Monster Monday

Dear Monster,

   Today is all about you my tiny love!
~~~

Hello again readers! Sorry for the absence. My Mom came into town and let my husband and I have a couple of date nights! Fantastic!

 Yes...I know...It's January and we still have our tree up hehehe

 A more casual evening. :)

Anyway! Today, as I'm sure you saw above, is all about my Monster! As you've been reading my blog I'm sure you've noticed that I start each blog with a short little note to him. My goal is that one day, when I'm no longer around, he will be able to look back at this blog and learn a little about me and his Dad and a little about himself.

Allow me to introduce you to my Monster:

Liam Curtis is my son. He is named after his Grandfather, whose name is William. He got his middle name, Curtis, from his Daddy! He has a shock of red hair on his head and the biggest and most expressive blue eyes I have ever seen! The strawberry on the back of his head looks like a face with a giant smile, which is perfect because when Liam smiles it goes all the way to his eyes and you just can't help but melt. He has giant feet that rarely fit into footy pajamas and each time he wraps his long  fingers around my finger it just overwhelms me. Due to genetics he may or may not have flat feet but, one thing is for sure, this kid is gonna be tall and skinny! As of today, he is exactly 5 months old. Each time I tell someone his age I have to qualify it by saying his adjusted age as well. So, Liam is 5 months old *mumbles* 2 1/2 months adjusted. The reason I have to mumble this qualifier is because Liam was born 2 1/2 months early. He was delivered, via emergency c-section, at 30 weeks and 2 days gestation. He was born weighing 2lbs 7oz and he was 15 1/4" in length. If you need a little perspective of how small he was, here are a couple of pictures:

 That is my husband's size 9 wedding ring.

His hand couldn't even completely cover my husband's fingernail.

Liam spent 7 weeks in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). If you have ever wondered why we call Liam "Monster" it is because of his time in the NICU. It is very common for preemies to grunt, squeak, growl, hum, and make "monster" sounds. One of the NICU nurses told us that when it is really quiet at night, and they have a lot of babies in their wing, it sounds like a jungle because of the noises coming from all of the babies. During this time he was on and off different levels of oxygen, he was on several different medications, he was tested for one thing or another every single day, and he was gradually moved from an IV to an NG (nasogastric) tube to a bottle for eating. When he left the NICU he was around 5lbs, still on oxygen and several other medications, and still had pretty severe acid reflux.

For the first month of his time at home he could not sleep on his back. He could only sleep if he was being held or if he was in his car seat. This was the most exhausting time of our entire lives. We would run for 24-48hrs at a time with no more than 2-3 hours of sleep between shifts. As you probably read on Payday Friday, we bought his swing and bouncer and we were all saved! Huzzah! We were finally able to sleep and Liam could finally sleep comfortably so that he could grow and mature.

Liam has been home since October 18th. Everyday he does something new and exciting and everyday is a learning experience for us as parents. 

 The first time he held his head up!

 Grabbing toys!

 Figuring out this whole smiling thing.

 Bringing a toy to his mouth and keeping it there.

Sitting in his Bumbo seat!

Liam is now almost 11lbs! He's teething like it's his job, "talking" constantly, he eats around 5oz at each meal, he "sleeps through the night" (I put this in quotes for a reason...one which I will explain in a later blog), he is finally starting to recognize and remember my husband's and my faces, and is generally a very happy baby! I could not be more proud of our tiny Monster. He has been such a trooper from day one and I just know he has an amazing future ahead of him.

“May you always walk in sunshine. 

May you never want for more. 

May Irish angels rest their wings,

right beside your door.”