.

Still in the hospital, but back to normal

2008-11-18T22:28:00.002-05:00

I have to say, this hospital has the BEST play room I've ever seen. Toys galore! So yeah, I'm back to my old self. In fact, if it weren't for the big turban I have on my head, you'd never know that I had surgery on my head only yesterday.

Oh and just so you know the score: Andrej: 2, Intravenous: 0

Pictures tomorrow!

AOV

RECOVERY

2008-11-17T19:36:00.002-05:00

Well, phase I of my adventures in hearing-land has been successfully completed. We rolled into the hospital around 6am and got straight to business. Mom and dad's business was to get me registered, my business was to play with toys in the waiting room. Soon enough it was time to get the show on the road. I basically arm-wrestled the anethesiologists when they tried to put me under. Mom tried to warned them... Then there was nothing. The surgery lasted from about 8:30 to 12:30 and it all went without a hitch. Dr. Shramm has done about 500 of these things, so this one was pretty routine. Mom and dad got some unexpected good news when Yves, one of the amazing people in the audiology department and the resident expert in programming the cochlear implant devices, informed them that he ran some preliminary tests and my little brain seems to be responding already! Neat!
Coming out of the anethetic wasn't such an ordeal this time around. Just very very groggy. And super thirsty. Man, I drank so much water that I totally out-peed my diaper. There was so much pee that my diaper said, "OK forget you man, I quit!" and then it leaked all over my pants. Then I downed a huge bowlful of macaroni and cheese--I'm talking about an adult portion here! I hadn't eaten in about 20 hours, so you can excuse a little guy like me. So now I'm off to bed. Mom is staying with me tonight and I'm looking forward to a lot of visitors tomorrow.

Bye!

AOV

Big Operation Day

2008-11-16T22:06:00.002-05:00

It's been a while, I know. To be honest, it's been hard to find time to update this blog, and mommy and daddy have been keeping a lot of people updated through Facebook. However, we've had many requests recently to update everyone on recent developments. Here's the scoop:

Mom and dad suspected it for while, and the doctors confirmed it over a year ago; I have a severe to profound hearing loss. Theories as to why include the simple fact of my extreme prematurity to some nasty side-effects of some antibiotics I had in the hospital. Whatever the case, the fact remains; I can't hear anything, which brings us to the next major procedure in my little life. By the time many of you read this I will have undergone surgery to install a cochlear implant in my head. This device should allow me to hear, but we won't know the full results until 4 to 6 weeks from now when it's activated. I'll keep you all up to date as much as possible over the next few weeks.

Wish me luck!

AOV

My First Birthday Party!

2008-03-20T21:46:00.000-04:00

I'm a hit with the ladies!

I love my new truck!

Yum! Cake!

Thanks for the zebra, teta Meli!

Here it is. It's more of a pimped out pony!

Yay, auntie Jocelyn.

And auntie Bonnie!

And Dr. Kovacs got to share the special moment when I blew out my candle.

Thanks for coming to my party everyone! I had a great time and I really loved the presents. See you next year!!!

AOV

They Say It's Your Birthday!

2008-03-12T09:08:00.007-04:00

I'll be keeping a record of my day here:

5am -I wake up daddy. Hee hee. No sleep for you, old man!
5:10am -Polish off a bottle. Yum! Daddy is desperately trying to stay awake.
5:30am -Time to play! Now I feel sorry for the big guy.
6:30am -I show some compassion and we take a nap until...
8:30am -Time for second Breakfast: Apples and Prunes and Barley Cereal. Or as I like to call it: Colon Blow for Babies!
9am -Huge Poop. Hooray for fibre!
10am -Mommy leaves to buy some presents for the NICU staff at the JGH. I pretend to want a nap.
10:30-11:30 -I pretend to nap. No sleep, I tell you!
2pm -Off to the NICU!

Here I am with some of the NICU nurses. There was practically a brawl to decide who got to hold me!

Yay! Dr. Papageorgiou! I haven't seen this guy in ages! Let me see those glasses!
4:30pm -Mommy and daddy are hungry, so it's off for some Thai food. Here we are enjoying a green mango salad.

4:50pm -I'm having such a good time that I pee my pants. Daddy doesn't find out until...
4:53pm -...when I pee his pants as well.

5:30pm -We stop off at Baka's salon for a quick haircut--only to find her closing up. It's just as well I suppose. I don't exactly have a plethora of hair right now!
6:00pm -Back home and ready for action! Baka and I got into a major tickle battle. Whew! All this activity really wears a little guy like me out!

7:00pm -Last Call! One final bottle and then it's off to bed. Cuddles and kisses with my mommy and off I go to dreamland.
Good night everyone!

AOV

p.s. I'll see you all on Sunday for my big party!

Hard Working Man

2008-03-08T19:28:00.006-05:00

So now the truth can be told. My father never wanted a son, he wanted an employee! Fine dad, I'll help out now and then, but as soon as I'm 18 months, I am outta here!

Let's Roll!

2008-03-05T21:33:00.002-05:00

Snow Day!

2008-03-05T21:04:00.005-05:00

Woah! What a storm today! The whole city pretty much ground to a halt, except for me! I bundled up and got the sled for a little winter fun.

AOV

I Get Around

2008-03-01T21:10:00.003-05:00

There's something about getting your first set of wheels. Yeah, life is an open road before me now that I'm mobile! Don't worry about my driving abilities--we don't have any stairs in our house. Unfortunately, there's no drive-thru either.

AOV

Food, Glorious Food!

2008-02-17T19:17:00.004-05:00

I am getting better at this whole feeding myself game.

Bring on the steak!

AOV

Friends I got... Hair I need...

2008-02-15T22:42:00.003-05:00

Yay! A big visit today from Etienne and Blake. I was happy to see them again, even if I was a bit jealous of their luxurious heads of hair. Is there a "Hair Club for Babies"? Maybe a line of baby-sized wigs? I guess I need to be patient...

AOV

Freebird!!!

2008-02-12T22:24:00.002-05:00

Yeah, I'm a rocker.

I rock out.

AOV

Ring Toss!

2008-02-11T22:18:00.000-05:00

Enter the (Baby) Dragon

2008-02-10T22:12:00.000-05:00

Rawr!

AOV

Photo Day

2008-02-09T22:07:00.000-05:00

In da hood, yo!

AOV

Photo Day

2008-01-31T22:49:00.001-05:00

Eeeeeewwwww! Mommmmmmy!

;)

AOV

Happy "Be-Day!"

2008-01-26T18:36:00.000-05:00

Today is my Aunt Becky's birthday! Aunt "Be," as I like to call her, is a really cool Aunt. In fact at this moment she is probably somewhere across the ocean like Malaysia or Thailand or something. I'm here in Montreal freezing my diaper off, and she's probably on a sunny beach. Grrr jealous.

Any way, what can I say about the Be? Many people have done so much for me since I was born, but she is extra special because she gave me a gift that no one else has.

The gift of hair.

See?

OK OK so it wasn't permanent, but for a brief while I enjoyed a beautiful head of hair, baby. Gimme head with hair/Long beautiful hair/Shining, gleaming, Streaming, flaxen, waxen. Give me down to there hair/Shoulder length or longer/Here baby, there mama/Everywhere daddy daddy.

Aunt Be you are a rock star! Happy Be-Day!

AOV

Better Bundle Up!

2008-01-18T16:37:00.000-05:00

Winter is definitely here and I'm prepared! We had a nice walk outside in my new snowsuit, but unfortunately mom and dad got too cold. They should learn to dress better. Seriously!

AOV

Gimme!

2008-01-08T16:08:00.000-05:00

Now that I'm not completely dependent on the bottle, I'd like to see what other kinds of foods are out there. I don't think mommy shares my adventurous spirit!

AOV

Bigger Baby

2008-01-05T18:50:00.000-05:00

Not much to report today. Other than my check up at the doctors, which I passed with flying colours. I don't really weigh in much any more, but I thought you might like to know that am up to 7.25 kilos. This is huge news because I am now 10 times my birth weight. Man, I've come a long way! For you non-metric types, that's pretty much 16 pounds.

HUGE.

AOV

I Luv My Baka

2008-01-02T18:55:00.000-05:00

Yep. Me and my Baka are pretty tight.

That's all!

AOV

Happy Anniversary Oma and Opa!

2007-12-28T21:53:00.001-05:00

Big loves to my Oma and Opa, who are celebrating their wedding anniversary tonight! If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be here right now. Literally. I mean, if they never met, they wouldn't have had my dad, and if my dad never existed, where would I be? Nowhere, man! I had a great time with them at Christmas this year, and I hope that I can visit them in Ottawa very soon!

Got your nose!

Got your beer!
(don't worry, the bottle is empty!)

I love you guys!

AOV

Mali and Meli--Together Again!

2007-12-28T17:08:00.001-05:00

Yay! Today I had a visit from my teta Meli and cika Mladen. For those of you who don't know about Meli--which is unlikely since she posts a comment on every single one of my blogs--she is a very special friend of the family. You may remember that she threw a baby shower at her house back on June 17th. I hadn't seen her since the summer, and she was really surprised to see how big I've grown. In fact, I think I may have weighed half as much as I do now!

So they had a nice coffee with mommy and daddy, I got some really cool silverware for when I'm older, and barfed on cika Mladen. Good times! Thanks for stopping by guys!

AOV

(A handy reminder of Croatian terms: Mali = little-a nickname for me! Teta and Cika = auntie and uncle, but a more honorary form)

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

2007-12-24T21:56:00.001-05:00

Why would you be reading my blog right now? You should be in bed waiting for Santa to come! Look at me: fast asleep!

AOV

Please Don't Sell me to the Gypsies, Mommy

2007-12-18T21:29:00.000-05:00

I HAVE to post this photo of me today since I gave mommy such a hard time today. Personally, I don't know what the fuss is. 2am is a perfectly reasonable time to wake up! Oh well...
AOV

Mommy's Day Out

2007-12-13T22:24:00.000-05:00

Today Blake and I decided to go out for a fancy lunch. Unfortunately we're waaay too little to drive so we had to bring our mommies with us. As an added bonus, we also had auntie Laura along to make sure they didn't get out of hand. Well, the food was mediocre, the service was terrible, but oh man was it great to get out of the house and hang out with some old friends.

AOV

Happy Hannukah!

2007-12-09T21:06:00.000-05:00

Or is it Channukah?

Whatever it is, it's that magical time of year when we celebrate the miracle of the oil lamp. And so my parents dress me up yet again for another super-cute photo op.

OK, before we get a bunch of comments and wagging fingers, we do realize that we lit the candles in the wrong order. But hey, what do you expect from parents who have a wide variety of religious heritages: Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Jedi, just to name a few.

Bottom line: this year is my first EVERYTHING, so I promise next year I'll be a pro. Hey, maybe then I can have some of those chocolate coins and latkes!

AOV

My Mommy

2007-12-04T13:02:00.000-05:00

My apologies to all the other babies out there, but I'm afraid I must inform you that my mommy is the BEST!

From the beginning when she refused to leave my side in the NICU to now when she gets up at crazy hours because I'm hungry or bored, she has always been there for me. I will grow up to be a strong, caring, and somewhat stubborn boy because of her. And for that I thank her.

I wish there was a way I could give her something to show how much I love her. I don't have an allowance yet, so I can't buy her anything. I'm too little and lack the manual dexterity to make her something with dad's tools. And I'm a good boy, so stealing something is out of the question.

So I will give you one of my special Andrej smiles. This is how I say "I love you mommy." So if any one asks you why I'm smiling so much today, it's because it's the best gift I can give you today.

And we all know there's no way I'm going to give you a good night's sleep!

AOV

Hey Brad!

2007-12-03T16:25:00.001-05:00

Hey, it's uncle Brad from Toronto! Brad and my mommy go way back -over 10 years! So I guess you could say he's a special guy. The first time I met him was in the hospital not long after we lost Oliver. The last time we met was way back when I first came home (top photo). Both times I was a not really in the mood for socializing, so I never really got to know him. So last weekend we hung out a LOT to make up for lost time. I think he's a pretty funny guy.

Or funny looking, any way.

AOV

Gimme Food!

2007-11-25T23:00:00.001-05:00

This whole solid food thing isn't so hard. I just wait for mommy to put the food on the spoon and then she puts it into my mouth. Voila!

But after a while I got the hang of the process, so I decided to take matters into my own hands.

Literally.

Pretty soon I won't even have to bug my parents for food. I'll just jump out of my crib, head over to the fridge and fix me up some good eats.

In the mean time, gimme that spoon, woman!

AOV

I'm a Tough Guy!

2007-11-23T13:33:00.001-05:00

Yeah, that's right, I'm a tough guy. And any one who says I'm not a fighter has to answer to this guy over here: Six-time Ultimate Fighting Champion and Mixed Martial Arts legend Randy "The Natural" Couture.

Big thanks to uncle Bradio in Toronto for hooking us up. My street cred has gone waaaay up now. Now if you'll excuse me I have to go back to the cage and train some more. And by 'cage' I mean playpen. And by 'train' I mean poop my pants.

AOV

¡Muy Caliente!

2007-11-17T23:08:00.000-05:00

Due to popular demand, I am posting a pic of me in my Halloween costume. Spicy! The one thing I couldn't get used to was these crazy mitts that were built in. It's frustrating not knowing where your hands are at all times!

AOV

Reading is FUN!

2007-11-11T20:39:00.000-05:00

Daddy and I had a great time reading books today. I can totally relate to this story: there's this cat and he's wearing a hat and he makes a huge mess in the house. That is so much like me, except that I'm not a cat and I'm not wearing a hat.

AOV

Sparkling Clean Baby

2007-11-09T23:03:00.000-05:00

Oh very funny mom & dad. I know I'm bald but do you have to emphasize the fact with this ridiculous bubble head? This morning I needed a bath in a major way after a real diaper-ripping poop, but we decided to switch things up a bit. Instead of my little blue tub I got have a bath in the big boy tub with mommy! But big tub or small, one thing remains the same: I love the bath.

AOV

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T23:59:00.000-04:00

So let me get this straight. They're just giving away candy? Well that's all fine and good, but I'm just a baby and I'm not allowed to eat candy yet. So what interest could I possible have in Halloween? Why should I dress up in a funny costume and be paraded around Montreal for all to see? Because I am a baby and everyone must love me!

So mommy and daddy dressed me up like a chili pepper and took me out to visit some people they know. To be honest, I slept through most of it, but judging from these pictures, it looks like we had a good time.

I can't wait for next Halloween. Maybe I'll dress up as some sort of winter squash or perhaps an aubergine...

AOV

Me 'n' Aunt Be

2007-10-27T09:16:00.000-04:00

Yay! Aunt Becky (or Aunt Be as I like to call her) came to visit me for a few days. And to a lesser extent, to visit my parents. We hung out a lot and she taught me to dance. Well it's more of a frantic flailing around in my baby seat, but hey--rhythm is rhythm.

I can't wait to see her again. Come back soon!

AOV

Mom, Meet Back Pain

2007-10-24T21:30:00.000-04:00

Woah, I'm a big kid! I went to the doctor today and I'm now at 5730 grams! That is a full 5 kilos over my birth weight! And I'm now 2 feet tall. If I was standing up, that is. Only I can't on the account that I'm still a baby.

Unfortunately, all this weight gain is wreaking havoc on poor mommy's back, and she's already having to limit the time she carries me around. Luckily we can still dance in the living room for a good half an hour before she starts to get tired, which is good since that's the upper limit of my attention span any way. Look forward to next week when I hit the 13 pound mark!

AOV

111 Days of Freedom

2007-10-20T21:39:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe, but as of today I have been at home longer than I was in the hospital. Being at home is awesome, and although I miss the ladies at the NICU, I don't ever want to stay there again! So people ask me, "Andrej, what have you learned in your first 111 days at home?"

Here's my top ten list:

10. 4am is a perfectly reasonable time to start the day.
9. Being cute is extremely lucrative. I get free stuff all the time!
8. I can almost fit my whole fist in my mouth.
7. That mobile is AWESOME!
6. I can get away with anything as long as I smile at my parents.
5. When I want to eat, you better have the food ready...or else!
4. I have great family and friends.
3. The ladies LOVE me.
2. My wardrobe is twice the size of an adult's.
1. I OWN MY PARENTS.

AOV

Hail, Hail, The Gang's All Here

2007-10-16T19:02:00.000-04:00

Today was the biggest NICU reunion so far! Mommy and I went to Yasmine's house. She was one of the Corner Kids along with me and Blake.That's me on the left, followed by Blake, Yasmine, Ulysse and Etienne. We had a great time reminiscing about our times in the NICU and talking about baby stuff, like bottles, diapers and the latest developments in Baby Einstein gear.
Later, we decided that our moms needed to get out and get some fresh air, so we all piled into our strollers and went for a long, er, stroll along the river. Mommy was especially well behaved so she was allowed to have a coffee later.Yeah, me and Blake clowning around as usual.

AOV

Oy!

2007-10-12T21:28:00.001-04:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-10-08T20:39:00.001-04:00

So this was MY Thanksgiving dinner. No, it's not pureed turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes and gravy, it's the good ol' boob-juice. As always. But my naughty daddy cheated and gave me my first taste of big-boy food! I tried some cranberry sauce and squash, which I loved! It was just a little taste, not a full meal, because that might be a little too much for me. They're looking to give me a full meal at Christmas, so it's good that I get a little practice in before then!

We had a lot of company for dinner tonight: Opa and Oma, Baka and Henryk, teta Zdenka and cika Vule, Uncle Zlatko and Anik (don't call her his girlfriend just yet!), and daddy's friend Hugh. I can't believe there's someone taller than my daddy, but this guy is huge! They had a great big dinner and lots of fun. Mommy and daddy have a lot to be thankful for, especially these people that shared their table tonight. And for every person at that table there is at least three more that have our thanks as well. So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'd like to give thanks to everyone out there who has cared for my family in some way, shape or form.

HVALA!

AOV

Ready for Fall

2007-10-07T20:57:00.000-04:00

It's getting colder, and that means a lot more preparation involved in getting me out the door. Looking at this picture, it's hard to imagine those lazy summer days when I wore nothing much more than a diaper and a smile outside. But that's OK since it gives mommy a chance to go shopping for more outfits for me. It's a regular fashion show here every day! I think by the time I was wrangled into this ensemble mommy and daddy had forgotten where they were going with me. Oh well. I still got a nice walk out of the deal.

AOV

Shhh! The Boys are Sleeping!

2007-10-06T20:37:00.000-04:00

Don't wake daddy!

Or me.

Especially ME!

AOV

I Have a Crazy Mommy

2007-10-04T20:35:00.000-04:00

Crazy about ME, that is!

AOV

My Overnight Girlfriend

2007-10-02T20:18:00.000-04:00

Hey look everyone! It's my old friend Jocelyn from the NICU. Auntie J used to look after me during the overnight shifts, and let me tell you, we had a party almost every night! I say almost since some nights I was being a brat. Especially the night she saved my life. That was pretty cool. Jocelyn has a very special record with me in that every shift she worked she looked after me. No other nurse can make that claim! She was also the first person to give me a bath. She is also very special to my mom and dad, particularly at the beginning when they were staying all night with me--she encouraged them and gave me extra love and care. What an inspiration you are, auntie J!

I owe you at least a Tim Horton's 3am coffee!

AOV
(here's a picture of our last night together. I still love to gaze up at her!)

How Do You Like THESE Apples?

2007-09-30T22:14:00.001-04:00

I had a really great time with my parents today. They took me for the longest car ride I've ever had to a big farm with lots of trees. But not just any trees. These were apple trees!

We had a quick ride on a tractor into the orchard where I finally saw a real apple. I have a picture of an apple on one of my Baby Einstein blocks, but here I got to touch and smell one for the first time in its' natural environment. Well, as you can see from this picture I wasn't too impressed--I was a little preoccupied with trying to shove my entire fist in my mouth. It was for science, trust me.

At least it made for a great photo op with mom!

On to the apple picking! We got a big bag to put our apples in, and since I decided to have a little boob-snack in the middle of the orchard, the job of picking fell to dad. Someone forgot to tell him that we were there to spend as much time in the outdoors as possible, because he filled that bag in about 2 minutes. I guess it's all that picking experience he got from growing up on Opa's farm. I'm glad they didn't charge us by the weight because dad ate so many apples they would have to weigh him on the way out! (I thought I was being witty with that line, until daddy told me that it's the oldest pick-your-own joke in the book. One of those "If I had a dollar for every time..." sort of things. Hey, I'm just a baby! Everything's new to me!)

Of course, being a little guy with no teeth i wasn't able to enjoy the fruits of our labour, but I'm only about 3 months away from my first taste of apple sauce, so at least I have that to look forward to. Nice haul, dad!

So after the picking we opted to walk back to the car instead of waiting for the tractor, which in hindsight may not have been the best idea since mommy and daddy forgot where they parked. After walking up and down the street a couple of times, they remembered where they left the car. We picked up a pie and some nice paté and some apple juice and had a little picnic.

Like I said, a great day!
AOV

2007-09-26T21:58:00.000-04:00

Hey here's some quick updates...

You'll be happy to know that I hit THREE major weight landmarks recently. The first was when I hit 10 pounds, 4 ounces, which is significant because that's how much my daddy weighed when he was born. What a big daddy! That's a bit of a weird landmark to celebrate, but hey, we're starved for news, I guess.
But today I hit a big one, though. Two at the same time, actually. Today I weighed in at a mighty 5 kilos!!! And since we've been noting the pounds as well, that just happens to be a little over 11 pounds!!!
I've been growing quite a bit, and we're finding that I am starting to outgrow some of my 3-6 month old clothes, even though my corrected age is only 3 months! Crazy! So now when mommy and daddy are shopping for me they need to aim a little higher, like in the 6-9 or 9-12 month range. I am so high-maintenance already!

AOV

In Repose...

2007-09-25T23:28:00.001-04:00

Don't know what I'm thinking about here but it's probably important.

Maybe food.

AOV

Family Outing

2007-09-22T23:22:00.000-04:00

What better way to spend the last days of good weather than a walk with your parents!

It all started when daddy decided that he needed a beer. But not just any old beer--he wanted a freshly poured draft beer. And what better way to get a fresh beer than to go directly to the brewery? So we all piled into the car and headed down to the Lachine canal for a little walk to the McAuslan brewery. Yay! My first visit to a brewery! It won't be the last.

Here I am NOT having a beer on the banks of the Lachine canal.

AOV

Be With You In A Moment...

2007-09-19T23:19:00.000-04:00

Can't... concentrate... on... blog. Must... watch... mobile.

Can... only... type... in... fragmented... sentences...

AOV

Mr. Happy

2007-09-18T23:06:00.000-04:00

Hey Everyone, look how happy I am!

Recently I figured out how to show everyone just how happy I am by laughing my little head off. I thought that it was about time, seeing as though I've already mastered how to show that I'm angry! As you know, I've been smiling for quite a while (see my happy baby video at the bottom!) but I was surprised as mommy and daddy when I made a noise while laughing. My little baby giggles are yet another weapon in my arsenal of cuteness. You cannot resist me now!

AOV

I Get No Respect

2007-09-16T23:04:00.000-04:00

Ha Ha. Very funny dad.

Hey Man, Where Ya Been?

2007-09-15T13:33:00.000-04:00

Well, it's been a while since I last logged in, but believe me there was plenty of stuff going on.

First of all, my Baka came back from her trip to Croatia, and she barely recognized me! I had grown so much in the 3 weeks she was gone. Of course, being the proud baka that she is, she brought home a gigantic bag full of stuff for me, including clothes, toys and a small library of story books in Croatian (Hvala teta Juliji koja je izabrala knjige mom tati da nauci Hrvatski). Haha, mom and dad only got 1 shirt each! In the picture to right I am wearing my new soccer scarf, ready to cheer on like a true Torcida! Also, check out my first pair of Adidas, courtesy of Uncle Zlatko. Did you know that Adidas stands for "All Day I Dream About Soccer?"

A couple of days later I had a lovely visit from teta Katica and teta Ljubica, two of the ladies in my Balkan Posse. They've been following my progress closely and were delighted to see how much of hulk I've become! Apparently Katica's granddaughter Sofia is yet another girlfriend of mine. How many is that now? Man, I've lost count. They brought me some nice new clothes, including a really cute sleeper that will come in handy around Christmas time. Usually when people bring me clothes, it's stuff that I will end up wearing weeks or months from the time I get them. It's a good idea, actually, because that way it's guaranteed to fit me me eventually. That said, there's a certain symbolic timing to teta Katica and teta Ljubica's visit, as they were there at my baby shower back in June, and it's just now that I am getting to wear a lot of the clothes I got then.

Fast forward a few days and there was a little crisis we had to deal with. Mommy noticed that I wasn't gaining much weight, and my poop was really dark and smelly. At first we thought that it might be some intestinal bleeding caused by a food allergy I had developed, which may have included an allergic reaction to milk protein. This has been known to happen to some kids like me. Just to be safe, I was brought to the hospital for some tests, where it was revealed that everything is ok, and that the yucky poop is caused by my iron supplements and my minimal weight gain is normal. It is typical for all babies to have plateau periods in their weight gain.

And then to cap off the week we had a visit from my great uncle Pete and aunt France from British Columbia. They set the record for having traveled the furthest to see me. Well ok, they had other stuff to do here, but still, BC is pretty far! I got a cool new blanket from them that matches my room perfectly. I can't wait until I'm old enough to ski, because they live in Whistler and I am for sure going to be visiting them!

So all in all a busy week. Hope to see you sooner next time!

AOV

I Love My Oma

2007-09-08T00:01:00.000-04:00

Today is a very special day because it is my Oma's birthday. My Oma has been there for me and my parents since even before the very first day. She was there when my brother passed away, holding him in her arms while she prayed for him. She was there when mommy and daddy were at the hospital day and night, making sure they had home-cooked meals and a clean house to return to. She was there when I came home. Even when she wasn't actually there, she was there.

I can't wait until I am big enough to travel, because I really want to go visit my Oma in Ottawa. I'm too little to pay her back in kindness, so she'll have to take changing my dirty diapers as payment for now. Until then, I look forward to her next visit.

I love you Oma!

AOV

I Get Around

2007-09-05T22:02:00.000-04:00

Whew! I'm bushed! I've had busy days in the past, but this one has to rank up there as one of the busiest.

It started with me depriving my parents of sleep from about 3am onward. Some day I'll learn how to sleep when they sleep, but in the mean time, the wee small hours are time for this wee small guy to have some fun.

Morning arrived and we were off to the Children's Hospital to see my occupational therapist, Rena (that's her in the photo). She hadn't seen me since I was just a lil' spud in the NICU learning how to suck on a bottle. What a shock she got! I'm totally pro at the bottle now, of course, and it looks as though my development is right on track for a 2 month old baby. I know, I know, I'm almost 6 months, but us preemies track our development milestones according to how old we would be had we stayed put in the womb. This is called Corrected Age. So long story short, I am doing very well for my corrected age. Score!

Then we had to go drop daddy off at work. Everyone there has been following the blog for months now and were always asking him when I would come in for a visit. And apparently today was the day! I say apparently because I don't recall any of it. I was so crashed out, the only evidence I have of my first visit to McGill is this photo with some of the ladies at daddy's office. Looks like I have quite the fan club! Sorry about my lack of action today--I really do appreciate all the love and support, and I send my love right back to you!

AOV

Milk Machine

2007-09-03T23:00:00.001-04:00

Here's a picture of me just before we went to see the lactation consultants at the hospital. Mommy used to be having trouble with producing enough milk for me, but the two of us figured it out, and production is at an all time high. I'm excited because I get to have nothing but breast milk to eat, mommy is excited because she can supply me with all my food, and daddy is excited because mommy is a D-cup.

I've been an eating machine lately, averaging over 700ml each day! Some days it seems as though I eat for about 7 hours straight before I actually fall asleep. But all this eating is helping me grow big and strong! I've just surpassed the 4500 gram mark, and I'll probably be hitting that crucial 10 pound mark some time this week.

Stay tuned!

AOV

Who's the Man?

2007-08-29T21:38:00.001-04:00

Yes I am.

Opa and Oma: Back Again!

2007-08-28T21:31:00.000-04:00

Oma and Opa visited me again today, and as you can see they made a special effort to coordinate with my outfit. I was very awake and interactive for the first part of their visit, but then I kind of conked out for the rest of the evening. Thanks for all the yummy veggies!

AOV

A Busy Baby Day

2007-08-25T23:43:00.001-04:00

Whew! What a busy day I had today!

We started out this morning with a story session. First it was mommy reading me "The Aristocats."

Nice PJs mom!

Then daddy read me "Chicken Little." Both books are from my new Disney collection.

Then it was time for a fashion show, featuring this saucy little number from my auntie Meli. I'm growing so much these days that I need to keep trying on my clothes to see what is too small and what I'm now growing into. Mommy REALLY likes this part of the whole parenting process. She didn't rest until she had organized my closet by months and colour. That lady loves clothes, man.

Not just content to make a fashion statement with me, she decided it was time to take it to the streets in my new sling carrier.

Work it, girl!

And to top off this busy day, I should point out that today was the first time I had only breast milk for all my meals! Usually I need to have a couple of meals of formula during the day, but mommy's production has gone up dramatically in recent days, so I'm all boob, all the the time.

Yum!

AOV

Lights... Camera... Action!

2007-08-24T23:28:00.000-04:00

Hey every body!

I'm trying out Blogger's new video upload feature. I don't have to put my videos on YouTube any more.

In this video, I'm expressing concern for my friend Blake, who seems to be upset about something. Oh, and that's Blake's mommy in the video.

Tres cool!

AOV

Big Red

2007-08-23T23:26:00.000-04:00

Here I am in a dashing red ensemble from my auntie Susan, who is actually my daddy's cousin.

Stylin'!

AOV

Tribute to a Great Team

2007-08-22T21:03:00.001-04:00

I'm Andrej: Version 4.1. What is this 4.1 you ask? Well today I hit 4.1 kilos, which is a mighty 9 pounds! As indicated by the back strain in both mommy and daddy, I am officially a big baby.

Today we had yet another family outing at the hospital. This time around it was the breast feeding clinic where mommy received the good news that her production is great and I'm growing at just the right pace.

After our appointment at the clinic, we went for a visit to the NICU, where I was finally able to complete my set of photos of the team of doctors that helped me into this world. Here they are:

Dr. Papageorgiou, the big cheese, the grand poobah, the master and commander of the whole NICU. He always remained confident that I would make it out all right, and is convinced I'll make a great soccer player. I'm convinced that my parents were his favorite at the NICU, because they were up to date on all the lingo and procedures, and toward the end were capable of giving a full status report to the residents and med students--which would always freak them out!

Dr. Kovacs, who along with saving me, can also be credited with saving mommy's sanity! His positive outlook and determination were inspiring, and it was he who first told my parents not to give up on me. When things looked the worst and mommy and daddy were getting upsetting news from everyone, he would often come in and simply say, "I wouldn't worry about it, he's a fighter." And sure enough, I would get better! It must have been that Eastern European connection that he and mommy shared.

Dr. Pelausa was the first doctor to take care of me in the NICU. She was my main hook-up when it came to central lines, having performed the procedure on me at least twice. Her smile and laughter were very welcome in the unit, and I think she developed quite the soft spot for me. She still calls me "her little boy," and "Mr. V," a name by which all the new residents and med students know me. Even the newer ones who have never even met me know me as Mr. V. To fully appreciate this nickname, you have to imagine her saying it with her hands in the air in a big "V" shape. Mr. V!!!

Finally, Dr. Ferdinand. Oh poor Dr. Ferdinand! Three times I had major crisis in the NICU, and all three times it happened to be her shift! I think she began to think I had it in for her. Of course, after the third incident, everyone would always laugh nervously when they heard that she was on call. Luckily, three times was plenty enough for everyone! I know that we joke about it, but seriously, she saved my life three times, and for that my family will always be grateful. We'll also remember how she would carefully consider my parent's opinion, and would include them on many of the decisions concerning my care and development. I'm lucky that I will still get to see her often, as she is one of my docs at the follow-up clinic. I think I'll give her an easier time from now on!

AOV

Boyz in da Hood

2007-08-18T21:37:00.001-04:00

Hoodie by Baby Mexx.
Shirt and Jeans by Gagou Tagou.
Socks by Air Jordan.
Baby by mommy and daddy.

AOV

Back Again

2007-08-17T16:59:00.001-04:00

"What chu talkin' 'bout Willis?"

It's been a while, but I'm back! Today is a landmark day--I've broken the 4 kilo mark, and I had a visit from my buddy Blake. We went to the Jean Talon market with our mommies for a bit of shopping and a nice lunch.

As you can see by the picture, Blake has a few pounds on me, but I'm catching up! You can see how far we've come in just a month by comparing us in this post.

AOV

My Dodah Bonnie

2007-08-14T22:10:00.000-04:00

Ah yes, the never ending stream of aunties continues. Today it was my dodah Bonnie (dodah is auntie for all you goyim out there). I met her for the first time, although she had been involved in my family's story from the beginning. Before I was born she visited my mommy in the hospital with some food and DVDs to keep her busy. I can't wait until I get bigger and she takes me shopping!

AOV

Me and my Mommy

2007-08-13T17:08:00.000-04:00

A picture of contentment!

AOV

Clean Bill of Health

2007-08-11T17:12:00.000-04:00

Today I went to the hospital for yet another check-up. This time around it was for an X-ray to see how my lungs are progressing. I didn't like being strapped down to that cold table, but I realize it for my own good. The X-rays showed that my lungs are so much clearer than what they looked like when I was in the NICU. You can actually see my entire rib cage now, whereas before it was just a mess of white liquid and gunk. The only evidence that I had any problems was some scarring that isn't such a big deal, since as I grow I'll be generating new, healthy lung tissue.

Like my outfit that mommy bought me? I'm becoming quite the style diva, just like her!

AOV

Big Baby

2007-08-07T18:50:00.001-04:00

Hi Everyone,

I went for my first visit to our family doctor today. While I was there I weighed in at 3.64 kilos, which officially breaks the 8 pound mark for me! Woo hoo! I've started wearing some of the bigger outfits that I've been holding on to for a couple of months. It's a regular fashion show around here these days!

Unfortunately, mommy and daddy are feeling the effects of having to hold a bigger baby now. Lots of lower back pain. Time to hit the gym, you slackers!

AOV

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

2007-08-06T23:59:00.000-04:00

Well it was a busy busy day here in Andrej Land. It was my parent's anniversary today, and I celebrated by giving them what they always wanted: an end to my constipation.

Three times.

We got a visit from Opa and Oma from Ottawa, and they brought along a special present: one of their extra scales from their farm so that mom and dad can weigh me on a regular basis. This is a fancy scale that is normally used to weigh fruits and vegetables, so it is accurate down to 5 grams. As an added bonus, you can even input a cost per kilo. Dad says that if I was made of cheese I would cost about eighty bucks.

My grandparents were really excited to see me! They haven't seen me for over two weeks, so I look absolutely HUGE to them. This photo of my Oma and me is a recreation of my second mighty bowel movement of the day. I shook the whole couch with my bum thunder! Mommy has me on a new, all-organic formula (for in-between breast feeds) that cleaned me out good, and man, was my poop really, really stinky. We almost had to call in a HazMat crew, it was so vile.

Then for the first time Oma got to take me for a walk, even if it was just a couple of blocks down to the grocery store. We had a nice BBQ in the backyard with Baka, teta Zdenka and cika Vule that featured fresh veggies from the farm. But of course, I only got milk. I know it's good for me, but those mesquite pork chops smelled goooood.

Sigh. Some day.

AOV

p.s. You're probably wondering how much I weigh now. Well, I tipped the scale at 3600 grams even! That's an ounce shy of 8 pounds!

15-Love

2007-08-05T12:50:00.000-04:00

Another day at the tennis tournament! As you can see, the excitement was just too much for me. Some people go to Wimbledon in England for tennis and strawberries and cream, I go to the Roger's Cup in Montreal for tennis and breast milk.

AOV

Tennis Pro

2007-08-04T20:55:00.000-04:00

I had a fun day with mom and dad! Mommy's a big tennis fan, so we went to the Roger's Open to watch my first match. The weather was beautiful and I was well behaved, so all in all, a great day. Unfortunately my parent forgot their camera, so I came up with this reasonable facsimile of what the day was like:

Ace!

AOV

Better Late Than Never

2007-07-30T21:29:00.000-04:00

Oy, I've been so bad with my blogs! I tell you, being a baby is hard work. I have to eat and sleep and cry and fuss and generally keep my parents on their toes with all my monkey business. And business is good, my friends. I had one day last week where, I kid you not, I ate for 6 hours straight with only small breaks of half an hour, at the longest.

Any how, I've taken the liberty of once again filling out the missing days from last weekend with some pictures of my various activities, so check it out if you get the chance.

I haven't really slept today, so I'm off to bed. G'Night!

AOV

Feed Me Seymour!

2007-07-29T21:48:00.000-04:00

Yeah, I'm plumping up pretty nicely now. Get this: today I drank a total of 740ml of milk and formula. That may not seem like much to you grown up people, but consider that 1 ml weighs about 1 gram, and then consider that I weighed 720 grams when I was born. I am now capable of drinking my birth weight in a day!

I think I might be full in this picture...

AOV

View Baby: $10, Hold Baby: $20

2007-07-28T21:44:00.000-04:00

Step right up and have your picture taken with the cutest baby in town!

Cheap!

AOV

p.s. This is my teta Zdenka. ---->
She's one hip lady!

Chillin'

2007-07-27T21:41:00.000-04:00

Really hot day today, so I chilled out in the air-conditioned comfort of my parents room with my Baby Einstein DVD.

AOV

Happy Birthday Uncle Zlatko!

2007-07-26T23:59:00.000-04:00

Today I need to give a big shout out to my "Uncle Redz." He's been a great help to us these past few months, and I wanted to return the favour somehow. At first I offered to help him paint his new apartment, but there was a severe height issue, so I had to decline. Oh well. He promised to "pimp me out," but I'm not sure exactly what that means. It might have something to do with the baby Air Jordans he bought for me. Very slick!

Happy Birthday dude!

AOV

SRETAN RODJENDAN TETA MELITA

2007-07-24T23:15:00.000-04:00

Nisam Vas zaboravio i Vas rodjendan . Sretan rodjendan i puno poljubaca od Vaseg Andreja.
Zelim Vam puno zdravlja, srece, osmjeha i da sljedece godine zajedno ga docekamo u vasoj basti i da me malko prosetate.
This means Happy Birthday to my Auntie Meli, my huge fan, who I can't wait to see again to show her my favourite piece that she got me.
I love you Auntie Meli and come visit me again soon....
Many, many more and next year for your birthday maybe we can have some bear in your backyard. Mommy says if it is Guiness she will let you give me a sip.

AOV

Three Amigos

2007-07-22T22:23:00.001-04:00

What a great day today! I had a visit from two, count 'em TWO of my old friends from the NICU. It was an NICUnion! That's me, the little guy, in the middle, on the right is Etienne and Mattias on the left--he was my next door neighbour during his whole stay at the JGH. They came over with their parents for a little BBQ in the backyard. The moms and dads got to have burgers and chicken wings, while the babies had milk. Bo-ring! Maybe next time I can at least have a nacho or something.

AOV

Even More Filler

2007-07-21T22:55:00.001-04:00

I Love My Teta Adriana

2007-07-20T11:44:00.000-04:00

And now for the third photo in my series entitled, "People Holding Me."

This is my teta Adriana, who is a very special person to my family. She and her family have been very supportive and helpful to us throughout this whole crazy thing. She was the first to arrive at the hospital when we were born, and our first pictures were taken with her camera!
Many stops at the hospital after work, dropping off home cooked meals, taking mommy away for a much needed coffee--she was a much needed anchor to the real world.
My mom says that I will enjoy being in her arms a lot, as you can see from the picture. She smells yummy and I love the cushioning . I think we will get along great just like my mom and her do.

I just can't wait until I'm old enough to eat her empanadas!

AOV

p.s. "Teta" is a term of endearment. And she is a dear!

More Filler

2007-07-19T11:33:00.000-04:00

Here's a picture of my great-uncle Stuart. He's been a big fan of my blog since Day 1, and was so excited to finally meet me in person. As a photographer, he's usually found on the other side of the lens. Smile Uncle Stuey!

AOV

Opa and Oma

2007-07-18T11:28:00.000-04:00

Hey Everyone,

Just putting in some filler. Here's a great shot of me and my Oma and Opa from last Sunday. This was a momentous occasion since this was the first time my Oma got to hold me! She was there when I came home from the hospital, but she was feeling a little sick so she didn't want to get too close. I'm glad mommy and daddy explained that to me since I thought she was avoiding me because of my poopy diaper.

AOV

Six Pounds of Fury!

2007-07-17T21:37:00.000-04:00

Hey everybody! I went to the hospital today for a check up and I have officially hit the 6 pound mark! Woo hoo!

So the day started out with a visit to the follow-up clinic with nurse Debbie where I got to see my file:
Woah. I think my file weighs more than me! How can such a little guy have so much paper?! Any way, it was my understanding that since I no longer live at the hospital, there would be NO MORE NEEDLES. I stand corrected. Just because I am a free bird they can still poke me whenever I visit. Not cool. Well, it was for a blood test, and at least I came up all aces. Next I needed to be weighed so I stripped down and tried stay composed, but when I found out that I was 6 pounds, I peed all over myself. Even managed to hit myself in the eye. Yep, I'm so suave.

Then it was off to the doctors office where I was reunited with my old friend Dr. Ferdinand. She was really pleased with my development, and even offered an explanation to why I've been so gassy and cranky lately: Mommy has been eating cabbage! Well, she's eastern European, so what do you expect? Just so we're clear mommy:

CABBAGE=BAD

and in case you didn't understand that:

KUPUS=NIJE DOBRO

After that we went visit to my ol' stompin' grounds, the NICU. Every one was so happy to see that I was doing well, and I even posed for a picture with three completely anonymous, random nurses:
Who were those ladies, any way?

AOV

Pooped.

2007-07-16T00:21:00.000-04:00

We had a fun time today at daddy's party. Although I think I got into a bad batch of milk because I was really cranky for most of the day. Now I'm all partied out and resting.

See you tomorrow!

AOV

Don't cook the baby!

MY DAD

2007-07-15T09:22:00.000-04:00

Let me tell you something about MY dad. He was the first to see us when we were born. We were supposed to cry but he did it for us. He is a very special guy. He was there for me and my brother Oliver from the day one. When my brother got very sick he told me everything will be fine and I wasn't scared. He spent countless hours reading and singing to me,massaging my foot when we thought I am about to lose it, cheering me up when things got really hard, and always, always believing in me and never giving up on me.
For that you are the most special dad one can have and I love you dad. You are my hero.
I know my brother Oliver feels the same way about you dad.

The fact that you love kung-fu movies is just a bonus to your greatness.
Happy birthday big guy
Love your son
Andrej Oliver

Little Brat

2007-07-12T22:14:00.001-04:00

Hey! I'm 4 months old today! That's one third of a year, y'know. To celebrate this special day I passed another milestone in my development. It had nothing to do with my weight, or my feeding, or my health. Nope, today marked the first time in my life that I really, truly, and absolutely got on my parent's nerves. Oh yes my friends, I was a total brat today! I ate my lunch and then refused to go to sleep. I figured out a little while ago that if I cried when I wanted something, someone would come running. But I learned today that if I cried for no reason other than to be difficult, it makes my parents want to sell me to the gypsies. Heh heh heh. Watching them run around all confused was priceless!

Oh yeah, be sure to check out my guest appearance on Ana's website, www.nascerprematuro.org. There's a little congrats to me on the front page.

OK, time for me to wake up and fuss for no reason again.

Anarchy! Anarchy!

AOV

Wolfgang Andrej Mozart

2007-07-11T20:06:00.001-04:00

So as you know, my mommy is a piano teacher. She thinks that it's never too early to start. Hey, how about 4 months? Is that early enough for you? First she needed to show me how it's done:
Hmmm. OK, so you put your hands on the white sticks and the black sticks and then music comes out. Seems easy enough. Let's give it a try...

Hey this is fun! For those of you out there who are musicians, I am playing Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor in this picture. Sorry, no video! But here is a video of mommy playing for me:

Carnegie Hall here I come!

AOV

Full Speed Ahead

2007-07-10T11:16:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone,

I had my first visit from the CLSC clinic today. They will be doing periodic check-ups on me to make sure that I'm in good health, and that mommy and daddy are taking good care of me, which they are, of course! Every day they make sure I have fresh sawdust in my cage and big bowl of apple peels to munch on. Kidding!

So the big news is that I'm now 2600 grams! That's about 5.75 pounds for you non-metric types. And everything else seems to be running smoothly. Mommy is convinced that I take after daddy when it comes to my behaviour. I sleep a lot, fuss only when I'm hungry or gassy, and I love to be social. I heard that when mommy was a baby she cried so much that her next door neighbour had to move out! That is one powerful baby!

And it looks like good news south of the equator as well. My buddy Augusto has hit 1800 grams, which is one of three requirements he needs in order to be discharged. Keep up the good work! Here's me cheering for you:

Go Augusto!

AOV

Something for the Ladies

2007-07-09T18:42:00.000-04:00

Grrrrrr....

AOV

2007-07-08T23:54:00.000-04:00

Checking my blog...

AOV

Hanging with Baka

2007-07-07T23:59:00.000-04:00

What a lucky boy I am to not only have super parents, but super grandparents, too! I'm sad that I don't get to see my Oma and Opa a lot since they live in Ottawa, but fortunately I see my Baka every day since she lives directly below me. Seriously! Her room is exactly below mine. She keeps banging on the ceiling every time I play my music too loud.

Tonight she gave me a bath for the first time. I'm used to baths by now, but I thought I'd give her a taste of the old drama-baby to break her in a bit. "Wah! Wah! I'm wet!" Sucker.

An added bonus for my mommy and daddy is that she comes up and feeds me at least once a day, giving my poor folks a much needed break. I personally think I'm not a high maintenance guy, but the bags under their eyes seem to suggest otherwise. Maybe it's my snoring at night...

My only concern is that I am causing a lack of productivity at her salon. She phones every day to talk to me (I'm usually sleeping or eating) and she often closes an hour early to rush home to see me. She also has to keep the Balkan crowd up to date on every last minute detail of my life, like how much I'm eating, how much I'm pooping, and how big I'm getting.

Some day, when I'm able to talk, I hope to tell her how much I love her. She's one awesome Baka!
AOV

A Walk in the Park

2007-07-06T21:46:00.000-04:00

A great day today: I had a visit from my ol' buddy Blake! He came over tonight for dinner (with his parents, of course) and after we went for a stroll through the park. It's funny because way back when Blake and I were in our isolettes, hooked up to all kinds of machines, our mommies could hardly believe that the day would come when they could walk their sons in the park. So when the day finally arrived, they could hardly believe that they ever hardly believed. It all seems so far away now.

AOV

Very Nice!

2007-07-05T12:05:00.000-04:00

Here's me and my dad hanging out in our Cuddlywrap. Very comfortable, I must say! Sometimes I get cranky lying in my bed all day, and so I feel the need to get up and cruise around a bit. Unfortunately I can't do this myself, so I have to recruit the big guy to carry me around.

I don't think he minds.

AOV

The Great Outdoors

2007-07-04T11:54:00.000-04:00

Today I hung out in the back yard with my parents. I like it out here, all the plants and stuff, but I wasn't allowed to play with any of the toys lying around. Those are for the dogs, apparently. By the way, I still haven't met my dogs yet--they're still visiting Antonio until things settle down here a bit. I don't know if that's referring to me or my parents, because as you can see, I'm pretty chill.

AOV

Reflections on My First 48 Hours at Home

2007-07-03T19:14:00.000-04:00

Andrej's Top Ten List of Reasons Why Being Out of the Hospital is AWESOME!

10. No more monitors beeping.
9. No more wires attached to me.
8. I have a lot more toys.
7. Being able to see my parents all the time is very comforting.
6. Being able to see my parents without sleep is freaking hilarious.
5. Toys! So many toys!
4. My physical presence at home inspires people to buy me stuff.
3. My bed is 5 times bigger.
2. Did I mention the toys?
1. 24-hour boob access.

AOV

Party Animal!

2007-07-01T23:59:00.000-04:00

What a great day! After a tearful goodbye to everyone at the NICU, mommy and daddy and uncle Zlatko wheeled me outside into the real world for the first time. They strapped into my car seat for my first car ride, which I didnt' enjoy all that much, and moments later I arrived at my house greeted by a bunch of friends and family, some of whom I met for the first time.

Baka could hardly contain herself. She was busy all morning decorating the backyard and preparing food, and there was sooo much food! Here's a tip if you are ever invited to our house for a party: starve yourself for at least a day before. Of course she couldn't do it all alone--she had the help my tetka, Vule, Zdenka and Maria. Then Adriana, Emma and Antonio arrived and they all greeted me as I made my grand entrance.

Then everyone started arriving! My oma and opa, and uncle Rob and aunt Lisa even showed up from Ottawa. And I was thrilled to finally meet my cousins, Luke, Ella and Maggie. Thanks for the great gift and the strawberries (even if I'm too small to eat them just yet!). James was there and so was some guy also named Andre (what a weird way to spell it!). I was so happy to finally meet Melita. She would have been there to greet me as well, but she was so excited to see me that she passed out. That must have been one major "brady!" So Mladen revived her and they arrived just in time to see me while I was still awake. Lets see, Meg was there, so was Brad, all the way from Toronto, and even my girlfriend, Andrea!

Thanks so much to every one who came, and to everyone who was there in spirit. Your love and support means so much to me!

Now it's time to spend my first night in my new house with my parents. Pleasant dreams, everyone!

AOV

Home.

2007-07-01T21:29:00.000-04:00

Day 111, 2380 grams

It's done. It's over. I'm at home with my parents.

More later...

AOV

Let's Go Home.

2007-07-01T13:55:00.000-04:00

Feel the Anticipation!

2007-06-30T23:59:00.000-04:00

Day 110, 2340 grams

My last full day in the NICU. Wow. It's been a while, huh? There were lots of tears as we said goodbye to some of my nurses for the last time. But it's only goodbye as a patient! I'll still come by and visit, of course! I had some special time with auntie Val, who was the first nurse to ever take care of me. She basically kidnapped me and had mommy chasing her all over the NICU! Then at the 11:30 shift change, my nurse Mary, who was starting a second shift (what a trooper), very graciously traded me like a hockey card to auntie Jocelyn so that she could look after me on my last night. Me and J go wayyyy back.

Earlier in the day mommy and daddy out some last minute touches on the house in preparation for my arrival. They've been talking about my room for some time now, and so it's only fair to show you some pictures that they took:

First of all here's my backup milk supply. Yep, that's a freezer full of milk. Talk about production! Oma and Opa got this handy unit especially for me. I can't wait until it's full of ice cream!
Although I have a super cool room, for my first few weeks I'll be sleeping with mom and dad in this cozy little sleeper. It features a slightly angled surface, vented side panels and a built-in night light. Very sleek.

And now... on to my pad!
Here's my change table and a bit of my bookshelf. I already have all the Curious Georges and Winnie the Poohs, a bunch of Dr. Seuss and some Disney books, too. I mostly want to chew on the corners for now.
This is where mom and dad can sit, kick their feet up and FEED ME. Notice my awesome dragon curtains. Yeah, dragons rock.
Here's my crib! Classic Pooh bed ensemble and mobile is thanks to aunt Katica. Very cute! Behind it is my totally sweet wall of circles. I love circles. The best part is that they're movable. Stuck on the wall with Velcro, you see. Here's another view:

Notice the little sliver oval? That is my baby monitor video camera. Instead of just being able to hear me, my parents can also see me on a hand-held colour screen, and at night it switches automatically to night-vision. I cannot get over the coolness of this thing! Thanks to uncle Brad in Toronto for this piece of high tech baby gear.

So that's how I'll be living for my first few years.

Now it's off to sleep in preparation for my big day tomorrow. I hope to see a lot of you at my house!

AOV

Sniper!

2007-06-29T23:59:00.000-04:00

Day 109, 2280 grams

You know you're getting near the end of your stay when your only interesting news comes from the diaper area. But consider how things used to be, when I was keeping you up to date on my heart surgery, or how I was faring on the ventilator, or how I caught an infection. A little bathroom humour should be welcome.

That said, on to tonight's adventure. Yes folks, I'm afraid I need to regale you with yet another toilet story! Some familiar things happened: sudden explosions of poop, hitting the floor, filling several diapers. but tonight not only did I pee my pants, I also peed daddy's pants! It was beautiful: first I lured him into place by shooting poop on the floor. And then, zing! A beautiful arc right on to his pant leg. That, is talent.

AOV