Our Arctic Life

This past week, our first week without Linden on a monitor, has been great. We're quite enjoying our new wireless baby.

Since all we'd ever known was a monitor-wearing-baby, we didn't know what we were missing. But now that we can walk her from the living room to the kitchen? Awesome. This past weekend, I was holding Linden and I needed a burp cloth when I remembered there was one in the dryer. You know what I did? I carried her down to the basement and grabbed that burp cloth right out of the dryer. Easy.

Now that the monitor is gone, the only reminder of Linden's need for special treatment is our hermit lifestyle. Everyone with an infant is cognizant of their exposure during flu season. But with preemies, the concern is heightened. So much so that Linden, because of her birth weight and gestational age, qualified for an RSV-preventative shot that she receives each month between November and March.

Some people will say that kids need to get sick in order to build their immunity. This is true, so long as the child is strong enough to fight off whatever illness they contract. This is the issue for preemies, many of whom haven't fully developed their respiratory system. And this is why our neonatologists and pediatricians have all told us to live as hermits during the winter months. "This baby is not to go to any parties," our pediatrician directed. "If you want to have fun, you rent a movie and watch it at home."

Lucky for us, this winter has not been one that we want to be outside enjoying. Illinois Wesleyan was closed for a snow day again this week, this time because of the extreme cold. We've been experiencing temperatures of -20 (who keeps counting after that anyway). Lucky for us, Laine's family moved to Illinois from Saskatchewan, Canada, so Grandma Twanow has been braving the cold and snow to drive an hour to Bloomington and watch her granddaughter for two days each week. After moving in her bag, some Diet Coke, Sprite, and snacks, as well as a dinner for us (thanks!), she doesn't leave the house for the entire visit. And who can blame her? Why brave -XX temps when you could be snuggling your granddaughter?

So, we've enjoyed our time inside with our little bean. Now that she's packing on the pounds, we've rekindled our inspiration to take an excessive amount of photos of her because (parents, you know) they just grow up so fast!

I imagine the primary reason you check this blog is for more pictures anyway, so since we've been holed up recently and have had a camera(phone) at the ready, I've included a record number on this post. Enjoy!

Free (at last)

This Monday (MLK day) we received the call that I had begun to believe would never come. It was the call to tell us that Linden was no longer in need of the home monitor and someone would be in contact with us shortly to pick it up from our house.

I wasn't expecting this call because I was convinced no one was paying attention anymore. I mean, our pediatrician pays very close attention to us, but the monitor is an albatross-type reminder of our stay in the Peoria NICU and we're no longer in contact with those physicians. 

LB, parents, and home monitor, ready to leave the NICU

Leaving the NICU is a strange feeling. You grow accustomed to a certain level of care after 6 weeks; a level of care that will never again be matched. Babies receive special attention. Preemie babies receive more attention than you can imagine.

For example, everything is stat. Say the doctors tell you that they're going to run some blood work on your preemie. You ask when. They tell you that it's already happening and they'll have results in an hour. Need x-rays? They bring the x-ray machine into the room and the neonatologist is reading results before shift's end. Problems eating? Speech therapy is on the way. Question about breastfeeding? Lactation will be by shortly. When rounds come through each day, there are no fewer than five medical professionals in the room and as many as eight.

Linden and her "Smart Monitor 2." Now that it's gone,
I can't believe we didn't name it.

As loyal readers of this blog know, preemies' respiratory and heart rate, oxygen saturation, and other levels are constantly monitored in the NICU and when the alarms buzz, the nurse sitting outside the door responds immediately. So it's an odd feeling when you're told that it's time to bring your baby home, especially if they come home on a monitor. Because now, if the alarms scream, you just make sure your child is still breathing and go about your business. "We'll download the monitor every two weeks, or earlier if the memory fills before then." Two weeks?! One day there's a NICU nurse responding to an alarm within the minute, the next day you're having to wait weeks until you learn whether the alarm was "clinically significant" or just "artifact."

You'll notice wires in every picture
of Linden from Oct-Jan.

But after a few weeks, you get used to it. And then the alarms fade off until you realize it's been days...weeks even, since an alarm that made you nervous. We had finally reached this point in early January and, around that time, the memory on our home monitor was full. I called Eastland Pharmacy to see if they were open (it was one of those crazy snowy days we've been having where everything (including my work) was closed). They were, so I told them I'd be bringing in a monitor for download.

"Oh...OSF Medical moved out January 1. We don't do that anymore," the person said. I asked where to go and they had no idea. They said they'd have to call me back, which they did about a half hour later to report that they still had no idea. Seems like that move wasn't entirely thought through. After a few days, our pediatrician's front desk staff helped us arrange to have the monitor downloaded by a pulmonary doc at St. Joe's. The results that we just received are from that download.

Though Linden's monitor had alarmed in that time, we were told that none of the alarms were significant. This meant that she hadn't had a clinically significant alarm since November. So, it was time to return the monitor.

Today, while Grandma Twanow was watching Linden, someone came by the house to pick up the monitor. She thought to film a quick video of the event and caught our precocious little lady saying "bye" to the monitor that she's had by her side since October 22. She doesn't seem concerned to see it go.

So now Linden is one step closer to a more traditional infant. It's been a fun day already as we've enjoyed walking our wireless daughter from room to room, just because we can.

Double digits!

It had been 4 weeks since we'd last been to the doctor (a new record), so we were anxious to see what her official length and weight would be when we went to the doc on January 9. If I were a bookie, I would have set the over/under at 10 pounds. Her last official weight was 8 lb, 4 oz but she was clearly putting on weight.

If I were taking bets still, you'd be wise to take the over. She weighed in at a whopping 10 lb, 3 oz and stood (laid) 22 inches. She was as proud of her growth as any of us.

It is nice to know that LB has now officially passed her parents' birth weights. As you can see from the pink foam band wrapped around her chest, she is still on the home monitor, but we rarely hear its sound. When we do, our first instinct is to see what's wrong with the machine instead of what's wrong with Linden, so I imagine that means we'll be done with it soon.

Play time

We would hate for you to think that we only take videos of Linden when she's pouting and hungry. Here's a recent favorite to prove it. :)

Uncle Eric

Reaction to the big news

I feel the need to give a quick shout-out to Linden's Uncle Eric. He was very excited when Laine and I let him know that we were expecting (as evidenced by this photo he texted us upon hearing our news).

Being that Eric and my sister live in California, they didn't have a chance to visit Linden until December. But they spent some quality time with our gal when they were back in the Midwest. We spent New Year's Eve together and Eric cooked us some tasty meals throughout the entire visit. We rang in the new year with steak and brussel sprouts, had restaurant-style eggs and bacon the morning of New Year's Day, and wrapped up with homemade meatballs and pasta.

A somewhat novice baby-cradler, Eric may have been nervous at first, but quickly found that he and his niece enjoyed the same sense of humor.

Pout

As I was leaving Meijer this afternoon, I saw a dad standing by the mechanical-pony-ride-machine staring blankly ahead and ignoring what I presume to be his two daughters, one sitting on the horse pouting as the other attempted to mount the horse's head. "She's gonna to breeaak it," the girl astride the horse whined. 

It's daily experiences like these that have led me to believe that pouting is a completely affected facial expression -- the first act in the five act play called "Tantrum" (2nd act - fake crying, 3rd act - whining, 4th act - real tears, 5th act - crumpling to the floor). 

But about a month ago, Linden began to mix some pouting into her yelling when she was ready for a bottle. We suddenly realized that our daughter was using this expression as a way to drive home the point that she was not happy with the present situation and, being that she was only 46 weeks (gestation), it seems unlikely that she's acting. Unfortunately for her, a pouting baby also happens to be one of the cutest things ever. It's absolutely my favorite expression of hers. Watch the video below before you judge me for recording instead of hustling to get her bottle. 

Now you tell me. Is there anything cuter than that? Judging from the guy at Meijer and all other parents who stare off with a dull, cow-like expression as their kids hurl themselves to the tile at stores across America, this will lose its humor when it is no longer just a one act performance. 

Happy Holidays!

It's been a busy and exciting few weeks since Thanksgiving. Linden seems to be growing up a bit more each day. A few weeks ago, she started to really take an interest in us. She'd always looked at us, followed our voices (especially Laine), but now she smiles and lights up when we talk to her. I thought it was fun to be with her before, but now that I can get a reaction? Awesome.

Linden is growing bigger and stronger every day. Her last weigh-in was about 2 weeks ago and she recorded 8 pounds 4 ounces. She's growing about an ounce per day, so she should be closing in on 9 pounds.

Linden waiting for Aunt Alison

Laine went back to work full time on December 18th so we have started to rely on friends and family to help with day care when we're both at work. I have time off from December 20 through January 1, so the timing works out well for Laine to start transitioning back.

Aunt Alison

Even when she is fussy Linden can really turn it on for company, which made the past few days of Christmas celebration extra fun. My sister came from San Francisco last week to meet Linden for the very first time. One benefit of Linden coming so early is that even though her Aunt Alison couldn't make it to the Midwest to visit for a couple months, when she arrived Linden was still newborn-sized. (Just the other day, Laine was telling me that a coworker was showing her photos of her newborn whose due date was around the same time as Linden's. She was over 8 pounds at birth and my first thought was, too bad she had to miss the 3-8 pound phase. That's something very few parents get to experience.)

Uncle Graeme

Linden loves her Aunt Alison. The first two days Alison was visiting, Linden just smiled at her and looked for her when she wasn't around. I just figured she was in a good mood. But the next two visits they had together, Linden acted the same way. So whether it's Alison's glasses, voice, hair or personality, Linden likes the vibes her aunt is sending. Alison won't get to see Linden in person on a regular basis, so it's neat to see them making such a connection.

Aunt Nina

Linden's Uncle Graeme and Aunt Nina helped kick off our holiday week by staying with us in Bloomington the Friday night before Christmas. Linden loves snoozing with her Uncle Graeme and acting goofy with her Aunt Nina. What a lucky little lady to have so many fun aunts and uncles.

Saturday night was Twanow family Christmas and we joined the fun via video chat. Our cousin Liz had sent us a mustache pacifier for Linden and we used that theme to add some fun. Laine found straws with mustaches on them and, during our video call, asked everyone to use them with the drink they had. We then put the pacifier in Linden's mouth so that she matched everyone in the Twanow house. You had to be there.

Linden and cousin Chapin with their 'staches.

Grandma Miller

Grandpa Miller

Though my family offered numerous times to come down to us in Bloomington for Christmas, we took the opportunity to get out of our house and try traveling with LB. We had the plan all set -- but as we expected, things don't ever go as planned when you have a new baby along for the ride. We were on schedule until I realized, about 20 miles out, that I forgot Linden's bed at home. By the time we got back, it was nearly time to feed Linden, so we did. She then spit up all over her clothes, so we had to change her, hold her, yada yada. By the time we got back on the road, Linden fell peacefully asleep and stayed that way the entire drive north.

Grandma Twanow

We spent a night in Deerfield with my sister and parents and then a night in Spring Valley with Laine's parents. It was the first two nights outside our house and Linden took them in stride. Those 6 weeks in the NICU and 6 nights in the Pediatric unit seem to have made her a willing traveler.

Grandpa Twanow

Both grandparents were thrilled to host their first granddaughter for Christmas and spoiled her just enough. There's no question that she'll look forward to returning to those homes soon.