Here We Go Again

Dad getting me in training!

2009-03-31T09:20:00.000+01:00

This is only going to get worse!

2009-03-31T09:10:00.000+01:00

Wait til we are all in our teens and big sister brings her friends around!!

Me and big sis!

2009-03-18T06:49:00.000Z

This is better than the pushchair...

2009-03-16T15:28:00.002Z

...well for me at least. dad may not agree.

My favourite place!

2009-03-12T11:05:00.003Z

This is rapidly becoming my favourite spot.

It is lovely after a big feed to just lie here in the chair, the sun shining in through the windows, and drop peacefully off to sleep.

Of course i need a big huge feed before hand. Last night mum and dad tried me on a bottle of formula, mixed in with my normal feeds. They are having trouble keeping me filled and the frozen stuff will run out before the end of the month. And it was very good - tolerated it well and was not sick at all.

Now the eagle eyed of you may notice i just played a little trick on you. In these three photos you may spot that in the middle one i am wearing a different t-shirt. The even more observent of you will notice i have a slight bump on my head, and a little more hair.
That is because the middle one is not me, but Zoe!!
It was taken back in February of 2006. Mum and dad really are quite scared by how much we look alike!

Quick Update

2009-03-10T10:44:00.003Z

Ok so here we are in Mad March now and it seems its party season. I seem to be going out every weekend with the olds at the moment.On to technical stuff. Was weighed yeaterday and i am now a whacking 6lbs 7oz, which technically brings me up to proper baby status. Perhaps now all the stares will stop when we go shopping. I also had my first lot of jabs yesterday which was defiantely not funny. However big sister was there to hold my hand.

Feeding is going really well. As you may have seen from previous photos, mum and dad are combining bottle feeds in now, and i'm having about 4oz at regular sessions. They have also started to plan a night strategy which sees me feeding at about 9 o'clock, then again at about 1 in the morning(dad with a bottle) and then hopefully i sleep until about 6 o'clock(when they get up anyway!)

I still do a lot of this!

But i am more frequently doing this.

How to keep an idiot in suspense!

2009-03-06T15:35:00.000Z

Show him a cuddly thing with a mirror on!
I'm talking about the person holding it not me of course. Yes i know. It's me in a mirror - very good dad!

Oops, you nearly got a smile out of me there dad!

The hard life!

2009-03-03T19:51:00.000Z

Lets give this feeding lark another go...

2009-02-26T16:15:00.001Z

...except this time we will use a bottle!!
Looks like she has got the hang of it.
Eyes on the job at hand and not the tv please!

And of course it is a spectator event.
As long as you don't let the big furry black thing have a go.

Helping out with feeding time

2009-02-24T18:57:00.001Z

Yes, i'm not sure this going to work!

More Cuddles

2009-02-24T18:09:00.001Z

This time with big sister!

A sofa full of trouble!

2009-02-15T10:36:00.001Z

Three generations of Ambler males.

Pulling the chicks!

2009-02-14T20:41:00.000Z

Ok so its Sue, Sarah and Lynn at dad's brithday, but you have to start somewhere!

Who's this holding on to me?

2009-02-14T11:57:00.001Z

Aah, its Uncle Keith.Should be good for about half an hour here now then!

Off to feed the ducks.

2009-02-12T14:01:00.000Z

Now i'm not sure which pilot i'm more nervous about here.
So i'll just settle for this one(lesser of two evils!)
Zoe instructing mum on the fine art of only throwing bread 2 feet from you and so creating a group of frustrted ducks.
It's all too much excitement. I'll just do what i do best!

Grandad will be so proud!

2009-02-11T14:39:00.002Z

Starting me off early but he wouldn't be so happy if he knew dad had dreams of me running down the wing at Murryfield dressed in blue!

Cuddles with...

2009-02-10T10:58:00.000Z

Me and dad and ..., Upsy Daisy! No its just my sister dressing up again.
(Dad's birthday by the way - one more year until the big one!)

Settling In

2009-02-09T11:01:00.004Z

Hi everyone.

Well it been a couple of weeks now since i last blogged, so i thought i would update you all.

Coming home was a fantastic thing for mum, dad and Zoe. They decided that for a few days they would do very little and just enjoy it. Well that lasted all of 24 hours before they were rushing around, bored of being stuck inside.

Most of the time i do this, lie asleep thinking about stuff. Besides that there is not a great deal to do at the moment apart from feed and poo my nappies.

As i say we have done the touring around and seeing lots of the people who could not come and see me in hospital.

My feeds are going really well and i am getting in to a good routine - about every three or four hours. And i am still putting weight on. I am up to 4lbs 7 now and due to be weighed again this week.

Of course the major talking point of the last week has been all the snow. Now i'm stuck in here like this!

Whilst my sister is ouside doing this!Not fair but at least she is amused.

Anyway i will clear off now and keep you all posted as things go on.

Proper clothes

2009-01-25T12:48:00.000Z

Now as you can see mum has dressed me in some smart proper clothes today.And there is a very good reason - I'm going home!

Sorry to spring this all on you suddenly, but that is what they did to mum and dad at the hospital.

So into the car seat all bundled up warm.

And then off we go. Mum and dad have decided to walk me back. I think this is going to be an early taster of things to come!And here is sister taking her own baby home!

However it is not far and soon we are back and taking a first look at my new home.

And here is mum who has clearly forgot the art of manouvering a pushchair.I want to say a huge thanks to all the nurses and doctors and everyone who has taken care of me over the past few weeks.

And of course to everyone who has dropped me a card or sent me a present. I know mum and dad really appreaciated everyones support through a very difficult time.

But now, the big adventure begins properly!

Smelly Boy

2009-01-24T16:39:00.000Z

I have been here for nearly four weeks now, and nobody has thought about giving me a bath yet.

So here we go.

Now the first thing i want to say is whose funny idea was it to get me a pink bath tub!!

Here is zoe, just checking that dad had not made the water too hot. Thanks sis.

All is ready so here we go.

Mum gently lowers me in.
And to be honest i'm not that impressed!

However after a little while i have to admit it isn't that bad. I think i object more to being butt naked rather than the water itself.

Fortunately, Zoe is there to keep an eye on things and make sure everything is going alright.

Well that was not too bad. Time for a quick dry in a nice warm fluffy towell and then get those clothes back on!

Sleep Over

2009-01-23T18:03:00.000Z

As the breast feeding is going so well, the nurses have suggested that we try demand feeding. this means that i have a sleeping companion over the weekend. Mum is moving in to the flats with me so she can be on call whenever i need.Things seem to be moving ahead very quickly. Crack this and they may let me go home!

Superstar DJ

2009-01-23T17:32:00.000Z

Some of you may remember all this crazy headgear from when Zoe was in.
No its not me listening to Bon Jovi as a punishement. It is one of the tests they carry out on us. They are just checking that my hearing is ok. The good news is i passed with flying colours. One step closer to going home.

Feeding changes

2009-01-22T12:56:00.000Z

After my latest weigh in we have decided to make a real push on the breast feeding. And so mum is now going to start doing more of it, which means less down the tube and more of the tasty method.

This will not be the first time i have actually tasted it though. When the nurses noticed i was rooting, they started to give me some in a cup. Only a little bit to start with, about 10mls out of my amount. Here is one of my nurses demonstarting how it is done.

You have to say that even though it looks like i'm in a straightjacket, it is better than shoving it down my nose!

Don't Laugh!

2009-01-21T10:07:00.000Z

This is how mum found me this morning. Seems that my nurse, Nicola, decided i was lonely in the night and let me snuggle up with a friend. Dad on the otherhand thinks that i look like a smurf!As it is wednesday, it is another weigh in.
And guess what! I am now over the 4lb mark. 4lbs 2 1/2oz to be precise.
This is very good as i am not far off the weight that Zoe was when she went home.

The Pround Mum

2009-01-20T15:06:00.000Z

Bring on the fresh stuff

2009-01-18T19:50:00.000Z

Mum has decided to give the old breastfeeding routine a go.

It is a little difficult at first, but there are definate signs that i know what to do.

Now for the sake of decency (and because mum would kill dad) i have decided not to post a picture of this event.

However, instead here is a nice picture of Zoe playing dressing up with mum at home!

To be honest, i think dad is still going to kop it!

2009-01-18T12:35:00.000Z

So its time to see if the fortifier has made any difference to my weight.

And the news is yes, and then some! I now weigh a massive 3lbs 15oz, which really annoyed mum as dad got it spot on.

All going well so far. I just need to keep putting the weight on and i will be out of here sooner than we thought!

Cuddles with Auntie Ellen

2009-01-15T14:16:00.000Z

Hopefully this will make her back feel a little better.

Mind you, if i keep putting weight on she won't be allowed to soon.

You may notice the absence of the white monitor lead. This is because it has gone - rejoice! I am still on one monitor, but this is just an alarm to monitor my breathing should i go off in to a deep sleep. Not likely however with all the fantastic amount of visitors i have!

First Cuddles

2009-01-14T15:09:00.001Z

This time with Grandad Peter.Not only cuddles but as you can see, dad managed to get him to do a quick feed also. Now this has been greatly enhanced by the fact that last night my nurse changed my nasal gastric tube to a bigger size. So instead of yaking twenty five minutes, it now takes 5! Which is especially good as i am now up to 35mls every 3 and a half hours.

Note if you will the way grandad is holding on to me like i am a rugby ball and he is flying up the wing, and staring intently at the monitor should it make a noise.

Another Weigh In

2009-01-14T11:05:00.001Z

Well it is wednesday so it is weigh in day again.I am now up to 3lbs 10oz, which means i continue to put on the flab! The doctors have asked however that in addition to my milk, i have some fortifier. This is just some of the proteins and vitamins that you don't get in breast milk. Nothing is wrong, they would just like me to increase my weight gains slightly.

Some good news is that i have been in just air and without the oxygen canula for 24 hours now. Another day and i may be able to come off my monitor.

Its cold outside

2009-01-12T08:41:00.000Z

And its even cold in here, despite the air conditioning.They have taken me off my lovely warm heated bed and are trying to see how i do at holding my temperature. I've not been doing badly, but sometimes the room itself gets a little cold and so they stick me another blanket on! I still get the chance to come out sometimes though for cuddles. Don't read anything in to the blue and white jacket. Dad has been rooting around desperatley for anythin red and white striped but he hasn't succeded yet!

How to scare dad!

2009-01-11T15:44:00.000Z

Let him walk in to find an empty room!

Thats because i have been here this afternoon. I have a bottle of portable oxygen which makes me a little more mobile. This means mum can take me down to the parents flats, which is a little more comfortable than my room.

Zoe is obviously happy as here and mum get to watch lots of kids videos.

However the job of feeding needs to continue so here is Zoe giving dad an hand!

Weigh In

2009-01-11T10:59:00.002Z

Hi everyone.

Well its sunday so that means weigh in day. They check me out twice a week to see how i am doing.

The good news is that i have put a little bit of weight on again and i am now up to 3lbs 8oz.

This also means i get more food, although dad and mum complain about how long it takes to get it down my tube!

One good thing though is that one of the nurses on the night shift tried me out with some cup feeding. Only 10mls, but this is very impressive as i am not supposed to be able to do this until 34 weeks.

The Proud Grandfather

2009-01-09T14:39:00.001Z

Here is Grandad GT looking very comfortable with his grandchildren.

First Cuddles

2009-01-07T20:16:00.001Z

Sorry about the poor quality but mum and dad forgot the camera and so dad had to do it on his phone.

Here i am having my first cuddle with Grandma, with Grandad Peter lookling on in an advisory capacity.

Things still going well here. I am tolerating my feeds well - 29mls every three hours. I had a weigh in this morning and i am back up to 1.52kgs, which is not far off my borthweight. As a guide it took Zoe two weeks to get back up.

Also my temperature is very constant so i don't look like i'll be going back in the box!

On the downside, i have now started my vitamin supplements which are quite revolting!!

Out of the Box

2009-01-06T18:33:00.001Z

Good news.

I am managing to maintain my temperature so well, that they have let me out of the box and put me in a proper bed.

In fact its very plush, a water bed no less. The water is kept heated so as to help me keep my temperature, and of course i have lots of blankets and this rater stupid blue bobble hat.

On of the downsides is that they have had to alter the limits on my sats monitor and so that alarm keeps going off. This is just normal standard procedure for a baby of my age, but it does mean that i have an oxygen candula stuck up my nose occasionally, but this is not like cpap or a ventilator.

Mum was very cruel about this photo - she says i look like a turtle!

Auntie Ellen Would Love This

2009-01-04T11:04:00.001Z

My own personal sunbed.Mum and dad knew there would be setbacks along the way, but this is not a bad one as far as they go. I have a little bit of jaundice and so the doctors have prescribed a course of UV treatment.Zoe also had this at the start of her time in NICU if you remember and its not too bad. Unfortunatley it does me no cuddles today whihc will be sad for Grandma and Grandad, and for Sue and Stuart who are coming to visit.

Still someone sees the funny side!

I also had a weigh in this morning and i have lost a little bit, but well within the 10% that they expect.

First Cuddles (4)

2009-01-03T14:02:00.000Z

A very nervous, but very proud Grandad GT giving me his first cuddle.
Grandma and Grandad Pete are coming tomorrow so hopefull will get cuddles with them too.

Boys and Toys

2009-01-03T13:56:00.000Z

So how exactly has dad been occupying himself whilst mum and I have been in hospital.

Well here is the answer.

Actually that is a little unfair. Mum bought dad the Wii for christmas and he was rushing around so much he didn't actually set it all up until New Years Eve! However this wanton destruction will surely end now as...

... mum is home. Someone looks very happy to see her. She's doing really well, just a little dizziness (nothing new there dad says!) and her vision is still a little off. No doubt she will soon be rushing around the NICU ward.

Update

2009-01-03T09:48:00.005Z

Ok so things are going really well.

They are upping my food intake all the time, the feeding process as demonstarted by my dad here. I have feeds every two hours, until it reaches a stage where it will go to more food every two and a half.

Remeber those nasty desat things my sister used to have all the time. Well i've not had them so

bad. Just a couple in the night and i manage to self resolve so there has still been no need for oxygen. In case you have forgotten the desat relates to the levels of O2 in my blood and is measured by that rather bright red light on my foot.

And every four hours of course i need a top and tails doing.
Note if you will the very attractive sleepsuit I have on today. Dad is stil trying to get his head around the fact that clothes can be blue now!

First Cuddles (3)

2009-01-02T23:35:00.000Z

Special cuddle for Auntie Ellen as it is her birthday today.

First Family Photo

2009-01-02T20:29:00.000Z

First one of many I am sure!

My Sister Taking an Interest

2009-01-02T20:28:00.000Z

...and a little kiss.

Until boredom sets in and the playroom beckons!!

Enough of this Nakedness

2009-01-02T12:40:00.000Z

Time to get some clothes on!My temperature is keeping well within limits so they are slowly dropping the temperature of my box.
Rather fetching don't you agree.

First Cuddles (2)

2009-01-01T19:31:00.000Z

Then Dad...

First Cuddles (1)

2009-01-01T19:19:00.000Z

First of all mum...

Happy New Year

2009-01-01T18:52:00.000Z

Warmer in here than out there no doubt.

Still doing well as we leap forward in to another New Year.

I'm still only in a box full of air and my temperature is starting to come down. My feeds are increasing and they hope to have me up to 13mls every 2 hours by the end of the day, so come on mum get milking! This means that i can come off the glucose drip later.

I'm also going to have some tests done to see if i amfree of the infection mum had, and if that is so then they will stop my drugs.

The Meeting of Great Minds!!

2008-12-31T23:51:00.000Z

Here we have Max and his big sister meeting for the first time.

Naturally she was suitably unimpressed by the whole thing, but soon came round when she found the playroom!

Son of the Father!

2008-12-31T03:30:00.000Z

Less than a day old and all we can think about is food.

For all of you who cant remember how this works, he has a tube down his nose through which we slowly let milk pass. At the moment he is being supplemented with a glucose solution through a drip, but this will taper down the more milk he takes. At the moment it is 2ml every 2 hours, but he seeems to be tolerating it well.

Mum's First Look

2008-12-31T03:25:00.000Z

After a long tiring day it was well in to the evening when mum finally got chance to go down and see him!

The New Arrival

2008-12-30T17:00:00.000Z

Well here we go again.

It doesn't seem like three years since we started this whole process. (Actually it feels more like thirty but never mind.)

Similar to last time Susan could not wait til she went 37 weeks and so decided to produce a very special little gift in time for New Year!

As some of you know, Susan has been in and out of hospital over the past few weeks, so we kind of expected that this would be likely. However we rushed over on Monday night and had a pretty traumatic time. It seems Susan had developed an infection in her womb, and so the doctors decided the best thing was to get the baby out of there!

And here he is!

Max James Ambler was born at 8.55 a.m. on Tuesday 30th December 2008.

He weighed a massive 3lbs 6oz (massive compared to his big sister).

So the first thing - A BOY!!!

Don't know what to do with them, have no experience. Never mind, Grandad Peter already has visions of him running down the wing for England (over my dead body!).

Second thing, yes that is actually him and not his sister. However i have to admit the likeness is uncanny as you can see from this reminder of three years ago.

Max is several weeks more advanced than his sister was and i have to say it shows. His muscles in his legs and arms are better defined and as you can see he fills an incubator more.

He has also had longer to allow the steroids that Susan was given to develop his lungs and as such, he has not been on a ventilator or cpap. And despite his father loosing the plot totally, he is not in oxygen but is in lovely plain air.

Now I'm not going to go in to as much detail this time as;

a) you have heard it all before

b) he's doing a lot better than Zoe was and

c) i don;t have the time with Susan and Max in hospital and a three year year old kicking at my heels.
I will try to keep regular updates however and will let you know as things develop.

So welcome to the world of Max James Ambler.
xxx