Home Sweet Home

Friday afternoon we received the sweetest news. Landon had gained enough weight and was doing well enough to go home!! We were so excited and anxious. I had spent almost 10 days in the hospital focused on our little miracle and now we were going home to real life. I forgot there was a regular ole' world out there :) Matt was home getting some work done when I got the news. He was so excited when I called and told him "come and get us daddy" he said that the feeling must be similar to getting the call that I was in labor (an experience we didn't get to have) After we finished up a few last minute things we were off. It was so strange to be at home with Landon, overwhelming at first, especially with so much that wasn't ready for this including mom and dad. :) 2 days in now we are formulating a routine and settling in to our new lives as a family, and loving it! It is still strange to look back and remember the last week and a half it is all such a blur. God has blessed us so much and we are very thankful. Praise the lord for all he has given us. The thank yous continue to all who have prayed for us, thought of us and who have generously given meals and gifts to us. We appreciate it more that you can know. Here are some pictures of the big event and our time at home.

He wasn't cooperating very well, I figure its a new form of kung fu...

I thought hew looked so crunched and uncomfortable in his car seat. He wasn't too phased though

Our new buddy the recliner!

I got this picture from the hospital when they were getting rid of some records, I always thought it looked like someone had just pulled a finger or pacifier from Matt's mouth...

Turns out it was genetic :)

Progress!!!

Landon took the liberty of pulling out his NG tube yesterday morning. After brief moments of disappointment and worry we decided along with his doctor to attempt using a bottle every other feeding instead of the NG tube. Using a bottle is slightly less stressful and energy consuming for him. So officially for 2 days he has been taking the required amounts and sometimes more by bottle and breastfeeding every other feeding! Our goal now is weight gain, he is weighed daily, I anxiously await 6am to find out how he did. I must admit, even though it has been stressful to hope he can eat enough to avoid replacing the NG tube, it has been delightful to have our little boy free of monitors and tubes! :) (his doctor discontinued his oxygen monitor today) Here are a few pictures of the fun of a tube free cutie :)

Before our tricky boy pulled his tube

After :)

My friend and co-worker Kristi, we've had fun having her be our nurse :)

First Bath

Today we got to give Landon his first bath! He was somewhat unimpressed but he is clean now :) Plus he got to wear yet another outfit.... At this rate we'll run through his wardrobe pretty quickly :) Oh well we have to use it all before he grows!! I was so glad to be able to give his first bath. Our nurse Amy was so nice to be our photographer so we could all be in the pictures! Thanks Amy!!!

Landon's Great Escape!

Yesterday morning (Saturday) Landon was dismissed from the special care nursery. This means he gets to hang out in the regular hospital room with us!! We have been able to hang out as a family and it has been so fun. Landon continues to do excellent, he is eating well and getting feedings through a tube to be sure that he gets enough to eat without wearing his little self out. Yesterday he had an IV and bilirubin light for jaundice, as of now we have shed these things and he has his feeding tube and a monitor on his foot to keep an eye on his heart rate and oxygen levels. He's almost just a normal ole baby :) Dr. Jantz (Landon's doctor) says he looks stronger everyday and that our assignment this week is for Landon to eat and grow! Whew! I think we can handle that. Below are some pictures from his first days hanging out as a family.

Landon has quite the cute crib thanks to mommy's friends at the hospital

You can barely see it but that is his first outfit :)

Thanks for the hat uncle Andy!!

October 4th

October 4th started at 5:08 am, we knew that my placenta was in the wrong place and had been planning a cesarean delivery for late October to safely deliver before the risk of bleeding was too high. God had other plans, at 5:08 I woke up with some bleeding and we rushed to the hospital. After a long day of waiting and watching the decision was made soon after 6:00pm to deliver by emergency c-section. God was truly with us and the hospital staff all day. Our baby looked good on the monitor so we were blessed to not be afraid for him any more that we already were. Matt was able to come to the operating room with me and sit next to me and hold my hand during the surgery.

Our baby was born legs first, first they announced that one leg was out, then a rear end. Dr. Webb asked,  "Tera? Do you want to know?" Of course the answer was Yes! The next thing we heard was "There are boy parts" :) A BOY! We were happy and I was more surprised than I thought I would be, I guess I thought he was a girl more than I realized.

Landon was a little stunned from his early arrival but recovered quickly and was soon pink and crying loudly. We were thrilled that he looked so healthy being almost 6 weeks early. He hasn't let us down since.

Following are pictures of the first few days of Landon Matthew Stucky's life. We will try to update things as we can but it is amazing the time warp you fall into when you have a baby. Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers for us both during pregnancy and the past few days. Your prayers have been felt and seen, we are truly blessed.

Starting the day of unknowns (can't believe we remembered to take a picture)

ready to meet me in the OR

5 Pounds 10 Ounces and 19 Inches long

first family photo

Matt showed me this picture in the OR and I thought Landon looked just like Matt

Landon and his CPAP, he needed extra oxygen and air flow to start out

Matt's first time holding Landon

Grandpa Tony drawing Landon's lab work, we promised Landon that Grandpa Tony is usually more fun :)

I know right?!? He's the cutest baby ever!!! (we've been very good stereotypical first-time parents) :)

Landon is still in the special care nursery and doing great, we are planning that he will be able to come to our room soon. I was dismissed as a patient on Thursday evening but we get to stay in our hospital room until Landon goes home. Here's hoping I can update the blog before then :)