Home!

So we actually made it home yesterday!

Nickolas is such an amazing baby. He has gone through so much in such a short time.
His back surgery went well, it is healing (a little slowly) and he is on antibiotics. We went from being told we were staying longer becasue he had an infection and talking about putting in a picc line, to taking out the iv and going home on oral antibiotics!

The hospital stay was hectic. I didn't get to visit for almost a week because I had H1N1 (but felt fine, just a little cold). And then I couldn't drive, because of the c-section so I had to get my parents to come out and pick me up, look after Katheryn or bring her to daycare and then make our way downtown (we usually got there for 11am). On the weekend I was able to stay down there, it is interesting spending so much time in a hospital and not being sick and not working. I was glad to be home in my own bed, but sad to leave Nickolas. The only good thing was how wonderful all the nurses were and how well cared for he was, and how good he was doing.

Yestarday he had a head and abdo ultrasound, everything looked good and we packed up and (slowly) made it home during rush hour. Nickolas can't be on his back yet, so physio came and put a foam pad in his carseat and he can be in that for up to 1 hour. It takes 2 hours to get home during rush hour so we made a half way pit-stop to show him off to grandma and grandpa Ridding.

We also have a homecare nurse coming to look at the dressings and the caths. We are cathing him every 6 hours.
The first night home was a bit rough. The middle of night caths and diaper changes and feedings were not fun. The most I can complain about is that he likes to kick, poop and pee on me when I change him - and I can't even complain about that - there was a good chance he would not be able to do that.

So Nickolas is doing tremendous! He has full movement all the way down to his feet and even then he can flex but not extend him, and he can move his toes as well. This is so much better than we hoped for!! The exercises I got from physio - play with his feet.

Katheryn is in love with her little brother! - She calls him "Niii", she doens't get the 'ck' yet, but we will work on it. She also likes to pet his head and kiss him.

Introducing Nickolas

Hi Everyone,
This is Amanda's sister Laura, Amanda is still in the hospital for a few days and asked me to update this for everyone.

Nickolas was born on Friday November 13th at 12:51 and weighed 7lbs 9oz. Both Mom and baby are doing well. Amanda is recovering well from surgery (c-section) and was up and walking late last night and again today. Nickolas was moved to Sick Kids hospital yesterday and went for surgery this morning around 11:30. Nickolas' surgery is on his back to put the spinal cord back into it's normal position and close the vertebrae over the damaged area. The doctors have reported that the back surgery went well, they are just finishing up to close the opening. He should be out in recovery momentarily. Nickolas will have to lay on his front and side for the next while until the incision is healed and he should be able to go home in about 2 weeks. He is moving his hips, knees and ankles but more time and study is needed to really asses the situation.

Congratulations Amanda & Kyle on your beautiful son Nickolas!

Holding Pattern

28 weeks now. It seems to be going to quickly and so slowly at the same time. It seems like we are in a holding pattern right now. When we found out about the spina bifida everything moved so fast, but now nothing.
I've kept going to Dr Samra, but I know that I'll starting going to a specialist at Mt Sinai soon, but I don't know when or who. We are kinda of stuck. We go for another ultrasound this week to look/check for hydrocephalus ("water on the brain") which is the next big thing we need to worry about. In July it hadn't developed yet, but can develop very quickly at any time (or not at all). It would effect when we expect to deliver. I don't know if we should have done ultrasounds yet, but if it was there and was large - we aren't going to deliver at 26 weeks, or 28 weeks either.

I am always amazed when people say how brave we are being. It doesn't seem like we are being brave. We aren't doing anything especially courageous, we are dealing with what life has sent us. We are fighting for and loving our child.

So I don't actually have much more news. Nickolas moves around ALL the TIME! (I'm not complaining) and everywhere. He is probably breech, or flipping back and forth, up and down.

We are going to start on the nursery soon. I have plans and paint chips, but of course it is still filled with our computer room crap. But we have time (hopefully), 28 weeks is a big milestone to meet, next is 32 weeks, but of course I still 39 weeks in my head. And that is what my timeline for my research project states (yes I'm trying to finish my Masters before the baby comes - I know I'm crazy).

Katheryn has become our next artist. Drawing all over paper, magnets, floors, herself, her parents - not the walls (yet). And Kyle is just waiting for her to hit 20 lbs so she can go in her new car -big girl - seat.
She is such a monkey!