2 weeks old (August 31)
Today is the last day of August, exactly 2 weeks since Krista’s water broke at 3:30 in the morning and sent us racing to the hospital a good 6 weeks before she was due to give birth (actually, Krista’s original due date was October 25 but the doctors changed it to late September based on ultrasounds done in Seattle.) Thus began our adventure with Lucas Camilo at the Washington Hospital Center and now at Children’s Medical Center… Two weeks of life in the incubator, two weeks of stressful trips to and from the NICU. We love every minute we spend with him at the hospital. And we can’t wait to have him home.
Unfortunately it’s still going to be a while. Though Lucas continues to show small signs of improvement, he’s still not breathing on his own and he remains very hypotonic, meaning that he doesn’t move around much or flex his muscles. We’ve come to terms with the fact that we may never really know why Lucas came into the world this way, and its especially a mystery since he was a very active baby inside Krista’s tummy. 
However, knowing the answer might not necessarily help; there’s probably not much they can do to treat whatever happened, and so the bottom line is that Lucas needs to keep getting better on his own.
And he is getting better, slowly but surely. Again yesterday he showed more movement and had his eyes open for more than an hour as Tio Sha and his sister Julie read books to him. Every time he rouses from a deep slumber and opens his eyes to the world we jump around and wave and say silly stuff to him as if he can understand, and even though he can’t, its in those moments that you see a little person beginning to develop inside that body. In fact, Lucas has also started making more little facial expressions, from grimaces to eyebrow raises that seem to express puzzlement at the big people jumping around above him. So as Lucas waves goodbye to August and hunkers down for the month of September, we look forward to more grimaces, puzzlement, and awe of life developing in front of our eyes, and his.
Comments (6)
Heidi & Daniel
September 1st, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Epa Lucas! Eres increible. Te mandamos un besote.
Ricardo
August 31st, 2009 at 5:03 pm
You guys are amazing people and already great parents. It’s heatening to see improvements, however small. You are in our thoughts.
Jody Foster/John Ryan
August 31st, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Dear Lucas, Burke, and Krista, We read your blog and look at your pictures (and video!) every evening. We feel your love, compassion, devotion, and wisdom. And, send our love and warm hugs to you three every single day.
Beso beso XX
linda mcnamara
August 31st, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Lucas has the lucky draw of two rather amazing parents. Your updates touch my heart…and I know that this is an important little person who has come into the world.
Hi Lucas! Today is my son’s 40th birthday. He is being teased for being old…but you and I know better.
Krista…an especially BIG hug to you! love, linda
Jocelyn
August 31st, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Felicidades, Lucas! Just keep taking it one day at a time, and before you know it, you’ll be home with mom and dad, making so much noise and commotion they will have a hard time remembering the days when you were quiet. We’re sending lots of love and hugs your way.
Tio Sha
August 31st, 2009 at 10:46 am
Happy 2 weeks Lucasito! You are looking better every time I see you! It was so much fun to see your little eyeballs scan the pages of the colorful books we read to you yesterday. You probably can’t see the colors yet but let me tell you, they sure are beautiful. We’ll keep reading that book till you can make them out.
B & K – you guys continue to warm my heart with your persistent determination to stick through all these ups and downs and to show Lucas such full and unconditional love in the midst of all the mysteries and questions yet to be answered. Despite all he’s going through he sure is a lucky little one to have you both. And so am I!
Leave a reply