Alex Playing Church

I finaaly got Alex on video playing church!

The first weeks home

~Seth~ 4 months old, adjusted age of 4 weeks
I have been home from the hospital now for three weeks. Mom's got me figured out finally. The first two days were rough because Mom wanted me to nurse, but I'm smarter than she is. Sucking from a bottle is way easier and when you are as hungry as I am, who wants to wait for the milk to "let down". I do love being close to mommy, though. I like when she lays me against her chest and I can hear the rythmn of her heart and her breathing. For the most part I sleep all day. Every two to three hours I wake up for something to eat. I can guzzle down two to three ounces of mom's milk at a time. She's started fortifying my milk to help me gain weight a little faster. Sometimes it upsets my tummy a little. At my last weigh in I was 5 lbs. 12 oz. This was up two ounces from the week before, and up four since discharge. I will hit that 6 lb. mark soon and can't wait to show off in my new outfits! Just wait until I hit eight pounds! You won't even recognize me! I'm a pretty easy going guy. I hate to be in a dirty pair of pants, so if you keep me clean and dry, life can't get much better! The car seat isn't that bad to ride in. Mommy and I take trips to the doctor together. We saw the opthamologist last week. Boy, that wasn't fun. First they put these drops in your eyes that make everything look blurry and way too bright. Then they hold you tight while they look into your eyes. The eye clamps are not very comfortable. But thank goodness this was the last time I had to do that. The doctor says my eyes are fully vascularized with no sign of retinal detachment. He says I need to come back in three months for an eye exam. I don't know how they know if I need glasses, but they are pretty smart. Well, mom says I need to get off the computer. I have to go with her to choir practice. She plays the piano. I love when she sings and plays for me!

Alright, who voted for El Paso?

Still waiting for our orders. Getting the house ready to sell. Busy, busy. But not too busy to talk if any of my siblings would like to call. Hey, Angela, what is your phone number? Ok, maybe I should write those things down. Maybe we'll be stationed together someday! Go Army!

Here's my family

My creative younger sister put this together. As close to a family portrait that we'll ever have! Hey, I think I'll print this out at Costco.

Free at Last!!!

Seth is finally home! We have escaped from the hospital and are trying to adjust to being at home. Not to mention being mauled by five older siblings! The following pictures are of Seth getting ready to come home!






On the drive home!



At home with all my brothers and sisters and Grandma and Grandpa Stailey!




We are so glad to be home and especially because we don't have to make the long trip up to the hospital anymore! Well, not on a regular basis. We still have a long list of doctors to see, but at least we are home. Seth did not pass his hearing test, so we get to see an ENT (ear, nose, throat doc) and repeat the test in a month or so. We have follow ups with the surgeon, optamologist, and endocrinologist as well. We had great doctors and nurses who took care of us during our stay and we will miss them. (Here's a shout out to Chris Malone, who I don't know will ever read this blog, but if she does, she's one heck of a nurse!) We are forever grateful to everyone who prayed on our behalf or even just kept us in their thoughts. And most importantly all praise and glory to a loving Heavenly Father who has blessed us with Seth and for carrying us through this long adventure. And so the journey continues. It's not over yet. We still have a lot to go through with Seth, but he's doing amazingly well. And so, here we go!

Coming home soon!

Seth's coming home! Seth's coming home!

Extubation Time, Come On!

Seth was finally extubated yesterday! They left the Anderson Tube (tube that gently suctions his stomach) in though and that made Seth a little unhappy. Gosh, what's it like to have a tube down your throat gagging you! The Anderson tube was removed today and he is much happier about that!


Two of the incisions on his belly.


Awake and wanting the breathing tube out. It was hard to see him this way! Poor guy!


After extubation, still mad, though cause they left the Anderson tube in.


Still mad. Took awhile and a little bit Adavan to soothe him.


Today after having the Anderson tube out. Life is getting better!