My First Christmas

Oh, wow. Look at all of you here! Mum and Dad told me that I had hundreds of people following my journey and saying prayers for me, but I thought they were just exaggerating. (They do that with my oxygen, too, you know. They tell me I’m breathing at 30% when I’m only at 24. I breathe better when I think I’m getting more O2 than I really am.) It’s so nice to see all of you here, and I thank you for cheering me on and helping my Mum and Dad get through some scary times.

They’ve been talking to me about Christmas since the day I was born—apparently there were a great number of you who kept wanting to know if I was going to be home in time for it—and when I realized I’d still be here in the hospital, I told Mum and Dad not to be sad about it, that we have many, many Christmases still that we can enjoy as a family, and that the holiday in the hospital wouldn’t be as bad as it sounds on paper. And you know what? Mum pulled me aside for a quick minute this morning and told me that of her whole Christmas day (which she promises was nothing like any Christmas she’s ever had before and hopes to never have again), her visit to the hospital was the best part of her day. I had a lot of fun, too.

Here are some of the highlights of my first Christmas. I hope you enjoy.

I met my Grandma a few days ago. She took a plane from Ontario to meet me and spend Christmas with me.

Grandma brought me a Hello Kitty doll. I loved it very much and I don't understand why the nurses make it live in a plastic bag at the end of my bed. 😦

They moved me out of the big nursery and into a private room. Then they moved me to an even better private room! And who knew that I got to lose my tackle for the move?! Daddy didn't know! Good thing he had his camera ready! I look awesome!

After cuddling with me all day Christmas Eve, Mum and Dad went to have dinner put on by the Red Cross with other parents in the NICU. They told me they had a great time even though many of them felt "like they'd eaten something off" the next day.

A girl Daddy works with bought me this funny penguin suit. Dad had to rip out a few seams in the feet and the hood to let my tackle flow freely, but I think I look like a pretty good penguin. You can barely tell I'm actually a baby!

Looking this cute is awesome, but exhausting. And if this "Christmas" business is anything like Mommy and Daddy have said, I'm going to need lots of energy to enjoy it. Sleepy time!

On Christmas Day, Mum and Dad put me in this awesome Santa suit. It's a little bit scratchy on the inside but fashion always wins out over comfort. Totally worth the discomfort.

Mum and Dad were smart enough to get the best nurse ever as my primary nurse. She looks after me every shift she works. Her name is Nurse Awesome and I love her very much. She sings Jingle Bells to me when no one is looking.

Mum and Dad have been telling me about this cute boy who lives in the back nursery for weeks!! Yesterday Trajan was moved into the room beside me and I finally got to meet him. How exciting to see someone the same size as me!! He's breathing on his own now and will be going home in a few short weeks, but I like that he's just across the wall beside me. We already have our second date planned on the seawall in February. Just in time for Valentine's day...?

Christmas was a very exciting day. Daddy and I took a time out to stop and enjoy the view.

Mum and Dad were all dressed up for Christmas dinner at my great-grandparent's place. Because I was dressed in my Sunday best, too, I asked Nurse Awesome if she'd get a good family portrait for my baby book.

When Great-grandad came to take Mum and Dad away for dinner, I insisted we get a photo of four generations of my family all at once. Great-grandad is the only grampa I have, and I can't wait to curl up on his lap and watch hockey with him when I get out of here.

I’m just a baby so I don’t completely understand all of this Christmas business—who Santa is and how he gets around the world with his team of reindeer and why good kids get presents while bad kids get coal—but I’m sure next year I’ll be older and wiser and more prepared for the presents and the food and all the love and attention that surely will be showered on me. Mum is reminding me that it’s polite to thank you all for being so awesome and to wish you all the best in 2011. I can’t wait until we can all meet in person.

Love to all of you,

Nyana A.K.A. Princess Goober
I asked Mum and Dad to please drop the Princess Chub-chub before it gives me a teenage weight complex. I’m already eight pounds and well above my growth curve now. But I can handle being called Princess Goober, if only for a little while. I’ll also accept Princess Stinky Pants. Oh, and if any of my nurses happen to be reading this, the photo of Trajan and me didn’t happen, and you didn’t see anything.