Ezekiel Hollander Forsch

Exhale. Then hold your breath.

2011-04-07T20:06:00.000-07:00

We got a call from the doctor today. The endoscopy went fine, nothing to see there. The liver biopsy from the hepatologist revealed that my liver is 10% fat. There is inflammation, which was the catalyst for having the biopsy in the first place, but there is no scarring. My doctors want to talk to the genetic team to hear their results and then will look at my liver using something called electron microscopy. For right now I am sitting tight and awaiting my next instruction.

Weekend Update

2011-04-04T12:17:00.001-07:00

Everything went great. I am home safe and fast asleep. The Drs. should have some lab results for me by the weekend. I'll keep you posted!

The Big Day

2011-04-04T12:16:00.001-07:00

Today is the big day for my endoscopy and liver biopsy. I am worried more about the results than the actual procedure. Sure today will be a long day, but hopefully they will figure out what is keeping me from gaining weight. My biggest concern is that they will just want to do more tests. Egad!

I better get going, I have to be at the hospital at 730 for a 9pm appt. No food or drink past bedtime, 5 am was the cut-off for water. Poor me!

All in a day's work.

2011-04-01T11:32:00.000-07:00

The day has finally come. On Monday I will have an upper endoscopy and liver biopsy. They will be performed one after the other under the care of Drs. at MS CHONY. The metabolic geneticist and the hepatologist (liver specialist) will each study a sample of my liver. The gastroenterologist will be looking for any physical signs that would make eating uncomfortable for me. They will put me under general anesthesia so I won't feel anything. I really don't like anesthesia, it is scary. Luckily one of my nurses from the NICU, Katie, will be there. I really like her - last time I was at the hospital we cuddled.

How YOU Doin?

2011-01-22T21:20:00.000-08:00

In addition to climbing up and down every flight of stairs I can find I love to run around. Literally. I can run! This is awesome! And you already know that I love to talk. Next time we talk ask me my name, it's "e-zee."

You have been asking about my health and I have not had much to report until now. You probably know I am a skinny, little dude. I am tall so that is good, but at least 5 pounds less than I should be. They are not sure if it is complications from my original birth defect or if there are outside factors. Right now I am seeing a gastroenterologist and he is sending me for tests all over the place. Well, they are all at Columbia, just all over my body.

First I had a sonogram that showed my liver was slightly enlarged and had a weird texture. The blood flow looked good somewhere in my belly area, there was some random spot but it seems to be nothing. Blood tests showed some elevated levels in my liver but my nutrition levels were surprisingly good.

My EKG (heart) scan went okay. It wasn't nice that they kept me waiting in the office so long, and I screamed the whole time (much like my sonogram). The nurse kept telling me she wasn't hurting me. So I must have been confused. The were looking for hyper-pulminory tension but the blood was flowing so that isn't the problem. They did find that I had holes in my heart. The holes may close naturally, or may be too small to cause damage to the heart and lungs.

I also had a chest x-ray. Considering one lung was flattened in utero things are looking good.

The next steps are taking another blood test to see if my liver levels are back to normal. If not the next step is a liver biopsy. The GI also wants me to have an endoscopy. If I need a biopsy then they will do them both together while I am under anesthesia.

So, it is not easy, but it is my life. And when I am not being poked and pricked I am off and running!

First Words

2010-10-25T05:43:00.000-07:00

Up! uuuuuuuuuuuuup! Uppy!
Dow (Down)
Momma
DadDEE
Baby
Be Bee (Belly Button)
Bobby (for Bottle)
Cookie
Dog
Booby
Poopy

Daddy, is that you?

2010-10-25T05:40:00.000-07:00

Zoolander has nothing on my sweet and sensitive look.

It's a Miracle!

2010-10-13T10:54:00.001-07:00

The doctor said it would take years of practice - but I did it! I can walk!

Babies of the LES

2010-08-03T18:53:00.000-07:00

Just chillin' with my homies Ophelia (and her Mom, Caroline), Cela and my Buddy Max at his house. We laughed, we cried, we drank milk. It was beautiful! You should come next time!

GYE: Yearbook Camp

2010-07-22T08:26:00.000-07:00

We went to yearbook camp with four of the schools that Mommy works with in NYC. I got to ride the bus with the cool kids. On the way back the ENTIRE bus sang my favorite song for me: The Wheels On the Bus! I got so excited I soiled my diaper! How embarrassing! At camp some students took a photography class, I was a popular subject. So was my friend, Elizabeth, who is mommy's friend (& a yearbook adviser)'s daughter. Here is a little scrapbook action from the week.

In the car heading to Newark to catch the bus. With my homeboys Gerard, Mike and Willy G.

Enough Paparazzi! I would like to address my fans now.

Thanks to MK for contributing photos.

A Day in Life: 10 Months

2010-07-22T08:13:00.000-07:00

Auntie Wendy and I have been trying to find the time to iChat. I miss cousins Alexa & Joely, Uncle Mitch is pretty cool too. But LA is a busy place and sometimes we have trouble working out our schedules. So, I made a sample schedule so they would know when to give me ring. I wakes up around 7, Daddy keeps me quiet until 9. We play, we eat, we nap, we drink milk. Sometimes we leave the house, mostly we don't. Sometimes we have therapists here, but that's only a half hour at a time. In the evenings mommy and daddy talk about what they are going to make for dinner, then we order delivery. More playing, drinking milk, tv watching and crying which comes to a grand finale somewhere between 8-10pm.

Frog Prince

2010-07-09T21:02:00.001-07:00

I went to Brooklyn to visit mommy's friend Sergio. He had a beautiful garden!

Busy Bee

2010-05-16T20:57:00.000-07:00

After swim class with Daddy I get so tired! This time I fell asleep sitting up before I could lie down.

I am having such a busy month! Mother's Day with the Forsch Clan. I met Great Grandma Erna and we got to cuddle.

My favorite thing to do is stand. I need a bit of help, but I can pull myself up if someone lends me a hand. I am also huge into drooling. I got my first tooth - a bottom one - so it is not long until the rest of them stop me from drooling. bummer!

A Forsch To Be Reckoned With

2010-04-16T19:49:00.000-07:00

Lucky #7

2010-04-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

Today I am 7 months old. Grandma Harriet & Grandpa Marty are visiting me from SC. I just saw them last week when I was there - that's right, I'm a jet-setter. The other night Grandma Elaine and Aunt Karen babysat me. No, they didn't sit on me, just with me.

These days I am very busy. I am doing great with my physical therapy. I'm sitting up on my own although I'm still a little wobbly when I get tired. The problem is I can't find my way out of sitting. Usually I hit my head on a soft pillow on my way down. But sometimes I am not as lucky. Ouch!

My speech and feeding therapy is going well. I am definitely hungry, but the stuff they serve here - bleh! It's all mushy and funny colored. Last night they had veal and fed me ground beans. What's up with that? Mmm, little baby cow - come on people!

Look for me on TV in a commercial for Baby Flomax!(Savannah Hilton Head Airport)

This Little Kitten Has No Mittens

2010-03-07T16:25:00.000-08:00

Have you ever tried to keep socks on a baby? Well, we just don't like them! Mom figured I would be warm enough in my stroller and blanket, but it was such a nice day that Aunt Karen and I wanted to take it in. Mommy put her gloves on my feet, isn't she nice? I still don't have any mittens of my own, who do I speak to about that?

All in a day's work

2010-02-28T17:23:00.000-08:00

Hanging with the parents. Did I mention I started food? It is messy! My favorite thing so far is fingers. Yum! I can't get enough of 'em.

Kabir & Me

2010-02-28T17:18:00.000-08:00

Kabir lives next door to me. He is six weeks younger. He was supposed to be eight weeks younger but I was born one week late, and he was born one week early. That happens sometimes. Okay, that happens alot. Anyway, Kabir comes over to play every now and then. We like to hold hands after I punch him on the shoulder. That makes it masculine.

Kabir's older brother is Arjen and he's been coming over to my house since before I was even made! He's already two years old. I think he's cool because he can walk and is starting to talk but he's not really interested in babies. Maybe we'll be friends when I'm older.

Mausi Rupila (Mausi means Aunt in Hindi) and Uncle Kash (I didn't learn that word yet) come over and we get to go over there. It is so fun growing up next door to two other guys. I can't wait until Isa (across the hall) has her baby in a few months. Party all the time!

My First - Much Needed - Vacation

2010-02-28T16:47:00.000-08:00

Before the HJ conference in Marco Island we visited Aunt Chris & Uncle Bob, Daddy's Uncle, in Naples, FL. They took us out to eat at their golf club in Tiburon and to Tommy Bahama's and they bought me a Tiburon sweat shirt. I am almost big enough for it! Next time I visit Uncle Bob and I are going to play the back nine. Can you say golf scholarship?

During the conference Grandma Harriet & Grandpa Marty took care of me. We had a really good time hanging out in the room. Mommy walked up to the front desk and said, "Is this the best room you have?" I smiled at the girl behind the counter and she upgraded us to a corner room. I hope I am able to develop a personality despite my devilishly good looks. I wish it was warm so we could frolic on the beach, instead I settled for a great view.

The (Not So Ghostly) Ghost of Grandma Florence

2010-02-28T11:58:00.000-08:00

On the first floor of my building there is a very nice lady named Jeanne. She lives with her dog, Zoe. Although I prefer cuddling with Jeanne, an occasional French kiss with Zoe is nice too.

Jeanne buys me presents and she was my Valentine. She reminds mommy of her Grandma Florence who I never got to meet so it is nice that we can spend time with Jeanne instead.

Splish-splash I was takin' a bath!

2010-02-28T11:53:00.000-08:00

Excuse me, please! Can't a guy get some privacy around here? I was a little skeptical at first, but now I LOVE bath time. Especially since I go in the big tub now. I kick and splash and get scrubbed up real good. Mom and Dad have finally figured out how to dry me without making me freak out. Hello, it is cold out there when I get out of the bath - get your act together people!

For those of you who have not seen it yet, you can see my scar now. It is below my right rib cage and about four inches wide. I know, you can barely see it. The Dr. said it will get smaller as I grow older, or maybe it will just look smaller because I'm going to be so big!

My last appointment was 2/17 and I weighed 14lbs., 8.2oz and was 27.5 inches long. I've probably grown a lot since then since I'm eating solid foods now. Yep, that's right, food.

A Day In the Life

2009-12-29T21:31:00.000-08:00

Mom and I went to Whole Foods with Lara and Raphael. We ran into Ellie and Lukas and all ate lunch together. I was so hungry that I held my bottle for the first time. I did it again later in the day and Dad captured it on video.

Today I sat in my Bumbo chair. My head is still a little wobbly so I am too little to be in there myself. I get by with a little help from my friends.

The rockier the pavement, the better I sleep. Roll baby roll!

Freebird

2009-12-15T21:15:00.000-08:00

Well, I know I have not written much lately. It is not that I haven't wanted to. Just that I have so many things going on. I mean, no feeding tube AND I can roll over. I am pretty busy. Then I've got physical therapy and speech/feeding therapy. They are just starting this week, but I have a feeling I am going to go straight to the head of the class. Since it is just me, and they visit me at home, I am feeling pretty confident. I have entertained many visitors and my hosting skills are improving. I always insist mom or dad change a diaper when I have company, then I smile and coo for the fascinated onlookers. I know I have mentioned it before, but even strangers tell me so it must be true. I am so good-looking. Don't worry, I'm not letting it go to my head yet.

My First Hanukkah

2009-12-15T20:57:00.000-08:00

Wheeee! I'm so close to turning over. Just a little bit further!

Cousin Jody takes care of me. When I'm older I'm going to fix her up with some of my friends. She's a cougar!

Aren't I a good photographer? I had assistance from gram & gramps, but just for a boost. When I get taller I'm going solo.

heh, heh, heh, i've got Grandpa Arnie eating out of the palm of my hand!
Mommy and Me. In from the cold.

My First Girlfriend!

2009-12-02T11:01:00.000-08:00

This is my first girlfriend, Harriet, she goes by Harrie for short. Our mommies are friends. Harrie is a cougar, she's exactly four months older than me. I am the man!

My First Thanksgiving

2009-12-02T10:59:00.000-08:00

Mommy and Aunt Karen like pictures of me better than they like me.

Who knew Great Grandma Mildred knew so many dirty jokes?

Maybe if I pretend to sleep I won't have to tell Grandma I've already heard these dirty jokes?

It worked!

At the end of a great Turkey day I was chillin with Grandpa.

Peace out, y'all.

Going Strong

2009-11-19T10:44:00.000-08:00

I last pulled out my feeding tube on Tuesday and since then I have been eating like a champ! Well, I was, but now I am just not that into it. I am having a good time, swinging in my swing, bouncing in my bouncy seat, looking in the mirror at myself and staring at the pacifier as daddy dangles it over my head.

Mom has been going to work a lot and I miss her when she's gone. I put on a brave front, I don't fuss or yell. Just giggle and smile when she gets home and cuddles me. On the upside Dad and I are getting to know each other. So far I really like him. If he could make milk he'd be my best friend!

Aunt Karen did a re-creation of Halloween without the poop so you can see how cute I was.

Getting My Beauty Rest

2009-11-11T21:44:00.000-08:00

Peaceful, e-z feeling

2009-10-31T11:17:00.000-07:00

Wow! I cannot believe I have been home for a week. I am adjusting well to downtown life. Thursday Grandma E and Grandpa Arnie came over and hung out with me while mom cleaned the house and did some work. ew! Once they left i finally had a chance to go outside for the first time. It was already dusk and Dad was out at a gig. I felt like i needed to take the baby bjorn for a test ride. Mom & I were the only two at the park and I wondered if she was a bad mother for having her kid out in the cold and the dark, but it was just so nice to get some fresh air. I was in awe of the sidewalk and the buildings and was all the passerby-ers tried to sneak peaks of me because I am so delicious.

Yesterday mom and dad took me to the pediatrician. We decided to go to SoHo Pediatrics because it was highly recommended and conveniently located. We saw Dr. Wong, she's really nice. There was also a third year medical student there named Ashish. He goes to NYU so mom gave him her card - maybe she can do his school's yearbook. That would be cool! So, the Dr. went well. The best part – no shots for me! Mom & Dad had two each, hahaha. They both received H1N1 and regular flu shots so they could protect me. They are nice! I have to go back in a couple of weeks and I will start my vaccinations then. Just like a regular baby! BI also have to follow up with a pulmonologist and a gastroenterologist, I better get an unlimited metro card.

After the Dr. mom took me to Scholastic to meet up with Gena. We went to lunch at Dos Caminos in SoHo while Dad went to work on cartoons at Starbucks. I was really good. Gena held me for a while. Then mom fed me and I managed to get poop on the front of my Halloween onesie. It was really an impressive feat. The best part was that the restaurant did not have a changing table. I think mommy is going to have to start making different choices about restaurants in the future.

We met up with Dad at Old Navy and headed up to my very first party! It was in the East Village with families from the mommy group. I was the smallest baby and all of the mommies and daddies wanted to hold me. I loved all of the attention! And the beermilk was delicious! Just kidding Grandma Harriet!

Today is the anniversary of the day Mom and Dad met four years ago in the East Village. To celebrate we are going to lay in bed all day, just like on their first date. Just kidding Grandma Harriet!

Permission for Landing, Granted

2009-10-22T21:02:00.000-07:00

What a night! I ate half my bottle for Daddy at 11pm. He tried to get me to take more but he eventually gave in and put in my NG tube. Dad took the 2am feeding and I was zonked so it was more tube time. Mommy tried at 5am and that was really inconvenient for me. I took 10-15ccs and then back to the pump. Same goes for 8am. Mom took off for work around noon, but not before the Drs. rounded. They discussed my case and with M&D's report decided that I'm ready to go home!

I am so excited! And I think this has a lot to do with everyone thinking of me and praying for me. And, of course, amazing genes. Well, except the ones I got that caused CDH. But, so far they have not found a genetic link, so I will stick with the theory that my chromosomes are spectacular.

Mom wants you to know that her "privacy" ban is lifted. We cannot wait to talk to you and I am looking forward to making your acquaintance (I am very formal and polite, thank you!). Of course, I do have to be careful because it is flu season, so break out your Purel!

Super Trooper

2009-10-21T20:47:00.000-07:00

I am so excited I can hardly sleep! Tonight Mom & Dad are staying over at the hospital with me. I have no monitors and it feels good to be out in the wild.

There are so many new things to look at in the "Launch Pad Suite" here with Mom & Dad! Well, the ceiling looks pretty similar, but I can see so much more of it from here. Especially when Mommy laid me down on the bed with her, I could see so far! And the lights are so bright, I love it!

With all of this activity I'm just starving. Delores fed me today and I finished my bottle with her - 60 out of 90 ccs. Mom fed me at 8pm. It was just the two of us so she let me start at 7:45. It took me an hour, but I actually drank the whole thing by the bottle. Don't tell the nurses it took me that long. Listen, I'm practically a free man and I want to feed on demand. That's right.

Mom & Dad learned how to pass my NG tube tonight. Luckily they practiced on a dummy. But I'm no dummy, I'm going to take all my food by mouth so next time I rip this tube out of my nose they won't have to put it back in. Wish me luck!

Dr. Fickle

2009-10-20T16:07:00.000-07:00

I'll be honest, I'm a little skeptical of my current attending. In the last two-and-a-half weeks she has given me three very different scenarios.

First she told me I needed to go to another hospital. So mom and dad asked around and went on a tour of NYU. They said it was okay, but how excited can you get over a hospital? At least it is closer to home.

Then last week she introduced the possibility of me having surgery to place a G-tube. That stands for gastric tube and instead of going through my nose there is a port directly from the inside of my stomach to the outside. Easy living! But, surgery, that does not sound appealing. I think we should wait a little longer. Maybe I will gain stamina quickly and be able to handle all my feedings all the time. I would rather have the NG (nasal-gastric) tube a little longer. Even though it annoys me and I pull it off sometimes. So the doctor said our surgeon - nice guy, lifesaver - would stop by to discuss it with us. Never saw him. Was he too busy? Did he not know the attending's plan? Dad thinks it is a scam to charge another few grand for surgery. Hard to say.

Now they are talking about teaching Mom and Dad how to pass my NG tube through my nose. The nurse is going to show them this tomorrow and then they will stay overnight at the hospital in a room alone with me. We are not sure whether or not there will be monitors, we have heard a few different versions of this. After our overnight together I go back to my crib and continue with my observation. I can't wait for Mom and Dad to see what I'm really like at night. All the nurses have told them I sleep through the night. hahahahaha.

Downtown

2009-10-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

The Columbia folks are talking about transferring me to a NICU with a lower acuity to work on my breathing and feeding issues. It is a step in the right direction, but not home as I had hoped. If it was just a feeding issue I could go home with my feeding tube. But, since my breathing is still occasionally tachypneic I need my peeps to keep their eye on me. I would like to check things out, but seeing as I'm constantly monitored I am going to send my parents to be the lookout. They are going to look at NYU, Beth Israel and St. Vincent's once they get the information from the social worker tomorrow. I am glad that they will be closer to home so they can spend more time with me and save money on cabs. That's more cash they have for me! I've already picked out the entertainment center I want for my crib. It's got lights and music, and most important - a mirror! Uggh, I am so cute it hurts.

You better work!

2009-10-13T21:29:00.000-07:00

Oy! I have been so busy lately! Between eating and sleeping it is a wonder how I have time to carry out the regular duties of my life. (Heh-heh, doody.) I want to write on my blog but it is so hard to use the laptop with everyone holding me.

Grandma Harriet came in from South Carolina and stayed with Aunt Karen for a whole week. We spent every morning and afternoon together in each other's arms. She sang to me and I cooed and smiled like it was my job.

Writing of which, I'm now able to get a job. Yep, I got my social security card in the mail and my birth certificate. Mom wants me to pay for college by getting some modeling work now. You know, in case I peak early I want to cash in on this time when I'm so gorgeous! But, I'll probably just get better looking every day. Watch out Matthew McCounaughey! Well, you will be old by the time I'm buff, but we might end up competing for the same Cougars.

But, the job I'm most proud of is my dad's. Today in the mail he received this month's Reader's Digest. His cartoon ran on p.50. He is so cool! I cannot wait to see what he draws for me.

Bottoms Up

2009-10-03T13:54:00.000-07:00

Thursday was a big day for me. I sat with Delores (rhymes with something dirty according to Seinfeld - I wouldn't know, I'm a baby) who is the feeding specialist here at the hospital. I was able to most of my feeding by bottle - almost 2.5 ounces. There was so little left I did not even bother with the tube for what was left.

Friday mommy breast fed me twice and I took over 1/3 of my feeding that way. Daddy says he has learned alot from me. Just keep your mouth open long enough and someone will put a nipple in it. I gotta go, almost time to open my mouth!

Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back

2009-09-29T20:45:00.000-07:00

Today sucked! I know, harsh language for a boy my age, but it just wasn't my day. Things were going just fine this morning when mommy called at 7am. Nurse Jamie had given me a bath and kept my happy through the night. But around 10am I just was not getting the attention I needed so I screamed as loud as I could. My punishment? Back on C-PAPP for me and no feeding by mouth today.

When Mommy spoke to the nurse today at 11am she scared the crap out of her by saying that I might have a collapsed lung. Mommy and Daddy rushed up to be my side. By the time they got here the Drs. had done an x-ray and found that my feeding tube was in the wrong position. It has now been repositioned, drats!

The highlight of my day was when the twins sharing my pod got an x-ray. Mom & Dad were told to clear the area. Mom said, "I'm not leaving my baby to be exposed to x-rays" and disconnected me from the C-PAPP and all my monitors. I only got to go a few feet down the hall, but it was amazing! I'm thinking tomorrow I'll rip out the feeding tube and get the heck out of here for a few hours.

Baby Steps

2009-09-28T15:46:00.000-07:00

This weekend was pretty good. They finally stopped trying the C-Papp on me. I just had a conversation with my surgery resident, Kevin. He said my breathing has been a bit faster without it, but since I am being a good boy and I took a 40cc feeding today by bottle he is willing to let it slide.

On a more important note, today I discovered something new - me! There's a mirror in my crib and I now see what everyone has been saying about me - I am adorable! Aunt Karen is teaching me to salsa dance and I am taking it up quite well for someone laying on his back.

Watching the Gators win is sure exhausting!

CPapp, C-Schmapp

2009-09-25T20:43:00.000-07:00

Every time the Drs. come around they talk about how well I'm doing. However, not one of them has mentioned my going home. It is really annoying me, as I think I'm ready. But, I guess if I need to stay here and be monitored than that is what I will do. No sense going home just to be rushed back here. After all, I have been living with an undeveloped lung for the past 8-9 months, I don't want to push myself TOO hard!

When mommy tells my previous nurses how well I am doing they are all amazed. "No CPAPP?", "Taking to the breast right away?", Tolerating all his feedings?" I hear them say. My nurse from last week, Tweetum, came to see me tonight. Mom had just finished nursing me and I was laying back enjoying the milk drunk when the milk came back up through my mouth and nose. It was hysterical! I acted pretty cool about it, not showing too much emotion, but mommy was just laughing. I managed to soak her pants pretty well. I think she was happy because more and more I'm turning into a regular baby and the conversation for parents is about body fluids and functions, not tests and medications.

Look Ma - One Tube!

2009-09-23T13:48:00.000-07:00

While others might cause traffic jams to protest Kadafi at the UN, you would not believe the commotion in my pod! Today they took my CPAPP out. They are still watching me closely because my breathing is tachypneic, that means that it is too fast. I have not noticed much of a change between things without the CPAPP, except I am much more comfortable. This afternoon I slept like a baby. I am now down to only the feeding tube, which has been transfered from my throat to my nose. This should give me a little more space to work on my bottle feeding. I am going to try breastfeeding today. Two weeks old and I am already getting a little boob action. Not bad for a guy my age!

Freedom

2009-09-22T15:24:00.000-07:00

Well, rumor was that my IV was coming out today. It was not being used for nutrition anymore, but the Drs. wanted to keep it in in case I did not tolerate my food. There was no talk of taking it out during rounds this morning and frankly, I've had enough. So, I ripped out everything: IV, CPAPP, feeding tube. The whole lot! The nurse wasn't so thrilled with that. She put back the CPAPP and the feeding tube. I showed her though, I pooped while I was sitting on her lap and it got all over her pants. hahahaha! I mean, I feel terrible about the whole incident.

Feeding Frenzy

2009-09-22T07:42:00.000-07:00

Now that I have been on breastmilk for 3 days my diapers are starting to get interesting. Today Aunt Karen and mommy changed me and I peed on them both and then a little poop to round it out. Then when daddy and mommy changed me later I repeated the performance. Now THAT is what little boys are made of!
Today mom fed me 25ccs of milk through a bottle. The rest went through my tube because I get so tired from all the work of eating.
All the doctors and surgeons who come to visit me say how well I'm doing. I try to be modest, but I am pretty awesome. Mom keeps asking when I can bust out of this place but the nurses and doctors are firm with their answer and are putting all of the pressure on my performance. It is tough being a baby! One of my surgeons, Kevin, did say that he feels my status has moved to judging my progress hour by hour to day by day. This made me feel a lot better, although it makes planning my fall very difficult!

Moving on Up

2009-09-19T20:04:00.000-07:00

Today was pretty exciting. Grandpa Arnie came to visit me first. Then Aunt Karen showed up and played me some Barry Mannilow music - don't tell Daddy! While the music was playing I got to put on my first outfit. It is from one of mommy's sorority sisters and it has lions on it. So comfy! Mommy came and held me again. While we were cuddling I was fed through my tube - this time 20ccs of breast milk. So satisfying for my tummy!
Later on in the day I got switched from a warming bed to a crib. I can't wait to show off my new digs to mom & dad tomorrow!

The First Supper

2009-09-18T15:06:00.000-07:00

Tonight is a big night for me. Two residents just came around and removed my arterial line. That came from my belly button and I've had it since my birthday. I have to say, even though I've had it since I was born I don't really miss it now that it is gone.
But, the most excitement is soon to come. My nurse, Adrianna, is preparing a delicious meal for me and is going to feed me through a tube that goes right to my belly. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but it beats that junk they've been giving me through IV! I love Adrianna! Thank you for giving me my first meal. (But mommy made it - she's cool too!)

Take a Deep Breath

2009-09-17T19:37:00.000-07:00

Thursday, September 17
Today I was extubated. That means they removed the breathing tube that went in my nose and went down my throat and kept air pumping into my lungs. It also means that I took my very first breath on my own! The bad news is that now I have this other source of oxygen that looks like one of those beer hats and it is noisy and wet and makes me cranky. Now when I'm upset I can cry and sound comes out.

Best-Case Scenario

2009-09-17T19:01:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, September 15, 2009
After holding stable conditions for the last few days I was able to undergo surgery early this evening. The surgery was a success and the hole in my diaphragm was repaired. I am on the road to recovery. My parents and me appreciate everyone's support over the last few days. I can't wait to meet everyone!

Our Little Jokester

2009-09-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

Thursday, September 10
Due to a condition called CDH (Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia) I was transferred to the MS-CHONY NICU where I wait for my levels to stabilize before undergoing surgery to correct my hernia.

Getting to Know Me, Getting to Know All About Me

2009-09-17T18:52:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, September 9
@ 4:15 p.m.
8 pounds, 2 ounces
20.5 inches
New York, New York