Family Values

• When I was a kid, my favorite books were the ValueTale series by Spencer Johnson, MD. They came once a month. I always looked forward to their arrival. When we found out we were having Bennett, I purchased the complete set on ebay. Tonight we started in on the series with "The Value of Patience - The Story of the Wright Brothers". Maybe eight days old is too early for a child to understand the power of a good story - but he did stop crying when I started reading (plus with his early arrival, he could learn a thing or two about patience). So we learned about how the Wright Brothers wanted to put an engine on a glider so it would stay in the air. Their father taught them that "patience means not getting mad when something takes a long time." The Wright Brothers used the value of patience to fly the first airplane in Kitty Hawk, NC (where Daddy took hang gliding lessons a few years ago). Bennett dozed off before he realized that if we are patient we can accomplish anything we want (we'll save that lesson for his third week of life).
• I went back to work yesterday. What a feeling to come home to your family (smiling wife, happy baby, and a dog wagging his tail off).

• I used a cool trick of shooting a few drops of breast milk (from a bottle, not directly from the breast) up Bennett's nose to clear out his blocked nostrils. A bulb syringe and a couple sneezes later he went from whistling through his nose to breathing free!

• A couple of fellow fathers have told me, "Life begins now." . . . I believe them.

• I'm working on my diaper change time (ala nascar pit crew) . . . doodie is my duty.

• I feel like having a baby minimizes the browser on the rest of your life.

• I look back at the last nine months in disbelief. We've moved 1700 miles, remodeled a commercial space, started a business, and (most importantly) all this has happened (save the last minute):

Bennett, this is Brux

• I picked up our boxer, Brux, from boarding yesterday.  I've been concerned for months about how he would react to the baby's arrival.  If you haven't met Brux . . . to say he's social is the understatement of the year.  In fact, he loses his mind when he meets someone new (think Taz, the Tasmanian Devil from the Bugs Bunny cartoons).  Brux has followed Karah's every move (including patiently sitting next to the toilet when she's going to the bathroom) during the pregnancy.  So, he had sensed the changes.  He was amazingly sedate during the introduction.  He's calm, but curious.  He's somewhat jealous, but I think he'll be Bennett's protector.  He definitely wants to be the first on the scene when he hears a cry. 

The smells

What's that?

A closer look

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  Karah found a little Mother's Day note from Bennett in his crib yesterday: 

I Like Helicopters

I really like helicopters. Mommy, thanks for the ride.

And thank you again, for taking care of me when I was inside.

Wednesday was my birthday. You welcomed me to this life.

I’m sure glad you didn’t have to go under the knife.

Mommy, I’m sorry if I scared you and made a display.

I just really wanted to be here on this Mother’s Day.

I love you bunches,

Bennett

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  Bennett had a new baby check with the pediatrician today.  He is doing great!  He'll probably be on oxygen for about a week because of the altitude (that's almost customary around here).

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  I made the mistake of allowing Brux to approach Bennett when he had pajamas with lion feet on (see photo).  I quickly found out that those feet looked a little too much like a dog's chew toy.  Brux was much too interested in those lions. 

. . .The lion sleeps tonight

My homeboy

• Bennett was discharged yesterday.  We were originally thinking he'd need to be up there 7-10 days.  What a thrill to install his car seat in the morning and put him in it in the afternoon. 


• I sense that our happy story isn't very common in those ICU units.  It's so sad to see the babies Bennett has roomed with that have to struggle in their first days, weeks, months of life (one born 1 lb. 15 oz. over a month ago, one with back surgery, one that won't eat). 
• We stayed at the Ronald McDonald House near the hospital on Friday night.  Incredible charity and fantastic facility.  It's nice that parents needing extended stays have a home away from home. 

Ron, Karah, & Bennett
• The sweetest thing in the world is watching Karah sing "You Are My Sunshine" to the baby . . ."You'll never know, Bennett, how much I love you. Please don't take my Bennett away." 
• Dad, on the other hand, can't get Ed Helms' song from the Hangover (linky) out of my head (Karah and I watched it when she wasn't feeling well last weekend).  "What does Bennett dream of when he takes a little baby snooze? . . ."
• Quote of the day:  I asked Karah what she wanted to do for Mother's Day.  She replied with a smile, "Let's just stare at him."
• I got Bennett a piggy bank (blue argyle) for his first gift.  Now, I have to sneak out today and get Karah a Mother's Day / Push Present (don't tell).  
• I would tackle anyone who woke me up four times in one night . . . yet, I smiled everytime I heard Bennett cry last night.
• Emergency helicopter ride to Denver. . . $??,000.   Car ride home to Avon . . . $28.  Being at home (on Mother's Day) (4 days later) (with my family) and blogging cribside . . . priceless!

Movin' on up!

• Bennett was taken off his oxygen yesterday and then he was moved up to the graduate (summa cum laude) NICU last night.  We are so happy that he is healthy enough to move up to the 7th floor.  Rumor is that he may move down to the first floor nursery today or tomorrow.  The great news just keeps on coming.  At this rate, Bennett will be in his car seat in no time. 
• Karah will be discharged in a few hours.  To go from life-threatening illness to walking out the door in less than 3 days is incredible to me.  I once saw her limp to the finish of a marathon and thought that was her strongest moment.  Now, I think her strength and courage has no bounds. 
• We've received red carpet treatment here at Presby St. Lukes . . . EVERYONE (doctors, nurses, housekeeping, etc.) has truly taken care of us.  They just made reservations for us at the Ronald McDonald house nearby.  I've believed in the Ronald McDonald House Charity cause and been a donor for years.  I never thought I'd be a recipient of their kindness. 
• A special thanks to Kelli, Karah's friend from St. Francis!  She ran a USB cord up to the hospital so we could upload pictures after she read on this blog that I had left ours at home.
• The kid can eat.  I just fed him and he slurped that whole bottle right down. 

Toasty

• Sounds like Bennett may be out of intensive care soon.  Although, he looks big, strong, and alert . . .the doctors say that they have to remind themselves that he is premature.  So it's just a matter of making sure his oxygen levels, blood sugar, temperatures, etc. stay where they should be.  He's doing amazing.
• Karah's strength through all of this leaves me in awe.  She was taken off the IVs and took a bath late last night.  I was able to wheel her into NICU about midnight.  She hasn't got to spend much time with Baby B.  She was so happy to have him in her arms at the moment he turned 1 day old. 

• My mom and dad were able to go in and feed him last night . . . that was a special 1st grandparent moment.
• I've had a bottle of Dom Perignon that I've been saving for a couple years for a special celebration.  I popped the cork last night.  Karah, I and Bennett's 4 grandparents raised a glass (plastic hospital cup) in a toast to Bennett. 
• Karah and I appreciate all the well wishes and prayers.  The support has been overwhelming (No doubt we have the best friends and family on the planet)
• I have tons of pictures (he may have sunburn from all the camera flashes).  Unfortunately, in the haste of Tuesday evening . . . I forgot to grab the USB cord to upload them. 
• Karah just got out of her gown and put "real" clothes on.  Time to spend some q.t. with our cutie.