Monday, October 29, 2007

Boooooooooooo!













Well, we had some fun with Colby this evening.....maybe at his expense. LOL. Even the nurses were getting into it and laughing. Colby...well...we wasn't too sure what to make of the whole ordeal. Because Colby is having surgery tomorrow, he won't be able to be dressed for a while, he'll be back on the respirator and may have some extra tubes running from him for a bit. Tonight was our opportunity and we took it and Colby got his first taste of Halloween two night's early.
Tracey had found a Halloween Onezy thing on e-bay. Like everything else right now, it's a little big on Colby. But we managed to tuck him inside of it. Then we took the incubator cover that Tracey made and laid that over a pillow. Lastly, we propped Colby up and snapped away. : ) I think he enjoyed it though. He was watching me with the camera,Tracey and all of the nurses laughing. So as you can see we did our best to keep a fun, light hearted mood for him this evening.

As for his "medical stuff". His results from his eye exam came back. Last week he had stage 1 ROP. Stage 1 is just the beginning of any signs. This week....stage 2. There are 5 stages in all. A child may only progress to a certain level and stop. We're keeping our fingers crossed that he's done at stage 2.

He's also getting another blood transfusion tonight before his surgery. He's been a little lethargic and his blood numbers have been a little low. So this should make him good and strong before his surgery tomorrow.

Other than that, no real news today. No results yet from his head ultrasound. We'll probably find that out tomorrow. Tracey and I are headed to the hospital first thing in the morning. Colby is scheduled to go into surgery at 1pm, so we want to see him before they take him from the NICU.

These past couple weeks we've seen Colby's weight bobble around. His head grew, but then slowed down. And now the start of ROP. Tomorrow will be no different than all the other days. We will just take it one day at a time, one hurdle at a time and no matter what happens, we'll just make the best of things. Given all that Colby's been through, he's a very content little boy. He rarely cries. He loves to look around. He loves to hold your finger (he can't really hold your hand yet as his whole hand barely goes round my finger). I like to think that our being with him so often and doing what we can to help him keep his head up through all of this is in some way making his stronger and making it a little easier for him to get through things. It's that same sense of being there for him to help him deal with things and overcome the obstacles that life brings his way that I look forward to.

Many people have said that they don't know how we can continue to keep going or how we can keep a good outlook. Honestly, it's not easy. But Tracey and I understand the alternative. We could tumble over and say how tough things are. We could sit and cry and talk about how this is the farthest thing from what we envisioned when we started trying to get pregnant 4 years ago. But why? Crappy stuff happens every day. And if it wasn't this, it would be something else......finances, work, relationships, raising a teenager....or even the weather. It's all the same. Just stuff you sometimes can't control. And although you can't change it, you can change how you react and how you get through it. So we recognize the reality of the situation we're in, but do our best to focus on the good in life. We focus on all that we DO have, on the good days Colby has and of the possibilities that are still open to Colby and our family.

Your support, comments and e-mails have had a big impact on us. We are not alone during this journey and that makes a difference. I want to say thank you to everyone for all you've done and all you are doing. It certainly makes it easier to keep our chin up and to continue trudging through some of the harder days.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those pictures are so precious. He is so photogenic. I'm hoping for the best outcome with the surgery tomorrow. It's good to see all the progress your family has made in the past two months.

Amanda said...

He is so beautiful! He does kind of look like he's not so sure about all that halloween stuff, though. :-)

You are all in my thoughts and prayers today. <3

Unknown said...

Colby looks so cute! Hope all goes well with surgery today, we're praying for you.

Cynthia said...

Those are the best photos I've seen in a long time. :-)
Hope all goes well with the surgery - we're thinking of you!

Anonymous said...

Dress-up is fun, it brings some normalcy to an otherwise not normal situation! I got my godson a Tigger Halloween suit and we dressed him up in it when he was in the NICU....he was swimming in it, but it was still fun. Best of luck to all of you today.

Anonymous said...

Colby is absolutely adorable! When my cousin had a premie she went to build a bear and bougth his clothes. We'll be praying for you all today.

Anonymous said...

What cute pictures! Colby is such a cute trick or treater!

Sending lots of prayers and positive energy your way today.

Anonymous said...

Colby looks so CUTE! We love the pictures.
-Mary and Hannah

Anonymous said...

Those pictures are so cute!!! I love the black and white ones!!! :D

HAPPY 1ST HALLOWEEN COLBY!!!

We are praying for Colby and your family everyday!!!

GOD BLESS,
Jamie, Jordan, and Maleia

Anonymous said...

You guys are amazing...as always we are thinking of you today and every day. Take care and get as much rest as you can.

-Blaik and Paul

Anonymous said...

I LOVE the pictures, he is too cute! He will be in my thoughts and prayers during his surgery, You guys are amazing and I love to read your blog every day, it's so inspiring.

Take care,
Natalie

Unknown said...

The pictures are so adorable He looks so good. I hope the surgery goes well and Colby continues to do well.

Anonymous said...

Colby's First Halloween!
Great job with the outfit and cover Tracey: as usual great pics Scott. The picture of the three of you is the best! You are always on my mind and in my prayers.
Vikki

Liz and Chris said...

Your being there every dau MOST CERTAINLY is helping him! All the medicine in the world wouldn't have gotten him this far if it wasn't for your constant love. Words, touch, etc go a long way and it doesn't just apply to adults...preemies are no different! Everything in this world responds to love!

Anonymous said...

I have been reading all of your blogs since my friend Shannon introduced me to your family. When I sit down on the computer out here in California each day I say out loud..."Okay let's check in on Colby." His pictures always make me smile, but this morning seeing him dressed for Halloween made me giggle out loud (and smile.) Just precious! Thanks for sharing the pictures.
Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
-Freida