Eli the Snuggle Bug

Recently I was reminded of the sleeping habits of my Eli. The boys slept together until they were 9 months old and as they got bigger we used to put them on opposite ends of the crib so that they wouldn't smoosh one another. We would come back and they would be back together like magnets. Eli was the more cuddly one, although now it is Alex. Eli came home and snuggled right up to his bubby like he had missed him.

Our NICU didn't practice co-sleeping with their multiples and quite frankly by the time Eli was well enough to do it Alex was already home but when Eli got home he absolutely THRIVED. It was amazing. Jared and I did a lot of kangaroo time with the boys (plan to explain this in a future post) and as I mentioned he was glued to Alex. I believe this had a hand in his recovery along with God's plan for Eli. We started checking specialists off of our lists on a regular basis. The first to go was the cardiologist. I started crying in his office. We thought he'd have heart problems possibly forever and possibly require surgeries and God had other plans. Next, I believe was the opthamologist who actually laughed when he check Eli's eyes and said "so much for the oxygen affecting this one". You see Eli was on oxygen for about 6 months and this would make him more susceptible to problems with his sight. Next was the endocrinologist, developmental specialists, pulmonologist and we are on a once a year schedule with the neurologist. Very exciting.

Oh yeah, back to the sleeping. Part of the reason that I was recently reminded of his sleeping habits was that he has been having some rough nights as of late. He cries and says "I scary, Barney" or just "I scary". One night I just gave up and put him into bed with Jared and I for the last two hours before we had to get up. He kept snuggling so close to me. I kept moving over because I didn't like his face being buried and if I would move an inch he would scoot (while sleeping) right back next to me. It was so sweet and reminded me of him and Alex cuddled up so close. I can see why parents let their children sleep with them and have trouble breaking the habit. It is really a precious time. Since his fears we picked up a tykelight and he is doing fine but I may have to snag him to take a nap with me one day just to have him snuggle up again. :)

This started out as a post about Eli's sleeping habits and turned into a "preemie" post but I needed to remind myself of all that God has brought us through. Eli has his 3rd surgery on Wednesday and as any Mom would I am starting to feel the nerves and anxiousness. This morning the worry crept into my mind and heart the moment I opened my eyes. I combated it with the verse "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." (Phil. 4:7) I used to have this verse up when the boys were in the NICU with pictures of them and I referred to it regularly. It encourages me and helps me stay calm. I am guessing in the next week I will be quoting it to myself on a regular basis.

Here he is trying to take his oxygen out. I am not sure that I've ever mentioned how Eli was his own neonatologist at times. He decided when he wanted his vent out by wiggling until the Dr.'s had to remove it and then gave him a chance off of it to see how he would do. He did well never to be put back on the vent. He removed his feeding tube and the nurse that was on decided he was going to figure out this bottle thing or else :) and he did. He decided he would come off oxygen so he pulled out his nasal cannula and he did well and eventually came home. When he was back in the hospital for one of his surgeries after he'd been put on home oxygen he removed it and satted well so the pulmonologist decided to try him off of it and he was never put back on again after that appointment with her. He definitely has a mind of his own, this one.