Matthew's Story

6 Months!!!

2009-07-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

I'm 6 months old now. I had to go Monday for my check-up and Dr. Herron said everything looks really good. I weighed 16 lbs 1 oz (25%) and was 25 3/4 inches long (27%). I really love my solid food (especially the fruit) and I am enjoying going to daycare. This video is from my daddy making me laugh.

I was able to visit my cousins in South Carolina and had a great time. This is my cousin Sarah trying to play with me. She looks like she'll be a lot of fun!

Almost 5 months!

2009-06-19T19:14:00.000-07:00

I will be 5 months old next week and everyone is really surprised by how fast I'm growing. When I went for my 4 month check up I weighed 14 lbs 5.5 oz (26%) and was 24 1/4 inches long(14%). I have been eating solids for about a month now and my favorites are bananas, applesauce and green beans. I get to eat cereal and fruit for breakfast, a vegetable for lunch and cereal and fruit for dinner (of course with milk at each one and between). I'm also learning to use a sippy cup and drink juice. I like reading books, chewing on my toys, and talking (mom says I'm jabbering but I can get really loud where no one can talk over me). I was able to meet my cousin Isabella and Uncle Jared and Aunt Stephanie last weekend. I think that me and Isabella will have a lot of fun playing when we get older.

Almost 4 Months

2009-05-23T11:40:00.000-07:00

I am only 2 days away from being 4 months old so mommy and daddy decided it was time to try some solid food. I had some rice cereal for my first meal and I liked it okay. I think my hand tastes better! We are going to keep trying and hopefully more will go in my belly than on my bib next time! Daddy made this video while mommy fed me. Her hand is in the way but you can see the majority of what is going on. Enjoy!

Month 3 - Week 4

2009-05-19T19:06:00.000-07:00

I am growing, growing, growing! I had my first virus last week and it was not fun! I am feeling a lot better this week. When I went to the doctor last Wednesday I weighed 12 lbs 10 oz. I am definitely catching up to where I should be. I love taking a bath and playing with my stuffed animals. These are some pictures my mamaw took while I was hanging out in my bedroom.

3 Months Week 2

2009-05-06T05:09:00.000-07:00

I am really growing and becoming much more alert. I am starting to really pay attention to my toys and everything that is around me. I like my exersaucer, my music player and my rattle. I've made it into 3-6 months clothes and probably weigh around 12 lbs now. I have been sleeping through the night since Easter and my parents really enjoy that. This is a picture my Mamaw Lois took with her camera phone and sent to my mommy and daddy while they were at work.

My First Easter

2009-04-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

Gigi trying to steal my basket!!! My new lion trying to bite my arm!

This is my first Easter. My mom and dad got me an Easter basket with a lion, some new pacifiers, some teething keys and mommy and daddy's favorite candy. My grandparents also got me some gifts for Easter. Tonight at church we watched The Passion of the Christ and I slept the whole time. These are my Easter pictures my mom took. Gigi wanted my Easter basket!

Two Months Old

2009-03-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Today I am two months old. I am growing so much. I'm now wearing 0-3 months clothes and I am eating like a champ. My mom had to go back to work this week so my Mamaw is staying with me. I have now rolled over from my belly to my back, started paying attention to rattles, and can follow sounds to see what is making them. I try talking but nobody understands me yet. The pictures with this blog are from Sears. We had our family pictures made when I was 7 weeks old. Look how high my head is when I'm on my belly!

Six Weeks Old

2009-03-10T13:13:00.000-07:00

Me, Natalie and Gigi watching cartoons My Aunt Lara

My first time going to church

I am now six wks old and I am really growing. My mommy and daddy said my legs are getting really long. I am still wearing newborn clothes but soon I should be able to wear 0-3 months. I went to the doctor yesterday for a weight check and I weigh 7lbs 5.5 oz. I had to go to Children's last Wednesday to have my blood tested and the results looked really good. The doctor said that I don't have to have any more blood tests because my anemia is under control. I just have to keep taking my iron drops every day. I am staying awake more during the day and sleeping good at night. I am starting to enjoy my bouncer and swing and activity pad. I've been to church a couple of times and sleep through the entire service most of the time. My aunt Lara and cousin Natalie also came to see me. I really like them and can't wait until I am big enough to play with Natalie and Charles!

Three Weeks Old

2009-02-18T16:33:00.000-08:00

Sleeping during tummy time My cousin Maggie came to see me Aunt Babo, Aunt Tenna and Maggie came to see me on Tuesday. This is Babo and Maggie.

My papaw came to see me. He was afraid to hold me because I'm so tiny.

I was just ready for the world to go away and let me sleep...

I turned 3 weeks old on Monday. I am really enjoying being home with my parents. I like to eat and sleep and lift my head up when I lay on my tummy. I've had to go to the doctor twice this week. I had my 3 week appt with my pediatrician and I gained a whole 2 ounces in one week. I am 3% on weight and 6% on height, but I'll catch up to the other kids soon enough. My doctor said this isn't enough so my mom has to feed me an additional bottle 3 times a day to make me gain weight. I am also still anemic so I have to take an iron supplement and get my blood tested regularly. I had to go to Children's today to have my blood tested. The pediatrician called and said my anemia is stable and I have to go back Monday for another blood test. I am really tired of getting stuck with needles although my mom says I am tougher than she is. Here are some pictures of the past week.

Two Weeks Old

2009-02-09T19:24:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite place to sleep. Four generations: Fred & Lib Heaton, Teresa Steele, Chris Reid and Matthew

Today I am two weeks old. I am really enjoying being home. I am making my parents stay on their toes! I have been to two pediatrician appointments and they say everything is looking really good. I weigh 6 lbs and 2.5 ounces and my parents have to feed me every two hours to make me gain some weight. Gigi is getting used to me too. She wants to sleep under my blanket with me.

Day Eleven - February 5th

2009-02-05T19:26:00.000-08:00

HE'S HOME!!! and sleeping great in his bed. Thank you so much for all of your prayers! I'll add more pictures when I get some sleep :). It has been a long day...

Day Ten - February 4th

2009-02-04T15:20:00.000-08:00

Today I sacked out in Dad's arms after my bottle. I've had an eventful day. They removed my NG tube and IV. I've been eating almost 2 ounces at every feeding. I got to try my car seat out for the car seat test (I had to stay in there for 20 min which is the time it takes Mom and Dad to get home). I had the Tennessee PKU test and my hearing test. I should be released tomorrow assuming everything goes well tonight. I am so ready to get home and sleep in my bed.

Day Nine - February 3rd

2009-02-03T19:01:00.001-08:00

This is my new big boy bed. It is much better than my isolette!

I found my nose!

Today has been a great day. My parents came to see me and they both had a chance to feed me a bottle. I am now getting all of my feedings from a bottle and should have my IV and NG tube removed tonight. My doctor said I am doing so well that I should be able to go home by the end of this week. My parents were so excited! My mamaw also had a chance to hold me.

Day Eight - February 2nd

2009-02-02T17:33:00.000-08:00

Today I am breathing on my own and doing really well. My nurse removed my central line from my belly button and I am finished with the light therapy for jaundice. My next couple of days are going to be spent learning how to eat from a bottle and once I conquer that I should be able to go home with my parents. They are estimating next week if everything goes well.

Day Seven - February 1st

2009-02-01T18:38:00.000-08:00

This picture shows a note my family in Florida left for me. It says, "Your family in Florida is praying for you." Love the Alexanders

Today has been a really good day. The doctor removed my chest tube last night and I feel so much better. Now, all I have left is my NG tube in my nose and an oxygen hood. They are planning on removing my oxygen hood tonight if all of my blood gases look good. I am now getting 10cc of milk every 4 hrs and if I digest it good enough, I will get to try eating from a bottle tomorrow. My nurses seem very optimistic about my progress. Today I mostly relaxed under my lamp. My dad did get to change my diaper again. He is getting really good at that. These pictures are of my dad holding my hand.

Day Six - January 31st

2009-01-31T17:24:00.000-08:00

Today has been a pretty good day. My mom, dad and Mamaw Lois came to see me. My mom got to change my diaper twice and check my temperature. I mostly rested and relaxed in my snoogle. Don't I look comfortable in my pictures? I even opened my eyes for a little while to look at my parents. They clamped my chest tube off so it should be removed tonight. They had to start an IV of lipids so I can have some fat that I'm not getting right now. They increased my feedings to 3cc every 4 hrs. Things seem to be going really well. My Aunt Snooky and Uncle Richard came to see me and thought I was beautiful. My mom and dad's friend, Holly, also came to see me. I think I'm really going to like her.

Day Five - January 30th

2009-01-30T17:57:00.000-08:00

Today I came off of the ventilator completely. I only have to use the oxygen hood. My mom and dad came to see me and I got to eat some milk for the first time. My doctor lets me have 5cc of milk through my tube every 8 hrs and it is really good. Today I had my milk and went straight to sleep. They think I will get to have my chest tube removed tomorrow and then my parents can hold me. My grandparents, Teresa and Ford, also came to see me. These pictures are of me relaxing in my isolette. My nurses put a nametag on my monitor like the other kids have

Day Four - January 29th

2009-01-29T18:41:00.000-08:00

Today my mom, dad and Mamaw Lois (mom's mom) came to see me. My mom is out of the hospital now so she can come see me every day until I get to come home. I am doing better today. I have made it down to 15% on my ventilator and they are going to continue to work with me through the night to wean me off of it. I am a little more jaundiced today so they turned the lamp on to help that go away. While my dad was there, I needed a diaper change so he got to do the job. He did great! This picture is of me sleeping under my lamp.

Day Three - January 28th

2009-01-29T18:28:00.000-08:00

Today my mom came to see me for the first time since I came to Children's. She is still in the hospital but they gave her a day pass to come see me. I pulled my vent tube out last night because I was mad. My nurses left the vent out and put me on a CPAP hoping it would be enough. It wasn't and I had a slight setback. My doctor had to put the vent back in and drain an air pocket out of my right lung with a chest tube. I am starting back at around 33% on the ventilator and will have to work hard to regain what I've lost. This picture is my mom holding my hand for the first time. My dad and grandparents (Teresa and Ford) also were there to see me. I feel really loved.

Day Two - January 27th

2009-01-29T18:16:00.000-08:00

Today my dad, Papaw Locke (mom's dad), and grandparents Teresa (dad's mom) and Ford came to see. I am doing better than I was when they took me to Children's. I have made it from 84% to 27% on the ventilator and the nurses say I am doing really well. This is a picture my dad took of me to show my mom (she had to stay at the hospital until they would let her visit me).

Day One - January 26th

2009-01-29T17:40:00.000-08:00

Today I made it into the world. I was born at 9:47 pm. I weighed 6lbs 8oz and was 19inches long. When Dr. Evitt delivered me, I was screaming and mad but my mom says that I was beautiful. I was a little early and surprised my parents but they were glad to see me. My lungs aren't strong enough yet to work on their own, so I had to go stay at East Tennessee Children's Hospital so they could help me. My doctors and nurses are taking great care of me. This is my first picture right before I left for Children's.