Let’s see… It’s been a nice vacation for sure. Got to spend some quality time with keike, and had some nice personal time to recharge… Sleep, however, is something that was not a major activity during my time off. But, it’s all good. Heidi has been taking the brunt of the feedings and comforting when Hambone cries. I took a day to give mom a well deserved break, but it was not near enough for her I’m sure. We’ve got a bit of a routine worked in now, and hopefully that will help once I return to work on Saturday…

Rhys weighs in at 6 lbs 13 ozs!! He’s been gaining like mad. Which is a surprise since he’s been spitting up like a broken lawn sprinkler, too. The doc says he can spit up as much as he wants since he’s gaining weight. And, besides, she doesn’t have to clean it up. She finished out that statement with a manical laugh. :) Ha friggin ha. :) His doc, however, is the best doc in the world. I couldn’t imaging feeling more comfortable with a pediatrician. :) That’s a major load off my shoulders. We’ve talked to the NICU nurses in email and on the phone. We miss them so much! One of his primary nurses will be seeing him at his next doctor’s appointment! It was so nice of her to call and show an interest. They are truly remarkable people.

In other news, I’m having one of my breakdowns again… ugh… I can’t wait for Rhys to grow up so I can ask him what he wants to do when he grows up — I’m bound to find some good ideas that way! :) I need to do something creative (not necessarily at my job, tho that would be a bonus). My head is just so full lately I can’t concentrate on anything. But, I guess that’s to be expected. What I need right now, is a nice bike ride up the mountain. Something to clear my head. But we have to sell our land before I can get a bike, so it’s still put on the back burner.

All in all life is quite good. We’re happy to have Rhys home. Even in light of all the non-normal things we have to deal with for our son (like oxygen tubes, etc) it is still a major joy. It’s the happiest time in my life right now, and I’m the most miserable and sleep deprived I’ve ever been… Yay! I’m a paradox!

Lastly, Heidi and I celebrated (I use that term loosely) our 6th anniversary on the 25th! Yay!!! I can’t imagine being with anyone else, yet sometimes I’m amazed at how compatable we are in light of how many polar differences we have!! Opposites attract for sure. :)

Take care out there. :) Here’s some pics of Hambone.

Rhys in my favorite outfit for him:

Dad! Can’t you see I’m eating!?

Hey man? Is that bottle for *ME*?

Last is what I found on the couch the other night. Rhys, Mom, and Pouncer (aka: retard)

So… Tired…. Must…. Sleep……. Baby….. Always…. Hungry…..

So, where are we today? Damned if I know… We’re very tired… Exhausted. The important stuff: Rhys is fine. Checkup with doc went good…

I, however, noticed two wasps beginning construction on a nice new nest right outside our backdoor… So, in my sleep deprived stupor I decide to arm myself with a slipper and go play Jedi Knight. ;) The swat manages to knock the new wasp nest to the ground, but the wasps skillfully evaded the swat. :) Apparently they weren’t as tired as I. Next thing you know you hear the battle cries of a super geek as two wasps are attempting to have their way with him. Mind you we haven’t had time to clean up the backyard lately. So, not only am I concerned about being stung by my new found friends, I’m dodging doggie landmines to boot. So, picture a screaming lunatic flailing at the air with a beach slipper, screaming as he dances around on piles of dogshit. :) Yep, that’s where I’m at… God help me….

Rhys’ Co-Sleeper

Well, here we are. That picture above is of Rhys’ co-sleeper attached to Heidi’s side of the bed. We’re home! It’s a very strange feeling. Not as scary as I thought it would be. Not has joyous as I’d hoped it would be. I’m happy he’s home, but I miss his sister so very much. There were supposed to be two babies in that co-sleeper… Considering what we’ve been through, however, I thank the fates we made it to as positive an end as we did. Things could be so much worse. But, I just look into his eyes when I feel like this and just melt. :)

Rhys at home

Rhys was so lucky to have such skilled help from the doctors and nurses. I can’t say enough good things about each and every one of them. True heroes. I’ll be indebted to them for the rest of my life. They are indeed considered family to us and there is nothing I wouldn’t do for any of them. Special thanks to Nurses W, M, and S — Rhys’ primaries — for taking our little man under their wing and really being there for him and championing him. We will miss you guys so very much. Nurse N was there to see us off today. It was so very appropriate that she be the one to do it. She was there for us when Leilani passed, and this sort of helped us close that loop. The doctors are so wonderful. I feel I have to give them a respectful bow and thank them for not only saving my son’s life, but for not taking mine from me when I had my bouts of anger. :) I hope I wasn’t too terrible, pushy, scatterbrained, or nauseating… Last but of course not least. Rhys told me not to forget the RTs! He said that you guys were great! Mom and I agree! Thank you for helping my son breathe. You guys did a great job, and we have one very healthy baby boy to show for your great work. :)

So, with that, we say sayonara to the NICU. I hope I never need to go back there. Except to see all of his aunties, of course. ;)

Well, it’s here. Our last night of freedom, sleep and sanity… It feels so funny saying that because right now I feel like I have none of those things. :) But, it’s all good. Rhys is coming home tomorrow unless something goes wrong. We’re both a bit scared because we’ve seen it happen more than once to other parents. On the day they are to go home something happens and they end up staying another week or two…

Rhys is at 6 pounds 3.2 ounces. He passed his hearing test with flying colors on the first try! His grade 3 brain bleed has completely been absorbed and healed (not to say that there is no damage, but at least we know it won’t be getting worse). He’s eye tests have all come back positive. The only disappointing thing is his need to come home on oxygen. That’s kind of a bummer, but it is pretty typical for preemies.

Today, Heidi had her Baby Shower. It was great! Most of the family showed up. Her sister couldn’t make it because she was sick, which is really terrible since she was one of the sisters putting it together. She decided it best to not spread germs around just before Rhys came home. Her stepmom couldn’t make it because she was busy doing something else… :/ Anyway, all-in-all a good time was had and everyone got along just fine. We got some real nice gifts from our closest friends and Heidi got to have the people who are closest to her all in one room for once. :) She said she enjoyed that the most.

When we got home from the hospital tonight, we found that K-Dawg decided to throw a party of her own. I swear I’m beginning to think the K in K-Dawg stands for Kaegogi. ;) Here’s some pics: 1, 2, 3. Those are bits of peppers, lettuce, drink cups, lunch meats, cake, and other half-eaten party leftovers which are more of party *favors* for puppers.

Lastly I want to share with you the worst bit of marketing I’ve seen yet. Perhaps it won’t strike you as wrong… To me, there are 100 better ways to label your product… But that’s just me. :) Rashstick & Rashspray

Well, the big news around here is Rhys is slated to go home for good on Monday or Tuesday!!! Talk about exciting/scary! He will be going home on oxygen which we are not so happy about, but it’s a small thing. We just found out today right before going to the reception for the funeral for my tita… Talk about mixed emotions…

Anyway, time to move on, and get on with our next chapter of life. I hope to see a new trend form for the years to come. One that might make us smile and laugh. :) We need some good things in our life right now. Rhys coming home is a beautiful start!!!

Oh, and tomorrow is my quit day!!! Yay!!! I should be good and crabby by this time next week!! hehehe

Yesterday my aunt passed away in a tragic car accident. She was not a blood aunt, but so very close to me and my family that she might as well have been. All my life I called her tita, like I do my other Filippino aunts. She and her family have always been there for my family and I. She helped out when she could with advice and other things when both my father and mother were in the hospital (she was an ICU nurse). She was such a strong, intelligent and successful woman. Truly a tragedy to lose her…

My heart goes out to her family and my sincere condolences for the loss of a wonderful woman. The loss is shared by all who knew her. Being that she is not blood I don’t feel it’s my place to really be speaking about this, so I will leave it at this, and of course refrain from using names… Suffice it to say that it has affected Heidi and I, and she won’t be soon forgotten….