Happy Labor Day!

We had a great Labor Day weekend! James was very excited to have visitors from Indiana. I mean look how happy he is!
Amos, Ashley, and Miriam made the road trip and we were all very excited to see them. We spent some time visiting James (obviously!) and also took them to see a few of the Pittsburgh sites. Amos and Ashley enjoyed their first Pittsburgher at Primanti's and we took the Duquesne Incline up to Mount Washington to admire the view. Ashley and I also visited the outlet mall. It was nice to get out and I was able to get some awesome Labor Day deals on clothes for Dave and James!
(sorry about the layout of the post...I'm still not very good at making my posts pretty)

Neighbors

So Dave and I have the best neighbors...Rich & Karen. Despite the fact that Karen had surgery the same week I had James, she has given us food several times to help keep us fed. We are profusely thankful and as we were told when we moved in, "No one ever turns away food from Karen's kitchen." Everything she sends our way is amazing, even things I wouldn't think would be like cabbage casserole and zuchinni cakes. All of it is fantastic. And as if the food wasn't enough, we came home from the hospital last night and our lawn was mowed!! Truly great people. Thanks Rich & Karen!

Family Photo

The happy family...James even woke up for the picture!

For Aunt Julie (AJ) From JP

AJ wants new pictures and since AJ had to have a corrective eye procedure this week, we're going to give AJ want she wants. James is doing good. He's weighing in at a steady 5 pounds these days. He was off of his oxygen for a little while today, but it was a little too much for him still so he's back on it. He did get switched over to a "real" crib today. He hasn't needed the heater in his bed for a few days so they decided he could have a crib. James is also on "normal" feeds as of today also. This means he is getting 45 mL over half an hour every 3 hours (he had been on continuous feeds). Keep up the good work little man!!!

Daddy enjoyed holding James while he was off his oxygen for a few hours.

A close up of his face with only one tube! Who do you think he looks like?

A cute little outfit in his new bed :) [...back on the oxygen]

No More Birthday Suit!

James came off the CPAP machine today and is doing a pretty good job. The CPAP helmet left a little red mark on his forhead, but it will go away soon. Less hoses meant we were able to put an outfit on him...the newborn outfits are just the right size right now for this 5 pound fella. Isn't he just precious?!! They also turned the heat off in his bed to get him used to regulating his own temperature...that's why he's wearing the hat.

Mommy Update

Thank you everyone for all of the encouraging comments, phone calls, texts, emails, and cards. Everyone had been so thoughtful. A special thanks to my mom & dad and sister who came all the way out to Pittsburgh to drive me to the hospital to see James when I was not allowed. So many of you keep asking how I'm doing so I thought I'd let you all know that I'm doing well. My doctor is very pleased with my healing process. The pain killers were a life saver for the first week, but I'm off of them now. I'm driving again as of today (one day early...shh, don't tell). I'm pumping my little heart out, but still can't keep up with James' appetite. I'm taking some really gross herbs 4 times a day to help increase my supply...we shall see if they work. I wish I could do more for him, but he has great nurses and doctors getting him what he needs. So basically, I'm doing as well as can be expected for someone who spends a large marjority of her time at the hospital bedside of her newborn son. Please keep on praying for James to grow fast so he can have his surgery and come home soon...or you can pray for a miracle that his esophagus will grow so much that the surgery will become unnecessary!!

The Classic Arm Around

One big, happy family :)



And one with David and James: what a handsome pair!