Glory to God in the Highest

Caleb made an appearance in a recent video for the Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma. The video was for their recent board meeting, and I got permission to share it with all of you! Caleb's part starts at 1:28.

Santa

We took Caleb to see Santa at Bass Pro Shop on Friday evening. He wasn't so sure about Santa but he did enjoy watching the toy cars with Daddy and carrying around a packet of chili mix that he grabbed while we were doing a little Christmas shopping.

And just because I've been having fun comparing Caleb's photos from last year and this year, here's his Santa photo from 2012. Sweet, little baby!

No Bandages!

Per doctor's orders, I removed Caleb's bandages this morning. Aside from a few brief glimpses during bandage changes at the surgeon's office, today was my first time to see Caleb's hand since surgery three and a half weeks ago. It looks pretty gross right now, but the swelling will go down soon. The scabs will flake off little by little over the next few days and weeks. I didn't ask the surgeon about the stitches, but I'm guessing they'll dissolve or fall out. At least one stitch already fell out today. Caleb returns to the surgeon in early January.

Happy to have his bandages off

Trying to figure out what's different

Before surgery

3.5 weeks after surgery

Hand Surgery Recovery #3

Caleb had his three week post-op appointment with the hand surgeon this afternoon. The surgeon is pleased with how Caleb's fingers are healing. He rewrapped them and told me to remove the bandages in three days. We'll then be able to start gently washing his hand., and the scabs will gradually start flaking off. Unless we have some concerns between now and then, Caleb won't go back to the surgeon for a check-up until early January,

He will be able to return to Mother's Day Out and the church nursery next week! I do worry about the other kids in MDO and nursery messing with his hand while it continues to heal, but I'm glad that we'll be able to return to our regular schedule.

Snow Day

OKC received around 4-4.5" of snow on Thursday afternoon and Thursday night. Work was cancelled for both Brad and me on Friday, so we spent the day at home with Caleb. We bundled up and went outside for a few minutes Friday morning. Caleb wasn't too interested in playing in the snow, but he was all smiles when Daddy brushed the snow off of his swing and let him go for a ride. 

Caleb's First Birthday

I just realized that I never posted anything about Caleb's birthday. We invited family and a few close friends over to the house to celebrate Caleb's big day. Most of my party photos are on our old computer, but here are a couple that I have on my new computer.

Rather than gifts, we asked Caleb's birthday party guests to bring donations for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of OKC. The house needed cleaning supplies, paper goods, snack foods, bedding, etc, and our family/friends were so generous! The cargo area of my Jeep was packed with donations! When Brad, Caleb and I delivered the donations to the house, we had the opportunity to meet with the executive director. She took us on a tour, and we discussed some volunteer opportunities. Brad and I are still discussing how we want volunteer, fund raise, and collect donations for the local house. We'll be sure to share more as we recruit our family and friends for help!

After the party guests left and Caleb went to bed, Brad and I spent some time reminiscing about the last year. As we were talking about all the wonderful nurses Caleb had, I received a call on my cell phone from an unknown number. I usually ignore those calls, but I went ahead and answered. It was Caleb's first nurse! She was in the delivery room with us and took amazing care of Caleb during his first few hours before he was transferred to a different hospital's NICU. She also went out of her way to make Brad and I feel at ease during a very uneasy time. Her call on Caleb's birthday was so unexpected but so appreciated! I still cry every time I think about it!

The day after his birthday, we took cookies to the NICU where he spent his first ten days. We got to see a couple of his nurses and doctors while we were there. It was a great way to end a wonderful first birthday weekend!

Hand Surgery Recovery #2

Caleb had his two-week post-op appointment today. His bandages were removed, so it was my first opportunity to see his "released" fingers. A resident removed the bandages, and I think she may have pulled a little too hard on the last layer of bandages. His fingers started bleeding a little, and Caleb started screaming! She left the room, and I spent several minutes trying to console my very inconsolable child. He was so mad and obviously in some pain. The surgeon returned and worked on the bandages a little more. He told the resident that the skin graft had been "disturbed". Maybe that's because she pulled too hard a few minutes before. The surgeon rewrapped Caleb's fingers and said to return in 10 days. He said he expects Caleb's hand to be fine next week, so maybe that "disturbed skin graft" isn't a big deal.

He can't go to Mother's Day Out or the church nursery until at least after his next appointment. But some good news... his skin graft site on his groin is healing well! We dont have to keep that area bandaged anymore! And Caleb can take real baths now! No more sponge baths! We will have to keep his bandaged hand dry, but I'm so glad I can bathe the rest of his body now!