We are marching to Pretoria...

Or flying at least.  Night before our first flight since arriving in Cape Town from Darwin with Luka on May 4th.  It is absolutely insane to even begin to think how we managed that trip with more than twice the luggage (including a printer, newly arrived car seat, and clothes for two seasons), and only half the infant...

Luka currently weighs roughly 4.2kg, to think when we came here, it was only just over 2.5kg...amazing.  More amazing is that he packs nearly as much luggage as we do - hm, how does that happen?

In other news, we were sad to see Grandma and Grandpa Serjak depart yesterday.  What a splendid trip we all had together, certainly one for the books.  We'll have to work on the next time they get to see Luka - the way he's going, he might be walking by Christmas ;)

5am Musings from a hospital bed

They say you find out what real fear, worry and pain is when your child is sick or in trouble (yes Pa, I know, I know....after all I put you through), and I am coming to realixe that first-hand. While we anticipated yesterday's surgery (unlike the last adventure) and even came properly prepared (I am donning my pj's afterall), watching your infant being wheeled into surgery is not something you can ever be quite prepared for.

We are close to going home again, and as I lie here in Room 6A with Luka asleep in my arms, I cannot help but reminisce about some of the realities and milestones of this experience.

I put Luka to bed in a infant incubator in the neo-natal intensive care unit at 6PM, by the time we got back from dinner at 8pm, he had been moved outside the brightly-lit, always-buzzing humdrum of this most sacred spot where special people care for our special babies. Feeding him I looked in on all those tiny babies and realized that Luka will likely never be in the NICU again...heaven forbid he comes to hospital again, he will go to the pediatric ward.

By 2am I changed and fed him in the nursery, and by 5am he is lying withme in bed, fast asleep and peaceful. What an experience you have given us, perhaps enough for a while?

Update: Luka out of surgery

Luka is recovering after the procedure, he came out of thater wailing, like Chris said that anaethetist has a 'soft touch'. He was only interested in one thing (okay, two) and is now lying peacefully in my arms. He is in some pain but cannot have any pain killers for another three hours unfortunately.

The doctor explained that all went well, but that this sack was almost as big as the last one, so good thing we fixed it now.

No word yet on whether we get to go home tonight or not, either way, hope this is it for a while.

Update: Daddy wheels Luka into OR

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Here(nia) we go again - Luka goes back under the knife

Despite expecting this, it was with some disappointment that we confirmed via ultrasound yesterday that Luka does indeed have an inguinal hernia on the right side of his groin as well.   This means only one thing - back to hospital and under the knife tomorrow for yet another inguinal herniotomy.  Fortunately, unlike the last time this hernia is not strangulated, and is therefore a much less complicated surgery, but surgery under general anesthesia nonetheless.

We check in at 12pm tomorrow, but poor Luka is not allowed to eat after 8am - and guess who has to try and explain that to the growing little boy!  We are keeping our fingers crossed that he can be done shortly after 12pm and that there are no complications.  Unfortunately due to his premature birth it is highly  likely he will be kept overnight again, fortunately his parents do in fact learn from past experience and will be traveling with the requisite overnight attire this time.

Sorry little man - hopefully this is it for a while...

June 18 - Practicing my self-soothing techniques under daddy's
watchful eye.

Luka and his grandparents

Grandma Julie meeting Luka for the first time, June 9 2011

On June 8th Luka's grandma and grandpa arrived all the way from California to spend a few weeks getting to know him.  While grandma Julie was rooting for a girl the whole time, all resistance melted away when she laid eyes on their third grandson for the first time.

Luka showing off for grandma and grandpa

For the past ten days it has been such a pleasure having them around the house where my way too energetic father-in-law has occasionally been spotted between errands, dish washing, breakfast makings, light fixing, trash hauling, and a myriad of other useful activities.
As for grandma?  She declared herself the chief baby-holder to free Chris and I to go about getting some things done.  As my dear friend Stacy (also a new mom) recently mentioned to me, watching our families with our children is an amazing experience, particularly realizing that someone else can love your child almost as much as you do!

We look forward to welcoming Luka's Ouma and Oupa back on Saturday for a combined family-affair!

Hands down my single most favorite photo of the
in-laws in nearly fourteen years together!

Luka turns 3 months

Luka models a knitted cap that his great grandmother Ouma
Susan knitted for his mommy more than thirty years ago.
Like him and his daddy, mommy and Ouma also shared a
birthday...30 September.

Luka is three months old today, and tips the scales at 4.12kg/9lbs 1 oz which means he has caught up to a normal weight for his corrected age (3.5 weeks old), despite his premature birth. Happy birthday little guy!