BIG changes for lil 'ol me!

Hey everyone!  It's been a little while, but I just wanted to give you a run down on how everything is going now that I am 1/2 a year old...wow, where has the time gone??  Technically, 6 months old today, but my adjusted age is a measly 3 months.  As my title suggests, there have been some big changes in my life over the past week! 

First and foremost, I am apnea monitor free!!!  Yep, you heard me, no monitor, no cords, no nothing!  I am happy to report that even though that "piece of mind" for Mom and Dad is gone, they are still sleeping well during the night.  I say it is because they have faith in me =)  They are also tripping a lot less without those silly cords - it was pretty comical.  Guess this means they will be booting me out of their room soon and I will get to shack up with my big bro.  That should be interesting...the house cannot be built quick enough..."andale, andale" mi amigos!!  Just kidding, we get along really well, but he never leaves me alone (as you can see in some of my pics below)!

I have made it through RSV season pretty much untouched, minus that one cold I had, but no more synagis shots!  Without the shots and without my monitor, that means no more home health nurse checkups for me...I sure will miss them!

Next, I have started eating cereal.  Not too sure about this one yet, but if I am anything like my brother, I will be eating like a champ in no time!  After a week or so of cereal, doc says I can start on my veggies and go on as usual from there.  Dad is ready to feed me deer meat already!

As far as my growth goes, I am inching closer and closer to the curve for full term babies, but Doc said the rate at which I am growing is excellent, so good job, Mom!  My six month stats:  I am weighing 13 pounds, measuring 23 inches tall, and the circumference of my head is 16 inches.  Size 1 diapers are out and size 2 diapers are in!  I am rolling over, eating about 5-6 ounces every 3-4 hours, smiling and laughing, and just loving life!  Still in first place for the best baby award - I sleep from 8:30 or 9:00 pm until about 9:00 the next morning, although my record is 10:30.  I am also still taking my midday 3-4 hour snooze.  This whole sleeping thing is great, not sure why all babies don't do this!! 

I had my first sleepover too!  Went to my Aunt Kimmie's house (she was one of my nurses while in the NICU) while Mom and Dad celebrated Aunt Da's wedding weekend in Nola...CONGRATS to them!  I was an angel...really, hardly even noticed my parents were gone.  Easiest babysitting job ever, in case anyone is interested in snuggling with me sometime =)

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!  I kind of like that holiday...lots of candy and such.  I think Mom accepted candy on my behalf to benefit herself, but I will just act like I don't see her digging in my basket.  Well, I guess that pretty much wraps it up for now.  The rest of the fam is doing well...Dad stays busy with work, Reid is still loving school, me, and being outside, and Mom is trying to keep up with all of us boys!  We hope that everyone is doing well!  Until next time, hugs and kisses from the Soulier's!

XOXO,

Beau

Brings a whole new meaning to invading my personal space.

I can't lie, he is a good big brother!

No, Reid, both of us cannot fit in here!

Me and my buddy, Sawyer, just hanging out!

You thought I was joking, he is ALWAYS all up in my personal space!

Yep, certified thumb sucker!  Mom is welcoming suggestions on how to stop me...

Look at me now!  Just in case you forgot how small I was...remember these??

   

Truckin' right along...

Hey everyone!!  It's been a while, but I have good excuses, promise!  I, of course, have continued to keep Mom and Dad on their toes, but for the most part, I am doing really well.  The past month and a half has been busy, to say the least.  To recap:

I am sorry to report that last month, my Great Opa passed away.  I never had the chance to meet him, but I was able to go to his funeral.  I hear he was a pretty cool guy!  I did get to meet my Oma for the first time...she loves me =) and has such a neat accent!  I will have to get Joe-Pa to teach me a little Dutch.  I also got to meet Mom's aunts, uncles, cousins and their kids.  Lots of new people, I can't keep them all straight!

Healthwise, I was doing great until about 2 weeks ago.  I started with some congestion in my nose...that darn suction bulb will be the death of me.  Reid and I have nicknamed Mom as the nose nazi...Dad says she is always on booger patrol.  No lie.  She is relentless.  The doctor said it was just a little cold and actually gave Mom permission to continue sucking my nose out.  Really, Doc???  Well, after a few days, my nose cleared up, but I started with a cough.  One night, I was coughing and just couldn't cough up the congestion in the back of my throat, choked, and stopped breathing.  I did this a few times as Dad was trying to get me to breathe again.  I tried telling them that I was just practicing my look as a blueberry, but they were not impressed and took me straight to the hospital.  Dad held me in the back of the car as I continued to choke on and off while Mom drove.  That was not a fun drive, but we made it to OLOL.  That place, let me tell you, is a zoo late at night!  Luckily, I had a little priority over the rest of the people and did not have to sit amongst all the sickies.  They tested me for RSV, the flu, took a blood culture, and did a CBC (ran some blood tests).  Good news is that all came back negative and looking fine, yay!  The doctor said I definitely had something respiratory going on and just because those tests came back okay, it didn't mean that I did not have some other infection or wasn't sick.  So, they started me on an antibiotic, a decongestant, and we stayed there for two nights so they could monitor me.  Since then, I have been fine!  Scared Mom and Dad a bit, but they were just thankful that I was okay.

Other than that, we have kept busy visiting various doctors around Baton Rouge.  I will save you all of the boring details, but basically, they all think I am looking good and growing as I should be.  I did go to see the Physical Therapist so she could check on my development and she said I am right on track (once you adjust for my prematurity).  Once I am about 2 years old, I will have caught up with my peers and we won't really need to look at my adjusted age.  I had fluid in my ears so the audiologist couldn't test my hearing.  We will go back in a couple months.  The surgeon says that my hernia repairs still look good and will check me again in a few weeks.  I will go see the neurologist in May so he can check my brain development. The pediatrician is really happy with my growth - 11 pounds and 21 3/4 inches long!  I have actually been growing OUT of clothes, if you can believe that!  I still have my apnea monitor and we will see about getting rid of that in about a month.  Dad says he is going to buy it and keep it strapped to me until I am 2...I got news for him!  I am still eating well.  Doc says we can talk about starting rice cereal next month, but until then...milk, milk, and more milk! 

When we are not running back and forth to doctor appointments, I stay home with Mom.  I think her favorite thing about staying home, other than snuggling with me of course, is...two words...Kelly Ripa.  That woman is soooome silly!  Mom said she doesn't think she will ever have another baby as good as me.  I sleep all night, yep - 9:30 til 8:00 the next morning and then I nap for a total of about 4-5 hours during the day.  I am doing my best to win the best baby award, and I think I have done that, hands down!  What does Mom do all day, you ask?  Nonstop cleaning, cooking, and looking for little things to conquer around the house.  Oh, and planning parties, showers, etc...she loves that!  I think she's nervous because she has only 7 more months to plan my 1st birthday party, hehe!  Sooo just kidding!  She definitely has the utmost appreciation for all stay at home Moms!!  And they just started on the house a few days ago, so I guess now I will be tagging along to shop for that, woohoo.  Can you hear the excitement in my voice??  Guess that is my punishment for delaying this process a bit,

 oops.  On a good note, I can brush up on my Espanol since mi amigos will be here working

for a while!

As for Reid, he still loves me!  Loves me and my stuff a little too much, though!  He takes my nap nanny as his own.  Guess Mom could invent a Toddler Nap Nanny while she's home.  Little does he know, I will be passing him up soon and get him back!  He is a good big brother, though.  I can't wait until I can go play outside with him and Dad, go fishing, and ride the Ranger.  Soon enough, soon enough!!

Well, I think that's about it.  Mom said she put some updated pictures of Reid and me on facebook so you can see how we are growing.  Between the two of us, we keep Mom and Dad busy busy.  They wouldn't trade us for the world, though!

OH - and tomorrow is a BIG day...my Aunt Chantal will be giving birth to my new cousin, Baby Kate Finley Wilson, and Aunt Al will bring my newest best friend or my girlfriend to the world!  So excited to meet them both and so sad that we can't be in Arkansas when Baby Kate is born!  Good luck!  Love yall! 

Until next time....

Beau Hudson

Livin' the life!

I can't believe that it has almost been 3 weeks since I came home!  I know, I have been slacking, sorry!  I officially made it home on January 5th, two days past my due date.  I weighed 7 pounds 10.8 ounces the night before I came home.  Yep, .8 oz heavier than Reid when he was born (I win!).  Things are going great at home, and the only equipment I had to bring with me was my apnea monitor.  It sure beats being in the hospital, although I do miss all of my pretty nurses =)

So, like it says in the title, I have been livin' the life!  I eat a lot, sleep a lot, and, well, you know the rest...what more could a kid ask for, except for a BCS Championship or Super Bowl title?!?  Yes, I know, still a touchy subject around here too.  I almost had to be re-admitted to the NICU for high blood pressure during that game.  Evidently my jersey didn't bring the tigers good luck.  If you know my Dad, then you know how superstitious he is.  He said I had to burn the jersey.  Luckily, Mom has the final say so in this house (shhh, don't tell Dad), so the jersey stays!! There's always next year, right?? 

Reid loves me, well, most of the time, anyway.  He is super affectionate, and likes to tickle me, talk to me, and he even tries to feed me sometimes.  Too bad he's not tall enough to actually pour something into the cup he feeds me with!  So Mom stays busy trying to keep him from loving on me too much.  He already reclaimed his bouncy seat...such an Indian giver!!  Doesn't he know there is a weight limit on that thing??  He does get a little jealous when Mom is feeding me and not him or holding me and not him, but all in all, he is being a great big brother! 

The home health nurse comes to visit a couple times a week.  We were friends up until she gave me a Synagis vaccine last Friday, hmmph!  The vaccine helps prevent and lessen the severity of RSV, if contracted.  It is a monthly shot, given during peak RSV season, so I guess she will come back to torture me again next month.  During her normal visits she weighs me, listens to my breathing, and checks to make sure everything is going well and that I am not having too many episodes.  I have had a few; one while Mom was driving, oops, others when I eat and choke, and the rest at random times.  There are a few false alarms, though.  Luckily, the alarm doesn't wake me up, although it is loud enough to wake the neighbors.  Mom says she is going to keep that thing strapped to me until I am 18.  She is one tough cookie!  I think she just needs a drink, or two, or three, hehe.  Anyways, today, I was 9 pounds 2 ounces!!  Go me...I'm a big boy now!

 

Mom and I stay busy going to all of my doctor appointments...the pediatrician, the surgeon, the eye doctor, etc.  They are all pretty nice, except for the eye doctor.  He is relentless!  Everything is looking good so far!

Well, that about sums it up for now.  Before I go, I, along with my family, want to say THANK YOU.  Thank you for all of your love, support, and especially prayers over the last few months.  It is hard to believe I was in the hospital for 88 days, but we got through it, and we are so happy to be home.  We love all of you and want to thank you, again, from the bottom of our hearts!  I will drop in every now and then to let you know how things are going! 

Love,

Beau Hudson

Getting all buckled in!

 Heading down Airline on our way home!!

HOME SWEET HOME

I think he liked the moose on my shirt more than me...

 ...but then he wanted to crawl in.  He could crush me!

My big brother loves me =)

First night in my OWN bed...all snuggled in.

He likes to give me high fives.

Did I mention Reid loves me??

It's a rough life.

Two words - MAX'D OUT!  I mean, holy moly, look at the size of those thighs!

Almost game time...

Next year, Saints, next year...

 Night night!!

Peace out!!!

Okay, so we had more commotion, go figure. Mom says it comes with my last name (hehe, I think that was to be kept between us...guess I AM my father's son!).

So I was supposed to go home earlier in the week, but like I mentioned before, the nurses who had to set up my monitor had the flu. Not only that, but the caffeine was backordered at the walgreens warehouse...seriously?!?! So the doctors decided to go ahead and take me off of the caffeine in case mom was never able to fill the prescription, etc. etc. I suggested coca cola, the nurse said, "not so much". Anyway, when they take us little ones off of caffeine, they have to keep us here and monitor us for at least 5 days to make sure we don't have any of those episodes that I am so famous for.

GREAT news...no episodes, I am eating wonderfully, passed my carseat test tonight, mom and I are having a slumber party in the hospital as we speak, and I am heading home tomorrow. Yes, I said it...HOME!!!

Just wanted to pass that along, but it's lights out time so I will let you know once we make it out of here.

Goodnight!
Beau

Merry Christmas and hopefully a Happy New Year!!

A very late Merry Christmas to everyone!! I have been in the middle of a tug of war the past few days so I have not had time for an update. First, I was supposed to go home on Tuesday, then Friday (tomorrow), and now, hopefully Monday. So yep, still here. Evidently, both home health nurses that are supposed to hook up my heart monitor are laid up in bed with the flu. Doc doesn't want them anywhere near me, my house, or my parents. I think they just like me over here and don't want to let go! Cut the cord already, sheesh!! I'm not going to lie, I am really going to miss my nurses!

Christmas day was great; I finally got to meet my big brother!!  The nurses snuck him in for a quick picture.  Unfortunately, he took one look at Mommy holding me and cried.  He was not big on Dad holding me either.  Watch out, buddy, there is a new sherrif in town.  J/k; I love you, Reid!  We will be best buds before you know it.

I passed my room air trial which began at 2am Christmas morning, right as Santa was strolling through the special care nursery. He was proud, but a little disappointed because the nurse wouldn't let me plug my tree in...I promised extra double stuff Oreos next year, so we are good. The head nurse on the other hand, pretty sure she is on the naughty list for that.

I am still doing great off of the oxygen except that I tend to breathe a little heavy when I eat. Speaking of eating, I am up to 55 mL every three hours. Sometimes, it is a bit of a struggle because of my reflux. Luckily, I get a dose of Prevacid each day, and I will grow out of it...hopefully sooner rather than later. I also like to hold my breath every now and then so mom has to watch me closely. I like to keep her on her toes =)

I have hit the 7 pound mark!!  7 pounds 2 ounce as of tonight. It's crazy to think that I was just a wee little thing two and a half short months ago. Can't call me little Beau peep now, huh Dad?  More like one of the three little pigs!  I have heard the name "Porker" thrown around...not sure if I am a fan, but it sure beats being 2 pounds!

I guess that is about it for now. Hopefully I will be able to ring in the new year at home, but if not, they say I can stay until my due date, January 3rd, before they give me the boot. We will just sit here and twiddle our thumbs until home health is back up and running. Have to study hard for my carseat test coming up, and I have pictures tomorrow...gotta get my beauty sleep! Can't wait to see what it's like on the outside!!

Love,

Beau Hudson

This was obviously about half a pound ago.

Eatin time; my favorite time of the day.

My new room

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Finally...all together!

So now he is happy...he has Mom all to himself.

Hanging out with Dad

It sure is rough being a baby!



Recovering...

Sorry I have not given you all an update, been busy recovering. I heard that Mom let you all know I had another hernia, yes, another one...sheesh!! Luckily, it was small, but just like the last, it was difficult for the surgeon to reduce so she felt that surgery was necessary. Not sure if I told you before, but hernias are common in preemies because our muscle walls are very thin. FYI - if it weren't for the surgery, I really could have been home by now...as Mom says, "aww nuts!". I cannot repeat what Dad would say.

Everything went fine, but when I woke up with that tube down my throat again, I knew I had to do something. I was not a happy camper and started trying to yank it out. The nurses got the hint and took it out for me. I put in a good word for them up at the North Pole; they are on Santa's nice list for sure! I was so glad I came off the ventilator right after surgery but I was still pretty out of it from the anesthesia. They put me on the low flow cannula and gave me a room air trial at 4. I did well for about an hour then failed. No biggie...I am still on the low flow cannula and my nurse will give me another room air trial tonight.

I am taking my bottle well, again, so they stopped the fluids and took my iv out today. I weighed a whopping 6 pounds 11 ounces last night...just call me chunky monkey II. I think part of it was the fluids so I may lose a little over the next couple of days, but I am trying to put meat on my bones as best I can.

Okay, bad news...I had a breathing episode tonight. That sets me back 5 days =(. I told the nurses that I was just kidding with them, but they didn't think it was too funny. No sense of humor whatsoever, ugh. Guess they don't teach that in nursing school.

Overall, I am doing well and hoping to get back to where I was before surgery. My nurses say that I am doing great, considering. Well, I'm pretty sleepy so I'll keep y'all posted. OH - I am now in the special care nursery and I have another amigo across the way!! Buenas noches!

Beau

9 week report card

I made 9 weeks on Monday, and all I have to say is, "watch out world, here I come...!!". I know my last update was not so great, but I have really taken a turn for the better! I just needed a break from life (and from breathing) for a few days, but I am back and ready to conquer the world!

I have been calling the shots these days...Friday night I started fighting that tube down my throat so the nurses gave in and took me off the ventilator Saturday morning. They started me at 4L on the Vapotherm and weaned me all the way to the high flow cannula (1L of O2 per minute) late Sunday night. Even better, I have been doing so good that they switched me to the low flow cannula (0.1 of O2 per minute) yesterday! This is the very lowest form of respiratory support available. The doctors were pretty impressed with me!

It gets better...I took my WHOLE bottle yesterday! Mom and Dad never knew they would be so excited about their son drinking 1.5 oz of milk...if that's all i have to do to make them proud, i am set for life! That was the first time I tried the bottle since my surgery, but I did really well. My nurse kept trying to slow me down because I just couldn't get enough. If they would have told me how good that stuff is, I would have behaved a LONG time ago!! I did so well that they gave me another bottle last night and now i have graduated to getting 3 bottles a day, yipee!

I am still taking meds for reflux and I am also getting some steroids to give my lungs a little boost.

Tonight I weighed in at 6 pounds 2ounces!!

So my report card since last week says I have all A's! BUT, just because I am being good does not mean that I will be home in time for Christmas. There is nothing that I want more than to be home with my family, but I still have a long way to go. I still have to be able to take a bottle at every feeding, and in case you didn't know, that's hard work! I also have to pass a car seat test and of course, they would like me to be off of the oxygen completely. If I get close to going home and have a breathing episode, that sets me back 5 days...good thing for insurance =). I will do my best to remember to breathe!

I overheard Doc telling Mom that the next big milestone will be Sunday night - a room air trial. Evidently they will take away the little bit of oxygen I am getting and see how I do. I'll do my best to perform well for everyone. If I am doing well without the oxygen, they will leave me off of it, and that will be all she wrote!! That will be my present to Mom and Dad since I can't really get over to the gift shop.

So glad I could give all of you some good news for a change...I am definitely growing up!!

Night!

Beau

Dad is finally getting comfortable holding me!  I promise I wasn't really blue...guess I wasn't too photogenic that day.

Snuggling with Mommy...excuse my Jamaican blanket; not sure where it came from.

Num num num!

The Occupational Therapist said I was too anxious.  Duh, like I said, num num num!!!

I may be little but I sure can burp!

Mom is super funny sometimes! 

Loving my mobile.

Let me introduce you to my friend, G.  He keeps me company when Mom and Dad aren't here =)