https://www.quikly.com/vera-bradley/s/xXZwDrxz?utm_content=blogger

01/01/12

We started the day with church then took all four siblings to see their little brother.  Simon's nurse today was Jan and she suggested that the kids read to Simon.  Collin read one of the books Simon got for Christmas.  I think Collin enjoyed reading to his baby brother and Jerry and I were very proud of him.  He also was soaking up the praise from the nurse.  Simon is up to 2 lbs 15 oz and is continuing to improve.  He is at full feed for his size and apparently likes to have bowel movements on the nurses hands.  We are so proud...haha.  As early as tomorrow they will do an ultrasound on his head to check for brain bleeds.  Small ones or none is what we are hoping for as it is the larger ones that can cause long term damage.  I am going to get moving early tomorrow so we can spend more time snuggled up for kangaroo care. 

12/31/11

So much progress in one week.  Simon is still in NICU at University Women's and Children's Hospital.  He is breathing completely on his own.  He has also now up to full feed.....he is eating an appropriate amount for his weight.....which is 2 lbs and 13 oz.  Yesterday they took out the last IV that was supplementing the breast milk.  Jerry thinks that is a very positive step towards him being able to come home.  Today all he has left is the tube in his nose that they feed him through and the monitors that watch his heartbeat, respiratory rate, and the oxygen in his blood.  Still wired up but way less than before.  He still has a long way to go as he has to be able to feed on his own.  Preemies don't know how to suck, swallow, and breath at the same time and learning all that is quite confusing for early babies.  I got to hold him for almost 2 hours today.  Kangaroo care is very important.  It is allowing the baby to lay on momma skin to skin so he can hear my breathing and heart rate like he is used to in the womb.  It is proven to help with development. They still have not found anything wrong with him.  He will have an ultrasound of his head this week to check for bleeds in his brain.  Tomorrow all of his siblings are going to visit and Grandma and Grandpa Blomberg.  Hopefully I get more time to do Kangaroo care tomorrow too.  Kind of our quiet bonding time.....

December 28, 2011

With so many asking about our little man's progress I decided to use technology and go this route to keep everyone informed. 

To take a few steps back, he was born on December 23rd at 7:38 via c-section with Dr. Mills performing the surgery.  He was 3 pounds and 2 ounces and 15 1/2 inches long.  As soon as he was delivered he was whisked away to a pediatric staff that intubated him immediately.  Jerry got to go see him and take a couple pictures then they took him upstairs.

Jerry stayed with me while they finished my surgery.......while they were in there, they made sure Simon will be the youngest of 5!!  At some point the anesthesia got to me and I began vomiting on the operating table.  I had a wonderful nurse that held the tiny little kidney shaped bowl and suctioned out my mouth.  At one point she had to step away and handed the suction over to Jerry who made sure to remind me that sucking the puke out of your fiance's mouth should make one understand the true meaning of love......


I was in recovery for awhile and back up to my room by midnight.  I got to go see Simon for the first time around 5 am on Christmas Eve.  It was a very difficult first moment.  He was covered in tubes and wires. He was beautiful.....well handsome.  Jerry says he's a boy so it has to be handsome!!His face was covered in tape but he was still perfect!! Tiny but perfect!