Twenty One and Twenty Two weeks old

Actual: Twenty one weeks (January 27th - February 2nd)
Corrected: Eight weeks
Weight: 9 pounds 12 ounces (January 30)

Not much happened this week. Evan just worked on growing!

Evan has bath time every other day and he really seems to like it. He hasn't started splashing, but he does seem to be very content. He hates getting out of the bath though - probably because he's all chilly. Andrew and I made a crucial mistake and didn't have a diaper immediately ready when Evan came out of the tub one day this week. He peed on everything. I think he was really proud of himself too. Gotta keep that weapon covered up!!

Thanks to wonderful family friends, we can now track Evan's weight daily. I'm trying to get in the habit of weighing him before he takes a bath. The scale is awesome and we're so thankful to have one. I didn't realize how much peace of mind it brings. I weighed Evan after he nursed one day - convinced he wasn't taking enough. The little man wolfed down 6 ounces!!!!! Guess he gets enough when he nurses!

Evan loves Fridays

Whoa. I am one handsome dude!

That's 9 pounds 12 ounces of happy baby
(even if I'm choosing this moment to not look happy).

Uh Daddy? Since this is your first time with the Bjorn,
could you try not to drop me? Kay thanks.

Shoot, busted for eavesdropping on Momma's phone call.
Just gotta make sure I'm the talk of the call!

Hehe. I think I like sitting in my chair! Maybe you and Daddy can take the next 2.5 seconds
to enjoy your nice dinner together. Like a normal couple.

I'm adorable. AmIrightoramIright?!

Actual: Twenty two weeks (February 3rd - February 9th)
Corrected: Nine weeks
Weight: 10 pounds 13 ounces

Boy is Evan getting heavy! He loves to spend the day in the baby bjorn which is awesome since I'm able to get stuff done around the house. He helped me bake angel food cake this week and usually tries to help with dinner. I'm noticing that I have to change my stance as he gets bigger. This must be what the 3rd trimester feels like... I have to continuously check my balance and make sure I'm not swinging Evan into things as I move around the house.

Evan is trying to work up to sleeping more at night. He is usually awake for most of the day. You would think this would make him extra tired come bedtime, but no. I think he just likes to stay up hanging out with his daddy. Andrew and I have a pretty good sleep routine. I pump and go to bed around 9 pm. Andrew hangs out/plays Grand Theft Auto/sleeps until Evan wakes up for a bottle (typically between 12 am - 1 am). Then he'll wake me up to pump. Evan gets wheeled into the bedroom and I get up with him whenever he starts to grump (around 3 am - 4 am). I'll feed Pants and then sleep on the couch so Andrew can get some solid grunt free sleep. (Grunts courtesy of Evan, not me.)

Evan had his hearing checked out this week. His hearing was last checked in the NICU. I was bummed when we couldn't be around for it, but now I understand why the night shift does it. Evan did not cooperate at all. We got instructions in the mail that told us to make sure Evan came to the appointment ready to sleep. Um, he's a baby. He'll sleep whenever he gosh darn wants to. So naturally, Evan was wide awake and ready to party when we got to his appointment. I tried stuffing him full of milk in the hopes that would make him sleepy - nope. No dice. It didn't help that he had electrodes on his head and a sensor in his ear that wouldn't stay. He was not a happy camper. In order for the tests to work, Evan has to be completely still and quiet. His head has to be at a certain angle and he cannot be awake. Maybe they've never met a baby like Evan, but even when he sleeps he grunts and moves. He is not a restful baby. Thankfully we were able to do one test. His hearing appears fine. Andrew and I were not worried about Evan's hearing since he startles himself with his farts. Due to Evan's prematurity, length of time on a ventilator and level of antibiotics that he received, there was a possibility for hearing damage. I can reschedule the test that looks deeper in the ear when Evan is on a bit of a better sleep schedule.

Evan also had his five month check up this week. The doctors are happy with his weight gain. He does have a bit of a rash under his chins, most likely due from milk dribbles. We're treating that with cream. Thankfully it doesn't seem to bother him at all. Evan did have to have his heel pricked for the newborn screen. He had this screen done several times while in the hospital. This test looks for 40 different disorders. Since Evan received many transfusions, there was one part of the test that was a bit high. The NICU doctors were not worried at all since transfusion blood comes from an adult which would make Evan's numbers high. The retest should show results comparable to a newborn baby (even though Evan is five months old). No news is good news on this test.

Active Evan video

Seriously? More pictures?
I don't care if you have these little hearts that are perfect for a Valentine's Day photo!

Ah! You caught me naked and pudgy!

So what? I don't have to do a thing for myself!
They feed me, they dress me, bathe me, and pick up after me! Why would I want to live on my own?!

Just workin' on getting this burrito undone. So far I got my feet out.

Happy burrito!

Bring it on Monday! I'm ready for ya!

Heh. This is fun. I'm not sure where my neck went though. Do you think it's important?

Nineteen and Twenty weeks old

Actual: Nineteen weeks (January 13th - 19th)
Corrected: Six weeks
Weight: 9 pounds 2 ounces (Hospital weigh in January 16th)

This was a big week for Evan. He went in for another balloon treatment for his trachea. It had been 4 weeks since the last dilation. Once we passed the 2 week mark, Andrew and I had a few days of "Oh no, is he breathing hard", but thankfully that worry didn't last too long. The morning of the procedure we were confident that Evan's airway was in no way blocked like previous times.

It seemed (to me at least) that the procedure was over just as Andrew and I were finishing our pretzel bagels (mmm, bacon + pretzel bagel = awesomeness). The doctor was very pleased to report that Evan's air way was looking great. He did end up dilating the air way since Evan was in, but the doctor stated that he only did it because Evan was there. The before picture of the air way showed the trachea with almost zero scar tissue. The doctor said that the amount that was visable, he was just being nit picky about. Since Evan was bigger during this dilation, the doctor used a chemotherapy drug that has an off label use for combating scar tissue. I guess it keeps the scar tissue from forming. Evan was too little with the other procedures.

The doctor was happy to tell us that he feels confident in just following Evan at his office going forward. If Evan were to ever have a procedure/surgery, the doctor said that he may be interested in taking a peek at the trachea. He said that he doesn't think there's any reason Evan would need another procedure at least for the next several months. You know Andrew and I are going to be all over Evan's breathing!

Evan did not need a breathing tube at all while he was recovering. By the time he got settled in the PICU and Andrew and I were able to go back to see him, he was already awake and demanding food. He was able to take a bottle a few hours after the procedure. He was definitely a bit more cranky than his previous stays. The PICU was pretty full too. When Evan was admitted, our side had about 4 beds occupied. When we were discharged the next day, all 10 beds were full and Evan's was going to be cleaned quick for a new admission. I kept my ears alerted for anyone talking about RSV or communicable diseases. That's all we needed - for the procedure to go great but Evan to come down with something.

We were discharged and sent on our way Friday morning. It is so awesome to know that we don't have any scheduled stays on the calendar. Now we just have to keep him healthy through the rest of the germy season!

Straight chillin'.

My name is Burrito. Evan Burrito.

I don't wanna be the inside spoon!!

Sure! I'll try the wave out!

Uh, the wave is kinda lame.

Holy cow! I totally just spit up all. over. myself. Didn't I?

Hospital pictures (iPhone quality):

Say what?! I'm 9 pounds!?

Good thing I stored milk in my cheeks for later. I'm starvin!

I'm a professional burrito!

Oh sleeping with a full belly of milk is the best kind of sleeping.

Actual: Twenty weeks (January 20th - 26th)
Corrected: Seven weeks
Weight: --

Well our doctor's visits just keep getting spaced out! We had a great visit with the eye doctor this week. Evan's eyes appear to be stable so we don't have to come back for a month. The doctor did point out that Evan's right iris (the black part) is not perfectly oval. This may have been from the laser surgery. It will not impact his vision or anything. Just a cool feature Evan gets to brag about. haha

Evan impressed both the physical therapist and occupational therapist by turning his head during tummy time. He was a champ during his massage (who wouldn't be!?) and his stretches for OT. I've learned how to massage his legs, stomach and chest. The stomach massage strokes will be great for when Evan is all backed up. He is usually pretty tolerant.

Evan also successfully found his right fist this week! In the beginning of the day, he was just sucking (slurping really) on the side of his hand. By the end of the day, he had figured out how to put his thumb in his mouth. I woke up one morning to him sloppily slurping away. Although I don't like it when he cries, it is pretty cute to see him stick his thumb in his mouth to calm down.

So do I demand milk just as Daddy and Momma sit down to eat,
or as they're a few bites in?

Eh, maybe I can entertain myself for a little bit.

Something's different...

OMG! I love overalls!

Yes, I am a hug magnet. And a snuggle magnet. 

I like cooking with Momma.

Heh. I know I'm going for a car ride! This is going to be great!

Seriously? Doing dishes has to be the most boring thing ever.

Yum! I found my thumb!!

Forget this! I say instead of planning out meals, we just eat the same thing every day. Milk.

But why do I have to face away from the TV when you're playing Grand Theft Auto?

Look at my cheeks! Do you think they're big enough?

Okay. Weekend game plan: Drink, pass out, poop pants.
Well, maybe you don't want to do that last one Daddy.
I have a feeling Momma might not be too happy about that.

Seventeen and Eighteen weeks old

Actual: Seventeen weeks (December 30th - January 5th)
Corrected: Four weeks
Weight: -- (VNA no longer visiting)

Well we received great news from the eye doctor in Rochester. When we went in for our visit on Monday (after a fun random run in with a friend!), the doctor said that Evan's eyes were holding steady. She told us that we could go back to seeing our regular doctor in Buffalo. We will still go in for weekly visits, but at least the right eye doesn't seem to be getting any worse.

We learned this week that our new insurance doesn't cover the Visiting Nurse (VNA) visits. The VNA was just checking Evan's weight and pulse ox each week. Since he's been gaining steadily, hopefully when we go to the Pediatrician, it's okay if the VNA stops coming. It is fun to have a weekly weight though. (Although I can always tell at 4 am that he's packing on the pounds!)

Evan's OT and PT went well this week. I'm learning infant massage from OT. We worked on legs today. Each week we'll add in another section. The therapist said that he did really well. I'm so proud of Evan. :)

Unfortunately, Evan really only sleeps for extended period of times when he's nestled in on Andrew or my chest. This makes night time a little difficult. During the day I have to wake him up to feed him at about 4 hours. At night we're lucky if he can hold out for 2 hours. Pre Evan I required a lot of sleep... I think I was banking it for when Evan was home!

New Year's Eve was pretty uneventful. I think Evan may have been the only one awake for the ball drop. I was excited to have a glass of champagne. I pumped so I could enjoy myself... well I think I got a toasting sip down. Guess I'm not ready to party yet. Haha

Evan as a conductor: http://vimeo.com/83991115

Nooooo! Don't drink that!!!!

Okay, be prepared to be owned in Halo! (Uh... what button do I push?)

Mooooooooom! Daddy's not letting me win!

Maybe if I do something cute like suck my thumb, I won't have to turn my head!

Family selfie. :)

Bath time during the winter leaves me super chilly.

Whoa, dude. This chair vibrates. It is awesome.
(At least for the next 5 minutes. Then I'm going to HATE IT!)

But you said I could be a gangsta today!
Stop telling me I'm cute! Gangstas aren't cute!

Holy cow. Pockets are awesome.

Maybe I don't want to be a gangsta. I think I'd rather be a snuggle bean.

Actual: Eighteen weeks (January 6th - January 12th)
Corrected: Five weeks
Weight: 8 pounds 4 ounces (January 6th)

Poor Evan had to get his 4 month shots this week. He was so smiley and happy for the entire doctor's visit. He was cooing with the nurse right up until she poked the first of 3 shots in his leg. I think he stopped breathing. His face turned bright red and he let out this scream that I had never heard before. It was heart wrenching. Thankfully the shots were over quickly and I was able to calm him down.

We were back at our regular eye doctor as well. He gave us more good news - we can start spacing out our visits to every 2 weeks! This is a good sign that the right eye continues to do whatever it is that it needs to do. Andrew and I were so relieved after the appointment.

Andrew had a birthday on Friday. Evan helped celebrate by keeping him up late.

Within the last week or so, Evan has started cooing and making fun new noises. It's so adorable. He does pretty well with tummy time. Right now, he will sometimes flop his head from the right to the left. He has yet to move his head from left to right. His right side is his dominant side and where he tends to rest his head.

What? It's a cape, not a bib. Geesh.

I feel like I'm forgetting something.

Heehee, I farted.

Holy cow, it stinks! Do I really make that kind of smell?!

Uncle Ryan can teach me to play video games through osmosis.

So you're telling me the pig says "bacon"? Well I guess that makes sense.

I can't wait to drive that snuggling puppy crazy.

Rwar! I'm a tiger!

Yay! Facetime with Gma!!!