Chase the Cat

When Will isn't playing with his toys, looking at books, pulling himself up to stand or climbing over toys, parents or anything in his way, he enjoys chasing the cats around the house. Although this probably is stressing the cats out, it is helping Will crawling and talk more. The clip is Will chasing Calvin on Sunday evening.

What A Difference A Year Makes

On Veteran's Day 2007 , Will was able to wear clothing for the first time. On Veteran's Day 2008 he was crawling. What a difference a year makes.

More posts to come soon!

Eggs Anyone

Grace let Will play with some of her favorite toys while we were at Nana and Opa's house this weekend. If these were real eggs...we would have had a MESS!

Trying to sit

Here is a short clip of Will trying to sit up by himself.

Pictures from My Weekend

My mom was able to upload the pictures today for me. I hope you enjoy them.

Me and my friend Chase.

Playing with my bib and waiting for the next bite of rice cereal.

Playing after dinner with my monkey and my taggie ball.

My Weekend

It was pretty hot this weekend so mom and dad had things for me to do so I wouldn't get so hot. On Saturday, mom, Aunt Carmen and one of my babysitters Robin, took me to Nationwide Children's Hospital to visit some of my 'friends' that I hadn't seen in awhile. Mom was telling everyone how I was almost 25 inches now, how on the 21st I am going to get a 'button' to replace my g-tube and on the 23rd I get to go see Dr. Gest and all of my BPD Clinic friends for a check up and a developmental evaluation.

On Sunday, mom and dad took me to see my friends Chase and Mason because Chase got baptised. Mom said I was very talkative for Aunt Sarah when she was playing with me, but she said I almost feel asleep while Uncle Eric was holding me. Dad took the long way home, but I stayed awake the whole time until I finally fell asleep at 9:30pm last night.

Tonight dad fed me some rice cereal. Mom said I am getting much better at eating, because I haven't had to use my g-tube in over 3 weeks and I have been taking over 900 ml each day by bottle. I am also starting to "try" clapping, banging my hands on the table or whoever is holding me and I am much better at grabbing things. Aunt Carmen and Meredith taught me how to really grab hair. (For some reason mom always says thank you for that) I will try to add some pictures in a little bit so you can see some of my latest and greatest pictures!

VACATION!!!!

Last week I got to go on my first family vacation to Hamlin Lake which is located near Ludington, M!ch!g@n. (Dad said this guy named Woody Hayes never spelled the name of the 'state up north') I got to see my cousins again and I got to meet even more cousins. (Dad said that mom has a lot more cousins than he has.) Anyway, I got to go swimming in the pool that my friends Mason and Chase gave me, tried Rice Cereal for the first time, went to my first restaurant, had my first trip to Meijer, hung out with Ed and Grace, watched mom and dad, (from the dock of course) ski and jet ski, and just had a good time.

I Forgot My Mom's Day

On Mother's Day, mom, dad and I drove to Botkins. This was the first I had been outside the greater Columbus area, and it was the first time my mom had been outside of the same area since July of last year. I think my mom was more nervous for herself than she was for me.

I got to surprise Nana, Opa, and Great Grandma Marilyn. I hid in the pantry waiting for Nana to come in the house from Church. My mom and I must be pretty good at hiding because she didn't find us until my mom said "Hi Nana". It was also really cool for me because I finally got to meet these "cousins" Grace and Edwin that my mom and dad kept talking about. My cousin Grace showed me how to eat corn on the cob. Mom said I have to get teeth before I can try that! Before we had to drive home I got to meet my "great" Aunt Jenny and "great" Uncle Dale and I got to be included in a "family" photo.

My Dad's Day

For "Dad's Day" on June 15, dad, mom and I drove up to Wauseon to surprise Grandpa John. This was my first time to Wauseon so I was pretty excited. My dad talks about milkshakes that he gets from a place called Tiny's. Mom and Dad have also talked about this place call Chief where they get really good cookies from. I don't think that I can get either by myself right now, but I think I will get them eventually.

While I was at Grandpa John and Grandma Laura's house I got to see my Aunt Angela, Uncle Ryan, my dog cousin Griffin, my great grandma's Dorothy and Glendora, as well as Little Sarah, Luann and Sandy. Sandy kept calling herself Gigi, but I know her as Zoe's grandma. While I was playing I rolled 9/10 of the way over, but my hand tasted too good to take it out of my mouth. Mom said I slept the whole way there, I thought I was just resting my eyes, and she said I slept pretty well on the way home until we got to Delaware. When we got home mom went to pick up Nana and Opa from the airport. I got to see them for a little bit, but I was too tired to take their pictures. I have included some pictures from my "Dad's Day Adventure".

Growing and Developing

Growing and Developing are the names of the game. As of last Wednesday, Will was 6.5 Kilos (14.5 lbs) and 23 4/5 inches. His check up with Dr. Gest, OT, and nutritionist went very well at BPD Clinic. Dr. Gest said that Will's lungs were sounding good and you can really tell that he has grown and developed since leaving the hospital. Will will go back for a check up in a month and he will go for a developmental assessment in two months. Will is also meeting with PT and OT once a week at our house for the coming weeks to work on "catching him up" and working him out. He got to "work out" on a balance ball on Thursday with PT. Will's eating has its good days and bad days, but there are more good than bad and it is much better than where we were at a month ago. Kyle and I have be lucky enough to be able to rotate our schedules so at least one of us can be at home with Will during the days right now. We are very fortunate for this!!! Will's days are full of eating, sleeping, creating dirty diapers (luckily most of the poopy ones happen when Kyle has him), playing on his mat, going on walks, and just being a baby. He is really working on trying to roll over. Will usually goes to sleep around 9:30 or 10pm and wakes up around 7am smiling and talking, so Kyle and I really can't complain. (The only times we really have to get up during the night are to stop his feed or if his alarms goes off. ) Here are some of Will's latest pictures

Four Whole Bottles

It may be a small thing, but it was a big day for Will (Kyle and I too). Will took his full feed of 95 ml at 8am, 12, 4 and 8pm. We had to start the 4 and 8 feeds early because he was crying and sucking on his hands! The remainder of the day Will had a serious case of HMS ("Hold Me Syndrome"-dubbed by the nurses), took many naps, and had some "exercise time" on his mat- batting and sticking toys in his mouth, looking at himself in the mirror and doing "reverse crunches" (as Kyle says) pulling his legs up towards his chest then kicking them down.

Calvin and Cassidy, the big brother and sister, had a "busy day" today. They went outside, watched the birds, chased the chipmunks and squirrels, came inside to eat, then went back outside. Here is a picture of them "recovering" this evening.

A Week of "First"

This has been a week of "Will's first..." We went on his first walk outside, first doctors appointment with Dr. Koesters. First time holding his bottle by himself, first bath in the "big bath tub",first night in "his bed"...and many others. Here are some pictures from this week.

224

Well, 224 was the magic number. Will was released from Nationwide Children's Hospital on Friday, May 2, 2008 around 3:30pm. It was a day full of emotions: joy, laughter, sadness, tears and some little fears. It was great to finally be "the family going home." Will will really miss seeing all of "his people." I will miss doing "my rounds" each day.

Kyle, Will and I are so lucky that we have been surrounded by such great, smart, talented and caring people over the last 224 days. The three of us are so greatful for the kindness, support, education, care, and friendship- we are better people for knowing each and every one of them. From the bottoms of our hearts...THANK YOU!

I have included some pictures from the big day.

Day 206

Monday, April 14th. Will took 50ml at 8pm between Kyle (15ml) and I(35ml). he took 34 ml and 20ml earlier in the day. Will enjoyed his second day with his "new swing". Will was 56cm=22 inches yesterday. It was discussed in rounds this morning that "Will is having no problems with his growth charts."

Kyle read "Fish Out Of Water" to Will for the first time tonight and I read "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish". I read the book and Will read along with me, so much that the nurse came in to see what was going on.

Will was selected to be one of eight patients from Children's to be featured in the Nationwide Foundation Annual Report. Attached are some of the pictures from Will's big "photo shoot" in February.

13 Pounds

Today is Sunday, April 13th, Day 205 in the NICU. Will hit the 13 pound mark today. It is amazing to think that he was 1 pound, 7 ounces at one point. Will is stil on a liter of oxygen, but is seeming to be very stable right now. His eating is much better this week. Will took 4 bottles today, 30ml (1ounce) each feed, then the remaining 74 ml was put in his NG tube. Day by Day...

This is the first blog, 7 months late but better late than never. I will be posting pictures and information as much as I can so everyone can see what the "little" guy is up to. I have included some pictures from this month.