Thank You to our friends and family

Thanks to everyone's best wishes Kieran is doing really well.  He did have to go back on the Ventilator which means he is having some help to breathe but it's because he is so tiny and he wiped himself out breathing on his own for 3 days.  It is really unusual for a baby born at just 25 weeks to be breathing by themselves.  We know we are extremely lucky for Kieran to be as healthy as he is.  So, as much as we would rather that he breath on his own, it's understandable that he would need a bit of help every now and then.   Also, a bonus with him using the ventilator is the fact that he isn't burning as many calories working so hard to keep breathing which means he is finally gaining weight instead of losing.  At the moment he weighs 599gms. his birth weight was 700gms.

We still haven't been able to hold our son yet but I was able to help with his handling the other day.  Which means I took his temperature, held his syringe for his feeding and changed his diaper.  Never did I think I would get excited about a dirty diaper, but I was!  It was nice to feel useful for a change.  Our goal is to hold him by the end of this week.  All fingers and toes are crossed in the hope that it will happen.

Again, thank you to everyone for your kind words and thoughts.  At a time like this it's the small things that make the biggest impact.  Knowing we have the support of so many friends and family members is a great comfort to us.  Every time we feel overwhelmed or isolated from everyone, all we have to do is read your emails, they help us to stay connected and to remind us that we are not alone. So even though I may not be able to respond individually to eveyone's email please know that they do not go unnoticed and they are very much appreciated.

Kieran's First Few Days

Here is the latest picture of Kieran. It's a little startling at first when you are not used to seeing a baby so small or hooked up to so many lines and machines. But this is the first picture we have that you are able to see his little face. The green thing in his mouth is a soother which he loves, and the hose that goes to his nose is sending constant air to his lungs to help keep them open so he doesn't have to work so hard when he breathes. Kieran is breathing on his own and it just helps to keep him from getting tired.

The picture was taken just after Kieran was holding onto his father's baby finger (see below). It sounds like such a small thing but when you haven't been able to hold your child yet being able to have them hold your finger is a big deal!!! Corin was over the moon and I was thrilled for him. He definitely loves his Daddy. Every time he hears Corin's voice his little heart monitor picks up a few beats, it's really neat to see that he knows who we are by the sound of our voices. It's amazing what they do hear when they are in your womb. When he hears Corin's voice he gets excited if he is upset and I speak you can see his heart slow down. It's truly is a blessing to see.