tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9186708961140315622024-03-14T10:38:08.249-05:00A Twin StoryFollowing the adventures of Bryce Thomas, surviving twin of Chloe Kathleen, and the family that loves them both. Bryce and ^Chloe^ were born sixteen weeks too soon on May 26, 2009, weighing a mere pound and a quarter each. They are our micro-preemie miracles, and this is their story.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.comBlogger180125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-1924603718968614272023-05-26T08:00:00.042-05:002023-05-27T07:26:17.103-05:00And They Lived Happily Ever AfterIn May 2009, our family was in crisis. The odds for our micropreemies were dire - 50% mortality, 90%+ morbidity - and we were asked to make care decisions that no parent imagines they'll have to make. At the time, I was desperate for information on outcomes, and, more than anything, for a story that would serve as a buttress against the fear that threatened to consume us.
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This is that story. Bryce turned 14 today. He is a straight-A student in Honors classes at a respected public school. He's in improv theater, and plays the piano. He runs Cross Country for the middle school, and enjoys swimming with his friends in the pond behind our house. He is a First Class Scout, and a history buff. He is a respectful, responsible, resourceful young man any parent would be proud of.
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In this blog's penultimate post, we were celebrating Bryce's average size. Today, he's taller than most fourteen-year-olds; he stands level with me, and since his feet are a full size larger, I expect to be looking up at him soon. And his health? A few months ago, Bryce had a tearing cough for weeks, <i>and we didn't even consider taking him to a doctor.</i> Not because this is normal for him (it's not), but because we had no fear that it was a serious risk. Considering where we started, the change is mindboggling.
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This blog hadn't crossed my mind in years, and I'm not sure why it bubbled up in my consciousness now. I'm glad it did, though, because it gave me an opportunity to share this one last thought:
if you are that new preemie parent - terrified, confused, wondering how you can go on - I want you to know that Bryce's prematurity plays no larger a role in his life today than most children's lack of it. It's not a short road, but with the incredible medical care available today and a little good fortune, a happy ending is attainable.
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This is the end for A Twin Story, but only the beginning for Bryce.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-63301142296632487772014-06-29T14:37:00.001-05:002023-05-26T08:45:35.682-05:00Million Dollar Baby
I almost missed AOL CEO Tim Armstrong's insensitive <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2014/02/tim_armstrong_blames_distressed_babies_for_aol_benefit_cuts_he_s_talking.html">attempt to pin benefits cuts at his company on million-dollar "distressed babies"</a> earlier this year, but it was impossible to overlook the cover photo for the feature article in the May 22nd issue of Time magazine, <a href ="http://time.com/108708/the-cutting-edge-medicine-saving-preemies/">"Saving Preemies."</a> That article, and the five-year anniversary of Bryce and Chloe's premature entry into the world, inspired me to write one more (last?) update on our own million dollar baby.
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<center><i>June 25, 2009: At one month old, still barely a handful</i></center>
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<a href="http://sonnektwins.blogspot.com/2009/06/angel-on-our-shoulders-34-days.html">Five years ago</a>, we were still in shock over the abrupt loss of our daughter, the comparatively "healthy" twin. I remember lying awake at night, eyes raw after another bout with grief, wondering if Bryce's heart was still beating. Sometimes, I would call--fortunately, the NICU is used to receiving calls at 2AM from desperate parents--and some angel in scrubs on the other end of the line would dampen my fear to a manageable level.
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<center><i>June 2010: A glimmer of the smile we take for granted today</i></center>
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<a href="http://sonnektwins.blogspot.com/2010/06/june-tastic.html">One year later</a>, our world had change dramatically. Bryce was at home, and we were celebrating a marked improvement in his respiration and a 25th percentile placement on the growth charts for his adjusted age. I was still peeking in on Bryce at night to double check his breathing monitor, and the air in our house was often rich with the smell of nebulized albuterol sulfate, but I was no longer certain that the next emergency was lurking just around the corner.
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<center><i>June 2014: Being a huge fan of Disney/Pixar's "Up," Bryce's favorite thing to do with Daddy is to play with his flying house</i></center>
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Flash forward to June 2014. It's early on a Sunday morning, and I would feel positively foolish sneaking into Bryce's room to check if he's breathing. Bryce hasn't been to the hospital since the summer of 2012 (stitches after a fall), and he hasn't had a prematurity-related emergency since late 2010. The nebulizer is collecting dust on a shelf in the closet, and most of the medication is long expired. Parenting any child is a challenge, but the added stress of incessant medical appointments and extreme germ vigilance is largely a thing of the past for us.
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<center><i>May 2014: A boy and his robot cake</i></center>
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A few days after his fifth birthday, Bryce was in the <i>fiftieth</i> percentile for height, and not much behind that for weight, for his <i>actual</i> age. In fact, he's only a smidgen shorter than his full-term big brother was at the same age. His peanut butter, cheese and ketchup sandwiches will never be widely popular, but we don't have any serious concerns about growth or feeding disorders. At his NICU follow-up exam a few months ago, the doctors were giddy over how well Bryce did on his mental aptitude tests. He is intelligent, creative and curious, with a memory that puts mine to shame. If we're honest, the main reason we're holding him back from Kindergarten until he's six is because we're not ready.
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<center><i>Bryce's silly face</i></center>
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If you've met Bryce, then you know that he is bursting at the seams with vitality. If I could bottle and sell his zeal for each day, I have no doubt that we could use the proceeds to cover the expenses of dozens of fellow micro-preemies and still have plenty left over. Yes, he has a tendency to get overwhelmed by excessive sensory stimulation (many crowded places are "too loud"). Yes, he can be easily distracted at times. And yes, he will probably always wear glasses to correct significant myopia. If we're looking for them, we can find myriad ways in which Bryce was touched by his prematurity--but only if we're looking for them.
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<center><i>Soaking up the California sun</i></center>
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<center><i>Preschool graduation</i></center>
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And that, my friends, is the miracle. On a day-to-day basis, <i>neither Bryce's life nor our own are defined by his prematurity</i>. In that respect, he truly is a "million dollar baby." On the very <a href="http://sonnektwins.blogspot.com/2009/05/22-weeks-1-day.html">first day</a>, we were confronted with daunting statistics and terrifying words like "make them comfortable," "brain hemorrhage," and "special needs." (I have a very different perspective on labels like the latter today, but that's a different story.) If you had told me five years ago that we'd be playing catch together on a summer day, or running in the ocean surf, or that he'd excel in a mainstream preschool, I would have been skeptical. If you'd have told me that he would graduate from high school, maybe even college, and that he would possibly get married and father children of his own some day, it would have struck me as insensitive to the realities of the situation. And yet, it doesn't seem far-fetched at all today.
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<center><i>Bryce's million dollar smile</i></center>
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I don't know what tomorrow or next year will bring, but I know one thing: this little guy will be smiling, and that's enough for me.
Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-78432053672199594392011-07-04T12:28:00.005-05:002011-07-04T13:39:45.427-05:00Terrific Two!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXhIjyQjXxF-zmBIux342KpbxUqRB6PWCUd01aJ4InNojc64jWL4nZaMsYtVwGy8OpmAIGX137gURHSxKCkJ6epsJuuklGZVzGF8_9BbhZ3t-alAbYyzQL76VvaumBoL0HDx6UxixukCk/s1600/bryce_outdoors.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFXhIjyQjXxF-zmBIux342KpbxUqRB6PWCUd01aJ4InNojc64jWL4nZaMsYtVwGy8OpmAIGX137gURHSxKCkJ6epsJuuklGZVzGF8_9BbhZ3t-alAbYyzQL76VvaumBoL0HDx6UxixukCk/s400/bryce_outdoors.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625566301967187346" /></a><br /><br />Since the day he decided that barely more than half the normal gestational period was enough for him, Bryce has challenged the conventional way of doing things. Though that first act of rebellion sorely vexed us, we're quite pleased that he's decided to forgo the terrible twos in favor of the terrific twos.<br /><br />Lung disease? What lung disease? There was a spell of wheeziness and a perpetually runny nose earlier this Spring, but we suspect that may have been allergies. At his two-year check up last week, the pediatrician said, "His lungs sound excellent, how many steroid treatments are you giving him each day?" Steroids? What steroids? The doctor was flabbergasted.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlw9F0Iay6xqld2Kb64t1hYOjt1umDcPFklfsw1KtcHwclkaz2ZHJcgjW4pnrrbk86fUUF5fNWkoZKz_cndwgP4uUZtG04YEntJX7ExPxp7DWTZzeEldjdZDH3Qpp3CBCpwcRYkJRMLQs/s1600/bryce_legos.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlw9F0Iay6xqld2Kb64t1hYOjt1umDcPFklfsw1KtcHwclkaz2ZHJcgjW4pnrrbk86fUUF5fNWkoZKz_cndwgP4uUZtG04YEntJX7ExPxp7DWTZzeEldjdZDH3Qpp3CBCpwcRYkJRMLQs/s400/bryce_legos.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625567496458415330" /></a><br /><br /><br />He's done some catching up in the growth department, but in some areas more than others. At 22 months adjusted, he was 33.25 inches tall, weighed 24.1 pounds and his head was 48.5 cm around, which puts him in the 32nd, 11th and 50th percentile, respectively. Although his big brain will serve him well in the information age, the doctor was a bit concerned about the disparity between height and weight. Bryce is typically an excellent eater and "stout" is rarely used to describe micropreemies, but we'd also like to see him put on some weight. On his second (actual) birthday, he weighed 23.5 pounds; Logan weighed the same on his first!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMd15HW7NBfLxDKvniSIOLBQuvsl6LRydGnJmNbtdQu67xHIqmVpBRtfFoZmFl2qzmgg7XkReGmuRNq-HXFY0tjDfBY8-utQlAvPY8B3ipmUEvqRUxhOaNFubtjj_Bg_y77WRt1QBvYj34/s1600/bryce_hard_at_work.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMd15HW7NBfLxDKvniSIOLBQuvsl6LRydGnJmNbtdQu67xHIqmVpBRtfFoZmFl2qzmgg7XkReGmuRNq-HXFY0tjDfBY8-utQlAvPY8B3ipmUEvqRUxhOaNFubtjj_Bg_y77WRt1QBvYj34/s400/bryce_hard_at_work.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625566326680555986" /></a><br /><br />One of our biggest challenges these days is communication. On his second birthday (scarcely a month ago), Bryce had one word that he used spontaneously - "Uh oh." Both Bryce's pediatrician and his speech therapists agree that he is well behind, so he has been going to speech therapy two to four times a week. Fortunately, this is an area where we've seen great progress. As of today, he has at least six more words: "Mama", "Dada", "All Done", "Go", "Hat" and "Please." He only pronounces the consonants in the first two - the last four are pronounced "ahh uhh", "ohh", "aah", and "eeee." He'll imitate many more words (vowels only), and we suspect he has more that we just can't understand. Expressive communication will probably be a challenge for Bryce for some time to come, but we're thrilled that he's made so much progress lately. Watching him toddle towards me at full speed, arms outstretched, exclaiming, "Dada, Dada, Dada," is an effective salve for even the longest day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmRl7kGaUZQdyjR86PiGmthvdP1-TvNd7Q2iUP_Hm2qKETBV1f32vJt9exmdXalZydfNdNz-acyiCM6xdpYaLfv_-Um0Wtay0HWIkR3CUsXU7AXmZtFuQ5flRnPhXf7MsFjivfRj5-QSr/s1600/bryce_vrooom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLmRl7kGaUZQdyjR86PiGmthvdP1-TvNd7Q2iUP_Hm2qKETBV1f32vJt9exmdXalZydfNdNz-acyiCM6xdpYaLfv_-Um0Wtay0HWIkR3CUsXU7AXmZtFuQ5flRnPhXf7MsFjivfRj5-QSr/s400/bryce_vrooom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625566338450460578" /></a><br /><br />Most of all, Bryce is a very content child. He usually sleeps through the night, and in the morning he's ready to take on the world. He doesn't like to be constrained, but if left to roam in the playroom, the driveway or the backyard, he nearly always has a gleam in his eye and a smile on his face.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcEzSi7QiQEqbohyWyMx_DypAZkrfLRtq9l8xSrbNtwDE3a1fgFS7e3ekKsJx_56CUZOPftKvXrRYY_D94rr-pROkmwKxTLmweXX998qVA4Ctrl_jqUBFgNiqiEYuT5-t0one0TJwxyLt/s1600/bryce_sandbox.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUcEzSi7QiQEqbohyWyMx_DypAZkrfLRtq9l8xSrbNtwDE3a1fgFS7e3ekKsJx_56CUZOPftKvXrRYY_D94rr-pROkmwKxTLmweXX998qVA4Ctrl_jqUBFgNiqiEYuT5-t0one0TJwxyLt/s400/bryce_sandbox.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625566315992668674" /></a><br /><br />Thanks to everyone who has supported us during the last two years, and we expect more good things to come!Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-9470034966398486502011-06-21T00:01:00.004-05:002011-06-21T00:01:00.690-05:00Two years ago<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijlMGjY9c8kwZ8UxoLxziDI9x4EMZPk8F_AB4chViDJAWtH2hV6jzEXBru2DDsoMg4MMSTzc63ldIdhxP0f4ux25OCoI10sW1gk_VudaWMQo5fnJx0H8knX7c23irsSZOeBbsgWGQguW_h/s1600/chloe_2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijlMGjY9c8kwZ8UxoLxziDI9x4EMZPk8F_AB4chViDJAWtH2hV6jzEXBru2DDsoMg4MMSTzc63ldIdhxP0f4ux25OCoI10sW1gk_VudaWMQo5fnJx0H8knX7c23irsSZOeBbsgWGQguW_h/s400/chloe_2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620492533230830498" /></a><br /><center><br />Dancing and laughing, she fills heaven with mirth<br />our sweet little angel, asleep in the earth<br /></center><br /><br /><br />Sorry for the long delay between posts; we've been swept up in new grand adventures. Look for an update on the little squeaker, who's added several new sounds to his verbal repertoire, shortly.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-8950860425048896522011-04-16T09:35:00.001-05:002011-04-16T09:39:26.881-05:00Last call for Team Squeaker 2011!Do you want to help ensure fewer babies have to start their lives like this?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyr7BCcx3OuRpGRLWqaETvYWCKdZqAQqWa1KjlpEGBnAbD3GfS57giUMtY-poKhq1BvCTVctWKaizkfo5bEvYQJx7b252Uzxo3wbF2X9vtdrs778-vRcqIQRIFd0MmjwVoA-bKaximkUA/s1600/bryce_twins_mfb11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIyr7BCcx3OuRpGRLWqaETvYWCKdZqAQqWa1KjlpEGBnAbD3GfS57giUMtY-poKhq1BvCTVctWKaizkfo5bEvYQJx7b252Uzxo3wbF2X9vtdrs778-vRcqIQRIFd0MmjwVoA-bKaximkUA/s400/bryce_twins_mfb11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596187863970211026" /></a><br /><br />Do you want to see that same little baby cross the finish line on his own two feet for the first time?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13P3QfU2b9eGX_c8QoX2bKiE33_g7_YyYD2zAE9vppn1kv8CFbhoy_7lriQ5sa0fdLHju2YTslubYKwqPBPgNDeZqWMJ9-6vzDAaqmBcBT1O3I0cI4MyRcNmlUP5vdHzAOs0l5k64A3RU/s1600/bryce_walk_mod.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi13P3QfU2b9eGX_c8QoX2bKiE33_g7_YyYD2zAE9vppn1kv8CFbhoy_7lriQ5sa0fdLHju2YTslubYKwqPBPgNDeZqWMJ9-6vzDAaqmBcBT1O3I0cI4MyRcNmlUP5vdHzAOs0l5k64A3RU/s400/bryce_walk_mod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596187970333580210" /></a><br /><br /><br />Join Bryce, ^Chloe^, friends and family this May Day for the 2011 March for Babies! Thank you to the many past supporters who have already committed to the walk or a donation for this year. If you're still on the fence, here are seven great reasons to participate:<br /><br />1. History of Good Works: With the money raised last year, March of Dimes was able to provide comfort and information to thousands more families with a baby in newborn intensive care. And your March for Babies funds paid for 40 current and six new research grants to help understand and prevent premature birth.<br /><br />2. Cost: There is no cost to join us for the walk on May 1st. You do not need to donate or fundraise to participate. If money is tight right now, show your support by coming out and walking with us! If you want to make a nominal contribution, March of Dimes considers a "paid" walker (covers their costs) to be anyone who contributes or raises $10 or more.<br /><br />3. Location: Team Squeaker will be participating in the St. Paul walk at the same great location (Phalen Park) as last year! (http://www.marchforbabies.org/search/MapFrame.asp?WeId=12661)<br /><br />4. Food: March of Dimes will be providing some food for the walkers, and we'll be hosting a potluck-style lunch for Team Squeaker walkers after the event!<br /><br />5. Swag: March of Dimes provides t-shirts ($200), sweatshirts/Twins tickets ($1000) and other incentives to top fundraisers. Bryce will also be handing out tokens of appreciation to Team Squeaker supporters who raise or donate $50 or more.<br /><br />6. Weather: The walk is a week later this year, so hopefully we won't be subjected to the cool temperatures and stiff winds of last year!<br /><br />7. A Great Cause: Most importantly, we walk to honor Bryce, Chloe and all of the other children/angels who didn't even get to experience life before they had to fight to keep it. I'm not a fan of fundraising or being the center of attention, but if my efforts keep even one baby out of the NICU, it's worth it. I hope you agree.<br /><br /><br />Sign up or donate today! : <a href="http://www.marchforbabies.org/bryceandchloe">http://www.marchforbabies.org/bryceandchloe</a>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-78348439615918719292011-04-03T18:52:00.000-05:002011-04-03T18:53:17.022-05:00Laugh, cry, or cheer?I ought to have learned to expect the unexpected from Bryce by now, but when I heard the urgent plea to "come quick and look at Bryce", I never would have guessed that I'd find my 18-month-old son administering his own nebulizer treatment.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRue6nV8STUXSzghesJgZvCmhP4EY8k4zC0-Jqx1O9GLXRl3hP_iQp9xqMrhFI8hghFyL0YXBcFzRRTEGypz6voLzEug-IJGB_5v2D7Ez-hVCoZ4rmQaWIQ0Sornkw4EXWvsrlh1I93Ao/s1600/bryce_neb_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRue6nV8STUXSzghesJgZvCmhP4EY8k4zC0-Jqx1O9GLXRl3hP_iQp9xqMrhFI8hghFyL0YXBcFzRRTEGypz6voLzEug-IJGB_5v2D7Ez-hVCoZ4rmQaWIQ0Sornkw4EXWvsrlh1I93Ao/s400/bryce_neb_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591508926090441570" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcQ1BkRLf8-jnxiPPtqp9E6YK9HfS-Nf1peI5Lerap4FHUL7NHZTd20vYrhy4Y4g3tsXAY4lGTOU39xdEsOCOU56wdwhaqC5OqzTUKIrR4eUwfnCgKOrYukWSSRenSYrzOLZ6aT1HIKvB/s1600/bryce_neb_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcQ1BkRLf8-jnxiPPtqp9E6YK9HfS-Nf1peI5Lerap4FHUL7NHZTd20vYrhy4Y4g3tsXAY4lGTOU39xdEsOCOU56wdwhaqC5OqzTUKIrR4eUwfnCgKOrYukWSSRenSYrzOLZ6aT1HIKvB/s400/bryce_neb_1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591508923821750690" /></a><br /><br />Walk? Pretty darn good. Talk? Not yet. Keep food off the floor while eating? Not a chance. Sit still and breathe steroids through a mask for 3 minutes? No problem. <br /><br />He never ceases to amaze.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-80356661632248573152011-04-01T15:54:00.002-05:002011-04-02T07:13:57.811-05:00Major Drama in Preemie-land<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnaC8azYpGmo_qnsCnA2BzcARB03-Pa7sCAZT6Fhlzi49Bqypr28hdsr_3sFaetiL9T5pkb95ayvjsb0i5b8J5nZ4F-F14qfR0qn_9-pmg-TFuoz-XUIAEubcoVGdJe3wy6pTTVa2Iovu/s1600/bryce_breakfast.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnaC8azYpGmo_qnsCnA2BzcARB03-Pa7sCAZT6Fhlzi49Bqypr28hdsr_3sFaetiL9T5pkb95ayvjsb0i5b8J5nZ4F-F14qfR0qn_9-pmg-TFuoz-XUIAEubcoVGdJe3wy6pTTVa2Iovu/s400/bryce_breakfast.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590718965304445234" /></a><br /><br />Not with Bryce, thankfully -- our little squeaker is doing fantastic. We enjoyed a healthy spell from mid-February to mid-March, and when he did catch a cold near the end of March he weathered it better than Logan! He's got nearly a full mouth of teeth and a good appetite to go with them. His speech has regressed over the past six weeks to the point where we rarely get more than a whine or a cry these days, but considering how well he's doing in all other areas (including receptive language), we're confident that he'll talk when he's ready. Finally, we're gearing up for the <a href="http://marchforbabies.org/bryceandchloe">2011 March for Babies on May 1st</a> : if you'd like to enjoy a walk in the park for a great cause, please join us!<br /><br />The drama that I'm referring to centers around a little shot known as 17P. This drug, which is provided to women with a history of premature labor, has helped many carry subsequent babies to term. The shot, which must be given weekly from about 17 weeks onward, was available from many "compounding pharmacies" at a cost of about $10 per shot. <br /><br />In swoops KV Pharmaceuticals. With the support of the FDA and the March of Dimes, KV Pharmaceuticals won the right to become the exclusive provider of 17P, which they rebranded Makena. Why? To ensure a "standard concentration" of all 17P. As soon as their exclusive rights were announced, KV Pharmaceuticals promptly sent cease and desist notices to all other manufacturers and announced that they would be raising the price to $1500 per shot. No, that is not a typo -- $1500 per shot.<br /><br />Naturally, the community of preemie parents has been in an uproar. The increase in price will inevitably make it much more difficult to get insurers to pay for the drug, because a treatment that once cost $200, and had the potential to prevent the average $50,000 cost of premature birth, now costs $30,000. Even those insurers that will still cover it will be forced to pay an outrageous premium for the privilege of filling the coffers of KV Pharmaceuticals.<br /><br />The March of Dimes <a href="http://www.inspire.com/groups/preemie/discussion/march-of-dimes-response-to-makena-17p/?page=2">response</a> was tepid at first, but thanks in no small part to some heartfelt and thoughtful appeals from other preemie parents (e.g, <a href="http://eliza-grace-micro-preemie.blogspot.com/2011/03/march-of-dimes-and-kv-pharmacueticals.html">here</a>), I'm somewhat mollified to see that the March of Dimes <a href="http://www.marchofdimes.com/news/apr1b_2011.html">terminated their relationship</a> with KV Pharmaceuticals (a million $+ sponsor) effective today. Furthermore, I was tickled pink to see that the FDA effectively flipped the bird to KV Pharmaceuticals when they <a href="http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm249025.htm">announced</a> on Wednesday that they have no intention of enforcing the exclusivity rights of KV Pharmaceuticals.<br /><br />Score one for the good guys.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">UPDATE</span>: Makena hits the <a href="http://healthland.time.com/2011/04/01/maker-of-makena-prematurity-drug-slashes-price-in-response-to-critics/?hpt=T2">mainstream news</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKikBLGveQxK98vaiL0bq8-cJ7KSqOuohyphenhyphen2fTnd25lP5qCGIgZ5lK1pNK_aNxmAWdhaIMhEzA1kLpFS-vMFoXbRj3NpNM254ynzgIIJXMVb7ui4XBRDfBxjfwNOuVms8vZ3mHFExIU2rM/s1600/bryce_ready_for_action.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 353px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaKikBLGveQxK98vaiL0bq8-cJ7KSqOuohyphenhyphen2fTnd25lP5qCGIgZ5lK1pNK_aNxmAWdhaIMhEzA1kLpFS-vMFoXbRj3NpNM254ynzgIIJXMVb7ui4XBRDfBxjfwNOuVms8vZ3mHFExIU2rM/s400/bryce_ready_for_action.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590721318907989778" /></a>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-50877212241660055862011-02-20T06:59:00.001-06:002011-02-20T07:01:33.549-06:00My First Word<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5F08mvnLxXG5EorWR-VE6YqgzYeJ1wZqK6xFgIXsE8vHLavBhSfeV1rkhSXD6vzzPeY6K0jwpdLCsROicZJQMpRnFnpt2xk28BbwKy-K2Osdsk_gFihMYeGw1aBKEIb-nKxRCv-tHucJ/s1600/bryce_bibs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5F08mvnLxXG5EorWR-VE6YqgzYeJ1wZqK6xFgIXsE8vHLavBhSfeV1rkhSXD6vzzPeY6K0jwpdLCsROicZJQMpRnFnpt2xk28BbwKy-K2Osdsk_gFihMYeGw1aBKEIb-nKxRCv-tHucJ/s400/bryce_bibs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575755503734634082" /></a><br /><br />"Mama?" No. He does say "Ma ma ma ma", and perhaps it's wishful thinking, but it seems to me that he does it more often when Mama is in the room. However, he has never used "Mama" to address or call for Christie. "Dada?" Ditto.<br /><br />Bryce's first word is rather ironic, given all that he faced coming into this world, but when he uses it, I hear not only concern, but also his conviction that with a little bit of willpower (and some help from Mom and Dad), this too can be surmounted. When Bryce says "uh-oh", with heavy emphasis on both syllables, the message that's conveyed is, "Hmm, a problem. I can fix this!"<br /><br />Perhaps some of our readers are thinking, "Uh-oh? Is that really a word?" I can assure you that it is in the <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uh%20oh">dictionary</a>, and Bryce consistently uses it in an appropriate context. Dropped his cup or bib on the floor? "Uh-oh!" Electronic talking monkey quiet as a stone? "Uh-oh!" In the latter case he even pointed at the battery door on the monkey's foot, then walked over to the desk and pointed at the shelf that holds the screwdriver.<br /><br />We're still eager for that first "Mama" and "Dada", but after months spent worrying about the long-term effects of "bleeding in the brain" and "insufficient oxygen being delivered to the brain", the word uh-oh is music to our ears.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNvRL0GUE9R6qeXFX8SSaRLVhUmwDOKCtfSIYulS64PNiRw8WiDx0bG9HpvchHwRWlUS_lO41by046ecSft666xQxa31eqc9hZKAj3k-TOVRzxqrYUGNiuR2YPfG0QSsmNs7MrFRviYYp/s1600/bryce_fun_park.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNvRL0GUE9R6qeXFX8SSaRLVhUmwDOKCtfSIYulS64PNiRw8WiDx0bG9HpvchHwRWlUS_lO41by046ecSft666xQxa31eqc9hZKAj3k-TOVRzxqrYUGNiuR2YPfG0QSsmNs7MrFRviYYp/s400/bryce_fun_park.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5575755506800309442" /></a>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-28251307620108848882011-01-16T09:53:00.000-06:002011-01-16T09:53:36.697-06:00Sunny Side Up<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiua8dlKlISfh0_JCo4o3TJUTfr31mR85_pyy2hlT_GfBPWrHj3SohEuty39PNYdGKsCxoyIWsj0FIjl0zsztyQXfT5MdXrySVXknMJF_T59o8RMY8oiazUrMm9t30fdmajs4SbTV7ql9Dw/s1600/bryce_Jan11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiua8dlKlISfh0_JCo4o3TJUTfr31mR85_pyy2hlT_GfBPWrHj3SohEuty39PNYdGKsCxoyIWsj0FIjl0zsztyQXfT5MdXrySVXknMJF_T59o8RMY8oiazUrMm9t30fdmajs4SbTV7ql9Dw/s400/bryce_Jan11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562810801362692514" /></a><br />Looking back at the posts over the past year or so, I realized that my reports on Bryce's progress have slowly evolved from a story of hope, that focused on the few bright spots in a deluge of bad news, to a story of anxiety that all too often lingered on his few remaining prematurity-related challenges. This is *not* the message that I want to send to future preemie parents, many of whom will have to cope with serious difficulties long after they leave the NICU. So, I'm going to make an effort to post more updates about the happy times that dominate our lives. We don't know what tomorrow will bring, but today, life with Bryce is very good.<br /><br />Bryce is sixteen months old (adjusted), and every bit a toddler. He is walking almost exclusively, but he's still working on his balance, so his forehead has been decorated by a bruise in one spot or another for the past month. Bryce is very different from his big brother in that he has absolutely no fear and climbs on <span style="font-style:italic;">everything</span>. We've had to remove furniture from the house so that he doesn't break his neck! If you have children who watch Dora the Explorer, you'll understand why the phrase "Climber, no climbing!" is oft-repeated around here.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytv-tm945l3AXxxh0gDY2HnpNIg06N7B6hcWGW14PAQU6fWzrf3FQPcCIOrnRYHORwJO9uy4aufiTN-2Ei1suBPJ7CxLkczw4ydhqZR4ZDWicfqW_aPyiZr-NoUBVt_xNuR-JW-tD0SpQ/s1600/climber_no_climbing_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytv-tm945l3AXxxh0gDY2HnpNIg06N7B6hcWGW14PAQU6fWzrf3FQPcCIOrnRYHORwJO9uy4aufiTN-2Ei1suBPJ7CxLkczw4ydhqZR4ZDWicfqW_aPyiZr-NoUBVt_xNuR-JW-tD0SpQ/s400/climber_no_climbing_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562811009341670098" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOz9FEWqslnpcK-WnWqiRlIOU4f50WR5RUE3wsGpWmApYG8zdzkStZEYjxW3rVJ4lTjKIHiDSFpXtrfyeftS605QJD1nt9Btbk6cY-oKmfMFnIJnf4v4vSVkStDOrDx-jAjJIakidff8b/s1600/climber_no_climbing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOz9FEWqslnpcK-WnWqiRlIOU4f50WR5RUE3wsGpWmApYG8zdzkStZEYjxW3rVJ4lTjKIHiDSFpXtrfyeftS605QJD1nt9Btbk6cY-oKmfMFnIJnf4v4vSVkStDOrDx-jAjJIakidff8b/s400/climber_no_climbing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562811006825121778" /></a><br />Bryce has a natural love for music that I find remarkable. Almost every time he hears music, Bryce start dancing to the tune. I don't mean just bob your head and shuffle your feet dancing -- this boy knows how to boogie (didn't get that from me)! His favorite dance moves include a rhythmic chopping of his arm, a flexing of the knees that resembles a mini-squat, and a full 360 degree spin. The latter is especially comical because he does it so quickly that he can barely keep his balance, so he always looks like he's just about to fall. His frequent glances at Mom and Dad to make sure they're watching suggests he's also something of a showman (didn't get that from me either).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkD0q09OutZaoYeaAtTy5Q1hCi_P0CLPFBm2OWfRSPVij2yZwwaYsainIku-lwVL9BL4yTuInabl2OG-WAlH7zNLE4X4m9PTrVvRQ2J6C_NkNtnxTH5Y_T2UJzAVQq_CK4D-5P34eBXgeH/s1600/dancing_man.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkD0q09OutZaoYeaAtTy5Q1hCi_P0CLPFBm2OWfRSPVij2yZwwaYsainIku-lwVL9BL4yTuInabl2OG-WAlH7zNLE4X4m9PTrVvRQ2J6C_NkNtnxTH5Y_T2UJzAVQq_CK4D-5P34eBXgeH/s400/dancing_man.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562811011082696066" /></a><br />Our little squeaker has moved on from squeaking, but still doesn't have any actual words. He does make a number of sounds ("ma", "da", "ee", "ooo"), and he applies some sounds consistently. When he's driving a toy car he'll make a "vrroom" sound, and when he eats something he doesn't like he says "eck" before he spits it out. His understanding of language is also extremely good. If he hears the word "bath", he'll make a beeline for the bathtub even if it's clear across the house. If you ask for a kiss, he'll grab your face, turn it to the side, and plant his lips on your cheek. Bryce also knows the sign for "please", and uses it consistently to indicate that he wants something.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulOmDGyG66rcjbUcG7CAiaH6BWqcPOpM4y3CqOu5l8pbG2PVok97AmFbc4eM18g8_90GsQRRfTPY-MQRnxwCbJovN-sX2elpumYuRexE1gY6_HRgpNVP-T5cF3AMMZc5Iy7k-cu6kuqbj/s1600/bryce_relaxing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhulOmDGyG66rcjbUcG7CAiaH6BWqcPOpM4y3CqOu5l8pbG2PVok97AmFbc4eM18g8_90GsQRRfTPY-MQRnxwCbJovN-sX2elpumYuRexE1gY6_HRgpNVP-T5cF3AMMZc5Iy7k-cu6kuqbj/s400/bryce_relaxing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562811004513677282" /></a><br />Two sounds that we've heard all too often this winter are Bryce coughing and Bryce wheezing. It seems like he's had a cold since November, and its intensity ebbs and flows. We've been giving him a preventitive inhaled steroid (Pulmicort) once a day and his regular bronchodilator (Albuterol) multiple times per day for the entire winter. There have been a couple periods when he was congested enough to warrant an oral steroid and broad-spectrum antibiotics as well, but even then his oxygen sats we're remarkably high. Enduring 10-15 minutes with the nebulizer multiple times per day is a challenge for Mommy, Daddy and Bryce, but he has not been fighting quite as ferociously since we started allowing him to watch TV during the ordeal. The good news is that we've very optimistic that he'll be one of those preemies who outgrows the worst of his Chronic Lung Disease by age 3 or so.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaRcFewTX3O0BZnSgaRBBgDIggn2Myc3fauhRE7UbVHm74KRFXJP3nyLMgANJksmFTTR9eqTBaWQNTG_OSk8ZxgSMU1Kbm6X0GR_3z0qj_bUxhPkKtYyb_FFOXJMzLU3qgNTFZvUcfmOl/s1600/m_and_ms_my_favorite.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaRcFewTX3O0BZnSgaRBBgDIggn2Myc3fauhRE7UbVHm74KRFXJP3nyLMgANJksmFTTR9eqTBaWQNTG_OSk8ZxgSMU1Kbm6X0GR_3z0qj_bUxhPkKtYyb_FFOXJMzLU3qgNTFZvUcfmOl/s400/m_and_ms_my_favorite.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562811091296805010" /></a><br />Bryce is still a very picky eater. The foods that he'll eat consistently include bananas, Kraft Mac N Cheese, Pizza and Oreo cookies. This limited diet is not for want of a variety of foods; when presented with whatever Mom and Dad are having for dinner, his typical reaction is to start throwing it on the floor. He is better about eating his vegetables than his big brother, which means he'll eat one green bean instead of turning his nose up at everything. Like their father, both boys love sweet potatoes (especially with a little brown sugar), but like their mother, neither will come near broccoli. We're moving in the right direction on the weight issue, so at least we know he's not starving: he's up half a pound to 21.5 lbs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRXt88ALlLLB_9mxV6nxJdHhftKI684IG8JQCH1xV6Fm2ybimOZKdYNnTujdsm4NaEaw3C_AL2eGU_OMdoj3ZSwqk15QVjsNvy17IqQwMK3Z4yXT6Rfr-vWLEEmtXY9QKaYsGHHo8avt4/s1600/bryce_lightyear.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRXt88ALlLLB_9mxV6nxJdHhftKI684IG8JQCH1xV6Fm2ybimOZKdYNnTujdsm4NaEaw3C_AL2eGU_OMdoj3ZSwqk15QVjsNvy17IqQwMK3Z4yXT6Rfr-vWLEEmtXY9QKaYsGHHo8avt4/s400/bryce_lightyear.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562811000456750482" /></a><br />Finally, I don't think anyone will be surprised to learn that the boys had a wonderful Christmas, received far more toys than they needed, and are loving every one of them. Happy 2011 to all our readers!Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-79967319947124844472010-12-22T21:06:00.001-06:002010-12-22T21:09:23.959-06:00The NICU Christmas Project<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7hTFnpk2plRx04aaWBwFN7wtdbUOg_LMt1sXJvoWaWUTS5TB3gtglN0Io8g_vrE34eni7zl2qDCNUgXmA063l0UWAgwlF0wIqhxfzu8_BdaxnZiXCTFvKlOLk_6fsFGSBVlOwmCjxBWL/s1600/baskets_2010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7hTFnpk2plRx04aaWBwFN7wtdbUOg_LMt1sXJvoWaWUTS5TB3gtglN0Io8g_vrE34eni7zl2qDCNUgXmA063l0UWAgwlF0wIqhxfzu8_BdaxnZiXCTFvKlOLk_6fsFGSBVlOwmCjxBWL/s400/baskets_2010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553707217779801378" /></a><br /><br />Forty-six beds in the NICU. Forty-six holiday baskets. Two very excited former NICU parents.<br /><br />A few months ago, we received a letter soliciting donations from the Children's Hospital that houses the NICU that touched our lives so profoundly. I've been plunking down a dollar at the gas station every now and again in the hopes of dedicating a wing in honor of Bryce and Chloe, but alas, those little ping pong balls that turn ordinary Joes into Powerball millionaires have been uncooperative. Thus, I've been wracking my brain trying to come up with an alternative that's within our means. Sure, we could send a modest donation to the hospital that would cover the cost of fifteen milliseconds of care for some unfortunate baby, but Christie and I were eager to do something more personal for NICU families.<br /><br />About a month ago, I gave a talk on prematurity awareness to the Land O'Lakes Buttermasters, a local Toastmasters organization that I'm a member of. Part of the speech covered the many ways those sympathetic to the cause could help in the fight against prematurity, and out of this talk the idea for the NICU holiday baskets was born.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gsMcKrHfREY2sYwFiFijogTA65yZr6mGy_fDA4CCZ1sAd3ypObITCKFn0f-FUI1GpSGPPOglY8S3vcLN1nQqymanwq7oPfqbpPhhr9YvbVtV4whz8LwNG6upsN9vkwfOJ7wu5_t9d2Ke/s1600/nicu_basket_contents.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gsMcKrHfREY2sYwFiFijogTA65yZr6mGy_fDA4CCZ1sAd3ypObITCKFn0f-FUI1GpSGPPOglY8S3vcLN1nQqymanwq7oPfqbpPhhr9YvbVtV4whz8LwNG6upsN9vkwfOJ7wu5_t9d2Ke/s400/nicu_basket_contents.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553707224865045922" /></a><br /><br />Thanks in large part to some very generous donations from the Buttermasters, we were able to put together forty-six holiday baskets for families with a plethora of goodies, including a copy of our all-time favorite children's book ("I Love You Through and Through", which we still read to all 3 kids regularly), a tiny stocking for the isolette, a create-your-own Baby's First Christmas ornament, a St. NICU bookmark and more. <br /><br />Best of all, our social worker from the NICU and the medical staff graciously accompanied Christie and I as we spent half an hour hand-delivering those baskets to the bedside of each family who'll be spending their Christmas in the ICU, rather than gathered 'round a cozy fire in front of the Christmas tree.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4m64V-SvQ_6ke1wpUwbeY4aDq8Be2E_tJ802AInDzZgDv7siOXA7M6pFHSm4FjLBk8F7dq4dVK94_6zpt-HeXWPW8393LVY4pHxe6meZ2iez9wCqdyOPqGDDlmNHmqVLR1h7EqC6Y2ufb/s1600/nicu_basket_delivery.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4m64V-SvQ_6ke1wpUwbeY4aDq8Be2E_tJ802AInDzZgDv7siOXA7M6pFHSm4FjLBk8F7dq4dVK94_6zpt-HeXWPW8393LVY4pHxe6meZ2iez9wCqdyOPqGDDlmNHmqVLR1h7EqC6Y2ufb/s400/nicu_basket_delivery.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553707226863724914" /></a><br /><br />I'm eager to see the smiles on my kids' faces when they tear into their Christmas presents on Saturday morning, but I don't know that I've ever been as excited about giving a gift as I was this afternoon. It's difficult to describe the profound joy and satisfaction I felt in being able to provide some small token of our empathy for those families who'll have much more than mall traffic and sold-out toys to contend with this holiday season. The brilliant smile on my wife's face said that she felt the same. Provided the NICU is willing, the Christmas Project is sure to be a holiday tradition for Bryce and company.<br /><br />Thanks again to everyone who made this afternoon a reality and Merry Christmas!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eH6cVPHdhnGs3udmnWxtXNDwaBuvUrRksS2f2npAAsDJoL9xhL9iXFjhU_R9zGGxpV6yQm211NBFAFGeZuVIBWFX9RySo1SNcLGpDVYL3_MNmosfz-xb1VHd-MrWrdy_X2ELdpB5wlsn/s1600/nicu_basket_inspiration.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eH6cVPHdhnGs3udmnWxtXNDwaBuvUrRksS2f2npAAsDJoL9xhL9iXFjhU_R9zGGxpV6yQm211NBFAFGeZuVIBWFX9RySo1SNcLGpDVYL3_MNmosfz-xb1VHd-MrWrdy_X2ELdpB5wlsn/s400/nicu_basket_inspiration.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553707230743912274" /></a>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-24506138406505953902010-12-08T18:51:00.004-06:002010-12-08T19:00:22.119-06:00Toddlin'As of this morning, Bryce rarely stood unassisted, and the few steps he'd taken were because he'd been tricked into it. Even then, it was never more than one or two before he'd drop to all fours. As of this afternoon, well, see for yourself...<br /><br /><center><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/h-cgC5K_hoM?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/h-cgC5K_hoM?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></center><br /><br /><br />He never ceases to amaze.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-5387745705504089772010-11-26T21:25:00.000-06:002010-11-26T21:29:17.684-06:00We need some pumpkin pie, stat!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbaO-GhUQ2nthOFEs_JAVk3efibNyqH5KEux7s52fjXSXyo-LZIDGJT3GQdbzIsr11hVB4suaE-yN-xQZec89HF7S-LzLjXe4Ok4grwgGsdfh071UExikflON81aF5eR98cubFctYcaSv/s1600/bryce_cheerios.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbaO-GhUQ2nthOFEs_JAVk3efibNyqH5KEux7s52fjXSXyo-LZIDGJT3GQdbzIsr11hVB4suaE-yN-xQZec89HF7S-LzLjXe4Ok4grwgGsdfh071UExikflON81aF5eR98cubFctYcaSv/s400/bryce_cheerios.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5544065695400330882" /></a><br />Winter swept in like a lion, and it has brought with it nearly constant illness. 3/4 of the family, not to mention everyone who came to visit the house two weeks ago, was laid low with a nasty stomach flu. Runny noses, hacking coughs, whiny boys and some seriously smelly diapers have been ubiquitous ever since.<br /><br />All this sickness has taken its toll on Bryce. Two months ago, he was just over 21 lbs. Today at his "eighteen month" (actual) check-up, he was ... just over 21 lbs. He's lost nearly half a pound since his hospitalization and it shows. Bryce's arms and legs are toned, with nary a fat roll to be seen. He looks positively elfin in his baggy winter clothes, which isn't surprising since he's near the 25th percentile for height but has dropped to the 8th percentile for weight.<br /><br />You'd think that the abundance of calorie-laden Thanksgiving goodies would take care of that problem in short order, but it seems that Bryce's eating habits have changed as well. The boy who used to consume nearly as much pizza as Daddy for dinner can no longer be counted on to finish a single Ritz cracker. Bryce has become a textboook grazer, and the few foods that he will eat with regularity (bananas, crackers, cheerios) aren't exactly fattening fare. <br /><br />We were also disheartened to hear that Bryce's pediatrician has now jumped on the "Bryce's speech is delayed" bandwagon. At close to 15 months adjusted, he still has no words, nor does he use sounds or sign language to name things. The closest thing we get to communication from Bryce is an impatient whine accompanied by vague pointing. However, he definitely understands language, and he's doing so well in other areas that the doctor thinks it's probably a fine motor skill delay, and not a neurological problem. He still has a few months before he'd be more than a "late talker", but it's easy to worry about any deviation from normal when his first four months were so extraordinary.<br /><br />In spite of the recent minor drama, we've got a lot to be thankful for this year. Bryce is rapidly evolving into a vivacious toddler, and our family has been blessed by a year of relative calm, health and the little joys (summer vacation, holiday gatherings, lazy weekend mornings) that were conspicuously absent last year. I'm cautiously optimistic that by this time next year, I will find myself truly at a loss for words regarding the serious day-to-day impacts of Bryce's prematurity because there will be nothing to say!<br /><br />We hope all Bryce's fans enjoyed a pleasant Thanksgiving!Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-9464831144209714572010-11-13T19:09:00.000-06:002010-11-13T19:09:46.491-06:00Prematurity Awareness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVzNl9235wLNNxAVhXpyO5jIsrdwCZZMQcezLIFYYMdmTzpx3bPf1jbyomFHeQu_ZX5AFBXlE7TV2fo-gT58h-uu3RwI2E_8bSaz3cP6x8n7izTHe_9tZlZ9tcr7Rfoco7bDkNG-Lh-b8/s1600/bryce_snack_time.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVzNl9235wLNNxAVhXpyO5jIsrdwCZZMQcezLIFYYMdmTzpx3bPf1jbyomFHeQu_ZX5AFBXlE7TV2fo-gT58h-uu3RwI2E_8bSaz3cP6x8n7izTHe_9tZlZ9tcr7Rfoco7bDkNG-Lh-b8/s400/bryce_snack_time.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539205682514928978" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself." </span> - Henry Miller<br /><br />Like Mr. Miller, I find myself savoring simple joys. In my case, it's not a blade of grass, but rather early weekend mornings spent exploring the world with Bryce. I typically wake hours before the rest of the household, but once in a while Bryce will get up early too. As soon as I hear him call out, I bound up the stairs two at a time, partly so that my wife and older son can sleep in, but largely to bask in the huge smile that lights up his face every morning. <br /><br />There is some indescribable feeling, almost mystical, that washes over me when I have time to sit with Bryce and discover the world through his eyes. All parents take pride in their children's achievements, and certainly I have enjoyed watching Logan grow up. However, when Logan was an infant, I expected that he would walk, that he would talk, and that he would, in fact, grow up! Our experience with prematurity forced me to re-evaluate my expectations, and has kindled an appreciation for the beauty of things I overlooked in the past. With Bryce, every new skill, every new sound, every blink of the eye is sublime. If I could bottle that feeling and sell it, I'd never have to work again.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4wBMYYpNzfsx0Z43AiHq9H0ACer0HR-0V8ycIpA62EQsnJAotfkWDvC2J3EKBxvK6mQjqpzgG6oxkoAu4g4YmmQm_p2wewSZli0PblwyRNR-JMm7DfjIoQFB8vDd_fK8GVzc1mmDW7NU/s1600/bryce_fall_fun.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE4wBMYYpNzfsx0Z43AiHq9H0ACer0HR-0V8ycIpA62EQsnJAotfkWDvC2J3EKBxvK6mQjqpzgG6oxkoAu4g4YmmQm_p2wewSZli0PblwyRNR-JMm7DfjIoQFB8vDd_fK8GVzc1mmDW7NU/s400/bryce_fall_fun.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539205680703945394" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9nS2jyc1h7pgIrEsMyY5Hxq6qs8bR7OWKFC_izZ-n11gOCWB_sZuelM9TG_gWJaKVhsI7AKR4C9xGHCQi68DLO3m63TV2Qtb7Xzl_Jjp7aGvd09czaGvyGLrgNK5kXB3bUcdX-6a_Mcq/s1600/bryce_snow.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9nS2jyc1h7pgIrEsMyY5Hxq6qs8bR7OWKFC_izZ-n11gOCWB_sZuelM9TG_gWJaKVhsI7AKR4C9xGHCQi68DLO3m63TV2Qtb7Xzl_Jjp7aGvd09czaGvyGLrgNK5kXB3bUcdX-6a_Mcq/s400/bryce_snow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539205690983739394" /></a><br /><br />I recently received an e-mail from the March of Dimes encouraging preemie parents to share their stories in support of prematurity awareness month. Happily, we are rarely aware of Bryce's prematurity ourselves these days. We occasionally receive an unwelcome reminder of his early arrival, like the scare of two weeks ago, but we are fortunate that Bryce's prematurity has touched him lightly. However, for many preemies, this is not the case. For all too many, post-NICU life is fraught with challenges.<br /><br />For Bryce, prematurity means a couple winters of trying to avoid respiratory infections and once-a-day inhaled steroids. For too many, prematurity means frequent hospitalization, oxygen therapy, a slew of medications and years spent living in fear.<br /><br />For Bryce, prematurity means a waist that's a little too slim (20 lb., 9 oz. @ 15 mos. adjusted). For too many, prematurity means extreme growth issues, food aversions, severe reflux, special diets, and gastric feeding tubes.<br /><br />For Bryce, prematurity means that he has to wear glasses. For too many, prematurity means severe or total vision and/or hearing loss.<br /><br />For Bryce, prematurity means that he's a few months behind on his speech development. For too many, prematurity means cerebral palsy, attention deficit disorder, and countless other physical and mental challenges. <br /><br />Prematurity is not an easy foe to defeat, but there are many ways you can help. You can support medical research through donations to the March of Dimes, the Minnesota Medical Foundation, St. Jude's or other organizations dedicated to childrens' health. You can also donate time or money to a local NICU to help support families in crisis. When we were in the NICU, some good souls donated handmade knitted hats, clothing and blankets for the preemies. Another couple would take a pair of preemie parents out for a steak dinner once each month. Little kindnesses like this go a long way for those who've had their lives turned upside down. Finally, you can help spread the word so others know that iPhones and Facebook aren't the only ways to invest their resources.<br /><br />It's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life; I'm plenty guilty myself of losing sight of the important in favor of the urgent. However, if a few words or a few dollars from me means even one more parent will get to enjoy Saturday mornings with their son or daughter, then my time and treasure have been well spent.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYumwvBD0w_FEiMTFJnkSbyDqMhnrmmrQEMdeRG9xGHhJsAexw9Q0Iie3OTy3-J0oxX0Ac9qAW9lP8BXJ1ZWXCTHkH_urE7fL2Cv2iv7_Ez4Y33Hp8Q9WQwKGCl76pQJlZRtRYT8crDAX/s1600/bumblebee_bryce.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYumwvBD0w_FEiMTFJnkSbyDqMhnrmmrQEMdeRG9xGHhJsAexw9Q0Iie3OTy3-J0oxX0Ac9qAW9lP8BXJ1ZWXCTHkH_urE7fL2Cv2iv7_Ez4Y33Hp8Q9WQwKGCl76pQJlZRtRYT8crDAX/s400/bumblebee_bryce.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539205695557632978" /></a>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-31872322640531550432010-10-26T21:01:00.000-05:002010-10-26T21:01:41.944-05:00BOO!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUP9Glub5kMWbwyD46tqhz5-VZnWCfd98972EhmLpW41KFZT7BHnDO0Lfmra3iwLYEcGo4znCVlp5azb0Hw6IWVug5RCdOsCKJoX7ppjAgkIkp4wtaLpyf_VARQKcPmeM8qt0X1goIqys/s1600/bryce_chair.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUP9Glub5kMWbwyD46tqhz5-VZnWCfd98972EhmLpW41KFZT7BHnDO0Lfmra3iwLYEcGo4znCVlp5azb0Hw6IWVug5RCdOsCKJoX7ppjAgkIkp4wtaLpyf_VARQKcPmeM8qt0X1goIqys/s400/bryce_chair.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532534186818435842" /></a><br />This is our first update for October, and fittingly, it's a slightly scary one. Bryce spooked everyone last night when what seemed to be a mild cold suddenly turned serious. I was at a working dinner when I received the dreaded "please call asap" text message. Bryce had recently awakened from his afternoon nap, and he was clearly struggling to breathe. Christie tried our old friend albuterol first, but it didn't seem to ease his breathing at all. When he emptied out the entire contents of his stomach and turned pale as a ghost a little while later, she decided to whisk him off to urgent care.<br /><br />Four hours, one chest x-ray and one round of steroids later, they decided to admit Bryce to the hospital. His "sats" (blood-oxygen saturation levels) were in the low-80s, and he needed a little extra oxygen on top of the meds to ease his ragged breathing. Furthermore, the doctor at our local hospital thought his lungs looked sketchy, and felt that it would be best to transfer Bryce's care to a pediatric pulmonologist. So, Bryce was taken by ambulance to the first home he ever knew, the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital. He didn't arrive until the wee hours of the morning, and by then the steroids had started to kick in, so Bryce and Mommy settled in to "sleep" at the hospital for the rest of the night.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrS4dxoXBAvkJUESbcdty0OF6t7o7xHO_MSu3cuw1YBqTpSndmgKSU4teobUE7xX-sLC9SRmNHz6T9WbAoEca-iLJDmETmqnjUwXo2F_YvQEZq3w8yIs7yytkGhHfrb26YcWQF8N6M7rv/s1600/bryce_ambulance.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOrS4dxoXBAvkJUESbcdty0OF6t7o7xHO_MSu3cuw1YBqTpSndmgKSU4teobUE7xX-sLC9SRmNHz6T9WbAoEca-iLJDmETmqnjUwXo2F_YvQEZq3w8yIs7yytkGhHfrb26YcWQF8N6M7rv/s400/bryce_ambulance.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532534183069243298" /></a><br /><br />The diagnosis this morning was "some virus that hit him in the wrong way." I'm happy to say that he was back to his usual cheery self upon his discharge this afternoon, although 90 minutes of non-stop screaming this evening coupled with coughing fits that leave his lips tinged with blue have reminded us what it means for a one-year-old to "have the lungs of a fifty-year-old lifelong smoker." That healthy lung tissue can't grow fast enough!<br /><br />Given the condition of his lungs, we've worried for more than a year that this day would come. I'm not at all happy that our fears were justified, but I am relieved that it happened in October 2010 instead of October 2009. A night spent twisting the bed covers in knots while the rain pelted down reminded me how fortunate we are that this is the exception, rather than the norm.<br /><br />Late October is a time when the ghosts, ghouls and goblins come out to play; it's too bad that the unwelcome germs feel the need to join in. May your Halloween frights be the pleasant kind!Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-31543768758031162892010-09-26T15:09:00.000-05:002010-09-26T15:09:56.354-05:00Unequivocally one<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSyKWsNmS_sjHOtOJYTZViUG_B3tCfChxxjEzFnYDyF57rx4YUHElI8AKHFKV45G-Kth2oGUkYEL1HE1LQv4CvE4HMVcJ9o4WcVUxOepClI6KDXxrS_lycumea_KvHkkyaZBa7XvAFdVl/s1600/bryce_playing_in_ball_pit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSyKWsNmS_sjHOtOJYTZViUG_B3tCfChxxjEzFnYDyF57rx4YUHElI8AKHFKV45G-Kth2oGUkYEL1HE1LQv4CvE4HMVcJ9o4WcVUxOepClI6KDXxrS_lycumea_KvHkkyaZBa7XvAFdVl/s400/bryce_playing_in_ball_pit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521314575871468850" /></a><br />I had every intention of finishing this post two weeks ago to celebrate the anniversary of Bryce's homecoming from the NICU and his official adjusted birthday. Unfortunately, I've managed to let my life get so busy that by the time I have a few minutes to write, I'm already dog-tired. Hopefully Bryce will understand when he's old enough to be interested in reading this. :)<br /><br />The upside of my tardiness is that I can share the results of Bryce's one year exam at the NICU follow-up clinic yesterday. As luck would have it, the physical exam was conducted by the same neonatologist who admitted Bryce to the NICU what seems like a lifetime ago. His enthusiasm and amiability once again put us at ease, except this time the the mood wasn't tempered by a grim diagnosis. The doctor was thrilled with Bryce's progress and said that he is definitely at the head of the micro-preemie class. 21 lbs. and 29" tall is not very big compared to most kids his (adjusted) age (~15th percentile), but he's in the 80th percentile compared to other Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) babies. This is especially impressive because Bryce was actually an Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) baby, so he's competing against babies that were 2-3 times his size in this comparison. Our only concern about his physical development is that we may have to take on second jobs as he gets older to provide the mass quantities of food he consumes to maintain that growth!<br /><br />Near the end of his exam, the discussion turned to the looming cold and flu season. A year ago, we were told that Bryce should be isolated as much as possible until he's two years old to give his lungs time to develop healthy tissue. Bryce's primary pediatrician, who is typically the least conservative of his doctors, said his lungs and immune system are much stronger, but that we should avoid crowds and large family gatherings. The neonatologist concurred with the first part of this statement, but said that Bryce should just be isolated from people who are sick. Unfortunately, both doctors agreed that he's too healthy (by insurance standards) to qualify for the Synagis shots which protected him from RSV last winter, but not healthy enough to avoid landing in the hospital if he caught it.<br /><br />Given that the virus season is also the holiday season, we'd vastly prefer to follow the second doctor's advice. However, wiping down everything an increasingly mobile baby might touch with antibacterial wipes and interrogating family about the status of their health is also stressful, so we'll probably end up falling somewhere in between isolation and cautious freedom. So, if Bryce can't make it to your party, blame it on those nasty little germses.<br /><br />Bryce also visited with a child psychologist at his follow-up exam. Like most people who meet Bryce, his first comment was, "Oh, those are some cute glasses", and then, "Is he always this happy?" Thankfully, the answer to that question was yes for the duration of Bryce's Bayley Infant Development exam, and his scores reinforced our optimism about his future. Bryce is currently demonstrating the cognitive skills of your average 14-month-old, the fine motor skills of a 15-month-old, the gross motor skills of an 11-month-old and the language skills of a 9-month-old. All in all, we felt that this was an outstanding report card, and the doc said he has no concerns about Bryce's mental development. He's cleared until next September!<br /><br />Like all micro-preemie parents, I made a lot of bargains while Bryce was in the NICU. I'd come to accept that life, no matter it's limitations, is a beautiful thing, and I desperately wanted that for Bryce. However, even my most naively optimistic visions of our future together pale in comparison to our reality today.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWuzU9mTW7cKDNaHZoGHy87fajJbiPSuaIG1geC89vPuglEKm1G8muo2Ab5j9nnqC3YiQjCSpNxL8lToy8tM4xXJB7lM0b7lwYKtrVveCY4IP2tySW5YPOA_jG-GLpRH_nLuPYC9hUrj4/s1600/may_09.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWuzU9mTW7cKDNaHZoGHy87fajJbiPSuaIG1geC89vPuglEKm1G8muo2Ab5j9nnqC3YiQjCSpNxL8lToy8tM4xXJB7lM0b7lwYKtrVveCY4IP2tySW5YPOA_jG-GLpRH_nLuPYC9hUrj4/s400/may_09.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521312223159788114" /></a><br /><center><span style="font-style:italic;">-4 months old : Our "wimpy white boy" (yes, that is a technical medical term) is clinging to life. His parents live in a state of constant panic. Bryce refuses to give up.</span></center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCylxO3KumM7upQbxs6kpAy2TN6MTMgeDclgxo4PbsFQfypY9btq2ctUSTYItB13Gvx-xBGTpkDkX4XODVA8texY-8lXymacDTllgc788VUXxoL_TQr00vmvkGVzT5TJr-ybSjmL_aARdq/s1600/june_09.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCylxO3KumM7upQbxs6kpAy2TN6MTMgeDclgxo4PbsFQfypY9btq2ctUSTYItB13Gvx-xBGTpkDkX4XODVA8texY-8lXymacDTllgc788VUXxoL_TQr00vmvkGVzT5TJr-ybSjmL_aARdq/s400/june_09.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521312405961064962" /></a><br /><center><span style="font-style:italic;">-3 months old: Still critical, but stable. Bryce overcomes life-threatening challenges every day.</span></center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifWuGtpbTkTgHpysX4U8BIVStvV8PZspzdgmxsxhi5KC6okPcUxmkP5tEqBgyHC7Jmn7WCnUlKNoUIafsqWUVhkkLaxwJFRsikKkL3A0kQXKbk1amUH6twQDBleR8oJLPh9wUBBQXRrL4/s1600/july_09.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiifWuGtpbTkTgHpysX4U8BIVStvV8PZspzdgmxsxhi5KC6okPcUxmkP5tEqBgyHC7Jmn7WCnUlKNoUIafsqWUVhkkLaxwJFRsikKkL3A0kQXKbk1amUH6twQDBleR8oJLPh9wUBBQXRrL4/s400/july_09.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521312411174146578" /></a><br /><center><span style="font-style:italic;">-2 months old: Survival is likely, as are significant medical challenges. Odds are that Bryce will be effectively blind. Bryce stubbornly fights on.</span></center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaUuwFVKfdy5HghJUwKH3qsJvtDcSPvVHI53Pj4Cq0Akfcjn51cgKLsfxgq_B6sZC0D7WOtTqXd5oK6PL9uIEVt4ZazdQHCMHAxZOPG6pG-DF8fB-hwcO8qTJkANMvSRrO0wPWUqVJXGn/s1600/aug_09.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaUuwFVKfdy5HghJUwKH3qsJvtDcSPvVHI53Pj4Cq0Akfcjn51cgKLsfxgq_B6sZC0D7WOtTqXd5oK6PL9uIEVt4ZazdQHCMHAxZOPG6pG-DF8fB-hwcO8qTJkANMvSRrO0wPWUqVJXGn/s400/aug_09.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521312424173468546" /></a><br /><center><span style="font-style:italic;">-1 month old: Learning to eat and breathe. Bryce endures nasty apneic spells on a daily basis.</span></center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3n9D6vqx1kc5yQGqU-K0RIrgklgbg-o1Cf1k_7qFuDFZPn-RAAEkjixhMSU68lJ2ullsCBTrWxy_1fdzGz6i-kffSYRu9BNZKP4GFYH0fnSJd5rxhFvr5q4c4kXDxiEAhoBevmQIvN2i/s1600/sep_09.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3n9D6vqx1kc5yQGqU-K0RIrgklgbg-o1Cf1k_7qFuDFZPn-RAAEkjixhMSU68lJ2ullsCBTrWxy_1fdzGz6i-kffSYRu9BNZKP4GFYH0fnSJd5rxhFvr5q4c4kXDxiEAhoBevmQIvN2i/s400/sep_09.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521312422007576386" /></a><br /><center><span style="font-style:italic;">"Newborn": Bryce is home! He can't take in enough calories to meet his needs, and his parents fear he will be re-hospitalized for failure to thrive. Bryce is too busy growing to worry.</span></center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriTe6_LCjVSU3LCdmWbsBz6Cd6Z4QxKs2QB6a5NsfRC4E_9Aj6Wf3Bet1dyh-bez1MnhHalTqTya6zDfbP7bjQd_h4kBMuXl4ZwI_xNCHROOvW7bbiuKjRy3yHV_4PpCPtScifeE8wpbO/s1600/nov_09.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriTe6_LCjVSU3LCdmWbsBz6Cd6Z4QxKs2QB6a5NsfRC4E_9Aj6Wf3Bet1dyh-bez1MnhHalTqTya6zDfbP7bjQd_h4kBMuXl4ZwI_xNCHROOvW7bbiuKjRy3yHV_4PpCPtScifeE8wpbO/s400/nov_09.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521312426665749954" /></a><br /><center><span style="font-style:italic;">1-2 months old: Bryce is growing slowly, but spends most of his time in various specialists' offices. His parents fret about upcoming surgeries and other challenges. Bryce starts showing off his trademark smile.</span></center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDabQpfoXZLRkfFeZxVDpjE9HifQOFgzjNAwU57BawfQiEsKuWkAK7Hs5fpXCwbSQ7XQqbUJ7OO4vEqJpqX3INQNLJ4az2OgMpoEinwdFyHR9evqGKpjleqocv8CpMxaY6kg1OJqq9CZf/s1600/jan_10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEDabQpfoXZLRkfFeZxVDpjE9HifQOFgzjNAwU57BawfQiEsKuWkAK7Hs5fpXCwbSQ7XQqbUJ7OO4vEqJpqX3INQNLJ4az2OgMpoEinwdFyHR9evqGKpjleqocv8CpMxaY6kg1OJqq9CZf/s400/jan_10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521312687171356930" /></a><br /><center><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />3-4 months old: Bryce's health is improving and he's starting to show a little personality. Bryce's parents fret over every potential exposure to germs. He's already conquered many of his preemie challenges.</span></center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVQxsk6FPR8GEAsckyINZaet2ICBJCspghEKP_CE0zd4S0XjWRILM-CgDMiHIlV-Qdghu-ICz9BH2SYNFFK8M1H7CWE7JYUTxnCUEgoEbeYt2NI22Xezker2jfUXKqi-5XYHt0xKfTXC_/s1600/mar_10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeVQxsk6FPR8GEAsckyINZaet2ICBJCspghEKP_CE0zd4S0XjWRILM-CgDMiHIlV-Qdghu-ICz9BH2SYNFFK8M1H7CWE7JYUTxnCUEgoEbeYt2NI22Xezker2jfUXKqi-5XYHt0xKfTXC_/s400/mar_10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521312689832852962" /></a><br /><center><span style="font-style:italic;">5-6 months old: Bryce struggles with the occasional respiratory infection, and is nearly hospitalized twice, but he never complains. His infectious smile puts everyone at ease.</span></center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkk3Wn_DmDlCDkSgGYEYai3KlHixmyY-TpKD1tK0tXMEzUmKzyynnhM1gcEA0PC9pLPNm4EMiJK47RnPsXhZMGs9kX1HwH0JjSOJaVxxvPrUw8aisVMES1IK54QeKkXtTUXTMM1FHMXlIq/s1600/may_10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkk3Wn_DmDlCDkSgGYEYai3KlHixmyY-TpKD1tK0tXMEzUmKzyynnhM1gcEA0PC9pLPNm4EMiJK47RnPsXhZMGs9kX1HwH0JjSOJaVxxvPrUw8aisVMES1IK54QeKkXtTUXTMM1FHMXlIq/s400/may_10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521313067696928898" /></a><br /><center><span style="font-style:italic;">7-8 months old: Amazingly, Bryce has functional vision that can be corrected to near normal sight. With every passing day, his parents treat him less like a preemie and more like a baby.</span></center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAntivQfJ2UPHIHe9fFhlfXvfIqXxv1CK2vwl6BxWRD6ZdiwtRl3oRNI6lDBQa1wN9x5q5KGA3QUp8alQ9WwuUkPlsjXIi8tofdMAD7Mv6G5rQPsMOYWoS8M4G5X8glUTt_LHxozGRRiQ/s1600/jul_10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAntivQfJ2UPHIHe9fFhlfXvfIqXxv1CK2vwl6BxWRD6ZdiwtRl3oRNI6lDBQa1wN9x5q5KGA3QUp8alQ9WwuUkPlsjXIi8tofdMAD7Mv6G5rQPsMOYWoS8M4G5X8glUTt_LHxozGRRiQ/s400/jul_10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521312709009322706" /></a><br /><center><span style="font-style:italic;">9-11 months old: Bryce is a happy, healthy boy. The entire family enjoys a fabulous summer.<br /></span></center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLotbK2zvnFGtsZnsE9l20uKpZROAFu4To4v7nqHlA-W1zqEGENippQpJhgdGfXDxNpBuHzB_vfKASZofWxchqqA6koqHvA2nlfGgnDeK5lqDby_OycB-VNhqfrwbz1QbdNJkyg3Ox_TQF/s1600/bryce_race_car_driver.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLotbK2zvnFGtsZnsE9l20uKpZROAFu4To4v7nqHlA-W1zqEGENippQpJhgdGfXDxNpBuHzB_vfKASZofWxchqqA6koqHvA2nlfGgnDeK5lqDby_OycB-VNhqfrwbz1QbdNJkyg3Ox_TQF/s400/bryce_race_car_driver.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521314583122902370" /></a><br /><center><span style="font-style:italic;">Today: Need I say more? I wish I had one tenth of the courage and perseverance of my son. Thank you, Squeaker, and enjoy your reward.</span></center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5KiEQHI6dSMLxjOyoF898xm3ot1hvlePfEQ6yJhml6hhQlFwJwEE3JUNfGPa3bLSn4rBvbA9x_sdGi-J2CBoAsheEFxxb2BxWd09hqaveQ-FNHl7xCjo-wQxVYKvAa_s-9uyT1b6unOB/s1600/bryce_whats_that_noise.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5KiEQHI6dSMLxjOyoF898xm3ot1hvlePfEQ6yJhml6hhQlFwJwEE3JUNfGPa3bLSn4rBvbA9x_sdGi-J2CBoAsheEFxxb2BxWd09hqaveQ-FNHl7xCjo-wQxVYKvAa_s-9uyT1b6unOB/s400/bryce_whats_that_noise.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521314643478819122" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKzeq0EflcsQBJ8S1p_y8wP3TTv-8Q0bAt7QOjeZhbVt8bsOCGrR9nV8WpCpwN-B7ygjkQ_yxY9OO-bzSm6RR87YnNBt1QDl7BR9orVLmaHPdzreZ8ZLAAWp_qijX-gU3AAxe8tDFLfdk/s1600/bryce_riding_his_zebra.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfKzeq0EflcsQBJ8S1p_y8wP3TTv-8Q0bAt7QOjeZhbVt8bsOCGrR9nV8WpCpwN-B7ygjkQ_yxY9OO-bzSm6RR87YnNBt1QDl7BR9orVLmaHPdzreZ8ZLAAWp_qijX-gU3AAxe8tDFLfdk/s400/bryce_riding_his_zebra.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521314588990789058" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeSgG14I2QOU6xSCzA_3VKMxzu79uAkunBSCiZwwnUd9JVECg9_iSoHxmWGYZPAb81gyCtR8FMLA8ZYn21wC32o3gNkoY2abBCBtRxRXSJGfd67-JJiKEaaOU-TMwOGs7_29LYTJFt_eV/s1600/bryce_playing_with_my_brother.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeSgG14I2QOU6xSCzA_3VKMxzu79uAkunBSCiZwwnUd9JVECg9_iSoHxmWGYZPAb81gyCtR8FMLA8ZYn21wC32o3gNkoY2abBCBtRxRXSJGfd67-JJiKEaaOU-TMwOGs7_29LYTJFt_eV/s400/bryce_playing_with_my_brother.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521314584942917538" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjptEJygl7RPL5iOrShOYYOZ3X0tzeh_j9aJ6ZSDY3O7fxZLlkn5jmEzFbYn-bAMnk8oTHrNG0EHGFyumufbPAH4V7l5SvEzhS3jQP0wbyk4Revj8vKNqvv7mioAzB5REc9HN0Nz-BIn3/s1600/bryce_playing_legos.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXjptEJygl7RPL5iOrShOYYOZ3X0tzeh_j9aJ6ZSDY3O7fxZLlkn5jmEzFbYn-bAMnk8oTHrNG0EHGFyumufbPAH4V7l5SvEzhS3jQP0wbyk4Revj8vKNqvv7mioAzB5REc9HN0Nz-BIn3/s400/bryce_playing_legos.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521314574742542738" /></a>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-58698228460542532382010-08-28T11:38:00.000-05:002010-08-28T11:39:20.833-05:00From 1.25 lbs to 1.25 years<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZxoG1dWdtsUjc8tFNvwno5v0pVTcrAT-HiruMSkDyN8eJh8Ozvm2YIfR1B2YmIdTYeA_zsZgY_KMF0AijWSIqEuKnP4WBEaavGwsq5sghabhChedSjMJ1NgKeIXrqNGvhzYg-8YaDTPQ/s1600/bryce_exploring.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhZxoG1dWdtsUjc8tFNvwno5v0pVTcrAT-HiruMSkDyN8eJh8Ozvm2YIfR1B2YmIdTYeA_zsZgY_KMF0AijWSIqEuKnP4WBEaavGwsq5sghabhChedSjMJ1NgKeIXrqNGvhzYg-8YaDTPQ/s400/bryce_exploring.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510500133939367954" /></a><br />Bryce turned 15 months old (actual) on Thursday, and although he's been able to squeeze into his Carters for a little more than "just one year", I'm happy to say that he's exceeded all of our expectations during his first year at home.<br /><br />His seemingly insatiable appetite belies his physique. At 20 lbs, 4 ounces, Bryce is in the 50th percentile ... for an 8-month old. He can eat two slices of pizza for dinner followed by a second dinner of fruits/veggies and baby cereal two hours later, but he hasn't been able to break out of the high teens on the growth charts (for his adjusted age). Thankfully, his growth has been consistent, and that's the most important part.<br /><br /><center><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uFquRCPb23Q&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uFquRCPb23Q&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center><br /><br />The little guy is still very vocal, but I don't expect him to talk anytime soon. Currently, "ba" is his favorite consonant sound, "da"'s are rare, and "ma ma" is reserved for when he's really upset. We were thrilled when we discovered that he'll mimic us when we say "ba ba ba", because that indicates that his language skills are progressing, and it's hilarious when he tries to imitate us but forgets to make the sound so he just ends up popping his lips.<br /> <br />Walking, on the other hand, seems like it's right around the corner. Bryce will walk pretty steadily while holding on to one of Mommy or Daddy's hands for fairly long distances, and he's just starting to take one or two faltering steps unassisted (say, from the couch to the ottoman). In general, I'd say his physical development is right on target or possibly even a little beyond his adjusted age.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqGMpPxdKboNn85q1wivhETA6qtkG7Vvf6u_4q8w3D30C7ulamxidJTHBnxuO2_kbPTzfqgUYjM9_vIaZVro0lllBTwulBdpOhgxdOlhuEYmSkKTWYf7CacSL_yRee9fwWxVz_zzLK3fO/s1600/bryce_ready_to_walk.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPqGMpPxdKboNn85q1wivhETA6qtkG7Vvf6u_4q8w3D30C7ulamxidJTHBnxuO2_kbPTzfqgUYjM9_vIaZVro0lllBTwulBdpOhgxdOlhuEYmSkKTWYf7CacSL_yRee9fwWxVz_zzLK3fO/s400/bryce_ready_to_walk.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510500144780010946" /></a><br />Of course, there's much more to Bryce than just charts and milestones. He's still an extremely happy baby who brightens all of our lives. He loves being outside, playing in the water, and doing just about anything with his big brother. With the exception of diaper-changing time, which he fights with the ferocity of a cornered animal, Bryce is laid back and easy to care for. <br /><br />With Fall moving in, we're anxiously anticipating the return of cold & flu season. In fact, Bryce is currently enduring his first cold since May. So far, he's tolerating it well, but we did have to dust off the nebulizer on Wednesday. Fortunately, we found an outstanding nanny to care for Bryce while we're both at work, so his lungs will have another year to grow healthy tissue before he'll be exposed to the germ breeding ground known as daycare.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_S4eJtoZB9cP4L7iL7Wqw8_VH_T_RHACpOCPZVm3aJUqpjP270sfZckIt0VulPoWu90lyKse5VYAaSUfz5tx0LRWhpyXm5-6NN7sCK_sczDzOCQ85WocdPvAAFREwO60GTK1zymwLj9C/s1600/bryce+au+natural.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_S4eJtoZB9cP4L7iL7Wqw8_VH_T_RHACpOCPZVm3aJUqpjP270sfZckIt0VulPoWu90lyKse5VYAaSUfz5tx0LRWhpyXm5-6NN7sCK_sczDzOCQ85WocdPvAAFREwO60GTK1zymwLj9C/s400/bryce+au+natural.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510500121260270226" /></a><br /><br />Based on the dearth of posts, most of Bryce's followers have probably already guessed that (a) our lives are getting busier and (b) Bryce's life has become blessedly ordinary. I'll continue to post updates from time to time, especially if we encounter anything that might be of interest to future preemie parents, but if you don't hear from us for awhile, you can assume that Bryce is thriving and we're enjoying life!Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-28669496738525362972010-08-06T22:20:00.001-05:002010-08-06T22:22:04.322-05:00Breaking the silence<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wuvQn2qP_gl51_ndzVeLsuIkXHeTHdWCGLZLjqCGBxs9NuAbHroV6JB8RM_O711vXJ4_avEXxnNKwfw2PSBf0j3meHZWnyN2nDpG-ED0Is5Xc8AjiX6YJdRlni5DKSjX43UiMClyaM4H/s1600/man_on_the_run.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wuvQn2qP_gl51_ndzVeLsuIkXHeTHdWCGLZLjqCGBxs9NuAbHroV6JB8RM_O711vXJ4_avEXxnNKwfw2PSBf0j3meHZWnyN2nDpG-ED0Is5Xc8AjiX6YJdRlni5DKSjX43UiMClyaM4H/s400/man_on_the_run.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502502760781548994" /></a><br /><br />Ba ba ba. Ba ba ba ba ba! Ba ba ba ba!<br /><br />No, I haven't lost it completely. It's just such a welcome sound that I felt it was worth repeating. On Wednesday, Bryce spontaneously unleashed a stream of consonants, and we've been enjoying his newly discovered vocalizations on a regular basis since then.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4jlo1A0oQ7w_YhcRQfLO7D9PX3dBnOiQYuIwZrZOmD9wolq0bFLJczR8wET1JrhvM2nfYb7iIlsM_HdDKh3eO6r4YemHE7ZzYvPFEPT3Rvz96GCQTlzBjMhKq5pJZHQ9YVnpusTNH-Qm/s1600/rubber_duckie_youre_the_one.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4jlo1A0oQ7w_YhcRQfLO7D9PX3dBnOiQYuIwZrZOmD9wolq0bFLJczR8wET1JrhvM2nfYb7iIlsM_HdDKh3eO6r4YemHE7ZzYvPFEPT3Rvz96GCQTlzBjMhKq5pJZHQ9YVnpusTNH-Qm/s400/rubber_duckie_youre_the_one.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5502502768379909042" /></a><br /><br />Bryce's speech therapist told us to expect these sorts of sounds at around 6 months adjusted, and by 8-9 months adjusted, he was officially "delayed." His pediatrician told us we needn't be concerned, since he was probably just putting all his energy into his excellent progress on physical milestones, but after everything we've seen and heard, "don't worry" is a tall order.<br /><br />I'm pretty sure I heard a "da da da da" earlier in the day; that first word is just around the corner! ;)Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-30056638199744044142010-08-01T17:32:00.001-05:002010-08-01T17:39:51.620-05:00Turning one is oh-so-fun<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0I456bU58Sc0Jz_4A7La1sQ3QDcp-56GWj6X2YY61fC4sdvBnI7t3NzdqQtnQC_RRLG7R36ZHBgVyzuLj388w2UkcSBvlCiyBVM4IgbJGWVjRmYvzbp3YVJhDscy2QJgucwzwNV8Z8tC/s1600/happy_birthday_morning.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0I456bU58Sc0Jz_4A7La1sQ3QDcp-56GWj6X2YY61fC4sdvBnI7t3NzdqQtnQC_RRLG7R36ZHBgVyzuLj388w2UkcSBvlCiyBVM4IgbJGWVjRmYvzbp3YVJhDscy2QJgucwzwNV8Z8tC/s400/happy_birthday_morning.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500567943975406114" /></a><br /><br />Sixty of Bryce's family and friends joined us on Saturday evening for Bryce's first "birthday" and "baptism" celebration. In truth, Bryce is midway between his actual birth date and his adjusted birthday, and he was already baptized in the NICU, but the timing worked well and we wanted everyone to have an opportunity to join us for his special day. Besides, we hardly need an excuse to celebrate our little squeaker. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhIpbnxcLdyehQwHpcV97EcDifjddS6QVzrwhoKlFCVabiSjdiqOX99dL5HikNQ6hfs0P-8dYXVP5MES4MTJ6GvHPA1d4NrVl9J97XIpcmJJ1x_WXOK9CfPfFIl1ydFxx51PTmr3gM6TS/s1600/bryce_and_godparents.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhIpbnxcLdyehQwHpcV97EcDifjddS6QVzrwhoKlFCVabiSjdiqOX99dL5HikNQ6hfs0P-8dYXVP5MES4MTJ6GvHPA1d4NrVl9J97XIpcmJJ1x_WXOK9CfPfFIl1ydFxx51PTmr3gM6TS/s400/bryce_and_godparents.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500572434068822178" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQQjPrTsUVGGJ2GeOaKd9LXdGP5h3T9kd9MbhtiD-DBeJ_Q_wOfYgL4exav1fUzMhhOcUK2kRAhSIMLu04R4E-WNS2wjfxNFdNQ95QvNVXAxAIlqTMsLO048zvVGtEqyurrKP5AvRSLCR/s1600/happy_birthday_bryce.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 388px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQQjPrTsUVGGJ2GeOaKd9LXdGP5h3T9kd9MbhtiD-DBeJ_Q_wOfYgL4exav1fUzMhhOcUK2kRAhSIMLu04R4E-WNS2wjfxNFdNQ95QvNVXAxAIlqTMsLO048zvVGtEqyurrKP5AvRSLCR/s400/happy_birthday_bryce.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500567926999450610" /></a><br /><br />The man of the hour was all giggles and smiles for nearly the entire day, and his good humor was infectious in spite of the muggy weather. Bryce is our water baby, so we weren't too surprised when he passed on the inflatable moonwalk bouncer, which was towering over our house, in favor of his new pool. In fact, he gave everyone a good laugh when he tried to start the party with a splash by diving headfirst into the baptismal font.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05yxCb4rzt1eZKAoNJmsGZ_xJc2GraGyKzWmYj_5j_S_TEXhASFvIBRoXC6O3A4KkctpB7dap-Sm2G4fq3K3ObS90EG7MZ-bIX4OquwEuRxlSDKpK1U5ffzwPSRUqoSwTZhdzXV3YSFaS/s1600/birthday_bouncer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 397px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05yxCb4rzt1eZKAoNJmsGZ_xJc2GraGyKzWmYj_5j_S_TEXhASFvIBRoXC6O3A4KkctpB7dap-Sm2G4fq3K3ObS90EG7MZ-bIX4OquwEuRxlSDKpK1U5ffzwPSRUqoSwTZhdzXV3YSFaS/s400/birthday_bouncer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500567913089094354" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkvMFw_MpVw3EDgsqSLPvr51DYaqUOQjW7AVU5MsMCQi9mNF3zCkJw0nny_X_8EGP4FaKTTleQLWgtJrFr7yAYAARSSRSE1DimYMaASMnmimp-mk8IxmuqdxpGvHjo_OxFQ6tm0L_H35W/s1600/fun_in_the_pool.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlkvMFw_MpVw3EDgsqSLPvr51DYaqUOQjW7AVU5MsMCQi9mNF3zCkJw0nny_X_8EGP4FaKTTleQLWgtJrFr7yAYAARSSRSE1DimYMaASMnmimp-mk8IxmuqdxpGvHjo_OxFQ6tm0L_H35W/s400/fun_in_the_pool.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500567920824851170" /></a><br /><br />Best of all, he got to have his cake and eat it too. Thanks to all who helped make Bryce's special day a success. We hope you had a great evening!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoJXv-sPul5TI0do4t5bmfoqrinn0MRk8c0UmaUoVz5zVEMbPYyg9sfVbSimEf8hyhrjHjAdfi0nDXAdMDjU0Weh1U4oq6ODXeVkaa9oDB3dE1Fd70HlwNyr_3zC_oE8DRMNDSkz_VDLc/s1600/mmm_cake.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoJXv-sPul5TI0do4t5bmfoqrinn0MRk8c0UmaUoVz5zVEMbPYyg9sfVbSimEf8hyhrjHjAdfi0nDXAdMDjU0Weh1U4oq6ODXeVkaa9oDB3dE1Fd70HlwNyr_3zC_oE8DRMNDSkz_VDLc/s400/mmm_cake.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500567951473334018" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfLIu6qEvGxq3cdr2vd49r60Sx43y-uJWdZ_itqF6zkvep1XCaSaUMiUW_DRUsLQXOZIPNO8zwCZQgj3yixRvHDBcYFMXT_5JaXHF0zLuahgqGTVy_vykgwAFVykGizxdmK2GXp7CR4dW/s1600/plate-lickin-good.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfLIu6qEvGxq3cdr2vd49r60Sx43y-uJWdZ_itqF6zkvep1XCaSaUMiUW_DRUsLQXOZIPNO8zwCZQgj3yixRvHDBcYFMXT_5JaXHF0zLuahgqGTVy_vykgwAFVykGizxdmK2GXp7CR4dW/s400/plate-lickin-good.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500572087940508450" /></a>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-22888770187325398092010-07-18T21:05:00.000-05:002010-07-18T21:06:06.462-05:00Busy little bees<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6aqyxlW1lCVd0Ud-e8_-dXrfAydHkXuLzMcUr9cESm_z0IWdY3UPMX44lIVBa2kTpC0B0U4Ogsx2PzNTFHhqTcm6Dehth6pvWIRRd-CcifeiToDsDZ9tpkrwjTxkrrnoDQ6N6lTAKIwD/s1600/hard_to_keep_the_glasses_on.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6aqyxlW1lCVd0Ud-e8_-dXrfAydHkXuLzMcUr9cESm_z0IWdY3UPMX44lIVBa2kTpC0B0U4Ogsx2PzNTFHhqTcm6Dehth6pvWIRRd-CcifeiToDsDZ9tpkrwjTxkrrnoDQ6N6lTAKIwD/s400/hard_to_keep_the_glasses_on.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495431068159413986" /></a><br />It's hard to believe that it's been three weeks since the last post! Now that our time is no longer monopolized by doctor's appointments, endless debates with the insurance company and mild panic attacks every time Bryce sneezes, we've been slowly reverting to something more closely resembling pre-NICU life. Between the lack of exciting news and a slew of summer activities, I sheepishly confess that the blog hasn't been on my mind lately.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw05ewKgwJfTaF04QPdzbHO2MqpZBJ1dBgMgPJrSVqYdlHcL6BKJx-z6GDyauPSgk6W6OgobUPVREIBUDiWn8fsipuWq8yaO5-tufld1MnODvtPpyDQsqCdg0O-tsp_U0aciVwjHh3lALY/s1600/is_this_safe.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw05ewKgwJfTaF04QPdzbHO2MqpZBJ1dBgMgPJrSVqYdlHcL6BKJx-z6GDyauPSgk6W6OgobUPVREIBUDiWn8fsipuWq8yaO5-tufld1MnODvtPpyDQsqCdg0O-tsp_U0aciVwjHh3lALY/s400/is_this_safe.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495431077844991794" /></a><br />Summer has been good to Bryce. He's up to 19lb., 5oz. at 10 months, and he's doing everything we'd expect from a baby his age. I'd say the most significant new development in the past few weeks is Bryce's increased autonomy and personality. He knows what he wants, he's not afraid to go after it, and if he can't get to it (or you take it away), he'll let you know in a big way! It's fun when he walks (very slowly with a lot of assistance) clear across the yard to give Mommy kisses, but not so fun when he throws a tantrum after we confiscate dangerous or dirty objects that he's decided would make good teethers.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyigKW10Ht3vw5nu4rVPUp02L-hXphhuM2x7BxwwjJO6kueiyEIq6P5Sf1kA_7WlHvj7Zut_C7YPYAoktiNgkOLebvXYao0NFYfiPLdHTAkN4b17gxvlSu_R8uhz3s2CF5W7Kps8iOnBrA/s1600/happy_boy_in_the_morning.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyigKW10Ht3vw5nu4rVPUp02L-hXphhuM2x7BxwwjJO6kueiyEIq6P5Sf1kA_7WlHvj7Zut_C7YPYAoktiNgkOLebvXYao0NFYfiPLdHTAkN4b17gxvlSu_R8uhz3s2CF5W7Kps8iOnBrA/s400/happy_boy_in_the_morning.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495431060444207618" /></a><br />Enjoy your summer -- we are!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOBtvyjKiYcIuur1nW676qMDCSmTmqqyXyAGn3jl9rEXrUPbe0sP9mkm5qwm-9qvFi5BSgVDz-DxemLoBiehtT7bnSZda4Kjdzril_2TsfsPqzPDLRZTSCcJouG57rgta-jKeZZNiS_r5/s1600/two_teeth.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxOBtvyjKiYcIuur1nW676qMDCSmTmqqyXyAGn3jl9rEXrUPbe0sP9mkm5qwm-9qvFi5BSgVDz-DxemLoBiehtT7bnSZda4Kjdzril_2TsfsPqzPDLRZTSCcJouG57rgta-jKeZZNiS_r5/s400/two_teeth.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495431735270179202" /></a>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-59613996571844252782010-06-27T22:13:00.000-05:002010-06-27T22:14:00.252-05:00June-tastic<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZl8PAjZBne8VHngzySBsoL-hWwq_XwbkkMA6tHzYWReuGAD1LB6HHMoumdcetAG1-N_ULnRVj1ETXlyK3j-6J2EHaCmkfe5dmmhm-IA3p_51pSFw8PXLlQ6GQHuLynSDxoS7BYnp2HATR/s1600/bryce_smiley.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZl8PAjZBne8VHngzySBsoL-hWwq_XwbkkMA6tHzYWReuGAD1LB6HHMoumdcetAG1-N_ULnRVj1ETXlyK3j-6J2EHaCmkfe5dmmhm-IA3p_51pSFw8PXLlQ6GQHuLynSDxoS7BYnp2HATR/s400/bryce_smiley.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487656112045736530" /></a><br />What a difference a year makes! That's true for all babies, of course, but it's hard to believe that the tiny baby who spent every moment of last June on the cusp of life and death is the same baby who's spent this June hitting one milestone after another. <br /><br />Bryce had his "one year" (nine month, by our count) check-up last week, and I think the pediatrician was as dumbfounded as we are. After a cursory exam, he asked Christie if Bryce could sit unassisted. "Ummm... yeaah," she replied. Before he could move to the next question on the list, Bryce crawled over to Christie, pulled himself to standing, and proceeded to walk while holding on to Christie's fingers. Physical development? A++. (Yes, he climbed up on the step in the picture by himself. He was trying to climb over the gate.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj01tTZFdWiDBy78Ec9KHe-MvpnCinDohboJ26QQfHav9cbwakAfJ4cSS21Fa66Iw-1-NPOxVlDO4otftJS-nkfqfLzP_Tl2CVttgqBgI1LnKgWUoBKiZhmGPrPameGPSPhIRJ3JRlvPdv/s1600/bryce_climbing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj01tTZFdWiDBy78Ec9KHe-MvpnCinDohboJ26QQfHav9cbwakAfJ4cSS21Fa66Iw-1-NPOxVlDO4otftJS-nkfqfLzP_Tl2CVttgqBgI1LnKgWUoBKiZhmGPrPameGPSPhIRJ3JRlvPdv/s400/bryce_climbing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487656096670766146" /></a><br />We're still waiting for Bryce to make his first sound that isn't a cry, a squeak, or a growl, but given how well he's progressing in other areas, no one seems concerned. It's probably imitation at this stage, but he's started waving to the two of us and he'll even give out kisses. Now that he's sitting, crawling and standing, he's perfectly content to spend long stretches of time exploring the world on his own, which has made our lives much easier (assuming we've done a good job of baby-proofing the place he's exploring, that is). Logan and Bryce get along great together, and it's heartwarming to see the two of them playing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbu95jqqICnChRGJlD1OOFQaEC6ieBudXNSmhyphenhypheni6-XgXqOfjHtBOAQNW8342mSOW6nG9p9auuz_oKt5YpkKivJPH6KKzb6P3FzpSEwWjy_fQJ7HoU9_QtCVmOqOEhhmjxjJ82fwD-Z9z6g/s1600/boys_at_play.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbu95jqqICnChRGJlD1OOFQaEC6ieBudXNSmhyphenhypheni6-XgXqOfjHtBOAQNW8342mSOW6nG9p9auuz_oKt5YpkKivJPH6KKzb6P3FzpSEwWjy_fQJ7HoU9_QtCVmOqOEhhmjxjJ82fwD-Z9z6g/s400/boys_at_play.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487656091268531954" /></a><br />Bryce has started eating a wider variety of table foods, including some meat and even the dreaded dairy (cheddar cheese). So far, we haven't had any problems with allergies, aversions or choking. More importantly, he's been growing like a weed: 18.75 lbs (17th percentile) and 28 inches (32nd percentile) at 9 months adjusted. <br /><br />The little guy had a follow-up appointment at the ENT a few weeks back, and the doc decided that he will <span style="font-style:italic;">not</span> need surgery for the cleft palate. Better yet, I noticed early last week that he's not wheezing anymore! We're not really sure when it stopped, but I think it's been at least a month, which bodes well for the condition of his lungs/windpipe.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_J_Kzrdkq6GRzA5tgmw_a5BImeH1UIsYQtKoZ5OoIuc1FOK28hHzqQWLpUQRGWOxayEmpG6FuB-Svw8zOs38WYV7imhWDE-KKL6pATCZZosKxtucIA4OYj0H5r0v4WxOrxS_pORgmfIz/s1600/bryce_crawl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9_J_Kzrdkq6GRzA5tgmw_a5BImeH1UIsYQtKoZ5OoIuc1FOK28hHzqQWLpUQRGWOxayEmpG6FuB-Svw8zOs38WYV7imhWDE-KKL6pATCZZosKxtucIA4OYj0H5r0v4WxOrxS_pORgmfIz/s400/bryce_crawl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487656108866827826" /></a><br />So, it seems that Bryce has officially conquered all of his preemie challenges. My heart quails at the audacity of such a statement, because after all that we've seen, I simply cannot believe that our 24-weeker escaped the NICU with nothing more than a pair of glasses and a few scars. Either he won the micro-preemie lottery, or he really does have an angel on his shoulder. One way or the other, we're grateful for a happy, healthy June.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-88583479540230885162010-06-21T11:00:00.000-05:002010-06-21T11:00:03.626-05:00The AnniversaryIt's funny how a number on a calendar can evoke a torrent of memories which have been oh-so-carefully repressed. I doubt a day has passed in which my daughter has not crossed my mind, but her presence today is almost palpable.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkL480P96Rp-8x0qTrIHx3HvK2E1fTW5eKtEG8WM_-bjuqtPfXEQgHT5sC05_QeXWrhysF2PD_KzkscVuTdIqaghnjYZhbks5RHWohSAa1rOf2n6IPEoPbvG4Kev0Gxw5ZoN9sZp9IV3em/s1600/chloe_anniv.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkL480P96Rp-8x0qTrIHx3HvK2E1fTW5eKtEG8WM_-bjuqtPfXEQgHT5sC05_QeXWrhysF2PD_KzkscVuTdIqaghnjYZhbks5RHWohSAa1rOf2n6IPEoPbvG4Kev0Gxw5ZoN9sZp9IV3em/s400/chloe_anniv.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485044509215475266" /></a><br />This is the only picture we have of Chloe with her eyes open. It's not a particularly good picture; I hate to look at all the tubes and wires, but the little daisy always makes me smile.<br /><br />Rest in peace, Princess.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-35233018947373819162010-06-19T13:35:00.000-05:002010-06-19T13:35:12.031-05:00We're back!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnXOuR6BHHCV4t59DR8q4BAUC5fqNmp5fwQQN659D-nlChpKVC4OcEhlXIzG8Rg6AoyV8El9ZHSg2HqRntkORlKvFkyywCd9Cv4rfVF0NTgO51t_XZjz2pjAu64KGk5xKqb4dJQ1F1z9w/s1600/relaxing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnXOuR6BHHCV4t59DR8q4BAUC5fqNmp5fwQQN659D-nlChpKVC4OcEhlXIzG8Rg6AoyV8El9ZHSg2HqRntkORlKvFkyywCd9Cv4rfVF0NTgO51t_XZjz2pjAu64KGk5xKqb4dJQ1F1z9w/s400/relaxing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484552250352762498" /></a><br />If the two weeks of silence were starting to worry Bryce's fans, let me put your fears to rest: the little guy is doing fantastic. We spent the past week enjoying, and the preceding week preparing for, our first long vacation in close to two years. After a long Memorial Day weekend followed by the past seven days at the lake, everyone except Bryce is a little less pale and a lot more relaxed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqziBIdTAGryTdq5brklM-VHGnHImUKFPxk95K4c7WQDlX1RDgbhyyK0HpBj2rgHuX8toSeJCipvD9HOWpSCMRjVXbCr8uQJxG6UaSYya89CbCX77Xk_y3kMeJoP404Ss4zMbueT0KvIT/s1600/playing_outside.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqziBIdTAGryTdq5brklM-VHGnHImUKFPxk95K4c7WQDlX1RDgbhyyK0HpBj2rgHuX8toSeJCipvD9HOWpSCMRjVXbCr8uQJxG6UaSYya89CbCX77Xk_y3kMeJoP404Ss4zMbueT0KvIT/s400/playing_outside.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484552242537808946" /></a><br /><center><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ris4MkQZxus&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ris4MkQZxus&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></center><br />Someone forgot to give Bryce the memo about our week of idleness, because he's been working hard on all sorts of new things. He's crawling on all fours now, spends a lot of time standing, and is starting to figure out cruising. His first tooth (bottom) popped through last Saturday night, and although he was unusually fussy on Sunday, he was cheery as always for the rest of the week in spite of the fact that he cut his second tooth (right next to the first) a few days later. He loved playing with his family both inside and out, and best of all, he hasn't had so much as the sniffles for the entire month.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJYSbTHcVN21IfRUpVKUMiTxl1vI08usnoo-1_HHzGsd1DXAY2l8EBxwR6XIva-HKO23uRCsPMDgJUKuyb_rt5tQYe_7BdUa-Gfai0pMVR7yphA8aWt7Zv37CBXQ27d5MVWatQCdY1aZM/s1600/cruising.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJYSbTHcVN21IfRUpVKUMiTxl1vI08usnoo-1_HHzGsd1DXAY2l8EBxwR6XIva-HKO23uRCsPMDgJUKuyb_rt5tQYe_7BdUa-Gfai0pMVR7yphA8aWt7Zv37CBXQ27d5MVWatQCdY1aZM/s400/cruising.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484552199711487074" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKfG_HcVVXVE7AvxcLkoNeCR04W7Zg7FBs8kFVYdaKtqsIebC_3fsPGMhMbe6hiMvbHEibINPovK7FRviE4x1seBuKkM5-COerYytETIHwWyPzU8geivHCUKz7jIsA1AabcKDaiHVDEGP/s1600/hungry_boy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKfG_HcVVXVE7AvxcLkoNeCR04W7Zg7FBs8kFVYdaKtqsIebC_3fsPGMhMbe6hiMvbHEibINPovK7FRviE4x1seBuKkM5-COerYytETIHwWyPzU8geivHCUKz7jIsA1AabcKDaiHVDEGP/s400/hungry_boy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484552233816717714" /></a><br /><center><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ArDE3yxVFX8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ArDE3yxVFX8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center><br />The only drama of the week occurred during our attempts to visit the Alexandria YMCA, which has a new zero-depth pool. On our first try, we didn't even set foot in the water, as we were asked to shelter in the men's locker room for forty-five minutes due to dangerous tornadoes in the area. The next day was a lot better; both kids loved the pool, but we're a bit concerned about Bryce's apparent lack of a self-preservation gene. When placed in water a few inches deep, he would resolutely crawl towards the deeper end of the pool. When the water reached his shoulders, he didn't stop. When the water reached his chin, he didn't stop. When the water reached his nose, he didn't stop. I'm not sure what would've happened if we'd allowed this to continue, but we're starting to think that maybe our water baby loves the pool a little <span style="font-style:italic;">too</span> much.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyayRxZ-rZR5VJw5QF7VDZXCbsfUDeyD0xwMAONuH6XDoe2IjYKC9WmKvJkgb-V70z2mmaB5b8jj-eLkDov6uv3vHILJCwd5xlRp5FhM7Ma72mJeCUct2qE9GqXwgFw4rF2Rxg2NtzPX_W/s1600/fun_at_the_pool.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyayRxZ-rZR5VJw5QF7VDZXCbsfUDeyD0xwMAONuH6XDoe2IjYKC9WmKvJkgb-V70z2mmaB5b8jj-eLkDov6uv3vHILJCwd5xlRp5FhM7Ma72mJeCUct2qE9GqXwgFw4rF2Rxg2NtzPX_W/s400/fun_at_the_pool.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484552216839773634" /></a>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-26241558129454175032010-06-02T22:07:00.000-05:002010-06-02T22:12:05.419-05:00Road tripBryce and family spent Memorial Day weekend in paradise!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEY2L-bGSXagmGka7pmHgLV7SUbdr_V56wlsDoOYHPi4gecf3skETwyLUEthyphenhyphenJZoVjwy1ds44E91JhNg-85TEGc2RAHHkeprUFgNpE80Cpt3e3oGAjvCrHPP4e6FVkkCkTklx6dmIgzAL/s1600/resort_vista.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnEY2L-bGSXagmGka7pmHgLV7SUbdr_V56wlsDoOYHPi4gecf3skETwyLUEthyphenhyphenJZoVjwy1ds44E91JhNg-85TEGc2RAHHkeprUFgNpE80Cpt3e3oGAjvCrHPP4e6FVkkCkTklx6dmIgzAL/s400/resort_vista.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478372532541651922" border="0"></a><br /><br />Ok, maybe I'm overselling it a bit, but it was a lot of fun. We had planned for Logan and I to go fishing up north for quite some time, but Christie decided at the last minute that she wanted to come with too. The car was a little cramped, but Bryce endured four hours on the road with hardly any complaining. We didn't think he was ready for the boat yet, but he had a great time exploring the cabin and the beach. Two days of sun, sand and the serene beauty of the north woods was a welcome (albeit all too short) escape for everyone.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-TldHSzQUD2Q87jLHaF2OnuXehmyqQ0m9g5vc8EAoXtcLiymVZVnQBDSHJIzIrzc-xonZ6xvsNU-vyX7DUxyLCWoXsEhS9blkznCjfsoJLNSyel2zUTOwCV3WIKKz1VZ531xRIolv7Oj/s1600/bryce_beach_fun.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-TldHSzQUD2Q87jLHaF2OnuXehmyqQ0m9g5vc8EAoXtcLiymVZVnQBDSHJIzIrzc-xonZ6xvsNU-vyX7DUxyLCWoXsEhS9blkznCjfsoJLNSyel2zUTOwCV3WIKKz1VZ531xRIolv7Oj/s400/bryce_beach_fun.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478372506426818626" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJfr0CApcJ5bjAxHZpIOIPdTSU6-74N77ADmVBtHwXaL1znOJx5laokZ4r-7-cbtjVvAXqh7DSqVuXo80jrH8aqNS9o71bMP-GkVT0np8sXGtiAdl9zS5XZNykRWxtEO87rtFZsuAgxd7/s1600/bryce_at_cabin.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJfr0CApcJ5bjAxHZpIOIPdTSU6-74N77ADmVBtHwXaL1znOJx5laokZ4r-7-cbtjVvAXqh7DSqVuXo80jrH8aqNS9o71bMP-GkVT0np8sXGtiAdl9zS5XZNykRWxtEO87rtFZsuAgxd7/s400/bryce_at_cabin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478372496429010146" border="0"></a><br /><br />As you can see in the video, Bryce is becoming a lot more mobile. He recently started climbing over short stairs and even pulling himself up to standing. His increased independence has been a blessing as he'll entertain himself for short periods, but we've also reached the stage where we can't even really turn our back for a second, because like most babies, he seems to have a gift for finding the one thing within his reach that shouldn't go in his mouth.<br /><br /><center><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/k2hdZkUO9B8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/k2hdZkUO9B8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></center><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3FNU6utGGZEUiSnKHfTxT4loyXrbLOfhMWZOJ2CIUkupJWynohfBWGOjKW2cECSoKDIHUKvbdqVWsYvrO8FfZyHaMtO5RMz-r_ajjU1dQ8GsvZtFV0difm34dIwEhfIo5p7KMqH14kel/s1600/bryce_standing.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR3FNU6utGGZEUiSnKHfTxT4loyXrbLOfhMWZOJ2CIUkupJWynohfBWGOjKW2cECSoKDIHUKvbdqVWsYvrO8FfZyHaMtO5RMz-r_ajjU1dQ8GsvZtFV0difm34dIwEhfIo5p7KMqH14kel/s400/bryce_standing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478375355171769570" border="0"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJC73ja9FdWtlh9un5A1AwpUy6R6KctUXx5w4woL0WmvR_JGdJt11s4m_gUCa9RmIW9jdbNGJalSuj2c1NONzcYKXilQuJl1RsgxR9wOmRDbcawHfPq41QMw-5UvCl64aT4SiioJozq14K/s1600/bryce_head_knocker.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJC73ja9FdWtlh9un5A1AwpUy6R6KctUXx5w4woL0WmvR_JGdJt11s4m_gUCa9RmIW9jdbNGJalSuj2c1NONzcYKXilQuJl1RsgxR9wOmRDbcawHfPq41QMw-5UvCl64aT4SiioJozq14K/s400/bryce_head_knocker.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478372518732755442" border="0"></a>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-66559824255534065902010-05-26T20:51:00.001-05:002010-05-26T20:57:54.281-05:00Happy Birthday Bryce & Chloe!Songs were sung, cake was eaten, candles were extinguished, gifts were exchanged and tears were shed. We had all the elements of a perfect birthday, but it's hard to think of anything other than that empty chair.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgNFYIzsWhsH8IvjedbYEIsLTX1ofebvp9qHt8d8VnMOqH1KvzE1PUcd3yurHC4MX1n-Scp8zvnoDRlWul_-BKNlevZA4NI-mncAdsw5YMQxO8aExan0FM8pT-0eQRb-7ROHcRVPV1lGL/s1600/birthday_boy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwgNFYIzsWhsH8IvjedbYEIsLTX1ofebvp9qHt8d8VnMOqH1KvzE1PUcd3yurHC4MX1n-Scp8zvnoDRlWul_-BKNlevZA4NI-mncAdsw5YMQxO8aExan0FM8pT-0eQRb-7ROHcRVPV1lGL/s400/birthday_boy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475761265576663650" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8l_PZZwaZXVRvqOLwdqIbQZLizMAlEFE_J8hltsWW97YyyGQu3KCtopvBgdzbTPcOj2T8KcBTP3Teo20TdVxEzPv4JKqSL5joMvVeuVxd-QAHYeQKKVRDRQb0aJWbr9TNi_gEonIg-Feu/s1600/birthday_girl.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8l_PZZwaZXVRvqOLwdqIbQZLizMAlEFE_J8hltsWW97YyyGQu3KCtopvBgdzbTPcOj2T8KcBTP3Teo20TdVxEzPv4JKqSL5joMvVeuVxd-QAHYeQKKVRDRQb0aJWbr9TNi_gEonIg-Feu/s400/birthday_girl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475761273663157490" border="0" /></a><br />Bryce visited the NICU on Monday to celebrate the anniversary of this portentous day. It was great to see several of the nurses, therapists and social workers who cared for him, and I think they were genuinely astonished and excited to see how well he's doing. "This is the best part of our job," one of the nurses said, and another told us that Bryce's story will bring hope to a lot of families.<br /><br />Mission accomplished.Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-918670896114031562.post-87718365016743132772010-05-22T14:22:00.003-05:002010-05-22T14:24:52.264-05:00Little growler<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGL43_0Y1-DkSFmLwq6SxGj8CVrgVm9tItTRBknQtDcOoHBxlzASrMBV2PuVp8nTK8Q6j8wjOCrz-gMIQVCx89t6hXVVHEbg9TKpAutcm1aO49kJOPq1w5P3-P57_dsaNizgJaa7uqfdE1/s1600/mommy_and_bryce.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGL43_0Y1-DkSFmLwq6SxGj8CVrgVm9tItTRBknQtDcOoHBxlzASrMBV2PuVp8nTK8Q6j8wjOCrz-gMIQVCx89t6hXVVHEbg9TKpAutcm1aO49kJOPq1w5P3-P57_dsaNizgJaa7uqfdE1/s400/mommy_and_bryce.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474169109283569314" border="0"></a><br /><br />Bryce has recently abandoned his trademark squeak for a low-throated growl that reminds me of a dangerous cat on the prowl. It's a fitting sound for this age, because on the prowl he is! He still hasn't mastered the traditional up-on-all-fours crawl, but he can pull himself across the room using just his arms with surprising speed. And of course, <span style="font-style: italic;">everything</span> he discovers goes into his mouth first. The video (below) doesn't really do the growl justice, but you get the idea.<br /><br /><center><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ukrOJaUvHIA&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ukrOJaUvHIA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /></center><br /><br />The introduction of table food has been a success so far. He's still eating breads and crackers primarily, but Bryce rarely gags or chokes anymore. Still no sign of the teeth we've been expecting, though I suspect they can't be too far off.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOy3PWsCCRKMEev6NSpYD1BwwtUtiRBzGhTtbg7tHJYgDTqbST90nKzFvHTLDml45DR-cFe6PeyPcIwDcmSooHPaT-UTXMjc5MZph4z3074XqxpwvH4xfsq-SLgbKyrBwsPgJ2IZ46laBo/s1600/brothers.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOy3PWsCCRKMEev6NSpYD1BwwtUtiRBzGhTtbg7tHJYgDTqbST90nKzFvHTLDml45DR-cFe6PeyPcIwDcmSooHPaT-UTXMjc5MZph4z3074XqxpwvH4xfsq-SLgbKyrBwsPgJ2IZ46laBo/s400/brothers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474169118243441762" border="0"></a><br /><br />The last week has been quiet -- when Bryce is healthy, everyone is happy. Incredibly, Bryce will be one year old next Wednesday! For those who are wondering if their party invitation was lost in the mail, we're planning to celebrate his adjusted birthday this year. If we wait until September, he'll hopefully be able to enjoy stuffing his face with a bite of birthday cake, and maybe he'll even be able to impress you all with those first tottering steps. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5lbq_HgdLUHt6xMAt4IiN-oR43_albKjfVUC147JZw6fA73X2ZlBxF1Li0tQZ0MoKSgaMuv9VYICxKvndfWovc8nxL4XlBVwJZ3dxlFodTdooFJ4me34We54E8yQ2kGABYmWLhpakwTG/s1600/bedhead.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv5lbq_HgdLUHt6xMAt4IiN-oR43_albKjfVUC147JZw6fA73X2ZlBxF1Li0tQZ0MoKSgaMuv9VYICxKvndfWovc8nxL4XlBVwJZ3dxlFodTdooFJ4me34We54E8yQ2kGABYmWLhpakwTG/s400/bedhead.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474169452500579810" border="0"></a>Jasonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06147003060116173957noreply@blogger.com0