Four whole months!
It’s true, Nolan had his four month birthday yesterday, and he looks great! He weighed in at 2100 grams (4 lb, 10 oz) – that’s four times his birth weight! He’s sleeping in a crib and the copious medical machinery has largely been replaced by real baby toys like mobiles and mirrors.
With the ventilator gone and Nolan more stable, it’s not a multi-person task to pick him up. When he’s upset, Kara can pick him up and see if he wants to nurse. He can usually be transferred to someone else without setting off alarms, so Ronan and Kara can both hold him in one visit. This is a huge and welcome change from a month ago!
In other good news, Nolan has been moved to a new pod, where not only is there a window, but he is next to it. That makes it a lot easier to take pictures to share. In an attempt to remedy my commented-upon slackness, I’ve posted some more pictures in the gallery. I have a number to sort through from the last month, so if saucy Caroline wants to help me get them uploaded, I stand a chance of making it through the backlog.
Now that Nolan is past the 2 kilo milestone, the docs have started talking about scheduling the surgery to close his stoma from the colonostomy that was performed when he was four weeks old. Right now, they’re saying it will happen next week.
All in all, we can see pretty clear and miraculous progress happening, even as we consider the hurdles yet to be faced. Yesterday, Ronan and I met the parents of a girl who was born on January 3rd, a few weeks younger than Nolan was at birth and weighing just a hair less than he did. It was nice to be able to show them the progress Nolan has made from a similar place, and hope that it made a positive outcome feel more possible for them. Please keep their baby in your thoughts and prayers. It was just a few months ago that our family was struggling with many of the same problems, and your love and prayers made all the difference for us and Nolan. It is truly a blessing to have such wonderful friends.
-Maria
Monday, January 15, 2007 at 2:55 pm
This is the cutest little one I have ever seen! Kara, he is looking like you these days. I can’t wait until you guys get to take him home and have the fam under one safe and happy roof. Love you all so much. Amy and Shannon
Monday, January 15, 2007 at 4:41 pm
ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL… God is so good. !!!! Bring on the steak and potatoes….it won’t be long now.
Ann
Monday, January 15, 2007 at 5:57 pm
Thank you so much for the pictures of that absolutely beautiful baby. I can’t wait to be one of the ones to hold him. Love to all,
Margaret
Monday, January 15, 2007 at 6:47 pm
I am so happy that Nolan is doing
so well. I am happy that he has made so much
progress and that he now weighs 4 pounds
I hope things get even better
Lolo
Monday, January 15, 2007 at 6:59 pm
What spectacular pictures of a spectacular family!!! Nolan actually looks as if he has a little FAT on him… YEAH!!! It is so touching to think of you all holding up another family with your strength. Love to you all, can’t wait to meet Nolan in person.
Monday, January 15, 2007 at 7:09 pm
go nolan go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i can’t wait to meet you in person!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! from caroline
Monday, January 15, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Gosh, it’s good to see him looking so, well, babylike. Praise God. Looking forward to hearing about a happy homecoming! — Miranda in Cambridge
Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at 9:29 am
Some birthdays are more worth celebrating than others, and from the looks on all the faces in the photos (the bean’s included) this one, certainly– isn’t it great when everyone at the party is so thrilled that the milestone has been reached? Nobody looked that way when I turned 40… Y’all look great to have been through so much and survived in tact. And while I’m sure you’ll never look at plastic tubing in quite the same way as before, what a miracle! We are so happy for you and for the little critter as well to have landed such great parents. Congratulations to everyone.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at 4:42 pm
Oh my gosh he has gotten so big. He is adorable, and he is wearing clothes how cute. Well you both look like some happy parents in the pics. Well Maria i didnt know you were out of town. But ill help you go through pics. Im soo glad to see how well he has done. Nolan is a little miracle. Nolan love the smile. love caroline
Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Yeah Nolan! You have grown sooooooo much! I loved seeing the pictures of you and your family! You are adorable!
Keep growing big and strong!
Love,
Devon
Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at 7:09 pm
WOW, what a smiley small person, with such a large and extremely smiley fan club!
Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at 10:12 pm
We are so excited that Nolan is making progress towards becoming a Windsor Circle resident!! He is such a handsome little guy! Our first child was a preemie and we remember how amazing it was to watch her grown. She turns 26 in March and is still our miracle girl. Nolan, we are praying and cheering you on!
Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Oh my gosh! That is one healthy looking boy! What a precious face. He is a little (growing!) miracle, for sure.
Bless you all!
Love,
Alice
Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 12:29 pm
what a cutie! i can’t wait until Nolan can come out to one of our shows and dance along. his parents are some of the dancers i know!
love bernie
Friday, January 19, 2007 at 12:55 am
I look at these pictures, and the heart whispers the words ‘blessing-baby’, blessings. Ani Flash
Friday, January 19, 2007 at 9:38 pm
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!