Cutie!

We Found some Mistletoe!

Our Little Stocking Stuffer!

Feliz Navidad!

A White Christmas for the White Baby!

Believe it or not, Santa found Kellan in the hospital and delivered gifts to him! He was too sneaky for pictures, but sure did leave goodies!
Kellan has has a good couple of days. He's off oxygen, except for feedings. He's doing great!
Tonight he weighed 5 pounds 9 ounces. And today we are bottle feeding three times, breast feeding four times, and one tube feeding. Slow and steady progress is all we can ask for! This may not have been the way we envisioned the first Christmas with our son, but it has turned out to be a special day for the three of us!
Merry Christmas from Ty, Amber, and Kellan White!

Just Hanging Out!

Just Riding the Rollercoaster

Kellan underwent an upper GI and dysphasiagram. The upper GI showed what Ty and I knew. Kellan has severe reflux. The dysphasiagram showed that when he refluxes it does not go into his airway or his lungs. His suck/swallow mechanism is strong. So now we are cutting back on breast feeding to three times per day. He has three bottles of breast milk thickened with rice cereal. And we are tube feeding twice per day. Complicated, right?? At this point whatever works is fine!
Kellan now weighs 5 pounds 6 ounces. He's still on oxygen, but we changed to a regular nasal canula. He's on .8 liters at 21%, which is room air (you and I are breathing 21% oxygen now). I think we are slowly moving back up from our dip down!
We were given this advice from a good friend. "It'll be a long time before you come of this roller coaster, so Ty and I need to share some cotton candy and a funnel cake and enjoy the ride!"

Biggest Disappointment EVER

So, it's been a while since we've posted. We were hoping our next post would be of Kellan in his bed at home. On Saturday the doctor thought Kellan was doing well enough to room in on Sunday night, meaning Ty and I would take care of him in a room on our own. If he did well Sunday night, then he could be discharged Monday. We checked into a room in the hospital Saturday night, planning to room in Sunday. Then it all started falling apart. At 1:30 Sunday morning, Kellan wouldn't take his bottle. They stopped and tube fed the rest. Sunday morning Kellan acted fussy like he was in pain. As the day went on this got worse and worse. He required oxygen again. He screamed after each feeding. He was refluxing. Finally, they started him on Zantac. The medication takes several doses before it is really effective. Kellan is still refluxing after some feedings. It is so hard to watch your child hurt and not be able to fix it. Today we are having tests run to see how bad the reflux is. We keep hoping that once this gets figured out he won't need oxygen. With this huge setback it looks unlikely that Kellan will be home for Christmas. We are so disappointed. We want him to be well, but we know that he will do much better at home.

Kellan Lightyear to the rescue!

Today was a great day! Kellan had a major weight gain all the way up to 5 pounds 2 ounces! We finally broke the 5 pound barrier! We also switched forms of oxygen delivery, from the nasal canula to the oxihood. Ty says the oxihood looks like a space helmet just like a baby Buzz Lightyear. Kellan seems much happier and that's all that matters!

Finally...An Update!

It's been a while since our last update! I went back to work yesterday for the first time in six weeks. It was really hard to leave Kellan, even though I work in the same hospital, on the same floor! I really miss spending the day snuggling with my baby!
Kellan has had a good few days. Tonight he weighed 4 pounds 15 ounces! Five pounds here we come!! We moved back up to breast feeding five times a day, if he's up for it.
The BIG change today is...Kellan is off oxygen! They stopped it at about 2:00 today. He's pretty congested, so we really hope he's able to stay off it. We are so proud of our little boy! As long as he stays off oxygen, the only thing we need to work on is breast feeding. We are getting so close to going home!

A Small Step Back

Kellan lost weight Wednesday and Thursday night. We weren't sure why, so we cut back the number of breast feedings per day to four. This will probably delay Kellan's discharge.
Now Kellan receives two bottles during the night, four breast feedings during the day, and two tube feedings. It seems like he needed the rest because he gained almost two ounces last night. He weighs 4 pounds 11 ounces.
The doctor also stopped Kellan's caffeine three days ago. As long as his heart rate doesn't drop below 100 too often, we won't have to go home on caffeine. If his heart rate does drop frequently, then we will go home with an apnea monitor too. We are hoping we won't need either!!
Kellan is still on oxygen. He is on one liter at 30%. There is a chance he may go home on oxygen and slowly be weaned off.
When Santa visited Kellan yesterday, he told him all he wanted was to go home for Christmas! That's our hope!

Special Visitors!

Busy Days!

Kellan continues to do well! Yesterday he received another blood transfusion. Hopefully his last! He seems to be feeling much better today. His color is better and his heart rate is lower.
He is still breast feeding 4-5 times a day.
He had a follow up eye exam this morning. Good news! His blood vessels are completely grown out. He does not have any problems with his eyes! We have to follow up in two weeks.
The best news of all was....the doctor said we may get to go home in 7-10 days! Of course this can change, but we are so excited we can't stand it!! Keep praying that things continue to move in the right direction. We still have several hurdles!

Love this picture of our Kellan burrito! They had to put his IV in his scalp, but it's out today!

Santa's little helper!

Tonight Kellan weighed 4 lbs and 12 ounces, back up to our previous highest weight. He was 17 inches long, up a 1/4" from last week and his head was 1 cm bigger around at 32 cm! We also got to move to a normal oxygen line instead of the "high flow" machine he has been on for so long. We are making progress! Amber dressed him up like an elf, and he is off to the north pole to make toys as soon as he gets out of the nicu! Just kidding, we can't wait to get him home, hopefully in time for Santa to visit him.

Baby Booty!

Brrrr!

Hi!

Family

What a Crappy Situation

Kellan had a busy day with breast feeding five times again and bath day. But he had one more very important project. He hadn't pooped in a week. It was passed time. The doctor gave him a suppository to help. The nurse gave it and let me start feeding him. Kellan went right to work on his "project." He was pretty sleepy afterwards, so his nurse thought changing him would wake him up. So she did. Well, Kellan wasn't quite finished, so she got a new diaper. Then, it happened...his "project" totally covered the nurse's arm! She started gagging and I was laughing so hard I was crying! And Kellan? Well, he fell asleep! Sorry Nicole! I guess a baby's gotta do what a baby's gotta do! Needless to say, Kellan had a weight loss. Maybe tomorrow will be less explosive!
Other titles considered for this post:
Poop! There it Is
Poops, I Did It Again
Oh, Poopy Night
Sir Poops-a-lot
The Green Mile

More Baby Steps

Today I was able to breast feed Kellan five times! It was so exciting! He did great. We did five feedings in a row and he handled it great!
Even with an increase in breast feeding, Kellan weighed 4 pounds 12 ounces! Sometimes they worry that it takes too much energy to breast feed and they burn too many calories.
Kellan is still on .6 liters of oxygen. However, they were able to wean the concentration of oxygen to 30%. We are moving in the right direction.
This picture was taken after Kellan worked hard all day... he's worn out!

Weight Gain!

Kellan gained weight! He was 4 pounds 10 ounces tonight!
It's a good thing, too. The doctor mentioned today that if he didn't gain weight tonight, then we would have to cut back on breast feeding. Whew!!!

Our Little Peanut

Eat, sleep, and eat again!

Kellan has been stuck on 4 pounds 9 ounces since Tuesday. We are glad that he hasn't lost any weight but it's time to get back to gaining. Yesterday he had his eye exam, which went as well as we could have hoped. The blood vessels in his eyes are still slightly under developed so we will have weekly eye exams for the remainder of our stay at the nicu. We have been breast feeding four times a day since Wednesday and he is doing so well we may try 5 times tomorrow!

Watch Me Grow!

These prints were taken at birth and tonight. Big difference!
Tonight Kellan weighed 4 pounds 9 ounces!
He was 16 and 3/4 inches long.
His head circumference was 12.2 inches!
He's getting to be a big boy!
Kellan has had a few special visitors this week. His Aunt Holly visited yesterday. His Aunt Terry and cousin Keith visited today!

One Month Old!

Kellan is one month old today! Sometimes it feels like we have only blinked since he was born. Other times it feels like an eternity! He's made huge strides in one short month. We are so proud of his progress!
Today we reached another milestone...the Open Crib! He passed the challenge. He has a "big boy" bed. That's one step closer to being home! Happy birthday, Kellan!

Bath time with Memuh!

Kellan enjoying time with Memuh!

Monday

We had another good day. We are in the middle of our Open Crib Challenge. Basically, the turn the radiant heater off in Kellan's bed. They swaddle him and check his temperature for 24 hours. If he is able to maintain his body temperature, then he can be moved into an open crib. That would be one step closer to going home! The Challenge is over at about 2 pm tomorrow (Tuesday). Fingers crossed!

Sunday

Sunday was a busy day for Kellan! He breast fed three times and had another tub bath, courtesy of Memuh.
Kellan also had his first olive oil massage. Yes, you read right, olive oil massage. We thought it sounded weird too. Ty literally rubbed Kellan down with olive oil, Kellan loved it! His skin was so soft and it can give him a few extra calories as well.
Kellan weighed 4 pounds 7 ounces! He'll be 5 pounds before we know it!

Four Weeks Old

Yesterday Kellan was four weeks old. Time has gone so fast!
He had another really good day! They moved him out of the room with Screaming Mimi. He had a much more relaxed day without all the crying!
We started breast feeding three times a day. Kellan did wonderful! Before they were supplementing the breast feeding with half of the feeding through his feeding tube, but not yesterday! He took his entire feeding by nursing all three times!
Kellan gained weight too! He weighed 4 pounds 5 ounces last night! He's growing so fast!

Spending Black Friday with the White Baby

That joke was for you Jake!
Today Kellan weighed 4 pounds 3 ounces again. No major weight gain or loss. He has a new neighbor. A girl we affectionately refer to as Screaming Mimi. She cries all the time! And she's huge! She is 11 pounds. Needless to say she makes Kellan look scrawny! She could make a three month old look scrawny for that matter! So, Kellan has decided he doesn't like girls much!
I love Kellan's smile in this picture!

Thanksgiving

As I sit here holding my son, I can't help but think that while this may not have been the way I planned to spend Thanksgiving, but it's been amazing.
Ty and I have so much to be thankful for. Our son amazes us everyday. We have been given the opportunity to watch him grow and develop ahead of schedule. He's growing incredibly fast!
We are grateful for the stellar care he has received from the nursing staff, nurse practitioners, physicians, respiratory therapists, and anyone I may have forgotten.
We are thankful for our family! Those that are related by blood and those friends who have been like family to us! We couldn't make it through this without each one of you! Your support keeps us strong!
I am grateful for my amazing partner. His strength is astounding. He's already the best dad in the world. I love you, Ty! And I love our family!
Happy Thanksgiving from Ty, Amber, and Kellan!

Boys Will Be Boys

Kellan had another tub bath today. He still loves the water! His nurse was holding him while I washed his hair. She got a funny look on her face and said, "What's that?" She moved him away from her and wouldn't you know....huge wet spot! Kellan totally got her! She was great about it! Kellan couldn't have cared less! Sorry Sandra!! I guess boys will be boys!

A new room

Kellan was moved to a new room in the nicu 2 nights ago. Changing rooms is a great thing, it means he was doing so well they promoted him! Tonight he weighed 4 lbs. 3 oz. he is gaining about an ounce a day. We are up to 35 cc on his feedings. He is looking better each and every day!

4 pounds!

We did it, he officially weighed 4 lbs. 1 oz. today! Kellan is packing on the pounds. He eats every 3 hours and is also getting a snack from mom during skin to skin time.

All Clean!

Tub Time

Three Pounds Fifteen Ounces!

That's right, tonight Kellan weighed 3 pounds 15.8 ounces! He is right at that 4 pound mark!
Sunday was bath day. Ty gave Kellan his first tub bath. Kellan loved it! We did skin to skin twice. It was a great day!

Special Day

Yesterday Mr. Kellan White weighed 3 pounds 12 ounces. He's up to 32 cc every three hours.
The best part was we got to practice breast feeding. Due to his age we didn't expect much, but Kellan in amazing! Things went really well. Now we get to practice twice each day. He is still being fed through a feeding tube, but its great practice! This is such special time for Kellan and I! It's the highlight of my day!!

Our Little Family

We couldn't be more proud!!

More Good News

Today was a big day for our little Kellan! He finished his IV antibiotics, so they discontinued his IV! No more IVs!!
Tonight Kellan weighed 3 pounds 11 ounces. He is still on a little less than one liter of oxygen.
Ty and I were able to hold Kellan skin to skin twice today. This was the first time to hold twice in one day.
Also, he had his last head ultrasound today. Everything was normal! We don't have to worry about him having a bleed in his brain. What a huge relief!!
Today was a really good day!
Grandpa and Gram came for a visit today too!

Baby steps

Today Kellan had his first weight gain in 4 days! He is currently at 3 lbs. 9 oz. and he has grown 1.5 inches since he was born. We are finally up to full 30cc feedings and we are looking forward to putting on the pounds!! Tonight he is enjoying time with his mom kangaroo style. God I love this kid!

Holding Hands with Dad

Moving Forward

Yesterday was a much better day for Kellan. He was up to 29 cc every three hours. He LOVED skin to skin time with dad last night! They discontinued his IV fluids! He weighed three pounds eight ounces last night.
Today was bath day again! Kellan had a good sponge bath! Maybe on Sunday we can give him his first tub bath. Kellan is on full feedings at 30 cc every three hours. That's one ounce! He only has three doses of IV antibiotics left. We will be finished after the 1130 pm dose tomorrow night. That means no more IVs!!! We can't wait!

What a Day

Today was one of those days when you realize how incredibly helpless and powerless you are.
Last night Kellan had a tough time. He required more oxygen than normal, which concerned the doctor and nurse practitioner. This morning when listening to Kellan's heart, the nurse practitioner thought his murmur was louder than the day before. They were worried that there was something very serious wrong with his heart ( a PDA). This would require special medication or surgery. So, they did an echocardiogram. Thankfully it was all normal, but for about four hours we were worried sick.
Kellan also had to receive a blood transfusion. This is very common in premies because they can't make red blood cells yet.
Kellan has extra fluid on his lungs so he was given a diuretic in hopes that it would pull off the extra fluid.
Yes, today was one of those days when you understand why your parents said you gave them grey hair! All that said, Kellan looked great tonight. His color was better and he was more alert than he has been.
I thought tonight's picture pretty much summed up the day!

Big Boy Isolet

Today was an eventful day! It was bath day! And Kellan got a new isolet! This is a sign of growth. He no longer needs all of the specialized equipment that comes with a giraffe bed. The isolet still keeps him warm, but it doesn't provide humidity.
Last night Kellan weighed 3 pounds 9 ounces. This showed a 2 ounce weight loss. Today he went up to 23 cc per feeding. He's done well today!

Holding Hands with Mom

Kellan's Heart

Dr. Subani listened to Kellan's heart earlier today. It took him a while to hear the murmur. He thinks it is benign and Kellan will likely outgrow it! No intervention is needed, not even an echocardiogram. Whew! Mom and dad were worried!

Two Weeks Old Today

Kellan and I are enjoying skin to skin today!

Grinning at Memuh