26 May 2007
There is steady progress. Max is now on three-hourly feeds as of this evening and we go in to give him every second or third one fresh from the source. He is much more alert and active now he has matured a bit more and getting over his jaundice, which makes it fun.
He had his second bath and enjoyed it slightly more than his first. He also got measured and weighed and he had grown 1cm since birth and weighed an extra 100g since 24 May. Even considering a bulging stomach of breast milk, he's still heading in the right direction.
We'll have to get the camera out again as Mum and Dad think he has changed already since his first photos.
We're both pretty tired, but dead keen to be able to bring Max home. Given the several weeks Danielle has spent there, and now going in to feed and spend time with Max, we are well and truly sick of the sight of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital!
27 May 2007
Max has seamlessly moved to three-hourly feeds and had a real treat: four breast feeds today.
Granddad (Henderson) and Karen drove down from Tamworth for the day to meet Max. The rules are strictly enforced in the hospital about only parents being allowed to handle the baby. So they drove 900km return to not even get a cuddle. If you ask them, I think you'll find they they still think it was worth it.
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Grand ad and Karen meet Max |
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Three generations of
Henderson boys |
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28 May 2007
Good progress today. Danielle spent the day at the hospital and so Max got four good breast feeds including a champion one at 8:30pm.
He has moved onto four-hourly feeds this evening, one of the preconditions for Max coming home. He got another bath and a weigh tonight and he's gaining weight which is another one. If he keeps that up and has 48 hours of suckle feeds he can come home.
So, maybe Thursday... maybe Friday... maybe...
29 May 2007
After last night's post, who would have thought Wednesday. Yes, unless something goes pear-shaped tonight, Max is coming home tomorrow. His progress obviously has the doctors pleased and at the moment he is being very settled and feeding well.
Needless to say, we expect everything to change once he's home. We've heard enough stories from new parents to know that this is just the calm before the storm.
30 May 2007
As promised, Max left the hospital for the first time ever. He had a short and settled journey home and is asleep downstairs. He came home dressed in an outfit Danielle's Mum, Maria, bought and wrapped in a blanket that Maryke knitted and that David himself came home from the hospital in. Maryke says it is the only piece of baby clothing from that time in the early 70s that goes close to deserving to see the light of day again!!
Finally Maria got to have a cuddle, after waiting patiently until now. Maryke is due early Thursday for hers. Danielle's sister, Catrina, was also there for Max's first journey home.
Both Mum and Dad and very excited to have him home, and just a little bit nervous. The big changes to our life start now!
Max in his coming home outfit |
Dad, Mum and Max pose for one last photo in the hospital |
Ready to go into the car |
("Don't drop him!
Don't Drop him...") |
Max was very settled
in his baby capsule
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Dad bringing Max home wrapped in the blanket he himself came home in 35 years earlier. |
Maria FINALLY gets her first cuddle
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Max with his Grandmother Maria
and his Aunt Catrina |
31 May 2007
Wow! We got a real taste for what we're in for. Max was a bit restless last night - maybe a new house, new sounds etc - so Mum and Dad spent a fair bit of time awake as well. Now that Max is home, there's nowhere to hide!
Maryke (David's mum) came down from Canberra for her first (of many) cuddles and gave him his first bit of sporting equipment with a teddy bear. Danielle's Nana also got her first cuddle in; 91 years difference between them, but the seemed to enjoy each other's company immensely.
Maryke also gets in her first cuddle! |
Max and his cricket teddy |
Nana and Max |
getting to know one another. |
