Updates on Nolan

Well, here I was concerned that everyone had given up on us and stopped checking the blog because I’ve been so lame at keeping it updated, but you’ve all gone and shown me that you’re far more determined than that, as obviously a number of you have already read Kara’s update.

Since Kara has given you the update, I’ll just share some pictures in celebration of Nolan’s Six Month Birthday. Wow, six months ago it was hot September, and now it’s hot March (didn’t anyone tell the weatherman that 80 degrees is a bit much for early spring?). Six months ago, Nolan got impatient and joined us a good bit earlier than was advisable, weighing just a bit more than a bottle of soda. Now he’s about 3 kg — almost six times more than he weighed back then. And look at that smile, would ya?

A week or so ago, Nolan got a button in place of the tube that was coming out of his stomach. Basically, this is just a flap (like a valve on a beach ball) that can be closed over his stoma, or opened to attach to the feeding tubing. He previously had a length of tube (maybe a foot long) that came out of his stoma and ended at a cap. They were waiting for him to be a certain size before they made the switch. Said switch came just in time, too, because the old tubing was starting to leak and causing lots of problems in the night with the continuous feeds (imagine slowly dripping milk into your baby’s bed all night). The new button was apparently tender for a few days, and I gather that the tubing that goes with it is supposed to be cleaned every three hours when in use (ie, all night) or it clogs, but overall the button is a good thing because it’s forward progress. It means Nolan is growing and moving along the path the doctors want him to. And, when not in use, it is less obtrusive and less likely to get tangled up in blankets and clothes (though, truthfully, the tubing was not nearly as “in the way” as I would have expected).

Nolan’s aunt Amy and uncle Shannon gave him a small gift that has been a big help — this pacifier. The dog is attached to the pacifier and helps hold the pacifier in his mouth (basically a prop). You’ll see the dog featured in many pictures because Nolan pretty much always has it with him. The hat was made by Nolan’s cousin Logan. It’s been fun to see what things Nolan has completely grown out of (like tiny hats) and what he has grown into, that it once seemed would never fit him. He’s still pretty little in the grander scheme of babyhood, but he sure seems big to us!

There are a few more pictures in the gallery — click through and check them out. I’ll post more as I get them, though I’ve discovered that the lighting at Kara and Ronan’s house is no better than at the hospital, so I’ve mostly got blurry pictures to share right now.

Happy birthday, Nolan!

-Maria

Yesterday was one month exactly from the day Nolan came home. We celebrated the day by walking in the woods, watching the Heels become ACC champs and getting visited by nurse Tara whose best friend magically moved into the house next door to ours! It was a good day.
Nolan continues to do well. He has gained slowly but steadily, last Tuesday he weighed in at 6 lb 9.5 oz and is now 47cm long (compared to 28cm when he was born). He does pretty well sleeping at night, if we didn’t have to get up to change out his feedings we would be getting close to normal rest! One of the (very) few advantages to being in the NICU so long is they get the babies on a schedule for you… We are making slow progress on getting him on all oral feedings, on good days he is at about 50/50, he is still on continuous feeding at night. We don’t feel in a hurry to get him off the pump since it is an easy way to get him good nutrition and accomplish the main goal of GROWTH. He doesn’t mind the pump and it can be taken anywhere like this morning when we took the dogs for a walk, imaginge walking, sleeping and eating all at the same time!
Nolan is also making progress developementally. With lots of encouragement from all his family he is learning there are cool things to see if you turn your head right and does so voluntarily now. He still favours his left and seems to be working towards being a southpaw but things are evening out. He seems to be focusing on objects at greater distances and doesn’t get “stuck” on an object to his left as often. He makes good eye contact with us and smiles more and more often which just melts us on the spot. He has also invented the fast paced, big action game of “Got your Lip”. We generally play early in the morning after a diaper change and nursing session. It involves lip grabbing, noisy encouragement and tickly kisses. It is a lot of fun for us as it seems like his first real interactive time and is maybe a glimpse at a sense of humour.
Thanks again to all for your support, prayers and words of encouragement (and food and clothes and diapers and cards and time and energy…!) We will try to keep everyone up to date, it is not so often that I have more than one hand free these days. I have to go, I hear the bean calling for MILK! with love, Kara (and Ronan and Nolan)