Update at our house...

Dylan is doing really well. We had a doctor appointment with his pediatrician on Tuesday. He weighed in at 4 lbs, 11 ounces - this is a 4 ounce gain in 3.5 days from when he was discharged on Saturday. This is GREAT news and made us feel much better on his progress as the doctor wanted him to gain 0.5 to 1.0 ounces a day, which means he's right on target.

Dylan is doing a lot of eating, sleeping and now taking a daily iron/vitamin supplement.

Here are some updated pics:

Dylan enjoying his new elephant onesie

The guys in their hats

Prepping to swaddle

Ranger, the ferocious attach dog...

...and even Mom is getting some time on the phone to call back the "millions" of people that continue to reach out to her

Home for 1 day now...

feels like a week! (well, kind of)

We got our walking papers out of the hospital on Friday afternoon with a Saturday afternoon departure. We had a feeling that we would be leaving "soon" but I must admit the timing caught us both a bit by surprise as we kept thinking he'd get the OK on Monday.

While it was great to head home, I will say we were almost kind of "sad" to leave the hospital. The nurses and staff we basically lived with for the past two weeks were absolutely amazing. There were definitely up's and down's for Melissa and I and we went through a variety of emotions and saying goodbye to some of the great staff was a really tough thing for us. We are so thankful and grateful for the support and help they gave not only Dylan, but the both of us as well. Thanks Boulder Community Hospital NICU staff... we can't wait to come visit!

Anyway, Dylan got to meet his future best friend Ranger yesterday and after a mostly sleepless first night we all settled in a bit throughout Easter Sunday. I suppose we didn't do much today but all things considered it ended up being a great Easter as we were at home as a family.

I feel like we are slowly getting into a groove and Melissa and I are figuring out what all we need to have near the changing area when it's time to switch diapers (Dad found himself ill prepared a few times). Grandma Chris stocked us up pretty well with foods "ready to eat" so the eating part of the day has been the easiest!

Dylan had some adjusting to do in his first 24 hours at home but has been just great since. Here are a few photos of us leaving the hospital and arriving at home:

The Lee's Arriving Home!

Dylan entering with Dad

Ranger checking things out...

Dylan strectching out

Ranger still checking things out....

The Lee's

Some quality time with Grandma Chris

Yo! Don't mess with me!!

Easter morning with Mom...

Easter morning with Dad

Dylan is heading home Saturday!

Well, less than two weeks after he's born Dylan is heading home. We just found out this morning that he is being discharged at 2pm on Saturday, April 11th. This is great news and now his Mom and Dad get to finish any final "prep" in the next 24 hours.... We are very excited and will post pictures over the weekend and next week.

Chances are we'll be pretty busy so if we get calls, there's a slight chance we'll actually answer. Hopefully the big guy sleeps well and I'm sure Ranger will be very curious about his new buddy!

Here's a random video that popped into my head. I hope there are no underlying messages in this song that I am currently failing to recognize!

Cheers!

Dylan update - 4.4.09

Dylan is continuing to do well. His Uncle Gregg visited him yesterday (4.3.09) and is currently his favorite Uncle (that's a challenge to his Uncle Jason to come visit). He is eating more each day and is progressing very well according to his pediatrician.

Mom and Dad are hopeful he can be out of the hospital and ready for the CU Spring Football Scrimmage on 4.25.09. Luke and Christie gave Dylan a little Buff Baby onesie to wear! It is so great and he's going to look like quite a stud in his CU gear! His signs are all pointing in right direction now!

Dylan on 4.2.09

Uncle Gregg's hand

Uncle Gregg with Dylan's "Peanut"

Dylan thinks life's a beach at the hospital

Baby tired, Daddy tired

More pictures can be found here: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=RyanonBoulder&target=ALBUM&id=5319536567109657233&locked=true&authkey=Gv1sRgCKLXoMzh7rz6Zw&feat=email

Bacon Cupcakes? YUM!

As we've been in the hospital this whole week we have definitely had some great support. Yesterday we received a dozen cupcakes from a local place called Tee & Cakes. There was an assortment of cupcakes inside however the dozen was specifically delivered with 4 bacon cupcakes. Our friends are having their annual "Bacon fest" this weekend in WI. From Melissa's description, it's a day where nothing but bacon is eaten along with a few fine Miller beer products. We are envious of those able to attend such a great event and hope they have a little extra for us!

So the bacon cupcakes are very unique and very tasty. They have maple syrup in the chocolate frosting and bits of bacon in the cupcakes themselves. As the picture shows, there's a whole lotta bacon to enjoy!

Things are going well here at the hospital. Melissa will get discharged/released from her hospital care tonight after dinner and we'll begin our full-time "boarder" status here with Dylan.

Dylan is also doing well and after five days is back to his birth weight (for a baby born at 36 weeks the nurses say they expect it to take up to two weeks to reach this milestone. This is definitely a good thing.) He is starting to gain a good grasp of how to eat and is quite a little character. We'll look to post more pictures soon.

Now introducing Dylan Christopher Lee

On Sunday, 3/29/09, at 6:06pm we welcomed our son, Dylan Christopher Lee, into our lives. He arrived very quickly as we rushed into the ER and were at the hospital for barely an hour before he was born. He was a bit early at not a day over 36 weeks, but has proven to be quite an amazingly sweet baby and the nurses really like how feisty he is. He really knows his mom and his dad's voices and seems to smile when he hears either once. That is a really great feeling!

The little guy and mom are both doing well. Mom hopes/plans to be discharged from the hospital Thursday and Dylan will likely have to stay for an extended period of time. The good news is that he will get lots of care so he can leave the hospital strong and ready to test both his father and mother! I've also put photos of our room that our family is staying in. Dylan is in a room attached to ours so that we can visit and see him anytime we want. Once mom gets discharged, we'll be able to stay as "boarders" in this same room until Dylan goes home. While we don't know the overall timing of this yet and everything is "day-to-day", it is definitely reassuring to know that we'll be able to stay and make this hospital room our "home" until Dylan is big and strong enough to come home with us. I'm looking to go back to work once Melissa gets discharged so I can take time off once Dylan returns home.

Thanks to everyone who has called, e-mailed and texted us. We are really fortunate to have so many people in our lives that reach out to us and want to check in and care. It is a bit overwhelming with all the calls, etc so please have patience and come check out this blog for updates in the meantime. We'll try to communicate when we can and when we have the strength and time.

** You can also call our home line and talk to Ryan's mom (Chris) as she is watching Ranger and house sitting while we are in the hospital.

A few photos of our new guy:

Dylan Christopher Lee

Mom and Dylan
Dad and Dylan

Mom and Dylan bonding

This is our room at the hospital. Dylan's room is the door on the left, bathroom in the middle and you can see the blizzard/white out through the window on the right.

This is the view from our bed. Dylan is through the big window (which again, is just great!!)

Handi-Man

Last week we worked on the nursery and at one point I probably used every swear word in the book while hanging a book shelf. I think Melissa was concerned about my sanity midway through the little project. When I finished, Melissa told me I was her "handyman" around the house. I guess, but all I could think of was an old In Living Color skit. Here is one skit from the show, for your entertainment:

Watch more In Living Color videos on AOL Video

We Gradumacated!

We did it! After 4 weeks straight and 12 hours in a classroom, Melissa and I completed our Baby Prep Class / Lamaze / Fundamentals of Birth or whatever you want to call it class. Now, in this classroom setting everyone who signs up passes (at least I don't think there is a possibility to fail) so "gradumacating" isn't all that special but I'm sure the experience will prove to be very valuable come late April (or early May). I won't go into details but I would say we learned a lot. I even got to try some "labor" breathing myself last night while Melissa "coached" me as my hand was in a bucket of ice cubes. Let's just say I'm glad I get to play coach as opposed to the other way around!

As a recap, we had 7 couples in our class and 6 were pretty talkative. It was funny that 4 couples are due with a 3-4 day window and at least 3 of the 6 are having baby showers this weekend. I guess that isn't too crazy considering everyone is on the 9-month pregnancy timeline but it sure felt pretty crazy.

Anyway, today marks 34 weeks for the pregnancy and completion of the class means we are right around the corner from having a little one. Sunday we are having a couples / family shower here in Boulder. It will be great to see everyone and are looking forward to a very nice day (60s and sunny in mid March works for me). This does mean I won't be doing any St. Patty's Day runs (and the always fun ensuing beer drinking days). Oh well, I've got a fridge full of Guinness and that will have to do the trick!

Our newest CD - Bob Marley (baby edition)

Well, many changes are going on at our home these days. Most notably is a baby's room that has come along quite nicely we have accumulated quite a few items that I never knew existed (baby items) and a few CD's for our baby. As part of that, we picked out some items and I had real say in one very important item: A baby rendition CD of Bob Marley songs! (a total "must have" for new parents) Seeing that this CD is so relaxing, Melissa has taken to listening to it when she goes to bed. I will admit it is quite catchy and has some really cool versions of Bob Marley's "Best of" work.

I always seem to catch the end of the CD by the time I get to bed, just in time for Redemption Song. And as the CD claims "No baby, no cry. Bob Marley´s lilting melodies will gently sway your little one to sleep. The perfect antidote to restless nights, these comforting renditions will will bring peace back to bed time. Could you be lulled?"

We are expecting a baby in April!

Perhaps this is not news at this point, but we had our 20-week ultrasound a few weeks back. The doctor said the baby has a "nice, round head" which means it's definitely a Lee!! Hopefully this works out alright on the delivery side for Melissa's sake!

Here are a few photos. They are not the best quality as I took photos of our ultrasound pic's

Body picture (you can see the heart)

... And a foot