7.29.08

I can't believe it's the end of July already! The days really do seem to fly by here at the NICU. It seems like there is always something going on. I don't know how the poor babies get any rest, but they seem to manage. (Except the full term baby with full term lungs that is next door, he seems to be always crying. So sad.)

Well, the night feedings have begun. I must say that it has been nice to work up to this slowly. Alli has just been going gangbusters with nursing. She can't seem to get enough, so the doctors have allowed her to feed on demand now. So, whenever she wakes up and roots around, I feed her. If she is sleepy and doesn't wake easily, they will still give her a feeding through her NG tube. They want her to have at least two tube or bottle feedings per day, which I understand will continue for some time. They basically add a powdered preemie formula to my milk to help her get enough calories. Thankfully, they won't start a bottle until I am confident that she is doing well nursing. I belive that they also have a special preemie nipple that is more like the real thing. I think there is a running bet with the nurses on how soon she will get out of here!

Ethan is continuing to improve. He is off the Fentanyl completely, and he doesn't seem to be having any trouble with withdrawal. He is a little bit less sensitive today, but he is still easily over stimulated. Probably in no small part due to the darn CPAP. They tried to take him off this morning, but it didn't quite work. Hopefully tomorrow!

I was able to hold him today, which we both loved. It will be so nice when he is off the cpap so we can hold him more easily. It has been interesting scheduling time for me to kangaroo hold Ethan. It takes almost two hours to complete the process, so it's interesting trying to fit it in between feedings with Allison. Sometimes I feel bad that I don't/can't spend more time with Ethan, but really he just needs to be left alone to rest and get better. It is calming for him if you just put a hand on his back. So, Chris spent a good portion of the afternoon with one hand on Ethan and the other holding a book. :)