Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Life with Rhys

I got in a fight with my cannula. I won the right cheek, the
cannula won the left cheek, so I took it out on my forehead!

I'm good at the fish lips.

What is there to say? Sleepless nights, screaming fits, mind of his own... Rhys is no different than anyone elses bambino except that he is attached to oxygen and an apnea monitor. We had a quick clinic visit on Monday to check vitals and weight. The doctor was a random that I'm sure we'll never see again (we see his high risk pedi next week since the office was closed for the holidays), but she said he looked great. He'd gained about +/-6oz and was 21.25 inches long.

Poor Rhys. I think the boy just needs a bit to settle in, his world has been turned upside down. But, we're getting there. We are having a great deal more luck getting Rhys to eat. It was a nightmare the first few days, but we're getting a system down now and Rhys is now taking between 2-3 ounces per feed. He still has tummy issues, but good or bad I've been giving him gripe water and that seems to help him a little. It is horrible to watch your child scream in pain and not try to do SOMEthing. The clinic doctor said he'd just have to outgrow it, but I'm not so sure his pains are normal (and I don't think I'm being a paranoid parents here). We will ask the high risk pedi next week to see what she says. If the gripe water continues to work we'll stick with that as plan b.

The cuteness factor of Rhys being spoiled went from off the charts to a big fat zero as soon as we walked into our house. Haha. :o) I can honestly say though that I don't think his screaming fits are all because he is spoiled because there are lots of times he can't be calmed by picking him up or talking to him, etc. Again, I think he's still adjusting. But today was a good day. He slept in his bouncer a little and took a ride in his swing and lasted longer than he had previously before proceeding to exercise his lungs quite loudly. He loves his play gym and has started talking to his "friends" every once in a while. The fans in the house are also something of a novelty to him - who needs all the fun toys, he'll sit and stare at those forever! Rhys has started consistently rolling over when you put him on his stomach. I have only seen him roll to the right, but he's started tilting to the left like he's thinking about it.

As far as sleeping... well, WE are adjusting to a lack of it. Rhys refuses to sleep in his bassinet, and will really only stay asleep when we are holding him. I am sure some of you are saying "yeah right", but then again you've probably never brought home a five and a half month old who has been on a strict (unrealistic) schedule and who has already developed bad habits no one ever bothered to break. We have tried multiple methods and have had no luck so I am doing something I swore I'd never do - we are letting our child sleep in the bed with us. Rhys' eyes pop open immediately as soon as you put him down. This starts a screaming fit that takes 10-15 minutes to calm so we've decided this is the lesser of two evils at the moment. He is sleeping with us in a safe manner, so no worries about him being smothered by us rolling over on him.

Anyway, that's our update! Happy New Year to you all!

PS - Sorry for the crazy photo exposure. We haven't had time to play with the camera settings since we got home so they're still set up for the hospital lighting conditions.

6 comments:

Michelle said...

I have been following your blog since the beginning and I have never left a comment. I have a 12 year old and a 6 years old. Don't ever let anyone tell you that having your child in the bed with you is a mistake. You will never regret it. If you sleep well and they sleep well it is great. You can never get time back. Enjoy him anyway you can. Babies are hard....kids are hard...but they grow so quickly. I can remember the guilt I first had with my son (12 now) in our bed. But I look back now and I miss those precious little times. Take care and God Bless you and your sweet family. Also, don't feel guilty when it is overwhelming. You are perfectly normal. My six year old had horrible colic. We tried everything. I will be praying for you. This too shall end.

Mary Anne Whiteley said...

You know,I love it when the docs say they just need to outgrow it. Um, would we tolerate being in pain for months at a time? I think not. And if his issues are related to GERD, then that is definitely something that needs to be controlled. I can remember the pediatrician telling me my first just had colic, or needed to outgrow it. Well, she DID outgrow it, but based on the symptoms she had I am now pretty sure she had GERD, and my second was diagnosed with it as well. She definitely did better sleeping with us those first few months. You just do what you have to do. I honestly never heard of a preemie coming home cosleeping, but hey, there's a first time for everything. I guess I kind of just figured they got set up on a strict 3 hour schedule and were used to that. Boy, I guess I'm wrong!

At any rate, soon enough the sleepless nights will pass. Also, if reflux is the issue, there are some great resources, like infantreflux.org and there is a yahoo group for those breastfeeding (I realize you are not directly feeding but pumping) called breastfeedingreflux at the yahoogroups.com site. Why I mention this is that they have some great information on dietary changes that you can make that might help out Rhys. I know that group was invaluable to me those first few months or so.

Good luck to you!

hsturner said...

Congratulations on being home and don't worry about him sleeping in your bed. He'll be out by the time he's 18! PROMISE! LOL! Both mine slept in our bed and now they sleep in their own and their not 18 yet!

Parker's mom said...

Candice and Cody,
AHH you have waited SOO long for these moments and now I bet you are ready to bring him back to the NICU! At least between the hours of 10pm and 8am...;) I say do what ya gotta do! If sleeping in bed with you guys is right for you then do it! You fought so hard for Rhys and only a precious few know what you went through, no one should judge your sleeping habits!
But, I do know, Parker sleeps MUCH better when he is SOO tightly swaddled I'd be nervous if it weren't for his monitor! And his Zaky! He needs his Zaky wrapped around his head or he fusses and squirms all night.
All that and we LOVE the pics of the little man!
Mere

Pachar Family said...

You don't have to explain anything to me. Jackson and Max sleep in our bed and Maggie sleeps on a sleeping bag beside our bed. It's a little embarassing, but hey, anything to get some much needed sleep... They are only babies once, right?

I wish I could be there to help out, but know that we are thinking of you guys all the time. We think you and Cody are doing a wonderful job.

Hugs and Kisses :)

Myra said...

He needs his Aunt Myra.... He wants his Aunt Myra.... The fish lips are code for 'GET HERE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE'! haha

Seriously Candice, you and Cody are doing a fabulous job, everything will fall into place, just wait and see.

In the mean time, more fish lips please. Love y'all