Lions and Tigers and RSV, oh my!

Maxwell had his 6 month check up last week. The doctor said all looks well and though Max is small for his age (duh!) he is growing appropriately. The big discussion was about RSV. RSV is a common respiratory illness that looks much like a cold. However, when preemies contract RSV they can be severely ill and could be hospitalized. Since Max is in a high risk group he may be eligible for a vaccine. The best thing we can do for him though is to keep him home away from all the coughy, sneezy people this winter. This will likely drive me stir crazy, but will, of course, be worth it. We'll just need some healthy visitors to help Max learn about people and Mommy stay sane. Come on over!

Okay, now the fun story. Max went to the zoo for the first time! It was a wonderful, overcast Sunday morning in Nashville. We had driven down Saturday, making the unfortunate mistake of forgetting the stroller. Hmmm, how to get around the zoo without a stroller or the baby carrier...? Mommy to the rescue! I remembered an email advertising a baby gear rental company for families traveling with a young 'un. I called Babies Away in Nashville and paid a whopping $6.55 for a weekend with a rented stroller. I scrubbed that sucker with Clorox, soap, water and then ended up putting a pillow case over the seat. NICU momma= germaphobe.

Happy baby in his borrowed stroller

Max had a great time at the zoo. I considered the trip a success if (a) he didn't scream and cry the majority of the time (b) he looked at 1 or 2 animals with interest. Two for two! John joked that we were really going to the zoo for my benefit. But Max really did look at the animals. He just happened to be more interested in the people! Here are a few snapshots of our outing!

Adult macaws weigh 3-4 pounds, bigger than newborn Max!

Max and I greet a meerkat

Mugging in front of some monkeys

Daddy gives Max a better view of the ring-tailed lemurs

Dreaming about his new animal friends

"Whoa! Is that a red panda?"

Taking a break in the bamboo forest

The Hunt Family (and the giraffes)

"I don't wanna leave!"
(Max models his new Nashville Zoo hat and galloping zebra while lamenting his zoo departure)