3/09/08: Well, Liam is now almost 6 weeks old, and turning into a round little ball. We often affectionately call him "Pudge." Up until recently he was sleeping almost all the time, with the exception of waking to eat every 3 hours or so, but now he is starting to actually stay awake and look around at his world on occasion. Ella really loves it when he is awake, and feels it is her job to entertain him at every waking moment. Last week he had his one month check up, and weighed in at 10 lbs. 3 ounces, and 21 1/2 inches tall. He is really taking his job of growing bigger very seriously. We're very happy to be at home, with a healthy family finally- the first month was filled with stomach flu, fevers, colds, and bladder infections for the girls, luckily Liam escaped the germs. Hopefully spring will arrive soon, and Liam can get out and meet the horses. Check back to see pictures of that sometime in the future! To read more about Liam's first few days, see below these pictures.
Liam 5 weeks old:
Ella already loves to dress up her brother:
Liam's first playdate with his sister Ella and cousins Luke and Maddie:
Liam smiles...:
William Michael Ellingson was born on 01/29/08 at about 4:30 pm. He was 7 lbs. 4 ounces. 20 inches. On the morning of 01/30/08, he was admitted to the intensive care unit because he had low blood sugar. He is currently in the NICU, but mom is visting him often to breast feed and he seems to have a good appetite. We hope that he will return to the mother baby unit in a day or two. Mom is a little stressed from the C section but recovering well. Dad is very happy. He returned home from a trip with an hour to spare before the operation and luckily avoided some nasty airport conditions. Toni's mom will be returning from the far east on Thurs. Grandfathers William and Michael are proud. Wendy is watching the girls who are delighted to have a baby brother. They want him and mom to come home soon. Thanks for everyone's support. I will try to keep this web page updated with photos and health updates over the next couple days.
Update Day 2: He had a really good day in the NICU. He has an IV with dextrose to keep his blood sugar up. He's also getting breast milk and formula supplements. He has a tremendous appetite, which is good. But he burns a lot of calories looking for food. They will be trying to slowly wean him off the IV over the next couple days.(3 new photos below)
Update Day 3: William had a very good day. They put him in a box.(see photo below). The nurses call it an isolette. But, dad calls it a box. William likes it because it is quiet and more peaceful for sleeping than the hectic intensive care unit. The nurses like it because when William wakes up, he is very loud and quite opinionated (not as loud as baby Genna but pretty high decibels). His IV has now been cut to half the original dosage and his blood sugars are staying steady. Great news. Mom is really feeling the surgery pain today and is needing the pain drugs. It is difficult for her because she and dad get up every two hours to trek across the hospital to the NICU for breast feeding. William appreciates it because he just hates bottles, even when they contain breast milk. The nurses say that they've never seen anything like it. We're still hoping he'll be out of the NICU in a day or two.
Update Day 3 late (01/31/08): Liam was released from the intensive care unit today at 5 pm. His IV was removed at noon and his blood sugar remained stable. Bill and Wendy brought Genna and Ella over to the hospital at 7 pm to celebrate. We're all thrilled and hoping to be going home tomorrow.
Update Day 4 (02/01/08) We made it! Mom and baby were released from the hospital today. The hospital photographer came over for a photoshoot at 12:30 pm. Liam will be on a hosital newsletter in a couple weeks. After that, we started packing for home. When we got home, Liam got to meet his Aunt Beck, his cousins and his other grandma, Pat, who returned from Malaysia late last night. It was a great day and we feel blessed- and tired.
Thanks to everyone who has sent congratulations. We appreciate it.
In the NICU:
Day 3 update, in the box:
His return from the NICU:
Going home to meet the cousins:
Thanks for everyone's well wishes.
