Home...once again

We were just starting to get a little more used to the whole newborn thing when Thompson had to go back to the hospital last Sunday morning. Friday we had to give him an emergency shot of glucagon and his glucose levels continued to be inconsistent over the weekend. His endocrinologist first tried to increase his medicine, but when he started reacting to the higher dose she just decided to admit him to Primary Children's Hospital. 

It was hard taking him back to the hospital after having him home for only a few days. But I have to say he was the cutest little patient ever in his giant hospital crib. 

 

After a few days of low glucose levels in the hospital, we switched his feeding schedule to every 2 hours and started supplementing his feedings with high calorie formula to help him pack on the weight and build up some nutrient stores. By Wednesday we were able to take him home again. He is still on medicine and fortified bottles and we still need to check his glucose and feed him every 2.5 hours. But he is doing great. And apparently the plan to fatten him up is working. Before he was in the hospital he was 4 lbs. 14 oz. When he left he was 5 lbs. 10 oz. He will have chubby baby thighs soon. 

Bringing him home again felt a little bit like bringing him home for the first time. We had to readjust and work out a new schedule for everything. But we love having him home again and are hoping he continues to do well so we can just have normal newborn stuff to worry about.

Our next big adjustment will be not having my mom here. After two weeks, she finally had to get back to her own life. She was a HUGE help and Thompson loved spending time with Grandma. And we loved her spending time with him...especially in the middle of the night (or day) when we needed some sleep. We will miss her lots. 

And one more picture just because he is so cute...

A happy little family

Thompson came home on Tuesday. We couldn't be more excited and relieved that he is home with us. The whole not having my child with me thing got old fast, even though we only had to do it for a week. He seems to get cuter and cuter each day, especially now that we get to be with him all day every day. This little boy just makes us so happy.

Thompson's wrinkled forehead makes us happy. And his scrawny little legs. Luckily my mom went out and bought some preemie clothes for him before she flew out. He will probably grow out of them fast, but newborn clothes still drown him (see picture of hat below).

Over-sized hat + tiny head + very hungry boy = this adorable picture that makes us happy.

The way he loves looking at our faces when he is awake makes us happy. 

His tiny little wrists and hands makes us happy. 

 

Driving home with our boy made us happy. He is still too tiny for his car seat so they gave us a little car bed carrier to use. 

Having our little family all home together makes us very happy. 

This picture does not make me happy. It breaks my heart actually. Especially since I am the one that now has to do this to him. Thompson has continued to have problems with high insulin and low glucose levels. We give him medicine to lower his insulin, check his glucose every six hours, and have an emergency shot of glucagon ready in case his blood sugar gets too low.  In the hospital he was checked every three hours, so both his heels are already all bruised. Poor kid doesn't even cry anymore when we prick him. He is a tough little one. 

Although he is still having some problems, we are so thankful that he has done as well as he has. He was a late pre-term baby, but because he had been under some distress before he was born, they didn't really know what to expect in terms of his health when he came out. He has had no breathing problems at all, and he is eating really well and gaining weight. We went to the pediatrician yesterday who said he looked great. He is in the 1-2% for his weight and length, but that is expected for a premature baby.

It has been quite an adjustment having him home the last few days. We loved the cute little squeaks and purrs and snores and other noises he made in the hospital, but we have found they aren't so cute when he makes them all night long, and the neurotic mother in me has to check to make sure he is okay every 5 minutes. Our moms have been a tremendous help though, especially now that Trevor is back to work. Despite the lack of sleep, we are so in love with this boy and can't imagine our lives without him.

An Unexpected Surprise

Last night at 7:50, Thompson Henry Wright was born. He was apparently anxious to get here, coming 4 1/2 weeks early. The last few weeks he had been showing some signs that he wasn't doing as well as he should be, but what we thought would be just another test and check-up ended in the decision to have him delivered right away. I guess he was just ready to come, despite the fact that mom and dad weren't.

He is 4 lbs 13 oz, 18 inches long, and absolutely adorable. He is doing very well considering his size and age and has had no problems with his lungs or heart. He has had a few minor issues with blood sugar and temperature regulation, which has made it hard for us not to have him with us. We are so thankful that the operation went smoothly, that Melissa is doing well, and that little Thompson has no major problems. We really feel like we have been blessed during this whole process and that the doctors and nurses have been guided in their decisions.

Now for what everyone wants to see...