Six Weeks Old

That calculation seems a little strange since we have been with Kadin since November 3, 2008. However, for 16 weeks of his life, he rightfully should have still been in my tummy. It's hard to believe that all this began 22 weeks ago. We have to adjust for his age beginning around his due date, which makes him now about six weeks old. And wow, how quickly he is growing!

He is beginning to stay awake for longer periods of time now and "babble" a little bit. He gets the biggest, silliest, most tickled smiles on his face when he has his big sissy and big bubba talking to him. And you know THAT makes them feel on cloud nine every single time! It blesses me and Danny also to see Kadin react to his siblings that way. When someone talks to him, he gets all wiggly and opens his mouth as if he wants to say something - you can tell he is excited that someone is paying him attention .... as if mommy holding him throughout the day and night isn't enough, lol .... he's an attention hog, for sure, but frankly, we don't mind a bit.

We have developed quite a pattern and thankfully!!! We lay him down for the night around 11 after his bottle and he awakes again around 3 for another feeding and back down til approximately 7. Sometimes we get off schedule by half an hour or whatever, but who cares when I am getting about six or seven hours of sleep a night, even if there is an intermission ... I enjoy holding him in the middle of the night anyway.

He is traveling better these days also. Granted, we aren't going anywhere long distance, but he seems to really like getting out if even for a little bit. We did take him to a baseball game last week and he slept the entire time! I am a firm believer in introducing the "sounds" of it all tho ... that way, he will recognize it all later and not freak out (like Dakota used to do at basketball games when that big nasty mean buZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZer would go off).

We have appointments in May and June as it stands. At that time, we will visit the NICU again for the first time since we departed for home on Feb. 28, 2009. I pray we get to see all those that we came to love so dearly...

Speaking of those that we love ... I can't get Dr. Porter and Dr. McGuirk off my mind. I wish there had been some way to get their information (email) so that we could keep in touch. I know they were so proud of Kadin before they both ceased to being his primary Dr. Kadin really took off in his progress right as Dr. Porter left the unit. I left him this URL so that he could visit if he never thought about it and I pray that he does ... so if you are reading this Dr. Porter, know that my family is eternally grateful to you for all that you did for our miracle child and I know you would be so proud to see him today. And Dr. McGuirk ... we appreciate your willingness to push Kadin a little bit and challenge him in his growth! We miss you all, the nurses, the secretaries, the respiratory therapists, the techs ... EVERYONE. We even miss that cafeteria, lol ...... oh, and Starbucks. Sheesh.

It is great to be home though and watch our little baby growing. He has dealth with some allergy issues, but we all have. The climate here is HORRIBLE and for example, today I have done nothing but sneeze and blow my nose! I am excitedly awaiting what's next in Kadin's growth ...

ECI has come to the house twice and is scheduled to come again around the middle of the month. It will be for occupational therapy and I'm excited about that. Kadin's little head seems to be misshapen a little bit because he truly favors one side and hates to lay on the other side ... we work on it but you know, he's stubborn - which has gotten him this far in the first place, so I'm not gonna gripe!

Until next time ......