over his head taking readings of his brainwaves.  Sarah got to hold him in her arms for the whole thing, and even fell asleep right alongside him. 

A couple hours later we met with the neurologist in the dark because the 

power had gone out.  The word he used to describe Drew's case was "puzzling."  The EEG came back showing no signs of seizure activity, but it did show that his brain was a few weeks behind in its development.  The neurologist told us to take a week to wean Drew off of his medication and then come back for a follow-up visit in a couple months.  I guess even if no one exactly knows why Drew's first week went the way it did, at least we'll get to stop giving him phenolbarbitol.

Since Sarah is an employee at Primary's, we got to show Drew off to all of her coworkers.  They all gathered around to see him and were quick to tell Drew how adorable he was.  They made us want to show him off more!