HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

We hope you had a spooktacular Halloween!! The Love Guru

Love, Marcie, The Love Guru, Mommy's Little Monster & Karma

P.S. Thanks so much for the awesome chair Katie, Jesse & Jesse Jr. He will grow out of it before we know it!!

Bath & Doctor Appointment

Ray San got his first bath at home yesterday. He really was not quite sure what was going on. He screamed at first and then was okay with it and then screamed when he was getting dried off. Once he got dressed he was happy though. Here's a couple pictures from his bath.

After his bath, we were off to Virginia Mason in Federal Way for Ray San's first visit with his pediatrician Dr. Fox. He was a really nice doctor and seemed knowledgeable of preemies and their development. My mom would think he's a little too young probably, but I'm pretty happy with him so far. We go back in a week for a weight gain appointment. At this appointment, he got a thorough exam and everything checked out. Dr. Fox was amazed at really how well he was doing for being as early as he was. Ray San weighed 6 lbs. 13 oz. and was 19.75" long. He's growing like a weed. I unfortunately forgot to take pictures from his first appointment so I will have to get them from his second.

All things are still good with him being home. He is still a fairly easy child. He fusses when he's hungry and that's about it. It is so nice not having to go see him in the hospital.

I think we are ready for visitors now. If you want to visit, you are more than welcome. Just call or e-mail me (mswallachlaw@hotmail.com) and we can work out the details. Ray San is very excited to meet those of you he hasn't met yet and to see those of you he met in the hospital.

Home Sweet Home

Like I said, so far so good with Ray San.

Here is Ray San's room in the NICU. We were room 9 for almost our entire stay. We moved over to room 9 when Ray San was about two weeks old. It sure was nice being in our own room. We had places to sit and we could stay and visit with him much longer.

Here are some of our favorite staff members. Unfortunately, not all of our favorites were around when Ray San was discharged. We had so many fantastic doctors, nurses and staff. We are thankful for their wonderful care. They were able to get him to weigh 3002 (6 lbs. 9.9 oz.) for him homecoming =]Here are pictures of his homecoming and first night home.

Grandma Pat (Grandma Kathy in the background)

Great-Grandma Sako

Great-Grandma OrmeGrandpa Ray

Great-Auntie Ina (I think that's the proper title)

An old one with Grandma Kathy feeding Ray San

The proud Grandparents =]

His cute going home outfit =]

Finally home in his own bed

Another Quickie Post

WE ARE HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We brought Ray San home last night around 5:00 p.m. So far things have been great. We are so happy to have our little man home. I will try to post some pictures of him leaving the NICU tonight.

Ray is home with him right now and I came in to the office to try to get some last minute things finished up. What a good father =]

Wednesday Ray San has his first appointment with his pediatrician. We are excited to meet him and hear what he has to say about our little boy.

Thank you for all of your well wishes, thoughts & prayers. They really helped Ray San along on his bumpy NICU journey. We could not have done this without all of you. We love you all!!

One More Day

Just a quick post for now.

Ray San gained weight last night but won't be coming home until tomorrow... hopefully. I guess they just want to make sure that he gains again. At least that is what I was told today. I'm getting so impatient now since I know he is SO close. Keep fingers crossed and pray to the weight gain gods again. We need all the good wishes and things so we can get Ray San home with us. It has been 101 days and that is plenty long for me.

100 Days & Not Counting!!

Today Ray San turned 100 days old. He's so grown up now =] He's also weighing in at 2915 (6 lbs. 6.8 oz.). It is amazing to see how big he's getting. Remember how much smaller he was then the astronaut bear? Now look how much smaller the bear is!!

We got fantastic news today. If Ray San gains weight tonight, he's coming home TOMORROW!!!!!! We are so excited, but we aren't doing our happy dance until we are actually at home. Since it is a big possibility that he is coming home, we got a picture with nurse Laura because she doesn't work on the weekends. We will miss her.When we got there, Ray had just fed Ray San. Ray San fell asleep and so did Ray. Like father like son. Grandpa Bruce also held Ray San for the first time. He was still sleeping.Here's some more pictures.

Nothing else really new to report. Just pray to the weight gain gods =]

Steady Progress.

Ray San is holding steady in his progress. He's still gaining weight and eating when he wants. He has been taking about 75 to 80 ml. each feeding which is about 2.5 oz. He's 2860 (6 lbs. 4.9 oz.) now and is a little over 18" long.

Some good news I received today is that he can go home even if he is still on caffeine. I guess they are just waiting to make sure that he really is ready to come home. Now I feel like him being home with us really is just around the corner.

Apparently Ray San was pretty fussy this morning so his nurse broke out a swing for him. He loved it. When I got there after work around 5:30 p.m. he was happily swinging away.

Here's some of his new pictures.

Grandma & Grandpa tag teaming the changing of the diaper =] Ray bottle fed him for the first time. Here he is trying to burp him... not strangle him!!

We also went to our friend's house for their daughters birthday. We got to hold and love on Ray San's two new friends Anderson and Davis. I know I've mentioned them before, but here are a couple of better pictures of them. Check out the hair on Anderson. They don't have to do anything to make it stand up like that. Oh and to top it off, he has frosted tips that are natural as well.

Sunday I went to brunch at Ivar's Salmon House up in kind of the U District. It was fun to get together with some of my best girlfriends. We chatted the afternoon away and got ridiculously full on delicious food. Here's the group of us (Me, Peabody, Brittany, Amy & Elizabeth) =]

Keep those fingers and toes crossed for Ray San coming home this weekend. That would be awesome in my book!!