12/13/06: Day 152 (Wed.) Avid Sports Reader

I've found that Evan has a particular fondness for Sports Illustrated magazine. Not sure if it's the texture of the pages..s but he loves sitting on my lap and trying to turn the pages. :-)

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Chronological age: 21 weeks and 5 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months, 3 weeks and 6 days
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12/12/06: Day 151 (Tues.) Doctor Visit!

Evan had a follow-up appointment at the Children's Multi-Specialty Clinic in Tucson. We thought we would be seeing Dr. Morgan, but it was a different doctor (I think it was Dr. Brown). Our appointment was at 8:30am and we hoped we wouldn't have to wait as long as we did at the last appointment.

The nurse called us back to do his stats...he weighed 10 pounds 5 ounces; was 22 inches long; and his head circumference was 39 cm. I plotted his latest stats on that image, so you can click on it to see a bigger view. He's still just below average, but that's o.k.!

The doctor suggested we increase his amount to 4 ounces every feeding. He's been taking about 3 ounces every time. We have to get him to about 28+ ounces a day in order to plump him up more.

The nurse came in with the "magic" pulse oximeter. Of course Evan maxed out on the pulse ox while on the oxygen. Now, the moment of truth...we turned off the oxygen flow. He did great! He averaged about 96-97%. That was a big improvement from two months ago when he was averaging the low 90s.

We were hoping to hear the great news that he could come off the oxygen...um...didn't happen. At least we can stop the Lasix in two weeks. The doctor didn't want to make too many changes at once since he's wanting us to increase the amount of his feeds. When he comes off the Lasix, we have to watch for any major changes in his breathing. While he's sleeping, we have to do periodic respiration counts to make sure he's not laboring harder to breathe. He should be breathing between 30-40 respirations per minute. If he is breathing more rapidly, it's a sign that there may be moisture build-up in his lungs and we have to start the Lasix again.

We have to come back (again) for follow-up in about 5 weeks. The doctor anticipates that he will get the green light to stop the oxygen. The next time we take him to see Dr. Ettinger, we need to get a pulse oximeter reading on him to see what his true oxygen saturation is at our altitude.

So, we continue with the oxygen! Bummer!

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**Weight Check: 10 lbs. 5 oz.
**Height check: 22 inches
Chronological age: 21 weeks and 4 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months, 3 weeks and 5 days
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12/11/06: Day 150 (Mon.) It's a Record!

Check out this sleep-time record! 7 straight hours!

Sleep check:
Bedtime: 10:30pm
zzzz-Sleep-zzzz
Feeding: 5:30am

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Chronological age: 21 weeks and 3 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months, 3 weeks and 4 days
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10/10/06: Day 149 (Sun.) Crazy kicking*

I tried to catch a vid of Evan while he was kicking like a crazy-guy. These are a bit more mellow than what he was doing.





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Chronological age: 21 weeks and 2 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months, 3 weeks and 3 days
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12/9/06: Day 148 (Sat.) Some vids*

Sleep check:

Bedtime: 10:30pm
zzzz-Sleep-zzzz
Feeding: 2:30am
zzzz-Sleep-zzzz
Feeding: 7:00am

Evan drinking his bottle


Drinking some more


Trying to get him to babble (long vid)




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Chronological age: 21 weeks and 1 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months, 3 weeks and 2 days
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12/8/06: Day 147 (Fri.)

Sleep Check
Bed time: 9:30pm
zzzz-Sleep-zzzz
Feeding: 12:30am
zzzz-Sleep-zzzz
Feeding: 4:00am
zzzz-Sleep-zzzz
Feeding: 7:00am

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Chronological age: 21 weeks and 0 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months, 3 weeks and 1 day
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12/7/06: Day 146 (Thurs.)

Sleep check:

Bedtime: 9:30pm
zzzz-Sleep-zzzz
Feeding: 3:00am
zzzz-Sleep-zzzz
Feeding: 6:00am

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Chronological age: 20 weeks and 6 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months, 3 weeks and 0 days
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12/6/06: Day 145 (Wed.)

Sleep check:

Bedtime: 9:30pm
zzzz-Sleep-zzzz
Feeding: 2:30am
zzzz-Sleep-zzzz
Feeding: 6:30am

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Chronological age: 20 weeks and 5 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months, 2 weeks and 6 days
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12/5/06: Day 144 (Tues.) We're in Double Digits!

Evan had his 4-month shots today...and he is finally in the double digits on his weight! He weighed in at 10 pounds, 1 ounce! He had 3 injections today (not fun), but he did fine. He cried for about a minute and then he was fine.
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**Weight Check: 10 lbs. 1 oz.**
Chronological age: 20 weeks and 4 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months, 2 weeks and 5 days
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12/2/06: Day 141 (Sat.) SEC Champs!

Evan and his dad enjoyed watching the Florida - Arkansas game. Luckily, the Gators won (or it would have been a bad evening in the household). With the USC loss...could the Gators play in Arizona for the national championship? We'll see!

Earlier in the day, the Theta girls held their annual Chapter Leadership Workshop. The girls presented me with a special gift for Evan...his own mini-Ben jersey. I'll post a photo later. It was great working with this old group of officers!

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Chronological age: 20 weeks and 1 day
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months, 2 weeks and 2 days
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12/1/06: Day 140 (Fri.) Sleeping Longer

I'm starting to keep a running log of Evan's nighttime sleep/eat patterns. Not exciting, I know, but it's some filler on these days where not a lot is going on.

Sleep: 10:30pm
Feeding: 12:30am
zzzz-Sleep-zzzz
Feeding: 6:00am

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Chronological age: 20 weeks and 0 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months, 2 weeks and 1 day
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11/29/06: Day 138 (Wed.) Getting My Shot

Evan had a last minute doctor run to get his Synagis shot. This is that crazy-expensive once-a-month shot he needs to help prevent RSV. He received his first shot back in September, so this is just his second shot. He's supposed to get them monthly during the cold and flu season. He'll get his next one right before Christmas. He did relatively great during the injection. He was all happy until the nurse poked him. He turned bright red...no sound came out like it took his breath away...and then the cry let out. He didn't cry for too long and within a few minutes, it was as if he was back to normal.

We get to do this again next Tuesday at his 4-month well-baby visit with Dr. Ettinger. He'll get his next round of immunizations. Fun!

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**Weight Update: 9 lbs. 15 oz.**
Chronological age: 19 weeks and 5 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months, 1 week and 6 days
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11/27/06: Day 136 (Mon.) I Want My MTV!

A weird picture I know...but it was funny. Evan was in a really good mood this morning. I put him down on our bed while I was taking a shower. He was really enthralled with watching VH1 Classics. He's been awake a lot more recently and has really taken to watching football and cartoons. When he drinks his bottle, he likes to have his head tilted off to one side so he can watch the action.
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Chronological age: 19 weeks and 3 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months, 1 week and 4 days
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11/26/06: Day 135 (Sun.) A Lost Season...

I guess it was too much to ask for to have the Gators and the Steelers win in the same weekend! The bright hope is that the Gators will win against Arkansas in the SEC Championship Game. I have accepted the fact that the Steelers will not win their division this year. :-(
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Chronological age: 19 weeks and 2 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months, 1 week and 3 days
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11/25/06: Day 134 (Sat.) Gators Win (Whew)!*

A picture of Evan doing what he loves to do...sleep in his swing. We gave him a break from the O2 since his skin was looking rough. Later in the day, Evan watched the Florida-Florida State game with his dad. Evan gave the Seminoles his Gator Chomp!



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Chronological age: 19 weeks and 1 day
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months, 1 week and 2 days
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11/24/06: Day 133 (Fri.) Off We Go!

I ran across some websites that help parents choose how to save for their children's college education. One website calcuated it will cost at least $50,000 year for an in-state public university by the time Evan goes to college (CRAZY)!! So, we decided that he has to attend a service academy (preferably the Air Force Academy since it's closer). So, here's the link to Evan's future alma mater: U.S. Air Force Academy

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Chronological age: 19 weeks and 0 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months, 1 week and 1 day
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11/23/06: Day 132 (Thurs.) Happy Thanksgiving!*

It's been really hard finding time to blog lately, so apologies to those of you missing your Evan-fix for the day!

Evan on his surfboard tummy mat


The pups helping with dinner (I have no idea why T is only wearing one sock)!


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Chronological age: 18 weeks and 6 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months and 1 week
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11/18/06: Day 127 (Sat.) Trying to Get a Smile *

A little milestone I've noticed is that Evan is smiling more (when he's not gassy). Dad can get some good smiles out of him when he makes funny noises at him.






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Chronological age: 18 weeks and 1 day
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months and 2 days
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11/17/06: Day 126 (Fri.) Bath Night

Evan's bath night! Always an exciting event...lots of screaming! With all the screaming he is doing now, I will laugh if he ends up being a swimmer.
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Chronological age: 18 weeks and 0 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 2 months and 1 day
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11/14/06: Day 123 (Tues.) 4 Months Old!

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Chronological age: 17 weeks and 4 days
Adjusted/developmental age: 1 month 4 weeks and 1 day
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