Friday, November 27, 2009

Thanksgiving photos

Yesterday was Thanksgiving, the American harvest holiday during which we consider and state for what we are grateful. This year there is much for which we are grateful, and obviously at the top of that list is Loki and his health. Last year at this time, he was just over two pounds and had recently moved from the ventilator to the SiPAP. His eyes had just opened. We were worried about infections, his eyesight, desaturations, and Brady arrythmias. We could only then begin to hold him, swaddled on our chests in a kangaroo hold. Now he is a bundle of giggles, crawling around the house with only a feeding tube, which is challenging but manageable.

Mom and I are also thankful for our supportive families and friends, my job with its understanding colleagues and health care, the quality of health care Loki receives, our relatively inexpensive apartment, and much more.

Loki's Tante Marieke leaves in a few hours. She has been a huge help, quickly diving into all aspects of work around our hectic household, providing us a bit of breathing room. We'll all miss her!

I promise some videos soon. I just have to figure how to edit Xvid encoded videos, which both Quicktime and Movie Maker don't like. For now, photos!

Out for a Thanksgiving walk by Lake Merritt, charming all:


On that walk, Loki learned that he could play hide and seek himself! Either that, or he was preparing his mask for being a superhero:


Thanksgiving at Loki's household, with food once again from the Whole Foods deli:


Happy to be with Tante Marieke:


Loki's new behavior is to point at and flex his fingers at the person to whom he is giving attention:


Dad practices Loki's scrunch face:


After an avocado session:


Putting on a diaper can be tough. We now tape his tube to it in two places, and Loki can be uncooperative:


Dress up:


At the house of baby Jeremy, Loki was less territorial:


Jennifer #1 gives a friendly gesture:


With Jennifer #2:

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh, I LOVE the pictures. Loki is really expressive. Daddy trying to mimic him is just priceless.

I am very grateful, too: That I was allowed to be a part of your journey, that Loki is doing so much better than I expected. That you guys are having SOOOOO much stamina from I don't know what source feeding you. That I get to see little smiley pictures of Loki to look at even when I have to stay away for longer to limit exposure to dangerous germs, and lots more. Mostly, I am very, very thankful that I have such an incredible family to call my friends.

Much love and continued strength on this very challenging and wonderful journey with Loki.

marieke said...

Lieve Loki, mama and daddy,
Home again and it is so cold!! But, the smell of fall is also very nice. I'm very gratefull for being with you 6 days and being part of the household. Every minute I spend with Loki was worth it. He is adorable, snuggles up, laughs, plays, hardly cries. He is learning every day like finding the holes of his nose to stick one of his little fingers in.

It was a pleasure helping out so you had a little more breathing space. I could never wish better parents for my little dudie maludie nephew like mom and dad. You do have all patience, love, laughs and all capabilities to help Loki develop himself. I never saw you being angry or in a hurry. Always the big smiles and positive energy for Loki when you came out of bed, even after nights of less sleep. Unbelievable. No wonder Loki has his lovely, zachtaardige karakter. You have too!

Big hug for all 3, Tante Marieke

Unknown said...

The spirit of that little boy just jumps out into the world from the page. He is simply radiant. Looking back on that picture from a year ago, I find myself thinking about how hope and science and commitment can produce miracles, and how foolish it is to give up when things look grim, or presume to know what will be. It also reminds me of the power of love to heal. I've said this to Lijn many times--but I say it to both of you now--you literally willed your little trickster into your lives, Lijn was made to be his mother, and Jesse his father, Batman and Robin, on a crusade to change the world, while listening to some good Phish music...
...Happy Thanksgiving, Sprenger-Reynolds family.

About Loki Sky

Loki Sky is a special little man. He was a very early micropreemie, weighing only 610 grams (1 lb, 5 oz) after 24 weeks, 3 days gestation, born to an American Father and a Dutch Mother in Berkeley, California on October 18, 2008.

On January 11, 2009, while still in the hospital NICU, his one kidney stopped working. It was repaired after three surgeries. After spending time in three hospitals in three cities, Loki came home on February 17. He struggled with eating, and then stopped in July, leading to 8 days in the hospital, a failure-to-thrive diagnosis, and a NG feeding tube. On October 10, a minor surgery installed a G feeding tube. Another procedure replaced it with a new one, and then again with a Mic-Key button in Jan. 2010.

In August 2010, he and his parents moved to the Netherlands.

Read about his first name.
Read & hear about his middle name.
See photos.
See videos.

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