The NICU stay

Here are the highlights of those first few weeks:

Holding Alex was quite difficult those first few days after the surgery, since he was hooked up to all sorts of things. Initially, I would ask a nurse to help me lift him out of this warmer, to make sure that I didn't disconnect something. Then, when I felt comfortable, I began lifting him out myself. Yes, they were the professionals, but he was my son.

Both Grandmas' were very supportive, and took turns sitting with him so I could go and eat:



3 days after surgery, the Dr's took Alex off the ventilator, and it was deemed that his oxygen levels were so high, he didn't even need to be on oxygen. That same day, he pooped for the first time, so the NG tube was also removed. Here is a cute pic of Alex with no tubes around his face, shortly before they inserted a feeding tube into his nose:


Now we come to another very vague memory. At least the timing of it is vague! A few days after the surgery, my dad and Jon got Samaritan Aviation to fly them back to Montrose. While Rosa was doing a great job with Brynn, we wanted a family member with him too, and Jon needed to get back to work. Then, a day later Dad drove back up with a car - we'd been renting one. I think. Then a few days after that Jon drove Brynn up to meet his brother. Like I said, none of us can remember exactly how that all went, but Brynn did get to meet Alex in the hospital. Jon's mum had left by this point, so my parents took Brynn to see all the sights of Denver: the zoo, the aquarium, etc. Jon said the drive back to Montrose was great because Brynn was so worn out! This is our first family picture (Brynn was such a cute 2 yr old, wasn't he????):


Alex was moved out of the NICU to the 'Step Down' nursery once he started eating enough to remove the NG tube. There was a certain amount of milk that he had to eat for 3 straight feedings before they would release him. I made sure that I was the one to give him his bottle at every feeding during the day, but let the nurses deal with night feedings. We stayed for a few days in a local hotel, until there was room at the Ronald McDonald house.Jon was back at work, so mum and I were holding down the fort at the hospital.

Finally, we were told that he could go home the next day. Jon drove down that evening, and mum drove her car home. She was such a huge support throughout that whole ordeal, couldn't have done it without her. Thanks, mum. You are the best. My sister's baby was admitted to hospital in England at the same time, with RSV, and poor mum was torn between the two of us,however ultimately decided to stay in CO.

We had to show the nurses that we had a car seat, and knew how to strap Alex into it before we could leave:



We were on our way home!!!!!