We received a baby sign language book for Phoenix from the French Family, but it looks like Phoenix already has learned a sign! This is "I LOVE YOU!"
Actually, he was just sleeping and his fingers were coincidentally in this pose, so I had to snap these photos!
We had a small baby shower / welcome home to Baby Phoenix party on Saturday, June 20th here at home in Redmond. Apparently, we chose a bad weekend! June is when there are graduations, weddings, vacations, and friends / family from out of town visiting people. However, we still had several friends and family come to visit and see Phoenix for the first time!
We enjoyed delicious carne asada burritos with fresh, home made guacamole and salsas, a large fruit salad, and a wonderful 4 layer chocolate cake with Bavarian creme filling (made by the Cake Lady of Bend, OR).
Phoenix pretty much "missed" his party... he was held by everyone, but slept through nearly the entire thing! That's okay, though. I'm sure he enjoyed just being held by so many people who were happy to hold the "star of the party"!
We played a few fun shower games and our guests won some prizes. We opened Phoenix's fantastic, thoughtful gifts and then we said goodbye to our friends! Phoenix received some great new outfits, blankets, washcloths, and teethers / rattles. And, from his "aunt Paula" he got a new glider chair with a gliding ottoman! Phoenix LOVES to rock (glide) in the chair, especially when he's fussy!
Sometimes we face the chair towards the tv in the living room, so that we can watch a show while he's sleeping in our arms. And, other times, we spin it around to face the windows and the patio door to look outside into the back yard and talk about things we see outside. He enjoys this too!
Thank you to all who came to our party and a special thanks to those who couldn't make it, but were able to send / drop off gifts for Phoenix, as well!
Phoenix's newest stats: 8 lbs. 11 oz. and 22". He is below the standard for his actual age (2 months), but in his "adjusted age" (2.5 weeks old, his "gestational age") he is in the 25th percentile in weight and the 50th percentile in height. He will use his "adjusted age" for development and growth charts until he is around 2 years old.
Thank you all for your continued prayers for Phoenix! This past Tuesday, he went in for a somewhat common procedure for boys (a circumcision). Unfortunately, the results were far from common. It seems he is allergic to Lidocaine (the numbing medicine). This was not noticed until the procedure was already underway. Then, after attempting to give him some "sweeties" (sugar water) not only was he swollen, but then he was projectile vomiting around the room.
Then, just after an hour of getting home, his Mommy (Steph) noticed while changing his diaper, that he was still bleeding. We called the pediatrician and were told to come in immediately. The doctor was unable to stop the bleeding with what she had in her office and we were sent to the Emergency Room at St. Charles, in Bend. He was at that time bleeding profusely. The ER doctors tried to stitch him, but the skin was already dying. An operating room had been prepped. His blood was drawn for labs and blood matching for a transfusion (because he'd already lost a lot of blood). But, Steph pleaded to wait to see if we could stop the bleeding, as the operation (a formal circumcision) would permanently alter his genitals, because they would have to cut off more than had already been cut. We were told that it would not be "aesthetically pleasing" when they were done. Thankfully, Phoenix eluded surgery when, after almost an hour, the bleeding stopped.
He has been healing well and will get to take a bath (which he loves to do!), as soon as the plastic ring falls off. Until then, he has had "sponge baths" and he took his first shower with his Mor (Lisa) while his Mommy (Steph) washed him up. He didn't really fuss, but he didn't enjoy it nearly as much as his baths.
Phoenix's newest "issue" is acid reflux. Apparently, this is quite common for preemies. However, it normally shows up while they are still pre-term. We did notice that it seemed to appear after we started giving him more formula (due to the decreased breast milk supply). Not only did he start spitting up and vomiting, but it was even coming out of his nose. He now only sleeps on his belly or almost completely upright (propped up by pillows)! We were instructed to start adding powdered rice cereal to his formula to try to keep the reflux down. Since this has not seemed to do the trick, and the reflux is now affecting his esophugus (making him unable to swallow without pain) Phoenix is now taking liquid Zantac (twice, daily). Hopefully, this will decrease his stomach acids and stop the reflux.
Please continue your prayers for Phoenix. He has been through a lot in his short little life, but has thankfully (due to your thoughts and prayers) survived it all like a trooper!
Phoenix had another wonderful visit with his Mormor! This allowed his Mor (Lisa) to work on painting the images for his aunt Anna Maria's wedding invitations and RSVP post cards.
Phoenix's next pediatrian's appointment is June 9th, but due to his severe nasal congestion (plus coughing and sneezing), we took him in to get checked out and see what we could do for him. While we were there, they weighed him (with his diaper and onesie still on, so it was not completely accurate, but...) he weighed 7 lbs. We'll get a more accurate weight on the 9th, when they'll undress him, before they weigh him. It will be fun to see what he weighs and how long he is, now that he is "full term" (as of May 27th).
He was diagnosed with a cold, but due to his young age, they would not prescribe anything for him and told us to wait it out. However, a couple of days later, his Mor (Lisa) started to get quite sick (cold and flu symptoms and fever), as well. And, after a visit to Urgent Care, she was diagnosed with the croup and the beginning of either pneumonia or sinusitis! So, Lisa is now taking a cough syrup with narcotics and a "z-pack" of antibiotics and Mucinex. This means that Phoenix has to use up all the frozen breast milk (mixed with extra formula, to make it last) until Lisa finishes the antibiotics and cough syrup, so that he does not get a dosage of this medicine.
All of this means that Mommy (Steph) has had to be a full-time Mommy, while Lisa was "out" from being sick and all of the medication(s)! Steph had to take a day off of work and then, only work a partial shift, until Lisa could manage caring for Phoenix, on her own. Luckily, Steph has not had any signs of illness, yet.
And, we're just hoping that Phoenix doesn't get whatever Lisa has. We've just been trying to alleviate Phoenix's symptoms with daily baths, a humidifier, saline nasal spray, nasal suctions, baby vapo-rub, and keeping him laying on his side, stomach, or upright (if he's on his back). We've been keeping tabs on his temperature, as well, and thankfully he's not had a fever, like Lisa has had. Phoenix's nasal congestion has been slowly improving. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you!
We received a baby sign language book for Phoenix from the French Family, but it looks like Phoenix already has learned a sign! This is "I LOVE YOU!"
Actually, he was just sleeping and his fingers were coincidentally in this pose, so I had to snap these photos!
The day before the baby shower party, Phoenix's Grandma Bobbie (Steph's mom) and Great Grandma Bernie (Steph's grandma) came to visit, from Eugene and Coos Bay. They helped us set up and get ready for the party and also stayed an extra night.
This was their first time to meet Phoenix. We all enjoyed their visit here. During their stay, we watched a rented dvd movie and even went shopping in Bend, where Phoenix's Grandma Bobbie bought a small wardrobe of really nice clothes (in different sizes) for Phoenix, from Macy's!
We had a small baby shower / welcome home to Baby Phoenix party on Saturday, June 20th here at home in Redmond. Apparently, we chose a bad weekend! June is when there are graduations, weddings, vacations, and friends / family from out of town visiting people. However, we still had several friends and family come to visit and see Phoenix for the first time!
We enjoyed delicious carne asada burritos with fresh, home made guacamole and salsas, a large fruit salad, and a wonderful 4 layer chocolate cake with Bavarian creme filling (made by the Cake Lady of Bend, OR).
Phoenix pretty much "missed" his party... he was held by everyone, but slept through nearly the entire thing! That's okay, though. I'm sure he enjoyed just being held by so many people who were happy to hold the "star of the party"!
We played a few fun shower games and our guests won some prizes. We opened Phoenix's fantastic, thoughtful gifts and then we said goodbye to our friends! Phoenix received some great new outfits, blankets, washcloths, and teethers / rattles. And, from his "aunt Paula" he got a new glider chair with a gliding ottoman! Phoenix LOVES to rock (glide) in the chair, especially when he's fussy!
Sometimes we face the chair towards the tv in the living room, so that we can watch a show while he's sleeping in our arms. And, other times, we spin it around to face the windows and the patio door to look outside into the back yard and talk about things we see outside. He enjoys this too!
Thank you to all who came to our party and a special thanks to those who couldn't make it, but were able to send / drop off gifts for Phoenix, as well!
Thank you all for your continued prayers for Phoenix! This past Tuesday, he went in for a somewhat common procedure for boys (a circumcision). Unfortunately, the results were far from common. It seems he is allergic to Lidocaine (the numbing medicine). This was not noticed until the procedure was already underway. Then, after attempting to give him some "sweeties" (sugar water) not only was he swollen, but then he was projectile vomiting around the room.
Then, just after an hour of getting home, his Mommy (Steph) noticed while changing his diaper, that he was still bleeding. We called the pediatrician and were told to come in immediately. The doctor was unable to stop the bleeding with what she had in her office and we were sent to the Emergency Room at St. Charles, in Bend. He was at that time bleeding profusely. The ER doctors tried to stitch him, but the skin was already dying. An operating room had been prepped. His blood was drawn for labs and blood matching for a transfusion (because he'd already lost a lot of blood). But, Steph pleaded to wait to see if we could stop the bleeding, as the operation (a formal circumcision) would permanently alter his genitals, because they would have to cut off more than had already been cut. We were told that it would not be "aesthetically pleasing" when they were done. Thankfully, Phoenix eluded surgery when, after almost an hour, the bleeding stopped.
He has been healing well and will get to take a bath (which he loves to do!), as soon as the plastic ring falls off. Until then, he has had "sponge baths" and he took his first shower with his Mor (Lisa) while his Mommy (Steph) washed him up. He didn't really fuss, but he didn't enjoy it nearly as much as his baths.
Phoenix's newest "issue" is acid reflux. Apparently, this is quite common for preemies. However, it normally shows up while they are still pre-term. We did notice that it seemed to appear after we started giving him more formula (due to the decreased breast milk supply). Not only did he start spitting up and vomiting, but it was even coming out of his nose. He now only sleeps on his belly or almost completely upright (propped up by pillows)! We were instructed to start adding powdered rice cereal to his formula to try to keep the reflux down. Since this has not seemed to do the trick, and the reflux is now affecting his esophugus (making him unable to swallow without pain) Phoenix is now taking liquid Zantac (twice, daily). Hopefully, this will decrease his stomach acids and stop the reflux.
Please continue your prayers for Phoenix. He has been through a lot in his short little life, but has thankfully (due to your thoughts and prayers) survived it all like a trooper!
These photos were taken while we were taking a walk with his stroller. As he turned his head (side to side) his almost too small hat slid off to the side. He looks a bit like a French sailor!
Phoenix had another wonderful visit with his Mormor! This allowed his Mor (Lisa) to work on painting the images for his aunt Anna Maria's wedding invitations and RSVP post cards.
Phoenix's next pediatrian's appointment is June 9th, but due to his severe nasal congestion (plus coughing and sneezing), we took him in to get checked out and see what we could do for him. While we were there, they weighed him (with his diaper and onesie still on, so it was not completely accurate, but...) he weighed 7 lbs. We'll get a more accurate weight on the 9th, when they'll undress him, before they weigh him. It will be fun to see what he weighs and how long he is, now that he is "full term" (as of May 27th).
He was diagnosed with a cold, but due to his young age, they would not prescribe anything for him and told us to wait it out. However, a couple of days later, his Mor (Lisa) started to get quite sick (cold and flu symptoms and fever), as well. And, after a visit to Urgent Care, she was diagnosed with the croup and the beginning of either pneumonia or sinusitis! So, Lisa is now taking a cough syrup with narcotics and a "z-pack" of antibiotics and Mucinex. This means that Phoenix has to use up all the frozen breast milk (mixed with extra formula, to make it last) until Lisa finishes the antibiotics and cough syrup, so that he does not get a dosage of this medicine.
All of this means that Mommy (Steph) has had to be a full-time Mommy, while Lisa was "out" from being sick and all of the medication(s)! Steph had to take a day off of work and then, only work a partial shift, until Lisa could manage caring for Phoenix, on her own. Luckily, Steph has not had any signs of illness, yet.
And, we're just hoping that Phoenix doesn't get whatever Lisa has. We've just been trying to alleviate Phoenix's symptoms with daily baths, a humidifier, saline nasal spray, nasal suctions, baby vapo-rub, and keeping him laying on his side, stomach, or upright (if he's on his back). We've been keeping tabs on his temperature, as well, and thankfully he's not had a fever, like Lisa has had. Phoenix's nasal congestion has been slowly improving. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you!
