Thu, 02 Mar 2006 Hey, its been so long since i wrote, sorry! But, i have some great news, i have a baby brother! His Name is Charlie James and he was born on 23rd February 2006...he weighed 6lb 15oz and he looks like me! He heard all about my stay in Gosset and decided he wanted to have a go, so he has been in for a week now, he had a few problems breathing at birth. Poor chap, i know how he feels having all those cannulas and jabs and tubes. Mummy and daddy are finding it hard....but we will get Charlie home soon and we can be one big happy family, Charlie is in the best place...gosset is very safe and the best place to get better (besides mummys tummy that is!) Keep checking my website and i'll put photos up of Charlie very soon! Lots of Love, Alfie the big brother.   Sat, 24 Dec 2005 Merry Christmas Everyone! Thinking of you all and i'm so excited about seeing what Santa brings me! Christmas is a time for families and friends to get together and be happy, and thats just what i'm going to do! I hope you have a lovely time.....   Sat, 15 Oct 2005 Well hello there it seems so long since i last wrote...oh goodness, it actually is! I'm always apologising lately for not updating my diary but when you have a life as hectic as mine its hard to find the time. So, i've made a promise to myself that i will try to write more often. I'm doing really well, and am almost pulling myself up on things, very clever. if i could use my right hand better i'd be right up by now...but i do things my way and people know that now, i'm actually quite stubborn when i want to be! (daddy says i get that from mummy!) i have started nursery too, three afternoons a week and i love it, i actually have already got myself a girlfriend! we hold hands at snack time. i've been to the hospital with a poorly chest too and my cough just wont go away and its stopping me sleeping well. hopefully it will get better soon. Well the big news is too that i'm getting a brother or sister! My mummy is 18 weeks pregnant and doing well, i'm very much looking forward to being a big brother. we all hope that this baby isnt as impatient to be born as me though! Anyway, i really should get some sleep (if my cough lets me)....   Sun, 24 Jul 2005 what a great weekend i went to stay with Nanny and Grandad Ian in Suffolk. It was such fun. They looked after me while Mummy and Daddy went on a 'date' to the pictures and for a meal. I ate banana and toast, and had a cheese sandwich at home too! I love my Nanny and Grandad Ian, they are such fun and i get to see Nanna Kath and Grandad next weekend too! Such a busy boy! I have my CDC (Child Development Centre) meeting tommorrow, i get to play all day and the nurses watch me. But i did hold on to Nannys sofa and stand on my own today so i might show them that tommorrow! I'll tell you how it goes.   Thu, 23 Jun 2005 Hello Everyone! Well i have had my MRI scan and the doctors are going to chat to Mummy and Daddy about it soon, so hopefully all was ok. I was such a brave boy, i had a special drink (that tasted horrid!) to put me to sleep a bit and mummy was in the scan with me. She wore big headphones as its so noisy. I have also been told i can go to the CDC (child development centre) at the hospital to let the clever doctors see what can be done to help my right hand side. Daddy was at the hospital the other day as he has a bad ear and we popped in to gosset. It was lovely to see everyone there, they all thought i was handsome and heavy! (i guess they are not used to big babies like me!) I love to see the nurses and so do mummy and daddy, they are spcial friends of ours and always will be.   Tue, 24 May 2005 I had such a fantastic birthday, so many lovely presents! Thank you all so much, it really touched my mummy and daddy how many people remembered, i got 37 cards! I have my MRI scan in two weeks, it looks a bit scary but i will be relaxed with a special medicine. I'll be brave, as always!   Sat, 14 May 2005 Hey there! I'm nearly a whole big one year old! I had my birthday party today, it was so much fun! All my friends were there: Cousin Daisy, Grace, Mitchel,Georgia, Daniel, George, Harry, William and ewan. I had such a great time we played pass the parcel i won the big prize! (mummy promises it wasnt a fix!) i won a skipping rope! Not that i'll be able to use it for a while. I got so many presents to open on monday i'm such a spoiled boy. Nanna, Grandad, Nanny, Grandad, Uncle Daz, Auntie sarah, Uncle tom, Amanda, Stuart, Jamie, Adrian, Jo, Celine, Tina and Suzy and kerry all came too and i was cuddled lots and kissed lots too! We listened to fun music and payed in the garden. What a lucky boy! I had a birthday cake and i caught Nanna and nanny nicking the crumbs from the tray in the kitchen!!! Thank you to everyone who came and bought me a card and present it was very kind of you. I feel so grown up! I also feel so much better since starting my special medicine for my fits. Im back to being a happy boy.   Thu, 05 May 2005 We've had a little bit of bad news. I went for an EEG scan on my brain, i had lots of little probes put on my head. It showed i have something called Hypsarrhythmia (its very hard to spell and say) but its a type of epilepsy. Mummy was so upset she had to leave the room because i cried when the probes were put on. I just wanted to go to sleep! Daddy was so cool and brave as always. The doctor is going to see me soon and give me some medicine. I dont like being poorly.   Sat, 30 Apr 2005 Gosh, its only a couple of weeks until i am a big whole one! I'm so excited about my birthday. A lot has happened recently, i've been trying new foods like muffin and chocolate, but i have also been a bit poorly and have been told by the doctors i have to go for an EEG scan on my brain. I keep having little moments where my body goes tight and my head goes floppy, and my eyes roll back. It upsets and frightens me and i have about two or three a day, sometimes more. I hope there is nothing too badly wrong. Mummy and daddy are worried but i have told them i will be brave. I will let you know how i get on.   Mon, 14 Mar 2005 Hello there! So sorry i've been so naughty and not written again. Forgive me???? So much has happened, where do i begin? My teeth are showing now, i feel very grown up. I am in 6-9 month clothes, Dr.Thompson saw me last week and has said i can come off all my drugs except my vitamins and inhaler! Wow! She was very impressed and is not too concerned about my right side, but she is reffering me for physiotherapy just to check. Any excuse for me to see the nice friendly nurses! he he! I do not need to see dr.Thompson till August! I had my naming day, it was so lovely. I wore a suit, i'll put some pictures up in my gallery. Mummys singing students sang for me, i loved it, i felt very special all day. Mummy and daddy had saved the top tier of their wedding cake from nearly 4 years ago ready for my naming day! They were worried it might not taste nice but it all went so i guess it was fine! What a special day surrounded by my extra special fmily. Uncle Daz and cousin Daisy stayed over, we had such fun. Me and daisy are great friends as well as cousins we hold hands a lot. Uncle Daz is lots of fun too.   Sat, 19 Feb 2005 Guess what! My two bottom teeth are showing! Al i can say, is "ouch"!   Sat, 22 Jan 2005 I got a highchair today! Mummy and Daddy were looking at different tupes, all different prices, and they sat me in one to try. I Loved it, and laughed and smiled. They thought "Thats the one!" and of course, typical me, it was the most expensive!!! Mummy and Daddy say I'm worth it though. I feel very grown up having my dinner in my highchair. I had my flu jab yesterday too, and i was really brave. I didn't even cry or flinch. Mummy was brave too! i got a sticker saying "i was very brave at the doctors today". Mummy stuck it on my red book. I'm very proud of myself!   Mon, 17 Jan 2005 I'm feeling a whole lot better. I think my first tooth might be on its way. My cheeks are red and i'm crying quite a lot, it really hurts my little pink gums. But, if i can just be brave it will all be worth it, i'll feel such a special big grown up boy when i get my first tooth!   Sat, 08 Jan 2005 Hello, i'm so much better now. I'm learning lots of new things...i can take my dummy out and put it back in, i can laugh, kick my legs, grab things (and try to eat them!) and give kisses (wet ones!) So many new things to learn!   Sun, 02 Jan 2005 Happy New Year Everyone! 2004 was a big year for me. I was born, i stayed in hospital, came home, had my first christmas, and then went into hospital again! On 29th December i had to go into the ward, i had a bad cough and a temperature. Mummy and Daddy thought it best to get me checked out, so the doctors kept me in. We were all worried at first as the doctors said they thought it could be meningitis, as i had spots on my face. Luckily the tests were negative. I'm home now, they were very kind and let me have new year at home, we got in at 5 to 12! Just in time to see Big Ben and the fireworks on the telly, but i was fast asleep. I had to have a cannula put in, i really cried as it hurt, because i had so many when I was in gosset my viens are a bit weak so it was hard to do but in the end i was brave. I still have it in as i need to go in for my antibiotics every day but on sunday it should come out, hooray! I look like i have a big moon boot on. Luckily, i didn't need to go back on my oxygen, what a clever chap i am! What a great christmas i had! I was so spoilt. Santa gave lots of presents to my family to give to me. Everyone was so kind and it was lovely spending time with everyone. Nanny, Grandad, Nanna, Grandad, Uncle Daz, Auntie Nicola, Cousin Daisy, Auntie Sarah, Uncle Tom, Great nanna and Grandad, Great Uncle Trev and Great Auntie Carol along with Tony, Nikki and Jamie, and all of the other family members i saw! Thank you all for my lovely presents. Some of my favourites were some puma trainers from uncle daz, a fimbling feeling florrie from Nanny and Grandad, a yellow bear from Auntie Sarah and a Birmingham City kit from Nanna and Grandad (with my name on the back!) What a lucky boy! Thank you to everyone for making my first christmas very special. Lots of lights, laughter, colour and fun.   Sun, 19 Dec 2004 Well, today was the BIG day! I came off my oxygen. We videoed it and cut the cannulas in a little ceremony! (its ok we kept some spares!) and it was so nice being off it all day. I went for a celebratory meal with my friend Grace, and her Mummy and Daddy,Sarah and Ian. We had such fun. Grace "gave me five" and everything i felt very important! I had parsnip, potato and cauliflower in a jar. Its a big milestone today. Very exciting. I have put some new pictures on my gallery, hope you like them! Happy Christmas Everyone!   Mon, 13 Dec 2004 this is great news everyone, what a christmas present! from now until saturday, i have to go on my oxygen for 4 hours a day. Then, after Saturday, i can come off it altogether! I'm so excited!   Sat, 11 Dec 2004 I met santa today! He hugged me and had a proper beard! He was really friendly, we bumped into him in Debenhams. He must have been getting some presents ready for everyone. Cool!   Fri, 10 Dec 2004 Hello! It went well at the doctors...i have been a very good boy and they are all impressed with me! I met up with some of my friends from Gosset and they are all looking so well! Its nice to see my old friends. Mummy forgot it was the Gosset christmas party (silly mummy) so i didn't get to see Santa, but she and daddy have promised we can see him soon. I hope so. I now weigh around 13lb 10oz, wowee! a far cry from my birth weight. I am making noises, laughing a lot and find lots of things funny, especially daddy doing funny noises and mummy doing funny dancing. I have such a big smile, it can almost light up the room!   Tue, 07 Dec 2004 Guess what! Got my first ever christmas card today! It was from Nanny and Grandad. I helped to open it, it was in a very exciting red envelope! I was so pleased. I've been trying lots of new foods in baby jars. Parsnip, potato, cottage pie, carrots and sweetcorn, mixed vegetables, and my favourite, Apple and banana custard! Yummy! But messy! I'm looking forward to christmas dinner, wearing a hat and having fun. How exciting!   Sun, 05 Dec 2004 Hello! I've tried overnight off my oxygen, my sats were very impressive in the morning! (but the printer noise was annoying all night!) i am very proud of myself! I am going to see the doctor next week and hope she will take me off some more of my drugs. Theres so many to remember! I'm growing and getting stronger and love to smile and laugh. I'm very excited about christmas and we have put our tree up and decorations. Santa knows if you've been good or not so hopefully i have been good enough to get some presents! I am still enjoying my big baths, they are such fun. Also i have a big denim beanbag where i love to take naps in. I have a bit of a cough right now but i am being strong and getting better. So far so good!   Mon, 29 Nov 2004 Gosh, its been such a long time since i have written! I'm so sorry, but life is so hectic! So much has happened since i last wrote! I've had a bath in a proper grown up bath, i have been getting lots of cuddles, treats and love (as usual!) and having such fun. My fundraising night for Gosset and Bliss was soooooo exciting! I stayed awake until 10pm and watched mummy and all her friends sing, and then the auction and the raffle, and i even danced at the disco with mummy! We raised £1421.08! wow! i was so pleased. If you are reading this and you took part or were involved in any way, thank you so much, you were all very kind. i am now allowed to try going without my oxygen over night, and be on for some of the day. Its very exciting, i could be off my oxygen by christmas! I have some new pictures in my gallery, and i promise i will write more often, now i have a letter to Santa to write....such a busy boy!   Sat, 13 Nov 2004 hello! just a quick one as i am very tired...tonight i'm spending my first night in my cot! Its in mummy and daddys room still, but i feel ever so grown up! I was just getting far too big for my moses basket! Its really roomy in my cot and i have blankets and a mobile, cool! I'll put up some new pictures of me in it soon. I'm off to have a good nights sleep in my new bed! Goodnight!   Thu, 04 Nov 2004 I'm so naughty aren't i? I haven't wriiten in my diary for ages! I'm so sorry, i guess i've just been so busy. I have been on trips out, i went to visit nanny and grandad ian at thier house, and on saturday i am going to see grandad and nanna kath. How exciting! Hopefully i'll see some fireworks, as i love lights. I'm waiting to be weighed at the moment, wonder how much i will be???? I now have 10 hours a day off my oxygen and on sunday that will go up to 11. cool! All is looking well and i seem to have got rid of that nasty cough i had, all by myself! If you would like to come to my charity night or help in any way, you can email my mummy and daddy, they can tell you all about it. Well, i best get dressed now as i have had my milk and now want to play! Bye Bye for now!   Sun, 24 Oct 2004 Today, Mummy and daddy took me for a walk and daddy carried me in my papoose! Its was great fun looking at all the autumn colours on the trees and seeing squirrels running about. I'm now 11lb 2oz, a big boy and fitting into Newborn and 0-3 month clothes. Not bad for a five month old! I have 8 hours off my oxygen right now but tonight we are trying 9 hours and next week, 10! Nearly a whole day off! Wow! I have had a bit of a chesty cough which has made me wheezy. Mummy and Daddy took me to the hospital to check i was ok, but they were pleased with me as my sats were still 99%. My chest was clear too, but they thought i may have a bit of a cold. I'm feeling a bit better but still a bit bunged up. Mummy and Daddy are holding a fundraising night in November to raise money for the ward i was on, and for Bliss. Would you like to come? If you do, you can email Mummy and Daddy on mumanddad@alfiegoodman.co.uk or maybe you could donate a raffle or auction prize? I'd be really grateful!   Fri, 15 Oct 2004 Well what a great time i had with grandma and grandpa! They have gone back to Ecuador now, i will miss them lots. I Loved having cuddles with Grandma and pulling faces at Grandpa! i'm now 10 pounds and 10 ounces! woohoo! I am getting so strong. My legs are very strong. Dr Thompson was very pleased with me, and how i am doing. I am growing in length and my gripping is good with my hands, and she said my neck was really strong! I have been allowed to change two of my drugs (a green one and a sticky orange one) from twice a day to once a day which is good news. I now have seven hours a day off my oxygen and hate going back on to it so i pull my prongs out while mummy and daddy are not looking! I had my photos taken with Mummy and Daddy on tuesday, it was good fun. I'm having another photo shoot on sunday. I'm like a celebrity! I'm getting lots of hair, and smiling lots, even laughing sometimes, especially when mummy and daddy are around.   Thu, 07 Oct 2004 I'm having the best time. Grandma and Grandpa are still here visiting and we are all going out for the day today. Yesterday Grandad and Nanna Kath came to visit me and Nanna Kath pushed me all around the town, and fed me! I had a lovely time. I'm now off my oxygen for 6 hours a day and doing well. I'm socialising a lot too, last Saturday i went to see mummys show, the cast were fantastic and i really enjoyed it, i stayed quiet, and only made some noise when mummy sang! There was lots of music and pretty lights, and great dancing and singing and acting. This saturday i am going to my friend Mitchell's charity night, its a band night to raise money for the ward we were both in. Next tuesday i am going to see Dr.Thompson to get a check up. I am looking forward to saying hi to all my "aunties" at Gosset again too. Goodness, what a busy life i lead!   Fri, 01 Oct 2004 Sorry i have forgotten to write, i'm having too much fun at home to stop and write my diary! I'm off my oxygen for 5 hours a day now and i'm 9lb 9oz! wow! Tommorrow night i'm going to watch my mummy's show, its really exciting. I had great fun at the bliss day and was very good at the crece, Mummy cried but was soon ok when she saw i was having fun. She looked after my Fimble for me while i was there, in case it got lost. I Love my fimble. Its been with me since i was born,in my incubator and now i take it everywhere.   Fri, 24 Sep 2004 Well hello! I've been so busy! meeting new people, going out on trips, walks and adventures! I'm now 8lb 7oz! Wow! I've got lots of excitement coming up this week, I'm 20 weeks old on Sunday! On Saturday, i'm going to the Bliss Family Day, where i can meet other babies who were born early and spent time in a hospital. Mummy and Daddy can meet the parents too to have a chat. While they do that, i'm going to play in the creche! Mummy is nervous as its the first time she will have left me at a creche but the people at Bliss are lovely, i will have great fun. Also i am going to the Gosset Ward Support Group Meeting next week, to see all the other babies and mummies and daddies who were in the ward with me. Bet they have all grown! I now have 4 hours off my oxygen and love having playtime (as well as naps!) I like falling asleep to lullabies, my favourite is "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".   Sat, 18 Sep 2004 well a lot has been happening...i'm messing about with my feeds a bit, i can never decide when, or how much to eat! But i'm growing well, i'm a whopping 8lb and 2oz! Mummy and Daddy are looking after me so well and playing with me lots, i feel guilty when i wake them up at night but i just want to play with them all the time! I'm having my third set of immunisations on tuesday, mummy is scared because she has to take me and she doesn't want to see me have it done. But I've told her that i'm going to be a brave soldier, and so should she. Ouch. They do hurt though. But worth it. Mummy and me are having a day out with Mummys best friend Sarah and her daughter Grace next week. Me and Grace will be in the same year at school, how cool is that? We are going to go shopping and have fun, Daddy told me to make sure mummy doesn't buy another handbag, so i have to keep a lookout.   Tue, 14 Sep 2004 what an exciting week! I'm now off my oxygen for 3 hours a day, and everyone seems pleased with me! I went on my first "big day out" to my cousin Daisy's Birthday party, she was one. It was such fun, there was toys and games, i played pass the parcel! I had a great time. Grandma and Grandpa have come to visit England and they have loved playing with me and cuddling me, its been really exciting meeting all my family and getting lots of hugs! I am due to be weighed again tommorrow, i'm 7lb 6oz at the moment....impressive eh? I'm now fitting into new born clothes...just about.   Mon, 06 Sep 2004 Hey, great news...I'm now allowed off my oxygen for 2 hours a day! Next week we hope it will go to 3 hours. I'm very proud of myself. I've been having such fun at home...meeeting new people, going into town shopping and playing with Mummy and Daddy. They sing to me, talk to me, cuddle me and play games with me, its such fun. We are a very happy family. Penfold the cat loves me too, he hasn't got jealous and he watches me from the other side of the room while i sleep to protect me like a big brother should. I'm now 6lb 14 1/2 (big fella!) and gaining weight well. What a clever boy!   Wed, 01 Sep 2004 Hello! I went to see the doctors today for my check up...they were very pleased. I went to see the nurses in Gosset too, and gave them some chocolates from My Nanny and Grandad. The doctors say i'm doing well, i'm now 6 pounds 10! what a big boy! And I'm allowed 1 hour a day off my oxygen. It was Daddys birthday today so i got him some DVDS and me mummy and daddy are having a photo session done too. He had a good birthday because i was good! Happy Birthday to the best daddy in the whole universe!   Sun, 29 Aug 2004 i had a great day today, i went out for a meal with Mummy, Daddy, Auntie Sarah, Uncle Tom, Nanny, Grandmad, Nanna Kath, Grandad Ian, Uncle Trevor, Auntie Carol, Cousins Jamie Tony and Nikki and Cousin Harry. It was great fun. They all had a cavery and i had milk. Yummy. It was quite a lot to handle as everyone was looking at me and i got a bit tired so Mummy and Daddy took me home and the others joined me later when i opened some presents. I got a baby gym from Grandmad and Nanna Kath and a cool tracksuit from Auntie Sarah and Uncle Tom. I finally got to cuddle everyone....cool!   Fri, 27 Aug 2004 HOORAY!I'M HOME!!! I Came Home On Wednesday afternoon which none of us were expecting! It was so exciting, i got into my car seat and off i went, home to where i really belong. The first thing i did was have a nice cuddle on the sofa with Mummy and Daddy while Jan the oxygen lady showed us all how my equipment works. Then i met Penfold...my 'brother' who is a big black cat. Hes really friendly and well behaved and has been sniffing me and saying hello. Uncle Darren and Auntie Nicola lent me a lovely swingy chair and bought me a great bouncy chair too and i have been having fun in those....i have been feeding well (yum yum) and sleeping well in the night although i am a bit scared of the dark at the minute as the lights were never off in the hospital. Mummy and Daddy are having such fun with me, its never ending. I have had some visitors and i'm looking forward to my family meal on Sunday. Tommorrow (28th August) is when my birthday was supposed to be so Nanny and Grandad Ian are coming over for a party. Mummy and Daddy have bought me a bob the builder cake...cool. I'm having candles and party food. I will put some lovely pictures of my party on to my new album..."alfie at home". What a great adventure and its only just begun!!!   Tue, 24 Aug 2004 Well...this is it. I go home on Thursday morning. I can't wait, Mummy and Daddy are excited too. It seems so long ago that we were wishing for this day and now its nearly here! Wow! I have had a lovely time on Gosset (apart from the injections and cannulas) and the nurses have been so sweet...its been a lovely stay but i can't wait to get home. What an adventure, its so exciting. Just like my Harry Potter book, i feel like i have completed chapter one and now moving on to chaper two. I'm a very lucky little man. My mummy and daddy love me very much and the nurses and doctors have been so wonderful...angels in fact. And don't worry, i'll keep writing in my diary and letting you know everything i am doing so keep visting my site for updates and pictures! I will tell you all about my first day at home and how well behaved i was, and pictures of me in my new home. The truth is, i could not have done so well without all of you being so kind and rooting for me all the time. Thank you, you are all my best friends.   Mon, 23 Aug 2004 Well the time is nearly here. These last few days have been so exciting i have forgotten to write! Sorry! i have been staying with Mummy and Daddy overnight in room 10, (i kept them awake a bit...but i'm getting better) and having baths, Mummy and Daddy have been trying to get everything ready at home (Mummy says she "doesn't know where to begin"...not sure what that means) and all the nurses have been coming to see me. I can't wait until Wednesday or Thursday....i could be going home! Mummy and Daddy just need to wait for the oxygen to get installed. Its so exciting, a new adventure will soon begin. Mummy and Daddy can't wait to get me home and introduce me to everyone, all their friends and family who have been really supportive and helped them. Most of all, i can't wait to be a family at home just watching cartoons on TV or going for a nice walk together. Its so exciting. We all love each other so much its going to be a perfect, happy, family home.   Tue, 17 Aug 2004 Are you ready for this?.........i got a date to go home! Next week! Either Wednesday or Thursday, we hope. The oxygen is being installed at home and i cannot wait! Mummy and Daddy have butterflies and can't quite believe its happening! So much to take in! I get to meet all my family, see my home, get settled and we can be the family we have always dreamed of! Lets hope this week flies by.......there will be a new photo album soon on my gallery all about the day i come home! And don't worry, i'll still be doing my website to tell you all how i'm doing! I know its a week away but i'll take today to say thank you to all of you...for having me in your prayers and thoughts, for visiting my site, for supporting Mummy and Daddy and for insipring and strengthening us as a family. I hope you will all keep writing in my guestbook and looking at my pictures. It makes me smile inside to know i've been such a popular little chap. And its made Mummy and Daddys dreams come true to finally see the end of my 'hospital' journey. The real adventure starts next week!   Mon, 16 Aug 2004 oh my goodness what an exciting day!!!!! They phoned Jan today to get the home oxygen arranged....yes you heard it again, the word HOME. It looks like i will be on oxygen for a while but thats ok...its really not that much trouble and its making me stronger. My sats monitor was taken away so mummy and daddy can judge me by my colour not a number on a screen. I'm on full bottle feeds (yum yum!) and ready to go home, the doctors are very pleased! Hopefully as soon as the oxygen is set up at home then i can go! Mummy cried, she rang daddy and he cried. Then i cried. I also had my eyes done and don't need them checked again, the man said my eyes were great! Oooh what an eventful day....just think...two weeks and i could be home! I can't wait!!!!!   Sat, 14 Aug 2004 Today i spent most of the day alone with Mummy and Daddy in room ten, a special private room. I took lots of bottles today, think i might have just mastered my feeding! Mummy has tried breastfeeding me but i get too excited and can't latch on, so she tried a bottle and i was much better on it. Plus, having bottles means Daddy can feed me too! I'm still having Mummys milk in the bottles though. Hopefully the doctors will be pleased on Monday. I had a bath too and loved it as usual. Mummy and Daddy bought me some new bibs now that i'm feeding well. My nasal prongs keep falling out of my nose, they are getting very annoying. Heres hoping i can get rid of them soon! Maybe my feed tube will be next to go, then my sats monitor, then the oxygen is all thats left.....nearly there!   Fri, 13 Aug 2004 Another good day today, i took 4 bottles in a row today, and in total 6 out of my 8 feeds today were bottles! The doctors are chuffed with me. They spoke again about oxygen at home today, saying its best they start the process for home oxygen as it can take a while and they can always cancel it. When i'm on bottles all the time my feed tube can come out (hoorah!) and they may try me off the oxygen, see how i get on. Scary, but exciting at the same time.   Wed, 11 Aug 2004 I am saying only one thing...the "H" word was mentioned today. All i need to do is get onto bottles every feed and then a decision will be made about either weening me off my oxygen or sending me home on oxygen. What a wedding anniversary gift for mummy and daddy!   Mon, 09 Aug 2004 mmm....today i was very windy. (oh hold on, here comes another burp....******* pardon me!) and my consultant came to see me and mummy. She checked me over and said i was a big boy. Well I am, I'm 5lb 1oz!!!! wowee! But, she said it might be likely that i will go home on oxygen and i certainly won't be going home until after my due date. I took two bottles today and really enjoyed them so mummy is going to breastfeed me sometimes and Daddy can bottle feed me sometimes. Its good to share. What matters most is i get my feeding sorted first, then they can look at my oxygen. To mummy and daddy, what matters most is that i am happy and safe but they are so desperate to get me home. I'm looking forward to seeing my room and meeting Penfold the cat. The doctors say i've been good but that home oxygen is likely and i may not be home until after 28th August. Well, I've proved the doctors wrong before, looks like I'll have to do it again....   Sun, 08 Aug 2004 oh my goodness such a lot has happened! Where do i begin? I'm now in the Nursery, the grown up room! Also, i went for a walk with Mummy and Daddy to the Hospital Canteen in a buggy, with a portable cylinder! How cool is that??? Mummy and Daddy have been allowed to spend lots of time alone with me, bathing me and cuddling me. Mummy just needs to get my feeding sorted, its all very exciting. I'm really looking forward to all my new adventures, especially going home!   Fri, 06 Aug 2004 I'm in a proper little cot! Mummy and Daddy think it looks like an ice cream tub and that i look really cute in it. I had a lovely day today, Me, Mummy and Daddy had a room to ourselves it was just perfect.   Thu, 05 Aug 2004 I've got the most exciting news....doctor thompson came to see me today.....I'm allowed off my CPAP ALL THE TIME!!!!!! Hoorah! Its gone! Mummy and Daddy were so pleased they decided to have a special meal at home to celebrate. But, when they got home it had been heavy rain and the shops were shut. So, they got a take away to celebrate instead. I had a lovely dinner of milk and a nice relaxing sleep to celebrate and dreamt of mummy and daddy and how happy i will be to go home. Not long now i hope!   Mon, 02 Aug 2004 Hello! I'm now allowed 6 hours overnight on my CPAP....soon it will be gone! I had a breastfeed again today and really drank lots (yum yum) and Daddy gave me a bath which i really enjoyed. Grandad and Nanna Kath came up at the weekend to help mummy and daddy do my nursery, i will post a picture of it when its done. Plus I now weigh 4lb 10oz!!! what a big boy I am now!. Ooh, its so exciting, its only 4 weeks until i was due to be born!   Sat, 31 Jul 2004 I'm still doing well! I had another breast feed today but with the aid if a little teet, i found it much easier and mummy really enjoyed it, i've taken to it really well. I'm loving my nasal prongs, just can't wait to get rid of the CPAP! I've had a cot mobile put on my incubator, i love looking at the teddies and the ducks on it and listening to the teddy bears picnic music. Today Daddy drove a ferrari, i won it for him for fathers day, he had great fun and told me all about it. When i'm rich and famous, i'll buy daddy a ferrari of his own.   Wed, 28 Jul 2004 another good day! I'm allowed on my nasal prongs ALL DAY! but i have to go back on the nasty CPAP overnight for 8 hours. I coped really well on the prongs today. Hopefully my time on the CPAP will decrease as i get better. I'm only in a small amount of oxygen in my prongs which is good. I'm feeling on top of the world! Mummy and Daddy bought my buggy today, its very cool. I can't wait to have my first ride in it! How exciting! And Nanny bought me a cot blanket and a height chart with a giraffe on. One Day, I'll be big and tall!   Mon, 26 Jul 2004 Well, what an eventful couple of days! I'm now 4lb and 3oz, a realistic weight gain now that i'm on my diuretics. Well done me! I had my immunisations and i was very brave indeed...mummy made me a bravery certificate as i did so well and didn't cry. I was very brave. I'm now on 8 hours off my CPAP at a time and in my nasal prongs rather than my headbox (my sauna!) which is great because Mummy and Daddy can take me out for cuddles regulary without lots of wires all over the place. Its so nice to have a free face! Also, mummy has started breastfeeding me, only once a day but its very exciting. I have a few sucks but then i get too excited and wriggle around, but i'll get the hang of it. And, i had my first bath today! It was so much fun. Mummy washed my head while she had wrapped me in a towel, it was so relaxing i almost fell asleep and everyone came to see me! They were all pleased with how well i did. Then i went completely in the bath and had bubbles and water splashed all around me, it was great! Then i was snuggled up in a towel and got dried off, put in my new outfit and a new hat to keep my head warm and got tucked in for bed. I was so relaxed from my bath i fell straight to sleep!   Fri, 23 Jul 2004 Still feeling good! Mummy and Daddy are very proud, but nervous as i may be having my immunisations this weekend, it might make me a bit grotty for a day or two. But, i need to have them so i will try my best to be brave.   Thu, 22 Jul 2004 Well Well Well....My oxygen requirement is lowering, my saturations are high and all day i've been called a "good boy". I feel so happy. I think i might just be back to my old self! I was weighed today and I'm just under 4lb, so that shows what a lot of fluid i was carrying. Lets hope for a positive week!   Wed, 21 Jul 2004 I'm still feeling well...so far so good! I was in only a small amount of oxygen today on my CPAP, and a little more in my headbox, but i was wide awake lots and happy. I have been "doing my business" for England since i started the diuretics...they are certainly working. Its weigh day tommorrow so i think i may have lost a bit. Considering i needed around 4 nappy changes in the space of 1/2 hour i am pretty certain my weight will have gone down a bit! I'm still on Mummys milk, 45mls! wow! But when mummy can't get enough for me (she tries her hardest) i have a formula milk. I was on Pre-Aptimil, especially for premature babies, but now i'm on Aptimil...for big grown up boys.   Tue, 20 Jul 2004 I look like a different baby today! I'm feeling much better. I'm a lot less swollen, i think the diuretics are helping a lot. Mummy and Daddy showed the nurses some photos of me from yesterday and they could not believe how much my swelling has gone down! My oxygen is getting lower and i am a lot happier. Still a bit windy and the diuretics make me go to the toilet a lot but that means i am losing all the horrid extra fluid. It makes it easier for me to breathe. Mummy and Daddy were happy too, they don't like to get too excited but they are hoping that things will start going well again now...i'll try my best. Mummy and Daddy were so pleased. They told me to keep up the good work and they might treat me to a climbing frame and slide in the garden! Cool.   Mon, 19 Jul 2004 I have been a bit poorly over the last couple of days. I've needed a bit more oxygen than usual but the nurses have given me some medicine and i'm starting to feel a bit better. I've got a bit more colour in my cheeks now. I'm also very swollen and puffy which is making me sore and makes me cry, but i've got some medicine called a diuretic (i think thats how you spell it) to make me wee more and get rid of all the horrid fluid. As a result i've gone up to 4lb and 5oz! What a big boy! But a lot of that might be fluid. I still feel big and strong though. Hopefully as the medicines reach every part of me over the next few days i will start to be back to my old self. I'm having more time on my CPAP at the moment so i can get big and strong (well, bigger and stronger!) I think i'm being very brave.   Sat, 17 Jul 2004 I'm feeling very good today. I'm holding my temperature well so they have turned the heat off in my incubator, so i'm basically now in a very trendy cot! My eyes are fine and i'm still coping well with 6 on/6 off my CPAP. Lots of nurses came in to see me today and all think i have grown, even mummy and daddy do! What do you think? why not have a look at my latest pictures and let me know!   Fri, 16 Jul 2004 Hey! I'm 3lb 14 ounces! Quite a big weight gain so the nurses are keeping an eye on me. I'm doing better with my oxygen, its all looking promising so please keep thinking positive thoughts for me! I'm having my eyes tested again today, its really uncomfortable but Gemma said shed hold my hand. Mummy can't be there as there is a doctor looking at her today too, to check she is getting better. Shes still on the tablets for her blood pressure and the doctors need to test it. I will think of Mummy and Mummy will think of me.   Wed, 14 Jul 2004 Excellent news today! the doctor who came to see me says that i do not have a hernia! Its simply swelling that needs time to go down, how good is that? It means i wont have to go for an operation at another hospital. I was kind of excited about going in an ambulance (i was going to ask if they'd put the sirens and lights on) but deep down, i'm so glad that its all ok. Mummy and Daddy were so pleased. Mummy cried again, but happy tears. My oxygen is still coming down but has to go up a bit when i come out for cuddles, its too exciting. Also, i am having quite bad wind. Today (this is quite embarrassing) i was having my nappy changed by Julie one of the nurses, and as she changed me i,erm, "poo'd" everywhere again in my incubator, it even delayed my breakfast it took so long to clear up! Worst of all, i completely coated the new tortoise teddy that mummy bought me! oops. Julie asked me how i was going to explain myself to mummy but i just smiled at her, and she forgave me! I've got such an innocent look really! Julie very kindly cleaned my toy and mummy took it home to wash in the machine. Oops.   Tue, 13 Jul 2004 Well i lost a bit of weight this weigh in because last weigh in i was very swollen and since then, i have had some medicine to get rid of all the excess fluid. I have lost half an ounce, so thats not too bad. On the plus side though, i'm a lot less puffy, its nice to not be so swollen. I should gain a bit of weight on Thursday, my next weigh day. I'm so excited about getting closer to 4 pounds, I cant wait! My oxygen requirements are getting lower, meaning my strength is coming back slowly. I am now allowed 3 hours off my CPAP twice a day, so hopefully it won't be long until i am back to 6 on and 6 off, which is where i was before i was poorly. a big important doctor came to look at my possible hernias today to see if they may need an operation, please keep your fingers crossed that i do not need one. Mummy and Daddy should find out tommorrow. Also, i had a knee xray which is a common thing, again the results should be out tommorrow. Overall, i'm feeling a lot better.   Sun, 11 Jul 2004 I'm eight weeks old today! My oxygen levels are certainly improving, slowly but surely i'm getting better and better. The doctors think i may have a hernia, so they are going to check it out over the next few days. If they do have to operate, it won't be until i go home or unless it starts to cause me pain. At the moment, its all ok. I have had my feed tube put into my nose now as i kept pulling the one in my mouth. I hated it as it tickled the back of my throat and i kept tugging it out (I love pulling at wires and tubes, i really like to pull my CPAP off at every opportunity!) but i must say its really nice having the tube out of my mouth. Hopefully soon i can start to be fed properly by mummy and i will have no feeding tube at all! Weigh day tommorrow, might not have put much on as i have been swollen and had some medicine to help me lose the excess fluid from last week. But i'm edging ever closer to four pounds which is so exciting! The bigger i get, the stronger i get. I can now lift my head up really well and even turn it to either side! How strong!   Sat, 10 Jul 2004 Hello, I'm so sorry i haven't written in a while but i have been concentrating all my energies on getting better (and listening to Harry Potter-nearly finished the first book now!) I am feeling a lot better now and my oxygen requirements are starting to come down. They are still a little bit too high for me to go on Nasal prongs and the doctors want to keep me in the headbox but thats ok, i will keep getting stronger and soon i will be back at the stage i was before i was poorly. They are also saying i should keep at my two hours off twice a day so i do not struggle too much. I've been wearing lots of new clothes, and getting lots of presents, i'm very spoiled. Tomorrow is my eight week birthday at 12.14! Maybe you'd like to have a drink to me or light a candle. Its nice to know you all think of me so often, i think thats why i'm so strong. Thank you.   Wed, 07 Jul 2004 Got my head scan results back today and theres no change, which is great news. It will not go away completely, but its nice to know that things are not getting any worse. Mummy and daddy were very relieved. I feel a lot better too, i came off my CPAP today for an hour this morning and an hour this evening and tolerated it well, so thats good news too. Gemma, one of my favourite nurses, is looking after me tonight so Mummy and Daddy went home feeling very positive overall. I was sleeping soundly (almost!) when they left, sucking away on my dummy. Its nice to feel better. Mummy and Daddy have said they want to let me rest as much as possible over the next day or so, so i can really recover. I think thats a good idea. I got my first parcel in the post today at home, Nanny bought me some clothes and they are very trendy. Can't wait to wear them!   Tue, 06 Jul 2004 I'm feeling a bit better today, but still a bit groggy because of my infection. I had a repeat head scan today, the results should come back in a couple of days. They also measured my head circuference too. Mummy and Daddy are feeling sad today, its hard work for them. But i've told them (in my own special way) to think of all the positive things: I'm still in my open incubator, i'm tolerating my feeds, i'm gaining weight and i'm strong enough to cry! So, all it is, is that i'm feeling a bit low because my immune system isn't as strong as it should be. But the more weight i gain, the stronger it will become. Its hard for them because they feel like they cannot help me sometimes, but just having them there makes all the difference. And i got to chapter sixteen of Harry Potter! Only a day or so until we can start on book two! Its great to hear their voices. The nurses said that mummy and daddy could bring in a cd walkman soon to softly play me music, which will be great. What CD shall i listen to first.....?   Sun, 04 Jul 2004 I've now been moved back into room two, where i was before. I feel like i'm always moving house! But its fun because i see new surroundings all the time. I'm enjoying my open incubator and holding my temperature well. Mummy and Daddy are getting tired but still come and see me every single day...i really enjoy seeing them. They stay for such a long time and give me long cuddles and lots of love. I had to have a canular put back in today (ouch) because it seems i may have a bit of a chest infection. The X Ray the doctors took was a bit hazy so they have started me on antibiotics for 5 days. I am feeling happy today though, i'm nice and pink, smiling and chatting a lot, and i even got to wear some jeans and a cardigan today! I felt really grown up. I have my weigh in tommorrow, i'm currently 2lb 12 so hopefully, might get to the big three pounds!   Fri, 02 Jul 2004 Today was very eventful! Mummy came to see me this afternoon and was very surprised to see i'd moved into a new incubator! Its a big posh one where the top comes off so i'm now in a kind of "open cot"! its great fun, and really big. I got to wear a new outfit today too, with a hat and boots! I looked very smart even if i do say so myself! You can see the new pics of me in my new incubator and outfit in my gallery. I'm now off CPAP into my nasal prongs for 8 hours twice a day and i also had my eyes tested today but they didn't see anything too bad, which is good news. I've also been put on an inhaler so my lungs get stronger. So, i've been a good boy today, hope you like the new pictures!   Wed, 30 Jun 2004 Well I am feeling a lot better today and looking forward to my weigh in tommorrow...I'm so excited about getting ever closer to 3 pounds! The doctors are going to do a head scan on me every week to check on the cyst, and mummy and daddy are happy because the doctors have answered all their questions. I came out for an extra long cuddle with mummy and daddy today, in my nasal prongs. I'm on these now when i'm off CPAP, instead of being in my headbox. Theres some pictures of me with my nasal prongs on in the gallery. I like them because it means i can come out for a cuddle. They used to make me sneeze but its not so bad now. The nurses say i'm doing well and always come to check up on me, even when they are off duty! It makes me feel ever so special.   Mon, 28 Jun 2004 Well, today was a bit different. The consultant asked to see Mummy and Daddy and told them that they have found a cyst on my brain. This was spotted on a recent brain scan. Its a little cyst on the left hand side of the brain. Mummy and Daddy were so upset. But the doctors have explained everything. Its a high chance that i will have some difficulty when i am older with movement. This could be just a limp, or something almost un-noticable apart from when i run for example. Or, it could be more serious such as cerabal palsy or me being unable to walk. But, there is no way of knowing until i start to get bigger and develop. The doctors will monitor me closely and also the physios will look at me too as i get bigger, so they can see whats wrong. Mummy and Daddy are so scared, but also they sat with me today for 10 hours by my incubator, telling me that no matter what, they love me just the same and always will, and I'm Alfie, and thats what matters most. They told me they are being strong for me and although i know they have been upset, i know they will love me and care for me and thats all i need. Nothing will affect the love that they give to me, they love me very much. They told me today how special and loved i am, and that made me happy. I behaved myself today and i am doing very well, i'm not in any pain. The doctors also said that despite the news, they are very impressed with my progress and i am doing really well, better than expected in fact. Even though i've come across a hurdle it won't affect when i'll be going home or anything. Mummy can start trying to breast feed me in a couple of weeks and I'm now 2lb 9oz. So hey, life may throw some obstacles at you, but strength and love can help you get over anything.   Sat, 26 Jun 2004 Today i have been on and off CPAP for 6 hours at a time, and coping well. My oxygen requirements are a little higher than usual but thats ok, what matters is that i am comfy and cosy. I'm looking forward to weigh in on Monday too, and Mummy and Daddy are coming in early on Monday to see my consultant and talk all about me and my progress. Who knows, i may even get a gold star! I am wearing lots of outfits now, got changed back into my Toys outfit today as mummy brought it in freshly washed. Nanny and Grandad came to see me today too...and bought me LOADS of new clothes, I'm so lucky. Theres a new range of clothes at Adams called AJ04, how appropriate! AJ are my initials (Alfie John) and 04 is my birth year! So i've got lots of clothes from that range such as jeans, tops, cords and jumpers. How smart will i look!!!???   Thu, 24 Jun 2004 i now weigh a whopping 2lbs and 5 oz! how exciting! I came off my CPAP (which, by the way, stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) for 3 hours this morning and three hours this evening, and coped really well. I seem to be very much back to my old self now, i just need to build myself back up to how i was before i was poorly. I have some great new outfits...yesterday i wore one with "toys" all over it, very smart, fitted me perfectly. Today, i wore another one that mummy and daddy got for me, its a little vest with moons on, it says "I see the moon, and the moon sees me". Its nice to cuddle up and go to sleep in. I'm now on 14mls of milk every two hours and coping well.   Wed, 23 Jun 2004 Hello! I'm feeling so much better now. My canular is out (ouch) and i am finished on my antibiotics. As a result, i'm feeling a lot perkier but the nurses do not want to push me too hard. Today i came off my CPAP for 1 1/2 hours into my headbox and tolerated it well. I must be feeling better because i'm being naughty. As mummy and daddy changed my nappy i poo'd quite a lot all over my sheets, my incubator, my leads....you name it. I did it because i knew i'd have to be let out for a cuddle whilst everything was cleaned. Mummy and Daddy changed all my bedding and as the nurses took the incubator apart to find everything i had sprayed, i had a lovely cuddle with mummy and daddy. Ha Ha! the plan worked. The doctors are pleased with my progress too...they say my weight gain is good aswell. Also, my heart leads came off today and so my saturation levels and my heart rate are measured by a single lead on my foot, attached by a plaster. Then i have my temperature lead and my feed tube and thats it! A lot less leads to worry about. Its weigh day tommorrow, I'll let you know how it goes.   Tue, 22 Jun 2004 I'm feeling a lot better today. I'm now...ready for it...a whopping 1002g! I have broken the kilo mark and am now 2lb and 3oz. Wow. The nurses say its a good weight, not too much or too little gain which is good but they are still going to keep on eye on me. The doctors are pleased with how much better i have got. They are letting me have 1 hour off my CPAP twice a day since i have been so good. It wasn't nice being poorly but i am starting to feel much better. Mummy and Daddy bought me some new outfits today specially for babies in incubators, and Nanny bought me some too, my favourite one from Nanny has bunnies and carrots all over it. Can't wait to start wearing them now that i'm better.   Sun, 20 Jun 2004 Happy Fathers Day! Well you will be pleased to know that i am feeling a little bit better today. The medicine i am taking has started to help and i am a lot less grumpy. But, the doctors and nurses do not want to push me too hard, so as a reward for being good i am allowed half an hour in my head box twice a day! I know its not as much as i was on before, but its so much better to take things slowly or i could get tired and poorly again. The nurses are so clever and always do whats right. So, I'm feeling a lot brighter but still need to catch up on some rest. For fathers day i treated Daddy to some gifts. I got him a "Best Daddy" Certificate, a "day you were born" sheet all about my birthdate, some socks (for me!) a top (for me!) with "I Love Daddy" on it and a top for Daddy with "Who's The Daddy?" on it. He liked them lots. I surprised him by putting them on my incubator when he wasn't looking! I also asked mummy to enter a competition on the radio for me...to win daddy a drive around Silverstone in a Ferrari...and guess what? She won! Aren't we clever!? Also i made a lovely card (with help from Gemma the nurse!) for daddy with my footprint and handprint on it. Weigh day tommorrow...apparantly the bigger i get the more my weight gain will increase. I'm looking forward to seeing how i have done this week, but i am not expecting too much as i have been poorly. Heres hoping though that i have done well.   Sat, 19 Jun 2004 Sorry I have not written for a couple of days, but I have not been very well. The doctors have been to see me but they cant find any major problems, which is good news. I am just being very grotty and fidgeting and crying a lot, which really upsets mummy and daddy. They think it might be bad wind that I have and the doctors think that may be the case too, but just to be sure they have put me on some Anti-Biotics and some paracetamol to get rid of any infection that I may have, and these medicines seem to be helping me. I am feeling a little bit better today as mummy and daddy came to see me for most of the day and read some more of my story and held my hand... I like having them around. Hopefully in the next couple of days I will get even better and may even get rewarded with some time in my headbox as they have kept me on CPAP whilst I am poorly which makes my mouth go all dry and gooey, but I am a big strong boy and determined to get better.   Thu, 17 Jun 2004 Mummy called the nurses today to get an update on my all important weigh in...I'm now just over 2 pounds! Hooray! A very big milestone. I feel very big and strong now. I'm becoming a real celebrity too, i was on the front page of my local paper "The Daventry Express" and it was a really nice article. Lots of people want to know about me! Imagine the excitement when i come home! My skin is looking good too today and i am having 6 hours on/6 hours off my CPAP to start building my energy.   Tue, 15 Jun 2004 Well, the last couple of days have been quite eventful. I am now 1 lb and 14oz, only 2 oz off being 2 lb! 2 lb will be a big milestone for me. Mind you, its still so hard to find clothes to fit me. Everythings so baggy! But, i am growing much more every day. I've increased in length by 3cm and my head circumference has got bigger, and mummy and daddy say i am growing every day. I moved on to 3-hourly feeds of 17ml but it was too much for me to tolerate and i got quite bad wind. I was a bit sick but very grotty all day yesterday, crying a lot. It was good i was strong enough to cry but it was hard for mummy and daddy to see me so uncomfortable. But i went back to my headbox and seemed to settle down. The nurses are very good, and have taken me back to 2-hourly feeds of 13ml. When Mummy rang today the nurses said i was going to stay in my headbox till 10pm! Thats ALL day! I'm so excited. Then I'll be on my CPAP from 10pm until 8am tommorrow. I love being in my headbox. It seems to make me stronger too, as i'm so happy. I'm even cracking the odd smile or two now!   Sat, 12 Jun 2004 Today I was allowed 5 hours off my CPAP and in to my headbox which I really enjoyed. Im now allowed to do this twice a day. I was put in a new outfit with winnie the pooh on which I look very smart in. My Auntie Nicola and Uncle Darren came to visit me, but only very briefly because I had been such a good boy (and mummy and daddy pleaded with the nurses). Im really looking forward to meeting my cousin Daisy and playing with her, especially by the pool on holiday! Overall i am still being a good boy and looking forward to my weigh-in on Monday, cant wait to get to 2 pounds!   Thu, 10 Jun 2004 Mummy and Daddy came to see my weigh-in today and really enjoyed it. I am now 1lb 11oz and getting bigger every day. The doctors came round to see me and said I could have 4 hours off my CPAP twice a day, so I was off it for 4 hours this morning and 4 hours this evening and coped really well. My Bradycardics are slowly getting fewer and even when I do have 1 I pick myself up from it. I had a bit of chapter 4 of Harry Potter read to me before I fell asleep, it was the longest chapter so far and mummy had forgotten her glasses! Anyway, tomorrow is another day and some more new experiences are bound to be happening.   Wed, 09 Jun 2004 Quite an exciting day today, I had a great new outfit on! Its a baby grow with a picture of a stork carrying a baby on it. The legs are a bit long but the arms fit me brilliantly, and so does the body. Mummy and daddy got the chance to cuddle me without my CPAP on today, so I was breathing all on my own for at least 20 minutes, just watching my mummy and daddy... I really enjoyed it and so did they! I am now going to be off my CPAP for three hours in the morning, and three hours in the evening. Dr Thompson said I had been good enough to earn three hours, and to be honest it helps my nose to go back to its normal shape. Mummy read me chapter 3 of harry potter tonight and I fell asleep which meant I was nice and settled when mummy and daddy went home. Big day tomorrow, as its weigh day... hope i've put on some more! mummy and daddy are coming to watch and they are very excited.   Mon, 07 Jun 2004 Well...today i was promoted! I've moved into a different room. I'm still in the same incubator (#5) but i'm in room 2. They had two new babies come in to intensive care and it was decided i was the healthiest so i could change rooms, i feel very important. I had a bit of a cry when Mummy and Daddy came, i had quite bad wind and it was making me uncomfortable. I'm now on 10.8mls every two hours and coping well, and came off my CPAP for 2 hours today in my headbox, loved every minute. I had my weigh in and I'm now 1lb 10oz....getting there! Mummy read me some more of my book and i settled down to sleep, after i kicked my blanket off.   Sun, 06 Jun 2004 Well what a day! My 21st Birthday (days again!) and it was quite eventful. I am now on....ready for this?.....10.4mls of milk! But i have this every 2 hours. The canular is out of my hand which mummy and daddy are pleased about, and i had a great kangaroo cuddle with mummy. daddy kissed my hand and it was nice and mummy stroked my hair. Its weigh day tommorrow, wonder if i have put on some more? Plus...I'm a celebrity! I was in the Northampton Paper today. Mummy and Daddy got a copy to show people. I feel like a star already! Not many bradys or drops in sats today, and i had an hour off CPAP again, really enjoyable.   Sat, 05 Jun 2004 Today i came off my CPAP for a whole hour. Also, my feed tube was annoying me so the kind nurses took it out for a bit and replaced it with a thinner one. But when Mummy and Daddy fed me i got a bit over excited and i was sick. That meant new bedding. Mummy and Daddy set up my bed for me, all cosy and warm and i settled down. I cried quite a lot today but thats a good thing, it means i'm well enough to complain! Nanny and Grandad are coming tommorrow which I'm excited about, they have been away for two weeks so it will be interesting to see if they think i have grown.   Fri, 04 Jun 2004 Today i was much better, came off my CPAP for an hour and tolerated it well. Mummy and Daddy read me chaper two of my book, "Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone" and i fell asleep, although i did open my eyes a few times to check they were ok. I Enjoy Mummy and Daddy being around. I dropped my sats a few times but my probe kept falling off, so maybe it wasn't all my fault! I had my feeds, on 5.2mls of mummys milk now and they have put extra vitamins in to make me big and strong. Tommorrow Mummy and Daddy are coming to see me have my time off the CPAP...they get to see my face again! A good Day, I'm very pleased with myself.   Thu, 03 Jun 2004 Today was my 18th Birthday! (18 days that is!) Mummy and Daddy got me a card and a new baby grow especially for premature babies like me. Its tiny, and for 1 1/2 pound babies to 2 1/2 pound babies. Good news as i am now 1lb 8oz. Should fit me perfectly. I was dropping my sats a lot but i think a lot of it was down to me pulling my wires off. They get on my nerves sometimes! I had my nappy changed (lots in there!), i had my mouth cleaned and was, as usual, settled by the time mummy and daddy went home. Mummy doesn't like to leave until i'm settled. My eyes were opening loads and Gemma the nurse took a photo of me last night with my eyes wide open and my mouth wide open too! You can soon see it on my gallery. No Harry Potter chapter tonight, i was setting too many alarms off and keeping the nurses and mummy and daddy too busy.   Thu, 03 Jun 2004 Weigh in morning.....Mummy called the hospital to check the results...(drum roll....) I'm now 692g! That means I've gained 30g which is good news. I had a bit of extra oxygen during the night due to me being off CPAP at 11.30pm but all in all, a good boy.   Wed, 02 Jun 2004 Today was an eventful day. Mummy and Daddy came to see me and the nurses told them i'd been very good. I got a kangaroo care cuddle (skin on skin) with mummy and daddy and chilled out loads. Then when it was time for nappy change i needed three nappy changes! 1) the old one 2) mummy and daddy broke the tabs 3) i did "my business" everywhere (blanket, sheets, nappy, mummys hand...you name it!) Finally, third time lucky nice clean nappy was on. My tummy still measures well and I'm on 5mls an hour. I'm off my CPAP for 1/2 hour in the mornings and evenings, sometimes without a headbox. Such a clever little man. Mummy read me chapter one of "Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone" which i really enjoyed. Only 16 chapters to go!   Tue, 01 June 2004 Guess what??!! I Opened my eyes today! and...the first things i saw were my mummy and daddy! Amazing.   Mon, 31 May 2004 Mummy called the hospital this morning to check my progress and get an update on my weigh in. I was 609g now I am 662g! I am over my birth weight! They did not expect this but said it is not too much of a worry, which is good. I came of my CPAP today for ½ hour and did really well breathing for myself, it is hard work though. The nurses say I am doing very well. My sats were good afterwards and my blood gases were good too. Mummy and Daddy are slowly learning all the terminology! It was very emotional for Mummy and Daddy today as it was the first time they had seen my whole face and head, mummy cried but the nurses gave her some tissues. They said I looked very handsome and gorgeous. Mummy and Daddy put a nice picture of them in my incubator today too, I can’t wait to open my eyes and see it. All in all, a very exciting day.   Sun, 30 May 2004 I was a good boy again today, settled well and kept my sats up. Mummy and Daddy read me some stories today too, it was really nice to hear their voices. It was my two week birthday today so Mummy and Daddy took in some chocolates for the Nurses to celebrate.   Sat, 29 May 2004 I was having quite a good day today, now on 3.5mls of milk per hour. The maximum is 4.4 when all my drips can be taken off, but they are giving me till tomorrow to check I am ok. I had a few bradycardics again when mummy and daddy were with me, it scares them a little bit but I always pick myself back up again. I cried a lot today. It was hard for Mummy to see me crying but my cry is getting louder, which means I am getting stronger. I also had a lot of goo in my mouth, but that is saliva and it means the cpap is working well too. My temperature has dropped a bit so the nurses have put the humidifier back into my incubator. That should help. Mummy is worried but Daddy, as always, is helping her to be strong. They ring the hospital regularly to check I am ok.   Fri, 28 May 2004 New day, new outfit. I was a really good boy during the night and now I have a white outfit on, which I keep pulling my arm out of the sleeve. I am now on 2.5mls of Mummys milk per hour which is good. Its increased by ½ ml every twelve hours and as the milk increases, my vitamins and drips will decrease. A good sign.   Thu, 27 May 2004 My first outfit was put on today! Its still a bit big but I look really snuggle and warm. Its minty green with bears on. I have been good today, a couple of bradycardics (where my heart rate slows down) but the nurses say its ok as I am picking back up by myself. They seem to be impressed with me.   Sat, 22 May 2004 Daddys first nappy change. Nowhere near as messy as Mummys.   Fri, 21 May 2004 Mummy changed my nappy today! She was quite nervous, because I’m so small but I didn’t cause her too much trouble. I am doing exactly what I should be doing in my nappy too (yuck!) which is a good sign. Mummy also cleaned my mouth with a cotton bud (it gets a bit gooey) measured the size of my tummy and took my temperature. Its important that Mummy and Daddy get involved in all my cares.   Tue, 18 May 2004 I came off my ventilator today and am now just on CPAP. This provides air into my lungs to keep them open and healthy, but technically I am breathing for myself, I just need a bit of help. The nurses are so impressed. They say its almost unheard of for a 25 weeker to be off ventilation so quickly.   Sun, 16 May 2004 I was born today! The Caesarean section took place and it was quite scary but at least Mummy and Daddy got to see me before I was taken up to SCBU. I weighed 1lb 7oz, a lot more than they expected, which is good. I was taken straight to the unit and put on a ventilator.