First days home & Thanksgiving

Mommy is tired! She isn't used to getting up & feeding me every 3 hours. She also can't get much sleep b/c I grunt all the time! Just like a little pig. Sometimes I even sound like a billy goat, or a horse. Dad thinks I sound like a chipmunk too. Just a little noisy, like my dad! Dad wonders if if I have colic* (he's clueless about babies!), but we've heard from others that it's common in preemies. I don't have any problems sleeping so I have no idea what they are talking about!
Since I am a preemie, I'm not supposed to be around a lot of people. Therefore, we stayed home for Thanksgiving. We all went to Uncle Eric & Katrina's to have dinner w/the gang. We have a lot to be thankful for this year!

Days in the NICU

Mom & dad went home without me, they were sad, but knew I was being taken care of by the best! They came to visit me everyday! I also had other visitors, some could come back to see me but not all, the rules are strict there.
I had a feeding tube for the first 3 days while I was sediated so I didn't burn up calories. I was jaundice and had some cool sunglasses to protect my eyes from the bililights. I had lots of monitors, wires everywhere. I would pull them off as often as I could, rotten already! Mom fed me on the 4th day, I was eating just 10cc (a teaspoon). I would hold my head up like a big boy! Strong as an ox! They bumped up my formula amounts real fast everyday & I got fats and lots of nutrients. I had lots of tests & xrays done. I was doing well & doing what I was told to do!
Dr. Hilmo would call mommy each day to update her in the AM, they would visit each evening then. They were pleased w/my progress. After a week in there, I got a PICC line which they usually put in thru your head. It's like an IV, but for longer use, than the others. So I was down to just that & my regular monitors. Mom & dad liked to see all the stuff gone but hated to see that on the side of my head. I still have a bald spot where they shaved my hair! I didn't have to have it for long though, it had to come out to have a MRI done. I was close to coming home!
By the end of my 13 day stay, I was eating almost 2oz every 3 hours. My weight went up & down, but left weighing 5lbs. Mom & dad spent the night w/me the day before I was released. I was so happy!! So were they! We came home on Tuesday, Nov 25th. Just in time for Turkey Day!

Uh oh!! Here I am...

Today was mommy's appt. 36 wks 1 day. Dad came along to go to the ultrasound first. The tech seemed worried and tried to arouse me by buzzing mom's belly but nothing happened. I wasn't responding or moving, just a heartbeat. She didn't like that. She checked to see if I was still a boy, dad was concerned and yep, I was! They asked if I was big but she said "no, he's really little." And wanted to get the doctor right away. Mom & dad were freaking out & scared.
Dr Harpole checked & mom was 2 cm & 50% thinned. She said the placenta wasn't working & I wasn't growing like I should have been b/c I wasn't getting what I needed from the placenta. Therefore, I had to come out. TODAY! She said mom would have eventually started having symptoms like bleeding but it probably would have been too late for me....So they went straight to the hospital. (Thankfully mom had just finished packing their bags, the diaper bag, and put the car seat in the car that day, just to be prepared since we were under a month to go.) Wow, pretty freaky huh?!?
At the hospital, monitors were hooked up & found mom was having contractions, (didn't know it) so no need for the pitocen, but my heartbeat would drop w/each contraction. Dr H said "that's it, we're doing a c-section, be ready by 4." I was born at 4:14PM!
I let everyone know I had arrived by screaming at the top of my lungs & then peed on the nurses! : ) Sprinkler works! I weighed 4lbs 10oz & was 16 3/4in long. Just a widdle guy! But I was strong & fiesty! I got to hang out w/the 'rents for awhile but the nurse wanted to get me checked out. Mommy's glad she did, thanks Nurse Heather. (she had 2 preemies herself, so she knew!) They took me to the NICU & found out I had some blood in my stomach. It was from being stressed in mom's belly. I was hooked up to all kinds of machines & had lots of tubes & wires. It was scary for us but I was a fighter! They said I would probably stay for 10-14 days.

Vacation or not?

On Wed, mom had a doctor's appt. She was checked for the first time and was 1 cm. She asked about getting the 2nd ultrasound. Dr Harpole said she needed a reason to order one, mom reminded her of how big they were when they were born, Dr H said that's a good reason! So next time, we'll find out! Also, this appt was to find out if she could travel to the wedding this weekend. YES!! It will be a longer trip though, so she can go potty & walk around too!
Off to Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg we went for Brad & Ashley's wedding. It was my first vacation and their last one alone!! : ) We did lots of fun things while we were there. All their friends can't wait to meet me! Only a month to go! How can that be?

I have a name!!

Amazingly, mom & dad didn't take too long to decide on a name for me. Mom had always said if it was a boy then the middle name would be her maiden name, Clark. So after going through every name they could think of, one kept coming back up....Brady. That's it! Brady Clark Stallings. Mom says it sounds like a baseball player!

It's a....

Mom & Dad went to the doctor today for an ultrasound, hoping to find out what I am...mom guessed a boy & dad guessed a girl. Neither one cared though. Mom had been buying and buying since she found out & way before too, mostly for a boy. Luckily, they got to see everything needed for the doctor & found out I AM a BOY!! Woo Hoo!! I can't wait to be big and play baseball with dad!
Toward my due date, we can hopefully have another ultrasound to see how big I am going to be! Mom is worried that I'm going to be big like she & dad were (9lbs 3oz & 8lbs 6oz). Plus dad had a big ol' head like a basketball!!

EXTRA EXTRA!! Read all about it!!

Memorial Day weekend, mom & dad had the gang over for a party and had some big news to share! Dad even wore his tuxedo shirt, it was an important event!! They told everyone that I was on the way!! Due 12/9. Everyone was so excited!! And shocked! They couldn't keep it a secret any longer for two reasons: #1 mom was so sick with ALL day any time sickness, sorry mom! and #2 dad was about to burst not being able to tell anyone!!