More pictures!

We got all of Mason's pictures back today! They turned out great! Thanks again, Marsha!



Pictures

Marsha Jones took Mason's newborn pictures last Saturday! He did great. I was a little nervous since he had his diaper off for most of them. He usually loves to pee all over as soon as we take it off, but he didn't! We don't have all of them back yet, but here is a preview. I love all of them! It's going to be hard to choose!

 

 



Thumb sucker

Busy week!

Last week was busy with lots of visitors and doctor appointments! Mason had an appointment last Wednesday and he weighed 6 lbs 12 oz. We went back on Thursday and he was up to 7 lbs. He loves to eat =) We go back on Thursday, so we'll see how much he gained in a week!

Cousin Jessica came over last weekend!

 

Jeremy and Katie came over on Sunday to meet Mason! They're expecting in July!

 Mason can't wait for his friend to arrive =)

 

Mason's girlfriend, Rylynn (Jeremy & Amber Walter's little girl), came over last weekend.

 He has some growing to do to catch up to her!

 

Mollie came over on Friday!

 

Tim & Jesse and their boys, Trey and Ashton, came over on Saturday night!

We can't wait for Mason to grow so he can play with them!

 

 Austin came over on Sunday to meet his cousin!

Visitors

My cousin Katie and her little boy Carter came to visit on Friday night!

 

 

 My co-workers came over on Saturday morning to meet Mason!

Deb

 

Teres

                                    

Ashley

 



Jess finally got to meet her cousin!

Great Grandma & Grandpa's House

We stopped at Grandma & Grandpa Christian's today so they could meet Mason! Aunt Patti also came to meet him!



Uncle Joe & Aunt Amanda

Joe and Amanda brought over pizza last night and met Mason!





2 Week Appointment

Mason had his 2 week appointment yesterday. He did great! I was nervous about venturing out of the house for the first time by myself with him, but it went well and we made it!

Stats:

Weight: 5 lb 13 oz (2nd percentile)
Length: 19 inches  (6th percentile)
Head: 5th percentile

He's still a little peanut, but continues to grow! We were at the Dr again today for a follow up and he weighed 6 lbs!

Swing

Mason loves his swing! He instantly falls asleep when I put him in it!



Tummy Time

Little Monkey

Welcome Home, Mason!

We were able to bring Mason home yesterday! Richard had his grandpa's funeral, so my mom and I left around 8 am and Mason was ready to be discharged when we got to the hospital. He slept the whole way home and did great! We enjoyed snuggling with him all afternoon. It was so nice holding him without any tubes or nurses stopping in to check on him.

Last night Grandma & Grandpa Kral, Uncle Scott, Aunt Jenny, & Cousin Jeffrey stopped by to visit! Then Grandpa & Grandma Krohn stopped by!

His first night at home went really well. I took the first shift of feeding and Richard took the second so we were both able to get some sleep.

We are so happy to have him home! Thanks again for all of your prayers and support!

Ready to go home!

Naptime with Dad

Aunt Jenny, Uncle Scott, & Cousin Jeffrey

 



Cousin Jeffrey & Mason

Grandpa Kral, Jeffrey & Mason

Grandpa & Grandma Kral with their grandkids

 

Grandpa & Grandma Kral & Mason

Grandpa & Grandma Krohn & Mason



Day 7

It's hard to believe Mason is a week old already! He continues to make progress and is doing great! Last night Richard and I decided that we're going to try bottle feeding him instead of nursing him while he's in the hospital. They said that once he starts feeding on his own, he needs to do that for 24 hours before they can take the feeding tube out of his nose. He started to get the hang of nursing after the second time, but they still had to give him milk through his tube. I had a small meltdown because I felt like I was giving up too easy, but the nurse said that most families who want to get out of here faster end up bottle feeding, then nursing once they get home.

We gave him his first bottle at 5 am this morning and he sucked it down like a champ! The nurse started giving it to him to monitor his breathing, then Dad was able to finish! I got to do his second feeding at 8 am and we switched off the rest of the day!

They're going to take out his IV's tonight! Then all we have left is the feeding tube that will hopefully be removed tomorrow morning!

Tonight they're going to start some of the tests he needs to pass before he can come home. The nurse is going to do the hearing test tonight when it's quiet. He has his car seat test scheduled for 8 am tomorrow morning. All preemies who are born before 37 weeks have to pass the car seat test before they can leave the hospital. They'll sit him in the car seat and monitor his oxygen levels for 2 hours to make sure that he'll be fine on the way home.

The Doctor thinks that he'll be able to go home sometime this weekend, so we're crossing our fingers!

Richard and I are coming home tomorrow afternoon. Richard's grandpa passed away last night, so we'll be home for the wake. I also have a baby shower at 6 pm that my sister-in-laws are putting on for me. Our plan is to sleep at home and then my mom and I will drive up on Saturday morning and Richard will stay home for the funeral and come up in the afternoon.

Thank you again for all of your prayers!