Toby Robert Conger

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.)