Obstacles

One year ago at the Junior League's I AM Strong I shared with then President Erin Leifker and good friend Katie Rathje, among many others, the happy news that I was pregnant. What a year it's been. 

Today, I participated in that same race, with my "dirty girls" at Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors. It was tough, muddy, dirty and fun. It tested my mental and physical abilities but I finished it. After tromping through a creek and using a rope to climb out of the mud I caught a glimpse of what I thought was Pete. To my surprise and delight, there was my miracle baby with Daddy and Brother waiting at the finish line. You couldn't wipe the muddy smile off my face after seeing them. 

By far the hardest obstacle was the monkey bars. I was very close to chickening out and skipping it altogether. Finally after hearing 'you can do it' about a half dozen times, I worked up the courage to try. You make think, monkey bars = no big deal. But these were about 16 bars high in the air, with 4 feet of muddy water underneath and lots of other women watching. I think I was mostly afraid of trying and failing in front of others. I am proud to say I did it. I was on a high the rest of the race. 

It's funny to me that an obstacle like this would be that big of a deal after the year we've had. Sometimes it actually feels like many years since Alexander was born and it's only been nearly nine months. He's doing so well and his still very serious lung disease and treatments that go with it, don't seem so crippling. I think we've just grown accustom to lugging oxygen tanks and doing breathing treatments. Or maybe we just are blinded by his infectious giggle and his smile that brightens a room.

 

Alexander is on a pretty good schedule now and while we still worry (or I still worry) about his eating, he's doing well increasing his average intake and fattening up nicely. He started rolling over from his back to his stomach so we've walked into the room a couple times surprised by his new mobility. He LOVES watching his brother and babbles to him incessantly. He's also started doing toot noises, which just makes us all laugh out loud.

Andrew continues to amuse, especially with his obcession with Uncle Tim Stop and happy go lucky persona. Just today, while waiting in the car for Daddy, Alexander was crying. Andrew says, "My brother wants to hear Still My Baby." (a newer song by his favorite Tim Stop). Thanks for translating Andrew! 

At least we know that no matter the obstacle, monkey bars or those far greater, we will power through it as a family!

Special shout out to my parents and Pete's parents for spending the weekend with Alexander and Andrew so we could head north for the Beason's wedding! We had a blast and enjoyed a weekend away together with friends!

Measuring Up

From the day Alexander was born everything in his life was measured. His 1cc of milk (which is basically a drop) that he was able to take after a couple days after birth. His amount of oxygen and pressure from the ventilator. His medicines. His grams (I had to have a calculator for this one to convert to pounds). His fluids. His diapers - yes they weighed these after each changing to ensure the output was good. Even the day of life he was on.

We continue these measurements. We track how much he eats and when he eats. When he naps. His dose of medicine and breathing treatments. And, a big one, his weight. We are happy to report that we have a boy that's literally measuring up. At his University check up this week he weighed in at a hefty 15 lbs 5 oz. This is in the 50th percentile for his adjusted age of 4.5 months (based off his due date) and not yet on the charts for his actual age of 8 months - but he's very close. 

He's also on track for his adjusted milestones. He's grabbing toys, holding his head up well and started rolling over from tummy to back. 

But more than any of that, Alexander is just simply a joy to be around. He's ticklish and giggles up a storm. He doesn't stop talking and adores watching his brother play. He's eating pretty good and sleeping amazing. We couldn't feel more blessed to have him in our lives. 

At our high risk follow up appointment they were thrilled with his progress. Dr. Klein said yet again that he is just amazed and that you would never know how long he fought for his life. He said once Alexander ditched the lovely cannula no one will ever know he was a preemie - especially due to his size and head shape (doctors and nurses love talking about head shape by the way). We were able to reduce his oxygen to .5 liters so we are getting close. Our hope is to be able to decrease again in two months and then be off around his first birthday!!

We got to see great friends who had a follow up appointment the same day. We happened to meet the Mills family in the NICU but I know it was the beginning of a life long friendship. Karin has been there for me like no other person could during our days in the NICU. I look forward to continue to get Alexander and Frances together!

Andrew continues to keep us on our heels and basically laughing at all times. When I say he is obsessed with Tim Stop and John Mayer, that would be an understatement. He knows the names of all the songs so he can make his requests and full out jams with his fake guitar. He also loves to play every sport but especially golf and tennis. 

We've gotten out of the house a lot more - enjoying time with family and local summer hot spots, like the River Bandits game and 4th of July Parade. We also were especially blessed to be witness to Pete's Aunt Sara's wedding to her long-time partner, Pam. Andrew was the "flower boy" and we look forward to the future when we can explain how special this day really was to us. Plus, Pete's brothers and sisters were all in town, many for the week. 

We also traveled home to Ankeny for a friend's wedding and got to see most of the Eckhardt clan, who got to love on Andrew and Alexander. Surprisingly it was an easy car ride - Alex slept the entire way and Andrew read books, listened to John Mayer and watched videos on my phone. It was great to finally introduce Alexander to most of my family.

 

I think I had really become obsessed with Alexander's measurements. Instead, I lost sight of what I should be focusing on - measuring life by all these moments captured above. If we are measuring, our life is really off the charts!

You'd Never Know

It's been 55 days since Alexander came home from the NICU. Life has changed drastically since my post a month ago. It's been busy and wonderful. Not a day goes by that I don't relish how far we have come and how life, while not what I ever imagined, is perfect.

When we were at the 'U' last month, one of the things Dr. Klein said stuck in my mind. "You'd never know he fought for his life for so many weeks." While I remember those weeks of not knowing what each day was going to bring - when Pete's ring fit around Alexander's ankle, when a breathing tube and ventilator kept Alexander alive, when he was constantly having "spells" and alarms were sounding around the clock, when we thought he may need heart surgery, when a diaper the size of a deck of cards was too big for his tiny frame, when I let myself, for a moment, wonder if he was going to die - having Dr. Klein say these words makes the last 7 months even more real. It's weird that it seems so far away, almost like a dream (or nightmare). I'm brought back so quickly by memories, especially triggered by images and stories of other preemies fighting for their lives.

I still worry every day - but I try to push these worries out as quickly as they pop in my mind. We don't know what the next week, next month, next year, or even next 10 years will bring - for Alexander or anyone. He has already beaten the odds. According to Time Magazine's cover story Saving Preemies, about 55% of all babies born at 24 weeks survive -  only approximately 10 percent of those surviving completely healthy. We just continue to pray and have faith that we will stay strong and give Alexander anything he needs to be happy and healthy in this life.

For now, you'd never know by looking at our fat man that he was a preemie, except for the "cords," as Andrew calls them, going from his nose into one of the oxygen tanks he's always tethered to. He's 13.5 lbs and gaining steadily. We think we have this feeding thing figured out and are thrilled that he's taking a bottle so well - we have really struggled with this and ensuring that he's getting enough calories to grow appropriately.

He turned 7 months yesterday, but we measure everything (growth and development-wise) against his adjusted age (or due date), which puts him at 3.5 months. He's babbling and holding onto toys. He loves to "stand" and play in his exersaucer. He's just a cuddly joy! Plus, our big boy is sleeping through the night!!

Andrew continues to surprise and entertain us. The things that come out that kid's mouth are just hilarious! From telling us at dinner that the food is "tasty" and "awesome" to scolding his brother as he playfully flails his legs "Don't kick mommy Alexander!" - it's just pure enjoyment all of the time. The terrible twos are definitely starting to rear their ugly head - but we'll take the good with the bad - especially with this kid.

Andrew is loving all sports, trains and cars. He recently got his first ride in a fire truck after locking himself in Daddy's running car. He's obsessed with Tim Stop - singing his personal favorites, Maria and London, along with ABCs and Twinkle Twinkle.

Alexander was baptized on May 23rd when both of his godparents, Annie and Tim, were able to be in town. It was a very small ceremony on a Friday morning (to avoid crowds and potential germs) but it was just perfect for our little guy. He did great and barely peeped!

We have been able to get out of the house more often - getting braver with nice weather and being done with cold and flu season. We've done the Country Club a couple times, even going to the pool, as well as on walks and to the Farmer's Market. We love introducing Alexander to family and friends who have prayed for him and thought of us often, especially when they look at him and say, "you'd never know..."