Home Sweet Home

We have begun our preemie hibernation period and it is wonderful.Since Thursday night, we have just been spending good family cuddle time and doing lots of laundry. The nursery is finally complete and the house is back to a new, wonderful normal.

Grant is such a loving big brother and is so gentle with Griffin. He will sit and hold him so peacefully. Grant had been diligently praying for a little brother, so he is over the moon happy to have this little guy. I had been praying for a lil one who looked like his Daddy, so as you can see below, we both got what we wanted. :)

Griffin had his first Drs appointment at our pediatrician today. All went well and he now weighs 5.9 lbs. He's gained 5 ounces since leaving the hospital Thursday! That's great news. The dr said he looked and sounded great and we don't have to go back for a month. I'm so relieved to hear the good news.

So, now I get to settle in to being a Mommy of two. It sure is easier having the two under one roof.
We are so grateful to have Griffin home and healthy. The last month was the most difficult and scary time of my life. It was overwhelming journey, but praise God, one with an amazingly happy ending. Sean and I were drawn closer together and closer to God and I am grateful for the lessons we learned. If God had not been in the middle of it all, it would have broken us. We knew day one we would never make it through on our own strength and we were thankful each day we could come to our Savior for reinforcements, for peace and for healing. I am so grateful for Sean's strength and encouragement and watching him live out his faith was a blessing that has left me forever changed. I am humbled by the love and support shown to our family. I will think back to this time and always remember how God mobilized his earthly army to support and love on us during this journey.

Tonight I will get to tuck one miracle into bed and rock another to sleep in my arms and praise my Savior for giving me both. Thank you God.

Taking the car seat challenge at the hospital.

Waiting for Daddy to bring the car around at the hospital. :)

 Griffin's room almost complete. (In my defense, I thought I had until March 19th!!!!)

Thank you Melissa Yanachik for the beautiful curtains and bedding and for rushing to get everything complete. She thought we had until March 19th too! Such a wonderful friend.

Mommy looked a lil rough on the night we got to bring him home. A month in the hospital apparently takes a toll. However, Griffin looked like an angel. Our sweet small group made sure the house was properly decorated to welcome our sweet boy home.

I could stare at mini-Sean all day.

Love,

Stefanie

We are home. Made it home around 7 last night. Griffin did great. We had to wake him up to eat. He's been so peaceful. This is all such a dream. I'm trying to go slow and soak it all up. Having Grant and Griffin together has put my heart back in one piece.

Guess who's headed home in a couple of hours? Our God has held this sweet boy this last month and given us strength and peace that I never could have imagined. Thank you for loving and praying for Griffin Samuel.
And yes, in true Griffin fashion, we are headed home early. The house is still not ready, but I have everything I need in my arms.
Griffin is 35 weeks, 4 days and headed home. We have to keep him at home and away from others for the first 2 months, per the Neonatologists orders. They've equated it to the orders they give chemo patients... keeping away 6 feet from others and no young children. (I'm looking into a hazmat suit for GK) That's standard for preemies and even more essential for preemies born in the middle of RSV and flu season. It seems a bit extreme, but we've been counseled on this multiple times and it will be up to us to keep Mr. Griffin healthy. After our quarentine, let the lovin begin! It's going to be a fantastic spring. He was supposed to be under wraps until March 19th anyways. ;)

We are forever grateful for the love and support.
I'll update more when I wrap my mind around this.

Love,
Stefanie

A few photos from the past month.

It's picture time!

 Waiting to hold Griffin for the first time.

 Crying happy tears.

 Checking each other out.

 First bottle. He didn't like these. Mommy had to go out and buy him Tommee Tippees. 

 Kangaroo Care.

 Happy 1 month birthday Griffin Samuel.

 First time he got to wear clothes.

 First bath.

 Looking like Daddy.

friday? Friday?! FRIDAY!...?

Just met with the nurse practitioner and unless something changes, we are being discharged Friday!!!! I'm not holding my breath because I've been here long enough to hear this play out with other babies. Sometimes, it gets delayed a day or two. However, I am rejoicing because we are officially in the club where they give you a date and that means we are soooo close! Praising God and smiling through happy tears.
Griffin passed his car seat challenge last night and our last big hurdle will be the circumcision. The doctor is supposed to stop by today and do it. Please say a prayer that it goes well, that Griffin is as comfortable as possible and that he doesn't slow down on his eating as a result.

Thank you all. Your prayers and love have sustained us.

I'll keep you updated as soon as I hear anything new.

Love,

Stefanie

Oh my! Thank you Father!

A big thank you from Griff's daddy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello Blogosphere........I have hacked Stef's blog because I am left in Griffs room with a computer and what started out as a half dozen Krispy Kreme (now only 4, that's self restraint for me) and my boy is sleeping.

We are approaching what I hope to be the tail end of this now 1 month & 1 day journey that Griff has taken us on.  From day 1 when Stef told me she was pregnant (crying in the guest BR when I came home & of course my immediate reaction was that someone had passed) to the triumphant way that Griff came 9 weeks early (I believe b/c he didn't want to keep the secret of him being a baby w/manhood) we have been surrounded by family and friends that have supported us with help w/GK, meals, some driving back and forth and of course the prayers for Griff.

It's been crazy how it seems like he has always been here and that it was just yesterday when Stef gave birth.  Of course we have had some scares and downs with him in the hospital, but there has been a peace that we are not in control of one single thing that happens and to watch Stefanie be so strong throughout this past month has been amazing to watch (as I have been able to go to work and some church to take my mind off of things while she has been at the H as much as possible being Griffs advocate).  We tried to control when/how we would get pregnant (didn't work), we tried to control when he would be born (didn't work) and we tried to get him out of the H as quick as possible (didn't work).  God is ultimately watching over this little guy and He knows what is best for him and at what time.

This little guy is so lucky to have such a strong caring mother.........a big brother who can't wait to just be a big brother...........grandparents who adore him..........a shlarge group who would do anything for him...........an aunt who dropped everything for a month to help w/GK...........family & friends who can't wait to meet him and love on him.

Of course Stef is getting nervous about bringing him home.............mostly b/c the day he was born the painter had finished that day cleaning up the mess of the trim that I made (never said I was a handy man), so the house is not completely ready for a baby, but I am sure with my expert cleaning eye, it will be there by this weekend.

As for Griff and his progress............he's now up to his full 8 feedings a day by either nursing or bottle, he needs to complete each feeding in less than approx 20 mins each time for 2 days straight and then he will be ready to go home.  He got a shot today and they are trying to schedule his circ(can't bring myself to spell it, hurts a brotha).  They asked that we bring in his car seat (shout out to the Longs) so they will be sitting this little 5lb monster in it soon to make sure he is good.  He has yet to master this hearing test thing, passed left/failed right first day and then vice versa yesterday.  He is up to 5.3something lbs and is doing great.  The nurses kept telling us that things would move very fast at the end and they were right.  Ol boy took a full fortified bottle feeding in 5 minutes today (they had been giving it to him thru the feeding tube over 60 minutes).

I of course am not one to write much (Stef would write my papers in college).............so please, please if you read this know that this 33yr (almost 34) old man has been humbled by the love and support that each of you has given us since January 13 2012.

I can not wait for you all to meet Griffin Samuel Reeder someday (well after his 2 month preemie hibernation)!

And to my wife Stefanie..........thank you so much for fighting for this little man!

Enough rambling........Reeder out!

Griffin's finding his groove!

Praying that we are getting closer to going home. If Griffin continues to tolerate these fortified feedings and progresses on schedule, we could be home by this time next week. The nurses say Griffin is the boss, and we follow his cues and we definitely don't want to push him too hard. We want him to stay here as long as he needs to be, but it sure will be amazing to have all our family under one roof.  Please continue to pray that he tolerates these fortified feedings and that the nurse practitioners and nurses see any changes or warning sign of intolerance.
Sean spent the day with Griffin and I got to spend the day at home organizing and doing laundry like a mad women. (nesting- sean hates that word) Have I mentioned we were NOT ready at all for Griffin to arrive. The night I went into labor, the painters left at 6 and contractions started at 6:30. We really hadn't  bought too much of the things we needed yet, because we thought we still had 2 and a half months to get prepared. This past week I got to go out and do a lil shopping, so we would be ready for Griffin's homecoming. (thanks Sean and Nana) So other than a few little things, some minor decorating, and a lil cleaning, we are ready. That's a big relief.
Grant is doing great. He's spent the last week with Aunt Jane at Tom and Sheila's and I think that's been easier on him since he is used to staying there without us. Aunt Jane is turning him into a UK basketball fan, which I think is hilarious.
I am starting to come out of the fog and I even think some of Sean's jokes are funny again. God blessed me so abundantly when he gave me Sean. Not one time in since all of this began has he faltered or not been there 100% percent for our family. He is so strong and positive and rooted in faith, I am in awe. He has let me cry, encouraged me and taken care of my every need. He's the coach and these boys are so lucky to have him as Dad. We are blessed beyond measure.
Thanks to all of you who continue to support us, love and pray for us. You have prayed for our son and there is no greater gift you could give us. In these uncertain times, that's what has held me together, that's what has lifted Griffin up and it all has been for His glory.

Love,

Stefanie

We finally finished our first bottle! That's a huge step! If we can continue to do that, they'll reduce tube feeds. He has to be able to nurse 4 times a day and take 4 bottles before they will let him go home. We are moving forward, we are just taking lil preemie baby steps.
Sean stayed with Griffin last night and I went home and slept. I feel sooo much better today. I went to the dr yesterday, suspecting a UTI or kidney infection and got some antiobiotics. No fever today and no pain, so yay! No time for Mommy to be sick.
I went home last night to find yummy dinners prepared by precious friends. How grateful we are to be blessed with such special people in our lives. It's been 4 weeks and you guys are still rallying around us and loving and praying for us. You haven't forgot about our family, even though it feels like we have dropped out of society. We would have never made it in one piece without our Savannah friends, Sean's family and my family loving and praying for us. Both Griffin and I have received such wonderful medical care- everyone feels like family to us now. It blows my mind away at how God has provided for us so abundantly these last 4 weeks. He has given us strength and peace, provided for our wordly needs and even given me guidance about Grant and his schooling decisions. I'm so thankful and humbled to know each of you have prayed for us and have loved us in His name. Griffin Reeder came
into this world surrounded by love and I can't wait for y'all to meet him. He's yummy and he smells really good!
Love y'all.
Stef