Wrapping it up

Well it is the end of the year, and it has been such a hard one.I went from starting off with a party and I am going to close with a quite evening at home as a mommy. I have finally grown up and it's not that bad. I think we deserve a pass for next year, only good things can happen.

Gabriel has really come a long way, he was born early and now look at him. I think back to the first days he was here, he had see through skin, no nipples (I can't get over that), he could be held with one hand, and not able to breathe on his own. Today he is playing with toys, laughing, trying to sit up, and wiggling like a worm.

On Wednesday I had such a hard time feeding Gabriel, he kept knocking the bottle out of his mouth and pushing it. After four feedings like this and him only eating 2oz each feeding, I couldn't keep fighting to get him to eat, I decided just to let him play with the bottle and do what he wanted. Gabriel surprised me and I had to laugh a little, he wanted to feed himself. i remembered when Sarah had this problem with Sebastian, and of course this is what it was. he tried to hold his bottle and put it in his mouth all by himself. Poor little guy just doesn't have the strength or control to do, but he sure tried.

Yesterday we were in the car on our way home and I heard a crunching. When I was at a stop light I checked him and he was playing with his peacock toy that hangs from his car seat. I put him on his tummy time mat and he started tapping the toys and watching when they would move to his touch. I was amazing to see. I was so happy when we were learning to use the steering wheel toy. I would use his hand to honk the horn and move the steering wheel, he would watch and wouldn't you know he copied me. He then started to move the shifter, and honk the horn, and move the wheel. I was beyond excited to see him learning cause and effect. He does still need to develop his motor skills and control over his body, but as a mom this is big.

My big little boy has also started to hold his torso and head up when you are holding him. When he is on his tummy, he just hold his head up, but he sure is changing fast. beware when you are holding him, because he has started flying forward with his body. In time he will be able to control himself better, but until protect yourself. The last few days have been big days for Gabriel. I am excited to see his development in this next year.

Baby's first Christmas

It's been a while since I have put an update, but a certain someone doesn't let me use the computer. We went to the pediatrician on the 20th and he weighed 9lbs 10oz and is 21 1/4 inches long. He has come so far. It was nice because his Grandma Angel went with us to the doctor and she helped me with him a lot. He also saw the eye doctor and he said that there is still blood in his eyes, but it is healing good. We don't have to go back for another month. I am sure Gabriel will appreciate the break in the horrific exams.

We finally made it to Spring to see Sarah, Derek, and the boys for Christmas. It was such a great visit. Noah, a.k.a. "The Hamburgler", kept trying to steal Gabriel's pacifiers and bottle. He eventually got one of his bottles in his mouth, but I stopped him before he could drink. Luckily Gabriel was done eating and there wasn't much left in the bottle. The boys were so good with him, they would hold his bottle to help feed him. Sebastian would get after me when he was crying, and Noah gave him a constant flow of kisses. They are gonna be so protective of each other. Gabriel did make out like a bandit in Christmas gifts, he got some really great toys. I have to make a very special mention to Aunt Veronica who got him the Sophie the Giraffe teething toy. I am so in love with it.

Gabriel is no longer wearing newborn clothes and is wearing 0-3 months now. He looked like he was not able to stretch out his legs, and one of the onsies I put on him was too short to snap, so we made the move. he has also started to talk and laugh a lot. He loves to jump on you lap, and is starting to sit in his bebe pod. He is getting better head control and is all over the place. Manuel and I are working on the constant holding, we just love to hold him. it is time for me to start getting this house in order and I cannot do that with him in my arms. I have been so lucky to have my cousin Mellie, she has been watching Gabriel a lot so I can get stuff done and run errands. I am so lucky to have the family I do.

Well things have been pretty good for us. Gabriel is doing a lot better since the surgery, he had a hard time recovering from it. I think he is going to be like his mama and not do change easily or surgery. He already had his first face rash, we just do not know what caused it. I am so grateful to have Colleen, she is always there when I have questions. Sarah says she should start charging me.

As of Monday he weighed in at 8lbs 15oz. It is so hard to tell how long he is because everyone tells me a different length, I am averaging them and saying 19 inches. My little boy has gotten so big and has changed so much. He doesn't stick out his tongue very often, he is holding his head up more, and he is starting to laugh. The worst of it all is that he is watching football. I am telling him that it is bad for him and watching the food network, E!, and HGTV, so he will like that instead. Although considering who his father is, I think I will loose that battle.

We have been working with occupational therapy and Teresa says he is progressing pretty good. His eyes are healing nicely and the disease is regressing, and the pulmonologist is happy with his lungs. All in all he is doing great, just small for his age, but I am his mother.

Vision is complicated

Well Gabriel's first Thanksgiving was nice. We stayed home, ate, and enjoyed some company. Grandma and Grandpa Angel came for dinner along with Cynthia. We had a nice quiet day and Gabriel got to try out his high chair.

We also had a visit from his Great Grandparents, Uncle Isaac, and Tia Patti this week. I am so happy that he is able to meet my Grandma and Papo Valencia. It means a lot that they made time to visit.

We did not go black friday shopping, but hit some of the sales on Saturday while Granma Angel and Auntie Cynhtia got to hang out with Gabriel. It was really nice to get out of the house with Manuel. We were given a nice present of a clean baby and clean house when we got home. I am so lucky to have found such a great family to be a part of. They help me so much much with Gabriel and I am so grateful for that.

We went for Gabriel's follow up appointment with the eye doctor and so far everything looks good. I asked him if he thought Gabriel's vision would be fine, and he responded with " vision is complicated". I guess we will just have to watch and see what happens as he gets older.

Manuel took Gabriel to the Pediatrician's office, while I was stuck at the DMV trying to renew my expired license, to get his opinion on a few things. Gabriel has not had many bowel movements, is not eating as much, sleeps all the time, and is very fussy since the surgery. Dr. Lantry said it was the anesthesia that was causing the constipation and his reflux flared up because of the surgery. Prior to the surgery he had started staying awake and alert for several hours and that is a result of the eye medication. We are supposed to wean off them by Wednesday. He weighed in at 8lbs 9 oz today and I could not be happier. He fits really good in newborn size clothes, so naturally I was very excited when I found jeans he could wear. When it gets cool I found him a denim jacket, I can't wait for him to wear it. We just need to get to 14lbs before we can start with the cereal. We are very happy with our baby and are very Thankful to have him in our lives. He makes me smile just thinking about him.

Surgery

Well Gabriel had to have laser eye surgery in both his eyes on Friday. Originally he was only supposed to have it in his left eye, but Dr. Cleland felt it had to be done int he right as well. It has been rough for my poor little baby. He was not supposed to feel much pain after the surgery, but I think the swollen eyes were to much for him. He struggled with his feedings, going to the potty, and sleep. The three nights following the surgery were so hard. If Buela had not been here, I don't know how I would have made it through this. He had a lot of visitors and support while in the hospital. Thank you to Grandma and Grandpa Angel, Buela, Aunt Veronica, Katherine, and Allegra for checking on us.

Here we go again...

Gabriel had his 5 month check up and boy has he gotten big. He is 19.5" long, 7lbs 14 oz, and his head is 14.5' around. He is below the 5th percentile, but that is because he was born early and they use his chronological age. He also got his immunizations, he did not like them at all, and he had a fever for the day. My poor little baby.

I was happy to be able to have him with me for my birthday. Grandma Angel came over and babysat so Manuel could take me to dinner. Gabriel is starting to raise his arms when you look at him, letting you know he wants to be picked up. When I say "kisses" to him he will turn his head and open his mouth. He has changed so much, it amazes me every time I look at him.

He had another follow up with Dr. Cleland, his opthamologist, and he is admitted him back into the NICU on Friday for surgery. His left eye needs to have laser surgery because he has some abnormal blood vessels and they are starting to pull. He wants to get this fixed so that the retina does not detach. The surgery will be Friday at one o'clock and he will be admitted around nine or ten in the morning. I will let everyone know how it goes and how he is doing. It is not a complex procedure so everything should be just fine.

Doctor Appointment

Today we had our Pulmonologist appointment today and mister man weighs 7lbs 7oz and is 18.5 inches long. We got our second synergis shot to help prevent RSV. He is in good health so far. We took him for a walk with Kaiya and Hershey yesterday. Hershey is gonna be so protective over Gabriel. She would walk right next to the stroller so she could be next to him. it wasn't the best situation for Manuel because she kept crossing in front of him and getting in the way. It was nice to have a family outing even though it was short.

Gabriel got to meet his Guncle Nick last week. He was so great to go with us to the eye doctor appointment and spend the day with us. Gabriel was so happy and just loved his time with Nick, it helps that mommy loves him too. Uncle Javi came this weekend and spent some time with us, even bringing us some very yummy B-B-Que. it was nice not to have to cook. He and Gabriel are gonna be the best of friends and uncle Javi will be able to introduce him to pinball.

Like Majic

Well Buela came to visit and just like with Sebastian and Noah, she is magic. He was so smiley and happy. She was trying to get him to sit up and reach her. The first time he did it and He sat all the way up and his poor head was too heavy so he started to fall forward. We tried to get him to do it again, but he got tired out. As soon as Buela walked out the door he started to fuss. I called my mom to tell her about it and when her voice mail came on he settled down, and when she stopped talking he got upset again. So thankfully Tia Sarah sang him a song, one that she knew the words to, to keep him calm. It was a hard night and what do you know he just wanted to breast feed.

Doctors Appointments

I am not a morning person and of course Gabriel's doctors appointments are first thing in the morning. We went to see his surgeon yesterday to follow up with his hernia and Dr. Kidd said it might heal by his first birthday, if not he may have to have surgery to repair it. We also saw his pulmonologist Dr. Kiercher and I really like him. He said Gabriel looks good and put him on a nasal steroid. He had us gets an ultrasound to make sure his heart murmur had closed and it did. Dr. Kenton Gabriel neonatologist from the hospital called us with the results, he is a great doctor and I love that he still follows up with him. We could not have asked for better care.

He did weigh in at 6lbs 11 oz and 18 inches, I could not be more excited. He is still in between sizes, preemie fit his arms and legs and newborn fit his torso. I tried to put him in some pants, but they were a little too long, maybe later. We are still having problems with his reflux, but the prevacid Dr. Lantry put him on has made a huge difference.

It was so nice to have a visit from Grandma and Grandpa on Monday. I was able to eat, shower, and run to blockbuster. It was so nice to get out for something other than the doctor. When I came home all three of them were on the couch watching tv, and Grandma gave me the gifts of doing the dishes. When Grandpa would talk to him, he would turn his head and look at him. He is starting to stay awake longer and he is starting to respond to things. I bought him a little eistein toy that lights up when it plays the music and he will watch the lights and smile. He is a very smiley baby and I love when he smiles when I talk to him.