Random

I just wanted to post this cute picture. This is Riley's cousin, Brynn. She was born 2 days before Riley and even though she was full term...she was tiny!

Now, 2 months later, both babies just had a check up, and believe it or not, but premie Riley is actually bigger than Brynn! I'm sure these two cuties will be best buds when they grow up!

Cameron LOVES when Matt comes home every night. Its easy to see why!

Mothers Day

Mother's Day this year was great. It started on Saturday afternoon with a visit to the Tanners. Zoe, their dog, seemed to think my lap was the place to be. She pushed and shoved until she was comfortable (she didn't seem to care if I was comfortable, however). We visited with Matt's parents and then headed to my parents house. We had a bbq with the whole fam (minus Chelle and company). The guys made a delicious dinner, complete with baby back ribs and then everybody hung out and played around for awhile.

Cam pretending he is still the baby...

Cameron was EXHAUSTED by the time we drove home...

On Sunday, Matt, Cameron and Riley gave me a cd player to keep downstairs in the kitchen, along with a bunch of disney music on my ipod, so I can hook it up to the cd player. I LOVE my music, especially disney. It just makes me want to dance!

We also took Riley to sacrament meeting for the first time. We had strict instructions to keep him covered, which wasn't much of a problem because we don't know many people in our new ward. It was so nice to enjoy church again as a whole family! We kept dinner low key, with some of my favorite cold cereal and some yummy quesadillas, and then watched a movie. It was a wonderful day!

I'm so thankful for these 2 little munchkins who let me be their mom. I love being a mom. Its the hardest job I've ever done, but easily the most fulfilling. I love you boys!

Con-GRAD-ulations!!!!

Matt graduated from the U of U School of Business last Friday. We are so proud of him!

Matt is one of the hardest working people I know. He has been working 2 jobs (1 is full time), going to school, has 2 kids and a wife to worry about, and at one point in the midst of all of it, he was the Elders Quorum president in our old ward. He has been busy, busy, busy but has stuck through it all. We are so glad he is done (at least until grad school...)! We have already seen him about 5 times as much this week as we normally do-yay! Congratulations Matt, we love you!

Matt's family
My family
We spent the next morning at the zoo to celebrate!

Cute Boys

They are cute...aren't they?

Trailing a Little Behind

I'm a little behind...if you haven't noticed.

We have all been home together for almost a month and everybody is great. Riley is gaining weight like a champ, Cam loves his little brother (sometimes) and is usually doing alright, except the last week or so of teething (boo!). Matt will be graduating in a couple of weeks (yay!) and we might be able to see him a little more, and I'm just trying to keep everything running at home. I love my life!

I have a zillion picture, but not much to report since we can't really go anywhere as a family until June! We snuck out once to go to the park for awhile, and we have been to our parents' homes, and that is about it. We are content here in our snuggly home keeping everybody healthy for another month. Now...get ready for a picture explosion!

Leaving the hospital finally!

This was the night Cam came home-he's checking out the little bro...
Feeling a little more comfortable in the morning...
Ready to cuddle up now!

My boys.
First family photo!

Grandma and Grandpa Goodrich
Kisses from Grandma!
The bassinet sent from Matt's grandma. It was meant for Riley to sleep in...
Sleepy boy
Wheeeee!
Cam loves to help clean up...without his shirt on??
Nap time!

King of the bed!

Cam dyeing Easter eggs with Grandpa Goodrich...
...and Riley having nap time with Grandpa!
Easter Sunday

Playing with Grandma and Grandpa Tanner
Yay!
Tanner Fam
Grandpa and Grandpa Tanner
Riley meeting his cousin Brynn. She is 2 days older than Ry.
Cam playing in Grandma Goodrich's backyard.

Just for fun, a couple of videos. The first one is Riley right after he was born. You can hear the breathing trouble. It kind of makes me sad to watch it, but still...I want to remember what he was like at first! The second is Cam while staying at my Mom's. He loves my brother's dog, Missy!

Green Light!

After 3 weeks here, we got the go ahead to go home this morning! Riley gained weight last night and is doing great!

Unfortunately Cameron is a little sick, and can't come home until he is better since we can't risk getting Riley sick. Cam will probably come home on Saturday. I can hardly wait for my little family to all be together again!

A few people have asked about visiting. We would love to have visitors, but have been told that we need to be really really careful because if Riley got sick, it could land him back in the hospital. If you are sick (even a little runny nose), no offense, but please hold off on coming to visit. Also, we need to be a little careful having him around other little kiddos. Otherwise, please feel free to give us a call-we would love to see you!

Thank you all for your love and kindness. We have felt your prayers and support through all of this and we are so thankful for all of our wonderful friends and family!

Hasta la vista hospital!

Busting Out?!?!

Matt was on the blog and accidentally deleted my background. Since he is color blind, he had a friend at work help him put up a new one...hope you like it!

So, I haven't updated for awhile. Riley had a rough week, until we got close to the weekend. He was in his 35th week, which is notoriously known as a rough week for premature babies. They have a tendency to suddenly forget everything they have learned, and get really sleepy. Riley was no exception. He stopped eating well and took a few steps back. Luckily towards the end of the week, he suddenly picked up again!

He came out of his isolette on Saturday and has held his temperature well. He is now eating all feedings by mouth and they took out his feeding tube this morning! He hasn't been gaining significant amounts of weight, about 5 grams (1 gram is about equal to 1 raisin) but he IS gaining or at least staying the same each time. He has passed his car seat test, hearing test, etc.

We just got the word this morning that if everything goes well tonight and he gains again, we can probably go home tomorrow (everybody keep your fingers crossed)!!! It has felt like a very, very looooonnnnggg three weeks and we are so ready to get back home as a family since Cam and Matt have been living with my Mom, and I've been living at the hospital with Riley.

I have had the nastiest cold/cough/infection I think I've ever had in my life for the last 10+ days, but I finally got sent over to instacare on Saturday night. Matt thought it was really funny that we had to leave the hospital to go see a doctor. They gave me an antibiotic and it finally started to kick in last night. Hallelujah!

Everything is looking up and we are excited. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts--we feel very blessed!

Knock on Wood

I guess I should have knocked on wood after that last post...too late now!

Riley was put back in stage 2 today and it was determined that he possibly isn't even quite ready for that yet, but we will try it out again. He goes back to 2 feedings with me every 12 hours. Apparently yesterday he didn't get enough to eat because he couldn't wake himself up to feed every 2, 3, or ever 4 hours. He lost some weight and the doctors are concerned they are trying to push him a little too quickly and he just isn't showing that he is ready to move up at all. We still don't have a date for going home, but it will probably be later than we have been thinking lately. They are not ready to try him out of the isolette again, he needs to gain more weight, and be getting all of his feedings from a bottle or nursing....so, we have a ways to go.

I have a nasty cold/cough/who knows what (the doctor mentioned some type of influenza that turns into bronchitis...lets hope not) that has kept me hanging out in bed anytime I'm not feeding Riley. It makes me all the more thankful that they have an overnight room I can stay in at the hospital so I don't have to be traveling between home and here and can spend my time sleeping instead. Mmmm...that's all that I can think of for now!

Quick Update

Riley was able to move to stage 3 of eating today! That means I can nurse him on demand (his...not mine. If it was up to me we would do an 8 hour stretch in the middle of the night!) and he isn't supplemented after feedings with me. Hopefully he will continue to gain weight in order to keep his temperature stable.

One scary thing: this morning they told me that last night they gave Riley his binky, and after awhile his monitors started going off because his sats were so low. They went in to find him turning bluish around his mouth and face. The doctor acted like it was quite normal for a premature baby to do that, but it certainly scared me and makes me pretty nervous to take him home where he isn't on monitors! The nurse told me that some babies will suck and suck on a binky and simply forget to breathe...yikes!

Besides that episode, he is doing great and we hope to break out of here soon!

Day 10

This evening will mark 10 days that Riley has been here in the hospital. He is doing well overall, although there have been some minor setbacks.

He is now able to do 4 feedings a day, at 8am, 2pm, 8pm, and 2am which means I am staying at the hospital. They provide an overnight room for free for situations like this, and I am right next to the nursery where Riley is staying. Its definitely kind of boring, but so far has been ok. I have a cold and have been able to spend the in between time resting, which is nice.

He was moved from the incubator to an open crib, but wasn't able to tolerate it, so he went back in today. This morning his vitals were a little bit wacky, so they aren't sure yet how he is tolerating 4 feedings. He has gained some weight in the last couple of days, so we hope to continue that.

Riley's biggest problem right now is staying warm. He doesn't have enough fat to keep himself warm, which is why he is back in the incubator. Yesterday and last night he had socks on his hands and feet, a onesie, 2 pairs of pants, pajamas and 2 warm blankets, and 2 hats and still wasn't able to keep his own temperature up. He won't be able to come home until he gains enough weight to maintain that himself. The doctor tells us we will need to be really patient at this stage.

Cameron continues to stay with my parents since I'm now gone all day. Matt goes and stays there after work so that Cameron gets to see at least one parent. I've struggled emotionally lately knowing I am going to be spending so much time away from Cameron and Matt. My Dad reminded me that there are other people who can take care of what Cam needs right now, but I'm the only one who can take care of what Riley needs, and that helps. I'm so grateful for my parents. They have been such a huge support through all of this. My sweet mom even gave up a vacation she was looking forward to going on with my Dad. She was supposed to leave tomorrow, but instead gave up her ticket, which they could get a refund or exchange for. I don't know what I would do without her!

That's all to update for now. Overall we are all doing well and still hoping our little Riley can come home soon!!
Sleepy boy
Very sleepy boy
My little leprechaun
HUGE Binky!