Conor's Lazy Saturday

Day 25:

Last night was what will no doubt become one of many restless nights, Conor. Quite plainly, you had no interest in going to sleep before 4:00am. And even then, you were up again at 7:00am, raring to go. Mommy and me marveled as to where in that tiny body you were storing all your energy! It seems your sleeping throughout the day would only spell trouble for when it was time to hit the rack, but then again I have no idea how to keep you awake! At this point you can't do anything so we're kinda at the mercy of your own internal clock... If it's any indicator as to what that'll mean for you down the road, Son, you'll be a "night person" like your old-man.

Anyway, this also meant that, while Mommy and me were sapped of our own energy throughout the day, you just slept the day away. There was plenty to do in the house today. Took down the Christmas tree, packed away all the ornaments, cleaned the house top to bottom... And through it all, not a fuss... Not when the dogs were barking at the vacuum, not with my music playing; its sound filling up the whole house. Nope, not a flinch. And we know you passed your hearing test! You were simply sacked out, Son. Conor An Chroí Lion, recovering from a long and wild night! (Not that I would know anything about that, Son)

Finally a reprieve though... After busting our humps to get this place all cleaned up, your Uncle Paul, Aunt Jennifer, and Little Cousin Nathan came by to hang out a couple hours. It was absolutely surreal to look at Nathan in comparison to you, Conor. He's fifteen months old, you're technically negative one month old (36 weeks gestational age), and Nathan may as well have been a teenager. He looked HUGE next to you! As evidenced in the picture above... Still, I know it won't be long until you're every bit as big as Nathan, Son. And you guys are gonna no doubt be great friends...

Good game on TV, Boy. I'm all to happy to watch it with you. The first round of the NFL playoffs; an NFC match up between the New Orleans Saints and the Detroit Lions. An aerial show down! And I get to watch it with my Son... Just like I used to watch football with my Dad. It really is the little things...

Love you, Conor.
-Dad

Busy Days, Hungry Nights...

Day 24:

This morning started with a mad dash out the door to make your 2nd Pediatric appointment this week. The good news is, you're now weighing in a whopping 4 lb. 7.4 oz.! The bad news is, we had a 9:15am appointment and walked into a busy waiting area full of sick children. It's the last thing I wanted to expose you to, especially while we're waiting to hear about whether or not you're going to "qualify" for the RSV shot. So to unfortunately expose you to that, even for only a few minutes, made me want to suck all the polluted air from the room and blow it out the window. I'm no Superhero, Conor. Not like you. Not like Conor the Lion Heart. But since it's been my privilege to know you I feel like one. I feel as though I could take on anything just to keep you safe. I'd like to think this is a sentiment all parents feel for their young ones, though I know that's not the case. Some people just can't be heroes, Conor.

Dr Banta is very pleased with your progress; even after only knowing you two days. She seems to be an excellent Doctor, Conor. I like her and really enjoy her quirkiness and end energy. However, it's clear she relies upon less than competent office staff - no doubt to compensate for her practice's high overhead in Fairfax Corner. Mommy and me had to have a little "what for" with one gal in particular over some orders that got screwed up for blood-work. The young lady was dressed poorly and dismissive when in the office, and showed horrible telephone mannerisms and a presumptive "know it all" nature when on the phone. I discussed this with Dr Banta as well, though I'm afraid it makes no difference. But I digress...

As for you, Conor An Chroí Lion, you continue to seize every opportunity to grow. Your weight is going up and, as mentioned last night, you're growing before my eyes. A preemie outfit Mommy put you in on Monday saw you swimming in it so she took it off and set it aside. Today, when you stretched (you stretch a LOT, Conor) you almost popped a button! It's fascinating. Truly.

I love you, Conor. And I can't wait for tomorrow...
-Dad

Bigger, Stronger, Faster...

Day 23:

Finally! I'm home, Son! I have nothing to do for the next 10 days but spend time with you and watch you grow... Today wrapped up my final day at work for the next 6 business days... Been waiting for this since December 14th, Son.

I continue to be marveled by you, Conor. I'm watching you grow right before my eyes. Each day I notice the subtle differences. Your eyes are so expressive, your chin has filled out, and you're getting stronger every day... Your Mom and I have increased your feeding volume by 5 MLs a day for three days straight. Almost 2 ounces per feeding! It's funny to think that in a few short months you'll be eating solid foods, but today we're excited over a couple of milliliters of breast milk...

Your Aunt Jennifer came by to visit you today. She fed you a bottle and could hardly put you down, Son... Seems the Lion Heart has that effect on people! She thinks you look like your Daddy. I still don't see it... Time will tell, Son.

Tomorrow we have you back at the Pediatrician for another exam, then blood work at Fair Oaks Hospital to follow, then pictures in the afternoon... Surely a more interesting day! But, at least your Mom snapped off some great pictures of you smiling for the camera!

I love you, Boy.
Daddy

Off to the Doctor We Go...

Day 22:

You're keeping Mommy and Daddy busy, Son! While it was great to spend a full 24 hours with you yesterday - no nurses, no wires, no tubes; it was back to the Doctor's office today. This time to see your Pediatrician, Dr. Banta, in Fairfax. She's a lively woman who was as excited to meet you as anybody, and I'm confident she's going to be a great doctor for you for years to come. Dr. Banta was pleased with your size and weight, and was insistent you get a vaccination for RSV, or Respiratory Syncytial Virus. Apparently this dreaded infection is the primary cause of respiratory infection in infants worldwide.

Knowing this it would seem the vaccination for this dreaded virus would be made available to each and every child born, but no. In fact, the only reason you didn't get the vaccine in the NICU is because the cost of the vaccine is so expensive the primary insurer must approve the shot, and that approval is based on a number of factors including gestational birth period (under 35 weeks), weight (1800 grams), and time of year (between November and February). And even IF you were determined to have met the requirements, and you do, it would take several weeks to deliver the shot.

While I'm an ardent proponent of Capitalism, Conor, this is where the system can be flawed. Because the RSV vaccine is relatively new to the market there's no "generic", so the drug company can charge better than $2,500.00 per shot. What's more, because only a marginal number of infants contract RSV- roughly 100,000 hospitalized due to severe infections, each "season" (Nov through Feb)- of the 1.3 million babies born during that time, the insurance companies are willing to take the chance and NOT vaccinate / approve the vaccination against RSV. Still, this approach is all but likely to bite them in the behind down the road... Babies infected with RSV are highly probable of contracting it, as well as upper respiratory infection repeatedly. And this virus is not to be taken lightly, Conor.

I pulled the following information directly from the National Network for Immunization Information:
"Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of bronchiolitis—inflammation of the bronchioles (small airways) which causes wheezing—as well as pneumonia among infants and children under 1 year of age.1 It is estimated that by 2 years of age almost all children will have been infected with RSV, and half of them will be infected twice.2 Re-infection throughout life—usually upper respiratory infection—is common.

Most healthy infants infected with RSV are not hospitalized. However, infants with underlying lung or heart disease and those with immune deficiency are at increased risk of severe or fatal RSV infection. Each year in the United States, it is estimated that between 70,000 and 126,000 infants are hospitalized with RSV pneumonia or bronchiolitis."

Not even Conor An Chroí Lion - the mighty Lion Heart, can effectively combat an enemy he cannot see. And preemies are more susceptible than full term babies... But don't worry, Son... We'll get you that shot. Your little lungs will one day be big and mighty... Just like you.

I love you, Son.
-Dad

1st Day on the Job

Day 21:

Your homecoming, while sweet, was ground shaking, Son. Let's just say your Mom and Me haven't quite found a rhythm yet... We were trying to switch off as to who feeds you and when, who changes you and when, and well, sleep was something we got none of last night. Of course this was to be expected. We've heard all the stories from all the parents who've made this leap before us. Still, each experience is unique to every parent and certainly, this household would be no exception.

The first concern came with how fussy you were. We'd noted you hadn't had a "movement" (Politically Correct for "poop") in better than 24 hours and surely that'd be contributory. I called the NICU at 3:00am I think? They gave me some ideas as to what it might be, what it could be, and then suggested we just keep on feeding you. So that's what we did.

The morning came way too soon and despite what felt like constant feedings, still no poop. I worked around the house and got a few things done, checked your diaper a few more times... Alas, no. Later in the afternoon Mommy decided to step out to run errands. She'd be gone a couple hours and so you and I settled in to watch a movie - and a good one at that... "Days of Thunder", a CLASSIC! Odd considering I'm not a NASCAR fan, but I love that movie for some reason... I digress.

While watching the movie with you snug in my lap, I began to catch hints of odor emanating from your backend. Within a few moments the smell was near toxic and I was now so distracted from the movie I could only think to change you. But I was flying solo! Again, Mommy was out running errands so I would have to brave what's now been 48 hours without a poop! There would be no mercy, Conor. The Lion Heart had eaten like a Lion over the last several feedings, and upon my removing your diaper and seeing the culprit, the effort became a poo-tastrophy!! Each time I thought I'd gotten it all, I'd bring in a new diaper and BOOM! more poop! Three diapers and eight wipes later we were FINALLY done! I swear you lost a half lb of weight. I'd never seen anything so small produce so much! But I didn't mind. Didn't mind cleaning up, didn't mind running this operation solo... It's only poop, right?

Needless to say it was an exciting few minutes... And you've been so hungry since then that you actually ate twice in an hour! Conor the Lion Heart. Conor An Chroí Lion. Conor the HUNGRY!

And I can't wait for day two, Son.

Love you, Boy.
-Dad

Conor Comes Home...

Day 20:

Well, I can't believe it but they actually let us out of the hospital, Son. No ID scan, no IQ test; I just walked out the front door with you. Amazing, right?

Actually, it's not so amazing... Not at all in fact. Sadly anyone can have a baby, though assuredly not everybody should. Never the less, you're leaving the Virginia Hospital Center's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit triumphant. And your adoring public will miss you so... Yes Conor, you have some real fans in the NICU. And as your Mom and me were leaving the ward we were surrounded by the entire on-duty staff; all the NICU nurses and Terry the Nurse Practitioner... It was a tearful moment, Son. Everyone in the NICU who worked with you loved you. They were enamored with you, awed by you, impressed with you, and so hopeful for you. They all noted your meteoric rise to strength... How quickly you knocked down the challenges in front of you and how young you are to be leaving the hospital. Not a lot of "35 weekers" see their way home, but you're not a lot of 35 weekers, are you? No, you're not. You're my Son. Conor the Lion Heart. Conor An Chroí Lion.

There's no exaggeration in this, Conor. The people of Virginia Hospital Center's NICU lined up to bid you a fond farewell and to hug Mommy and me as we made our way toward the doors... They asked that we please bring you back through to say hello and to keep them abridged as to your progress. They urged us to call with absolutely any question and at any time. They genuinely loved you, Conor, and they made your Mom and me feel so very good about being your parents. We're already blessed and quite confident about what it'll take to be good parents to you, but validation through your peers, who three short weeks ago were all perfect strangers, is somewhat comforting. Because though we are confident, we journey forward with you into the great unknown, and every little bit of support helps.

Driving down the road with you was a surreal feeling, Son. The base of your car seat is borderline cutting into the leather on the rear bench seat of my Tahoe SUV... Like any good parent I wanted to be sure to offer you the best, safest means of transportation available. The mighty Tahoe rolled confidently down I-66 West on the 15 minute journey home. Like a trusted steed, of her 120,000 miles only one other time has she carried cargo so valuable... A giant, black tank of a truck... never have been so pleased to be driving such a behemoth. And of course, she didn't disappoint...

Upon arriving home, you finally got to meet your dogs, Bruiser and Mickie, who were all to happy to welcome in their new Master. Conor An Chroí Lion. Conor, the Lover of Hounds. In fact. since you've come through the door Mickie's not been more than 6 feet away from you. Her ever watchful eye following your every move. I suspect you and she are going to be great, great friends, Conor. Bruiser too, but Mickie will be yours for the taking.

All in all, your arrival home was better than advertised. Shortly after your arrival we watched our first football game together; a dream I've had since seeing you for the first time. The South Carolina Gamecocks vs. the Nebraska Corn Huskers- the victory going to the Gamecocks. Let's just call it the Cherry on Top...

Welcome home, Son. I love you.
-Dad

The Lion Heart Triumphs...

Day 19:

"I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious." --Vince Lombardi

This quote has always been one of my favorites, Conor. And for you, Conor An Chroí Lion, a fitting tribute to your early trials with us on this Earth. It's been a whirlwind 19 days, Son. I've seen you come through challenges that would test the most hardened man, and you've come through them with a determination and strength long forgotten by those who would take advantage of all that is given to them. You've battled for life and I believe this will define you as you grow.

From your first breath you've been fighting. Fighting to breathe, fighting to eat, fighting to develop into the strong young boy you are, and the fine man you will no doubt become. And through it all, nary a fuss. Needles and tubes and wires and machines, and you've endured it all with grace. The strength of a Lion. Conor the Lion Heart.

Now, many people would argue these triumphs aren't as much about your strength, will, and character as they're more based in the advancement of modern medicine and technology... And to be sure they'd be right, though to a point. The world we live in undoubtedly affords us the benefit of the modern age. However, I believe that a man's heart is what defines him. And from the first time I heard the beating of your heart on an ultrasound and doppler what seems like a lifetime ago, I knew. I just knew you'd be so strong. You've exceeded whatever expectation I had, Son. What lies ahead are what I consider to be lifetimes of wonderful experiences, beautiful sights, bewildering sounds, and many, many challenges. But I know in my heart, that you'll take them all on, and that you'll win, Conor. Because it's all you know how to do, Son.

Another quote I love is maybe the simplest of all quotes... "Never, Never, Never Give Up." --Winston Churchill
You don't have an ounce of quit in you, Son. And you've taught me to remember the same. And I'll be right here with you for as long as God will allow. And I'll share every victory...

I'm so proud of you, Conor. Conor the Lion Heart. Conor An Chroí Lion. For tomorrow, you come home. Victorious.

I love you.
-Dad