the foco dad
a stay-at-home dad muses about raising his two children
Category: NICU
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I decided to post another original entry from our NICU journal. This is unedited from one year ago today. Day 13 – February 12, 2014 – Wednesday London had her PICC line pulled today. As well as her IV. So she is a lot freer today. Tomorrow is London’s 2nd head ultrasound. Today was a…
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One of the most important things Kate and I did in the frantic, scary days following London’s birth was to write down what we did, even if it was watching some television to unplug for a minute. I am so thankful we have a journal from that time and from most of London’s NICU stay.…
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Did it go by fast? That’s what everyone asks when we tell them London is turning one this week. Like all new parents we have been very busy this last year. That’s what happens when you have kids. Life speeds up as you nurture another life. Everything takes longer from getting out the door to…
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I was filling up a growler at the Bull and Bush when I received word that London no longer needed oxygen support. Tears immediately filled my eyes as I stared at the text message from Kate that delivered the news. I tried to compose myself as I signed the bill and took my growler, noticing…
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The day of London’s discharge from the NICU I brought the Nikon to take some higher res photos of her room and its surroundings. Although we never wanted a baby in the NICU, it did become a home for us after three and a half months. I suppose anywhere your baby has to stay…
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Right before falling asleep last night I was scanning Twitter and I learned that yesterday was World Prematurity Day. The March of Dimes Twitter account, which I follow, had shared images of city landmarks all across the world that were lit up purple, the color of support for preemies. I don’t know how I missed…
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A few nights ago London, who started sleeping through the night months ago, woke up at 2 am. Admittedly, I was a bit angry at first. Aren’t we over this part? The answer most nights is yes, but that did not make it any easier to get up and feed her. After I put London…
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Back in 2007 I had a troubling sickness. It started with migraines, then it transitioned to the frightening Bell’s Palsy, and whatever I had did not stop there. I developed iritis (inflammation of the iris, which makes the whites of your eyes blood red and the photophobia can be unforgiving). I had partial hearing loss in one ear. Doctors ran…
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I am here to be honest with you. Having a preemie is such a deal both in cost and effort. Think of all the deals you have come across in your life. Think of the deals you expect to encounter in the future. Let your imagination run wild. I really doubt the deal you have…
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The day after London came home from the NICU we took her on a brief outing, a trip to Target. We were both quite scared. I had hand sanitizer in my pocket, in the diaper bag, and probably in the stroller. As most new parents move about, we were slow, paranoid about every baby carrying tool…
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When I was much younger I watched the show Rescue 911. Hosted by William Shatner, the show reenacted real-life emergencies and spliced in interviews from people who were present when the aforementioned emergencies occurred. At the end of the reenactments, the rescuers who saved the individual/s in need of help, were reunited with the people they…
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When someone first suggested that I am suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) I stifled my disagreement and listened, doubtfully, to their explanation. A few minutes later, when they were done speaking, I was nearly in agreement with them. Prior to this conversation, having PTSD was not something I thought I could get. Naively, I…
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Last year, Kate and I were in Playa del Carmen for a wedding during the first weekend in November. I was thinking of this trip just last week and I momentarily refused to believe it had almost been a year since Kate and I strolled along on the beach during a midday thunderstorm. That walk and…
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I probably should have done this sooner, but if you’re just now finding this blog via a tweet, Facebook share, or web search, then you should know that it all started with a series of posts detailing London’s birth. These posts are the foundation of this blog and, for their author, the hardest to write…
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As badly as I wanted London to leave the NICU I was also terrified of some of the things she would lose when we walked out of that hospital. 24/7 caretakers. A team of RNs, NPs, and MDs just feet away. The opportunity to talk to one of them whenever we wanted to and to…
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I had wanted to sit down and write this on London’s actual 8 month birthday, but I’ve been very busy this last week and a half painting a bathroom on the main level of my house. This was no ordinary paint job either. The primary color, Loyal Blue, from Sherwin-Williams had a really hard time…
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It’s been a busy week around here and I’ve not found the time to sit down and write a new post, for which I have some guilt and disappointment. This is the toughest thing about keeping a blog like this. There is so much material to delve into, but not enough time to do the…
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I don’t know what else to call it, but NICU bragging. It’s an odd thing, something Kate and I became aware of while London was in the NICU, but something that really reared its ugly head once we were out and could take London to public places. As emails went out to notify friends and family…
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Two weeks after London was born I was foraging through the refrigerator for anything edible. We hadn’t been able to go grocery shopping since Kate was pregnant. I was not hopeful about what I would find, but why not try? If I found something, then maybe I would cook a meal at home. At this…
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London is a remarkably happy baby. She tolerates so much and cries very little. We hear this from nearly everyone London meets. I tell them I have a theory. For the first 3.5 months of London’s life she had medical professionals treating her around the clock. In addition to the diaper change, temperature check, and…