Simon's Story

Simon was our first born and our biggest at 4lbs13oz. In utero, he was Baby B, but as he was laying on top of Linus, he got to come out first. Simon did great from the minute he came out. Nice big cry and never needed any oxygen. He got his first bath within an hour of birth. He was also the first to graduate out of a heated bed and into an isolette.

When he started on his feeds first and the nurse told us he'd have his IV out soon, I thought he'd just fly out of the NICU. Then his reflux started. It was heartbreaking to se him cry, "chew" and arch his back. They started mixing his breastmilk with AR formula and making sure he stayed upright for a few minutes after feeds. This helped some but he started not wanting to eat. An NG tube was placed and half of his feeds were just put down the tube. After adding Zan.tac, he really started improving. They'd offer him 5 out of 8 feeds orally and put anything he didn't finish down the tube. They figured out that if they gave him 3 of the oral feedings at night, he did better. Apparently we have a night owl. He's now up to 6 of 8 feeds by mouth and doing pretty well.

A few days after birth, his right eye started looking puffy. Within a day it was swollen shut and had green goo. The doctor thought it was probably just a blocked tear duct, but started him on an antibiotic ointment when it didn't clear up with warm compresses and massage.

About a week ago he started having sleep apnea and bradycardia. Basically he'd forget to breath and keep his heart rate up when he was sleeping. As he would roust himself out of it, they just started tracking his episodes. If they kept coming, he would have started taking caffeine, but they've slacked off. I'm sure he'll come home on an apnea monitor to make sure he does well out of a hospital environment. Over the last few days they've been lowering his isolette temperature preparing to transfer him into an open air crib. As of today he's within a few tenths of an ounce from his birth weight. I have a feeling he'll be home next week. :)

Coming into the world.

Meeting his Mommy.

Holding his Mama's hand in observation.

Contemplating kicking that nurse's butt who gave him a bath.

Thinking about how wrong he was about that nice nurse who fixed his hair.

Preciousness.

His first big boy outfit.

Looking like Rocky with his swollen eye.

Pitiful face. At least the eye looks better.

Kangaroo time with my beautiful wife.

Showin some love.

First time in Mama's arms

Swimming in preemie clothes.