{Happy Birthday Finn}

Finn turned 2 today!  When we got him out of bed this morning he didn't want to eat, and just wanted to lay down.  He wasn't feeling well.  He was feverish too.  He is getting his back molars in and I think this is what's causing his sickness (at least I hope that's what it is).  I told Owen it was his lucky day and that he got to stay home from church and watch Finn.  He was on board for that.  When I left he was sleeping.  I came back to check on him after sacrament meeting.  He woke up and I gave him some medicine and a few bites of bread, and then he went back to sleep.  I went back to church.  When I got home from church he woke up and signed that he wanted to eat.  So I fed him and he ate a lot.  He seemed to be feeling much better.  When Kurt got home from his bishopric duties, we had a small birthday celebration.  I took his picture with the same set up as his one year old birthday picture, we sang, ate his donut cake, and opened presents.  He was fine for it all and about 20 minutes after we were done he was laying on the floor again.  Not feeling well.  I put him back to bed.  Hopefully he will be feeling better tomorrow.  I always worry when he gets sick, because when he gets sick, he really gets sick.

You would never know he was sick from looking at this picture.

First and 2nd birthday comparison.  He could barely sit up on his own in his one year picture.

 

Waiting for Dad to light the candles.

 

 

Got a little help to blow out the candles 

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!

Finn: 

-is crawling and pulling up, but not walking independently

-dares to venture off the blanket and onto the grass and cement

-can climb up stairs, but not go down them

-can say:  shh, bite, up, bye, da da, ball, book, dog, cat, mmm

-signs:  mom, milk, dad, water, more, cookie, cracker, all done, eat, drink
-knows how: fold arms, vroom car, give kiss, brush hair, wave, jump, ssss for snake

-loves to wave and laugh

-gives great hugs and pats your back when doing so

-is learning that when you cry you get a reaction

-happy go lucky



20 Months.

Finn got a haircut today.  He screamed and cried the whole time.  I had to have Eli hold his hands while I buzzed with the clippers as quickly as I could.

He was also super smiley and laughy today.

He loves to point at things.  We are teaching him where his nose, eyes, mouth, ears and hair is.  He is getting good at pointing at them when we ask him where they are.

He has 4 teeth coming in, and just got his 2 back molars all the way in.  Hopefully he will start chewing his food more before swallowing it whole.  I am trying to get him off of formula and have been feeding him more table food (which he loves), and a couple of sippies/bottles a day.  We got him drinking out of a straw.  Yes!  Which is recommended by therapists to help with speech.  We still have to watch him closely when eating so that he doesn't choke, as sometimes he doesn't chew his food.  We have a therapist coming in a couple of weeks to watch him eat and swallow.

He is doing really well with crawling on all fours and pulling himself up to a standing position while holding onto something.  We are starting to work on getting him to walk with a push toy walker.  I was anxious for him to get walking, but I have shifted gears and I really think it important to get him talking and communicating.  I know the walking will come.  Speech.....He's going to have to work doubly hard for that one.  He can say hi, dada, hi kitty (not totally clear), and he can sign "more".

Overall, he is doing wonderfully.  He has been healthy this winter and has hardly been sick, granted, I've been super anal and cautious about taking him out and quarantine him to his room when needed.  He does need to have a sleep study done to check his sleep apnea, an EKG & and echo to check his heart, and we are currently working on his hearing.  He is still wearing his bone conductor.  I have been putting the first two procedures off as we have to pay out of pocket for them and they are not cheap.  But hopefully we will get them done this year.

He still proves to be very patient.  He has learned how to tolerate noise, and he seems to not be sensitive to it like he used to be.  We took him to the Jazz game and he did great, as does equally as well when we take him to the boys' basketball games.  He loves to wave to people and say hi.  He is a joy and delight.  He is easy, loves to crawl and play, and has a super cute laugh.   ♥

 

{Down Syndrome Weekend Momma Get-A-Way}

I am lucky to be affiliated with a group of Mom's who all have children with Down Syndrome.  Every once in a while, we do weekend get-a-ways to get together and hang out.

This weekend we went to Heber, UT. 

Like any get-a-way there was food, games, dining, talking, and late nights.  Here is the house we stayed in.  It was a friend of a friends.  It is their 2nd home.  Home away from home.  I want a 2nd home....... 

This is a picture of everyone that came.  All of these pictures were taken by someone else.  I copied and pasted them to my blog.

All of these ladies are amazing and are a vault of valuable information.  I learn so much from them. 

 

 

We ate at the Blue Boar Inn for breakfast.  Here is Amy, Emily, Heather, and Me.

Jodi, Jeana, Heather, and Emily.  We were running on very little sleep.  Our reservation was for 9:30 a.m.  I know some didn't goto bed until 5 a.m.

After eating we rushed back home to watch a Doterra presentation.  I'm surprised we all stayed awake for it.  I must admit, I'm a bit of a skeptic.  Still don't know what to think about these essential oils that are so hot right now.  I will say that I was getting sick from all the different smells I had on me.  Blah!

Upstairs there was a room set up with home made jewelry that the next door neighbor makes.  We were able to shop and buy.  I bought a few pieces.  Super cute, right.

We went swimming at the Crater.  The water was 95 degrees and it was humid.  Whenever I've gone to Heber/Midway, I've always wanted to swim in it.  It was worth doing it one time.  The water was super clear.  It was like a mineral soak.  There was a scuba class going on, and we saw a couple just after the guy had proposed.  I wouldn't say it was the most romantic place to propose......  It was a little claustrophobic for me.  It is in the middle of earth.  Not the earth, but earth.  And it didn't help that it was humid and the water hot.  I started feeling queasy.  I had to get out and go outside for some fresh air.

So clear.

This is the top of the crater, looking up from the inside.  I'm not sure how wide the opening is, but thank goodness there was a little bit of light coming in.  I don't think I could have swam if it was literally in the earth.  Maroon 5 comes to mind when I think about being in the earth-It's getting harder and harder to breathe.

Before we went swimming at the crater, the night before, I started feeling like garbage.  I ate sugar.  Not a lot, but more than I normally eat in a typical day.  For the last 8 weeks, I've been trying to eat good.  My stomach actually hurt.  It was weird.  I now know what it's like to "feel" good and then feel the consequence of ruining all my work of healthy eating.  Definitely makes me think twice about eating junk.

My favorite thing about getting away with these ladies is the stories and information that I glean and can add to my book of things that will help me in raising Finn.   It's a nice outlet to have.

When I got home, I saw that all of the blinds were dusted.  They were SO DUSTY.  Kurt told the boys that he'd pay them to wipe them down.  Slat by slat.  11 windows worth.  It was awesome!  Little Finny was so excited to see me.  He was all smiles and laughs.  Kurt had just given him a bath and his hair was sticking straight up all over.  He's so awesome!

{Sugardoodle pj's}

My sweet friend, and visiting teacher, Janessa gave Finn a pair of Sugardoodle Kids pajama's for Christmas.  They were too big for him then, but they fit perfect  now.  They are so cute!  Janessa started Sugardoodle Kids in honor of the passing of her son, Cole.  For every pair of pajama's they sell, a meal will be given to a child in need.  "Because no child should ever goto bed hungry."  Such a wonderful organization! 

{Bath Time}

He's finally used to it.  At first he'll grab onto his baby chair for dear life and lay there stiff as a board for about 2 minutes all while thinking about crying.  After a few minutes, he'll start kicking and won't stop.  He can't get enough of the water.

{Just a little off the top, please.}

Finn got his first haircut the day after Thanksgiving. His hair was becoming a little unruly and it was starting to topple over. I didn't tell Kurt I was cutting it, and he was a little sad to see it go. (I did tell Kurt that I was going to cut it someday/time.  He just wasn't there when I actually did it.) It was time to cut it though. Kurt got over it real fast. How could he not with a cute face like this?

{Lets Get Physical.....}

....Therapy.

Finn gets therapy for 1 hour every 2 weeks from Miss Marcie.

Working on sitting up.  Straightening the back using your hands.  Helps to get the correct posture.  Need to work on strengthening the core. 

Verbal response.  Responding verbally when spoken to.  Finn scores high in this category.

Gross motor skills.  Finn grabs toy, holds toy, and brings toy to mouth.  Right on track.

{Looney}

31 for 21 blog challenge day 21

 

Whenever the boys want to chill with Finn, they always put on Looney Tunes cartoons on the laptop.  And they all just sit and watch it.  Even Finn.  It's his favorite show. 

 

{Jammin'}

31 for 21 blog challenge, Day 20

Jammin' Out to some Jason Mraz.

{Finn Update}

Finn had another ABR (hearing test) done today and GREAT NEWS the hearing in his left ear has improved!?!  On his previous test I was told that he had no fluid in his ears which meant that the mild hearing loss was most likely real true blue mild hearing loss.  So I wasn't expecting much of an improvement with this test. 

BUT the test showed him hearing at the normal 25 decibels whereas before on his last test he was hearing at 40 decibels (40 decibels=mild hearing loss).  There was only one sound/pitch that he had to have at 40 decibles this test and that is the sh/ch sounds.
 

We must be doing something right.  What a blessing.  With this change in his numbers, I was told that he definitely is not a candidate for hearing aids.  A double blessing because our insurance doesn't cover hearing aids.  They are Expensive!  He will have a couple of more tests done in 6 months to see that his hearing is keeping in check.

*****

 

After visiting with the ENT and looking at Finn's saturation levels while sleeping from his sleep study, I was told that I needed to keep him on oxygen.  I haven't been putting him on oxygen lately because he looks and sounds fine when he's sleeping.  He's not waking up like he used to a month ago.  Come to find out, although he looks like he's sleeping he is getting restless sleep.  Which basically means that he isn't getting good quality sleep.  Waking up 17 times while sleeping and 26 times during REM sleep.   

 

And so the battle with the cannula begins.  He moves and rolls around and so the cannula (the thing that shoots oxygen out in his nostrils) is always coming out.  I am constantly checking on him and putting it back in place.  He also has these two little round band aid looking stickers that he has to wear on his face all the time to help keep the cannula in place.  They only gave me 5 sets, so I can't keep taking them on and off his face because they lose their stickiness.  So I have to leave them there all the time.  Even during the day when I take him places. 

 

I asked the doctor how long I should keep him on oxygen.  He said well, bring him back in a year and I'll check him.  WHAT!  One year????  That is a long time.  I may be having his cardiologist check him out sooner.....

 

*****

 

I finally made my reality of having a child with Down Syndrome official and I made the call to the early intervention people.  The people who come and evaluate your child and tell you what kind of intervention (therapy) he needs.  I felt very blessed and proud after hearing her say that he is doing awesome.  Wondering if she was just being nice, I asked and prodded with questions as to where Finn stood up to other kids she's seen with ds at his age.  Not that I should compare, as all kids are different, but she said that he is at the top end of the spectrum.  What she said is by no means any indication/diagnosis that he is or will be high functioning.  It is just at that moment of observation that he is doing very well.  He could be totally different at her next visit.  Still such great great words to hear.

 

The only area that was lacking was his neck and low muscle tone.  So we will be working on getting his core and neck muscles strong so he can hold his head up.

 

*****

 

So Finn is doing great!  He is such a cutie!  He loves to talk and will stare and talk (coo) to you forever.  And he smiles All.The.Time.  He is a happy baby.  He only cries if he's really, really hungry.  And when he really gets crying it's hard to get him to calm down, even with his bottle.  He gets so sad/mad that he cries because he is sad/mad.  So, feed him before he gets to the cry stage and you're good to go. 

 

He really is doing great.  And I am grateful.

 

 

{Blessings From Above}

One week ago we blessed Finn at church.  It was fast Sunday.  I fasted that day for Finn, for a spiritual experience, and for the courage to bear my testimony and not be nervous.  The Lord did not disappoint, as the entire day I was on a spiritual high. 

We were at Kurt's family reunion in Eden, UT, about an hour and half away that weekend.  We drove back to our house Saturday night so we could be ready in time for church the following morning.  All of Kurt's family who were at the reunion left at 7 a.m. to get to the church for the blessing. 

Kurt gave Finn a really beautiful baby blessing.  One that was far different from our other children.  The Spirit was so strong. 

Early morning picture before heading off to the church.

 

When it was the testimony portion of the meeting, Kurt and I walked up together and each of us bore our testimony.  My prayer was answered as I didn't feel quite as nervous as I thought I would.  When we were done, we walked back to our seats holding hands. 

We both appreciated the comments that ward members made about the meeting and the blessing.  I was really wishing that my parents could have been there as well as my brothers and sister. 

Five boys.....who would have thought?

 

After the meeting we drove back to Eden and continued on with Kurt's family reunion.  The rest of the day I/we were on a spiritual high.  Such a great feeling.  What a beautiful day.  One that I will never forget.

{Can You Hear Me now?}

I took Finn in for his hearing test (ABR-more extensive hearing test) and got the results back immediately after it was done!  And the verdict is:  He Can Hear!!!  His right ear tested normal; hears fine out of it.  His left ear was diagnosed with mild hearing loss.  Huge relief for me.  I thought he had moderate/total hearing loss in his left ear.  Whew!  So thankful it's just mild.  What's mild?  On the test 25 (decibles?  not sure what the label is here) is normal hearing range.  He had to have it turned up to 40 so he could hear it normal.  A 40 scores in the mild hearing loss range.

As of lately, I could tell that he was hearing.  BUT prior, from birth to the end of July I knew he wasn't/couldn't hear me.  He failed two newborn hearing tests before doing the ABR test, which was really discouraging to me.  When I took him to do the ABR test, they did another newborn hearing test and he failed again.  Which surprised me, because the ABR confirmed that he could hear.  The audiologist told me that the newborn test is strictly just a pass/fail test, the ABR test detects ranges, pitches, and wavelengths and is more concrete.  There are a few factors that can cause failure of the newborn test.  If the probe is hitting the wall of the ear canal, wavelengths don't get to the eardrum and that will cause it to fail.  If there is fluid in the ears, it causes blockage so the wavelengths don't vibrate in the eardrum like it's supposed to.   So although he failed and at the time made my heart sink, it was kind of misleading and I stressed for nothing.  Funny, right.....  I wish someone would have explained why babies often can fail the newborn test.  When he failed twice, I told myself that I wasn't going to freak until it was time to freak.  So glad I didn't freak out, it would have been for nothing.  I was very concerned and stressed a little.  But I am glad to know that the time to freakout isn't/won't be coming.

From birth to the end of July when I knew he wasn't/couldn't hear me he did have fluid in his ears.  Which when you have fluid in your ears it's like hearing when you're underwater.  You can't.  It's not clear, it's muggy.  And this explains why he wasn't/couldn't hear me during that time. 

Tubes and a hearing aid could be coming in the future.  Not sure yet.  We will be visiting a pediatric ENT to check for fluid in one month and then he will do another ABR test to make sure it coinsides with the first ABR.  And then we'll decide where we go from there.  For now, we are happy to have crossed this hurdle. 

{Dr. News}

I just got a phone call from the pulmonologist.  He told me that Finn's sleep study results were in.  WHAT!?  Awesome.  I guess the cardiologist put a rush on it and seeing how he is young and has ds, it got pushed through. 

The sleep study showed that his saturation levels (oxygen levels) stayed between 90 and 100 for most of the night.  Which is very good.  BUT they did dip throughout the night into the 80's.  This is cause for concern.  It's not a huge concern, but something that requires attention.  The results did show that he has obstructive sleep apnea.  What is obstructing his airway?  We don't know yet.  It could be his tongue, tonsils, adenoids, or something or another. 

To help keep his oxygen levels from dipping, it is suggested that Finn be on oxygen when he sleep.  The results showed that he should use a cpap, but he is too small to fit a mask to his face.  So he will do oxygen. 

I'm happy to have the results back so soon.  Next, onto his ABR (hearing test) on Thursday.  Now those results, I will be anxiously awaiting.

Finn had his sleep study done last night.  We were to be there at 8:00 p.m.  It was downtown at Primary Children's Hospital.  In order to get there on time I needed to leave by 7:00.  I left at 7:10, and had to stop and get gas.  As I got on the road, I realized that I forgot to grab my phone that was charging on the counter.  I couldn't turn around as I was on a one way road, and if I did go back, I would most likely be late.  I didn't go back.  BUT anxiety set in.  A whole night without my phone.  Was it possible?  It was the feeling you get when you realize that you forgot to pack your makeup bag for a trip.  I wouldn't be able to call or text Kurt.  What if someone needed to get a hold of me.  What if I wasn't allowed to use my laptop and my phone would have been my only saving grace for an entire night of sitting in a dark room with absolutely nothing to do?  I don't even have a data plan on my phone, but I think I'm addicted to having it with me at all times. 

We got there at 7:55-right on time.  Parked next to me was a suburban with two gentlemen sitting in the front seats wearing suits and ties and they were praying.  I didnt' want to disturb them, so I stayed on my side of the car (as they were parked on the passenger side) and gathered the diaper bag and all of my "toys" (minus my phone)  and waited for a couple of minutes to see if they were finished.  They weren't.  Finn was on the passenger side, so I had to go right next to their car to get him out.  You could tell they were fervently praying.  I got Finn out as quietly as I could, shut the door, and began to walk off; but not before glancing out of the corner of my eye to see if they were done.  They were not.  They were still praying.  It made me think.  Who were they praying for.  Was it a child.  A parent.  A friend.  From the way they were praying, I would say something serious was going on.  You could feel the reverence as they both sat there with their heads bowed, eyes closed, and the person in the driver seat offering the prayer.

Once checked in, we were taken to our room where they began to prep Finn for the night ahead.  They first used this jelly like substance followed by some Crisco looking paste to put all the electrodes on him.  There were 26 electrodes in all.  He had them all over.  After they got them all on they put a mesh cap on this head so he couldn't pull them off, then they taped all of the wire strands together so they weren't all over the place.  They then placed a cannula in his nostrils.  I fed and changed him and then he was out.  He slept through the whole night, I didn't have to pick him up once.

Once he was out, I ran to the cafeteria to get some dinner.  I hadn't eaten yet.  I got there with 2 minutes to spare, as they closed at 10:00 p.m.  Once I finished eating I returned to Finn's room and played around on Facebook for a while, and then got caught up on missed episodes of Project Runway.  At 2 a.m. I put my laptop away and tried to get some shut eye.  I was sleeping on one of those fold out chairs that they have in the maternity wards for the husbands to sleep on.  They. Are. Not. Comfortable.  At 5:00 a.m. I woke up and just sat there watching the monitors wandering what all the squiggly lines meant.  At 6 a.m. on the dot, the sleep techs came in and we were done.  It was time to get all the electrodes off and we could go home. 

To get the tape off that was holding the electrodes on was like pulling off a band aid.  It hurts, right?  Well, Finn screamed and cried.  When they got them all off, he looked like a ball of butter.  We all know what butter is-GREASY.  What they didn't tell me in the preliminary details was to bring your ugliest outfit and your cruddiest blankets because they would most likely be covered in buttery, Crisco like goo and will probably get ruined.
 
We won't get any test results back for 8 to 10 weeks.  Apparently there is only one person in the entire valley who interprets the sleep studies done at Primary Children's Hospital.  ONE!  and she has her own private practice as well.  And so we will wait.  Finn is being tested for sleep apnea-where the body stops breathing for a period of time (which I don't think he has). I think he has an obstruction that is blocking his airway causing him to stop breathing for brief periods of time, such as his tongue or adenoids.   

{Awww Crap.}

I took Finn in to meet with his ENT today.  We were hoping that the meds cleared up the fluid in his ear and that he could hear.  Well, the meds did clear up the fluid in his ear.  Yay!  BUT after taking another hearing test,  he failed in both ears.  So sad.  Basically he has hearing loss.  How much?  We don't know.  He is scheduled for an extensive hearing test where he will have probs hooked up to him that will test brain activity and a bunch of other stuff, and it will be able to tell just how much he can hear. 

I kept asking the Doctor a bunch of questions, and he didn't like me jumping to conclusions without having the results from the upcoming hearing test to be done.  Here are a couple of things that I gathered from our conversation- It is highly likely that Finn could have hearing aids.  If he has nerve damage that he was born with he could have permanent hearing loss and there is no fixing that. 

I have confidence that he will be able to hear out of his right ear.  It may be with the help of a hearing aid, but I believe that he will be able to hear out of it.  The left ear...... I don't know.  I'm not so confident about that ear. 

I swear when I took these pictures that he heard me talking to him.  At least I like to think he heard me talking to him.  I still can't believe that he hasn't been hearing me all this time.  It makes sad.  I had my moment, (thanks for the listening ear Emily K.) but I'm over it.  I'm not going to freak out until it's time to freak out.

Now if someone at the audiologists desk would answer their dang phones so I can schedule the appointment......

{All Smiles}

He can hear me! At least I'm pretty sure he can hear me. Click here for a preface.  I think his meds are clearing up the fluid in his right ear because he was all smiles today when I was talking to him.   It is the cutest thing.  He is responding with smiles.  Yay!  So Happy!!!

{Dr., Dr., Dr., Dr., Dr.}

My ode to the movie Spies Like Us.  This is what my life has been like this week.

It all started with a visit back to the hospital so Finn could have his hearing screened which should have taken place when he was born, but he never got tested as their machines were down.  After a mistake made by the nurse of writing down the wrong date, he was finally tested Monday (7 weeks later).  It took about 10 minutes and we had confirmation of failure in both ears.

Before getting screened, I knew he wasn't hearing out of his left ear, but I knew thought he could hear me out of his right ear.  When I saw that he failed both ears, my eyes welled up with tears.  The tech said that we could do the test again, but I told her no.  We went home and made an appointment with an Ear, Nose, & Throat Doctor. 

That same day after getting his hearing screened we also saw the Doctor of Cardiology who did an EKG.  The results showed that the right side of his heart was enlarged due to either volume of blood or pressure.  It also showed that the hole in his heart was about 3mm.  We discussed that his waking up while sleeping could have something to due with his lungs, which could be linked to his enlarged heart, and so we have an appointment scheduled with a sleep doctor for a sleep evaluation and then a sleep test to see if he has sleep apnea.  We also have an appointment scheduled with a pulmonologist to check out his lungs. 

Two days later we got in to see the ENT Doctor.  He checked for fluid in his ears, which is what I thought it was and hoping it was, as alot of children with down syndrome have fluid in their tiny ear canals blocking any vibration.  Usually putting tubes in the ears fixes the problem and hearing resumes.  The Doctor told us that he had fluid in his right ear, but no fluid in his left ear.  I immediately knew what this meant.  It meant that since there was no fluid in his left ear that there is some degree of hearing loss in that ear.  To what extent, we don't know yet.  The fluid in his right ear has created some hearing loss as well.  I do know that he can hear somewhat out of his right ear, because when Kurt plays his guitar he kind of perks up.  He can also hear when the kids yell.  So we have him on antibiotics to clear the fluid in his ear, then we'll go back and make sure it cleared, then we'll put tubes in both ears, then we'll go and have his hearing tested to see the if there is hearing loss and to what degree.  It's a process.  It is sad to know that my little boy probably hasn't been hearing me talk to him for the last 7 weeks. 

This morning we are on our way to see the Doctor of Pulmonology. 

It seems like I've been on the phone non stop for 3 days to make sure that all the doctors are in our network and the tests they are doing are covered through our insurance.  Although it's a pain, I am grateful that our deductible has been met and everything that is and will be taking place over the next several months will be paid for.  I am also grateful for technology.  It is so cool what technology can do.  It's actually pretty amazing. 

We are on our way to getting our little guy the healthiest he can be.  He continues to be a sweetheart, and is a great baby.  He is getting big.  He is up to 11 pounds and just started requesting 6 oz. of milk instead of five.  Here he is sleeping peacefully, which will be interrupted by a quick shortness of breath, and then no breath, and then catching his breath, and then back to sleeping peacefully.  I love how he sleeps with his arms up by his head.  He's not one to have have them bound and swaddled.

{Guilty Pleasures}

In the last week some of us have found some good and not so good pleasures.

GUILTY-Right here.

This kid could live off of Red Vines alone.

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.

Try to give him just one, Na-Uh!  He won't hear of it.

Wailing and gnashing of teeth and tears to boot get him at least 4 or 5 + per tantrum.

He knows how to work the system.

These right here are MY guilty pleasure.

Curse my neighbor who introduced them to me. 

Never tried them?  You must.  That is if you are a coconut/carmel/fudge lover.

One bite and you could die and goto heaven, right then and there-they are that good!

 Where can you find them?  At Walmart.  They are the Great Value Brand.  Don't let Walmart or the brand fool you.  Not only will you love the taste, you will love the price too.  My neighbor says they are comparable to Girl Scout Samoa cookies.    What you won't love about them is that there are only 3 rows in the package.  They don't last long.

This little guy's pleasure-the bottle & sleep.  He loves his food and he loves his sleep. 

 He downs 3-4 ounces at every feeding, and then peacefully dozes off for 4 to 5 hours at a time. While in the NICU they got him on a sleeping and eating schedule, which made it very easy for me once he came home. Per his pediatrician, I got the ok to stretch out his night time feeding and let him sleep longer at night. Which makes me a very happy Momma.  No worries, he is gaining weight; and don't forget he now weighs over 9 pounds at just 17 days old. 

{Look Who's Home}

Finn passed his carseat challenge with flying colors, and is breathing like a champ.  He is a great eater and weighs more than he did at birth.  He's been home for two days now and the boys can't get enough of him.  The second I brought him into the house, Isaac had every neighborhood friend over to see his new brother. 

I have lots of little hands that are more than willing to help feed, change, or just sit and touch, look, or try to hold whenever possible.  They just can't get enough. Can you say Smothered With Love.....now there's an understatement.