The March

March for Babies

Baker, Teresa and I are walking on Saturday for other Baker's out there... It's been a very hectic year for our family and it's good to finally be able to give back a little. We are so grateful for what we have and for all of the support we received from all of you.

Baker now weighs 19 lbs 11 ounces and is the funniest little man you’ve ever met. He likes to yell a lot and talk to his animals. He likes to laugh at everything, and he also loves anything electronic (phones, blackberries, computer keyboards, remote control, etc.) .

To see more about the walk click here http://www.marchforbabies.org/teresafiggs29.

April, Spring and Baker is Amazing

O.k. I have not updated the blog in awhile – and my excuse is that I've been incredibly busy. The bottom line is that Baker is fantastic. He is now 10 months old… This makes me take a step back and pause… 10 months old!!!! He is almost 1 full year old! One full year since we lived in the hospital, one full year since we sat daily in the NICU, stopped by the Chapel daily, and ate hospital food more times then not. It all seems like 10 years ago, the alarms, the oxygen, tube feeding, the worry... Wow, I think I say this at least once every day... just wow....

I do have a post that I'm putting together about our experience (or lack of actually) with early intervention. In theory and true practice I think early intervention is neccessary for kids that are born with disadvantages (like being born early, needing breathing or eating assistance, or at risk for further problems in child hood). The studies show that if you work with the babies, that overall outcomes are better... Well in our case we didn't see the early interventionist until Baker was 9 months old...

O.k. enough of the teaser, I will finsih that one up tonight...

You can see all of his pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/BakeFigg and you can see April's pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/BakeFigg/April ...

Thank you for stopping by…

MMM Fingers!!!

 

One Doctor Down...

Baker has been discharged from his Pulmonologist!!! He did good on his last overnight test, and they said that he's been gaining weight remarkably so they released him! They took all the monitors away, and just told us to watch out for wheezing, extended periods of coughing, etc.. He has a risk of having Asthma but they don't see any signs so far. So we are getting close to my goal, of getting him down to just his pediatrician... :)

Look Daddy!

Recovery and Reflection

Baker didn't get sick and is recovering perfectly! He has his follow up appointment next week with the urologist, but from what we see he's looking great. The incisions were large, but it looks like he's going to have no scarring at all. They used a topical skin adhesive on the outside of the incision and dissolving stitches inside you can barely tell he had surgery at all. Modern medicine rocks! The first few days after the surgery he was especially cranky, but what would you expect? Since he started feeling better it seems he's been hitting developmental milestones at warp speed. Every day he does something new, it's just simply amazing.

Teresa and I took him on a long walk last week to a park by our home, and halfway through the walk we both looked at each other and realized that we didn't have one worry about him at all. Walks before consisted of carrying a bottle of O2, an apnea monitor and an O2 saturation monitor and a whole lot of worrying anytime his O2 levels dropped. We would watch the monitors so much, that we couldn't ever enjoy the walk. Now it's just Baker, Mom and Dad and the trees the river the fresh air and serenity. I could fill this page with words, and not even come close to describing how I feel – the joy, the wonder, the gratitude that that precious little boy brings me. (Yeah I said it Nonie, I used your "P" word) So Baker is doing great. Our next goal is to get him discharged from the many specialists he has.

Oh yeah he's off all the medication now, no more Zantac and Erythromycin for reflux. Finally he's HUGE!!! I wish I could take a picture that could capture his size. He now weighs almost 17 pounds!!!!

Baker's First Valentine (Thank You Grannie and Grandpa!)