Vacation's ups and downs; Surgery soon; Many photos

Loki and we successfully embarked on our first vacation--and our first trip out of town--in over a year. We are on Santa Catalina Island, off the coast of Los Angeles. We came here because Mom preferred a warm beach, and Loki can’t fly. I like that there are very few cars--mainly golf carts. We are staying in the single small and quaint village, Avalon, and not doing much of anything. Although our days still have all the details of feeding pump, breast pump, medicines, and more, it is wonderful to be out among the palm trees, beach sand, and blue ocean.

Packing and traveling were a different matter. It was very complex to remember what all to take. We have an entire large suitcase (and part of another) devoted solely to Loki’s stuff! The drive is normally only 7 hours, and then a one hour boat ride. But we took almost 48 hours to go door to door.

What has been great and simple is Loki himself. His behavior is wonderfully easy. He is satisfied and apparently entertained sitting in one place for quite a while, with just a couple toys, or looking around as we walk. For example, as we reorganized our luggage in our hotel room in L.A., Loki rolled around awake in his crib, just happily babbling, for an hour and a half--and then fell asleep. He has hardly cried besides just a few minutes before sleep. If it wasn’t for all his medical issues, Loki would be one of the easiest babies around.

Unfortunately, Mom has a cold! She has the sniffles and feels drained. Loki has symptoms as well. His nose is runny, and just now he cried for a long time before falling asleep. He must have his first cold someday, but during vacation seems to be an unfortunate coincidence.

Loki will get a G tube--a feeding tube directly into his stomach. This requires surgery, general anesthetics, and 48 hours in the hospital. It is scheduled for one week from this Friday, so we’ll be in the hospital Oct. 2 to 4. Unfortunately, that is the weekend that some friends from the Old Country (Richard and Maaike) will be here, and the weekend of a large free music festival in Golden Gate Park to which we planned to take Loki. But so it goes. We asked for the surgery to be after the vacation and before Loki’s birthday, so we can’t complain.

Loki had an abdominal ultrasound to examine a lump in his gut. It came back good. He had another round of blood work to examine the bicarbonate level. This was high earlier, but is now normal. Loki’s fever is still present, but a bit lower.

Of course, Loki continues to develop. Quite well, in fact: We received his discharge report from his early interventionist, and he is at the 7 to 10 (or even 12!) month level of development in most skills, even though his “adjusted age” (the times since his due date) is 7.5 months. His range of motion has increased: He can now twist and turn to pick up toys as he sits. Loki has begun to move from sitting to tummy or all fours, and he is just about to crawl. His sounds now include “b.” And he is developing opinions. When we take a toy away, or leave, he often distinctly protests.

Almost crawling:


Last session with early interventionist Barbara:


Our gear in the ferry station: big red suitcase, big blue backpack, big stroller, small black roller, and orange shoulder bag:


Loki:


Mom:


Long Beach (part of LA):


I’m on a boat:


Avalon:


Mom gets her feet wet:


Dad, stroller, beach:


Sleeping on Dad:


Hiking with Dad in the botanical garden:


Happy family (Note that Loki is sleeping and being fed while on this hike):


Ready for the beach:


Avalon again: