Archive of the Day – Foot Friends!
Max, September 10th, 2011, 5 months, 4 weeks
Once Max found his feet, they quickly became his best friends ever!
Archive of the Day – All These Tubes and Wires
Max, April 28th, 2011
Max came home on oxygen and required continuous oximetry monitoring to make sure his oxygen saturation was adequate, and so we could monitor him for episodes of apnea. Needless to say, Max often had tubes and wires everywhere. The pulse ox made it difficult for him to wear any footie pajamas, so we had to feed the wire up through the space between the gaps. Needless to say, he didn’t have many pairs of footie pajamas, and, out of habit, still doesn’t today.
Monday Max – Short in the Saddle
Max, January 14, 2012, 10 months
This past weekend we took Max to meet some very old friends of mine who were instrumental in helping me achieve my goal of becoming a physician. They own a saddle and tack shop, and Max was very interested in the saddles, and we could resist allowing him to be a cowboy for a few minutes.
He had quite a good visit – got to see lots of neat things, and had his second dining out experience sitting in the high chair. At the restaurant there was a girl of about 8 or 9 who he was quite taken with and spent a lot of time turning around in his high chair to smile at her and flirt. Didn’t help that she kept giggling, smiling, waving and talking to him. And so it starts…
(picture taken at The Boardwalk .)
Archive of the Day – Deep in Thought
Max, 1 week
Max always looked like he was contemplating deep and serious issues. He continues to do so as he has grown. I like to think that, perhaps, he is solving complex mathematical equations or developing new ideas on string theory.
Monday Max – Merry Christmas!
Max, 8 months, 2 weeks
Monday Max – Christmas Eve!
Max, 8 months, 2 weeks
Monday Max – Countdown to Christmas, 2 days to go
Max, 8 months, 2 weeks
Monday Max – Countdown to Christmas, 3 days to go
Max, 8 months, 2 weeks
Monday Max – Countdown to Christmas, 4 days to go
Max, 8 months, 2 weeks
Monday Max – Countdown to Christmas, 5 days to go
Max, 8 months, 2 weeks
Monday Max – Countdown to Christmas, 6 days to go
Max, November 30th, 8 months, 2 weeks
Monday Max – Countdown to Christmas, 7 days to go
Max, 8 months, 2 weeks
Monday Max – Elf Pajamas
Max, November 30th, 2011, 8 months, 2 weeks
Now for some “Countdown to Christmas with Max”! Max was quite enthralled with the large gold Christmas ornament at the studio. It’s hard to believe that we’re almost at the 9 month mark!
Archive of the Day – Suprise Smile
Max, August 13, 2011, 5 months
One of the joys of taking Max shopping – looking down and being greeted by such a smile!
Archive of the Day – One Eye Open
Max, March 25th, 2011, 11 days
Don’t be fooled – he saw what you did there.
Monday Max – Stinking Cute
Max, October 6th, 2011, 6 months 3 weeks
We’ve never had the opportunity to get professional photos done. Honestly, it was more vanity on my part – I didn’t want to pay large sums of money to capture my little preemie with his oxygen cannula taped to his face. Professional pictures are supposed to give us some normalcy and anyone with a preemie knows it’s not a normal time.
We finally gave in to a local studio promotion – as it is a chain store, I figured we’d get two or three good poses. $400 later, and we have prints and copyright ownership of all of them. They are all adorable, but this one is my favorite.
And, yes, that is the same ducky that kept him company in his isolette during his NICU stay.
Archive of the Day – Hurry Up and Fix It!!!
Max, March 22, 2011, 8 days
Max hated having a soiled diaper. He would fuss and carry on until he was cleaned up. His body language in this picture demonstrates his distress. It also didn’t help that he swam in the preemie sized diapers.
Archive of the Day – Monkey Feet!
Max, March 20th, 2011, 6 days
Putting Max in clothes was a pretty big deal. I had stocked up on “0-3” size outfits initially, thinking it was pointless to buy anything “newborn” as he would only wear it for a short time. When we were told he was IUGR and not growing, I picked up more “newborn” outfits. When we were able to dress Max, it became very clear that I could fit two of him in a newborn sized outfit. I sent my husband down to the hospital gift shop where I had spotted this tiny outfit in preemie size. He brought it, we washed it, and dressed Max up in his first outfit – and became aware that even the preemie size was too big. Needless to say. he wore preemie sized clothes for his first 6 weeks of life, and newborn size until he was 4 months old. Now at 6 1/2 months, his 13.5 pound frame is in the “3-6” month sizes!
Archive of the Day – Room Air!
Max, March 19th, 2001, 5 days
Max’s NICU stay was a roller coaster – a small roller coaster, but one nonetheless. At birth, he was on oxygen, then laer that afternoon off, but couldn’t maintain his oxygen saturation, so back on, then off after a few days. At the time of this picture, he was off, but then went on to develop apnea of prematurity, and was placed back on the oxygen and started on daily caffeine.
Bonus Max – Bright Eyed
Max, September 21st, 2011, 6 months, 1 week
Recently, Max has decided that the “Back to Sleep” program no longer applies to him. It does not matter how we place him in the bassinet, he immediately flips on to his left side, and overnight, he works his way to belly sleeping. When he does wake up in the morning, he’s amazingly cheerful. Quite a feat for the child who absolutely hated Tummy Time in the beginning.
Monday Max – New BFF
Max, October 3rd, 2011, 6 months 2 weeks
Too Max to a local children’s store and was showing him all the different Sesame Street characters. He showed complete disinterest towards Big Bird, Snuffalupagus, Grover, and Cookie Monster. However, he saw Oscar, grabbed him, and refused to let go. He squeals at Oscar, he chews on Oscar, he falls asleep with Oscar in his arms. Only my kid would want to be BFFs with the snarky green monster that dwells in a garbage can.
Archive of the Day – Wrinkles!
Max, March 18th, 2011, 4 days
At 3 pounds, 6 ounces, Max had almost no brown fat that full term babies are born with. An expressive baby, Max quickly developed “worry lines” between his eyes and on his forehead, and little chin creases. Most have faded as he’s grown and gained weight, but they are still some residual faint reminders of his “grumpy old man” face.
Archive of the Day- Secure Slumber
Max, March 15th, 2011, 1 Day
Max had to be difficult right from the start- after multiple sticks, the pediatrician was only able to place an umbilical vein catheter for IV access. It would be several days before Max would trade the UVC for a regular peripheral IV line. Until that time, our ability to cuddle and hold Max was limited due to fears of losing his venous accidentally through any small tug. Needless to say, we’d cradle Max in our laps as he would lay on a pillow, surrounded by bumpers, sleeping safely and securely.
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