Yesterday was a really great day (which was very much needed after a few set backs). We had what our fellow NICU parents dub the Bottle Feeding Guru as a nurse yesterday, and she showed us some tips and tricks to use to keep Lucas awake during his feeds: what's okay, what's not, what to read from his actions, and when to ignore his fussing. He took 2 full bottles yesterday (at two separate feedings), and they moved him up to 3 times a day taking feeds by bottle instead of just the 2. He was like a totally different baby when we fed him (for his second bottle of the day), and I certainly did not believe her when she told me that he easily took the first bottle from her that morning. But when Korey fed him yesterday afternoon he was wide awake the entire time, had a great seal around the nipple, and took the entire bottle in well under his 30-minute time limit. It was astounding. :o)
We also got to check several things off of our discharge checklist (FINALLY!) We got consent to circumsize (even though we were first told that he would not be cleared because I did not deliver at the hospital he's at now... that was fixed quickly :o)), and he was cleared by the doctors to be circ'd one to two days before his discharge (hopefully early next week!). He had an eye exam done yesterday, and he passed -- they dialate his eyes and look around his eye to make sure that vessels are developing the way they should be. Since he's not supposed to be out of my body, there was a chance that the premature birth could have caused an abnormality in his eye development. But the doctor said that everything looked normal -- and he cried when the Dr dialated his eyes... meaning he's not blind. :o) Yay! He also had a hearing test done a few days ago and can hear normally -- something I was worried about since he doesn't fuss when there is a ton of noise in his room, like the babies around him do. But hearing and seeing is totally normal and on track for an almost 36-week preemie.
He's also up to 4 pounds 13 ounces (OMGOODNESS!) and not quite 2 ounces at each feeding. I think the goal is to get him to 2 ounces before discharge, but he has some issues with reflux so they are taking their time. Even the gavaging (feeding thru the tube) is done via gravity everytime now instead of machine... He's growing up! :o)
The frustrations of the NICU are certainly beginning to take their toll on us as it gets closer to discharge. The whole caffeine situation has been an up and down battle, especially knowing that he has to go 7 consecutive days without an Apnea or Bradycardia before he can go home. It feels like we take 2 steps forward just to take 3 steps back... the kind words of our family and friends have certainly gotten us through the ups and downs in the last few weeks. We get so close to getting to take him home, and then have to start back over at what feels like square one. It's hard to remember where we ACTUALLY started -- on a ventilator and barely feeding through a tube, not knowing when or if his lungs would be able to develop on their own to be on room air. It's a miracle we're both still alive, and it may be perhaps a bit selfish of me to be so eager to get him home. :o)
Lucas also gets to meet Aunt Courtney in a few days, and I know they are both excited! I have pictures of Aunt Cathy and Cousin Melissa (who helped with our scrapbooking Monday -- whoo!) to add to the blog and will do so as soon as I get them uploaded to the computer. Yay for family!
As a side note, I have been peed on twice by my little man (to my defense, both were while he was in an incubator, and before I could place something over him to avoid it), and Korey has managed to avoid being christened in bodily functions. No such luck yesterday...
Whilst holding Lucas after his feed, Lucas decided to let Daddy know just how much he loved him. And yes, I did take a picture and do a victory dance in celebration :o)
You need peepee teepees!
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