Milo
MaddyThe babies went for their check-up on Tuesday and we were delighted to find out that the kids made great weight gains. Milo really surprised us both. The boy wasn't eating particularly well his first week home, and we were just hoping he hadn't lost any weight since his discharge. Turns out he was just tucking it all away somewhere because he weighed in at a robust 8 lbs 10.5 ozs. In fact, turns out he's heavier than Maddy who's been swilling down the milk like she's got a hollow leg. Of late, Milo's been eating like a champ, so we expect he'll make even bigger gains soon.
Maddy also plumped up nicely. She's now 8 lbs 9 ozs and eating impressive amounts. Her reflux is another story. The poor kid gets pretty frantic after feeds, and it's not uncommon for it to take a solid two hours to calm her down and get her to sleep. She's taking some medicine for the reflux -- basically the same stuff that's in Zantac. She's only been on it for a day, and we haven't seen a major break through yet. Hopefully she'll turn a corner soon. If Maddy can mellow out a little after feedings, life will instantly become 30% easier.
Milo also had a follow-up eye exam on Tuesday, which made for a very busy day. After their pediatric visit, I had to drive Milo to San Ramon (about 40 minutes away) for the appointment. That's when the fun started. Infant eye exams are pretty painful to watch. The doc used those crazy spreaders on the little guy's eyes -- it was like something out of A Clock Work Orange. To add to the whole adventure, a pipe burst in the men's room while I was changing Milo. I was about two-thirds of the way through his diaper change when water started pouring in from the ceiling. Quite an adventure. The good news is that Milo's eyes continue to improve. His retinopathy has resolved in his right eye, and it's now just mild in the left. With any luck, he'll only need one more exam.
Finally, we received the invoice for Milo's hospital stay. (Drum roll.) As predicted it exceeded $2 million ($2.1 million to be exact), and that doesn't include the billing for the doctors or several other items. All in all, I think we may hit the $5 million mark for both kids. We love you Tricare! We'll be providing the NICU staff with a giant novelty check sometime in the near future. We'll just post-date that til next pay day.
6 comments:
Nurse Janet gave my husband and I your blog. We had our little baby boy Loki on October 18th at 24 weeks and 3 days. Needless to say, we recognize a lot of what you wrote during the early NICU days of Milo and Madeline. It is very encouraging to read how well your beautiful babies are doing! Hope it is okay if we check out your blog now and then?!
Best wishes for all of you,
Kathalijn
Hello Kathalijin. Congratulations on the arrival of Loki. Wow, we were leaving just as you were arriving. Please feel free to review the blog and also feel free to contact us if you have any questions or if we can help in any way. Janet can provide you with all of our contact information. It's a long, long road but things often work out very well, and you are in great hands at Alta Bates. Maddy is sitting next me right now (nursing with Mom) and Milo is in a baby carrier attached to me. Looking at them now, it's hard to believe that four months ago they were so tiny and fragile. Maddy's skin was so immature that it was gelatinous, and Milo seemed to face one challenge after another. You'd never guess it to see them now.
Janet was one of our primaries and was a great help to us throughout the ordeal. We owe so much to our primary nurses, and I'm convinced the babies would not have fared nearly as well without their vigilant care. You'll probably notice who all of ours were by reading the blog, and I recommend them all highly.
We know how tough it can be to process everything that is going on and to figure out the whole NICU routine, and if we can be any help please don't hesitate to call on us.
Best of luck to you and your family.
Rob, Elaine, & M&M
Glad to read that Milo's eyes are improved. Will you be charged extra for the shower?
Great pictures. We all miss all of you still;four months definitely makes you a part of the family.
As to the "worth every penny.." Amen to that!!!!!!!!!
xs and os to M&M.
Love, Aunt J
What a scary ordeal that eye exam must have been! The shower wold have put me ovcer the edge! lol!
Glad to hear Milo's eyes are improving. I miss all of you and wish more than ever that I lived out there! Love and hugs to M&M!
Love,
Heath
P.S. Janet, I heard your name so often, I started to think of you as family as well. lol! :)
* sorry for the typos!*
darn! there is no edit button!
When I read Kathalijn's post it brought me back to that call from Elaine and those initial days and the realization of the monumental journey on which you have embarked. How much has (thankfully) changed, and how much you and M&M have grown. I am so happy at the great things that are happening for you all and also wish Kathalijn and her family all the best. What a tremendous struggle, but, as you said, "worth every penny" for your precious baby/ies.
Sarah
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