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Greyson got his casts off today! He weighs in at 8 lbs 15 oz and is moving his pudgy little legs just fine. His skin is pealing but other then that there don't seem to be any issues with having the casts. He was supposed to come home today but developed a bacterial infection in his urine sample so that was put on hold. This is a common occurance for babies in the hospital and he most likely got it through the belly button tube that goes to his bladder. After consulting with the Infectious Disease doctor at the Center for Disease Control who said he didn't think Greyson needed treatment since he doesn't show signs of being sick it was decided to go ahead and give him IV anti-biotics tonight. Tomorrow they will inject dye into his kidneys and bladder to see if they are healed from his surgery. If they are then his bladder tube will come out. Yeah! Then he will get a 2nd round of anti-biotics tomorrow night and go home Wed. Dr. Hudson wants to be aggresive just to make sure Greyson comes home safe and healthy. I certainly appreciate that and am thankful he thinks that way, but the Mom in me was totally disappointed to not take her baby home today. I finally lost it at the NICU and cried on the nurses shoulders. Guess even Mom's can't be stoic all the time. The advantage to all of this is that he will come home without the bladder tube. If by some chance he isn't healed then it will be 7-10 days of anti-biotics through the IV before he can come home.

Now the fun stuff. Dorene gave him a major scrub down after the casts came off. His hair got washed too. Greyson was not impressed with all the cleaning and throw a fit. Then I got there with his pumpkin costume and we changed his clothes. He threw another fit, but at least looked really cute doing it. We did the photo opp thing and several nurses came over to check him out. He is a popular guy at the NICU.

I was in the car on the way to Portland talking to Greg on the cell phone when the hospital called him and said we could take Greyson home today. So I turned around and went back home. I had to get the going home bag and Greg. Of course we were expecting this to happen on Wed so we weren't prepared for the sudden change. Greg had to run to Albany to return a limo and get another car. I was finishing up the last couple of things around the house.

We got to the NICU at 5pm in time for Greg to finish feeding Greyson. Christopher and Maria joined us so Christopher could take the official "Bust the Kid out of Jail" pictures. I got to changed Greyson's diaper and outfit. He threw a huge fit over that as he always does. The boy doesn't like to be naked. We figured out how to put him in the carseat, gathered all the bags of stuff Greyson was sent home with and off we went. It took both of us to figure out the carseat base since the lady that was supposed to come out and show us and check it wasn't there. It ain't rocket sceince but it's darned close! I sat in the back with Greyson and home we went.

Greg and I looked at each other and agreed that we couldn't believe they let us leave with this poor defensless child. Are they crazy??

Greyson came home with his feeding tube, Tylenol and some anti-biotics. His test came out great so they took out his bladder tube in the afternoon. Everyone thinks he is doing just fine and didn't need to be in the NICU anymore. We go back to see the urologist and orthpedist in 2 weeks and our pediatritian in a week. And Greyson didn't inherit cataracts like his Mom and Grandma Lana....woohoo!

We also learned that our friends the Johnson's had their little boy on Halloween. We consider these babies to be cousin's through ballooning and can't wait for them to meet. Congrats to Nic and Krysti!

Daddy worked from home today. Thank goodness! It helped to have another pair of hands to take care of Greyson. We are both soooo tired and distressed over the feeding issue. We both feel like we aren't doing something right in order for Greyson to eat even though we are told by all the professionals that it isn't our fault. When it's your baby you can't help but feel bad. I worry that he isn't getting what he needs but since he is growing he must be. He gets upset and I can't figure out why. Why can't babies come with a manual?

We went back to Silverton Hospital to visit Nurse Becky. She promised to put Greyson's hand and foot prints in his baby book. It was a slow day at the birth center (unlike the day Greyson was born) so all the nurses cam over to see our son and cuddle him. We also bought yet another bottle. This one was designed for babies with a cleft pallet and has a nipple with a resevior. It allows us to change the amount of flow coming from the nipple. We can actually spray it in his mouth. We're told that for babies with a weak suck it gives them incentive to eat. Since it was $22.50 I hope so. If it works I will gladly have paid $200 for it. Greyson did great on his first outing. He promptly went to sleep when we got in the car. He doesn't mind the carseat at all.

So having a baby takes up a lot of time. I can't seem to get online to update the website as often as I'd like. Greyson has kept us busy this week. Tuesday did what all babies do and projectile puked on and over my shoulder all over the kitchen floor. Of course he didn't get anything on his nice clean outfit just everywhere else. Now this wouldn't be of note except that he threw up his feeding tube too. I put him down to wipe off his mouth and there is the tube hanging out his mouth. For just a moment I panicked and considered calling 911. Then I thought it threw and figured if I pulled the tube out his nose like usual it would come out just fine. Other then annoying him and growwing me out no damage was done. Now of course I had to put the tube back in. By myself. The key to doing this is to be sure to wrap the baby tight so the hands don't pull out what you are putting in. Parenthood....trail by error. Anyway I got the tube back in and taped down. Greyson took a nap and I took a breath.

We went to see Dr. Gilliam to have Greyson weighed and checked out. Dr. G is now our family doctor. He is a great guy and we are lucky to have found him. He is as concerned about how Greg and I are doing with all of this as he is about how Greyson is doing. My little munchkin weighed in at 9lbs. We were thenn again told that there doesn't seem to be a medical or mental reason for Greyson not to eat. It just seems that he needs to learn and figure it out in his own time. We are now being told it will probably take 4-6 weeks for this to happen. I was told that it would take 6 weeks to get an appointment to take Greyson to the Feeding Clinic at Doernbecher, but with Dr. Gilliams help we are going on the 22nd. Hopefully they will give us some more tools to help Greyson learn to eat.

Greyson and I had our first outting to the mall this week. I never realized how much stuff you need to schlep around for one little baby! Once we got to the mall every woman in the place stopped to look at and comment on my cute son. It was kind of fun to have strangers tell me how sweet he was. Greg says he is bound to be poor now that I've rediscovered the mall and the kid is checking it out too.

Friday we went back to Silverton Hospital to meet with Janet the lactation nurse. She is so sweet. I spent 2 hours with her. Janet watched me feed Greyson and checked out how he sucked and swallowed. She asked me if I would keep in touch so she will know how he does. Everyone seems to care so much about my little boy. She also offered her assistance and shoulder to cry on if I need it and told me what a great job we are doing. It makes me feel so much better to hear positive words from the medical people who know so much more then we do. It is so encouraging.

Saturday we ventured to the outlet mall as a family. The men folk love shopping with me...not! We met our friend Tim at Red Robin for dinner. Greyson slept through the entire meal. What a treat dinner out and a quiet baby.

And today Aunt Deanna and cousin Tom came to meet Greyson for the first time. Tom is 18 months old now and brough some of the toys he doesn't play with anymore for Greyson. That was so sweet. Greyson can't wait to play with them.

We have had neighbors and family bring us dinner. Thank you thank you thank you! Needless to say we don't eat as well as we should. It is so great that people care and want to help. We can't thank you enough.

Next week will be busy with visits to the Dr. Hudson and Dr. Turker. I get to go in for my 6 week check up and Jean will come visit us at the house. I'll keep you all updated.

So Dr Dalisky gave me the all clear to resume normal activities...exercise and such. Who has time for that? Stopped off at Dr Gilliam's office to have Greyson weighed since he has thrown up everyday for the last few days. He weighs 9 lbs 9 oz! No issues there but sent for an xray to be sure his feeding tube was in the correct place. We also got a script for Zantac just in case. About an hour after the xray my sweet mild mannerd son pulled out his feeding tube while I was eating lunch. Since I was lunching at the Silverton Hospital cafe I walked back to see Becky my favorite nurse and ask her about feeding Greyson without putting the tube back in. She and the other nurses there seemed to think it was worth a try. Greg actually wanted to try it the other night but without checking with a medical professional I wasn't sure I wanted to do it. We found that Greyson eats pretty will for the first 5 minutes then gets tired, but he did eat enough that we opted to not put the tube in for the night. He looks so cute without the tape on his face.

Still no feeding tube! He didn't gain any weight but hasn't lost any either so things are going well. Greyson seems to be getting the hang of eating and even what hungry is about. I'm sooooo excited!

Greyson is on his first big road trip. We took him and the dogs to CA to visit my family for Thanksgiving. He doesn't seem to mind traveling. His first motel stay was at the La Quinta Inn in Sacramento. Greyson had his own double bed to sleep in. Mommy and Daddy shared their bed with Savannah.

Greg and I have so much to be thankful for. We have a beautiful son and are so glad we have him. Given all that we've been through people have asked how we stay so positive. I don't know what else to be or how else to act. God gave us the most precious gift in our handsome son. He gave the doctors the ability to heal him and Greg and I the strength to deal with it all. Our family is wonderful and our life is great. I hope everyone says a special thanks for what they have and realize what it is all worth.

We shared the day with my Dad, step-Mom Diane and her family. We had great food and lots of laughs. Diane didn't want to give up Greyson. She had to have her baby fix. But she is banned from allowing him to sleep all day in her arms because the little sinker kept us up until 2am crying. My Dad looked very much the proud Grandpa holding Greyson. I overheard him making a deal with Greyson that once he has 2 teeth he will get apple pie. I guess getting it in th breastmilk doesn't count.

We've had a busy week. Greyson met his daycare provider, Becky, this week. She is very nice and watchs kids in her home and is state certified. I met her through a friend and am glad she had room for my son. I know he will be well cared for. I dread the thought of missing out on things while he is in her care but unfortunately I have to go back to work.

We had our family pictures taken a JC Penney's. They actually turned out quite well. Greg and Greyson look great. I never like how I look though. We also had some of Greyson taken alone so we have his 2 month picture. Can you believe he is 2 months old already?!

We finally got the Christmas tree up and the house decorated. I didn't go all out this year. There just doesn't seem to be enough time to do anything. I'm scared about how bad it will be when I'm back to work. We decided not to do our annual Christmas Party. We will be having a bash in Feb. after Greyson is baptized. Stay tuned for more info on that and expect to enjoy Greg's deep fried turkey.

We are attempting to get Greyson on a sleep schedule that gets him in bed at 9pm instead of midnight. People have said just put him in bed and let him cry. It's hard for me to do that. I hate it when he cries and want to make it better even when I know he's fine. He's been through so much and I hate to have him feel bad. But I also realize that I need to be careful or I will spoil him and let him get away with too much. I'm trying to find the happy medium.

Just added the gallery. It's a hodge podge of pictures of the dogs and me and what all. Everyone was tired from decorating this week

December 23, 2005
Photo Gallery

My sister Mindy and her family came over to Mom's to do Christmas. It was nice to see her, her hubby Paul and son Bryce. We only seem to get everyone together on Christmas which is too bad. Mindy made Greyson an awesome cross stitch quilt with his name and birth info on it. What a great keepsake.

Speaking of gifts....Greyson made out like a bandit. Santa and the family were very good to home. He got lots of clothes, toys, money and a book. He even got a Tumble Time Tigger that I like to play with. He's terrrrific!