The Crib Gets a Mattress
Greetings to everyone.
Xavier is doing well, bulking up to 1545 grams, which brings him to 3 pounds and 6.5 ounces! Glory to God! He may yet get to four pounds before leaving the NICU!
Rebecca was delayed in getting the the NICU today due to the late arrival of the people trimming the trees at the Southern Outpost. It was late enough in the day that when I walked in, she was just putting Xavier back into his isolet. He was very fussy for her today, and at one point threw one storm of a tantrum, complete with back arching and his face turning beet-red. The nurse thought he might be gassy. Sure enough, after he spit up an epic amount and filled a diaper at the same time, he calmed down. It's really interesting in learning how he communicates his needs, discomforts and desires.
Rebecca and I spent another hour and a half with Xavier, then left to buy some more supplies for his immanent home-coming. We still needed a mattress for his crib, so we picked one up. We also picked up his "Travel System" which has the all-important car seat with it (we are hoping, and some of the nurses have advised us, that Xavier may not need a car bed after all. "Things can change fast," was one nurse's advice. "I suggest you wait until the day before taking him home before you buy a car bed.")
We also scoped out bassinets and bassinet systems as we are still trying to figure out Xavier's initial sleeping arrangements. We need to be clear on this because the oxygen supplier will set up our house based on our decisions. We are thinking Xavier needs to be in the room with mom and dad initially, at least while he is on oxygen.
Rebecca and I are also considering signing up for a "practice room" at the NICU. There are rooms there for parents to stay in over night to practice caring for their NICU baby in an environment where help is literally a shout or button-press away.
Always, we thank you for your prayers. It is so exciting as the day grows more near to bring Xavier home!
Our little man was loudly complaining, but once he got used to the bath water and got his pacifier, he quieted down and stopped squirming. How wonderful to see him without oxygen tubes and heart, blood and temperature probes attached to him! For Rebecca, this is a first to see him this unencumbered.
Xavier's first pants. When Penny, Rebecca's mom, was out here, and after seeing Xavier's size, she went shopping. Even now, these pants are too big, but he just graduated into a bigger diaper (a size too big for him, but they don't make a size in between and he was "blowing out" his smaller diaper and messing up his clothes). The bigger diaper fills out the pants, which are snugged up to his ribs. The little onsey is also something Grandma found. "Thanks, Grandma! I love the freedom these give my legs."