Things are pretty good around here. Everyone is feeling well, but getting sick of winter. Benjamin is good. This morning we had an occupational therapist to the house from CPRI. She comes every 2 weeks to help Benjamin work on his gross motor skills. Benjamin is definitely a bit behind when it comes to muscle ton and flexiblity. He seems very stiff compared to other babies. Part of it is because he's short and pretty chubby...plus his hernia doesn't help. He can't really grab his toes, but we work on it daily and the OT noticed a difference today. So that was positive. She has given us lots of resources so we are thankful for that. Benjamin has been off all his meds for over a week now and so far so good. I was so nervous to take him off, but am so thankful that he can finally be med free for the first time in his life. We're working on a sleep routine for him. He's finally back into his crib and going to bed around 7:00pm. I really like that time at night to myself when all the kids are in bed...its important. But now we're going to start working on getting him napping in his crib. He seems to have short little power naps through the day, so I really would like him to take longer less frequent naps. We'll get there. He is really starting to love his cereal now and we're going to start veggies in a couple days. We also got Benjamin a new carseat. He has almost outgrown the infant carrier and he hates it... so we switched him to a rear facing big seat and he seems to be happier...Anyways things are well..

Well this week has been incredibly difficult but I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support. Our family is definitely going to need continued prayers as we help Jeff and Karen try to get through this. I am so thankful to have had little Mekena in my life and am so sad that Benjamin will never know his cousin. We already have pictures up around the house so that we'll never forget her beautiful face.
This week has been crazy so Benjamin's schedule has been off. He hasn't wanted to go to bed in his crib the last few night because he's been out late with us. Hopefully we can get back into the swing of things. We had him weighed Tuesday morning and he's now 18lbs 1oz. He's just growing so fast...its crazy. He's been good through everything..very happy and well behaved. He's such a good boy.

Benjamin is great..as usual :) He has been such a good boy this week. He seems to be starting to entertain himself a bit. He'll sit in the excersaucer and play with his toys..he's starting to grab for things, and of coarse everything goes into his mouth. We got the ok from the pediatrician to start solids. We start cereal..he's not to sure about it yet. I'm sure it will grow on him over time. I can't imagine him not liking food. In a couple weeks we can start veggies. Maybe this will ease the need to nurse constantly through the day...
Onto a more important thing right now...My niece Mekena was killed in a horrible accident this week. As a family we are completely devistated. I am so sad that our children have to experience such grief and loss...they were buddies. She was a beautiful, sweet, charming little girl and she will be missed greatly..We are taking comfort in knowing that she is with our Saviour in a place more wonderful then we can imagine..but so sad her little life ended so early. Please focus your prayers this week on her family...she left behind her mom, Karen, dad, Jeff, and two brothers, Ronin and Hayden. They need all the prayers of comfort they can get as they try to cope with such a tragedy.

We had a great day today. It was busy..but great. First we went to the blood donor clinic and I donated for the first time. I'm so happy to finally do it..last time I got sick so I couldn't. I was very anxious about the whole process. But it was a peice of cake. The actual blood taking part only took 6 minutes... Then we had lunch with friends. Benjamin was perfect and it was so nice to go out to a restaurant and just have a nice time with friends... Then we saw the surgeon this afternoon. She was thrilled with Benjamin. She couldn't believe how big Benjamin was :) She was also so happy with his hernia. It has gotten remarkably smaller since our last appointment. She is hoping over time it will continue to get smaller and then her job of fixing it will be easier. So we booked another appointment for March 29th. So surgery has been bumped until spring at the earliest. She also said we could start weaning him off his meds. So we're starting with his domperidone..the one that helps him digest faster and once he's off that we'll try taking him off his lansoprazole..for reflux. If he has issues, then we just start them up again. It would be so great to get him off everything. Things are so great. We are so thankful...Benjamin is definitely a miracle.

Benjamin is feeling much better. We had an appointment today and the doctor said that Benjamin was sounding much better. I'm so glad he pulled through this the way he has. He had another RSV shot..I really believe these vaccines helped him through this bout of bronchiolitis.. It could have turned into RSV. Now I'm hoping the rest of the winter is quiet and we don't have anymore issues. Next week we have a busy week. We have the Home Visiting Program for Infants coming from CPRI on Monday. This is an in home program that will asses and follow Benjamin to watch for issues that could come from his prematurity. I'm really excited to have this resource. If needed they will keep a close eye on and help us access resources like OT, PT, speech pathology etc. We also see the surgeon on Tuesday...I'm anxious about it. I don't know if she'll give us a date for Benjamin's next surgery then or not. I'm hoping will get some answers.
Anyways, I'll keep you posted.

Well I think Benjamin might be on the mend. He seems less wheezy tonight, although his cough is still pretty wet....He's been in a great mood. I'm thankful that he hasn't gotten worse. He is now down to one puffer morning and night..and the other only if he needs it. Today we worked on tummy time. He did really well. He's not a big fan because of his hernia, but his hernia has gotten smaller and tummy time is easier. We also have been working on his balance...helping him to sit on his own. He's doing so well. He is very needy..he doesn't like to be put down, so that can be a challenge. Letting him cry is hard for me...after all he's been through I feel like I need to give him everything he wants...I know that can eventually backfire, so we're working on it. Anyways, I am incredibly thankful for all of our blessings.

Well we ended up at emerge. Sunday morning Benjamin woke up more wheezy then the day before. He was breathing a little harder and his lips were bluish. So we decided to take him in right away. Thankfully emerge wasn't to busy and we were home in 3 hours. Benjamin definitely has bronchiolitis. I'm thankful when they check his oxygen saturation he was satting around 98%. I did give him his puffer before we left so maybe it was lower before we got to the hospital. Benjamin was fantastic at the hospital. He's definitely a ladies man. He lots of smiles for the doctors and nurses. They gave him another dose of steriods and a steriod puffer. So for 2 days we have to give him 4 puffs 4x a day of the original inhaler and then 1 puff at breakfast and 1 puff at bedtime of the steriod inhaler for 2 weeks. Then on any cold onset we start it right away. I'm so thankful that its helping. Benjamin still hasn't had a fever and is acting normal. He been extra hungry and super cranky due to the steriod..but that almost over... Other then that he is good....I really hope it all just passes. The doctor said it might get worse before it gets better, but he's going on day 5, so I hope we're almost through it. Anyways prayers are always welcome..and we know they help. I'll keep you posted.

Today was a busy day. We had developmental clinic at St. Joes and that went pretty well. Everyone is pretty happy with Benjamin's progress. He weighed in at 16lbs and 10.5oz... He didn't do to much physio because he has a cold and has been struggling a bit with his breathing. We have to continue his physio and work on "tummy time". Benjamin isn't a fan of that. We ended up taking him to the doctor tonight. Yesterday morning Benjamin woke up coughing and a little wheezy. He has been in great spirits so we've just been keeping an eye on him...well the nurses at clinic today suggested we really keep a close watch as things can turn quick. We decided to take him in and the doctor said he has bronciolitis. His airway has narrowed from a cold and he is having to work harder to breathe. We got a dose of steriods and a ventolin inhaler to help. As long as he doesn't get lethargic and stops peeing we should be fine...if he does then we have to take him to the hospital immediately. I'm thankful for the RSV vaccine as it will help a lot when it comes to fighting this off. I know its pretty much inevitable that he get sick. Avery had a good cough, I had a throat infection...I was just hoping he would fight it. Now we just have to pray he kicks it and all will be well. I'm so scared he'll end up back in the hospital.... Anyways he's still happy and eating well so so far we are good....

Things are well. Benjamin and I enjoyed today..the quiet of the girls being back at school. We snuggled lots and I just loved him up. I enjoy our queit days at home. Tomorrow I'm taking him to be weighed..Its been a couple weeks since we last had him weighed. We also have developmental clinic on Friday..so I'm really interested in what everyone there has to say about Benjamin's progress. Other then that there isn't much happening around here. We're starting our winter hybernation. We made it through the holidays without getting sick, so we're going to stay close to home and hopefully make it through the rest of the winter healthy and strong.