Ooooh October

Seven Months Old

 Grammy & Grandpa

This month started with a visit from my mother, father, and brother, who decided to escape the cold Midwest weather for a few days and enjoy some Florida sun.  Unfortunately, it rained every day they were here, but my father and brother were still able to sneak in a scuba dive with the manatee at Crystal River and we all were able to spend a morning at the zoo.

Uncle Scott

Isaac started rolling over consistently this month, so tummy time has now become log-rolling. I continue to put Isaac on his belly, and he continues to roll over on his back, so we're both getting our exercise.

Mid-month, we learned we had been approved for one of the townhouses we were looking at in Jupiter, Florida, so we began the scramble to pack and move in two weeks time.  Thankfully, Isaac has taken a liking to Baby Einstein videos, so I have been able to work on packing while keeping him entertained for thirty minute spurts, as well as while he naps and after he goes to sleep at night.

This month, Isaac was approved by his pediatrician to start eating rice cereal. Aaron and I have only been successful in keeping about 40% of the food in his mouth thus far, while the other 60% dribbles down his chin or oozes under his bib and into his clothes. Isaac tries to help by shoving both hands into his mouth between bites, then lets us know he's getting tired by rubbing his eyes.  It's a messy endeavor, but it's our favorite time of day.

We had another appointment with Isaac's pulmonologist, in order to determine if he was ready to come off the apnea monitor.  His doctor decided that, although he's doing well, he wanted to verify that he is indeed ready to live monitor free, and ordered an ECG and 24 hour halter monitor to make sure we're not missing anything.  Isaac did extremely well tolerating the monitor, and didn't seem to mind skipping tummy time for a day.  I, on the other hand, was a basket case, feeling like I couldn't hug him properly with all the equipment in the way, and counted down the hours until I could remove it and hug him again.

Isaac has learned that if he presses his face against the side of his bassinet, it keeps his pacifier in while he sleeps.  It makes me nervous to glance down and see his little squashed face, but he's sleeping peacefully, breathing deeply (trust me, I check frequently), and doing just fine.  I still find myself staying up late, just to watch him sleep, to listen to him breathe, to marvel at how far he's come. Our little miracle. So much love.

 Before finalizing our move to Jupiter, we simply had to visit our wonderful NICU nurses one more time, to give hugs, say farewells, and let them sneak in one more snuggle with Isaac.

Nurse Geri and Isaac

On the 19th, we got the HOA approval, ordered the uhaul, and scheduled to take the first load down this weekend. We also finally heard back from Isaac's pulmonologist and his ECG results are normal. What does this mean? He no longer needs the apnea monitor and, as Aaron puts it, we have a wireless baby!

Toward the end of the month, our little boy started rolling from his back to his belly!  He has decided that slow motion log rolls all over his play mat are the best way to travel, and if he's awake, he is constantly in motion. This kid has places to go!

On the 28th, we said farewell to our house in Jacksonville and drove 4 1/2 hours south to Jupiter.  Aaron drove the uhaul, with Otis riding in the passenger seat, while I drove the van, carrying the bikes on the back, the kayaks on the roof, and Isaac in the back seat.  We were extremely relieved to have an uneventful trip, allowing one 30 minute stop to eat lunch and stretch, with an easygoing, happy baby, either sleeping or playing with his toys the entire drive down.  We were welcomed with a cold front, which was ideal for traveling, since my van currently lacks air conditioning, and Isaac enjoyed touring the property bundled in a hoodie, snuggled safely in Daddy's arms.

The cooler weather was actually a side effect from the outskirts of Hurricane Sandy, which hit the northeast full blast over the next few days.  I watched the news, bawling as I learned that a hospital in New York lost power when its backup generator failed, and nicu babies were being transported to another hospital, carried out by medical staff while nurses hand-bagged the babies on oxygen.  Florida was spared from the storm, and simply issued a "snuggle alert" as temperatures dropped to the high 30s for a few nights.  I held Isaac a little tighter for the next few days, appreciating his strength, health, growth and achievements, and realizing once again how blessed we are.

The 31st brought about Isaac's first Halloween!  With the chaos from the move only days earlier, we opted out of a costume this year (and avoided trick or treaters for the fear of dozens of children's germs).  Instead, Isaac wore a nicely themed outfit from his Nana and socks from his great aunt, and we enjoyed a quiet night in as a family.  It has been one crazy month, but we're surviving and thriving

That's all for now...

But don't worry!  There are more stories and photos coming soon...