Size Matters!

In case it's hard to determine exactly how much I've grown since April 10, 2006...I am putting the first picture of me with my army beanie baby, and a picture of me with my army beanie baby today. I think it's clear to see that the tables have turned and I now have the upper hand:) He is the size of a fly compared to the awesome size of me...Super Zander...AKA Chunky Monkey:)!!!!

Chunky Monkey

Hello everyone!:)

Today I went to my doctor's appointment and guess what??? I weigh 9 lbs 4 ozs today!!! My doctor was so excited that I gained 1 lb 1 oz since my last doctors appointment two weeks ago. Mommy has started affectionately calling me a Chunky Monkey because I really like eating!!! I'm also 21 and 1/4 inches tall. According to my doctor, I grew 1 inch. It's funny, I don't remember growing any time in the last two weeks....I just remember eating, sleeping, and cuddling:)

I don't have to go back and see that doctor for 3 whole weeks!!!! I do have to go see a Urologist...I don't know what kind of doctor that is, but I don't think it's good. I heard my doctor telling mommy about my privates and then I stopped listening...whatever she started to say, I don't think I wanted to hear it!!!!!

And what's this surgery stuff? Mommy told Grandma Orr that I have to have surgery on Sept. 19....it's too bad I can't read yet, or I would thoroughly research all these words that the doctors say to mommy and daddy. I am beginning to think there is a conspiracy going on and no one is letting me in on it....naughty mommy and daddy!!

Hanging out at home

Here's mommy and me hanging out at home. We do that a lot lately because it is hard sometimes to take my oxygen and monitors with us every where!!! Plus, I really like hanging out with mommy:) Daddy says mommy spoils me by holding me too much....I personally believe that I spoil mommy too much by showering her with my attention. Come on, I'm just trying to butter her up so I get my way always in the future...I think I have her wrapped around my tiny fingers already!!!1

It's all mine!

Sometimes My mommy doesn't feed me quite like I want her to. It's those times when I decide to take the bottle into my own hands. Here am I taking charge of the situation and feeding myself!!! I only show this awesome strength once in a while...usually I let mommy and daddy, or whomever else is feeding me do most of the work:)

Playdates are fun, fun, fun

I had my very first play date last Thursday. My little friend, baby Adalie came to visit me at my house. We played for a little while...okay, we really just layed next to each other...then she cried so we decided to eat something. It was very fun!!!! Notice how big I am compared to her? She's little, only 5lbs 9ozs in this picture...I am a giant!:)

The Long Awaited Graduation Photo

Here's my newborn picture from the hospital. Do you know that they didn't even take my "newborn" picture until the day I was discharged???? I was over three months old by that time!!! I don't get these picture people....taking a picture of a 3 month old and calling it a "newborn photo"....Crazy!

Anyway, Mommy found the perfect outfit for my graduation from the NICU....a graduation cap and gown, complete with a little diploma. The nurses loved it and so did mommy!! I personally thought that picture time was a great time to take a cat nap before I was discharged, that's why my eyes were closed. Mommy told me that I had to have a graudation outfit because I fought long and hard to make it this far and I needed to remember for always how strong I am. She says I'm a fighter....not like beating people up, but really just a strong and tough little man who fought his way through some very tough moments in life...Mommy says I am definately one of a kind!

Mommy was sitting next to me today and was looking at some of my old pictures. She says that looking at me today, you'd never know how much I had to fight to stay alive and be here today. She told me that I don't look anything like that tiny little man in the early days, because now I'm getting big and strong. I told mommy that I couldn't have been so strong and tough without all the prayers that everyone said for me. You are all AWESOME!!!:)

I Own Daddy

Hey everyone:) Daddy says that he owns me now because he got my tiny foot prints tattooed on his arm. He's been talking about it for a really really long time....basically since he saw my tiny foot prints when I was born. So he finally did it....Daddy now has my foot prints on his arm, along with my name and birthdate, and even my birth weight!!! He's such a silly daddy....to think that he owns me, doesn't he know that I own him forever and ever???? That's right, my tiny feet have branded him for life and he's all mine!:)

Grandma DoMo Is Naughty

Okay, my Grandma DoMo is not really naughty, but she has been trying to talk mommy into taking a picture of me without my nasal canula covering up my face for a lot of weeks now. So today, Grandma DoMo and mommy gave me a bath, and since mommy had to change my face stickers and nasal canula, she allowed me to keep my oxygen off for about 10 minutes. I'm supposed to wear my nasal canula all the time, but mommy has to admit that I don't really do that. It's not her fault, it's really mine...because I pull and push at my nasal canula so much that it rarely stays in my nose anyway.

Grandma DoMo wanted a picture of me so now she has one. I did really good without my nasal canula on my face for the whole ten minutes....maybe my doctor will ween me off of the oxygen so that I can be done with my nasal canula once and for all!!!

I can't give you an update on my height and weight today because I haven't seen my doctor since last Wednesday. I weighed 8lbs. 3ozs. last Wednesday and I know I weigh more today, but I don't know how much I've gained. I won't find out until next week when I go back to see my doctor.

I got fed today by both Grandma DoMo and Grandpa Bob. Mommy didn't hold me for a whole five hours! It was hard for her not to hold me, but she knows she has to share me with others. Besides, now that daddy works evenings, mommy usually gets me all to herself until after daddy comes home from work. We snuggle and talk to each other, and then mommy gives me tummy time.

I'm working really hard to roll over these days. I can do it, but not every time that I try. I think I might be able to fly before I can roll over every time I try. Mommy loves to watch me try because I stretch out my legs and lift up my whole lower body in the air and then rock from side to side. It almost looks like I'm trying to fly, rather than roll over. Maybe I'll have mommy take a picture of me pretending to fly and show every one on here. But for now, I need a nap:)

My Grandpa Bob

Today Grandpa Bob and Grandma DoMo came to visit me. Grandpa Bob wanted to see me sit in my vibrating chair, but mommy told him that I use the chair so much that the batteries were dead. Grandpa Bob loves me so much that he went out and bought me new batteries. Don't get me wrong...mommy and daddy love me too, but we don't leave the house too often because where ever I go, so goes two monitors and an oxygen tank. It's easier to just wait until we need a whole bunch of stuff and then I go with both mommy and daddy. It's fun to go on outings with mommy and daddy:)

Anyway, Grandpa Bob bought me some batteries and then my vibrating chair once again worked wonderfully! Grandpa Bob listened to the music that the chair plays and watched as my little body vibrated. He was so impressed:)

Up, Up, and Away

Here's me sitting in my very own swing. My grandma and grandpa Orr bought me the swing and I just had to try it out. I'm still too little to sit in it without having blankets wrapped around me....because I can't keep my head up straight all the time. Sometimes I like to lean my head to the side and my body just keeps following my head, because of that, mommy places a blanket around me to keep me in one place.

It was weird swinging inside my house. I got to see everything from a different perspective. Usually I'm sitting on mommy or daddy, or I'm laying on the floor looking up. In my swing, I see things right in front of me....but, everything seems to move closer to me and then pulls back. Mommy tried to explain that it was really me that was moving because I was in the swing and the swing moves back and forth....but, I don't think mommy knows what she is talking about, I know what I see....I see things near and then far. At times it makes me tired and a little bit dizzy....maybe it will just take some getting used to.

Me and My Daddy

Here's a picture of me and my daddy hanging out at home. We like to sit in the recliner together and watch some television. My daddy takes good care of me, and I love hanging out with him.

Roly Poly

I'm getting so big these days. Today my visiting Nurse Tai came to see me. I am sad because she doesn't get to come and see me anymore because I'm doing so good. I weighed 8 lbs and 3ozs today. It doesn't seem like I gained very much weight from her last visit, but last week I was only 19.5 inches tall....this week I am 21.25 inches tall. So instead of all the food going to my tummy, it went to my legs to make them longer.

I don't sleep as much as most babies do, but that's because I am a social butterfly. Everyone tells mommy and daddy that I am really only 2.5 weeks old.....but you know what? I do more than a 2.5 week old does. I can almost roll myself over completely....which I believe I have done once, but mommy says she helped a tiny bit.

And I have it on good authority....Grandma Domo said so....I am such a good little boy. That's right. I do not complain very much at all. I think it's because I have my mommy wrapped around my finger so I don't have to throw a huge fit because if I make the slightest noise she's right there. Sometimes she can be annoying, so I always look forward to visitors so that I don't always have to hold mommy. I even save my best smiles for my visitors:) I don't have to give them to mommy and daddy because I know that they have to love me no matter what!!!

I promise I'm working on getting more pictures on here.....the computer is not wanting to work with me very well.....but I will soon conquer the computer!!!

Laying Around

Here I am playing on the floor in the living room. Since I am connected to a heart monitor, a pulse oximeter, and a huge tank of oxygen, mommy and I usually hang out in the living room where there is a lot of space for me to move around. I like this toy because it makes a "crinkly" noise if you squeeze the octopus's arms. I may be little, but I sure am smart:)

Hello from my home

Hi everyone,

As you've probably heard, I was actually discharged on 07-22-2006. It's been pretty hectic at home lately as I've been trying to get used to the new place. There's different rooms here. I've been going to the doctor and having visitors, and mommy and daddy have to do everything for me on their own...That's right....There's no more NICU nurses to help out!

I have a visiting nurse that comes and sees me. The first time, Deb came to see me. She used to work in the NICU as a Nurse too, but now she just does the home health visits. My regular visiting nurse will be Nurse Tai. She works sometimes in the NICU, but I never had a chance to have her as a nurse....so now I get my chance. She comes and weighs me, and listens to my heart and lungs. She told mommy today that I am gaining 1 oz. per day. I think that's a good thing.

I was discharged on the 22nd weighing 7lbs 4 ozs. but today I weigh 7lbs 15 ozs....I am getting huge!:)

Mommy and I went on a couple outings to my pediatrician and my eye doctor. Otherwise we pretty much stay at home because it's so hot outside and when I go anywhere I have to have two monitors and an oxygen tank. It's a good thing I have a stroller to carry all of that, otherwise mommy would need someone with her at all times to carry me and all my stuffs!

Daddy and mommy have a schedule down for my cares. Right now mommy is not working so she watches me during the day and evening. Daddy is working evenings and he watches me at night while mommy sleeps. I wish mommy didn't have to go back to work because it's fun hanging around the house with her. She makes me laugh sometimes.

My grandmas and grandpas come to see me every once in awhile because they love to spend time with me. Grandma and Grandpa Hewlitt just got back from Texas where they saw my cousin Cicily....I saw a picture of her and I was told that she is bigger than me. I'm catching up though:) I might get to meet Cicily sometime in October because she'll be in Kansas City....I'm going to try and talk mommy and daddy into taking me there to meet her.

The days have been kind of sad lately because mommy's friend Emily had a baby girl, my future girlfriend. Her name is Adalie and she is so very cute (mommy said so) but she is in Iowa City because she is having problems breathing. Mommy and I pray for her everyday because she has to have surgery to fix her. I wish I could go see her, but they don't like babies coming into the NICU, they just like it when babies leave because that means they are healthy. Mommy has gone to visit Adalie two times and she comes home and tells me all about Adalie....when she gets out, we're going to wear matching clothes:)

I have another future girlfriend in Grandmound. Her name is Emma and she's pretty cute too. Apparently she's growing really fast and is really healthy. I don't know if I can catch up with her growth wise, because she's growing like a tree!!! Someday when I'm older I'll be bigger than all my girlfriends and my cousin....but for now, I have to settle for being little.


I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to write anything, but it has been really busy around here. I'll try and write more often and post pictures to show everyone how I am doing. But for now, have a great week:)

Watch Out World!!!!!

That's right....Watch Out World, Here I Come:)

I'm getting discharged on 07-22-2006. My doctors all met yesterday with daddy here at the hospital and mommy on the speaker phone. My Doctor #1 said that I could go home this Saturday. He said that his fear of me not wanting to eat orally is no longer a fear. They still want to monitor me to make sure I don't need those yucky medications again, but Doc #1 says that my Pediatrician can monitor that for me. I probably didn't tell you that mommy and daddy went shopping for a Pediatrician awhile back. They bought one for me and she has come to visit me three times in the NICU. *sighs* It must be a woman thing.....the ladies can't get enough of me!

Can you believe it???? I'm finally going home....mommy has been trying not to be excited because she is scared we'd be postponed again, but I've been eating lots and lots just to make sure the doctors and nurses are happy.

Tonight I have to sleep with the monitors from the hospital connected to me, plus my "going-home" monitors. I guess all these wires attached to me brings new meaning to the phrase...."I'm wired." I mean really...I have wires coming from my armpits, my chest, my belly, and both of my feet. Not to mention the Nasal Canula tubing that's always attached to my head....It's a hard days work just trying to be careful not to get tangled!!!

Tonight I weigh 7 lbs. 3 ozs....The nurses say I'm about the size of a newborn....heck, I'm even bigger than some full term newborns. I get my picture taken tomorrow morning before I leave. Yeah, I know mommy and daddy have already taken millions of pictures...but this one is different...it's professional. The nurses keep calling it a "Newborn Picture". That really doesn't make sense to me because I'm over three months old....I think I deserve a little more respect from my ladies....because they're gonna miss me when I'm gone!!!!!:) But of course, I'm going to miss all of them more! It's been a very difficult and long road and all my nurses and doctors have worked their butts off to make going home possible!

Every day of the rest of my life I'm going to say a prayer for all of my nurses and doctors....and for all of you as well. Without your prayers and thoughtful words and gestures I wouldn't be where I am today (really tomorrow). Your prayers have paid off and I intend to make sure you know how just how much mommy, daddy, and I appreciate each and every one of you. Maybe someday soon I'll be able to thank you in person..........with a great big Zander Hug:)

Thank you!:)

I'm a Genius!

I bet nobody knew that I was so smart. Let me tell you why I am such a Genius:)

You know how I've been throwing fits everytime the nurses or mommy tries to give me my medications? Well...Today I had Nurse Tony. Nurse Tony is a big-wig nurse who is in charge of all the other nurses. I'm not really sure why I had her, but I think it's because they ran out of NICU nurses to work with all the other babies. Now that I'm sorta healthy, I get pediatric nurses and sometimes big-wig nurses:)

Okay, so Nurse Tony was trying to give me my medication this morning while Kristi, the Developmental Specialist observed. Nurse Tony and Kristi both watched as I proceeded to throw my fit and fight with them so I didn't have to take my medications. They finally got the last of the medications down me and then Nurse Tony went straight to my Doctor #1 and said, "If you want him to have those meds, you'll have to find someone else to do it....I'm not putting him through that again!" And if that wasn't enough, Kristi told my Doctor #1 that she fully agreed with Nurse Tony and did not recommend giving me anymore of the awful stuff. My Doctor #1 listened intently while Nurse Tony and Kristi told him that my fit was not a fit just because the medication tasted so awful....it was the kind of fit a baby (like me) has when they are being hurt in some way. So my Doctor #1 put on his thinking cap and thought for awhile. Meanwhile Nurse Tony and Kristi wore their thinking caps too and thought right along with my Doctor #1. Finally my Doctor #1 started talking about Ozmosality (remember I don't know how to spell), and suggested that Pharmacy be called and questioned about the Ozmosality of the medications I was taking. He predicted that the Sodium Chloride (the one I hate the most) was probably really high, like in the 1000s. Well, he was only a fifth right.....Sodium Chloride has an ozmosality of 5000+. My Doctor #1's theory is that because of that information, plus my reaction to the medications....and the fact that my fit continues after the medications have already been administered....he deducted that the medications are causing me to have Esophagitis!!!! In Zander english - my medications are burning my esophagus and causing it to be inflamed!!! Bad medications....bad, bad medications!

So guess what???? I don't have to take the medications anymore:) WOO HOO!!!! HOORAY FOR ME:)

But wait, there's more! Because the medications hurt me, and I don't like them....I've been not eating very well in the past few days. Sometimes I don't eat enough and other times I just flat out refuse my bottle. Well, I only refuse when it's someone other than daddy feeding me. Daddy is my hero...because he never made me take the medications!!! I still eat like a little piggy for daddy:)

Okay, so my Doctor #1 told my mommy and me that because of the negative oral experience of the medications, I may not like to eat anymore from the bottle....so I may need to be taught all over again that eating is a POSITIVE thing. He told mommy not to be too upset if I have to have another nose hose put in to help me get all the calories I need.

Mommy told my Doctor #1 that she was okay with having to backtrack a little bit, but she and daddy both refuse to take me home with a tummy tube....apparently, I can't go home with a nose hose...and babies who need help with feedings at home have a tummy tube put in....AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN WHILE MOMMY AND DADDY ARE ALIVE!!!! (way to go mommy and daddy:) Thanks for lookin out for me.)

Then my Doctor #1 gave me the best compliment ever..... He said that for the past 15 years they've treated babies just like me who have reacted to the medications in a similiar way, but it was never caught and no one ever knew the real reason why us babies would just stop taking oral feedings once the medications were givin orally. So now, thanks to SUPER SMART ZANDER, they know that the medications can cause burning and inflamation to the esophagus and they will think twice before administering those particular medications orally. He then said that he feels confident that once I forget about the negative experience of the oral medications, I will more than likely start eating from my bottle more vigorously, with no more problems. He doesn't know how many days it might take me to be back to eating really good, but he knows that I need to be monitored for awhile to ensure that I don't need the medications anymore....see I started taking them because they helped my lungs. Now that I'm older, my Doctor #1 is hoping that my lungs don't need the medication....if my lungs don't need the medication then all we need to worry about is me eating enough to gain weight....

Um...hello Doctor #1....I weigh 6 lbs. 12.8 ozs.....I'm pretty sure I'm eating enough:)

Imagine that....someone so little as me having huge a genius brain:):):):)

Okay, so I had a really bad day because of all of this. I ate almost nothing and slept UNrestfully all day....mommy came to the hospital right after work and held me in her arms for almost 2 hours. While I was in mommy's arms I actually started to sleep soundly, and then about 30 minutes after she put me back to bed I woke up, wide awake and gave mommy and Nurse Darcy all the right signs to say, "Hey, I'm hungry....FEED ME!" Mommy laughed because Nurse Darcy couldn't get the bottle warmed up quick enough to make me happy, but finally I got my bottle and I ate ALL OF IT!!!!! And it was the good stuff:)

Right before I ate, mommy and Nurse Darcy realized that some of my grunts and groans were not from throwing a fit, but rather from trying to have a BM. Nurse Darcy is good at helping me a long a little bit by using the rectal thermometer. Ever since they changed my formula on Thursday, I've been having a difficult time pushing my BMs out because they are not as loose as before. It's hard when there's hard stuff in your bottom that you have to work at pushing out...that sometimes makes my tummy hurt too. I'll have to buy Nurse Darcy a beer someday for helping a little guy out:)

I'm off to take a quick nap before daddy comes to visit after work. I spend my mornings and evenings with mommy and I spend my afternoons and nights with daddy....who could ask for more! Have a great night.

Oh yeah, just so you know...I'm wearing a Dale Earnhardt Jr. onesi today....because my Usual Nurse Sandy said he's the best. I'll be sure to post of picture of me with Dale Jr. soon!

Eewww, Gross!

I seriously doubt I will be going home anytime in the near future. The way things are going between my medications and me tells me that I'm probably here for at least another week if not longer. The medication is so yucky that I hold my breath. When I do that I don't breathe and my heart rate drops drastically because I forget to keep it pumping. So that seemed to be the main problem at the beginning of the weekend. But now, I'm doing it during feedings too.....and sometimes I need a little rubbing on my chest to get my heart to pump again. Because of that I'm going to be here for awhile longer.

I'm not very happy at all about being in the hospital for longer. Don't get me wrong....I love my Nurse girls, but these hospital beds are nothing to write home about. Besides, all of my neighbors are very sick and they like to cry a lot, which then keeps me awake.....I'd rather be at home and only have to listen to mommy and daddy snore....at least they don't snore when they're awake. Apparently, most babies cry when they are awake. I tried the whole crying thing, but I'd rather just moan and grunt....moaning and grunting still me enough attention. I could cry if I wanted to, but why change something that works:)

There is some good news, now that I am part of the EXTENDED STAY PROGRAM a specialist is going to look at my hernia tomorrow and maybe fix it while I'm still in the hospital. If I don't get it fixed while I'm here now, I'll have to go to Iowa City in a couple months and be admitted into the hospital there. I'd rather have it done now so I can be done with hospitals for a little while. If the specialist comes tomorrow and says he can fix me then it'll happen quite soon, which I think is a good thing because I know all these doctors and Nurses who would take care of me afterwards....it pays to know people:)

I should get going....I've been really tired all day and not eating very well. Mommy and daddy thought I might be sick, but Doctor #4 thinks that maybe I'm just pooped out because of all the medication problems. My Nurse Sandy (a different Sandy from usual) made mommy taste my medications....mommy agrees with me that they are gross!!! If it were up to mommy and daddy I wouldn't have to take them....but they have no control...I think that's what scares them the most - the fact that I AM THE ONE IN CONTROL!!!:) Get used to it mommy and daddy:)

I forgot something, Ooops!!!!

So it turns out that i am not going home saturday, i know mommy and daddy are real sad but i made a little mistake. You see when your a premature baby theres a lot of stuff to remember like breathing and eating and keeping your little heart going. well guess which one i forgot today? Yep the biggest one of them all i almost let my little heart stop beating, it used to happen alot but these days it's one of those things im supposed to remember all the time!! This morning i was getting my medicine and thinking about how yucky it tastes and sure enough i forgot to keep my heart going at full speed. So im stuck here for a couple more days, sorry every body but im going to come home real soon i promise.

It's Official

Today, during family rounds the clinical team discussed my SuperHuman Powers with mommy and daddy. Daddy was at the hospital with me before the family rounds, but mommy participated over the phone so she could hear what was being planned too. Everyone talked about my milk and medicine, but no one mentioned discharge. When they were finally done talking about the monitor training that mommy and daddy have to do tomorrow....mommy asked the REAL question of the day....WHEN DO I GET TO GO HOME????????????????? My Doctor #3 said possibly as early as this weekend. Mommy can be pushy sometimes....as most everyone in the NICU knows already, so she kept on asking for a more specific time. Finally, my Doctor #3 said I could go home on Saturday. WOO HOO!!!!! I get to see the real world!:)

Then this evening when mommy came to see me after work, my Doctor #3 was still here and she said to mommy, "I can't believe I said he could go home...I don't want him to go home....we'll miss him." Mommy explained that when I go home I will only live 7 minutes away from the hospital and I can come and visit as often as possible.

I'm sitting in my crib thinking...."Well duh! Of course I'm coming back to visit...where else will I get my attention?" I mean really....these girls are my girls!!! Don't get me wrong, my Man Doctors are pretty cool and nice, but the nurses and the nurse practitioners (otherwise known as NICU Jedi) and Doctor #3...well, they make me blush, and smile, and wiggle...What in the world will I do with out them???? I was hoping I could take them all to the Prom with me when I'm in high school, but no...they're just going to forget about me:( To tell you the truth, I'm kinda scared to go home with out my nurses. I trust mommy and daddy because they know what they are doing, but I think they're kind of scared too. So yes, I will come back and visit often. And it will only be as a visitor, not as a patient.....my goal is to stay away from hospital rooms from now on because the neighbors are always loud....you know, with their constant beeping and dinging. *grins innocently* I was never like that. :)

Oh yeah, I now weigh 6 lbs. 11.4 ozs! I certainly won't make it to 7 lbs before I leave but I'm sure going to give it my best shot!:)

I still can't believe that I get to go home. I don't really know where that is, or how we'll get there....but I get to be with mommy and daddy always from now on....Geez, I hope they don't annoy me too much!!!!

Can you hear me now?

My Nurse Sara and the best nursing student in the whole world, Addy are shown here sticking things in my ear. Nurse Sara told me that it was for a hearing test, but I don't think I heard anything. Addy looks like she's about to either cry or burst out laughing....and come to think of it, we all were about ready to! The machine wouldn't work so Nurse Sara tried it over and over and over again....and then the machine kept saying I couldn't hear anything! Well listen here, I know I can hear my Grandma Orr when she talks to me and she talks to me on both sides of my head. And I can hear mommy when she sings to me....I may not want to listen, but I still hear....just kiddin:) Mommy's not that bad of a singer, but it's better if she only sings in the shower! I hear my daddy all the time when he says our favorite secret word....I'm not even going to say it here, but that's only because I have no idea how to spell it. So, me and mommy told Nurse Sara to buy a new machine that knows what it's talkin' about. Nurse Sara said there's a new machine on order....but I'll be gone before it is delivered. *sighs* I think Nurse Sara is just making excuses because she wants me to come back and visit. Doesn't she know that I will visit anyways?????