For 4 1/2 months, I’ve had what almost qualifies as an extra appendage.
It’s this big blue contraption.
One end was velcro’d securely around my baby’s chest and the other — the apnea monitor — was slung over my shoulder.
Along with my baby bag.
My purse.
And the infant car seat carrier containing said infant.
Even when I just wanted to carry Meyer around the house in my arms, this machinery was slung over my shoulder.
Asher even learned to carry it around the house for me when we moved from one room to another.
And oh, the beeping.
The horrid, heinously, obnoxiously loud beeping when it alarmed, which at one point was up to 50 times a day (and night).
It got so bad that I was like a cartoon roadrunner whenever anything in my house beeped.
The dryer finishing a load?
The coffee-maker turning off?
A timer?
My legs took off before I did.
And I was always standing in front of the baby, giving him a little shake to make sure he was breathing properly, before I realized it was just the dishwasher ending its cycle.
Or one of Asher’s toys.
Or a low battery on a fire alarm.
You have no idea how many things in your house beep until that sound can indicate your baby might not be breathing.
But now, in an indication of how well our little preemie is doing, the apnea monitor is no more.
After reading his latest results, our pediatrician cleared us to send this big blue hunk of beeping electronics back from whence it came.
Meyer has been breathing totally normally since June 26.
Not one episode since then.
And 2 months free of episodes means freedom from the apnea monitor.
We are free.
I can now pick my baby up and just haul his fat little ass around the house in my arms.
When I need to go somewhere, I can just be the usual kind of pack mule every mother of a baby is.
Instead of the kind that has a curious, beeping blue box slung over her shoulder.
It’s big news around the Fleet house.
Giant.
Huge.
Between the sudden, successful starting of the kindergarten, the baby rolling over for the first time one week ago, and the end of the apnea monitor, it feels like a sea change around here.
And it’s so welcome.
It’s been a long, long 7 months.
We still having a feeding tube to get rid of.
But we’re starting to see the proverbial light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.
And today’s news confirms that things are heading in the right direction.
Big, big news.
Giant.
Huge.
Comments
Dear Suzanne & Gabe! MAZEL TOV!!!! I am so very happy for you (and Meyer, of course!) Thank God for Meyer’s continued improvement, and still many more prayers for His healing to come! Love ya!
Thank you so much!! We appreciate all your supportive thoughts and messages along the way!
Hey. What a milestone! I used to tell people that one of the greatest days of my life was the day I could stop carrying diaper bags and car seats everywhere I went. Now, that sounds so trivial compared to the load you’ve had to carry. We had some trouble with our middle daughter… not to the extent of your experience, but it was pretty extreme compared to our other two daughters. Doctor’s visits at least every month, sometimes two or three per month. We always looked forward to the day that we wouldn’t have a sick child… again… and again… yet, again… Those days are 17 years in the past. Even though the nights and days seemed like they would last forever, they didn’t. Somehow, as if by magic, they got lost in the “well” days, only to be remembered when we hear of someone else’s trying times. So glad that Meyer is reaching milestones. Be encouraged that one day you’ll look back and it won’t seem nearly as hard as it really was. But then, there’ll be the salve of time and the benefit of the “well” memories to help with that. I hope that you’re keeping a journal for Meyer, so he’ll look back one day and be amazed at what a success he was from the very start, amazed at what a team he had at home to help and encourage him, and amazed at how much love and compassion others are capable of. He is an encouragement to me, even as an infant, to defy the odds… to live!
It’s really all about perspective. With this one, our doctor visits numbered exactly 7 per week for the first 3 weeks home from the hospital (often 2 in one day) and we still do 3 or 4 in a week some days, even though he’s been home for 4 1/2 months. When I start to feel sorry for myself, I just think about those other kids we saw daily at Children’s Hospital and how often I overheard much, much worse news for them and their parents. Then I stop feeling blue and start counting my blessings.
Thanks for the words of encouragement, J!
We are so happy to hear..what great progress!! Loved the picture.
Love to all..GM & GD
Yay! Congrats and so happy for you. You & family have been on my mind, so happy to read all of your good updates!
Thank you, Sarah! Things are beginning to look up around here and we’re so grateful for all the good vibes everyone sent out way. : )