Leon Atkinson

Henry came home today! We’re all so happy to have him home now and we’re taking a day to be quiet together.

We discovered that the little car seat we had for Tre wasn’t little enough, and I had to go buy one that fits a 5lb baby. Luckily, we got good advice from the nurses and were able to got get the perfect model in a store in Walnut Creek.

Tre is being so nice with Henry. He was immediately telling him that he loves him and he was touching Henry’s face and feet. He was telling us how cute Henry is. It’s really amazing and touching to see. He’s also been telling Henry things like “It’s OK, baby, it’s only a little noise.” Henry isn’t really being bothered by whatever noise Tre’s talking about, but it’s sweet that he’s trying to take care of his little brother.

A big boquet of roses arrived from my mom today. Thanks, Mom! And we’re still eating on the food that was delivered yesterday. Joe’s going to deliver dinner tomorrow.

Henry is making good progress and will soon be able to come home. He got a little jaundiced and had to spend a day under the lights. But his tests came back good and they took the lights away. He also has gained some weight back after losing a little bit. Both of these are normal events for a new baby, and they are good signs. The doctor was suggesting that tomorrow is probably the day that he gets to come home.

Vicky is still spending her days at the hospital and I’m spending my days doing housework and watching Tre. I’m enjoying getting to spend so much time with Tre.

We have more food than we know what to do with, and lots of offers for more! Holy cow! Thanks, everybody! Clear Ink (my employer) had Andronico’s deliver a meal that would probably feed 12 people comfortably and it barely fit in the fridge.

Vicky has the camera today, so I’ll probably have some new pictures later tonight.

Vicky’s home from the hospital tonight. She’s really tired from shuttling back and forth between the recovery room the nursery every three hours. She’s finally settling in for a five-hour stretch of sleep. Then she’ll be up to pump breast milk at 3AM.

Henry is still in the nursery. We don’t have a solid date on when he can come home. He was having some trouble learning how to nurse where he’d lose his rythm and “desat”. That means he’d not breath enough and the oxygen level in his blood would go down too low. But after some coaching from the nurses, he seemed to figure it out and hasn’t had it happen for the last day or so.

In the mean time, Vicky will try to spend days at the hospital with Henry to give him real breastfeeding. She’ll come home in the evenings and pump. It’s going to be a lot of work until Henry comes home, and then it will only be slightly less work.

My mom went back home today, since it seemed like I had everything under control with watching Tre and doing housework. It’s going to be nice to have a stretch of days of one-on-one time with Tre that Vicky has enjoyed for the past three years.

Tre got to see Henry through the nursery window today. He’s being a very good boy overall. I’m sure he’s enjoying all the attention from me. He also has been talking about the fun he had with Bob and Gene and my mom.

I’ll post more news and pictures when I have them.

I have updated stats.  The birth time was 6:38AM, July 5th.  The weight was 5lbs 11oz.  The length was 18.5 inches.

Best bet right now is that he’ll have to stay three days in the nursery.  That’s one down and two to go.  But that could change because he’s doing so well.  He’s eating about every 3 hours, breastfeeding each time.

We’re still in the hospital.  (Well, I’m home for a couple of hours, and then I’m heading back).  Henry is still doing fine, eating a lot, etc.  Vicky’s having to commute between her room and the nursery.  My mom made it down here from Oregon this afternoon, so Tre is now with her.  Amazingly, I was able to get able an hour and a half of sleep at the hospital.  I’m going to stay with Vicky through the night tonight.

I don’t know if we’re coming home tomorrow.  There’s been no word yet.  I think it’s on a daily cycle based on when the pediatrician does rounds in the morning.  I should know more midday tomorrow.