Harrison's 2 Month Photo Shoot!

This is what Mommy, Daddy, and Harrison did today...

It turns out Harrison likes the camera. Posing is something we are still working on. We ended up taking 101 pictures! (Harrison will is probably still seeing spots!)

This is today's 4 post and this also marks the 100th post since beginning this blog.

Nap Time!

As you can see, it's nap time. Even the furry children are resting. And this is third blog update for the day. I think it's safe to say I am addicted to updates. Those who read this blog daily probably know just as much as I know about what is going on everyday in the Kelley household.

Harrison is calling...

End of update.

Saturday Morning...

It's seems as though we are always planning for something.

This week's agenda? Baptism/Shower Plans...

It looks as though Harrison maybe baptized the first Sunday in March (but no confirmation yet). After the baptism we will celebrate the baptism and have a baby shower that same day (less exposure to people to people = less of chance getting sick is our reasoning for doing 2 in 1). Eric, my brother will be the God Father and my friend Amanda will be the Godmother.

As we turn to other news...Harrison got to meet 2 of his cousins, Carter and Cooper and his Aunt Kim and Uncle Eric this morning. Cousin Carter said, "I'm happy it's a boy and not another girl." Carter is also the one that said to me while I was pregnant in response to me saying, "You can feel the baby move." Carter said, "but I thought it was dead!" Whenever I think about just how he said it always makes me smile. Cooper said, "Baby wake up, baby wake up." Baby Harrison did wake up and made Cooper very happy! Then Cooper squealed, "Baby wake up, baby wake up!" Aunt Kim and Uncle Eric got a good dose of Harrison's gas (and trust me, it's bad)!

Grandpa Larry & Grandma Judy--- Come for a Visit...

Harrison loves his visitors!

Harrison got to see his grandparents for the first time outside of the NICU this past week. Grandma and Grandma were pretty excited to hold and love up our little guy. This was Grandpa Larry's first time getting to hold Harrison.

Mom and dad got to go sit in the hot tub and relax and Harrison became better acquainted with his grandparents.

Harrison got to take home a knitted blue blanket that Grandma Judy made and a economy pack of diapers---(which mommy and daddy probably appreciated more than Harrison).

Posted below are some fantastic photos taken with Grandma and Grandpa McKee.

Harrison's Post!

Harrison would like to make a post to all visitors.


To all my fans,

During visits Mommy and Daddy have found it helpful when guests pay attention to my brothers and sister (the kitties and puppy). They seem to do better and that will help with the transition to me joining the family. You need to remember that even though I rule the roost, my brothers and sister have been part of our family long before mommy and daddy were ever thinking about me (and now they can't stop)! :)

The brothers and sister and very important to me (they helped train mommy and daddy) and though they are doing okay since I took over, I would be happy if you showed them the attention that I receive. I love them!

Thank you!

Here are the latest photos of my siblings... I can't wait until I am big enough to play with them!

Lots of Updates!

Where do I start? Harrison is so amazing and does so many great things I don't know where to begin!

Harrison is 2 months old today (38 weeks gestation)...it's incredibly crazy! Time flies when you are having fun that is for sure.

We had a doctors appointment yesterday. Our boy is gaining well...the doctor's exact word was "thrilled" with his weight gain. He weighs 6 lbs 13 ounces. Yes, you are reading that correctly. I had my doubts the scale was correct myself! The doctor also said, if he is starting to feel heavier, he definitely should. His weight gain is about 2 ounces a day (what it would be if I was still pregnant with him). He is eating roughly 3 ounces every 3-4 hours (which is insane to think when he started off eating 2 cc just 2 months ago). Everything else checked out well at the appointment and Harrison got his two months shots (3 pokes--ouch) and an oral vaccine against a nasty stomach bug. He also had some blood work done---so that makes 4 pokes! Needless to say Harrison had a rough afternoon yesterday and was more fussy yesterday evening (that is partly why I am behind updating the blog). However, the fussiness is expected after vaccination. He is much better today!

In other incredible news from Harrison's world. He discovered mirrors the other day in his bouncer. It was so amusing to watch him watch himself in amazement. He is also spending a couple of times a day in his swing which he seems to like (because it puts him to sleep). Oh, and before I forget---camera flashes make him smile...not during the picture, but after the flash he smiles--he did it again just this morning during tummy time.

This is Mommy and Harrison's first morning together. Daddy went back to work today. So far we started off our morning with breakfast, followed by getting dressed, having some tummy time with Whitney Dog and I am currently warming our brunch. After brunch the agenda is to read the second chapter of Charlotte's Web. Later we are going to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa McKee who are in town for a couple of days.

I better pause the blog---per Harrison's request. I will be back.

I (we) am back. Harrison needed some food in his tummy. He acted as though it's been a week since his last feeding rather than 3 1/2 hours. Harrison says, "BURP!"

Another pause...phone call.

It was Harrison's doctor calling with lab results from yesterday. Things look good! We are reducing his diuretic and sodium to one time daily. With a poke at our next appointment for more labs will let us know if we can stop the edema medications completely...but so far so good!

I think this has been the longest blog update ever, and I am sure I am forgetting some things, but as you can tell, I am not stranger to making updates, so if I forgot something I am sure I will post it later.

Here are some of the latest photos for your enjoyment!

Go Vikes Go!

Don't I look cute?

Today Harrison sported his Viking's outfit (for the game of coarse). While it was too big, he still looks cute while swimming in purple and gold. His cute knitted hat was courtsey of the NICU.

Go Vikes go!

Do we live with a horse?

We are beginning to think we brought home a horse rather than our baby! Harrison is busy making noises and one of our favorites is his impression of a neighing horse. It's one of the best impressions I've ever heard. We are trying to capture it on video, but have been less than successful.

It's been a busy weekend, Harrison has had quite a few visitors. He is a little celebrity. We also ran a few needed errands and Harrison picked out a very cute outfit for himself. (I have to get him started shopping early because we will be doing A LOT of this).

Whitney Dog continues to be jealous of Harrison, but she is spending more time sniffing around him...(probably wondering when he is going home). :)

Other than that, it's been a quiet weekend. I completed (at least I think I have) my pregnancy scrapbook. I only had a few pages left to do. I had been doing a page every week of the pregnancy, but since his arrival I hadn't finished the last pages. I can't wait to get started on his scrap book. I blew our bank account yesterday with Auntie Potter (dad stayed home with Harrison) buying a new scrap book and spending about an hour looking at the baby scrapping section. It was fun!

Mommy can put together things too!

This evening Harrison's swing arrived. Daddy had a meeting at work and said he would put it together when he got back home. Auntie Potter came over for some Harrison time. Mean while Mommy thought that just maybe I could put the swing together myself (despite the 100 pieces it came in). Auntie Potter supervised and together we manage to get the swing in working order. I can't wait for Harrison to try it out tomorrow...he just ate now, so I don't know how pleasant it would be to swing on a full tummy (or if I would want to clean up afterwards).

Enjoy the day's photos!

Harrison writes a letter...

Harrison wanted to thank the team that helped bring him home. He dropped off the letter at the NICU today.


Dear Nurses, Doctors & Staff,

I want to thank you so much for taking care of me for the more than 7 weeks that I spent in the NICU. Despite the pokes of some needles, I don’t have any complaints!

My parents will be better parents thanks to your teaching. You taught my parents how to change my diaper, bathe me, feed me, give me icky medications, and that’s just naming a few things…

You see my mommy and daddy had a really tough year losing four family members and your team made all the difference making sure I could be here for them. I am a strong boy, but you made me stronger.

I don’t think saying thank you a million times would ever be enough to express the gratitude that we have for the NICU team. Keep doing the good things that you do and continue to be a home for families such as ours.

Thank you with love,

Harrison Kelley

Our First Doctor's Appt.

We made our journey today to LaCrosse today to meet with Harrison's doctor and eye doctor.

The doctor's appointment went well...which was a huge relief. Harrison weighed in at 6 lbs 1.4 ounces! Yes, that's right he is over 6 lbs!!! So...that solves the mystery--we are feeding him enough! :) The main reason for the appt today was to track his weight which he is was gaining about 50 grams per day---and it's expected that he is to gain 20-30 grams per day (so we are over achieving a bit). We will go back and see the doctor next week for a weight and some blood work (that means we are going to get poked).

We also saw the eye doctor which was rather unpleasant. In the exam the doctor checks for the blood vessels are growing correctly in place. Premature babies tend to have trouble with their eyes and it's important to keep a close watch on Harrison's eyes. The exam itself is not painful, but a lot of crying is involved when a device is holding his eyes open and someone is poking and moving your eye around...Mom and dad chose to wait in the waiting room while the procedure was done. We could hear cries out in the waiting room---I was about to cry...(and they say it's not painful)!

On our way home today we had our first lunch outing together...Can you guess where we went?

Fazolis! :)