D'ya ever wonder... Just wonder?

[MiniSoksMakeHardWork]

Evening ladies. Since we're at 999 now. Was feeling reflective tonight.

My son is one major stress pot! However it was lovely showing him the outside world :)

Hope everyone is having a lovely day. :)

You got to take Apollo on a stroll? Out out or inside out? Fingers crossed he will be home with you soon.

Inside out and a little out out. They wanted to test him in situations to see how he handles everything. He's not discharge for the day but a nurse accompanied us on a stroll around the hospital making notes etc and showing me how to adjust his levels etc. Turns out he hates any kind of loudish noise and bright lights including sunlight - he becomes so stressed his levels need adjusting and he needed a nebulizer as his screams flared up his BPD and asthma. He is much calmer outside and the nurse thinks he must like the breeze/wind on his skin, he's fasinated by the birds though! I even let him hold a leaf all though every instinct wanted to get him away from the germs!!

I can take him for another walk later without the nurse, I just have to keep a note of everything :) - hopefully we can take him home on day release soon :)

Oh how wonderful mama! Do you think in part it's because Apollo has spent so much time in such a very small environment? The big wide world is suddenly very scary. Even if it is only the corridor outside the nicu.

You did well with the leaf on apollos first trip out. I think even I would be screaming inside about germs in your situation. And I'm notoriously lax about germy things and children.

I think some of it, yes. Since he was born he's only been around certain noises and even people speaking weren't loud or close enough to cause him distress. And for the majority of the time, he had his incubator covered due to the lights but I think some of it is due to being surrounded by new things and overwhelming him. With his eyes covered he's calmer but it's the noise that sets him off the most even rattles set him off screaming.

I've told myself to relax a bit on the germ thing, because I know I'll freak out over everything and we both need to be ready to move from a sterile clean hospital and back into home life full of messy DC and a dog! :)

Well done Mama and Apollo. I'm sure your DH is very proud of you both. I suppose you couls add little ear defender type pads under his hat to try and muffle sounds a bit when you are out and about, it might help.
As for the germie type things, he hads got to start being exposed to some sooner or later, might as well be now whilst he is still being closely scrutinised at the hospital.

That's amazing Mama:)
Have done something to my back, was watching tv tonight and heard something crunch, been very uncomfortable ever since. Feeling very tired tonight................so as Shabs would say...Kale Nits ! xx

Bubs, that's what the ear doctor (I can't remember their proper name!) Suggested so he's going to look into ordering us some baby ones. He passed his stress test, only just though. We will be allowed to take him home on day release Wednesday! :)

Talked to a lady today who had her baby's name rejected by the registar office... so glad I named them in the UK. Crazy laws but I can understand why they have the laws.

DH is very happy and is starting to feel involved again which makes me extremely happy :)

Hope your back feels better soon, Trips!

Kale Nits Trips

My Greek friends even say that now!!! Tasoola said to me 'I like your friend, she is crazy.....she say to me Kale Nits and I know what she means so maybe I am crazy as well!!'

Kale Nits is better than Kale Nikta anyway

Mamma - Tom went to school with two cousins.....they were called Pearl & Polly (their last name was Pepper) it still makes Tom LOL when he remembers them!!!! I know a bloke who is a Manchester City fan.

When his son was born his wife said 'Dont you dare call him all the names off the City team.' He registered him as Michael Colin Francis Casey. (After Mike Summerbe, Colin Bell and Francis Lee) she said that was OK until they had to write down the babies intials and they obviously say MCFC. LOL LOL LOL

That's hilarious, Shabs! . This lady wanted to name her daughter Goldie Bear after the children's story...

About to go cuddle with DH in front of the fire while ge reads to me :)

Slipped on the NICU and went down on my ass. Artie's head bounced a bit in carrier but while I'm freaking out she's squealing with a smile... what is it with my kids are stairs?!

Whoops mama! No harm done to either of you I hope.

Bust day here. Twins grumpy so having their second sleep of the day. Bigger is hell bent on tormenting me - throwing toilet rolls and Lego bricks everywhere. He doesn't want to do anything I suggest so I'm trying to give him some space and do some cleaning/tidying in the kitchen.

No harm done, just a bruised buttocks and pride! A nurse was passing on the stairs and helped me up and checked Artie over for me. Very kind of her.

DH is trying to do extra hours today and Thursday, Friday (so basically doing 3 12 hour shifts) so he can have tomorrow off to be here for Apollo's day release. Also, looking into hiring another weekend housekeeper.

Aww hope little grumpies cheer up soon! :) xx

Oh Mama hope you are not hurt........phew!
My back has been very stiff and sore all day, no sympathy here though, you know........"Ill do the kids tea, dont you go lifting that basket of washing............
Watched the prog tonight about the tiny poorly babies, amazing how they survive, watching the poor parents trying to be brave was heart breaking, thought of you Mama.
It has rained and rained again today, the local fields are flooded and I hear the M2 is closed because of a large sink hole, never heard of them before and now that's two in a week!
Feeling tired, kids just being sent up so its time to say Kale Nits! xx

I can't seem to watch any baby programs at the minute and still haven't looked at Apollo's early days pictures however DH and I plan to have a look through all 700+ to see which one we'll post for you lovely ladies :)

Apollo is all set for release tomorrow at 9am. The supply company is making a visit on Thursday to install and set up everything! Also had a serious chat with Apollo's cardiologist and it's very likely that he will need heart surgery when he's older due to a leaky valve. . Otherwise all positive news! :)

Shabs, I will ship over DH to you! He gives amazing massages! He gave me them when I suffered back pain during PG. His hands are miracle workers! Or maybe I'm just biased!

Morning girls xx

Morning ladies. Super excited for you today Mama!

Thanks ladies! He's napping in his own little cot downstair. Best thing since monkey nuts! I cannot stop staring at him.

When DH pulled up in the car everything felt surreal - I was scared about putting him in the car seat! I came home to cake made by DH and banners made DC. They are in awe of him and keep going over to the cot to stare at him. Ds1 has assigned himself his keeper; anyone who goes near the cot he says "sush, Halo sleeping!" However he hates when Apollo screams because it's loud!

Today is not going how I wanted it to... Had a brilliant morning, Apollo was doing so well until about 1.30pm when he started screaming - nothing would settle him, had to give him a nebulizer which helped for all of 30 minutes before he started screaming again, his breathing became labored and he was turning a bit blue. Called the SBCU and was told to bring him straight back to the ward or call for an amublance. We decided to go to the ward - he is now on cpap :(

After talking to us and the timeline matching up turns out he had a severe reaction to some perfumed shower wash I used and caused a massive asthma attack. We've been told to avoid all perfumes scented candles/air freshener/shampoos! Basically anything fragranced that could come in close contact with him.

Hoping to switch back to low flow either today or tomorrow... sigh.

They believe he may have a perfume intolerance which with his sensitivity to all his senses has just basically clashed and caused a flare up ofvl his BPD which was made worse by his screaming and triggering an attack. A combinaton of everything making a dimino affect.

Oh Mama :(

I have never experienced rain like we had here an hour ago, it was like waterfall over our windows, what on earth is happening to us? Winds forecast up to 90 mile per hour and much more rain :(

Oh mama . It's such a balancing act, trying to show Apollo his normal home life. And then having to take into account that anything and everything may upset his sensitivities. Hugs.

Rain is currently horizontal here! Watching the one show flood special. Glad we live in a relatively well drained area. But hoping the farmers see sense soon and start dredging their ditches and that middle level dredge the rivers thoroughly.

Mama - how scary for you, at least he is settled again now, amother thing to avoid when you get home, but better to find out now rather than later.
Trips - hope your back is better soon.
Soks terrible winds and rain here too. I had a call from M this afternoon, a tree got blown over just in ront of the school bus, and they told all 30 kids to get off and walk the last 2 miles home in the pouring rain and wind, along quite dangerous country road with no footpath, even J with his crutches! Luckily, some, like M, had their phones and phoned parents, but reception in that area is notoriously bad. Several of us mums ran a shuttle service to the village, all the time flashing and waving to oncoming drivers to slow down, as there were still kids walking on the road, as well as the downed tree. I lodged a complaint with the transport providers, they should have kept them on the bus until safe transport was arranged.

It didnt help it was also getting dark, and the school unigorm is all navy blue