Cousin Time

I had a great few days with my cousins, Carole and Kristi. They came to the Blue Heron Condo on Hood Canal for 3 days. It is always SO good to get together. We just talked and explored and ate and relaxed! We MUST do this more often!

EASTER

I rented a condo on Hood Canal for Easter week. All my kids and grandkids were supposed to come for a few days. Corbin, Melody and their 3 kids were here from Friday through Monday. Alissa and Dan came out for most of Saturday and missed a few visits with Max during the day. It was a beautiful day and we did everything from hunting Easter eggs to beach combing. I just LOVE having my family all together....if only Max and Mason could have been there too! Here is an assortment of pictures from our time together.

Happy Birthday Alissa

Happy 32nd birthday Alissa!! I am glad we got to celebrate Alissa's birthday even if it was a little late. She deserved a little special time just for her!

Bouncy Seat

I had a great visit with Max today....although he didn't really ever wake up to join in the visit! Alissa got him a little vibrating bouncy seat that fits in his crib. He got all tucked in and comfy and seemed to really like it.

He is slowly being weaned down in "Breaths Per Minute" on the ventilator. The weaning is all related to whether or not his "blood gasses" are good. If they meet the criteria they set the "BPM" down by 2 at 10:00 at night. So far he has gone down 3 days in a row. GO MAX!! If the progress continues he still has quite a few days before meeting his goal of 20....but he is currently going the right way!

Max and Mom

I saw Max on Friday and he was happily and sleepily resting in his Mama's arms.
He is now off of the antibiotic but I don't have any information as to it's success.
Max is now taking a diuretic because he is retaining water. His weight is fluctuating right around 5 pounds! That is a BIG gain...... He is still on the ventilator and the little lungs aren't working on their own yet. He is also being followed by an eye doctor for the beginnings of a condition called "retinopathy of prematurity". Hopefully this will correct itself and not get any worse. Got to get him off that extra oxygen....at least that is how I understand it.

My 3 other Grandchildren!!

Everyone is reading and following the progress of Max.....I must remember I have 3 other ADORABLE grandchildren!! I went with their family to the Daffodil Parade on April 9th....this is an OLD tradition in the Puyallup Valley where I grew up.

Norah and Elliott happy with their daffodils!


Simon happy too!!







Elliott with the Seafair Pirates!!




Ahhhh......cute kids in my lap and a parade going by....how wonderful!!

My friend Jeanne protecting Norah from the clowns!!

Friends.....Jeanne and Karen!!

ME holding Max!!!!

What a special day....I got to hold Max. Thank you Alissa for granting me this special priveledge. I held him for 1 hour and 45 minutes! During this time he managed to pull out his feeding tube and started choking (since he was being fed at the time!) The nurses promptly and efficiently took care of getting it back in place....but it surely did scare me!! He was awake and alert during the whole time and seemed to be gazing right into my eyes!! OK...I know that is probably not fact....but I like to think so!

Max continues on his antibiotic but is nearly done with it. Hopefully it worked! He has gained a LOT of weight very quickly and looks kind of "puffy"....he is retaining water. I will update on that state soon.

Tiny IV's

Max has been fighting an infection (which is scary to this Grandma!). He has a tiny little IV that is sometimes in his arm and sometimes in the top of his head. They have to change it frequently because it keeps "clotting out". He will be finished with his round of antibiotics tomorrow.

This picture shows the IV in his arm with the little paddle to keep it in place.

This picture shows the IV in the top of his little head.....apparently it is easier to find a vein there.

Max has a TOY!!

The nurses told my daughter that Max was ready for a toy.....something to look at since he seemed to be looking around so much. It had to be all plastic for sanitizing. She looked everywhere and could only come up with one option which was $50!! It is worth it....Max seems to like it. Fish sail around while soft music plays. He seems to look at it and enjoy it.

Peek-A-Boo

This picture is a couple of weeks old.....but just too cute!!
Max is saying "I see you"...to all his new Grandma Blog Friends!!

Mama Holding Max

Alissa can now hold Max in a position where she can actually SEE him. She still has to be carefull of all the tubes though. He lays there on his little pillow and it looks as though they are gazing at each other. I think he is getting to know his mommy!

Crib

Max has graduated from the isolette into a mini-crib. This means he is able to keep his temperature up all by himself (with the help of cute clothes, comfy blankets and a hat!) He looks pretty cute in the little crib!

Touching Max

Max's First Bath

St.Patrick's Day

Coming home to Max and his parents.....

This was my first time to see Max....and Alissa's first time to hold him. It was quite an exciting time.