Lucas Camilo

The change in weather in Washington DC makes us realize just how long we’ve been in the hospital with Lucas.  When he was born on August 17 it was at the start of a week in which it hit 90 degrees every day with 90 percent humidity.  We’ll never forget that following weekend – Lucas’s condition was still very unstable – when we managed to get away from the hospital to finish moving into our new apartment.  It was a sweltering day and a dozen sweaty friends (along with Burke’s family) helped us make the transition to our new place on Irving street.

Now, two months after Lucas was born, we’re in the midst of three straight days of temperatures in the low-40s with constant rain and drizzle.  We stare out the window of Lucas’s room at the NICU and imagine that we’re back in the Pacific Northwest.

The weather both makes us nostalgic and makes us want to crawl back in bed sometimes.  Lucas, on the other hand, isn’t phased by the dark, gloomy days.  On the contrary, he’s been more active then ever before.  Not long ago he rarely was awake more then twice a day, and usually for only very brief spurts.  Now he wakes up a lot, and getting moved around during his cares often brings him out of his slumber.  During his bath last night he wiggled and grimaced and smiled and wiggled some more (check out the video at the end of this post).  This morning he was asleep when we came in but woke up shortly thereafter and kept his eyes open while in Krista’s arms.  Back in the day holding him was so soothing that he always passed out cold when we took him out of the crib.

They that say preemies sleep 23 hours a day, and for a while Lucas was pushing the envelope.  They also say that preemies tend to snap out of their dreamy state right around the time of their due date, so perhaps it makes sense that Lucas is more alert this week.  His original due date was October 22, though it was revised to early October (based on some ultrasound results) and we tend to split the difference, making his “corrected age” about zero.  Though it’s crazy to think that the plan was for Lucas to be entering the world right around now, the little guy seems to have a sense of that timetable.  And his new found wakefulness and expressiveness is making the dark, rainy days that much brighter for us.

all clean after the bath... and my stylish gown matches with mom!