It's been quite the stressful and traumatic few weeks since my last update, but very happy to now be able to post this and announce the arrival of little baby Ian on the morning of 8th of June. With everything that happened over the past 5 weeks, I'll keep this update fairly brief and factual, but ends on a super happy and positive note :)

Ian was born around 8am that morning and unfortunately suffered meconium aspiration syndrome which meant he was immediately taken to ICU to try and stabilise him. After a few hours of waiting, Una and I got to individually pop up and see him and spend some time alongside him in his little incubator. That evening we got news that there was an available bed at Great Ormond Street so fortunately managed to transfer him there that evening.

The doctors and staff at GOSH were absolutely incredible and did the most amazing job to help Ian on his initial road to recover, keeping us constantly updated and informed on his improvement and treatment throughout. After 8 days there they let us know he was no longer critical and could be transferred back to King's to continue with his improvement.

So on Tuesday the 15th he returned to King's College Hospital and over the next 27 days he certainly got to know the staff there rather well, moving between ICU, the High Dependency Unit (HDU) ward, the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), the surgery ward for Pyloric Stenosis and then back to ICU and HDU again! Una and I managed to alternate our visits each day and evening heading through to spend time with the little guy. The COVID tests and masks and temperature checks didn't make things any easier, but most of the staff and other NICU parents were all lovely and supportive too.

On the first Sunday of this month we took Ellen through to Ruskin Park for the Summer Music Bandstand Concert where we tried to make a day of it with her, but also able to pop by to King's to check in on Ian. Eventually on the evening of Saturday 10th, Ian was moved to a private room with Una so managed to sneak Ellen in and she got to meet her new little brother :)

On Sunday 11th, this morning, we were given the all-clear that he could go home so after getting everything in order, we were discharged and eventually managed to show Ian the outside of King's, with both of us beaming with delight. It also happened to be the Euros final, so spent the car journey home chanting "He's coming home..." :)

It's been a crazy and hell of a few weeks since that morning, but despite everything that's happened and gone through, we're just unbelievably happy to have him home now - a proper little fighter and a warrior!