18 months

I can't believe the boys are 18 months old.  ?!?!?  They are learning and growing and changing constantly.  I am trying so hard to cherish every little moment, because I know this is the only time they will ever be this age, and it's going by at lighting speed.  I am so thankful for these two little munchkins.  My heart and life are forever changed because of you two!

Here's a little of what they are up to these days...

Isaac at 18 months:
-29 lbs!!!
-Still gets PT every Wednesday with Miss Mandy, and TEIS on Thursdays with Ms. Suzanne.  But I don't think you'll qualify for either service much longer because you are doing so well catching up on your developmental milestones!  You go, boy! :)  I'm so proud of you!
-Your hair is getting longer and longer, and I know you probably need your 1st haircut soon... but I can't stand to think about cutting off your curls  :(!  You have this one right in the back of your head that curls up like a little pig tail!  And the hotter it gets, the curlier it gets!
-Walking/Running everywhere, and loves to hold your finger to walk.  If you hold out your finger for him to hold on to, he grabs it every time.  I treasure that, because I know there will soon be the day that he's running and chasing everything, and too distracted to hold my hand.
- He says lots of words.  Let's see if I can think of them all... "Mama"  "Dad-dee" "Ba" (ball) "Na" (no) "Dia-pur" (diaper) "Ock" (sock) "Oouh" (shoe) "Ook"  (book) "DeeDee" "I-aack"  (Isaac)  "Eeee" (Eli)  "I"  (hi) "Uuup" (up) "Do-nn" (down) "Nana" (banana)
-Your favorite toys are any ball or car.  You also like the shape sorters- you will sit and put them all in and take them all out, over and over and over.  You know how to put the circle shape through the right slot, and we are working on the others.
-You love books.  You will sit and look at them on your own.  Or bring one to me or Daddy to read to you.  You point to the pictures on the pages, and you love to turn the pages.  Sometimes you babble when we are reading, like you are reading the book yourself.  So cute.
-You love to put things in the trash can.  Unfortunately, it's usually stuff that's not supposed to go in the trash, so we have to check it daily to make sure you haven't thrown something important away.  I think you just like watching the lid open and close, too.
- You know how to crawl up and down the stairs on your down.  And you'll say "Uuup" while you are going up.
- You love bath time.  Splish-splash!  I'm usually soaked by the time you get out.
- You love to brush your hair, and your teeth.
- You point to and touch your hair, when I ask you, "Isaac, where is your hair?"  We are working on nose, eyes, and mouth.
- You sign "more," usually when eating.  You LOVE to eat.  You've gotten a little picker lately, but overall you are a great eater.  "Nanas" are your favorite.  You are still only on non-dairy milk products, but I do think you are starting to outgrow the need for non-dairy.  You've accidentally had it a few times lately and haven't spit up... We'll see...
-You love to put on your socks and shoes, and you try to help with this task.  You also think hats are so funny and think it's funny to take them off and on over and over.
-You laugh and giggle A LOT.  You are still my little funny man.  Even your laugh is funny, and contagious.  On our Gatlinburg trip you were laughing at a game we were playing, and a lady in a store heard you and commented that they had never heard a baby your age laugh like that.  You were making them laugh, too. I hope you always have such a fun sense of humor.  I think you will.  After all, your name does mean "laughter." :)
-I don't really let you watch much TV, but you do love Sesame Street, especially Elmo.  It's about the only thing you really pay attention to.
-You love music, and it seems you especially love country music.  You always stop and listen to it if it comes on TV while you are playing.
-You've been going through a bit of a clingy phase, where you cry for a few minutes when I leave you, at home for work or in the church nursery... but I can already tell you are outgrowing it.  You are doing that less and less.  It only lasted about a month.
-You love Joshua's daddy, Mr. Todd, because he plays silly games with you after class.
-You love all the kids in the youth group and they love you!  You like to try to play basketball with them in the gym.  They are very sweet to you, and let you play, too :).
- You know where the gym is at church, and that there are lots of balls in that room!  If I put you down in the hall after class, you immediately run there and pick up a ball.
- You are usually very happy when you wake up.  You smile immediately when someone comes to get you out of your crib or pack-n-play.



Eli at 18 months:
-19 lbs!  That's a long way from 1lb!  Others may think you are small, but to me, you are SO BIG ;)!
-You see Mrs. Gena for PT every Wednesday, and Mrs. Suzanne for TEIS every Thursday.  You have made  a lot of progress since you started these services last summer and winter.  I am so proud of you, and when I look back all you've been through, I just can't believe how well you are doing... !!!
-You are scooting everywhere.  Yes, scooting, not crawling.  I don't know if it's because of your g-tube, or what... but you refuse to crawl, and you've gotten this scooting thing down pat... I'm starting to think you won't ever crawl...  because...
-You LOVE to stand up.  You cry if we make you sit down a lot of times.
-You are starting to cruise up and down the furniture.  You will scoot yourself to the couch, end table, etc, to stand and then cruise up and down.
-You are taking steps if we hold your hands and help you.  You laugh the whole time, like it's the most fun thing to do ever!  :)
-You babble all of the time.  To us, Isaac, and yourself.  You say, "Mama" "Dada"
-You love animals, especially DeeDee and Poppo's little dog "Rudy."  You babble and giggle at him every time he comes running into the room, and he lets you pat him and pull his ears, legs, tail... You love Rudy!
-You are doing so well with wearing your glasses.  You have finally learned how to put them on, not just take them off.  You don't really bother them much, because you realize they help you see.  When we ask you "Eli, where are your glasses?"  You touch them and smile.  And in a crowd of people (who are usually having a fit over how cute you are in your little brown glasses...) you touch them and smile... This happens so much, that you automatically start touching your glasses and smiling when people approach you- like you know they are about to say something about your glasses!  Too funny!
-You LOVE bath time, and you cry whenever you have to get out.
-You still love your Wubanub pacifiers.  You only use it when you are going to sleep, and sometimes I let you have it if you get really upset at other times.  I've tried giving you a regular Soothie paci, without the animal attached, but you just look at it like, "What am I supposed to do with this?"  You only want the ones with the animals attached...
-Your favorite toys are cars, books, the Noah's ark set... and anything that lights up and makes music.
-You love the Price is Right!  Ha!  You stand right in front of the TV when it's on- I think you like the lights and noises.
-You are starting to make progress with your eating.  You are starting to eat some table foods, diced up into really small pieces.  Green beans, tomatoes, strawberries, bread, peaches, oranges...  You even cried for me to give you a french fry and ate it all by yourself!  I was SO proud :).  We are getting there, little buddy!
-You love for us to be proud of you when you do something good.  You always smile really big and clap for yourself :).
-You are going through a phase where you want to be held all most of the time.  You will scoot to wherever I'm standing or sitting and just whine till I pick you up.  Once I pick you up, you are fine.  I know I'm probably reinforcing a "bad" behavior... but I had to wait almost 3 months before I ever got to hold you... so, we are just making up for lost time little buddy :).
-You love going to Bible class with Isaac.  (Miss Dawn and Miss Mandalynn on Sundays, and Miss Marla on Wednesdays).
-You have lots of girl friends in the youth group at church already :).  They all fight over who gets to hold you and play with you.


Our 1st professional family photo, taken at your 18 month session with Nicole Spaller...

Colossians 1:9-12

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance.... in the kingdom of light. 

Celebrating Our Independence!

Last year on July 4th...

Our 4th day at home as a whole family... Still trying to figure out how to handle 2 babies at once!

Eli 2010

Isaac 2010

The boys have a lot less "accessories," as I lovingly nicknamed them, than they did this time last year.  So this year on "Independence Day," I was certainly celebrating our independence from oxygen tanks and monitors.  I can't believe they were so little last year, and still so dependant on so many extra things...

And this year... well... they played in a sprinkler, homemade-pool, and even went down a slip-n-slide!  Yes, that's right- a slip-n-slide!  Oh my!  I probably won't win mother of the year for letting them do that... but, no one was hurt, and fun was had by all.

                                         

(Click on these links below, to see video Chris posted on FaceBook of the boys on the Slip-n-slide...)

Isaac on the Slip-n-slide

Eli on the Slip-n-Slide

They also got to see fireworks for the 1st time.  Well, Isaac saw them- and LOVED them!  His little face would light up with the sweetest smile everytime they went off!  I can't believe he wasn't scared!  But Eli slept through the whole thing...

Brothers

These were taken of each boy on their 1-Year-Anniversary of Coming Home from the NICU.  They look so much alike to me!  What do you think?

Eli 7.1.11

Isaac 6.1.11

(And check out Eli, just one month ago- you can just barely see him in the corner of Isaac's picture- he still had his blue helmet and O2, and was still in the infant carseat!  So much changed in just one month!  YOU GO ELI!)

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. 
Psalm 127:3

Eli's 1-Year-Anniversary-of-Coming-Home-from-the-NICU!

Today marks the 1-year-anniversary of the day that our whole family got to be at home together- the day that Mr. Eli Merritt Gannon got to come home from the NICU!  Chris and I were talking last night and we just can't believe it's been a year since he came home.  It has flown by.  The first 5 months while he was in the NICU, seemed more like 5 years... and I'm sure all the stress knocked at least 5 years off the end of our lives (that's what Chris always says)... But then once he came home, time just took off and started flying!

Eli weighed 6lbs 9oz at 5 months old. And today at almost 17 months old, he weighs 18lbs 2oz.  Big boy ;).  He no longer gets to wear his blue skateboarding helmet, but he did get to add some cool new glasses.  The accomplishment I would say we are most proud of him for to date would definitely be not requiring supplemental O2 (oxygen) anymore!  We are so proud of him for getting off just before his 1-year-NICU-discharge-anniversary.  Way to go Eli!

It's been quite a year full of stress, sleepless nights, worry, fear, exhaustion... but the joy, smiles, milestones-reached, blessings, and thankfulness far outweigh all of that.

We love you so much Eli Gannon :).  You are the sweetest boy ever.  You make my heart full.  I would do anything for you.  I am so proud of you.  I am so honored to be your mommy.  You are my sunshine :).  I'll love you forever!





My 1st time to ever see you.  10.1.10




One of my 1st times to ever touch you.  You were days old.



One of the 1st times I ever held you- I waited 2 months.



One of the 1st times I ever saw you with your eyes wide open.

Mother's Day 2010.  You were very sick :(

Your 1st time to wear clothes :)

Getting your breathing tube out- moving on to VapoTherm

Your 1st hair wash in the sink!



Napping with your puppy and duck.



You LOVE that paci...

Your board in your NICU room on the day you went home.

All dressed and ready to go HOME! 7.1.10



1st car-ride- HOME!



1st bath at home :)

1 year anniversary of coming home from the NICU 7.1.11

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.  Philippians 2:13

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."  Jeremiah 29:11

It's OFFICIAL- NO MORE OXYGEN!!!

Today Eli went to the lung clinic for a regular 6-8 week check up, and we got some BIG NEWS... He is officially off of oxygen now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  If you hear a lot of loud noise, cheering, clapping, shouts of joy... it's probably just the Gannons having an after-17-long-months-our-child-is-free-of-tubes-and-tanks-and-monitors-party :)!!!  (Well he still has the feeding tube in his stomach... but as far as breathing tubes and accessories, he's a FREE MAN :)!)

July 1st, this Friday, is Eli's 1-year-of-being-home-from-the-NICU-anniversary.. and the following day, July 2nd is he and Isaac's 17-month-birthday.  If you would have told me when he was born that we would spend the first year and a half (almost) of his life toting around O2 tanks and tubes and monitors, I would have thought, "Oh my..." But at that point in our journey, I was pretty clueless, so it wouldn't have really made sense to me what all that meant.

But after enduring all we did in the first 5 months of his life during the NICU roller coaster, and already having Isaac at home, who was still on O2 and monitors himself... we knew how draining it was to manage all of it.  So if you would have told me the day he got discharged from the NICU that he would still be on O2 for the next year, I would have probably burst into tears, thinking, "Are you kidding me?  I can't do that, it's too much... That's such a long time...!!!" 

But, by the grace of God, we did it.  Through a lot of prayer (thanks to so many of you who were praying for us!) we survived these 17 months.  If I'm going to be real, I have to admit that it's been really hard a lot of times.  It's exhausting to manage.  Especially when they both were still on O2, but even still when just Eli was the only one still on O2.  Our dining room wall was always lined with tanks, and we usually had a few more tanks dispersed throughout the house and our cars for "easy" (ha!) access.  Everywhere we went, a tank went with us.  We could never easily pick Eli up and take him even just across the room, without toting a tank along, too.  Eli couldn't even easily get himself across the room once he started "scooting."  He would go so far, and then that was the end of the rope, literally- the oxygen tube is only so long, so he could only scoot so far before he'd be out of slack. 

If we left the house, even for a short period of time, there's always that pressure to make sure you have enough oxygen with you.  "Is the tank going to run out?  Do I have a spare in the car with me just in case?"  Going somewhere overnight was quite the ordeal- that always meant you had to have multiple extra tanks, because 1 wouldn't be enough to last long enough.  And those things are heavy- even the "small" ones that are meant to be portable.  By the time you get the tank in the carrying case, strapped to your back, and then get a baby and probably a diaper bag in tow, too... you are carrying quite the load.  (It's no wonder my friend and massage therapist said my back and neck were full of knots...)  It was physically and mentally exhausting at times... honestly, most of the time.

So I am beyond thankful to be closing this chapter in our lives.  I love being able to pick Eli right up out of his crib in the mornings, without having to untangle all the tubes he's wrapped himself up in throughout the night.  I love being able to pick him up from playing in the floor, and take him right downstairs to eat, or get a bath, without having to pull or carry a tank behind me.  I love getting him in and out of the car with out strapping a tank to my back, too.  I love putting him in and out of the stroller, without having to put a tank in the basket underneath.  Most of all, I love that his lungs are healthy and getting stronger everyday, and don't need supplemental oxygen to be okay.  I've avoided a lot of situations over the past year, and declined invitations to do things, because I just couldn't fathom managing two babies and the 1 or 2 tanks that came with them.  So I am really looking forward to this new freedom and weight (literally) off our shoulders.



Look at that handsome, oxygen-free face...



"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths will grow weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will mount up on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:29-31

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my day. He is mine forever." Psalm 73:26

Thank you, Lord, for the strength you provided me over the past year. There were many, many times that I did not feel strong at all... but you gave me enough strength to get through each day. I praise you and thank you for that love!

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

Eli's Glasses

So, Mr. Eli got his glasses last Wednesday.  It only took him about 3 minutes at the optical store to figure them out and leave them alone.  At first he didn't really know what they were and just kept pulling them down off his nose... But once we were able to distract him enough to really look at us waving our hands around, I think he realized he could actually SEE, CLEARLY, not FUZZY and BLURRY, and after that he pretty much left them alone... and started looking ALL around the room at EVERYTHING!  Lights, signs, people... His little head didn't quit moving for several minutes because he was so busy checking everything out in the whole room!  Throughout the rest of the day and since then, it's very cool to see him engaging in things and noticing things that he never has before.  We can see him looking at things across the room.  And he now cries whenever I walk out of the room- before, I thought he was just really content... but really, I just don't think he knew I had left the room cause he couldn't see that far.  But now, he can see when I walk out, and he lets me know he doesn't like that and wants me to come back :). 

We, along with his doctors and therapists, are all very hopeful that this will really help his overall development start to take off.  He hasn't started crawling yet, and we think part of that is because prior to getting glasses he couldn't see past a foot or so away from his face... so why would he want to crawl to something?  He didn't really even know what was really out there in that blurry world!  Hopefully now that he can SEE, his gross motor skills (crawling, standing, walking) will all start to progress. 

He's done a great job wearing them so far.  The only time he really messes with them is when he's sleepy and wants to rub his eyes, or when someone new says, "Oh, Eli, I love your glasses!"  Usually when someone mentions them he puts one or both of his hands/arms up over them like he's embarrassed.  But we reassure him the he's very handsome.  The kids in our youth group and our preacher have all lovingly nicknamed him "The Professor."  He already has a bow tie, now we just need to find him a little tweed or corduroy jacket complete with elbow patches :).





Eli with his "Poppo"



Eli with my grandpa, "Papa"

By the way, for any parents out there searching blogs and websites like I did before we got Eli's glasses... He is extremely nearsighted (-10 left eye, -15 right eye).  His frames are MiraFlex brand, rectangular shape, "Milk Chocolate" color, with a matching band in the back that keep them on his head.  Anyone who I asked about frames for little ones like Eli, all unanimously suggested MiraFlex, rather than metal frames.  We are pleased with them so far.

Updates on Eli and Isaac, too!

Thanks to all of you who were praying for us and thinking of us last week with all of Eli's appointments. Here's a quick summary of what we learned:

First appointment was the swallow study, and it went GREAT!  Eli can now drink liquids by mouth again!  The speech therapist that did the study wants us to thicken the liquids slightly for about a month, and then wants to see him again for another swallow study to see if we can stop the thickening.  I was so proud of my little man- he took right to the sippy cup, like he'd been drinking from it all along!  I had just bought Isaac some new, bigger sippy cups... and I was thinking Eli could use the smaller ones that Isaac just graduated from... but, Eli likes the big one.  He looks so cute and funny drinking from it because it's really almost the size of his head!  But he loves it!  And so far it seems his favorite thing to drink is water.  He's only taking 1-3 oz of water or milk at a time, so we still have to supplement with the formula in his g-tube, so he doesn't loose weight.  But we are just so thankful to learn he can take liquids by mouth again!  And hopefully over the next few months we'll have him on full oral feeds and no g-tube feeds.  That's a very big goal... but we can dream, can't we?  And, we are talking about Eli Gannon here... the boy who consistently surpasses everyone's expectations.

Next we went to the NICU follow-up clinic for some developmental testing, and for Eli to continue to be a part of some special research studies due to him being a micro-preemie.  This was a really long appointment- we were there about 3 or 4 hours- I kept keeping track towards the end, so I didn't loose my mind.  We already knew that Eli is still behind in a lot of milestone areas, but the developmental testing they did confirmed just how behind he currently is.  The doctor suggested that we add weekly occupational therapy and speech therapy for him.  I'm glad for him to get the services and therapies that he needs to grow and learn and thrive... But he already has 2 other therapy appointments every week... Now it looks like we will have 4.  And I have to be honest- it makes me tired just thinking about it.  But, it's all going to hopefully help him catch-up and be the best that he can be... so we will do it, and we'll be as happy as we can about it.  Attitude is everything, right?  Eli is my best example of having a good attitude- no matter what, he's always sweet, and content.  I learn so much from this little guy.

We also learned about his muscle tone at this appointment.  His lower extremities all look good, and his arms look good- which were my areas of concern, so this was good news to me.  The problem areas are his stomach muscles and back/shoulder muscles.  He has low tone in his stomach, and high tone in his back/shoulders.  This is what makes him hunch over a little bit at times when he is sitting up- the weak stomach muscles.  And this causes his to have poor balance, making him not want to reach very far out to get toys, etc.

The next day we went to the eye doctor.  We learned that Eli's vision is very poor.  We already knew he was nearsighted, but this day we learned that his eyes are -10 (left) and -15 right.  Anything over a -6 is considered "severely nearsighted," so clearly, Eli's vision is really bad.  The doctor explained that things more than a few inches from his face are very blurry to him.  This also explains his poor balance and lack of interest in things that are very far from him... he can't see them!  So we ordered him a pair of brown rectangular shaped frames- the lower pair seen in the picture you see here.  They come with a matching strap that will help keep them on his head, and I think the strap is wrapped around the middle of the frames here, so the nose piece isn't actually that big... But anyway... they should arrive sometime next week.  The are a special, safe, durable type of glasses designed especially for kids.  The few friends I have with kids in glasses all unanimously suggested these (Miraflex band), as well as the 2 ladies helping us at the eye wear store.  We are very excited for him to get his glasses- we feel it will open up a whole new world for him, actually being able to SEE!  And that his development will really start to take off over the summer.

Also, we've had great success weaning him off of his oxygen since Saturday!  We are beyond excited about this and so hopeful that he really is weaning off for good this time!  (We had started weaning him off at the end of April, but he was sick for most of May and had to go back on with a heightened amount for a while.)  He's 16 months old, and he's been home from the NICU for almost a year... and I really just can't even believe that we might actually get to be O2 tank-less in our home!!!  It's truly a dream come true for the Gannon family!  I will update more on this (and post pictures) once we get official doctor's orders to be off of O2, and make the call to the medical supply company to come pick up all of the tanks and equipment, FOR GOOD... :)

Ok, don't want to forget about Isaac... because he's got some pretty big news of his own... He's WALKING NOW!!!  He's been taking 2-4 steps on his own for about a week now... But as of this weekend he can walk across the room- it's usually to get a toy or food that he wants :).  I'm SO proud of him.  Chris and I were lying in bed last night looking at pictures of him on our phones, from when he was first born... and we just can't believe that same baby isn't really even such a baby anymore...  We are SO thankful for his health and progress! (Ok, and maybe we are a little sad, too, at how quickly he seems to be growing up!)  Enjoy the video taken on Chris' iPhone this evening! ( Sorry for the poor quality...)