Happy First Birthday Jayan!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our Baby is ONE!!!! Y

I have so many emotions today I don't really know where to begin. Last year at this time my son was in his incubator fighting for his life. He came into this world fighter. He makes me so proud and even a year later I can't believe this beautiful miracle came from inside of me.

Jay you make us so happy and we are honored to be your parents. You have no idea how much love and joy you bring into our home. You are surrounded by friends and family who care so much for you and love you so deeply. We can not imagine our life without you. We wake up in the morning to your sweet voice babbling in your crib and spend the day watching you smile and laugh and explore new things in amazement. And we put you to bed each night with kisses and wishes that you will have sweet dreams and good rest all so you can do it again the next day.

We love you Jayan.

Giving Thanks.....

Our little family obviously has so much to be grateful for this year:

We thank God for our little miracle. He is and will always be the best thing Joe and I have ever done. We are thankful for each other and the love we share that has gotten us through such hard times. We are thankful to be employed and that I can still work from home so Jay doesn't risk getting RSV in daycare. We are thankful for the roof over our head, clothes we wear, and food on our table. We are thankful for our friends and family who have been there for us, cried with us, and laughed with us.

We are so very Thankful.

11 Months Old!!!!

Bumbo Baby..these things are the best!! Thank you Aunty Kristen

Happy 11 months baby boy. I can't believe we are one month away from celebrating your 1st b'day!!

Today Jay got his first Synagis shot for the RSV season. He will get one each month until the season is over in April. He also got a flu shot.

Last night we got him a Bright Starts activity center that he can sit in, spin in, and even do a little jumping. I actually managed to put it together myself. :) We'll try that out tomorrow.

And now for some pics....

Jay loves his play mat (from Aunty Dharshi and Anisha Acca) he cracks himself in the mirror. He likes baby rings to both play with and bite on. And his favorite toy??... the tags on anything. Go figure.

We had a busy October and can't believe it's already November!!!

According to our new pediatric opthamologist Jay's eyes are now just fine and we will only have to visit him twice a year for check ups!!

Jay has occupational therapy once a week for one hour. His therapist's name is Tracy and Jay loves playing with her. She gives him a good work out and he is usual wiped out after one of their sessions.

Jay is almost 11 months old. and his corrected age is 7 months and a week or so. He gets all organic foods and so far he has eaten bananas, apples, pears, peas, carrots, and sweet potatatos. He loves sweet potato!! (like his mom)

It is RSV season again :( So Jay will have the monthly synagis shot to help keep his body strong but regardless we have to become strict again with where he goes and who holds him.

One of my favorite sounds in the world is the sound of Jay laughing. But Daddy seems to be the only one to really get him going. Those two are buddies and I can see it will soon be them against me. I will have to post some new pictures in a few days. :)

We love you so much Jay. I can't believe how much strength such a little person has given me.

Our First Family Road Trip!

Jay and his Great GrandparentsAll of us and my little nephew Ryan

Showing off his new pendant from his Ammamah (Grandma) in Sri Lanka

By looking at this pic you can see who the boss is in our house!

We're home from San Francisco safe and sound. Jay has a small cold but we've already been to the doc and he told us his lungs are fine which is always the biggest concern for us!!

Had such a wonderful time in Frisco with the Grandparents, Joe's brother and his kids. 

Our little boy is 9 months old!!! He's doing very well. We've started rice cereal and some oatmeal cereal. But no veggies or fruits yet. Jay is starting occupational therapy once a week next week. It will be for one hour and will help give him a little boost with his cognitive skills. Our developmental nurse said Jay was really on the border for needing this but the extra help will probably help him catch up to his true age even faster. We take any services offered to us that benefit Jay :)

This weekend we are headed to San Francisco to visit Jay's Great Grandparents and celebrate his Great Grandma's 90th b'day!! Jay's first road trip!

His most recent pediatrician appt with Dr. Dev was last week and he was 13lbs 6 oz. And I'm sure he's gained since then.

He's truly an active child rolling around everywhere. I seriously feel he will crawl soon!!!

New Sounds

Video from today. This is happy Jay and his new favorite thing to do.

Long Overdue Update and Pics!!

Pata feeds Jayan a bottle :)

Family Time with Aunty Meena and Anisha Acca

At his first Concerts in the Park

Enjoying some Tummy Time

It's been too long since I've posted! But things have been really good around here.
Jay's Opthamologist has discharged him as a patient and now we will see a pediatric opthamologist 1 or 2 times a year just to make sure his eyes are progressing after the two surgeries.

We've started rice cereal. This is not a very neat process but it is so much fun. By the end of it Jay and I are both ready for a bath :) For now it's a once a day thing just to get him used to a spoon. Jay is off preemie formula (Enfamil EnfaCare) and is now on regular Enfamil.

And Jay is rolling around like a champ!! He's definitely a tummy sleeper nine out of ten times he's on his belly when he gets up in the morning. He sleeps through the night beautifully and I'm told I'm really lucky for this. He naps lightly through the day and is a sound sleeper at night.

At his last appointment he was 12lbs 2 oz. His pediatrician and the nurses who come home to see him are very pleased with his growth and progress. As are we. Development wise he seems to be right on track for his corrected age. And we hope that by the time he's about 3 or 4 he will be caught up to his true age.

Last weekend Jay spent the day with my Dad and Laurina so Joe and I could take a day trip with some friends to San Diego. They tell me he was a good baby and didn't cry other than a little spit up incident. Jay's truly a happy baby, he smiles so much and if you're lucky you'll get a little giggle here and there.

Next month we'll be driving to San Francisco so Jay can visit his Great Grandparents and help his Great Grandma Dorothy celebrate her 90th b'day! We are very excited about this and can't wait to get up there.

I still work at home and at night and I go into the office a few times a week while Joe watches Jay. This schedule has been so awesome for us and I am so grateful for this schedule. He brings us so much joy and happiness I can't even remember my life without him.

Some Video!

This is the very first video of Jay taken the day he was born. This is the first thing I saw because I was unable to leave my bed.
I can not believe he was only 1lb 7oz. Truly Incredible.


And this is Jay now talking away to Joe


And one of me trying to get him to smile. Jay is truly so happy in the mornings. He's not like me that way at all. :)

A Year Ago Today........

I got this.....
7/13/07

And then a few weeks after that I got to see my little miracle inside me... the very first picture of my little bean...

8/8/07

I loved him from the moment I knew he was inside of me. Not one day goes by that I don't think to myself how lucky I am to have this precious angel. He is the best gift that God could ever give me. We love you so much son. Y

7 months old!!!

Jay is seven months old today!!! He babbles quite a bit now and gives us a lot of smiles.

Smiley and content after a bath....

Jay loves his family time... Anisha Acca

Aunty Dharshi

Sweet Baby Boy Y

I'm way overdue for an update. Things have been going great around here for us. Jay is smiling like crazy and babbling a lot. He really makes us laugh. It's been so warm here so our walks are limited to the evenings and in the mornings if we're up and about.

We started watching some of the Baby Einstein DVD's. He seems to enjoy the colors and the music.

We have one more appointment with the ophtamologist in July. If that goes as well as our last one we will not have to see him anymore!! Instead Jay will check in with a pediatric opthamologist just to make sure everything is developing as it should.

It was wonderful celebrating Father's Day with Joe for the first time and with my Dad as a first time Grandpa. We had my Dad and Laurina, Joe's Dad and Joe's brother and his kids over for brunch. It was a very nice relaxing day. Jay bought his Daddy new sandals for he pool. :)

6 Months Old

Our little miracle is six months old and has been home for 11 weeks. We had a pediatrician appointment on Friday and he weighs exactly 10 pounds! I can tell because that car seat carrier is getting heavier and heavier. I take advantage of Daddy any time he's around to carry it. :)

Jay is also responding to us when we talk to him with his own babble. I have to get video of this but i'st awesome!! Joe can really get him to get going (just like the smiles) Joe comes home from work and chats with Jay. I'm convinced he's telling his Dad what I did and did not do for him all day.

For the most part he is truly a happy baby. I'm being strict starting the rice cereal until he is 4 months corrected. So at the end of this month I'll start thinking about it. I'm just worried about food allergies etc. So for now he takes 3.5-4 oz of formula at each feeding. Kind of amazing to think he started with just 1 ml (cc)

Yesterday for his birthday my Dad and I took him to the temple and then I came home and scrapbooked his entire NICU stay. As I looked at the pictures I couldn't help but tear up. His progress is so remarkable. Some people may just say we're lucky I say God is good.

Jay's been home for 10 weeks! And he's 25 weeks old. That means he's been in the outside world for as long as he was in my tummy. I can't believe how fast the time goes by.

We visited the opthamologist this week and his eyes are healing well from the laser surgeries. In fact he sees like any other baby at his corrected age. So we are all very happy to hear this!!

Other than that he's getting really curious about his surroundings and makes wonderful eye contact while you're holding him. Giving him a bottle and having him stare up at you is the most wonderful warm fuzzy feeling :)

If I have any complaints it's that he only smiles for Joe and my Dad. What's with the guy thing?

Naughty little monkey he is! We love you so much Jayan!!! Y

NINE POUNDS!!!

Jay is right at nine pounds. I can't believe it. He's got a great appetite and is sleeping well at night. Joe got him to smile a few days ago but we haven't seen one since. Here's a little video of Daddy trying very hard yesterday. Comedy I tell you. The two of them :)

Mother's Day

Finally big enough for the Baby Bjorn carrier

(thank you Grandma Judy and Pam!!)

Just hanging out at home....
Aunty Tasha's the best!!!!

I couldn't have asked for a better first Mother's Day. I woke up that morning thinking..wow I can celebrate this day today. Something I've longed to do for such a long time.
I got a very witty card from my son written by Joe and a very sweet card from Joe also. And my gift?? A ticket to see Neil Diamond. (anyone who knows me knows I love him!!) This will be my fourth show.

We spent the day visiting with my Dad and then just taking it really easy. For me everyday is mother's day. I feel honored and so lucky to be the mom of such a beautiful child.

This is the first week since Jay came home that we do not have one doctor appointment!!! I'm enjoying that and I'm sure he is too. Developmentally he's doing so well. Though he's still a little bobble head (Joe's term) he lifts his head and holds it for quite some time. While doing tummy time he can lift himself up and over the prop pillow! And his appetite has been fantastic. Almost every night he sleeps for a five hour stretch. However when he wakes up you better have that bottle ready or he will let you have it. :)

Jay has been home for 7 and a half weeks which is his corrected age. I can't believe it's already been that long. His true age is 22 and half weeks. He makes us laugh everyday. I was uploading some pictures the other day and I found his birth pics and I just can't believe the transformation.
We love you so much son.

Pata (Grandpa) and Jay

Happy Bath Time

For the first time ever we got through Jay's whole bath without him shedding one tear. He was happy and content through the whole ordeal. So much so I had to yell to Joe to grab the camera so I could get some pics.

Other than the spit up/reflux he's got going on he's doing well. We had a home nurse visit on Friday and she was very happy with Jay's development and weight gain. This coming week we have a follow up with the opthamologist and a pediatrician appointment. So we'll have some busy days ahead.

We are all settled in our new place while the house is getting fixed. Jay's sitting here next to me having some tummy time kicking away and getting some exercise. He lifts his head like a champ and can turn it from side to side while on his tummy. *proud*

Yesterday he had laser surgery on his left eye. Hopefully this will be the end of the surgeries. I feel so bad but I know it's for the best.

We've had a few small changes in our world. We had an outside fire that damaged mostly the exterior of the back of our house. But because of the the smoke we can't stay in the house. While the house is being fixed our insurance company is putting us up in an apartment here in Irvine.

We are all ok. And that's all that matters to us. We hope it won't be long until we're back home.

Jay's doing great. He's passed the 7 lb mark! And he takes up to 80 cc's now that's about 2 and 1/3 oz. He got his final RSV shot for the season and the rest of his vaccinations.

Today at the pediatrician Jay weighed 6 pounds 5 oz. He's gaining well and is for the most part a pretty happy baby.

Yesterday they decided to preform a small laser surgery on his right eye. Poor little man. I could hear him screaming from where I was in the waiting room. Broke my heart. The opthamologist says Jay's vision should have no problems. I'm so glad they can catch these things so early!

When he's up just looking around he'll coo a little now and it's music to my ears. We stopped using the bottles the hospital gave us and moved on to the Dr. Browns bottles and he seems to be doing well with the regular nipple. (we were using the slow flow nipple because of Jay's reflux)

I bought a sleep positioner for Jay to sleep in and it's working out great.

We're out of the preemie diapers today and moved on to Newborn. And some of his preemie clothes are getting tight on him. :)

The couch is my favorite
And my mom's lap

I suck my thumb :)

We are getting into our own little routine at home. Jay's doing great on his feedings and takes a full 2 oz every 3-4 hours. We've had two appointments with the opthamologist (who ironically is an old classmate of mine from high school) His eyes have shown no change since last week but there seems to be some signs of ROP ( Retinopathy of Prematurity). We have one more appointment on Thursday if there is no change or if it seems to have deteriorated a little there will be a small laser surgery done on his right eye. I'm hoping of course that this will not be necessary.

Tomorrow we have another appointment with Dr. Dev Jay's pediatrician. He has neonatal experience and also happens to be a friend of my Dad's. He calls to check on Jay almost daily. I don't think we could have asked for a better doctor.

Jay's a good sleeper but NOT in his bassinet. He likes knowing I'm next to him. So we're buying a cosleeping gadget this weekend for him.

Joe painted his room this last weekend and we are slowly getting it ready for him. I'm really happy with how it looks.

He's still such a miracle to all of us.

Well we're surviving. Who knew you could have so much energy and not sleep??

I'm trying to keep Jay on the same three hour schedule he was on when he was in the NICU. Sometimes we get off track a little but for the most part he's doing great. He's almost up to 2oz in his bottle and at his first pediatrician's visit on Monday he was already 5 pounds 4 oz!!

I'm sorry for takng so long to get back in here!!!!

We're Home!!!

We've survived our first night. And we're tired. :) All is good in our world. Pics later I promise!!

SUPER AMAZING WONDERFUL NEWS!!!!!!!

Jayan will be home by Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We did the car seat challenge tonight. Jay only had to sit in is for a half hour but I left about an hour later and he was sleeping away in his car seat. I also learned how to draw his medicine and vitamins in the syringes so I can add them to his milk.

We're in shock. My due date was tomorrow. He's coming home one day after that. I think he's proven himself to be quite a fighter. As my sister in law says he's truly our little champ.

God is so great. Thank you to all of you for your continued prayers. I don't know where we'd be without you.

Early this morning they pulled the core pack out of Jay's nose. He's taking 8 bottles a day with no issues!! It also looks like the only meds he'll come home on are vitamins and his jaundice medication to lower his bili level!

This means that our little boy will be home sometime next week!!! It's almost unreal. It will be a whole new routine now. Juggling work, the hospital, and home has been hectic but something I've become used to.

I look forward to being able to hold my son anytime I feel like it. I will get some pics tonight of his face free from anything!

His weight last night was 2040 grams which is just a bit shy of four and a half pounds or 4 pounds 7+ ounces.

Jay had a very social weekend starting on Friday night. Aunty Tasha visited, held him for about 2 hours and decided she wasn't going to offer him to anyone else. :)

On Saturday they decided to change his bottle feeding schedule to two bottle feeds, then the core pack, then two bottle feeds again etc etc. He's doing great on the feedings and pretty much always takes the whole bottle now.

On Sunday we had a family friend visit us and then my Dad and Laurina in the evening. At the 9pm feeding I gave Jay his bottle without any added oxygen and he did fantastic!!! He was a little grumpy after that but I don't know if it's any correlation to him working harder.

Tomorrow my Dad, Joe, and I are taking an infant CPR class and then Joe and I are taking a car seat class.

He is so close to coming home. I can not wait!!! We love you so much Jay you have no idea how much strength you bring us.

14 Weeks Old!

Last night my Dad and Laurina got to witness Jayan and all his might when he's hungry. I did get to give him his bottle at 8:30 and he did pretty well and left only a little bit that they gave him later through his core pack.

As far as medications he's been taken off quite a few and now just has Reglan (for reflux), Aldactazide (for his bilirubin level-jaundice), and Caffine. This means less for us to worry about when he comes home.

I love giving him the Reglan because apparently it's sweet and he loves it. I put the syringe in the corner of his cheek and give it to him a little at time. He smacks his lips and thoroughly enjoys it like a treat!