



So I am sure you all are aware of the California crazy fires out here. I just wanted you all to rest assured that we are all doing well - the fires aren't close to us to pose any danger. We do however, have a nice haze that makes the sun shine orange/red. Since I don't get out much these days, I only noticed the sun when it shone eerily orange into our kitchen yesterday. I am also trying not to expose Liam to the poor air quality, but it has been very hot recently, and I can't keep the windows shut all day. Hopefully the heat will let up later this week. I much prefer the cool weather, and it is more fun to dress Liam up in sleepers. :)
Well, Liam and Daddy both have colds this week. Miraculously, I have not had one, which makes me think I gave it to both of them! Who knows. Brian tried so hard all weekend to stay clean and not get around Liam too much, but come Monday morning, I realized as I was feeding Liam that he was pretty congested. So, I called the pediatrician and he said to do what I was already doing - suctioning out his nose, and loosening the secretions with saline drops and a humidifier. So, today he is doing better- he HATES having his nose suctioned, and cries a lot, but he will know some day, I do it because I love him. :) It has been somewhat hard to be a nurse during these questionable illness times. It is totally a blessing to be a nurse and have such knowledge of pediatrics as I do, but it is also a curse because my mind wanders down a path where every little symptom has Liam ending up at CHLA intubated in the PICU. I know, a little irrational, but nonetheless, the product of not much sleep, loving Liam to pieces, and seeing what I have seen in my job. So far, so good. I actually went to the pediatrician yesterday because he has continued to have a goopy eye which was a blocked tear duct as I thought, but also a worrying breathing thing, that I wanted the doctor to look at. He thought it was regurgitation, but we'll see. I am more relaxed after going. It was also my first real outing with just Liam!
Well, update and praise!!! Liam has been breastfeeding exclusively since last Friday. YAY! We have chosen on occassion to give him a bottle at night so Sara can sleep, but he is doing so well, and I am SO thankful and feel so blessed. I am feeding him much more on demand and he is eating about 11 times a day. He usually has this marathon feed in the early evening where he is eating every hour or less, but then he is naturally not waking up as frequently at night. However, I still set my alarm to wake up and feed him if he doesn't wake me up. He is growing and growing, and if I can, I will go to the Pump Station again and weigh him this week. He is still small, but looking much more like a newborn! His due date is next Thursday, 11/1. On a personal note, I will be glad when his due date has passed - it has been somewhat emotional to go through all of this before when we expected him, and I am ready to get past that date, though still with some sadness.
Please keep Brian in your thoughts and prayers as he is taking an engineering test this weekend. Since Liam came early, it has been very hard for him to study as much as he has needed. But, we just want to trust the Lord to help him pass.
Enjoy the pictures!