Mountain-bound to Maubisse

Trouble on two wheels... 

Since a friend and colleague was melting in front of our eyes (he's an East Coaster in some desperate need of 'fall weather'), a group of us decided to pack up and head to the mountains for the long weekend last week.  Here's three things I learned from that trip:

1. Friends don't let friends travel with toddlers alone
2. Yes, we can in fact survive an entire weekend without nannies
3. I want a motorcycle again

Now let's see, where could they have gotten this from? 

On Friday morning (somewhere between 09h00-11h00) we finally set off, the (big) boys on motorbikes, and the (small boys) and girls in two cars - which meant Luka and I were headed off solo - armed with a bucket load of Cheerios, a mountain of Marie biscuits and an iPod full of nursery rhymes for the 2-4 hour drive (roads are terrible, and people's speeds vary so much it is hard to get a good estimate at any given time of how long a particular course would actually take you).

The drive for us was uneventful - Luka fell asleep for 2 hours and I relished in the enjoyable (terrible roads notwithstanding) long drive, by myself, with a sleeping angel, good music and cool weather to match the winding roads up the hillsides.  We briefly stopped for lunch (read: chasing 3 boys around a local restaurant filled with dogs and other interesting things, and trying skillfully to wee in a less-than-stellar bathroom with said boys in tow), and arrived in Maubisse at the Pousada shortly after lunch time.

"My Supreme Court Justice-at-lunch impersonation"

At the Pousada we were thrilled to find that we actually had rooms (apparently reservation doesn't mean much at this destination-with-a-view) and cold beers soon ensued.

The rest of the weekend was spent hanging out on our porch where they boys played (and Luka tried to escape either through the door, or by climbing over the strategically placed cooler boxes at the entrance to the porch).  The guys went motorbiking, we did some sight seeing, and generally just chilled out.  Evenings were spent drinking copious quantities of wine, debating the (then) upcoming American election, and all things toddler-hood.  Very nice to sit on a porch in cool fall-like air with awesome friends. 

Kaito showing up the Timorese kids with his skills

"I'm telling you, I KNOW that's where
they hide the cookies...just follow me!"

"Whoa dad!"

"Faster! Faster!"

Cuddles

Cuddle time...

After a tumultuous time that included Chris and Luka having to leave Dili early with a bout of bronchiolitis and a chest infection, leaving mommy behind to work on the parliamentary elections in Timor-Leste - we are finally reunited in Scarborough.  Admittedly it was rough going for a few days as Luka got reacquainted with mommy - and we've been dealing with some separation anxiety every since...however, things are on the mend and we are finally settling in and slowing down.  Here is Luka enjoying his latest scheme: wake up at 05h30 and cry until one of my parents lets me sleep on their chest until 08h00 :)  Bad parenting?  Be my guest, try and resist this....

Much better way to wake up

hi mamma!

Luka's first dive lesson

Luka's favorite PADI SCUBA Instructor had him in the pool for his first 'confined water' lesson.  

Lesson number 1: 'Always blow bubbles'.   

http://youtu.be/w8Mndb5tNsk

Lesson 2:  Have a GREAT time.

Bottle Battle Round #6 - Game, Set and MATCH

Okay, perhaps it is not entirely a fair fight, and yes, it might to a large extent be due only to the fact that we still have a longer attention span than Luka - but, dare I say - we WON one!

Luka and Daddy settling in for a sundowner

On Friday the 16th of September, Luka the Legend and Daddy the Darraigner stepped onto Central Court at 84 Hilltop, Scarborough - for the final match of the Bottle Battle tournament.  Armed with a few solid wins under his belt, Luka may have underestimated the resolve of a father under strict instructions from his beloved wife to 'do or die' (well, it wasn't that dramatic, but not like breastfeeding Luka while I am at work is an option for Chris, so pretty much).

After the initial warm-up shots were tossed around while standing and bouncing in the position most likely to through Luka for a loop - it finally happened - he latched onto that Latex nipple like there was no tomorrow and gulped down the entire feed in what seemed to be a single shot (what came back up from his persistent reflux problem is another problem, and not one only related to this form of feeding).

One cannot but congratulate the challenger for the courage, determination and skill to finally take the title in the Bottle Battle Cup 2011!  (Let's hope mommy fairs equally well in the 'Solids Invitational'.

"See, it's not that bad!"

Day 4-5 Update message to family

This is the last installment of the letters sent to family in the first few days after Luka was born, hope you enjoy the pictures.

Luka gets his drip out!

Dear friends and family, it is 23:15, and I have to be up at 03:00 to express breakfast for Luka, so this will be brief.

We had a very good day at the hospital today, apart from a bit of jaundice that the little man is still struggling with, he had his drip removed completely (since he is eating so well and does not require the glucose supplements anymore) which not only makes for a much healthier-looking baby, but also a lot easier to maneuver!  He is up to 18ml feedings of breastmilk through the tube every 2 hours, another 2ml per feed and he will have reached what is considered a 'full feed' for his size.  He had a marvelous attempt at the breast this morning, and stayed on for at least 5 minutes - we are sure he will start at full throttle as soon as he has a bit more energy.  The light for the jaundice treatment also seems to be exhausting to him.

'Kangaroo Care' - proven to enhance development
of any newborn, but of preemies specifically.

Doctors and nurses continue to be amazed at his progress, and Chris and I still sit with him for the majority of each day providing skin-on-skin care to ensure his healthy and happy development.  Each of these moments are very precious.  Attached 3 quick photos - I will try and work on a more accessible means of relaying news about Luka tomorrow and updateeveryone soon but I know I will be in big trouble if there is not an update in my little sisters' inbox when she wakes up!

Lots of love and thank you for the continued love and support.

Chris, Susan and Luka

While under the lights for jaundice, I caught Luka pulling
this funny face that looks like the cutest grin in the world.

Day 2 Update

Dear family,

First cuddle with Daddy - 23 March

Our roller coaster ride of sudden parenthood continues.  Luka had a splendid day on the 24th of March, his first full second day.  This is something for which we are grateful although also awfully aware will not always be the case. 
 Briefly:

1. He was still being treated for jaundice (normal levels for someone of his and even older gestational age), but the last test last night showed him below the levels needing radiation, so perhaps if that is sustained in this morning's test, the blue light and silly sunglasses can come off;
2. He is definitely his daddy's boy - being HUNGRY all the time, which is good.  Most of the preemies in the room with him are many weeks ahead of him and still struggling with milk.  Luka has an extraordinarily strong sucking reflex, so much so that we have decided, against earlier intentions, to give him a pacifier to stimulate that reflex - he has been informed that it isonly because he is so early that he is getting away with that... more importantly, his tummy seems to be tolerating food well enough that he has already been fed exclusively on my expressed breast milk as of less than 24-hours.  Yesterday morning while Chris was holding him, he decided that the tube down his throat was no longer needed, and yanked it out right from his stomach.  Unfortunately for him, he still needs the tube to feed, but it is now in his nose, leaving his mouth free to suckle and try the breast. Remember, our milestones now come in minutes and mililiters, we we started out with 2ml every 6 hours, then 4 hours, and as of last night, 2 hourly.  The most amazing feat for us yesterday however was when the little guy got a great latch on the breast and even suckled a few times - which most of the staff could not believe a 31-weeker would do, so we will continue to try him on the breast first, and then 'top-up' with expressed milk.  He was weighed last night and will likely have dropped a few grams, which again is not uncommon for any baby, but more so for preemies - we are positive that his little appetite will put the grams back on quickly.  
3. Breathing and heart rate remains strong, and more importantly, constant.  While he was on the CPAP machine his HR was a little low, so we figured he was trying to beat his grandma Julie the marathon runner...but now that he has no respiratory assistance whatsoever, his HR is in normal range. 
4. We continue to spend about 10+ hours at the hospital, and provide as much skin-to-skin care (kangaroo care) as possible with alternating between my and Chris' bare chest - I told Chris the amazing thing is now that he gets to help 'grow' Luka for us, and boy oh boy does the little guy love that furry chest....(see photo of the day attached).
5. Luka's brain ultrasound came back negative for bleeding - this is a test they do at a few days, then a week and then 3 weeks to make sure there is no bleeding on the brain - so far so good.
6. He is definitely more alert, opening his eyes from time to time, and you can see the concentration as he tries to focus them - we will discuss with the doctors when an appropriate time would be to start introducing charts/pictures for him to focus on

Chris and I continue to process what has happened, I do struggle from time to time with emotions and going to the shopping center yesterday looking for nursing bras might have been a bit much after 48 hours.  My physical condition is great, no complications or concerns so far, my milk came in Day 2, so I am expressing everything Luka needs.  Now I can focus on getting Luka healthy.

Chris has been a rock throughout, he found us a lovely house to rent extremely near the hospital that will make our lives a lot better than living in the Travel Lodge, or one of the dingy 'hostels' frequented by hospital staff.  We believe this will give us time to heal and bond and process the whole thing, while being so close to the hospital.  The hardest part of course is leaving Luka behind every night, but we know he is in much more capable hands at the moment than even we can provide him.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding - and thank you also to everyone for being so sensitive to our request for privacy, it is amazing how we have almost entirely kept the news within our small family circle for now.  We just activated an Internet 3G device that will allow us more regular communications from the hospital during the day, and will start spreading the news a bit wider today.  

Please keep Luka in your prayers, and than you for your love and understanding and support.

Love

Chris, Susan and Luka