Behind the Scenes

Today was the making of Kau'e's first photo shoot. We feel blessed to have an amazing friend who happens to be a photographer and was willing to help us take precious newborn shots of Kau'e. We had an amazing time today and can't wait to see the finish product (which will be great Allison)! Here are some shots of the behind the scenes with Allison and Kau'e:

He's got the Look

"Mr. Lauren I'm ready for my close up now!!!" Thanks to Auntie Ellen for making me one stylish 1 month old!

My Boys

These two know how to crash hard at sleeping!


P.S. Kau'e don't worry one day your hands along with everything else will be just as big as Daddy's if not bigger! Keep up the growing little man. We love you.

Happy 1 Month

My Little Horsey! Kau'e loves to make all different types of noises but one of my favorites is like a little horse; I'll have to record it to prove it to you all. As of now, I'm just amazed that our little Man is 1 month old today! He has amazed us since day 1 and I think he will continue! One little smile makes the whole day worth it!

A Happy Little Man

Someone enjoyed his first go around with the bouncy seat?!





We thought we would wait another week or two to introduce Kau'e to this seat but I guess not. Romulo was in the living room working on a project and I was trying to fold laundry when Kau'e started to get fussy in his bassinet. I picked him up and he instantly stopped, I tried to sooth him for a little bit and then I laid him back down. Nope, that didn't work so I picked him up again and he stopped. I walked out in the living room and saw the seat so I said what the heck lets try this thing. Sure enough I put him on it and turned on the vibrating button and instant SUCCESS! He just loves his little forest friends!!!

P.S. Happy 1 month Kau'e! Mom and Dad love you so much and are happy you joined the family early, we couldn't wait for you anyways!!!

Thoughts

"Welcome to Motherhood!" is what I heard when I posted on Facebook, "What day it is, What time is it, who am I? yeah I'm tired!" That statement was purely what I felt at the time but now thinking about it its exactly what I had been wanting for so long. Sounds crazy that I wanted to trade in sleepless nights, times of doubt, times of wonder, and so forth but its true. I wouldn't want anything else. There isn't anything more satisfying than seeing your child in your arms or your spouses arms, smile, poop/pee/etc., sleep, make those little horse sounds, etc. Sure there are a lot of things in life that can bring happiness but being a parent has to be one of the happiest feelings in the world.

Our pediatrician is one of the nicest people in the world, he's like one huge teddy bear! We feel so blessed to have one of the best doctors taking care of my little man and we are thankful everyday for my Ob-Gyn setting us up with him. This doctor wasn't taking any more people into his practice but after my water breaking and my Ob knowing we hadn't researched a pediatrician she called in a special favor! One that I'll be grateful for forever. But Dr. E likes to tell all his new parents that "parenthood is one big crash course where only you know the answers or know the questions to ask to get answers".

Our little Kau'e is doing so well. We have been through a lot already in his short little life (almost 1 month old) but both Romulo and I feel like he's been with us the whole time! He is eating, sleeping, pooping so well! Yes, you need to count the bodily functions in there! It's not so easy with a Preemie at times because they aren't on the same scale as a newborn or a full term baby so a lot of times you have to do trial and error. Like with his eating, he wasn't born with the same eating habits/skills as a full term baby so its taken us a little longer to learn who to breastfeed. So this whole time I've been pumping every 3 hours and that milk then is given to Kau'e through a bottle. (Grateful for pumping every 3 hours because it allows me to catch up with things like this; posting on the blog.) When we got discharged from the NICU he was nursing 1 to 2 times a day but now after last Friday's appointment our doctor wants him to try to solely breastfeed every other feeding; trying to get Kau'e used to only nursing and filling up (plus helping my milk supply) because after each breastfeed we would give him a bottle of breast milk. So now we alternate between only nursing and nursing and supplement (with a bottle). Also with every bottle we make up we have to fortify it with a special Preemie formula where we put a teaspoon of this formula to every 120ml of milk for an extra 22 calories. But Kau'e eats really well every 2 1/2 to 3 hours and takes in close to 4oz (80-120ml).

We love him and couldn't feel more blessed than we do right now. We know that the Lord has a hand in all things even when we don't see it.

Baby Kangaroo = Buck

Did you know that a male baby kangaroo is called a Buck? Sure is! This morning before we took MeMom (so sad) to the airport she got some more one-on-one time with Kau'e. And when she got him she noticed that his little hands got out of the SwaddleMe and she said that he looked like a baby kangaroo.

MeMom and Buck, I mean Baby Kangaroo, I mean Kau'e:

New Look for Something Old

It's hard to believe that its been a little over a year ago since my mom sent me these prints The Twelve Months of the Year in Flowers and it was just this week that we fixed them up. While my mom was in town we went to Ikea and got these frames. Doesn't it freshen the prints up and make it more modern? Watch out Pottery Barn!

Before:


After:

Keeping Tradition

Whenever a baby is born into our family the tradition is for MeMom (my mom) to give the first bath and that's just what happened today! Kau'e's umbilical cord fell off on Tuesday (21 days after birth) and we waited a few more days for his belly to heal just a little more.
Just looking at the video proves that Kau'e enjoyed his time in the bath given by his MeMom.



Also today Kau'e had another Preemie follow up visit at the doctors and he did beautifully; he gained a pound in one week. His birth weight was 5 lbs 2 oz, last appointment which was last Friday he weighed 6 lbs 8oz and then today he weighs 7 lbs 8 oz.

MeMom Time

Little Kau'e and MeMom are having some bonding time and we couldn't enjoy it any more! We are very lucky to have MeMom here to help out around the house and especially lucky last night to have MeMom here because I was a little sick. Just out of the blue I was throwing up and running a little fever. But then not even 12 hours later I was done with all those yucky germs and am feeling 100% better.

It's hard to believe that this Little Man was born 3 weeks ago today and tomorrow he would have been 36 weeks.

Welcome Little One

Welcome Home Little Man. As I write this post my heart is full with gratitude for the journey Romulo and I have been on to bring a little one to our family. After trying for two years on our own and no success we went to specialists. Then after doing many rounds of different fertility and still no success we took a break. And wouldn't you know on this so called "break" we got pregnant on our own; despite the 1% chance they told us! Then after a successful 32 weeks and 5 days pregnancy we welcomed a little boy, Kau'e! It was a little crazy at first when my water broke premature but after a prayer and talking to doctors/specialists we were calmed and reassured that things would work out. And that's just what happened! After 16 days of being in the NICU Kau'e we were able to bring him home (at 35 weeks exactly). We feel very blessed to have a son and to his health. We know there are many out there struggling in many different ways and we feel blessed and honored to have him in our life.

Kau'e has always been a little over-achiever since the first time we saw his heart beat at 6 weeks and 1 day! Today at his release he weighs 6 lbs 3oz and 19 inches long. He actively breastfeeds and takes his bottle (full of breast milk) with such force eating around 2 oz per feed. Not even 2 hours after we got home from the hospital he made his mark by pooping and peeing all over Romulo and our bed! And let me tell you that moment couldn't have been happier for us! He now lays in his bassinet asleep with a full tummy listening to a baby CD while I blog.

If I could stop time I would because life couldn't be more joyful and full of pure bliss! We love you Kau'e Johns Aguilar and I know there are many more people out there who love you just as much!

Passing with Flying Colors

Kau'e sure is one little over-achiever and we love him for that! He passed his hearing and car seat check tests yesterday! Not only did he pass those tests but he also ate like a champ. He is one fierce eater I must say; his sucking reflex is very powerful its scary for a 35 week old baby!

So as of now everything is looking good for his "release" tomorrow from the NICU! I just need to make sure that today his eating and weight maintains or improves. Romulo and I are ready for him to come home but its always those little last minute things that make you run around like a chicken with your head cut off! We're staying calm but its just so EXCITING!

Here are some pictures of him last night when we went in to do the car seat check test. Isn't he so CUTE!? I know I'm the mom but still!!! (Today Kau'e is 2 weeks old.)

Go Kau'e Go

We were informed today that Kau'e's feeding was being changed from every 3 hours to On-Demand. On-Demand is basically him telling us when and how much he wants to eat. They will continue to monitor him and his eatings and if in two days he has kept the feeding up and has either maintained or gained weight then he could come home. The target goal date is this Wednesday Jan 12 2011. Its beyond exciting news for us considering Wednesday he will be 35 weeks! Today he weight in at 5 lbs 14 oz.

Today's Rock Star

was Kau'e. He has been knocking it out of the park with his eating's lately. Today during the 5 hours I was at the hospital with him he breastfeed 15 minutes (actively) and then took 27 out of 53ml of breast milk from his bottle, then at the 3pm feeding he ate the whole 53ml bottle of breast milk in 17 minutes. It was pretty amazing to see him be so active and alert while feeding; it made me so proud. It was pretty amazing to have this one-on-one time with him today.

Also, little Kau'e is gaining more and more weight. He now weighs 5 lbs and 12 oz, which is pretty impressive considering 12 days ago he was born and weighed 5 lbs 2 oz (10oz in 12 days)!

We love his little spirit and am grateful that things are slowly working in his favor. We just hope and pray that we can bring him home soon and start the home routine. It's just so foreign to not take your baby home with you when you leave the hospital and to be at home thinking/worrying about him in the hospital. We have some amazing nurses, angel nurses, taking care of him.

Pictures taken of Kau'e on Saturday 1-8-11 and Sunday 1-9-11. Current weight as of Sunday 1-9-11 is 5 lbs and 12 oz.

1 Little Monkey

Our Little Monkey is sure wanting to bust out of the NICU. He gained more weight last night and now he weighs almost 5 lbs 10 oz (his birth weight on 12/28/10 was 5 lbs 2 oz). (Side note: Tuesday 1/4 Kau'e's length was 18 1/2 inches long. His birth length was 18 inches.) Also during last nights shift he ate about 52% of his feeds by himself and this morning at the 9am feeding he ate all 47ml of his bottle (which is 100%). Then at noon he actively breastfeed for about 20 minutes and then took 27ml out of the 47ml of his bottle. Just called the NICU and Kau'e ate 40ml of the 47ml all by himself! We sure are proud of this Little Man's hard work and strength. The doctor and nurses are telling us that his feeding development must have clicked because he is doing so well the past few days with his feeding. Now we need him to continue his success and continue to gain weight and then they will take him off of 3 hour feedings to on-demand. Once he's on on-demand then we see how well he's doing feeding and gaining/maintaining weight. Hopefully this Little Monkey will be home sooner than later!

Mom and Dad are doing well! Mom is getting more and more sleep every night considering she has to get up every 3 hours to pump. Dad is finding it harder and harder to sleep at nights and that's saying a lot considering Dad never did sleep much before Kau'e was born. Mom's trying to keep an eye on him but it's kind of hard when all she wants and needs to do is sleep. Even through this situation that we are in we feel calm, blessed, strengthen, renewed, and loved! Sure there are moments when we get down and have to look at each other for strength but at the end we know that we are being watched over and cared for in many ways.

Hiccup Boy

This little one loves to get the hiccups. So I thought it was appropriate that I took some video of him in action.



Mom made a little mistake today and brought milk with her to the hospital but forgot to give it to the nurses but its okay she had it in a cooler with lots of ice packs so the nurses were able to still use it. But it still made Mom sad! Oh man, I feel like I'm losing it at times!

Feeding and Growing at 34 Weeks

Oh what my 34 week pregnancy picture would have looked like we will never know. But here is what my 1 week 1 day old baby looks like (he would have been 34 weeks), isn't he a cutie?




Kau'e had a fabulous day: he ate well from the bottle, he breast feed for a little bit but was able to do all that he was suppose to do, he had 3 outfit changes because he likes to have blow outs when Mom is around (seriously this kid likes to poop on me), and slept like a champ! We are amazed every day by this little one's strength and love him more and more! He is still eating every 3 hours and taking in 47ML of Mom's milk and his weight is still at 5 lbs 3 oz.

1 Week Old

Our Little Pea is 1 week old today! It's hard to believe that its been a week since we've had this little one. We couldn't be happier. Plus, Kau'e is doing so well and is improving day by day. Today he weighs 5 lbs 3 oz so that's an 1 oz up from his birth weight! He is eating 45 ml each feeding (feeds every 3 hours) and he intakes by himself about 50% of those feedings. We need to get him to take 100% all by himself; that's the goal for him to have along with gaining/maintaining weight to be able to take him home. We aren't sure exactly when that special day will be but we hope within the next two weeks. (Tomorrow he would have been 34 weeks and hopefully by 36 weeks he can come home.)

Special K

Our newest nickname for Kau'e is "Special K". He is doing so well considering tomorrow he will be 1 week old but really almost 34 weeks (pregnancy). He is in "Big Kid NICU" where all "Feeders and Growers" are placed. Kau'e is only eating about 10% of all his feedings (through a bottle) on his own and the rest goes start into him through a tube that's in his nose. So the only things the doctors and nurses are saying for him to accomplish is to learn how to feed on his own and keep up his weight. He isn't on any medicines, doesn't need help breathing, and sleeps like a champ. He is such a good baby!

Today while I was there we were able to do some Skin To Skin for a good 2 hours. We tried breast feeding, not much luck. But the trick is not necessarily for him to eat right away from the breast but to introduce him to it so when he is stronger he will be able to do it nicely. The doctors and nurses aren't pushing him too much on this because they said that usually the development of sucking and feeding is around 34-35 weeks (pregnancy), so he has some time to learn.

It's hard because when you look at him yes he was a preemie but he was a big preemie and you expect him to do much much more than he's doing. But the staff reassure me that he is doing what he should be doing and it will take some time.

We feel so blessed to be his parents and assigned to be a guardian over him on this earth. I pray every day that I will know exactly what to do and know how I can help his little spirit grow and learn. I feel blessed that I have been able to stay sane through this whole thing. It has its moments but mostly I'm trying to rest and organize things for Little Man to come home; hopefully that's soon!

Kau'e 1/2/11

And this picture is what I found this morning inside of Kau'e Bassinet...who's playing tricks now?


It's a Monkey!

Now Showing

Video's of Kau'e from Saturday, Jan 1 2011 and Sunday, Jan 2 2011.

Reflections of 2010

I don't even know where or how to begin to explain the heartache, pain, joy, happiness, etc that we the Aguilar family has experienced in 2010. In no particular order:

-Learned in late December 2009, early January 2010 that we on our own would have a 1% chance of having a child naturally on our own. So this is when we started Fertility treatments.

-Tried multiple IUI's and all failed.

-February, one of Lydia's fertility doctors died unexpectedly.

-In March, Romulo's sister gave birth to a little girl.

-Late February early March decided to do IVF. Sister came out to help me during this time. After a long process of taking drugs/shots and going through with the retrieval of IVF we only got disappointing news that it failed. Not only did the IVF fail but my body wasn't able to produce enough embryos to use for future rounds. I would have to start all over again.

-After IVF failing we decided we needed to make changes in our life: we stopped all fertility treatments, moved from the suburbs to downtown SF, we bought a Mini Cooper, and even bought white leather couches.

-Went to Disneyland for the weekend and stayed in Malibu with good friends.

-In May, my two sisters and two nephews came out to visit us for a week. The next week some friends came. We had a week off and then the last week in May another couple came to visit us.

-Early June we decided to take the simple route and start up some simple treatments of fertility.

-Mid-June surprisingly finding out that we were pregnant and due in February 2011. After multiple tests they were confirmed we were pregnant.

-Late June did an ultrasound and saw baby's heart beat; 9 weeks and 1 day.

-July Lydia's youngest sister gave birth to a little boy. Number 6 grandchild.

-August Lydia's brother and sister-in-law gave birth to a little girl; the first granddaughter, 7th grandchild.

-In July went to Utah to visit Romulo's sister and his mom who was in town from Brazil.

-In July, Romulo got promoted at PWC from Associate to Senior Associate.

-September 24 2010 on Lydia's 28th birthday we found out that we were having a BOY!

-September sold our Mini and bought a BMW.

-November, Thanksgiving Holiday, we went home to VA.

-Over Thanksgiving break, had a baby shower.

-December 22 2010 while trying to fall asleep Lydia's water bags broke.

-December 28 2010, 6 days after water bags broke Lydia gave birth to a healthy but preemie baby boy. Kau'e Johns Aguilar was born on 12/28/10 at 3:23pm (pacific) weighing in at 5 lbs 2 oz and 18 inches long at CPMC. Kau'e was 32 weeks and 5 days.

-Brought in the New Year together with Kau'e in the NICU at CPMC.

2010 you were definitely one that I will forever remember! I have learned so much about myself and know that I could have only done it with the help of my Savior and having a loving husband standing beside me the whole time.

Brightest of New Year's

This is how we brought in the New Year...







Being at the NICU with Kau'e and loving the family time! He "graduated" to the West Wing of the NICU where only "Feeders and Growers" stay! Good Job Buddy! Mom and Dad love you!