Toby Robert Conger

Toby’s jumped to 15.6 pounds – weight gain is nothing unusual for him.  However, we have a new development – teething!  No bumps are visible yet, but he has all the classic signs except fever.  Also, he’s laughing and giggling now.  Hope to have video of it posted soon.

I got my final RSV shot today.  So soon, I’ll be making a few road trips to let y’all see how big I am!

I can grin, laugh, and hold my head up all at the same time!

It’s all official… I ain’t a little feller no more!  I’ve got more creases and rolls than a cotton shirt that needs ironin’!

It’s hard to believe that 4 weeks ago tomorrow we were bringing Toby home. Now he’s almost 7 pounds. Per doctor’s strong recommendation, we’ve kept him at home and isolated except for a trip to the pediatrician. Tomorrow we take him for the 2nd pediatric visit and to get his monthly RSV shot.
He’s doing very well. We’ve struggled a bit to get a handle on how and when is best to feed him to keep his tummy happy. Safe to say he’s teaching us!.
Other than that there’s nothing new to report. Thanks for all the e-mails of support!

Well, it’s official – Toby was discharged from the hospital Monday, December 31!

We “roomed in” Sunday night at the hospital. A hospital room was used like a hotel room and we spent the night with no monitors, nurses, or interruptions. Of course, we could hardly sleep for excitement. Monday came, the neonatologist did one last examination and visited with us, then we hit the road.

We’re getting settled in to a schedule this week, and we’re somewhat sleep deprived, but it will get better when we figure out what we’re doing! (Nothing prepares one like reality.)

Regarding visitors to see Toby, the neonatologist has warned us sternly to keep him away from just about everything – including visitors, for now. RSV season is upon us and doesn’t end until March. (RSV is a highly contagious, very serious respiratory virus.) Since Toby’s lungs are just now getting the capacity to support him unassisted, RSV would put him right back in the hospital and require a ventilator. Even we have to wash up every time we hold or handle him, and when one of us goes out to a public place (Walmart, for example) we toss our clothes into the hamper and take a shower. RSV can hang around on surfaces for several hours. Toby is getting a very expensive shot per month to reduce the severity of RSV if he gets it, but nothing can prevent it but keeping him isolated.

So, for now, we’re asking for no visitors until further notice (probably March.)

The journey to remove Toby’s nasal canula (supplemental oxygen) has been unfolding over the past few weeks. The nursing staff had tried to remove Toby’s canula several times over this past week or so, only to see his oxygen saturation drop substantially. It was unknown whether the drop was due to his nasal congestion, swollen nasal passages or just immature preemie lungs. After our visit this past last Sunday, the nurse tried removing him from his canula again and this time, Toby was able to maintain his oxygen saturation! There has only been a few times that Toby has needed to go back on his canula, but not for very long.

Today Toby weighed 6 lbs., 4 oz and is 19 inches long. His feedings (every 4 hours) are now at 70 mL (a little over 2 oz., each.)

Since the supplemental oxygen was the last hurdle to conquer before discharge, you know what that means – time to come home! The doctors have set a tentative “room-in” date of December 30th or 31st with discharge on January 1st, 2008. Toby still needs to get his immunizations and his circumcision at the end of this week. The doctor wants to see how all of that goes before the discharge date is “officially set.”

Having said all of that, we are thrilled and excited that we might be able to start the New Year off right – with our little boy at home with us!

Merry Christmas to everyone! Toby is “officially” 37 weeks gestational age or 10 weeks corrected age. He’s now 5 lbs., 13.5 oz. and 18 1/2 inches long! No word yet about discharge dates since he’s still on a tiny bit of oxygen and the doctors really want him to go home without it.

Hope this Christmas finds you and yours healthy & happy. All of our thanks for the well wishes, thoughts and prayers for our little boy. Have a very, Merry Christmas!