2 weeks

WE have had Talan now for 2 weeks. He has come a long way in just that amount of time. I will start off with how he was the first week. He would just scream, scream, nothing I could do to comfort him. He wasn't eating good, it was very hard to get him to even latch onto his bottle, even when he was hungry. He would smack his lips like he wanted to suck on something, but wasn't able to keep his passy in his mouth. He was very sensitive, screamed whenever I would do anything with him...change him, kiss him, touch his head, readjust him, put him down, pick him up.....it all made him mad. His head was total dead weight, he couldn't move or hold it at all. When I laid him in the bed, he didn't not an inch. When I picked him up, I had to do it so carefully or his head would just roll all over the place. It is hard to describe how he was, but he was more delicate and fragile than a newborn baby, but at 16lbs.

I have been amazed in his changes in just a short time. I didn't expect them as quickly. He is eating better, will suck his passy well, and finds a lot of comfort in it. He enjoys his swing, and bouncy seat and will stay there where I can get things done now. He is making good eye contact, and giving me a few mini smiles. He coos a lot...especially after a nap and bottle, that is when he is the most alert. His whole body relaxes when I hold him now, and he will let me sooth him easily. He takes great naps, and is sleeping for long stretches at night...sometimes up to 7 hrs....(yay for me! Even better if I can get myself in the bed early.) I truly see changes every day. He is getting stronger too. He moves in his sleep now, will turn his head, enjoys being on his belly. This morning he had worked his way to the edge of his baby bed, and gotten his arm through the crack. He is beginning to move his arms to reach for the toy bar in his chair. His neck is a lot stronger, I no longer feel like I am holding the most fragile thing ever. He will lift his head a little while on his belly, and turn his head side to side. I can feel so much more strength and control in his body while I am holding him.

When reading through his hospital reports, it said that they didn't know the extent of his brain damage yet. That at one point, his condition was very grave, IF he survived, they didn't know just how bad he would be, if he would overcome it. Very sad. This past week, we had someone come in to begin the steps to get therapy for him...they are going to come to our home for it! She told me he qualified for theraputic daycare if I was interested, but then she told me she really liked what she was seeing, the way he and I interacted together here at home. I am pretty sure that I will be keeping him here...I think the daily contact with me will be beneficial with him, and I can watch what they do with his therapy and continue doing that here. She told me it is a VERY good sign that I am seeing daily progress with him, and as she looked at him, she thought he was doing really well for the extent of head trauma he had. I pray for this little guy several times a day, and I know that God is bringing him through this.

He is so sweet. His talking, and his sweet cheeks, I just kiss them all the time. He is so cuddly, and I am enjoying him so much.

I have been having to hold his head this way a lot b/c it is so big and heavy and wobbly. I am glad it is getting stronger.

Thank you Laken for the swing! It is so nice, and we are loving it!

He still has times where he has a blank stare, but they aren't as frequent as they were.