Out with the old in with the new.

I couldn't blog yesterday because some of the big people thought it necessary to prod me and stab me all day. They were trying to insert a long line in my arms to replace the one in my tummy, because apparently after 14 days this is no longer usable. I didn't get to see Mummy and Daddy much because every time they arrived the big people in uniforms were surrounding me with various implements. I was very brave whilst all this was going, but by the end of the day I'd had enough. The doctors all said they were relieved that they finally managed to secure a line, I was relieved too! Luckily they finally left me alone and my family could come and see me.

This morning I surprised my parents by having me eyes open for when they came. This was the first time I had done this and I decided that they deserved a little treat, even though they always disappear for long periods of time  (especially when my Nana and Grandad are here). After opening my eyes I immediately got a kangaroo cuddle. This was awesome as usual and I even had my 5ml feed of milk whilst on my mummy's chest.



Just before my parents left I had my head measured again. My dad told me it was to see what size hat the doctors were going to buy me. [It is a twice weekly measurement to see if Felix's brain is releasing liquid - Dad]. I hated having this done. My parents, or the doctors don't understand why I dislike having things like this done, because I seem OK with being injected and prodded, but for some reason a tape measure around my head is just not acceptable!! I cried and shrieked until the doctor was happy with my hat size and put me down.

I keep on hearing people talking about 'returning to Macclesfield' on the condition that I 'poo'. I really wish I could poo now, not being able to has meant that doctors are starting to put things in an area of my body that I didn't know existed. I get regular tummy massages which are not comfortable and have my legs lifted into the air. How embarrassing. So, poo - what ever you are. Please come to me soon.

Felix.

Cuddlelicious!

The other day, Daddy took me out of my incubator to give me a cuddle. The big people call this 'kangaroo care', or 'skin to skin' contact. In the past I've loved this, it makes my heartbeat slow down and my breathing becomes much more stable. The other day though there was a new midwife who thought I shouldn't be disturbed too much. I could see that this confused my parents, but seeing as they wanted the best for me they understood and waited until the afternoon. In the meantime I just fell asleep in one of the four positions I am put in; front, back, left side, right side. I prefer lying on my front, but we can't have what we want all the time can we?
So, where was I? In the afternoon my happy parents returned and Daddy whipped his shirt of in preparation for cuddle time. They asked the nurse for an oxygen tube just in case, but because I was behaving so well in my incubator she didn't really see the need. This worried my Dad and Mum a little so they gave me a little bit of oxygen in the end. What happened next is pretty funny now I look back on it, but my amusement led to me not being cuddled for a few days after.
When I was passed to Daddy, he placed me on his chest and tried to put my arms there too. I was still very tired so I let my arms go floppy. He didn't like this and I could feel his heartbeat pounding faster (but not as fast as mine). One of my four monitors, the one which reads my oxygen count, started playing up. I could feel it slipping off my foot, but because I'm only 9 days old my parents wouldn't have believed me if I told them. They were too busy looking at the plummeting numbers on the monitor. My Dad shouted for the nurse (he was still polite) to pass the oxygen and whilst waiting he picked me up and sat me upright. Still tired, my arms flopped to my side which made Mummy look ever so worried. I then did what most people would have done. After being fed 5 minutes earlier, I was sick. I'd never sat up in my life before and I really, really tried not to be sick because I knew it would make my parents worry - but I couldn't help it. Well what a fuss! I was quickly whisked away from my Dad, placed back into my incubator and then felt very watched for the next few hours.
The next day Mum and Dad visited me lots, but didn't wake me up. They let me sleep and only touched me when they were doing something called 'cares' - basically, annoying me by wiping cold water on my face and talking excitedly about 'poos' again.  Bizarrely, when the doctors open my nappy they talk about 'opening my bowels' I can open my mouth, but that doesn't seem to interest them. They all seem very happy that I opened my eyes for them anyway.
Today - I was cuddled again. I behaved a lot better for them and one of my favourite nurses was there to pass me to mum. I got kissed all over, which makes me smile, and had lots of photos taken of me. I heard Mum and Dad saying 'take that again, It looks like I have a double chin' a lot too.
I now feel very rested and very much loved. I can't wait for my Daddy to try and cuddle me again tomorrow.

Love you all.

Felix xxx