10 weeks ago, I introduced you to Baby Sean. Born on June 10th, at 28 weeks gestation and one pound 10 ounces, Baby Sean had a long, tough road ahead of him. He fought hard every single day. He was determined to go home and show the world that a micro-preemie can survive any developmental obstacle thrown in front of him or her.
This week, Baby Sean officially hits the 40 week gestation mark. Can you believe it? Sean is a full term baby now. He just chose to incubate outside of the womb for 12 weeks!
He is doing so well! Weighing in at 6lbs 8 oz, Sean continues to make progress each day. His feeding tube is no longer necessary. He is alert and active. He loves his mama, daddy, brothers, and sisters. It is hard for his family to put him down!
Here is a more in depth update straight from Mama Caroline:
Right now Baby Sean is doing awesome. He is drinking 60mls of milk from a bottle. I am pumping double time and still run out of milk over night, so I pump and off to the hospital every morning. I pump while at the hospital too, but goodness he still catches up. He was pushing away my breast for a while. No matter how hard I tried to give him the breast he wasn’t having it, so we had a lactation consultant come and help us get him on. Goodness I cried like it was the first time again. I was afraid he got so use to the bottle that he wouldn’t breastfeed anymore. But now when I’m there for a feeding, I breastfeed for 15mins then feed him the bottle.
Tests have come back good and clear on his liver. It is still a little swollen, but that’s normal after what he went through. With the help of the diuretics it will go back to normal size. Lungs are still not fully developed. He is on 100% oxygen. Every time they try to ween him off, he desats. The doctor is trying NOT send him home on oxygen, which works for me, because I want him free and clear before I bring him home.
These last two days, he has been having heart rate drops. He will have a Brady in the 30′s but he self recovers. It is during his feedings, so I think sometimes he just forgets to breathe and it causes the heart rate drop. So far he has done that twice with me, while I am feeding him. I got it down to where I notice the color change and rub his back. If no response kinda squeeze or message his feet, then he breathes and cries and catches his breathe. It is scary, but I know I have to stay calm, to help him. He still has the little heart murmur, we are just hoping it closes on its own as he grows older.
Wow! What a beautiful mama Caroline is isn’t she? She just takes each little step in stride, giving Baby Sean all the love and support he needs to conquer his preemie milestones!
Are you ready for this? Two weeks ago, there was a huge MRSA outbreak in the NICU where Baby Sean is. While Sean was not infected (thank God!), he was exposed to the virus so it is on his skin. He is currently in isolation with the other babies who were exposed. The media has really run with this and there are parents suing the hospital (because in all likelihood it was a doctor or nurse who caused this outbreak). The State Health Department was trying to stop skin on skin contact but the hospital fought hard against that! Yay hospital! The doctors and nurses are all stressed, following all kinds of new regulations. Through all of this, Caroline has been keeping the medical staff laughing. She wants to add some joy to their stressful day since it does no one any favors to have a stressed nurse caring for your micro-preemie. Amazing mama isn’t she! And no, she is not suing the hospital nor does she place blame. “Stuff happens” as she sees it and since Sean was not infected, she would rather focus on the rest of his developmental challenges!
Having said that, Mama Caroline is more than ready for Baby Sean to come home. Traveling back and forth such a long distance every day for 3 months has been rough not to mention expensive. Caroline is tired. She has sacrificed more sleep than most new mothers to be with Sean. She needs the comforts of her home. She NEEDS her baby home in her arms.
Sean’s entire family is grateful for the love and support ALL of you have given. Through monetary donations, donations of diapers, clothing, and baby gear, Caroline has been able to be with her preemie every step of the way. Your supportive words and encouraging comments have given Caroline that push and reminder she sometimes needs when the life of a NICU mama gets exhausting and overwhelming.
Thank you again to all the companies who have donated to Baby Sean. You can find the complete list here. Be sure to check it out and throw some business their way if you can.
A special thank you to Summer Infant. Recently, Caroline/Baby Sean received a VERY generous donation thanks to the efforts of a beautiful soul named Suzanne. She learned about Baby Sean through my friend Joni at Tales of a Kitchen Witch and immediately set about securing several items from Summer Infant. Baby Sean was hooked up with a gorgeous wood bassinet, an medical/grooming kit, a snuzzler for the car seat/stroller, a Winnie the Poo towel wrap, and some pacifiers.
Baby Sean is one well loved little man.
And now, a special thank you from Caroline followed by some adorable photos of Sean.
To Jennifer Saleem/Hybrid Rasta Mama, who started the Baby Sean fundraiser and Laura Colon who also started a second fundraiser, and to all the cloth diaper & detergent companies, and to all of Baby Sean’s new family and friends from around the world, who have taken the time to stop what you are doing to take time to sit and read about My Tiny Lil Man, My lil Fighter, and to shed some tears for him and have generously donated towards Baby Sean…
We his parents and siblings, Tony, Caroline, Joshua, Fotu & Anne Marie are humbled and truly grateful for all your love and we want to say Thank You, Thank You, Thank You and Malo Aupito from the bottom of our hearts for all your generosity, for falling in love with Baby Sean from afar.
We never knew that so many would extend a helping hand and help us, like Jennifer said in one of her posts, we too have restored our faith in humanity, “Thank You God for blessing these people with loving hearts to reach out to us”.
With this whole pregnancy and birth being a BIG/PREEMIE surprise Miracle, we were completely lost, what do we do now? But then to have our Dear dear family friend Jennifer Saleem step up as soon as she heard of my whole preeclamsia/gestational diabetes pregnancy and then 27wk early delivery and start this whole fundraiser, it bought nonstop tears and a loss of words to both myself and my husband….what can we really say to every one of you who has donated to our lil fighter, but Thank You.
Because of all of your generosity I am able to go everyday to the hospital to be with my lil fighter, and the baby items that have been donated, i now don’t have to add that extra stress of wondering where I will get those items from.
Our Family is still overwhelmed with all the love and generosity you have all poured on us, we include you all everyday in our prayers, and I tell Baby Sean everyday about all the people around the world that love him and send gifts and pray for him. I think all this love from you also contributes to him fighting so hard to grow and breathe everyday
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You & Malo Aupito for all your love and support ….. God Bless You all ….xxooxx
