The latest Joe news:
2/12/2006 - JOE IS HOME! ...and there was much rejoicing, ...yay!
more pics coming soon (when I can find some time).
Joe's Tale:
the events leading up to his arrival
from birth to his 1st birthday
assignment due - March 10
The development of Neato Boy:
1st - 3rd month
NeatoMommy fights morning (and afternoon and evening) sickness.
4th month
We find out our second Neato child is a boy. We plan to name him Joseph Patrick, taking the names of my father Joseph, and Kim's father, Patrick Joseph.
5th month
A close call - Joe goes for a thrill ride. While sifting around the storage attic, NeatoMommy inadvertantly fell thru the attic floor and into the garage below. Luckily for NeatoWoman she fell right onto the empty cardboard boxes that lazy old me was supposed to take out to the garbage. Bill the cat had also strategically positioned his carrying case right under where NeatoMommy's rear end landed. The case broke her fall, but was destroyed in the process. Joe probably thought he was going for a joy ride at King's Dominion. Meanwhile, Anna, who was in the attic with mommy, wisely fled the scene of the crime. Joe checked out OK in the ER, and NeatoMommy got all patched up.
7th month
Joe can't wait to get out. Mommy checked in the hospital to keep Joe in his place until he was good and ready. Nana journeyed down from Cleveland to watch over Anna while Daddy made numerous late night trips for false alarms.
Joseph Patrick
Born:
9:39 AM Tuesday
January 24, 2006
6lbs 11oz
19 inches
His first hours:
Joe just wouldn't hold out until his due date. He was born six weeks early (and just in time according to the doctor). Everyone was astounded at his size. Many of the nurses kept saying he was bigger than some of their full term babies. However, his lungs weren't quite ready, as is expected for most early arrivals.
His first days:
Joe needed a little help getting adjusted to the outside world. He needed a few days of forced air to help his lungs out until they were ready to work on their own. He also needed a few more days under a tanning bed to help his liver break down bilirubin. Once off IV fluids his feeding began. Most was through his feeding tube, but gradually this was decreased as he took more by the bottle.
His first weeks:
Still in the hospital. His bassinet is constantly being moved around the NICU, but always closer to the exit, in anticipation of his release.
Sunday, February 12th:
Joe was given a clean bill of health and sent home today! He picked up steam over the last three days, and started acting like a newborn is supposed to - eating well, gaining weight and complaining loudly when he was hungry.