Cameron's Big Weekend - Sept 8th & 9th

Saturday Chris and Jane slept in a little. They didn't get up to the hospital until mid-morning, just in time to check on Cameron for a few minutes before the infant massage class. Cameron wasn't too excited about this class at the time but we think the next session will be better. Next on the agenda, Chris and Jane took an infant CPR course.

After all of these classes, it was time for some fun! Jane decided it was time to give Cam his first real bath in a little tub so dad got the water ready...it was perfect. We didn't think Cameron would be too happy (he hates being undressed), but to our surprise he seemed to love it. He really liked getting his hair washed (it was recommended we do this first just in case he had a little 'accident' in the tub). He also loved his soft Winnie the Pooh bath towels....much better than the generic hospital towels.

This wore Cameron out so Chris and Jane decided to let him rest for a while. They went home to work on Cam's room and cry over the U of M game. After that depressing display it was great to go see Cam again for the evening.

On Sunday, Cameron showed great strides. He drank 24 ml from his bottle this morning for his dad (big high five). Then this evening, Cam's grandma stopped by to see him. His parents weighed Cameron before he ate tonight and he was up to 4 lbs 8 oz!!! After this he had another bottle and drank a whole 23 ml for his mother (another big high five).

All in all it was a great weekend!

Cameron Turns Three (weeks) - Sept 9th

Today was an eventful day. Starting off right when Chris came by in the morning to feed Cameron his bottle. Cameron drank almost the entire bottle.....easily doubled anything he has taken before. However, when he was about finished Chris tried to burp him and he spit up what looked to be his entire breakfast. After cleaning Cam up he was zonked out for a while.

Jane stopped in to check on the little man before his mid-morning/lunch feeding. Cam's Grandparents, Bill and Mary Ellen, came over as well.

In the late afternoon Jane went back to her house and Chris came home to get her so they could drive up there together. Dave Meade said that he wanted to go see Cam on his way home tonight. But Chris and Jane tricked Dave into coming over to their house first to help move a dresser into Cameron's room (thanks again Dave). After this the three of them drove up to the hospital to see Cam. He was very excited to see Dave tonight.

After Cam's evening dinner, Chris and Jane tucked him in for the night.

Taste The Real Thing!!! - Sept 7th

The daily routine kicks in when Chris went to visit Cameron this morning. Chris tried to give him the bottle but Cam could only stay awake long enough to drink about 5 ml. It was still a valiant effort and we are excited for every bit we can get. Most babies don't learn to 'suck/swallow/breathe' until they are around 35 weeks and Cameron is just 33 weeks tomorrow. So he is obviously way ahead of the curve.

Cousin Annie came for a visit to see the big boy. She had not seen him since Cam was in NICU. Annie was so happy to see how far he had come. Jane and Annie stayed with Cameron all afternoon and tried to bottle him again at his 2pm feeding. He still only sucked down about 5 ml for his mom as well. Of course he does get the rest of the feeding via his gavage tube.

Chris and Jane came back together before his 8pm feeding. The nurse suggested that it would be alright if Jane attempted to breast feed Cameron. Bearing in mind this was Cam's first attempt at this, the nurse warned that this may not be successful the first time. But just as Cam continues to surprise everyone, tonight was no exception. Little C drank in a whole 9 ml via direct breast feeding. His parents were very proud of him and the nurse was very surprised! (sorry no picture of this)

Cam drinks 24 ml for Dad - Sept 6th

The day started off quiet enough, Chris got up early to go see Cameron for his breakfast. Cam's nurse thought he looked pretty awake and active so she suggested Chris try to bottle feed the little boy. Chris was willing to try but in the past he hadn't been very successful with Cam. This morning was different though. Cam drank a whole 24ml (of 35)...almost a whole ounce which is twice as much as he has ever bottled before! Awesome job buddy!!!

Jane showed up there for little C's lunch feedings. He was too tuckered out to attempt another bottle feeding so Jane just had to feed him through the gavage tube. He was just sleeping and growing strong.

One of Cam's roommates got her 'get out of jail free card' and went home yesterday. Then his other roommate got to go home today. So Jane asked the nurses if Cameron could be moved into the room with his friends Lindzi and Loghan (Chris, Jane and Cameron befriended these twins and their parents when they were still in the NICU). However, instead of moving Cam out of his room (with the great view of the diggers outside his window) they moved the twins into his room. They were all very excited with the move!

Chris and Jane met up with Chris and Joanne for dinner this evening. After a quick bite to eat they all ran upstairs to see the little boy. Chris and Joanne stayed a long time while Cameron ate his dinner. Cam's dad tried to bottle feed him again but this time he wasn't into it as much as he was this morning. He only drank about 9 ml tonight. But still, it's the effort that counts!

Cameron's job now is to slowly take all of his feedings every three hours by bottle. This requires a lot of energy, so it may be quite a few days before he builds the stamina necessary to drink the whole bottle every time. Once he masters this, he will begin breastfeeding. This is great news since Chris and Jane are renting out freezer space from their neighbors to store all of the breast milk that has been pumped:)

Big high five to Cameron for all his continued progress and adorable smiles!

What's up Doc? - Sept 5th

Cameron was on his own for breakfast this morning as Chris and Jane could not get out there to see him. They both had a couple of appointments but Jane was out there before lunch. Cam's Grandma, Mary Ellen, and his Aunt Gay drove in from Montague to see the little champ.

Right after his early lunch (he gets eight meals a day!!!) the nurses stopped by with a new bed for Cameron! He has grown big enough, maintained his body temperature and has not produced any major respiratory alarms so he was moved out of his isolette and into an open crib. Now Chris and Jane are watching him just to make sure he can sustain his body temperature on his own. Self regulating his body temperature is one of the last major goals he has to accomplish before he can go home. The other major goals include eating all of his bottles, his gestational age needs to be over 34 weeks (he is currently 32.5 weeks) and no major alarms. At this rate his parents are hopeful that he could be home in a couple weeks.

Late this afternoon, Chris and Jane met with the doctor that admitted Cameron (there are nine neonatologist doctors that oversee all of the babies in the Neonatal Center) to the hospital. He was pleased with Cameron's progress over the past two and a half weeks. If he masters "suck-swallow-breathe" and continues to gain weight the doc says he may be out in two or three weeks. So now Chris and Jane are working to get everything ready for their son's homecoming!

After Cameron ate his dinner (and Chris fell asleep in the chair with his son for a while) Jane, Chris, Big Sis Lauren and good friend Paige went out to dinner to celebrate Cam's big progress.

4 Pound Mark - Sept 3rd

Happy Labor Day everyone! This morning Chris came out bright and early to see Cam for his breakfast feeding. Chris decided to try the bottle again this morning with Cameron. He has to be very awake and alert for it to be successful. He did a great job knocking back 8ml's before zonking out again. When this happens, the rest of the bottle is fed to him through his gavage tube.

Chris and Jane went out to brunch with 'Big Sis' Lauren. While they were eating, our good buddy, Dave Meade stopped in for a surprise visit to see Cameron. Unfortunately, he was not able to see Cam without one of his parents there. However, we still count this as a visitor. Hence, every weekday since Cameron was born he has had at least one visitor.

After brunch, Jane and Chris went back up to the hospital to spend the afternoon and evening with Cameron. His mother held him for both his 2:00 and 5:00 dinners.

Tonight Chris and Jane received the exciting news that Cameron now weighs
FOUR POUNDS!!!! This may not seem like much but this it is very difficult for premature infants to gain weight and Cameron is doing awesome. His doctor recommended that he be weaned off the isolette. So by the end of the week he will hopefully be graduated to an open crib. A very exciting day indeed for the three of us.

Cameron Packs on the Ounces - Sept 3rd

Cameron had a wonderful weekend. He is leading the pack in the 'feeder grower club'.....as typical for the Weatherford family. Chris and Jane were happy to be with their son all weekend. This was the first time that they had not been with Jane's family on Labor Day weekend for many years (wow, the weather was perfect this year....hmmmm). But it was comforting to spend our first Labor Day weekend as a new family.

Cameron of course decided to show off for the other two girls in the nursery room with him. He gained a whole 3.5 ounces over the weekend and drank from the bottle both days. It is so cute to see him smile and we can't wait to hear what his laughter will sound like.

Chris had to break the terrible news to Cameron about his future U of M football team and the major upset....who is Appalachian State anyway? (Mr. Alford, our deepest sympathies) Cameron told his mom that he can't wait to watch all the football games with his dad when he gets home.

I drank from a BOTTLE!!!! - Sept 2nd

Oh yea, oh yea, oh yea.....today was an exciting day for Chris, Jane and Cameron. Cameron turned two weeks old today! Happy two-week bday little buddy!!!

The day started off as usual when Cameron was visited bright and early by his father. Chris helped to change and feed the little man his breakfast. While all of the nurses said that he spit up a little for them during his feedings, Chris had the magic touch (thanks Cam). Soon after eating Cameron was fast a sleep and Chris left for work.

Mom arrived a little later with Cam's Grandma to hang with Lil C some more. The three of them just hung out for the afternoon. Jane read the family photo album to her mom and Cameron (again!!!).

Then when Chris and Jane came back after dinner, Nurse Ann suggested that they could try giving Cameron his first bottle. This is what they call 'nippling' (no comment). Ann warned us not to have high expectations as this was his first attempt at 'nippling'. Amazingly enough, Cameron was a champ and sucked away 5ml of milk. Ann was extremely impressed. Cam's parents were overjoyed with their boy's progress. Big high five for Cam!