Well, Hunter, this month has been a whirlwind of fun and some crazy, scary chaos! You've grown so much this month, are giving us some adorable smiles and coos and you fit perfectly into our family - I already can't imagine life without you.
You are two months old today, and we're celebrating by welcoming you home from a 5 day stay in the hospital. Last Thursday, we took you to see the nurse practitioner for what we thought was just a cough and you weighed 13 pounds, 4 ounces. Since then, you've lost a bunch of weight but are starting to gain it back. Last night, you weighed 12 pounds, 8 ounces. Your official two month stats will have to be updated Tuesday when we can finally go back for a WELL visit (crossing my fingers!) and get those dreaded 2-month shots.
This month, you've transitioned easily to a good schedule of eating about 5 ounces every 3.5 hours, and I'm hoping to get back on that track pretty quickly. We've switched from Similac to Gerber Good Start Gentle and you've tolerated that really well.
We have been starting your bedtime routine at 7:30pm, laying you down by 8:30 and waking up for the nighttime feeding around 3:30am. You usually wake up again between 6:30am and 7am for a bottle and will doze in and out for an hour or so more. We wake up a couple of times at night to put your pacifier back in; you absolutely love your wubbanub and it helps calm you down and gets you back to sleep right away.
You are wearing 0-3 month and 3 month clothing, but I'm starting to pack some of those things away and it won't be long before we're on to 3-6 and 6 month clothing. It's getting warmer outside and I have so many cute matching and coordinating outfits for you and your brother to wear. You've also graduated to a size 2 diaper.
We attempt tummy time 2-3 times a day. You tolerate it and sometimes you'll just fall asleep. A couple of weeks ago, you just decided you'd had enough and rolled over. I haven't seen it happen again, but I know it will probably happen a lot more this coming month. You have started sitting up in your bumbo for short periods of time with little assistance and also like that a lot. You're still not a huge fan of the bouncy seat, but that's ok!
You are still Luke's very best friend. He tells us that you're his baby and he is always asking to hold you. He helps with bath time, bottle feedings, diaper changes, gives you lots of kisses, wants to wake you up when you're sleeping (because it's a beautiful day!), and is always talking about you. He tried to teach you to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze and he is still willing to share his beloved Bevo with you. Don't worry - you have your own for when he won't share anymore!
In the evenings and on pretty days, we take you and Luke for walks around the neighborhood and to the park to play. You love looking out your bassinet and watching the sky. I usually put the phone on lullabies and let you listen the entire time, and it will slowly put you to sleep and we can just walk and walk.
People are still coming by all the time to meet you and see you! Earlier in the month, my dear friends from college and church hosted a precious sip and see for you. It was absolutely perfect and you got passed around and held and loved on by so many wonderful ladies. They spoiled you silly with enough diapers to last a year and some other fun goodies and gifts.
This month, we were quite busy with birthday parties, extracurricular activities and just plain fun! You went to Aunt Amber and Uncle Brad's house for a play date (by yourself!), rode Thomas the Train in Grapevine, went to Family Day at church, hung out at the country club quite a few times and went to Canton with me. We've been busy - starting school will be a break for you!
For the past week, we've made the 5th and 6th floors of Medical City Dallas our home. Thursday, we took you to see the nurse practitioner who diagnosed you with a cold. You were fine for a few days, and then you gave us quite the scare Sunday when your cough went from just a cough to labored breathing, hacking and wheezing. You woke up Monday with a slight fever, so I decided to take you in again to see the doctor. We saw Dr. McClard in the hallway and she listened to your chest and got you into a room immediately. The nurse weighed you and took your pulse ox test, which was 74 (should be around 95 or higher). She rushed to get Dr. Watters and they started you on oxygen and called an ambulance. Dr. McClard came back in and waited with me as I sobbed and texted your daddy to hurry up and come meet us. So, you and I took our first ambulance rides together, where we were in the ER for a few hours before being moved to ICU. We were in ICU for 3 days and then moved to a regular room after being weaned off the Heliox machine. After multiple rounds of steroids and being off of wall oxygen completely for 24 hours, you got to go home! Woohoo! Let's not be in a hurry to go back there ever again, ok?
Brother, we love you so so very much. You are so sweet and lovable and I'm so glad God chose you to be my son. I'm excited to spend the next month cuddling you before you go off to school during the days. The thought of that just brings me to tears, but I know Luke will be so protective of you and watch out for you when I'm not there. Baby boy, I'm so thankful for you and all the joy you bring to my life.
Love, Mommy
Love, Mommy
