On
12-31-2003, at 1:39 pm, Alex was born. Alex was born 2 months
premature, as
the due date was
Feb. 20, 2004. He is recovering in a NICU unit for premature babies. As of 6:00pm, 12-31-03, he is doing
ok being able to breath on his own.
Below are a few pictures taken for those not able to be here.
Feb. 20, 2004. He is recovering in a NICU unit for premature babies. As of 6:00pm, 12-31-03, he is doing
ok being able to breath on his own.
Below are a few pictures taken for those not able to be here.
NAME:
Alexander Steven Elekes
(picked out by Tonya)
WEIGHT: 3 pounds, 14 ounces
LENGTH: 16"
WEIGHT: 3 pounds, 14 ounces
LENGTH: 16"
I will
put more info up when I get
a chance.......
Below,
there are pictures and a
few small clips taken in the
hospitals.
12-31-2003
CLICK ON THE PICTURES FOR LARGER IMAGES
HERE ARE 3 SMALL VIDEO CLIPS FROM THE CAMERA
01-01-2004
Alex is doing
much better today. He no longer has labored breathing which can
wear out a premature baby.
The pictures below show the tube they put into in nose to help in breathing. It is just to mildly help him breath on
his own without having to go further. He will be in this state for the next few days until his lungs develop a little more.
At this time he is only given a sugar water solution through his IV until his body can handle getting nutrition through the IV.
On friday, Tonya should be able to be released from the hospital. Her high blood pressure and infection caused
by the pregnancy is gone. She is doing well, but misses her little guy but she is in very good spirits.
The following 2 video clips
are a little large..
CLIP-4 24 hours later - 7.3megs
CLIP-5 24 hours later - 5.4megs
The pictures below show the tube they put into in nose to help in breathing. It is just to mildly help him breath on
his own without having to go further. He will be in this state for the next few days until his lungs develop a little more.
At this time he is only given a sugar water solution through his IV until his body can handle getting nutrition through the IV.
On friday, Tonya should be able to be released from the hospital. Her high blood pressure and infection caused
by the pregnancy is gone. She is doing well, but misses her little guy but she is in very good spirits.
CLIP-4 24 hours later - 7.3megs
CLIP-5 24 hours later - 5.4megs
01-02-2004
Tonya was
released from the hospital
today. She is doing much better but is moving very slowly, which
is to
be expected. After getting home and unpacking, we reorganized and left for the NICU unit so Tonya could see
her son for the first time since they took him away to the other hospital. Alex was a little more calm since Tonya
arrived to see him. Before he was pretty fussy and would have fits, but I think he could tell the familiar voice
was there. The pictures today show it a little bit.
be expected. After getting home and unpacking, we reorganized and left for the NICU unit so Tonya could see
her son for the first time since they took him away to the other hospital. Alex was a little more calm since Tonya
arrived to see him. Before he was pretty fussy and would have fits, but I think he could tell the familiar voice
was there. The pictures today show it a little bit.
Alex is mostly stable as of today. He has lost 2 ounces, which I was told would be normal at this time. They also said
he would loose a few more until he is stable as this is mostly excess water from his body and lungs. The tube going into his
nose is called a C-PAP procedure which has lightly forced air going in to help him breath on his own. They measure his
blood oxygen level to see how he is doing. Normally we breathe about 20% oxygen from the air, but when alex was born
they had to administer at least 45% as an average to start and go from there. Today his level was reduced to about 25%
which is good. He is not out of the clear yet. He will have the C-PAP in for the next 4-5 days as long as there are no
complications.
CLIP 6 - 48 HOURS OLD 5.6megs
CLIP 7 - 48 HOURS OLD 5.7megs
CLIP 8 - 48 HOURS OLD 3.5megs
CLIP 9 - 48 HOURS OLD 3.2megs
01-03-2004
It was a very good visit today. The latest update is that his chest x-rays are much better today. His
breathing is much better and the oxygen needed is down to 21%. We were also told that he may get
off the C-PAP tomorrow!!!! His weight is down to 3 lbs. 9.5 ounces. He is wetting his diaper regularly
now but you can really tell when it is wet. He lets ya know.
Today, mom gets to hold Alex for the first time. I'm telling ya what a site to see! They took the C-PAP off
to take him out and let Tonya hold him. At that time, it was the most peaceful time for Alex. Hopefully the
pictures and videos show that! During that time we monitored his blood oxygen levels, and they stayed
right where there are suppose to. But to be safe they will continue the C-PAP for another day.
Tonya is getting around better as well. Kind of amazing how hard it can be just to put on your own socks
and shoes. So she is in very good spirits.
CLIP 10 mom gets to
hold
alex first time 5.5megs
CLIP 11 mom gets to hold alex first time 6.2megs
CLIP 12 mom gets to hold alex first time 12.4megs
CLIP 13 mom gets to hold alex first time 14megs
CLIP 11 mom gets to hold alex first time 6.2megs
CLIP 12 mom gets to hold alex first time 12.4megs
CLIP 13 mom gets to hold alex first time 14megs
01-04-2004
Good news today, Alex has the C-PAP removed! Earlier than it was expected. This is also the first
day he started to feed from a bottle. He is much more stable at this time, but just needs to start feeding
normally without working to hard at doing it.
It sure was nice being able to hold the little fragile guy for the first time and to watch mom feed him from
the bottle. After the bottle and diaper change, its back to sleep he goes........
Clip 14 dad-holding-alex-first-time 11.4megs
Clip 15 mom-feeding-alex-first-time-1 6.3megs
Clip 16 mom-feeding-alex-first-time-2 5megs
01-05-2004
Today Alex has started feeding more. We found out (in the video) that he loves to be sitting
up to be burped! All of the vitals of Alex are mostly good. He is looking a little yellow due
to his liver not quite able to keep up. At this time he is only on an IV and monitoring stuff.
Clip 17 being burped, oh the happiness! 5.3megs
1-06-2004
Today Alex was moved upstairs to the nursery, which is a good move. It is a little more of a private
area. This is where Alex will be spending his time gaining weight. As far as health goes, he is
doing real well. He has gained weight and is back up to 3 lbs 13.5 ounces. Grandma got to hold
him for the first time. Dad got to feed him this time, but was a little nervous. He had mom finish
and worked like a charm. Dad is better at getting Alex to go back to sleep.
1-07-2004
Alex is progressing well. He sleeps in an incubator to keep him warm. They had to turn down
the heat setting 3 times today. He is starting to be able to regulate his body temp much on his
own. His weight is up to 3 lbs. 15.3 ounces now. Feeding has become more normal where he
knows what is coming. Alex has not been a fussy baby much at all. He just seems content with
what is going on.
Clip 18 alex and grandma 7.0 megs
01-08-2004
Alex is now up to 4 lbs 0.2 ounces. He is feeding well. They kept having to lower the incubator temp
and finally removed him and put him into a crib. It is totally awesome to have him out of that thing. He
is real small and the hat they have on him is so big, he could use the bottom part of it for a pillow. The
little fart just keeps getting cuter by the day.
01-09-2004
Alex's weight is up to 4 lbs. 1.5 ounces and is feeding pretty well. You can see his room area that he is
in now. They even made some pictures for his room. We have been told with the current progress he
is making that he will be able to come home in a week to 10 days!!! The neonatologist said that working
on Alex is now boring. He is doing everything he is supposed to. He may get the IV removed today.
He is just very calm and content, hope he stays that way for the next 5 years.........
01-10-2004
Alex's weight today is 4 lbs. 2.4 ounces. Grandma and grandpa got to hold him today. He sure likes
the attention he is getting from everyone. He is feeding at 25 cc per feeding and doing pretty well with
it. After he eats its off to sleep again. Whether you are holding him or not he goes back to sleep.
01-11-2004
Alex didn't gain much weight today, because I think it all came out the other end. This little guy gets pretty
feisty when it is time to change the diaper. It really makes it a challenge. Since he kicks all the time he keeps
knocking the wires off and making the IV leak. He definitely keeps the nurses busy at times.. Aunt Kari got
to hold him today. We were kind of worried that Alex might disappear when she left. She didn't want to give
him up. He is doing real good. Just a few more days to go..........
Clip 19 a-full-tummy-does-this 7.0 megs
01-12-2004
No pictures today, but we do have some good news. We found out that Alex is doing so well that even
though he will only be at about 4 1/2 lbs., he will be coming home on either this thursday or friday 1-15
or 1-16-2004. That is fantastic news. Today dad starting seeing some personality starting to show. He
is small, but sure is cute..........
01-13-2004
Alex is up to 4 lbs 5 ounces now. It was also bath day today. I thought that he would not like it like
before, but he was real good. He just didn't know what to think about it. Tonya had quite an episode
today. She was changing him and he seemed more interested in the long distant peeing contest. He was
laying in the crib while getting changed and shot it over his head onto the floor hitting the car seat. To me
that seems like quite a distance for a little one. It was pretty funny to see. Today he didn't seem to want
to eat much until the evening when dad came in. Dad is a pro at feeding but lacks a little in the patience
at burping. So a team effort works pretty well.
1-16-2004
Alex is doing fine. Getting bigger now. He is up to 4 lbs. 7.6 ounces. They have finally have set a day to go
home. It will be Sunday. There is nothing wrong with him, just that he needs to get bigger and more able
to feed regularly with out missing any meals. Seems anymore, that the hospital is just baby-sitting him for
us. The following pictures are cute. Today Tonya gave Alex a bath for the first time. Seems like he is starting
to like baths.
01-18-2004
ALEX COMES HOME
Good news today, Alex has the C-PAP removed! Earlier than it was expected. This is also the first
day he started to feed from a bottle. He is much more stable at this time, but just needs to start feeding
normally without working to hard at doing it.
It sure was nice being able to hold the little fragile guy for the first time and to watch mom feed him from
the bottle. After the bottle and diaper change, its back to sleep he goes........
Clip 14 dad-holding-alex-first-time 11.4megs
Clip 15 mom-feeding-alex-first-time-1 6.3megs
Clip 16 mom-feeding-alex-first-time-2 5megs
01-05-2004
Today Alex has started feeding more. We found out (in the video) that he loves to be sitting
up to be burped! All of the vitals of Alex are mostly good. He is looking a little yellow due
to his liver not quite able to keep up. At this time he is only on an IV and monitoring stuff.
Clip 17 being burped, oh the happiness! 5.3megs
1-06-2004
Today Alex was moved upstairs to the nursery, which is a good move. It is a little more of a private
area. This is where Alex will be spending his time gaining weight. As far as health goes, he is
doing real well. He has gained weight and is back up to 3 lbs 13.5 ounces. Grandma got to hold
him for the first time. Dad got to feed him this time, but was a little nervous. He had mom finish
and worked like a charm. Dad is better at getting Alex to go back to sleep.
1-07-2004
Alex is progressing well. He sleeps in an incubator to keep him warm. They had to turn down
the heat setting 3 times today. He is starting to be able to regulate his body temp much on his
own. His weight is up to 3 lbs. 15.3 ounces now. Feeding has become more normal where he
knows what is coming. Alex has not been a fussy baby much at all. He just seems content with
what is going on.
Clip 18 alex and grandma 7.0 megs
01-08-2004
Alex is now up to 4 lbs 0.2 ounces. He is feeding well. They kept having to lower the incubator temp
and finally removed him and put him into a crib. It is totally awesome to have him out of that thing. He
is real small and the hat they have on him is so big, he could use the bottom part of it for a pillow. The
little fart just keeps getting cuter by the day.
01-09-2004
Alex's weight is up to 4 lbs. 1.5 ounces and is feeding pretty well. You can see his room area that he is
in now. They even made some pictures for his room. We have been told with the current progress he
is making that he will be able to come home in a week to 10 days!!! The neonatologist said that working
on Alex is now boring. He is doing everything he is supposed to. He may get the IV removed today.
He is just very calm and content, hope he stays that way for the next 5 years.........
01-10-2004
Alex's weight today is 4 lbs. 2.4 ounces. Grandma and grandpa got to hold him today. He sure likes
the attention he is getting from everyone. He is feeding at 25 cc per feeding and doing pretty well with
it. After he eats its off to sleep again. Whether you are holding him or not he goes back to sleep.
01-11-2004
Alex didn't gain much weight today, because I think it all came out the other end. This little guy gets pretty
feisty when it is time to change the diaper. It really makes it a challenge. Since he kicks all the time he keeps
knocking the wires off and making the IV leak. He definitely keeps the nurses busy at times.. Aunt Kari got
to hold him today. We were kind of worried that Alex might disappear when she left. She didn't want to give
him up. He is doing real good. Just a few more days to go..........
Clip 19 a-full-tummy-does-this 7.0 megs
01-12-2004
No pictures today, but we do have some good news. We found out that Alex is doing so well that even
though he will only be at about 4 1/2 lbs., he will be coming home on either this thursday or friday 1-15
or 1-16-2004. That is fantastic news. Today dad starting seeing some personality starting to show. He
is small, but sure is cute..........
01-13-2004
Alex is up to 4 lbs 5 ounces now. It was also bath day today. I thought that he would not like it like
before, but he was real good. He just didn't know what to think about it. Tonya had quite an episode
today. She was changing him and he seemed more interested in the long distant peeing contest. He was
laying in the crib while getting changed and shot it over his head onto the floor hitting the car seat. To me
that seems like quite a distance for a little one. It was pretty funny to see. Today he didn't seem to want
to eat much until the evening when dad came in. Dad is a pro at feeding but lacks a little in the patience
at burping. So a team effort works pretty well.
1-16-2004
Alex is doing fine. Getting bigger now. He is up to 4 lbs. 7.6 ounces. They have finally have set a day to go
home. It will be Sunday. There is nothing wrong with him, just that he needs to get bigger and more able
to feed regularly with out missing any meals. Seems anymore, that the hospital is just baby-sitting him for
us. The following pictures are cute. Today Tonya gave Alex a bath for the first time. Seems like he is starting
to like baths.
01-18-2004
ALEX COMES HOME