Update on Timothy

So Timothy is going to get to try eating again tomorrow (for Halloween!) -- a special formula, called Portagen, which is low on the fats that go through the lymph vessels where the leak is... He will only get to try a tiny bit at first, and slowly get more and more as the days go by, as long as he does okay with it and the fluid doesn't start building up again. Best-case scenario, if he does fine with the feedings as they are slowly increased, he will be up to full feeds on his own (with no IV fluids) in 3 weeks! We are definitely praying that is what happens and that he will not need surgery. That is the plan at this point...


This is just a little video of him to show how fun and interactive he is getting when we talk to him, and how big he is already getting - trying to talk, himself! (He'll be 7 weeks old tomorrow)... We can't believe it! This video is from Oct. 22...

Ward Party & Festive Timothy

So we had our ward Trunk-or-Treat this past weekend, and the kids had a blast! We've got a Witch, Darth Vader, and a Fairy Princess this year! They are VERY excited about Halloween! Timothy got dressed up that weekend as well -- in a cute Halloween outfit from his nurse, Katrina! Of course he wasn't necessarily excited about dressing up, but he sure got a lot of oohs and aahs at the NICU! :)

Soaking in the Tub & Cuddles w/ Mom

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It is quite the job to bathe this poor boy with his pick line in, trying not to get it wet amidst all his wiggling as he is getting so big! He's still not too sure what he thinks about his baths... :) He is definitley a cuddler! And he sure can melt you when he looks up at you with those huge blue eyes of his... :) (Oct. 23)

Awesome Primary Nurses

Timothy has some really neat Primary nurses, as they call them, who are the nurses assigned to him whenever they are working. Katrina, his night nurse (Oct. 24 - Top), who has gotten him on quite the awesome sleeping schedule right now and who likes buying him adorable outfits to wear! And Lois, his day-time nurse (Oct. 16 - Bottom), who actually made this beautiful blanket just for him, which you can see over the top of his crib in the background... We are so thankful for the awesome nurses at the NICU!

Our Three Cuties

Here's just some fun pictures of our three cute kids at home during the month of October... Always keeping life happy and fun! :)
(Oct. 16) -- "Movie Under the Stars" on base - their first time w/ cotton candy! (Oct. 18) -- Sunday best; (Oct. 20) -- Bubble bath fun! (Oct. 22) -- Brielle at her dance class...

Grandpa Ray

We also got a fun little visit from Jared's Dad for a day, and Timothy got to meet his Grandpa who he was named for! (Middle name). Definintely a special event! We were able to do a little birthday cake celebration for Grandpa with the kids while he was here too -- his birthday had been a few days earlier... So that was a fun day! (Oct. 17)

Grandma Ray

The kids definitely had a fun time with their Grandma Ray while she was here with us! She was able to be here and help us for a week and a half -- we sure appreciate all our wonderful family! :) (Oct. 16 & 13)

Funny Boy

Timothy has the best concerned/paranoid look you've ever seen! (And he definitely has every right to) -- always seems to be asking, so what are you going to do to me now... or when are you going to start feeding me?! Poor guy... He also loves to have time on his mat on the floor to stretch out and kick his legs. He's getting so big! (Oct. 18)

Cuddling with Timothy

Timothy loves it when we let him lay on his tummy with us! Completely zonks him out... :) (Oct. 17)

Brielle's Award

We were so proud of Brielle this month in her class at school! (Every month they choose a few students from each class who have demonstrated the "Character Count" for the month) -- which was Respect this month -- and Brielle was one of the students chosen from her class! They had an assembly to present the awards, which we got to see her at -- it was a fun little school event for her! (Oct. 13)

Big Blue Eyes

Everyone who sees Timothy comments on his huge blue eyes -- he can get those eyes so wide! We love how he talks with them too -- you always seem to know what he's thinking when he looks at you with those big eyes of his... (These pictures are from October 13 & 14).

Timothy & Daddy

Timothy has certainly been able to develop a close bond with his daddy with all the time Jared has been able to spend with him at the hospital so far -- they are such a cute pair! (These pictures are from October 10, 14, & 16)...

Timothy and his Boppy Pillow

Well, we are closing in on 4 weeks now of the no-eating trial with Timothy (6 1/2 weeks that he has been in the hospital), and so the days for him are just spent trying to keep him happy and distracted with an empty tummy. (He does get a few ounces of Pedialyte in a bottle every day -- which is the thing he is forever looking forward to -- to let him keep his eating skills somewhat and to keep his tummy not feeling quite so hungry and miserable)... What a sweetheart he is about the whole thing, though -- we can't believe how calm and good-natured he is so much of the time, despite being so starved! All the nurses and doctors in the NICU constantly say how they can't believe what a good boy he is without getting to eat -- he's such a good sport about the whole thing!Well, one of his favorite things to do is get down on a mat on the floor and sit in his boppy pillow -- he loves being able to look around and have a new view of his very restricted little world... :) He also likes this little swing they got out for him there at the NICU. (These pictures are from October 9, 11, & 12)...

Balloon Fiesta

Every October, Albuquerque holds the huge Balloon Fiesta, with hot air balloons from around the world -- and we were actually able to go for a few hours one of the mornings this year! (Brielle's dance class got to do a little show at one of the stands there, so we all decided to go that morning and see her -- it was really neat that Jared's Mom & Grandma Brown were able to be there too!) These are from the morning of October 9...The morning we went happened to be the morning of the "Special Shapes" balloons -- and the kids absolutley loved it!! They could not keep their eyes off the air... It was pretty neat! Early morning & crazy traffic, but we all ended up having a lot of fun!

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Brielle's little dance show was really cute too. She was very excited to get to be up on the stage! (We have some really cute shots of her thanks to Grandma Ray's awesome camera!!)

It was a pretty fun experience for our family -- our morning at the Balloon Fiesta! (Despite the way Colette might be portraying it in this picture here)... :)