5 Pounds + Operation stalk the surgeon progress

Little man is growing like crazy and his new hobby is laying completely sideways in his bed.  He is beyond precious!  He is up over 5 pounds now, that means a pound plus in 3 weeks!!!

Here is one of our favorite pictures...

Look at the wing span on this little guy!!!

Molly's mission to seek out the #1 surgeon for Simon's condition has been a success! A very positive consult has taken place and Simon will be on his service when the surgery takes place.  All of this is well and good, but the unfortunate part is the gap Simon has is more rare than the typical esophageal issue.  Thus Simon will have all of the surgeons in the practice there, but the good news is lots of talented hands and minds to heal up Simon and get him home!

Thank you for all the thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes!  Keep Molly in your thoughts this weekend for her very 1st Mother's Day!

Growing!!

Molly & Clint spent the weekend holding little Simon and enjoying his little smile.  Here he is as of today...

At birth Simon was 18.25 inches long.  Today he is up to 19.5 inches.  I can't imagine where he gets his height from?  Haha!  He is going to be one tall little man, his fingers and toes are so long.

The best news is that the #1 Surgeon in the country (at repairing Simon's issue) has moved back to Akron!  He moved here on May 1st.  Molly is occupying her spare minutes locating this surgeon and hoping to get Simon on his case load for June.  Keep your fingers crossed.  Why not just have this all done by the best surgeon around.  Akron Children's is such an amazing place.

Finally, here is a picture of Simon being held by Clint over the weekend.

No News is Good News this week!

Simon is up to 4# 9oz!  He is looking as strong as ever and doing great.  Molly is enjoying the freedom of driving and visiting with baby Simon.  She takes a break and then returns as soon as Clint comes home from work.  That is their new routine, looks like for what will be the next several weeks.  Just keep praying the re-evaluation of his esophagus in June shows he is ready for surgery.

Here is his latest mug shot:

Esophageal Atresia

What is causing Simon to be in the NICU?  Esophageal Atresia is the issue which Simon is dealing with, Molly and Clint started learning of this at the 20 week ultrasound.


Definition:  Esophageal Atresia is a disorder of the digestive system in which the esophagus does not develop properly. The esophagus is the tube that normally carries food from the mouth to the stomach.


Esophageal atresia occurs in about 1 out of 4,000 births.


The cause of esophageal atresia, like that of most birth defects, is unknown.

The best part of having to wait....the #1 surgeon for this returns to Akron on May 1st and Molly & Clint and working to make sure he performs the surgery for Simon.

Update

Simon continues to have very good days!!  He has gained between 4 and 6oz. in weight!  His feed  Last week when I was there I heard him cry...such sweet music considering all that is happening.

For the next four weeks there is a bit if a waiting game.  When Simon turns 6 weeks of age the surgeons will reevaluate the distance between his esophagus and his stomach.  They will put some dye in the esophagus and his stomach and take X-rays to see the gap.  This will then determine what will happen for the connection surgery.  So pray for the gap to decrease and for this surgery to take place.  This is what Simon needs to be able to eat on his own and COME HOME!!

Molly is a free woman today!  After almost 6 weeks of bed rest and 2 weeks after baby, she can DRIVE!  Really all this means is we don't pick her up and take her to or from the hospital...she will do that herself now! :)  As any new mom can remember...she wore NON-MATERNITY pants yesterday!  Always the best feeling!

Simon's 1st Graduation

Molly & Clint received good news very early this morning, Simon graduated back to the NICU Room 4.  What does that mean?  There are 4 rooms in the NICU, Room #1 being for the babies who have the most issues....to Room #4 who are the NICU babies who are in the best of health...for the NICU! :)

  Simon is now in room 4!!!!

Here is Simon in his new room! : ) 

Can his legs be any longer?  Can you say 6 foot 5.  His toes and fingers are SO long, too cute!

So this is very good news!!  He looked strong and happy when I visited yesterday.  He was laying on his side and smiling...especially at Grandpa Conger.  He also had a massive diaper yesterday....very good news.  It was nice to see him off the lights and free of goggles.

So it looks like the week is ending better than it started.  Your prayers and good thoughts are working!!  Thank you!

Eyes Wide Open

From Molly....
"So the last 2 days have been relatively quiet visitor wise. Grandparents, aunts, and Sonny's sisters (Simon's Great aunts) and my AZD friend Stacy"

The biggest thing has been some heart rate issues, his HB has dropped very low at times.  His oxygen level remains strong and amazing!  Molly thinks the suction tube (which catches his saliva was not working correctly) she was persistent in this and they finally fixed it last night....all has been well since with his little HB.

Simon's feeds are kind of stuck at 12cc's of fortified breast milk. They aren't upping it because his tube is leaking.. its actually more of a seep.

The good news is his lights and goggles being gone. It is great to see his little eyes. He follows you with his eyes, they are so precious!  He broke my heart today, its like he was saying....let's get out of here!

Please pray that although hurdles are expected, long term health is the key for baby Simon!  Molly & Clint are more than patient and Simon's best advocates!  The NICU is a great place. but watching Molly and Clint with their parental instincts in full force already is more than powerful....Simon is one lucky little man!