Save me from my sisters!!!!!

He truly doesn't seem to mind all his sisters put him through. I think he actually enjoys it. I just wonder how much he will love these pictures when he is a teenager.

We have lift off!

Motor Boat took 2 steps by himself tonight. Of course it was totally unexpected so I didn't get a video of it and he wouldn't do it again so I could get a video. But, he is officially off and running, well sort of. It won't be long. He is such a big boy!

New Hairdo

The girls decided to give Motor Boat a new hairdo. I think we will keep the curls.

Almost There

As soon as he gets brave enough to take that first step he will be off and running. He just seems a bit unsure of taking it. He can stand there forever and bounce away. I don't think it will be long before he takes off.

We've come a long way baby!

FebruaryNow!

What a difference 3 months makes. I can hardly believe he has been home that long. Of course 3 months in baby time is a long time. I can see how much he has changed. He is getting around so well and beginning to talk. We just love having him at home. 3 more months and we can begin the adoption process. Keep praying all goes well.

ER visit last night but hopefully now on the mend

I was in the ER until 2 am with Motor Boat. His fever was high and not breaking. He was also having some respiratory distress. Of course while we are waiting in the ER he is acting as if he had never been ill (even with a fever of 103). He was making faces at all the people sitting near us, making them laugh. His Chest X-ray showed what appeared to be a viral illness with no pneumonia. He had been vomiting but was able to keep some Pedialyte down in the ER so they let us go home. I'm always worried when he throws up like he does that he will aspirate. It takes him a bit to recover sometimes. He was running fever this morning but the Motrin worked and his fever broke. I knew when we brought him home that his immune system wasn't up to par for community acquired illnesses. It seems that every couple of weeks he gets some virus. Hopefully his immune system will get built up. I know daycare is not the place for him. He would never be well.

Squealing with Joy

We are having so much fun with Motor Boat. His personality has always been amazing, even as a baby. I remember him being intubated and on the ventilator and still just a happy, little guy. His winning smile is what drew everyone to him. Well, he is only blossoming into his personality more and more. I was trying to get a video of him drumming on the coffee table but as soon as he saw the camera the above video occurred. What a ham he is! As I'm playing this back right now he is squealing right along with it.

Cute-a-saurus

This isn't a post about Motor Boat's eating (although he is doing very well). I just thought he looked so dang cute I couldn't resist posting it. I love the bib and he is definitely a cute-a-saurus.

First Annual NICU Reunion

We have never had a reunion where I work for all the NICU babies. We had the first annual reunion yesterday. There was such a great turn out and we will do it again next year.

These are my friends Monica and Yolie. They worked the registration table and loved being the first to see all the kids. Dr. Dolphin was there to greet all the kiddos.
This is the tile wall you see upon entering the Children's Hospital. All the kids were able to make tiles yesterday that will go onto the wall.
This is Kooper. I often think back on taking care of him. I reminisced with his mom about one day in particular where he gave us a big scare. She remembered it well. Koop is doing well now and isn't he cute. This is Teri. She is an OT in the NICU where I work. She took care of Motor Boat during his stay with us and followed him closely after he moved to the Children's Unit. She has missed him greatly and follows his progress closely on the blog. Hi Teri! She was so glad to see him. She needed a Motor Boat fix.

Yellow Bird posing with Dr. Dolphin.
There was a clown there who did some magic tricks for the kids.
This is Cynthia. She is one of the Assistant Nurse Managers in the NICU. Everyone was so glad to see Motor Boat again. He is getting heavy and her arms started to hurt after a while.
These lovely ladies are some more of my co-workers. Betty (is now retired and living the high life :P), Evalou is a nurse on the unit and like me nowhere near retirement, Connie is another one of our OTs and she loves the babies, Ina is another retired nurse but she comes back to work with us occasionally (she just can't live without us).

Dr. Dolphin, Motor Boat and Teri

This is a little another little guy from the unit. He had a very rough ride but is doing great now.
This is the tile Sasha made to go on the wall.
Here are the girls making their tiles.
Here is Yellow Bird and her tile.

So, it was a wonderful event. Lots of fun for all. It is good to see the results of all our hard work. I loved seeing the babies I cared for but also showing off how wonderful Motor Boat is doing. Can't wait till next year.

Great News

Great Motor Boat news. We've been concerned about an area on Motor Boat's abdomen that keeps getting irritated/infected so I took him to see his surgeon yesterday. The area may need to be explored surgically but for now we will continue to watch it. But, he also said that when Motor Boat gets a little bigger they will be able to pull the fascia over his defect so it won't protrude. He doesn't have a lot of muscle but the fascia should hold it in better than the graft and skin has been able to. I was told there were no more surgeries and it would be left like it is but that isn't the case. I'm not thrilled with him having such a big surgery but I know it will be better closed.

Last few days

Things have been busy the last few days. Here are a few pictures of what we have been up to.
Motor Boat's CASA worker came by today and brought his Christmas present. He was in the hospital at Christmas time and she was afraid they would get lost. He loved them. Since we missed Christmas with him it was fun to see him open a couple of presents.

Playing peek-a-boo. I really need to dust the doors. Just never think to do that.
Friends over for a visit.

I can't get enough

I just can't get enough of this little guy standing. It is so cute. As he discovers he can do it, he does it more and more and laughs about it. He has stared bouncing and such. It is so cute.

Watch this sweet boy in action - 200th post

What an exciting 200th post. Watch this sweet boy stand. It is only for a few seconds but he is getting good at it. He will be walking in no time at all. At least I have something to talk about other than his eating. That is still going very well.

Hoppy Easter

We had a fun Easter Day. I forgot to take my camera to church and therefore didn't get pictures of the girls performance. Bad Mommy! They did a great job though, trust me.

The decorated eggs. I'm not sure what happened to the 12th egg. There were 12 when I bought them.

Here is Grammy. She doesn't usually let me take a picture so I have to post this one. She made a fantastic dinner. Yum. Thanks Mom! Sasha hunting eggs.
Yellow Bird too!
Grampy and Leopold lending a hand. This year we counted them so we would know if we got them all. One is still missing.

Grass is so cool. When you think about his limited exposure to outdoorsy things, you can understand his interest in them.

I'm not sure what Motor Boat is trying to accomplish here. He would put the bowl in his mouth and cover his face with it. I thought it was funny. Forget those blocks when you have a bowl to play with.
What a cute Easter outfit. The girls wore their Easter dresses in the professional pictures we had done. This is Motor Boat's Easter outfit. I love him in shorts because his little legs are so cute.
More egg hunting.
Motor Boat getting in on the action.

Uncle T and Aunt K. Aren't they so cute.
Granny just got out of the hospital 2 days ago. She still isn't feeling great but was able to watch the Great Easter Egg Hunt of 2008.
The girls decorating some eggs.

Motor Boat giving Aunt K some loving.

So, all in all it was a wonderful day. Enjoy the pictures.