Texas Children's Blog

When Texas Children's was preparing to open the new Women's Pavilion this spring they started a blog that I've really loved reading!  Today's post really hit close to home for me.  The woman writing the blog post, Angela, is also a mom of a preemie.  I love hearing from other preemie mommies that they had some of the same feelings that I experienced.  Gordon and I didn't have a "normal" birthing process.  We didn't have a normal pregnancy.  I am so grateful for my precious little angel baby but man did Gordon and I worry, worry and worry some more!  I cried when I visited my friend who had a full term baby 2 weeks after me.  When I walked in the room and her baby boy was in the crib next to her with all of their family surrounding them my heart broke.  I was happy for her but just so sad that William couldn't always be with me....that I didn't get to hold him until he was 5 hours old and even then it was only for 30 minutes, that the doctor didn't lay him on my chest when he was born like I'd always envisioned, that I couldn't breast feed him.  BLESSED.  That's what Gordon and I are.  We got through some tough times together and we have a healthy baby boy.  It doesn't get any better than that.  I know we are lucky but there were still times I felt kinda sad...sad that my baby had to go through so much....that he was in pain and I couldn't fix anything.
So, I thought I'd post this just in case there is a mama out there reading it that could relate to this situation!!

My favorite part of the article:

Like many parents of hospitalized newborns, my husband, Alan, and I had a very different introduction to new parenthood than what had been described in all of the pregnancy books that I began devouring as soon as I learned we were pregnant. Having a baby that was so premature meant that we would not cut an umbilical cord, I would not hold my baby after he was born, and one of the most devastating things to me initially was learning I would not breastfeed Clark for weeks or possibly months.

As a tiny newborn, he was still growing and learning what most babies have the benefit of doing within their mothers’ protective wombs.

*G did get to cut William's umbilical cord :)

Here's the link to the TCH BLOG:

http://connect2teams.texaschildrens.org/teams/3/BW/default.aspx

XOXO to all those NICU families out there!!! 

Here are a few photos that Alison took when I was meeting William for the first time!

1st diaper change

Newborn Pics of WJG



At the end of May I had someone come to our home to take some pictures of William.  He was 5 weeks old at the time and did a fabulous job!  Janet said she'd never taken photos of such a good baby (he did pee on me twice but otherwise was a little angel baby).  I really wanted pictures of all his tiny body parts.  I've always heard moms say you forget the infant stage so I figured we'd better get some pics!  Unfortunately, it is so true about forgetting....I think you're so sleep deprived that all the days roll together and the next thing you know your baby isn't an infant anymore and your heading back to work.  I had lots of cute hats that I'd planned to use but he was just too small.  We tried the elephant hat and it was so comical I told her to go ahead and take a few pics (poor baby looked like Dumbo).  I had bought the bumble bee outfit when we had the sex finding out party "What's It Gonna Bee?" so even though it was too big we did a few pics with him wearing that too.  The hat he has on that says WILLIAM is a preemie hat and it was still pretty huge.  When I look at the hat now I can hardly believe his head was that small!  I know I'll cherish these pictures of our little 5 pound baby forever.    

 

 

 

To us he's perfect!

 

Looking a little like Dumbo!

SO IN LOVE

 

 

 

 



Mom, get me out of this basket I'm starting to get hungry.

This is the way he looks at me when I'm talking. :)
Seems like he understands every word I'm saying.

This look describes his personality....easy going & happy!



He loves to grab my hair

 

4 months old

Last Sunday, August 19th, was my mom's birthday and William's 4 month birthday!  He is growing more and more every day.  It is so much fun to watch him change and be able to do more things.  He had his 4 month well baby check up on Wednesday and everything went great.  We started with a new doctor since Dr. Spinner took a medical director position.  Two of my girlfriends use Dr. Freedman and really love him.  William seemed to like him too!  Daddy got to come to the appointment too so he could get his Tdap shot.  Next shot on this mom and dad's list is the flu shot!  William will be able to get the flu when he turns 6 months old.  Since William was premature he will most likely be getting Synagis, the RSV vaccine, around that time as well.  I was so glad when Dr. Freedman said he'd be able to get his!!!  WE DO NOT WANT RSV!  I am so grateful that William wasn't born during cold/flu season (this may sound crazy but I think I'll try my hardest to have our next baby in the Spring/Summer too....especially since I have a history of delivering early!).  There is nothing fun about a sick baby! 
William got his 4 month vaccination shots on Wednesday (two shots/one oral). :(  I hate to see him cry in pain but as soon as I pick him up he calms down.  The afternoon after the shots was kinda rough for the little guy.  We napped together from 2:30-4:30.  He woke up crying and looking so sad (not normal for him...he's usually smiling and happy) so I feed him a little and then put him in the bath to soak his little legs in warm water.  Every time I moved him in his bath chair he cried (he NEVER cries in the bath so this broke my heart even more).  I got him dressed for bed, gave him some Tylenol and he immediately passed back out.  Gordon and I took him to Beck's Prime at the park for dinner and he never woke up.  When we got home I woke him up to eat around 8:00 and he fell right back to sleep.  Poor little guy was exhausted! 

A sad bath

4 month stats:
Weight- 10 lb 7 oz (.27%) (he gained 3.5 lbs over the past 2 months)
Height- 23.75inches (9.9%) (grew 3 inches over the past 2 months)
Eating- 100-120 cc every 2-3 hours.
Sleeping- Starting about 2 weeks ago he started sleeping for longer stretches of time.  Some nights he goes 8 hours but the majority of the time only 5.  He seems to be getting sleepy earlier lately.  Most nights I have him down by 8:30 versus 9:30.  A few nights he's gone to sleep at 7:30.  He usually wakes up at 2am to eat but some nights holds out until 5am.  We can tell he's tired when he cries...it's a quite calm cry (not a loud mad cry).  I swaddle him up, put a paci in his mouth and he'll be asleep within minutes.  He stays awake for 30 minutes to an hour after eating and then naps for about an hour before waking up to eat again.              
Development-  Dr. Freedman asked us several developmental questions at his appointment and I was able to answer YES to all of them!  William opens his hands (doesn't keep his thumb in making a fist all the time), he brings his hands into his chest, holds his head up, smiles, and coos.  He has the sweetest voice ever.  When he "found" his voice he looked so surprised.  He loves for us to talk to him!  He started to notice his fingers last week too AND he rolled over from his stomach to back this week.  BIG things are happening in the Gooding house.  :)
Things mommy loves-  Listening to him talk to me and seeing that handsome smile.  There is nothing better in this world. 
Things WJG loves- He actually enjoys his swing now!  He noticed the toys hanging above him the other day and seems to really like that.  He's still my cuddle bug, loves for his daddy to fly him in the air like super man, loves to be swaddled when he sleeps, chewing on his hands, bath time is his favorite (he's definitely a water baby), he thinks Sophie the giraffe is pretty neat and he likes to be held so that he can see what's going on around him. 
Things WJG doesn't like-  Getting dressed after his bath, being hungry, tummy time and getting his nose cleaned.

Getting so strong!

Ready for dinner with the Wilsons

William's Baptism

We had such a fun weekend with our family and friends for William's baptism!!  My brother, his wife, and my parents got into town Friday evening.  We started the weekend off right with dinner at my favorite, El Tiempo!  The next day the boys went shooting while the girls (and William) went to get our nails done and did some grocery shopping.  After running all our errands we took William swimming for his first time at an indoor pool.  I figured this would be the perfect opportunity since he can't be out in the sun but loves the water during bath time (NEW MOMS -- babies can't wear sunscreen until they are 6 months old).  He loved every minute of pool time!



That evening, once Gordon's parents were in town, we all met up at our favorite BYOB pizza place in The Heights.  The little guy did great at the restaurant but had a hard time falling asleep that night.  Being held by lots of different people seems to over stimulate him and make him irritable when it's bedtime.  Once I got him settled he slept great and was a wonderful baby on Sunday.  Being the only grandbaby on both sides he gets LOTS of love! 
   

Here he is with his papa taking a little nap before all of our friends/family arrived.  We had a great time visiting with everyone! 

The cake was delicious!!  It's the third cake we've gotten from Rustika Bakery...they never disappoint! 

He looked so surprised when the priest put the water on his head but he never cried.  I nearly cried....it was such a special day and I'm just so thankful to have him. 

Family

Our little family of 3

We are SO blessed to have this precious boy in our lives.  He makes everything brighter!!  I pray every night for many, many, many more years with him.  After everything I've seen as a nurse I know that everyday we are given with him is a blessing and I cherish every single moment (yes, even the 2am feeding!).   

 

Party Details:  Invitations from Berings, Birth Announcement by Tiny Prints, "Christopher Christening" gown by Kissy Kissy from Chasing Fireflies (available on line or at Berings) 

First Time for Everything

I can hardly believe that William will be 4 months old tomorrow!!  Time really does fly by.  He has his 4 month check up and shots on Wednesday so I'll do a post with all of his stats then.  Here are a few of his "firsts" over the past few months......

First Bath, April 25th

First time to Memorial Park, June 5th
7 weeks old

Starting to smile consistently, August 2nd
15 weeks old 

He's always loved playing with his hands
 but today he "found them"!  He loves
looking at his hands.  :)
August 13th

Noticing things around him & enjoying toys
August 14th
17 weeks old

First time in Baby Bjorn, August 15th

 We are loving this stage and so excited about all the things to come!  His little voice is so sweet.  He "talked" to us the most in the mornings but over the past 2 weeks is much happier in the evenings and will talk and smile then too.  People still stop us everywhere we go and ask how many days old our baby is.....to us he is SO big and no longer acting like a newborn....I guess everyone else is used to having a baby born at this size.  Loving every minute!!!