Numbers

Around the time when Dexter was reaching his 100 days old, I started a list of numbers.  It started out as something to do, to fill in my time and make me think back and reflect on where we had been.

I didn’t reach 100, but I did get a pretty decent amount.  I’ll try and keep adding to it, just to see if I can reach 100. 

I find that I don’t really count in days or weeks anymore.  Those little things that were so important to me during our hospital time aren’t so important now.  And that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I just have different priorities now.

I’d like to show this list to certain people, so that maybe then they would have an understanding of some of the things we have gone through.  But I doubt it would make any difference. 

 

1 – Determined, stubborn little man

2- Blood transfusions

3 – Hospitals

4 – Weeks old when the head ultrasound showed the PVL

5- Days old before having the first 1ml of milk

6 – Days spent at Westmead

7 – First ever bed number

8 – Days old before first cuddles with mum

9 – Weeks early!

10 – Days on the respirator

11 – Days old before the first skin to skin contact

12 – Days old before being transferred to the HDU for the first time

13- Birth date

14 – Days on low flow oxygen prongs

15 – Weeks on caffeine!

16 –

17 – Number of EEG probes stuck on his head

18 – Centimetres length of legs when born

19 – Days old and transferred back to the ICU

20- Centimetres length of arms when born

21-

22 – Days before first cuddle with dad

23 – Days old and peed on mum for the first time

24-28 –

29 - Centimetres circumference of head when born

30 – Days old when we were told of the PVL

31-32-

33- Days in a crib

34-

35 – Days at Wollongong

36-37 –

38 – Corrected age when we slept in the same room for the first time

39 – Days on CPAP

40 – 42 –

43- Days in ICU and HDU

44 - Centimetres length when born

45-46-

47- Days old and transferred to Westmead

48- Days old and first enema!

49 – Days old and blew the first raspberry

50 – Days old and pooped on dad

51 –

52- Days old and first bath

53 –

54 – Days in an isolette

55 – Days old before officially hatched

56 – 61 –

62 – Days old on due date

63 -77 –

78- Kilometres from RPA to Wollongong

79 – 80 –

81- Days spent at RPA

82- 85-

86 – Days old and first unofficial cuddles with aunties Carol and Terese

87 – Days to get to Wollongong

88 – Days old before meeting Uncle Rik and Great Grandma Gwen

89 – 94-

95 – Days to full sucking feeds

96 – 99-

100 – Days old and meeting cousins for the first time!