2 Weeks old update

We're still in the hospital, but things are slowly starting to progress. The biggest news, is that he is now 4 pounds 15 ounces, and he'll probably gain that one extra ounce to be 5 pounds overnight with the rate he's been going. They've been boosting my breast milk with extra calories to help him gain weight (no, I'm not breastfeeding yet..just pumping! Moo Moo). They are starting to offer him more frequent nipple feedings to see how he does. The doctor said that his weight is fine to be able to go home, he just needs to eat better. So, if he all of a sudden picks up his eating in the next couple of days, maybe he'll be able to come home this weekend. He really is a sweet boy, loves to be snuggled and really doesn't get grouchy...we are so lucky! So, hopefully my next post will be one of him coming home...but we're moving at his pace, so who knows. Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts that have been sent our way for our little guy. They've definitely been answered!

1 week old

So, we decided that to better show you how little Mr. Landen is, that we would measure him with one of his bears. Hope the measurement helps. I also threw in a picture of me and my little man...he's so sweet!

The bear is actually flush with his head in this picture.

A side shot

Kangaroo Care

So this was kinda neat (for some of you it might be too much information), but today after we tried feeding him, we tried what is called Kangaroo care which is supposed to help calm the baby and promote bonding between mother and baby. So, little Landen and I got skin to skin and he just laid on my chest. It was so sweet. He just became so relaxed and laid there like a limp noodle. He was so comfy, I felt bad for him when they took him away to put him back in his little crib, but he just slept right through it.

Latest happenings

I came home from the hospital on Wednesday...after milking for all it was worth because it's so much nicer to just have to walk down the hall to see my son as apposed to getting ready and driving up to the hospital. Needless to say, I'm still trying to recover and trying to spend as much time as I can tolerate in the nursery with him. I feel guilty sometimes for not being there more often, but I know that as soon as I start feeling better I'll be able to handle staying up there longer. Any who, here's some pictures from the last few days.

They finally put some clothes on him...hooray!
You can't see the pillow, but it's specifically made for them to lie on their tummies. He was so funny the first time they put it under him. He kept stretching out his legs and his bum would be straight up in the air. He almost looks like he's kneeling to say his prayers.
They started him on some nipple feedings for the first time today. I guess little white boys tend to not be as good at learning how to suck, so this could take a while!
They make these little hats for the babies in the nursery. It's so cute how huge it is on his head!
He was place on these special lights for a couple of days to bring down his bilirubin level. Here he's shielding his eyes from the lights.

Day 2 update

Landen's doing really well. He's off oxygen now and they've been giving him nutrition through his IV and placed a tube down into his stomach this evening to start feeding him also. I haven't been able to produce any milk yet, but as soon as I do, he can have that down the tube. We were finally able to hold him this morning and will get another chance again tomorrow. I'm kinda milking it and staying in the hospital as long as I can so that I can see Landen as much as possible. Thanks everyone for keeping us in your prayers...they're working!

One of my favorites, cause he's looking right into the camera.
He's been doing pretty well with his pacifier, which is supposed to be something hard for a preemie to naturally be able to do. He's even holding it in his mouth here.
Family photo...not my best look.
My sweet boy!
He didn't really enjoy having his head washed where his vacuum spot is.
Again, not a fan of the head scrub.
Another one of my favorites...kind of a Popeye face.

Landen's story

Landen Michael Royer was born 12:23 pm at 4.7 pounds and 18 inches long. All things considered, he's doing really well!

Here's a picture of our poor guy on a C-pap machine to help him breath. They did put him on the ventilator long enough to give him medicine then they took it out.

Our pediatrician said that he'll probably be in the nursery for about 2 weeks until he meets all his criteria of breathing on his own, eating well and able to maintain a stable body temperature.

Landen holding on to Brian's finger. It helps so you can see how small he really is!

Suprisingly he has really long arms and legs, and even a little double chin.

Yeah, all done!

Brian's hazmat outfit he had to wear for the delivery

Our night at the hospital for baby number one

It all began on the evening of the 14 of September. The wife starts her ritual of getting ready for bed. While taking off her pants she finds a huge wet spot on her pants and smells it for sweetness or ammonia. Well because of the due date being...not sure where Brian was going with that, but it's sounding kind of gruesome. He gave up, so I'll continue!
My water broke at 10:15 pm as I was getting ready for bed...yeah for 6 weeks early! I got in the shower while Brian started packing a bag then we headed to the hospital where I was only dilated to a 1 and 60% effaced. By 3:45 am, I was having some pretty good contractions, so the nurse checked me again and I was at a 3 and 80% effaced. They decided to call anesthesia and get and epidural in. It was in by 4:30...and boy do I love it. They started my pitocin at 6:30, and the doctor just came in here at 8 am to check me and I'm now at a 5 and 100% effaced...hooray for slow progress. So, thanks to the wonderful epidural, I'm able to update. He's projecting a noon delivery. I'll be delivering in the operating room so that they can hand the baby right through the window to the nursery. They said he might need to be on a ventilator and will probably be only 4 pounds, so pray for my little guy! I've been so worried about him this whole time, but he's still kicking away and his heart looks good, so everything should be fine, I just won't get to take him home right away. Oh, and I'd like to give a big shout out to Mel for sending me the only preemie outfit I own! It's packed in the bag for him...poor guy. Anyway, we'll update more later!

The Nursery...Pretty much done

So after a few months of planning and working, I think we've finally got the baby's room ready. I put everything out so that I can take pictures, but It will be taken down so that I can wash it all before the little man gets here. We're so excited!

A shot of the closet. Still trying to organize that mess!
A shot from the door including most of the room.
We had fun painting and hanging his name on the wall. The walls are still pretty bare, so if anyone has any suggestion...feel free to offer them!
Our crib and bedding set...love it!
One of my little nesting projects I made a little valence curtain for the window...it was surprisingly easy!
My other little project was making a couple of these changing pad covers. I was quite happy with how cute they turned out.

We still have little things here and there that we're trying to get prepared for as best we can, but I'm sure you're never fully ready.

8 months pregnant...maybe?!

Per request...here is my 32 weeks pregnant belly. As you can tell by my face, I'm so ecstatic by how huge I am. In fact, I had a doctor's appointment this morning, and I'm actually measuring at 34 1/2 weeks. So, I'm either having a big baby, or maybe he'll come early, I don't know, but I have been complaining of feeling huge lately and seriously gaining tons of weight in the last 3 weeks, and now I know why...Landen had a huge growth spurt. So, in my next appointment in 2 2 weeks, we'll see if he's slowed down a bit. If not, I guess they'll do another ultrasound to get a more exact measurement. The doctor also said that if I haven't delivered by week 39 and he's still showing to be a big baby, they might be a little more proactive in getting him here. I guess we'll see in another 2 weeks! Should I be worried about a big baby? I'm more worried about having enough maternity leave so that we can go home to Kansas for 2 weeks at Christmas time...I know, I have screwy priorities!

West Yellowstone

We finally had a chance to go up to West Yellowstone last week! We left after I got off work and spent the night in our timeshare...what a nice place! We took a couple of friends with it, and made a day out of it the next day. Here's some pictures from the adventure!

Old Faithful held true to it's name and performed just nicely for us!
Brian and I posing as Old Faithful was dying out.
We stopped for a picnic, and Brian & Chet found a tetor-totter (sp?) to see if they could balance on it. They did a pretty good job!
Yeah! We saw a buffalo.
We were amazed how close these animals would let us get to them. There were seriously about 20 people standing around them at a time just taking their pictures...no big deal!
Our timeshare where we spent the night...way nice!
A nice close up of...whatever they are, we never could really tell.
Chet, Kristi, their son Braden and us near the "stinkpots", or really the mudpots.

The mud pots...you can actually see how they're bubbling..it was kinda cool, even if it was stinky!

BJ's birthday

Many of you reading this post will probably think we're some of the most pathetic people in the world, but we love our dog! He turned 1 years old (or 7 in dog years) last week, and to celebrate, we took him to Petco to pick out a new toy and new treats. Needless to say, he probably enjoyed the car ride the most. We felt guilty because on his actual birthday we were up in Yellowstone and didn't get home until the evening, so he was left home alone for about 24 hours. I might have teared up a little when we left him, but Brian kept reminding me that he's just a dog and has all he needs to take care of himself while we were gone. It didn't help much!